VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html ‘Maaro sir’: Video of protester standing firm amid Delhi Police crackdown goes viral Illinois farmers are making up to $200,000 a year without growing more crops as solar companies offer long-term leases worth up to $2,000 per acre | World News India is the second-loneliest country in the world, according to a study by JB.com. The ranking offers a stark lens through which to view a country that is also aging rapidly, urbanising quickly and watching its traditional social structures thin out.In 2011, India had about 100 million people aged 60 and above. Projections by the Technical Group on Population Projections, cited in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s report Elderly in India 2021, show that this figure will more than double to roughly 230 million by 2036, around 15 per cent of the population. By 2050, UNFPA’s India Ageing Report 2023 estimates, nearly one in five Indians will be 60 or older.But loneliness is not waiting for old age.It is already present in the rented flats of young migrants, in the quiet of a single-person home, in weekends spent scrolling through other people’s lives and in the small, almost invisible moments when there is no one to ask, “Are you home?”For Minal, from Bihar and living alone in Pune, loneliness is “feeling I don’t belong anywhere and nobody cares about me.” She calls herself “pretty social”, but in her current city “has only few people I know so I have phases when I go out alone.” A typical weekend is split between “one day I go out to eat somewhere nice and one day I stay in, cook something and journal or watch a movie.”At home, she spends “8–10 hours” on screens. After closing Instagram and seeing peers travelling or getting engaged, she says she feels “empty and restless and also shit about myself”.Swadha, who spent years living alone in Noida for college and work, remembers the strange contradiction of returning home.“There is a sense of relief… but then there is also a sense of silence and nobody is there to ask are you home… nobody cares whether you entered with the shoe on or have you left the shoe outside.”She placed a mirror at the entrance of her home. “Somebody has to look at me, right? I used to do that for myself.”Living alone, she says, “means you have absolutely no one to talk to about your day… that will hit you so hard that it will push you away from your loved ones whom you actually speak to on the calls.”For Neha, from West Bengal and working in Delhi, loneliness is even simpler: “no person to go back to when you feel heavy… no one to ask where you are… how have you been.”She says she has “no social life”. Her weekends are spent “grocery shopping… cooking and cleaning…”. When she returns home, her first thought is, “what should I eat now.” She estimates her screen time at 4–5 hours a day at home and says that after closing social apps, she feels, “I’m wasting my time… I should do something productive.”Their lives may seem far removed from the concerns of India’s elderly. But the emotional patterns are strikingly similar.A LASI-based study on later life reports that about 13.4 per cent of older Indians experience frequent loneliness. The odds are higher among those not in a marital union, those with more than two chronic conditions and those with small social networks or limited leisure activities. UNFPA’s 2023 report identifies social isolation and loneliness as key stressors on elderly mental health, aggravated by migration, urbanisation and weakening family support.The country is aging into this crisis.India’s elderly population is not evenly distributed. Kerala’s elderly share is projected to rise from about 13 per cent in 2011 to nearly 23 per cent by 2036, while Uttar Pradesh moves from roughly 7 per cent to 12 per cent. Southern states, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab already have above-average elderly proportions, creating pockets where ageing, and the risk of isolation, are much more intense than the national average.The profile is also sharply gendered. Using LASI data, government summaries note a sex ratio of roughly 1,065 females per 1,000 males among India’s elderly, with women making up about 58 per cent of older persons. More than half of elderly women are widows. UNFPA’s ageing reports underline that older women are more likely to be widowed, have little personal income and live alone, increasing their vulnerability to economic insecurity and social isolation.This is the demographic stage on which India’s loneliness economy is emerging.From joint family to flatFor generations, the family was India’s first social safety net. That safety net has not disappeared, but it has changed shape.Migration, urbanisation, nuclear families and precarious work have moved millions away from the people and communities that