VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Libra Horoscope Today, July 6, 2026: Married natives will find the relationship cordial and cooperative NEW DELHI: Fifteen out of 20 India-bound ships in the Persian Gulf carrying fertiliser cargo have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz, which will help augment the country’s soil nutrient stocks, govt said Sunday. In addition, for three consecutive months – April to June – domestic urea production has surpassed the target, with 71.6 lakh tonnes having been produced in these months as against the target of 67.9 lakh tonnes.The two developments will ensure adequate fertiliser availability for farmers during the ongoing kharif crop cultivation, officials said. Fertiliser minister J P Nadda said govt had focused on getting soil nutrients through alternative routes during the crisis. He added that Indian missions abroad had actively assisted the department in establishing contact with potential global producers and suppliers. “As a result, both our fertiliser imports and domestic production are in a very strong position today,” he said.Urea supplies have been successfully arranged from Oman, Malaysia, Vietnam, Georgia, Nigeria, Russia, Finland, Egypt, Algeria, Turkiye and the Netherlands; in the case of DAP and NPK fertilisers, supplies have been secured through Red Sea route from Russia, Morocco, Egypt, the United States, Jordan, South Korea, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.The department said that in April, urea production had reached 21 lakh tonnes as against the target of 20.3 lakh tonnes and in May 2026, it stood at 25.2 lakh tonnes, exceeding the target of 22.5 lakh tonnes. Similarly in June, production reached 25.4 lakh tonnes as against the target of 25 lakh tonnes.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Super Emergency’: TMC Claims Police Barricaded Mamata Banerjee’s House Before Baruipur VisitBadrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Forms 4-Member Panel To Probe Donation Irregularity ClaimsMumbai Monsoon Horror: 63-Year-Old Dies After Tree Falls On ShopCentre Denies Reports That Bhutan Rejected India’s E20 Petrol ProposalPoJK Protesters Seek Help From India’s Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh Regions Amid Pakistan’s CrackdownPrashant Kishor To Finally Contest Bankipur Bypoll, Jan Suraaj Names Founder As CandidateWhy Did China Reacted Sharply To Japan PM Sanae Takaichi’s India Visit?Govt Cracks Down on Meta Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse-Linked Instagram Ads, Seeks Reply in 7 DaysMamata Reassumes TMC Leadership As Dilip Ghosh Claims Party Is Crumbling Amid ResignationsWhy Adani’s $1.4 Billion Vizhinjam Port Stake Sale To MSC Has Triggered A Political Row123PhotostoriesIs it normal forgetfulness or Alzheimer’s disease? Doctor reveals the warning signs you should never ignoreSonam Kapoor’s Punit Balana look had more drama than Anshula Kapoor’s mehendi playlist, and we loved every bit of itTop 5 most active dog breeds5 grasslands in India where the monsoon feels magical5 things to expect at India’s widest waterfall during the monsoonHigh cholesterol often has no symptoms, says AHA: These 10 guidelines could help protect your heartPersonality test: Only the first thing you notice in this illusion reveals your true hidden strengthAamir Khan weds Gauri Spratt: Before saying ‘I Do,’ Aamir Khan dropped these 5 surprisingly honest quotes on loveFrom Krushna Abhishek’s California house to Vicky Jain’s Rs 50 crore home: Celebrities who own several luxurious properties5 best hair oils for frizzy locks during monsoon that actually tame humidity123Hot PicksNHL Trade RumorHarrison ButkerTaylor and Travis Wedding PhotosIndia Passport Ranking SlipsBSUSC applicationsMumbai rainDelhi MurderBrittany MahomesTrumpTop TrendingNHL TradeDelhi rainBrittany MahomesFIFA World Cup 2026Mamata BanerjeeBengaluru Capgemini DaycareKetan AgarwalFrance FIFA World CupNFL Trade RumorVozinha Jul 06, 2026, 03:25 IST Leo Horoscope Today, July 6, 2026: In romance or marriage, avoid making decisions from a wave of feeling Egypt’s 22,000-acre ‘Octagon’ pips Pentagon as world’s largest defence headquarters NEW DELHI: Childcare and household chores keep around 69% women out of the labour force in India’s top 46 cities with million-plus population, highlighting the gender-bias in nature of care work even among the more affluent areas of the country, a new National Statistics Office survey has shown.The survey on labour market indicators for the large cities, first reported by TOI on Tuesday, showed that just 1% of the women cited “social reasons” for being out of the labour force, although the report did not elaborate on it.In contrast, 1% of men cited childcare and household work as the reason for being out of the labour force.India has among the lowest female labour force participation rates among the world’s major economies, estimated at 30.7% in 2025, although