VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html “I’m happy to do everything I can to help..” How LeBron James turned childhood pain into a $41 million opportunity for young students with big dreams In 2022, France promised 1 billion trees within a decade; four years later, a court struck down the decree funding the programme Defence minister Rajnath Singh addresses the AFHQ Civilian Services Day celebrations at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi on Monday NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday underlined the need to deepen integration between the military and civil components of the defence ministry to foster greater synergy within the defence ecosystem to tackle evolving security and technological challenges, while ensuring institutional memory, stability and the effective application of rules and regulations.Addressing the 85th Armed Forces Headquarters (AFHQ) Civilian Services Day celebrations in Delhi on Aug 3, he emphasised that both uniformed and civil services share the same commitment of ‘Nation First’, and when the objective is singular, every element of the system transforms into national strength.Rajnath underlined that military and administrative integration cannot proceed along separate paths, adding that, as joint and integrated structures develop, there will be a need for continuity and expertise across all areas — policy, administration, human resource management, financial processes, logistics, and institutional knowledge. He highlighted the importance of further enhancing structured cross-exposure between civilian and military officers, suggesting joint training programmes and developmental assignments for both sides to learn from each other’s experiences.“Military officers bring operational experience, a command perspective, and an understanding of warfare, while civilian officers contribute through administrative continuity, policy experience, an understanding of government processes, and institutional memory. When these strengths combine, decision-making becomes more informed, balanced, and effective,” Rajnath said.Explaining with the example of ‘cyber warfare’, the minister stated that if officers of the AFHQ civilian services develop defence-specific common cyber tools leveraging their expertise, it could prove beneficial to the defence forces. He said a forum could be developed for the study of Indian military history, examining it from a civilian perspective, thereby fostering fresh ideas and new perspectives. He expressed confidence that, by leveraging expertise in such areas, AFHQ civilian services will be able to make more meaningful contributions to the defence sector.Rajnath called upon the AFHQ civilian services to evolve into the “strategic brain” of India’s defence management architecture by developing a comprehensive understanding of the defence sector, functioning effectively in a joint environment, and continuously enhancing its expertise to face the emerging challenges.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesWhile he acknowledged the AFHQ civilian services for moving ahead in sync with changing times, he asserted that, at a time when modern warfare is driven by technological dynamism, the cadre must move beyond its specific mandate of proper implementation of service rules, regulations & orders.“A military derives its strength not merely from weapons and ammunition, but also from the thousands of unseen hands that always stand in their support. AFHQ Civilian Services is one of these unseen yet decisive forces. It must focus on strengthening the security architecture through research, geo-strategic thinking & innovative ideas. Its active participation in core defence matters is essential as, being a permanent cadre of the Ministry of Defence, it possesses deep domain knowledge,” Rajnath said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?123PhotostoriesExclusive – From reacting to her bullying allegations against Gaurav Khanna to working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki 2; Shagun Sharma gets candid about KKK 15Why eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never notice123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh Inspiring story of the day: “I know you’re going to do some amazing things. I’m so proud of you.” How Josh Allen’s family stood by him through rejection, injuries and every NFL challenge Iraqi surgeon grows nose on patient’s forehead in rare reconstruction surgery to correct facial damage in high-voltage electrical accident FSSAI suspended a Tripura water company’s license and banned a Punjab supplement. Inspections revealed serious food safety and regulatory violations at the water facility. NEW DELHI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has suspended the licence of a packaged drinking water manufacturer in Tripura and prohibited the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of a dietary food supplement made by a Punjab-based company after inspections found serious food safety and regulatory violations.The licence of M/S Matri Drinking Water, Gomati, Tripura, was suspended with immediate effect following a complaint about foreign material in packaged drinking water. Inspectors found finished products stored outside the facility and on the floor alongside non-food materials, unhygienic processing and filling areas, rusted RO water storage tanks and chemical dosing containers, inadequate pest control and sanitation, and the absence of mandatory testing, maintenance and training records. A qualified technical supervisor was also not available during the inspection.In a separate action, FSSAI prohibited the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of Venolex Forte, marketed by M/S Noble Healthcare, Mohali, saying the dietary food supplement contained ingredients not permitted under the Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations, 2022.