once filled everyday life. A home that once had several generations may now have one person, one phone and a delivery app.The coping mechanisms are increasingly mediated by markets. Food delivery replaces the shared meal. OTT platforms fill the evening. Social media offers constant contact without necessarily providing companionship.For younger Indians, these services are conveniences. For an ageing population, they are becoming part of a much larger ecosystem of care.The silver economyPolicy has increasingly framed this demographic transition as an economic opportunity. NITI Aayog’s report Senior Care Reforms in India and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s schemes speak of a “silver economy” built around the needs of older adults.Government estimates linked to the Senior Care Ageing Growth Engine (SAGE) initiative put the value of India’s silver economy at around Rs 73,000 crore in 2024, with scope for multi-fold expansion as the elderly population grows.The first pillar is financial security.Atal Pension Yojana subscriptions rose from about 1.54 crore in March 2019 to 8.27 crore by October 2025, according to Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority data quoted in government briefs. Assets under management crossed Rs 49,000 crore.The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme reaches around 2.21 crore beneficiaries, offering Rs 200 a month to those aged 60–79 and Rs 500 to those 80 and above. The amounts are modest, but they establish an income floor that can help with food, healthcare and basic services.The second pillar is health protection.Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY offers Rs 5 lakh a year in hospitalisation cover to vulnerable households. In October 2024, the government announced free treatment benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh annually for about 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 and above from 4.5 crore families, irrespective of socio-economic status. More than 40 lakh seniors had enrolled by January 2025.The National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly, meanwhile, now covers all 713 health districts, with geriatric OPDs, wards and physiotherapy services, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.The third pillar is care.The SAGE portal invites start-ups to develop solutions in healthcare, housing, technology and social engagement, offering equity support of up to Rs 1 crore per project, with government equity capped at 49 per cent. The Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens grants fund 696 senior citizen homes across 29 States and UTs, with 84 more selected for 2025–26.A geriatric caregiver training scheme, run through 32 empanelled institutes, trained 36,785 caregivers in 2023–24.None of these programmes is explicitly called a loneliness programme. Yet they address many of the conditions that make loneliness more likely: widowhood, frailty, financial insecurity and living alone.The business of being heardTechnology is becoming another layer of this support system.The government’s e-Sanjeevani telemedicine platform has delivered nearly 14 crore tele-consultations nationwide, including more than 1 crore consultations involving senior citizens, according to a 2023 Press Information Bureau update and a national telemedicine assessment.For an older person who cannot easily travel, a consultation through a screen can be a lifeline. But the broader shift is significant too: an increasing number of needs, including emotional ones, are now being addressed through digital interfaces.Elderline 14567 offers senior citizens a telephone channel for grievances, abuse and emotional support, connecting callers to local services and authorities.The legal framework, meanwhile, continues to place responsibility on families. The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, and its 2019 amendment bill expand the definition of “children” and “parents”, remove the Rs 10,000 cap on maintenance, mandate that seniors should live a “life of dignity” and require dedicated police units and geriatric facilities in hospitals.The amendment widens “maintenance” to include healthcare, safety and housing. It is an acknowledgement that neglect, isolation and abuse are not merely private tragedies.But loneliness is not always about being physically alone.Anandeshwar, a civil services aspirant from Uttar Pradesh now living in Delhi, describes it as “not being understood or connected to the people around me, even when I am surrounded by others.”He has “a big enough circle of friends” but meets them rarely. Deeper conversations happen “pine ke baad” (after drinking). His ideal weekend is full: “write some good things, spend time with friends, participate in debating events”. Reality is often different. He stays home, “watch YT, Twitter, or