it has shown an upward trend in recent years.’Women earn 23% less than men in big cities’Within the country, the trends vary across cities. For instance, 83% women in Howrah cited childcare and household chores as the reason for being out of the labour force, followed by Surat (81%), Pimpri Chinchwad and Bhopal (78%), and Dhanbad (77%). In Coimbatore (38%), the share was much lower, as was the case in Agra (41%), Kota (57%), Hyderabad (58%), and Visakhapatnam and Srinagar (60%).There were other reasons cited as well. For instance, 16% opted out as they wanted to pursue further studies, and 10% attributed staying out of the labour force to health and age-related factors.Among men, more than half (53%) attributed higher studies as the reason for not being part of the labour force, followed by health and age-related reasons (39%).The survey also showed the quality of work for women improved in the large cities as compared to other urban areas: 65% reported salaried employment compared with 51% in urban areas, wh-ile 3% reported casual work, as against 9% in urban areas.However, these cities which enjoy a wage premium reflected the gender inequality in wages too. While a salaried male earned Rs 30,700 a month in million-plus cities, a female earned Rs 23,700 – 23% lower. This gap was more pronounced in the case of cities such as Kalyan-Dombivli, Navi Mumbai and Nagpur, where women earned nearly half as much as their male counterparts. Prayagraj seemed to defy the trend, with women shown to be earning more than men.In case of self-employm-ent, men (Rs 33,880) had over double the monthly earnings of women (Rs 16,160).Workers in million-plus cities on average worked for 49.5 hours a week compared with 47.1 hours in urban India. Both male and female workers in million-plus cities reported higher average ho-urs than those in urban India.Women with salaried jobs in Rajkot (51.5 hours), followed by Faridabad (50 hours) clocked in the maximum time at the workplace.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Super Emergency’: TMC Claims Police Barricaded Mamata Banerjee’s House Before Baruipur VisitBadrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Forms 4-Member Panel To Probe Donation Irregularity ClaimsMumbai Monsoon Horror: 63-Year-Old Dies After Tree Falls On ShopCentre Denies Reports That Bhutan Rejected India’s E20 Petrol ProposalPoJK Protesters Seek Help From India’s Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh Regions Amid Pakistan’s CrackdownPrashant Kishor To Finally Contest Bankipur Bypoll, Jan Suraaj Names Founder As CandidateWhy Did China Reacted Sharply To Japan PM Sanae Takaichi’s India Visit?Govt Cracks Down on Meta Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse-Linked Instagram Ads, Seeks Reply in 7 DaysMamata Reassumes TMC Leadership As Dilip Ghosh Claims Party Is Crumbling Amid ResignationsWhy Adani’s $1.4 Billion Vizhinjam Port Stake Sale To MSC Has Triggered A Political Row123PhotostoriesIs it normal forgetfulness or Alzheimer’s disease? Doctor reveals the warning signs you should never ignoreSonam Kapoor’s Punit Balana look had more drama than Anshula Kapoor’s mehendi playlist, and we loved every bit of itTop 5 most active dog breeds5 grasslands in India where the monsoon feels magical5 things to expect at India’s widest waterfall during the monsoonHigh cholesterol often has no symptoms, says AHA: These 10 guidelines could help protect your heartPersonality test: Only the first thing you notice in this illusion reveals your true hidden strengthAamir Khan weds Gauri Spratt: Before saying ‘I Do,’ Aamir Khan dropped these 5 surprisingly honest quotes on loveFrom Krushna Abhishek’s California house to Vicky Jain’s Rs 50 crore home: Celebrities who own several luxurious properties5 best hair oils for frizzy locks during monsoon that actually tame humidity123Hot PicksNHL Trade RumorHarrison ButkerTaylor and Travis Wedding PhotosIndia Passport Ranking SlipsBSUSC applicationsMumbai rainDelhi MurderBrittany MahomesTrumpTop TrendingNHL TradeDelhi rainBrittany MahomesFIFA World Cup 2026Mamata BanerjeeBengaluru Capgemini DaycareKetan AgarwalFrance FIFA World CupNFL Trade RumorVozinha More crude likely in market soon as OPEC+ clears hike of 188,000 barrels per day for August ‘Minions and Monsters’ dethrones ‘Toy Story 5’; tops Fourth of July holiday box office with USD 160 million global haul Virgo Horoscope Today, July 6, 2026: Unmarried people may hear of a proposal through friends or relatives Just 28% NGOs, associations ever registered under FCRA currently active | India News Stop child sex abuse ads on Insta at once: Govt to Meta | India News Foundation laid for Rs 2,500-crore defence plant in Madhya Pradesh Representative image (PTI) NEW DELHI: Govt is set to make driving tests mandatory for motorists seeking renewal of their driving licences if they have a history of traffic-rule violations, as reflected in challans. Road transport ministry has also