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe regulator said the product contained pharmacologically active ingredients, including calcium dobesilate, diosmin and Euphorbia prostrata, which are not permitted in food supplements. It also found that the product contained 90 mg of vitamin C, which appeared to exceed the Recommended Dietary Allowance prescribed under the ICMR-NIN Guidelines, 2020.FSSAI also said the product’s labelling was misleading, creating the impression of specific regulatory approval, and that it was manufactured and marketed beyond the scope of the firm’s FSSAI licence. The prohibition order has been issued under Section 36(3)(b) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?123PhotostoriesExclusive – From reacting to her bullying allegations against Gaurav Khanna to working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki 2; Shagun Sharma gets candid about KKK 15Why eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never notice123Hot PicksBypoll resultsKevin OwensBankipur bypoll resultJosh AllenRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh Horoscope Today, August 03, 2026: These Chinese Zodiac Animals Should Stay Alert, These May Get Lucky ‘Had no time to flee’: Drone strikes Russian Black Sea beach, kills 7 including 3 children, injures 40 Scottish proverb of the day: “The father buys, the son builds, the grandchild sells and his son begs” – an enduring lesson on preserving success across generations | World News Indian Army athletes secured 16 medals at the recent CWG. These included 8 gold, 7 silver, and 1 bronze medal. 2 Indian Navy personnel also contributed silver medals in weightlifting. NEW DELHI: In the recently-concluded Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Indian military personnel have a lion’s share in winning medals for the country. The Indian Army won 16 medals of India’s total medal haul of 39. Two Indian Navy personnel also won medals. If the medals won by Army and Navy personnel are combined, the services personnel bagged 18 medals out of the total 39, which is equivalent to 46% contribution of the services in winning medals.“A contingent of 20 Indian Army athletes won 16 medals for the Nation”, the Army said, adding out of 16 medals, eight are gold, seven silver and one bronze.Praising its personnel, the Indian Army, in a post X on Monday, said, “Har Kaam, Desh Ke Naam. General Dhiraj Seth, COAS and All Ranks of Indian Army extend heartiest congratulations to the Indian Army athletes for their outstanding performance at the Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026. ”Giving details of the disciplines were the Armymen won laurels, the ADG PI said, “Indian Army athletes exceptional performance is testimony of their zeal and commitment across judo, boxing, athletics, para athletics and weightlifting. Their achievements reaffirm the Indian Army’s steadfast commitment to nurturing world-class athletes and advancing the Nation’s sporting aspirations through Mission Olympics 2036.The Army gave details of its Army personnel winning medals: Gold medals won by Havildar Harsh in judo (60 kg), Naib Subedar Preeti in boxing (54 kg); Naib Subedar Jaismine in boxing (57 kg); Subedar Soman Rana in para shot put; Havildar Sakshi in boxing (51 kg); Havildar Arundhati in boxing (70 kg); Havildar Sachin in boxing (60 kg) and Havildar Ankush in boxing (80 kg). Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesSilver medals have been won by Naib Subedar Sarvesh in high jump; Nb Sub Gulveer in 10,000 m; Hav Ajaya Babu in weightlifting; Lt Col (Honorary) Neeraj Chopra in javelin throw; Hav Jadumani in boxing; Lance Naik Shubham Juyal in para shot put and Sub Narender in boxing (+90 kg). Bronze medal has been won by Nb Sub Gulveer in the 5,000-m track.Two Navy personnel — Chief Petty Officer Communication (Telegraphist) Lovepreet Singh and Chief Petty Officer (PT) Chanambam Rishikanta Singh — won silver medals in weightlifting category. In a post on X, the Navy said, “Indian Navy’s Lovepreet Singh, CPO COM (TEL), powered to a SILVER medal in the +110 kg Weightlifting category at CWG2026! Total Lift of 388 kg (176 kg Snatch + 212 kg Clean & Jerk). Rewriting the history books with a 176 kg Snatch, setting a new Commonwealth Games Record! Lovepreet ! You’ve made the nation proud.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?123PhotostoriesExclusive – From reacting to her bullying allegations against Gaurav Khanna to working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki 2; Shagun Sharma gets candid about KKK 15Why eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never notice123Hot PicksBypoll resultsKevin OwensBankipur bypoll resultJosh AllenRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh Explained: How Pakistan pacer’s British citizenship puts PSL 2027 contract in limbo ‘You created magic’: Rohit Sharma hails T Dilip as India replace fielding coach The world’s third-smallest country changed its name from Nauru to Naoero; its international code will shift from NRU to NRO ‘Atmosphere created by Gen Z protests’ may have helped Bankipur win, says Prashant Kishor NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Monday said the nationwide Gen Z protests may have contributed to his victory in the Bankipur Assembly bypoll, where he ended the BJP’s three-decade dominance. Fresh from his electoral debut victory, Kishor ruled out joining any political alliance and said his party would continue to chart an independent course in Bihar politics.Kishor defeated BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar by more than 19,000 votes in Bankipur, a constituency the BJP had held since 1995. The bypoll followed the resignation of BJP national president Nitin Nabin after his election to the Rajya Sabha.Speaking to reporters after the result, Kishor said the atmosphere created by the recent Gen Z protests may have influenced the outcome.”The atmosphere created by Gen Z protests” might have played a role in the result, Kishor said, adding, “But there is nothing to show that young electors had voted in large numbers in Bankipur. It is unfortunate, but that is the reality,” referring to the voter turnout of less than 35 per cent.Rejecting speculation about joining any political alliance, Kishor said, “We shall have no alliance. Our alliance shall be with the people of Bihar. You should see that the people of Bankipur have voted for us, giving up on established parties.”He said the victory was possible because he received support beyond Jan Suraaj’s core supporters.”I would like to thank my active supporters as well as those who backed me in the by-election, despite not being with Jan Suraaj. I received support from people in BJP, Congress and RJD, who were unhappy with the state of affairs in their party,” he said.Kishor also described the verdict as a rejection of the Bihar government, saying it was “essentially against” chief minister Samrat Choudhary.The former political strategist said, “The mandate is essentially against chief minister Samrat Choudhary, against whom I have nothing personal, but who is detested by educated people of Bihar because of criminal antecedents and lack of qualifications.”Calling the result a warning for the BJP leadership, Kishor said the verdict should serve as a wake-up call for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He argued that if Choudhary had been chosen because of caste considerations, he should be replaced with someone from the same community who had a “cleaner background”.The bypoll had become a prestige contest for the BJP after Nitin Nabin vacated the seat. In the 2025 Assembly election, Nabin had retained Bankipur by a margin of more than 50,000 votes.A senior BJP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that Kishor had capitalised on growing discontent among sections of the party’s traditional support base.”Prashant Kishor struck all the right notes. He tapped into the growing dissatisfaction among the upper castes by raising issues like the death after suspected rape of a NEET aspirant and the police encounter of Bharat Tiwari,” the leader said.The BJP leader added, “The Gen Z protests highlighted our weakening support among the youth, especially the upper castes, who have been our core base. They had been unhappy over the controversial UGC regulations and, now, they have begun to feel that we are taking them for granted.”Leaders of INDIA bloc parties also linked the result to the recent student-led protests.CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said, “It is an emphatic victory against the BJP. In the backdrop of Jantar Mantar protests, it does indicate a welcome shift in public mood.”Congress spokesperson Suman Kumar Mallick said, “The people of Bankipur have given a clear message against the arrogance of power and an autocracy. If Parliamentary elections are held today, Modi government will definitely be voted out.”Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesRJD spokesperson Chitaranjan Gagan said, “More important than who won is the fact that the BJP lost. We are not dejected and will work with renewed vigour to ensure the overthrow of the NDA from Bihar as well as the Centre.”Veteran socialist leader Shivanand Tiwary also linked the verdict to the wider student movement.”What we saw recently, at Jantar Mantar, across Bihar and in other parts of the country, was far more spectacular than what took place in 1974. Students’ activists of today are showing a far superior acumen than what was on display in our times,” he said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAyush PandeyAyush Pandey is a journalist at The Times of India, covering breaking news, politics, defence, and major legal and policy developments across India and the world. His reporting focuses on elections, national security, and institutional affairs, tracking the decisions and conflicts that shape public life. He specialises in sharp explainers and in-depth feature stories that go beyond headlines to decode political shifts, defence strategy, geopolitical flashpoints, and changing public sentiment. His work combines speed, clarity, and depth for a fast-moving digital audience.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?123PhotostoriesExclusive – From reacting to her bullying allegations against Gaurav Khanna to working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki 2; Shagun Sharma gets candid about KKK 15Why eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never notice123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh 5 everyday habits that quietly drain your energy without you even noticing | A tech CEO wanted to build a new country in an Asian Ghost city, but then an actual country came in the way Chennai entrepreneur shares how he started business with ₹90,000 after quitting ₹1 crore US job | World News Nitin Nabin says BJP will introspect after losing Bankipur bypoll to Prashant Kishor NEW DELHI: BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Monday said the party would undertake a “thorough introspection” after losing the Bankipur Assembly bypoll in Bihar, where Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor defeated BJP candidate Neeraj Kumar to end the party’s three-decade