just lay on the bed smoking,” joking that “every day is weakened for an unemployed.”The problem, then, is not simply the absence of people. It is the absence of meaningful connection.The small economies of a lonely weekendLoneliness often reveals itself through small choices.Cook or order in? Call someone or scroll? Go out or stay in bed?Minal divides her weekend between eating out and cooking at home. Neha’s ideal weekend is “reading, writing and cleaning the flat”, even if reality is often errands and rest.Yukta, a psychology student from Bengaluru living in Jaipur, describes a more connected version of the same urban life. When she is not overwhelmed by work, weekends with her roommate mean “sleep, cooking and eating good food together, watching something fun on an OTT platform, or… a movie and cafe date! And shopping or just strolling through a bazaar for fun.”“Now, it feels like ‘I am finally home’,” she says. “I can do whatever I’d like, be whatever I’d like and just exist in a space with only comfort to offer.”LASI-based studies identify regular social contact, leisure activities, yoga or meditation and even moderate television or computer use as factors associated with better wellbeing among older adults.The difference is that in cities such as Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad and Jaipur, these activities are increasingly curated through markets: OTT subscriptions, cafes, delivery services and paid experiences.At the other end is Srabastee from West Bengal, living in Delhi for work.“It’s feeling like no one really knows what’s going on in your head, even when you’re surrounded by people… when you have something exciting or heartbreaking to share and can’t think of anyone to call.”She speaks to family and “texts a few friends once in a while”, mostly sharing memes and reacting to stories. Weeks can pass before they meet.After scrolling, she often feels “drained”, comparing her routine weekends of laundry, shows and ordered food with peers who seem to be “getting promoted, buying homes, getting married, travelling the world.”The same platforms that offer entertainment and convenience also fuel comparison. The same screens that connect people can deepen the feeling of being left behind.Who will pay for connection?NITI Aayog argues that senior care needs to be recognised as a distinct sector, with regulations, standards, public-private partnerships and dedicated financing. Its vision combines public programmes such as pensions, NPHCE, telehealth and senior homes with private start-ups and NGOs.That is where the silver economy begins to overlap with the loneliness economy.The forces making Minal, Neha and Srabastee feel alone, migration, nuclear families, precarious jobs and digital overload, are also creating demand for therapy platforms, senior-living communities, companion-care services and digital communities.Some of these services may offer genuine support. Others may simply monetise a need that was once met by family, neighbours and community.The question becomes sharper when viewed against India’s place near the top of the global loneliness index. A country ranked number two by JB.com is also preparing for a dramatic rise in its elderly population. By 2036, roughly 230 million Indians will be 60 or older. By 2050, nearly one in five will be.The challenge is not only how to feed, house or medically care for this population. It is also how to ensure that people have someone to talk to, someone who notices when they do not come home, someone who asks how their day was.India’s loneliness economy is already taking shape, from pensions and senior homes to helplines, telehealth, therapy platforms, cafes, OTT subscriptions and delivery apps.The question is whether connection will ultimately be treated as a public responsibility or sold as another subscription.Because the people who today spend their Sundays between grocery stores and glowing screens will one day grow old. And the way India responds to their loneliness will reveal whether it sees the need to be seen, heard and remembered as a basic human need, or simply another market waiting to be tapped.