proposed empowering Motor Accident Claims Tribunals (MACTs) to award interim compensation to road crash victims and their families, instead of making them wait until the final disposal of their claims.After consultations with states and ministries spanning almost two years, the proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act were placed before the informal Group of Ministers (iGoM) headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh last week. TOI has learnt that the panel has given the ministry the go-ahead to finalise the bill, which may be introduced in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament.The proposals are aimed at reining in errant drivers and use of uninsured vehicles and also seek to go back to the earlier practice of insurance regulator IRDAI fixing the third-party premium based on vehicle age and challan history. In the 2019 amendment, this power was vested with the road transport ministry.The amendments linked to compensation in case of death or grievous injuries in road crashes are significant. At present, MACTs can’t provide any interim relief. The ministry has proposed that a claims tribunal may “grant such interim relief that it may deem fit”. It has also proposed that in case an insurer or offending party challenges the order of a claims tribunal, it would have to pre-deposit Rs 10 lakh or 50% of the awarded amount, whichever is less. Currently, it’s Rs 25,000 or 50% of the awarded amount, whichever is less.The ministry has also proposed increasing the bar for filing appeals in high courts from current Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. “The move to allow interim compensation by MACT tribunals is welcome considering that such cases often face delays in final disposal,” said Amarjeet Singh, an advocate and a road safety expert.Experts also lauded the proposal that makes fresh driving tests mandatory for drivers who have a history of flouting traffic rules. Tightening the screws on errant drivers, the ministry has also proposed that no fresh DL would be issued to an applicant for three years in case of revocation of earlier DL.The ministry has further proposed to increase the age bar for requirement of medical certificate for fresh DL or licence renewal from the current 40 years to 60. “In the name of ease of living and ease of doing business, we must not compromise with the fundamental parameters that are necessary for making roads safe,” said Anil Chhikara, a former deputy transport commissioner of Delhi.Experts also said that the proposal of “double fine or penalty” for drivers violating traffic rules would increase the risk of misuse by traffic police. Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Super Emergency’: TMC Claims Police Barricaded Mamata Banerjee’s House Before Baruipur VisitBadrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Forms 4-Member Panel To Probe Donation Irregularity ClaimsMumbai Monsoon Horror: 63-Year-Old Dies After Tree Falls On ShopCentre Denies Reports That Bhutan Rejected India’s E20 Petrol ProposalPoJK Protesters Seek Help From India’s Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh Regions Amid Pakistan’s CrackdownPrashant Kishor To Finally Contest Bankipur Bypoll, Jan Suraaj Names Founder As CandidateWhy Did China Reacted Sharply To Japan PM Sanae Takaichi’s India Visit?Govt Cracks Down on Meta Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse-Linked Instagram Ads, Seeks Reply in 7 DaysMamata Reassumes TMC Leadership As Dilip Ghosh Claims Party Is Crumbling Amid ResignationsWhy Adani’s $1.4 Billion Vizhinjam Port Stake Sale To MSC Has Triggered A Political Row123PhotostoriesIs it normal forgetfulness or Alzheimer’s disease? Doctor reveals the warning signs you should never ignoreSonam Kapoor’s Punit Balana look had more drama than Anshula Kapoor’s mehendi playlist, and we loved every bit of itTop 5 most active dog breeds5 grasslands in India where the monsoon feels magical5 things to expect at India’s widest waterfall during the monsoonHigh cholesterol often has no symptoms, says AHA: These 10 guidelines could help protect your heartPersonality test: Only the first thing you notice in this illusion reveals your true hidden strengthAamir Khan weds Gauri Spratt: Before saying ‘I Do,’ Aamir Khan dropped these 5 surprisingly honest quotes on loveFrom Krushna Abhishek’s California house to Vicky Jain’s Rs 50 crore home: Celebrities who own several luxurious properties5 best hair oils for frizzy locks during monsoon that actually tame humidity123Hot PicksNHL Trade RumorHarrison ButkerTaylor and Travis Wedding PhotosIndia Passport Ranking SlipsBSUSC applicationsMumbai rainDelhi MurderBrittany MahomesTrumpTop TrendingNHL TradeDelhi rainBrittany MahomesFIFA World Cup 2026Mamata BanerjeeBengaluru Capgemini DaycareKetan AgarwalFrance FIFA World CupNFL Trade RumorVozinha Cancer Horoscope Today, July 6, 2026: Sweetness returns to close relationships Army conducts mock drill in J&K to enhance operational preparedness Canadian proverb of the day: ‘No snowflake lands the same twice’ — Even the smallest moments in life never repeat in the same way, no matter how similar they seem Enforce ‘zero coal leakage’ plan in Jharkhand: Amit Shah to CISF | India News India to double US gas buys, cut Gulf reliance Spanish proverb of the day: ‘Don’t look at the teeth of a gifted horse’ — Value the gesture more than the material quality of what you receive Syama Prasad Mookerjee devoted his life to India’s unity and progress: PM Modi | India News Arshad Warsi reveals how he agreed to do ‘King’ and Aryan Khan’s ‘Ba***ds Of Bollywood’: ‘Woh kahaniyan suna raha tha..’ Gemini Horoscope Today, July 6, 2026: Avoid spending to soothe stress about family matters Proverb of the day by J.G. Holland: “God gives every bird its food, but He does not ..” is a reminder that opportunity still requires effort | Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wedding: 20 wild details from their multimillion-dollar New York ceremony Brazil vs Norway Live Score, FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16: BRA 0-0 NOR; Nyland saves Guimaraes penalty as Norway dominate Taurus Horoscope Today, July 6, 2026: If you’re a single person, you could be noticed because you seem serene and secure Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid wife Lauren Kyle McDavid shares farewell message to Mikayla Nurse after Darnell Nurse NHL trade Boney Kapoor’s daughter Anshula Kapoor set to tie the knot, here’s all you need to know about the date, venue, guests and other functions Aries Horoscope Today, July 6, 2026: At work, confidence may dip before meetings or presentations Harrison Butker was reportedly the only Kansas City Chiefs player to not be invited to Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s wedding A US county welcomed 37 data centres. Now its schools are being told to dim lights as power bills jump 25% Ram temple donation theft: From ignored warnings to Rs 6-8 lakh daily theft, 10 things we know so far Seaplane carrying 8 crashes into New York’s East River, all rescued – video Congo River releases 40,000 cubic metres of freshwater into the Atlantic every second. Scientists trace where it goes 17,625 tablets in 64 hours: China’s Agibot completes world’s first livestream of humanoid robots inspecting production line with 99% accuracy Hyderabad man quits Amazon to become an taxi driver and the reason is truly a brave one ‘Have they house arrested her?’ TMC cries ‘super emergency’ over Mamata security America’s snake capital: This US state has the most venomous snakes in the country (and it’s not Texas) Representative image NEW DELHI: For the second time in the past 11 months, country’s automobile majors have come to back govt’s mandatory 20% blending of ethanol in petrol (E20) — amid some genuine concerns and some misinformation surrounding the adverse impact of E20 on vehicles that were manufactured before April 2023. TOI looks at why the controversy is on.Mileage/Consumers complaintsFor most vehicle owners, mileage still remains the key factor while buying a vehicle. There have been numerous complaints that the mileage of vehicles has dropped since the full roll out of E20 — an issue not just flagged on social media, rather a common talking point in workplaces, and at social gatherings. Govt and automobile companies have maintained that there is 3-4% reduction in mileage due to E20 fuel in vehicles that are non-compliant. They refer to findings of a study conducted by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Indian Oil Corporation and SIAM in 2021. It said fuel consumption of vehicles with E20 increases 2-6% compared to E10, and the percentage varies from vehicle to vehicle.However, vehicle owners don’t buy this, as the real mileage loss is more. They need to buy more E20 and that too without any reduction in price to compensate for mileage loss. Automobile companies and govt have maintained that mileage depends on factors, including tyre pressure, driving pattern, gear selection, and vehicle maintenance.Impact on vehicle engine and materialsGovt and vehicle manufacturers have referred to ARAI report of 2021 to refute claims of impact of E20 fuel on vehicles. The report said there was “no significant discoloration or pitting or any other type of corrosion” in any metallic components tested. The full report, which TOI has seen, concluded that “fuel system material coupons made of a certain elastomer (rubber) like NBR-PVC blend performed inferior with E20 compared to E10”. It added that as per SIAM, “rubber parts for fuel system components used in vehicles, such as hoses, gaskets/ seals and O-rings are showing deterioration and may need replacement for using E20”.India’s E20 programmeIndia achieved 20% ethanol blending in April 2025, ahead of the earlier target of 2030, meaning normal petrol at every pump has 20% ethanol. People involved in govt’s ethanol