dominance in the constituency.Kishor won the bypoll by 19,324 votes, polling 64,151 votes against Neeraj Kumar’s 44,827 votes. The victory marked Kishor’s first electoral win since launching the Jan Suraaj Party and came less than a year after the party failed to win a single seat in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.Reacting to the bypoll results, Nabin accepted the verdict and said the BJP would analyse the reasons behind its defeats.In a post on X, Nabin said, “We accept the mandate received in today’s three assembly by-elections.We express our heartfelt gratitude to the people of Manjalpur assembly constituency in Gujarat for expressing their faith in the Bharatiya Janata Party. We extend our warm congratulations to all the dedicated workers and office-bearers of the BJP for this victory.In Bapni Pur and Datia, we did not receive the expected mandate. We will conduct a thorough introspection of the election results in both these areas with complete seriousness, and with renewed energy and determination, we will continue to go among the people and work tirelessly to further strengthen their trust.”Bankipur had been one of the BJP’s strongest urban bastions since 1995. The seat was represented first by BJP leader Navin Kishore Prasad Sinha and later by his son, Nitin Nabin, who held it for five consecutive terms before vacating it after his election to the Rajya Sabha, triggering the bypoll.In the 2025 Bihar Assembly election, Nabin had retained the seat by a margin of more than 50,000 votes, making Kishor’s victory one of the biggest political upsets in the state ahead of the Assembly elections.The bypoll also marked Prashant Kishor’s electoral debut. After years as a political strategist, he launched the Jan Suraaj Party with a campaign centred on education, employment and governance reforms. His victory gives the fledgling party its first electoral success.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesEarlier in the day, Kishor said the result carried a message beyond Bankipur.”It was an attempt by the people of Bihar to send a message to the BJP’s central leadership that they should appoint a good person as the Chief Minister of Bihar,” he told reporters.Following the result, the Jan Suraaj Party posted on X, “In democracy, the fortress belongs only to the people. Thank you, Bankipur–this is your victory.”Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary also congratulated Kishor on his victory.”In the grand festival of democracy, the people have chosen Jan Suraaj in the Bankipur Assembly by-election. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Shri Prashant Kishor ji on his victory, while respecting the people’s decision,” he said in a post on X.According to the Election Commission, the Bankipur bypoll recorded a voter turnout of 34.24 per cent.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAyush PandeyAyush Pandey is a journalist at The Times of India, covering breaking news, politics, defence, and major legal and policy developments across India and the world. His reporting focuses on elections, national security, and institutional affairs, tracking the decisions and conflicts that shape public life. He specialises in sharp explainers and in-depth feature stories that go beyond headlines to decode political shifts, defence strategy, geopolitical flashpoints, and changing public sentiment. His work combines speed, clarity, and depth for a fast-moving digital audience.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndian Parl Panel Grills Meta Over PM Modi Video Takedown, Seeks Mark Zuckerberg’s ApologyBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?123PhotostoriesExclusive – From reacting to her bullying allegations against Gaurav Khanna to working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki 2; Shagun Sharma gets candid about KKK 15Why eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never notice123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh Charles Dickens Quote: Quote of the Day by Charles Dickens, “Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that….” Americans discard around 50,000 mattresses every day; one recycling programme has recovered 650 million pounds from 17 million beds Quote of the day by Serena Williams: “I really think a champion is defined not by their wins, but by…” – a powerful lesson on resilience and rising after failure | World News November 26 also marks the sixth anniversary of the year-long farmers’ protest, which culminated in the repeal of the three farm laws in December 2021. NEW DELHI: Emboldened by the success of the students’ protests here at Jantar Mantar, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM)—the umbrella organisation of farmer groups involved in the anti-farm laws agitation five years ago—on Monday announced that it would restart protests at 100 locations, including Delhi, across India from November 26 – the day which will mark the sixth anniversary of the year-long farmers’ protest, which culminated in the repeal of the three farm laws in December 2021.The protests will demand a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP), repeal of all free trade agreements and no India-US FTA, and a comprehensive loan waiver to address rural indebtedness. The SKM’s demand list also includes four other demands such as scrapping of four labour codes; minimum wage of Rs. 31,000 payable to all workers as well as restoration of the previous rural job guarantee scheme; withdrawal of Electricity Privatisation Bill 2025, the Seed Bill 2025, and the NFSA Amendment Bill; and no forceful land acquisition. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines“The protest will not be called off until all seven principal demands are achieved,” said P Krishnaprasad of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), a constituent of SKM. “The decisive mass struggle, coordinated with joint platforms and organisations of workers, farmers, agricultural workers, students, youth, women and all other social sections facing the brunt of corporate attack under the NDA regime will advance based on worker-peasant unity to end the prolonged agrarian crisis and labour exploitation, and to build a modern democratic, federal, secular India,” he said while announcing the overall protest plan of the SKM.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorVishwa MohanVishwa Mohan is Senior Editor at The Times of India. He writes on environment, climate change, agriculture, water resources and clean energy, tracking policy issues and climate diplomacy. He has been covering Parliament since 2003 to see how politics shaped up domestic policy and India’s position at global platform. Before switching over to explore sustainable development issues, Vishwa had covered internal security and investigative agencies for more than a decade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI Probe123PhotostoriesExclusive – From reacting to her bullying allegations against Gaurav Khanna to working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki 2; Shagun Sharma gets candid about KKK 15Why eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never notice123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh ‘I went from ₹2 lakh to ₹40,000 a month’: Copywriter claims AI cost him his high-paying career Nolan Wells case update: Mississippi officials issue urgent warning after fake toxicology report spreads across social media 44-year-old man climbs Brooklyn Bridge, strips naked, plants flags and jumps into East River; survives, identified and charged by NYPD AI-generated image NEW DELHI: The Asia pacific Group on money laundering in its latest report on cybercrime hubs in Myanmar, Lao PDR and Cambodia has revealed that Indian nationals are among victims of several countries trafficked to these cyber hubs and kept as slaves, trained to operate various scams like investment, romance, impersonation, social media and gaming.These cybercrime hubs are controlled by Chinese nationals who also tortured these “slaves” through coercion methods, including electric shock, dark room and isolation room confinement, physical abuse, fines and mental torture.Cyber scam hubs are mainly located in the Golden Triangle region along border areas between Thailand, Myanmar, Lao PDR and Cambodia, besides the northern border of Myanmar with China and the Philippines. Some of them operated from special economic zones. An inter-governmental body like the Financial Action Task Force, the Sydney-based APG initiated this study led by Indonesia and UN Office on Drugs and Crime with a team comprised of 24 experts from the govts of Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Solomon Islands, Singapore, Vietnam and UAE.The study examined the emerging nexus between human trafficking and cyber-enabled financial crime, drawing upon the debriefings of 15 Indian nationals repatriated from Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Cambodia between 2023 and 2024. The individuals were recruited under the pretext of high-paying customer-service or IT jobs, transported through Thailand, and then coerced to work in criminal “scam compounds” operated by transnational syndicates, it said.“Victims were mostly young men (20-35 age group) from nine Indian states, recruited via social media or personal networks, who paid upfront fees (Rs 50-70,000). Compounds were run by Chinese-speaking syndicates, with multi-national workforces and strict control (passport confiscation, physical/psychological abuse),” the report has said.The report further revealed that these slave workers were sold between scam compounds, where they were subjected to confinement, violence and debt bondage. “Interception operations and large-scale rescues have revealed victims from a variety of nationalities and regions, suggesting that recruitment practices have expanded beyond solely regional contexts. Workers are forced to conduct investment fraud, impersonation schemes, romance scams, and illegal online gambling platforms, with performance enforced through physical abuse and threats,” it added.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines Crypto-based financial systems served as core enabling mechanisms.Other examples cited by the agency related to large-scale use of mule accounts and SIM cards from India, which exploited the “vulnerable population”, which were unemployed youth and drug addicts. In one case, muule bank accounts and SIM cards from Punjab were supplied to cyber fraudsters in the Philippines, facilitating scams totalling over Rs 40 crore. The unemployed youth were lured with fake jobs, asked to open accounts and provide their SIMs, which were couriered to the Philippines.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI Probe123PhotostoriesExclusive – From reacting to her bullying allegations against Gaurav Khanna to working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki 2; Shagun Sharma gets candid about KKK 15Why eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never notice123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’: Harrison Osterfield is ‘so proud’ of Tom Holland’s achievements Michael Phelps net worth in 2026: Inside the Olympic legend’s multi million dollar fortune, endorsements and more Robbery attempt at Indian men waiting in parking lot after 11 pm, multi-city chase by police in Texas Glaw Lake in Himachal Pradesh NEW DELHI: India’s one more wetland, Glaw Lake of Arunachal Pradesh, has entered the global list of protected wetlands as a Ramsar site. It is the country’s 101st such site and the state’s first to join the elite club for additional care and conservation.Located within the Kamlang Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, Glaw Lake is a pristine freshwater lake in the Eastern Himalayas and a biodiversity hotspot. The lake is fed by perennial mountain streams and is surrounded by lush vegetation, supporting rich floral diversity.