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Women Were Beaten Like Animals’: CJP Protesters After ‘Lathi-Charge’ By RAF, Delhi PoliceCJP Claims Wangchuk’s Wife Assaulted; Amit Shah Meets Dharmendra Pradhan Amid CJP Sansad MarchJP Nadda To Meet CJP Leaders As Centre Initiates Dialogue Amid Parliament MarchSonam Wangchuk’s Latest Hunger Strike Note Shifts Focus To Accountability, Parliament AssuranceDelhi Metro Closes Five Stations, Police Block CJP’s Parliament March Amid Massive SecurityCentre To Introduce Bill Making Insult To Vande Mataram A Criminal OffenceDelhi Police Warns Against CJP’s Parliament March; Says No Permission Granted, Legal Action Likely’Strictly Prohibited’: Delhi Police Invokes Section 163, Issues Warning Over CJP’s Sansad MarchCJP Releases Do’s & Don’ts For ‘Chalo Sansad’ March As Sonam Wangchuk Continues Hunger StrikeFlash Floods, Landslides Hit J&K’s Poonch-Rajouri; Vaishno Devi, Amarnath Yatra Suspended123Photostories7 air-fryer egg dishes for a protein-rich dinnerBest time travel web series to watch: ‘Dark’, ‘Outlander’, ’12 Monkeys’ and more sci-fi masterpiecesWhy are some wine bottles sealed with corkBTS set the FIFA 2026 World Cup halftime stage on fire with red devils-inspired fashionInside Nikki Tamboli and Arbaz Patel’s stunning home: Luxurious interiors, cosy corners and more6 Smart ways to use essential oils in your bathroom for a fresher, spa-like feelUpcoming week’s OTT releases (July 20-July 26): From ‘A Toxic Love Story’ to ‘BLEACH’World’s top 10 most valuable restaurant chains and their billion-dollar brandsSpent 16 years in school, yet nobody taught you about money, AI, or psychology? Here are 8 things every woman needs to learn that actually matterThe truth about collagen loss: Why early prevention beats anti-wrinkle treatments123Hot PicksSylvester StalloneSteve JobsUS import pricesClint EastwoodDelhi Metro stationsJantar MantarKylie JennersCJP Parliament marchNHL Trade RumorsTop TrendingRajasthan RapeLucknow Jawahar Bhawan FireWeather TomorrowCJP ProtestSonam WangchukNEET Paper LeakJoseph VijayAbhishek BanerjeeIshowspeedIran war ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ trailer releases: Chris Evans joins Chris Hemsworth’s Thor as Captain America; Robert Downey Jr’s merciless Doctor Doom steals the spotlight | ‘I have no house, no car, no big bank balance’: 35-year-old’s post on real success goes viral ‘Disgusting what government is doing’: Rahul Gandhi slams police action against protesters; shares video FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam grabbed the opportunity that his roommate rejected: He can’t come but can I send my resume? Bungalow Hospitality Investments, co-founded by Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna, and New York-born chai brand Kolkata Chai enter into a partnership (Image/PTI) NEW DELHI: Kolkata Chai, the New York–born chai brand that helped introduce authentic Indian chai to large US audiences, announced a strategic partnership and investment with Bungalow Hospitality Investments, the newly formed venture co‑founded by Michelin‑starred chef Vikas Khanna and restaurateur Jimmy Rizvi.The deal, announced Monday, includes a financial investment in Kolkata Chai and an exclusive menu integration across Bungalow Hospitality Management’s New York City restaurant portfolio. Beginning this summer, Kolkata Chai’s signature Masala Chai will be rolled out at the group’s current and upcoming restaurants, including GupShup and the forthcoming Punjab Meet House. The partnership will also produce a series of limited‑time collaborative menu items this fall.Kolkata Chai was founded in 2019 by brothers Ayan and Ani Sanyal and has grown through a multi‑unit café model and a line of consumer packaged goods (CPG) chai blends. In 2024, actor and comedian Hasan Minhaj joined the company as an investor and business partner, helping expand the brand’s visibility through media and cultural storytelling.Bungalow Hospitality Investments, led by Khanna and Rizvi, focuses on investing in and partnering with emerging food and hospitality brands. Kolkata Chai is the group’s inaugural investment; Khanna cited a personal connection to chai and longstanding admiration for the brand’s craft and authenticity as factors in the decision.“Chef Vikas Khanna is a pioneer for Indian cuisine on a global stage, and having him join the Kolkata Chai family is a genuinely exciting moment for us,” said Hasan Minhaj in a statement. He added that the partnership reflects Kolkata Chai’s role in connecting people across generations and cultures.The announcement comes amid growing mainstream interest in South Asian food and beverage in the United States, driven by restaurant openings and a rising number of South Asian CPG brands. Kolkata Chai and Bungalow Foods, a CPG line co‑founded by Khanna and Rizvi, have both positioned themselves as leaders within that expanding market.