blending programme say had the target not been pushed, almost all E0 (100% petrol) vehicles manufactured prior to 2012 and a large share of E10 (10% ethanol) compliant vehicles manufactured from 2013 onwards would have completed 15 years.However, the significance and benefit of E20 caught attention after the US-Israel attack on Iran disrupted global fuel supply and pushed crude prices. Govt has said ethanol blending programme has reduced oil imports by 4.5 lakh barrels per year and saved foreign exchange.Why controversy at peak nowWhile some parts of the country started getting E20 early, availability across the nation was achieved only in April 2025. So, the number of complaints about drop in mileage and other negative impacts have increased. The impacts are more in case of vehicles manufactured before 2012.Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) notifying fuel standards for E22, E25, E27 and E30 has further raised the speculation of govt increasing mandatory blending. Officials are tight-lipped about where and when this decision was taken. However, govt has maintained any further increase in ethanol blending will be done after proper research and due consultation with stakeholders. Higher blending would even impact E20 vehicles.Can govt give option of 100% petrol & E20 at pumps for consumers to optAfter going for mandatory 20% ethanol blending there is hardly any possibility of going back. However, experts say govt should go for higher blends of ethanol as an optional fuel at stations so that vehicles that are compatible can go for them, something similar to the practice in Brazil. Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Super Emergency’: TMC Claims Police Barricaded Mamata Banerjee’s House Before Baruipur VisitBadrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee Forms 4-Member Panel To Probe Donation Irregularity ClaimsMumbai Monsoon Horror: 63-Year-Old Dies After Tree Falls On ShopCentre Denies Reports That Bhutan Rejected India’s E20 Petrol ProposalPoJK Protesters Seek Help From India’s Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh Regions Amid Pakistan’s CrackdownPrashant Kishor To Finally Contest Bankipur Bypoll, Jan Suraaj Names Founder As CandidateWhy Did China Reacted Sharply To Japan PM Sanae Takaichi’s India Visit?Govt Cracks Down on Meta Over Alleged Child Sexual Abuse-Linked Instagram Ads, Seeks Reply in 7 DaysMamata Reassumes TMC Leadership As Dilip Ghosh Claims Party Is Crumbling Amid ResignationsWhy Adani’s $1.4 Billion Vizhinjam Port Stake Sale To MSC Has Triggered A Political Row123PhotostoriesIs it normal forgetfulness or Alzheimer’s disease? Doctor reveals the warning signs you should never ignoreSonam Kapoor’s Punit Balana look had more drama than Anshula Kapoor’s mehendi playlist, and we loved every bit of itTop 5 most active dog breeds5 grasslands in India where the monsoon feels magical5 things to expect at India’s widest waterfall during the monsoonHigh cholesterol often has no symptoms, says AHA: These 10 guidelines could help protect your heartPersonality test: Only the first thing you notice in this illusion reveals your true hidden strengthAamir Khan weds Gauri Spratt: Before saying ‘I Do,’ Aamir Khan dropped these 5 surprisingly honest quotes on loveFrom Krushna Abhishek’s California house to Vicky Jain’s Rs 50 crore home: Celebrities who own several luxurious properties5 best hair oils for frizzy locks during monsoon that actually tame humidity123Hot PicksNHL Trade RumorHarrison ButkerTaylor and Travis Wedding PhotosIndia Passport Ranking SlipsBSUSC applicationsMumbai rainDelhi MurderBrittany MahomesTrumpTop TrendingNHL TradeDelhi rainBrittany MahomesFIFA World Cup 2026Mamata BanerjeeBengaluru Capgemini DaycareKetan AgarwalFrance FIFA World CupNFL Trade RumorVozinha Horoscope Today: Daily astrological predictions for July 6, 2026 Quote of the day by Blaise Pascal: “The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.” 6 killed, 1 injured as multi-storey ‘chawl’ collapses in Mumbai amid heavy rain; rescue operation on Quote of the day by King Charles: “Whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall…” | World News Seven heaven: Australia chase record target to clinch seventh Women’s T20 World Cup | Cricket News Diljit Dosanjh strongly reacts after ‘Satluj’ based on Jaswant Singh Khalra’s life removed from OTT two days after release: ‘I challenge the darkness’ Quote of the day by Richard Dawkins: “The chicken is only an egg’s way of making another egg.” ‘We have some other friends, like India’: Netanyahu pushes back after Vance calls US ‘only ally’ of Israel Lock Upp 2: Sunita Ahuja breaks down in tears, refuses to eat food; says ‘Mere ko Govinda mana kar raha tha mat jaa’ | Jul 05, 2026, 22:53 IST Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Satluj’ removed from OTT two days after release, it is unavailable in India, the streaming platform is exploring its legal options to restore the film |