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Women Were Beaten Like Animals’: CJP Protesters After ‘Lathi-Charge’ By RAF, Delhi PoliceCJP Claims Wangchuk’s Wife Assaulted; Amit Shah Meets Dharmendra Pradhan Amid CJP Sansad MarchJP Nadda To Meet CJP Leaders As Centre Initiates Dialogue Amid Parliament MarchSonam Wangchuk’s Latest Hunger Strike Note Shifts Focus To Accountability, Parliament AssuranceDelhi Metro Closes Five Stations, Police Block CJP’s Parliament March Amid Massive SecurityCentre To Introduce Bill Making Insult To Vande Mataram A Criminal OffenceDelhi Police Warns Against CJP’s Parliament March; Says No Permission Granted, Legal Action Likely’Strictly Prohibited’: Delhi Police Invokes Section 163, Issues Warning Over CJP’s Sansad MarchCJP Releases Do’s & Don’ts For ‘Chalo Sansad’ March As Sonam Wangchuk Continues Hunger StrikeFlash Floods, Landslides Hit J&K’s Poonch-Rajouri; Vaishno Devi, Amarnath Yatra Suspended123Photostories7 air-fryer egg dishes for a protein-rich dinnerBest time travel web series to watch: ‘Dark’, ‘Outlander’, ’12 Monkeys’ and more sci-fi masterpiecesWhy are some wine bottles sealed with corkBTS set the FIFA 2026 World Cup halftime stage on fire with red devils-inspired fashionInside Nikki Tamboli and Arbaz Patel’s stunning home: Luxurious interiors, cosy corners and more6 Smart ways to use essential oils in your bathroom for a fresher, spa-like feelUpcoming week’s OTT releases (July 20-July 26): From ‘A Toxic Love Story’ to ‘BLEACH’World’s top 10 most valuable restaurant chains and their billion-dollar brandsSpent 16 years in school, yet nobody taught you about money, AI, or psychology? Here are 8 things every woman needs to learn that actually matterThe truth about collagen loss: Why early prevention beats anti-wrinkle treatments123Hot PicksSylvester StalloneSteve JobsUS import pricesClint EastwoodDelhi Metro stationsJantar MantarKylie JennersCJP Parliament marchNHL Trade RumorsTop TrendingRajasthan RapeLucknow Jawahar Bhawan FireWeather TomorrowCJP ProtestSonam WangchukNEET Paper LeakJoseph VijayAbhishek BanerjeeIshowspeedIran war ‘Don’t have the COURAGE’: Aayush Sharma reveals why he still can’t call father-in-law Salim Khan as ‘Dad’ but ONLY with THIS name 10 baby girl names inspired by flowers with deep cultural and spiritual significance Is all well in Balen Shah’s Nepal? Why protests are testing his promise of change A 26-year-old quit her corporate drafting job in Chicago to become a seamstress at Yellowstone for $19.25 an hour, hoping it will lead to Broadway and film work NEW DELHI: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Monday said that that he has decided to continue his hunger strike after seeing the brutality on peaceful protestors marching to the Parliament.In a handwritten note, Wangchuk said that the his hunger strike will continue until Cockroach Janata Party leaders are allowed to meet MPs at the Parliament or he is allowed to meet them at Safdarjung Hospital.”Seeing the brutality with which peacefully protesting Youth are being dealt with, I have decided to continue my fast until the youth leaders are allowed to meet the Parliamentarians at the Sansad Bhawan or I am allowed to meet them here at the Hospital,” Wangchuk said.”Hopefully government will fix accountability of Education minister before that,” he added.He also appealed to the government and Delhi Police to allow the protesting students to present their grievances before the Parliament.”I am touched & moved by how the youth have held on to peace despite provocation and I appeal to the Govt & Police force to resolve the issue by simply allowing the students to present their grievances before the Parliament today or tomorrow,” Wangchuk said.”I’m sure the young protesters will show the same patience and tolerance tomorrow as they did today,” he added.This comes hours after a delegation of CJP met Union minister JP Nadda and submitted its petition demanding accountability from the government over the NEET-UG paper leak case.According to CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, the meeting with Nadda was under way, with the Union minister seeking time to consult the government leadership on the party’s demands.The demands include the immediate release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide.This comes as thousands tried to march to Parliament as part of the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest call to demand the former’s resignation over alleged examination irregularities.Outside Parliament, police used tear gas and mild force after demonstrators allegedly attempted to breach barricades and march towards the Parliament complex. Several protesters were detained.Security was tightened across central Delhi, with Rapid Action Force personnel deployed at key locations to prevent any breach. As a precautionary measure, several gates at Metro stations in the area were temporarily closed, affecting commuters.At least seven CJP protesters, including Abhijeet Dipke, were detained near the Reserve Bank of India, close to Parliament, during the party’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ march, PTI reported.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’Women Were Beaten Like Animals’: CJP Protesters After ‘Lathi-Charge’ By RAF, Delhi PoliceCJP Claims Wangchuk’s Wife Assaulted; Amit Shah Meets Dharmendra Pradhan Amid CJP Sansad MarchJP Nadda To Meet CJP Leaders As Centre Initiates Dialogue Amid Parliament MarchSonam Wangchuk’s Latest Hunger Strike Note Shifts Focus To Accountability, Parliament AssuranceDelhi Metro Closes Five Stations, Police Block CJP’s Parliament March Amid Massive SecurityCentre To Introduce Bill Making Insult To Vande Mataram A Criminal OffenceDelhi Police Warns Against CJP’s Parliament March; Says No Permission Granted, Legal Action Likely’Strictly Prohibited’: Delhi Police Invokes Section 163, Issues Warning Over CJP’s Sansad MarchCJP Releases Do’s & Don’ts For ‘Chalo Sansad’ March As Sonam Wangchuk Continues Hunger StrikeFlash Floods, Landslides Hit J&K’s Poonch-Rajouri; Vaishno Devi, Amarnath Yatra Suspended123Photostories7 air-fryer egg dishes for a protein-rich dinnerBest time travel web series to watch: ‘Dark’, ‘Outlander’, ’12 Monkeys’ and more sci-fi masterpiecesWhy are some wine bottles sealed with corkBTS set the FIFA 2026 World Cup halftime stage on fire with red devils-inspired fashionInside Nikki Tamboli and Arbaz Patel’s stunning home: Luxurious interiors, cosy corners and more6 Smart ways to use essential oils in your bathroom for a fresher, spa-like feelUpcoming week’s OTT releases (July 20-July 26): From ‘A Toxic Love Story’ to ‘BLEACH’World’s top 10 most valuable restaurant chains and their billion-dollar brandsSpent 16 years in school, yet nobody taught you about money, AI, or psychology? Here are 8 things every woman needs to learn that actually matterThe truth about collagen loss: Why early prevention beats anti-wrinkle treatments123Hot PicksSylvester StalloneSteve JobsUS import pricesClint EastwoodDelhi Metro stationsJantar MantarKylie JennersCJP Parliament marchNHL Trade RumorsTop TrendingRajasthan RapeLucknow Jawahar Bhawan FireWeather TomorrowCJP ProtestSonam WangchukNEET Paper LeakJoseph VijayAbhishek BanerjeeIshowspeedIran war R Ashwin points to selection bias, explains why Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are ‘impossible to drop’ ‘Raaka’ director Atlee praises ‘Ramayana’ trailer; calls Yash ‘unbelievably lethal’ and Ranbir Kapoor ‘stunning’ Meet the Indians who stood between chainsaws and trees to save the country’s green cover Despite Trump-Xi agreement, China’s rare earth magnet exports to US remain 20% below pre-trade war levels Mosquito species in the UK are potential carriers of avian malaria, new study finds Representative image NEW DELHI: A trainee IPS officer, who was booked for allegedly stalking and sexually harassing a fellow trainee at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad, was hospitalised on Monday following a suspected suicide attempt, police said.According to a doctor who treated him, the trainee officer was brought to a private hospital in an unconscious state by his brother and friends, who suspected that he had consumed a harmful substance.The doctor added that a stomach wash was performed, but no “abnormal” substance was found.The trainee officer’s blood and urine samples have been sent for tests, while his vital parameters remain stable.Although he was unconscious when brought to the hospital, he is now drowsy. The doctor added that further details would emerge after he regains full consciousness and the test reports are received.An alcohol bottle and a sanitizer bottle were found near his bed, according to the doctor, who cited the trainee officer’s brother.The case stems from a complaint filed by a 30-year-old woman trainee IPS officer, who accused her fellow trainee of stalking and sexually harassing her. She alleged that he had been sending sexually abusive messages through an instant messaging app since June 23 and making derogatory remarks about her in front of her colleagues.The complainant claimed that the officer falsely accused her of having a relationship with another trainee and pressured her to admit to it, while using abusive language.She further alleged that on July 9, he restrained her, took her to his room by force, pulled her hair, attempted to strangle her, and held a knife to her neck, preventing her from leaving. She also accused him of assaulting her the following day.The woman alleged that the officer recorded a private video of her without consent and sent it to her husband in an attempt to blackmail her.Based on the complaint, a case was registered at Attapur police station on July 18 under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to assault or criminal force against a woman, sexual harassment, stalking, and insulting the modesty of a woman, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act, police said.The trainee IPS officer denied the allegations in a social media post, calling the complaint and rumours against him “baseless and untrue.””I fully trust the legal process and believe justice will prevail,” he wrote.A police official said investigators would issue a notice asking him to appear in connection with the case.Following the registration of the case, the trainee officer left the academy, according to sources. He had earlier served as a constable in Andhra Pradesh.(With PTI inputs)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’Women Were Beaten Like Animals’: CJP Protesters After ‘Lathi-Charge’ By RAF, Delhi PoliceCJP Claims Wangchuk’s Wife Assaulted; Amit Shah Meets Dharmendra Pradhan Amid CJP Sansad MarchJP Nadda To Meet CJP Leaders As Centre Initiates Dialogue Amid Parliament MarchSonam Wangchuk’s Latest Hunger Strike Note Shifts Focus To Accountability, Parliament AssuranceDelhi Metro Closes Five Stations, Police Block CJP’s Parliament March Amid Massive SecurityCentre To Introduce Bill Making Insult To Vande Mataram A Criminal OffenceDelhi Police Warns Against CJP’s Parliament March; Says No Permission Granted, Legal Action Likely’Strictly Prohibited’: Delhi Police Invokes Section 163, Issues Warning Over CJP’s Sansad MarchCJP Releases Do’s & Don’ts For ‘Chalo Sansad’ March As Sonam Wangchuk Continues Hunger StrikeFlash Floods, Landslides Hit J&K’s Poonch-Rajouri; Vaishno Devi, Amarnath Yatra Suspended123Photostories7 air-fryer egg dishes for a protein-rich dinnerBest time travel web series to watch: ‘Dark’, ‘Outlander’, ’12 Monkeys’ and more sci-fi masterpiecesWhy are some wine bottles sealed with corkBTS set the FIFA 2026 World Cup halftime stage on fire with red devils-inspired fashionInside Nikki Tamboli and Arbaz Patel’s stunning home: Luxurious interiors, cosy corners and more6 Smart ways to use essential oils in your bathroom for a fresher, spa-like feelUpcoming week’s OTT releases (July 20-July 26): From ‘A Toxic Love Story’ to ‘BLEACH’World’s top 10 most valuable restaurant chains and their billion-dollar brandsSpent 16 years in school, yet nobody taught you about money, AI, or psychology? Here are 8 things every woman needs to learn that actually matterThe truth about collagen loss: Why early prevention beats anti-wrinkle treatments123Hot PicksSylvester StalloneSteve JobsUS import pricesClint EastwoodDelhi Metro stationsJantar MantarKylie JennersCJP Parliament marchNHL Trade RumorsTop TrendingRajasthan RapeLucknow Jawahar Bhawan FireWeather TomorrowCJP ProtestSonam WangchukNEET Paper LeakJoseph VijayAbhishek BanerjeeIshowspeedIran war ‘Thank you, India!’: Argentina envoy thanks Indian fans after World Cup heartbreak | Football News Jessica Alba and Danny Ramirez share a date night in New York City, following their recent Italian vacation Pharmacist offered ₹14,000 salary at hospital where cleaner earns ₹16,000; viral video sparks debate | Hunter-gatherers carried trout past waterfalls into fishless Norwegian mountain lakes 7,000 years ago; their descendants are still caught there today Quote of the day by Sylvester Stallone: ‘If you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you’ve got to be willing to take the hits,’ and why self-belief means little without the resilience to endure setbacks Meet Morgan Freeman: The Oscar-winning actor who gave up harvesting honey and turned his 124-acre ranch into a safe haven for bees | World News Anupama Parameswaran returns to Instagram with cryptic posts amid Dhruv Vikram breakup speculation A couple bought their dream home and got the keys, only to discover the property was a snake habitat after moving in Scientists warn AI-edited bird photos could create fake sightings and threaten biodiversity research Fresh landslide kills seven in rain-ravaged Poonch, J&K toll rises to 17 Florida returned half a million oyster shells to the Gulf of Mexico. The discarded shells became new reef habitat for marine life . NEW DELHI: With the JPC deciding to defer the report on the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan bill, Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose said the opposition forced the govt to put a hold on the controversial legislation that would destroy the education sector.Ghose said, “The shelving of the bill is a big win for the opposition. Trinamool Congress pushed back against the VBSA bill which is anti-student and anti-federalism.”TMC sources said the bill exceeds the constitutional parameters while making higher education the preserve of the rich. “It attacks federalism, creates a massive centralized structure and rule by New Delhi. It destroys academic freedom and constitutes a narrow interpretation of Bharatiya Knowledge Systems based on only one religion.”A senior TMC leader claimed the govt intends to demolish the UGC, in the absence of which the universities will take loans and repayment of the loans will lead to hiking of fees. “How will poor students afford education,” she asked.The bill was strongly opposed by Congress, DMK, Shiv Sena while, it is reported, govt ally TDP too had reservations over it.Get the latest India News and Live updates. 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