“Every new Ramsar site strengthens our resolve to protect nature while securing the future of communities that depend on these invaluable ecosystems,” said Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav while announcing the development on X on Monday.The Glaw Lake wetland has over 150 tree species and 49 orchid species recorded within the site and its catchment, underscoring its ecological significance and surrounding landscape.“From 26 Ramsar sites in 2014 to 101 today, this remarkable journey reflects our unwavering commitment to environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development,” said Yadav.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesGlobally, there are nearly 2,600 such designated wetlands under the Ramsar Convention. India has the highest number of such wetlands in Asia and third highest in the world after the UK (176) and Mexico (144).Wetlands are land areas covered by water, either temporarily/ seasonally or permanently. These are critical ecosystems that play a significant role in supporting biodiversity, and providing various ecosystem services such as flood control, water supply, food, fibre and raw materials.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorVishwa MohanVishwa Mohan is Senior Editor at The Times of India. He writes on environment, climate change, agriculture, water resources and clean energy, tracking policy issues and climate diplomacy. He has been covering Parliament since 2003 to see how politics shaped up domestic policy and India’s position at global platform. Before switching over to explore sustainable development issues, Vishwa had covered internal security and investigative agencies for more than a decade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI Probe123PhotostoriesExclusive – From reacting to her bullying allegations against Gaurav Khanna to working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki 2; Shagun Sharma gets candid about KKK 15Why eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never notice123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh Mahesh Bhatt says the tragic incident of being closely exposed to death of a young man led to making ‘Saaransh’: ‘I was 34, Anupam Kher was 28’ Centre raises windfall tax on petrol, diesel and ATF exports from August 3 California woman was swept down the Kern River and found clinging beneath a rock; rescuers pulled her from the rapids TRAI MyCall app gives telecom service providers information on areas where network performance needs improvement NEW DELHI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has revamped the “TRAI MyCall’, a mobile application that enables telecom consumers to directly assess and report the voice-calling experience. A citizen-centric digital platform that allows telecom consumers to share real-time feedback on their voice-calling experience, TRAI MyCall app gives telecom service providers (TSPs) information on areas where network performance needs improvement and take targeted corrective measures.TRAI says the revamped app offers instant rating of voice calls through a simple 1-5 star feedback system; reporting of specific issues such as call drops, echo during calls, audio delay, cross connection, voice breaking, one party unable to hear the other, and calls taking too long to connect, which shall be available to respective service provider for corrective action; automatic post-call feedback and coverage test feature to assess signal strength.TRAI chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said: “Every telecom consumer experiences network quality first-hand. The revamped TRAI MyCall app is expected to strengthen consumer participation feedback on telecom service quality by enabling subscribers to provide immediate and perceived feedback on their call experience. The feedback will assist Telecom Service Providers in identifying network deficiencies and taking corrective measures, enhanced customer satisfaction, and a better overall mobile communication experience.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines The initiative reinforces TRAI’s commitment to a consumer-centric, transparent, and data-driven approach to improving the quality of telecom services. I encourage all mobile users to download the TRAI MyCall application and regularly share their feedback. Every feedback matters, and together we can build a better calling experience for every telecom consumer.”“With over one billion telecom subscribers in India, voice calling remains the most fundamental telecom service and is often the first indicator of network quality experienced by consumers. While network performance is evaluated using technical quality of service (QoS) parameters, the quality of experience (QoE) perceived by consumers also provides an important perspective on service performance. TRAI MyCall bridges this gap by combining consumer feedback with relevant network information to facilitate a more comprehensive assessment of telecom service quality,” TRAI said in a statement.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBankipur Shock, Datia Loss: BJP Suffers Twin Setback, But Why Isn’t It Good News For Opposition?Bengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI Probe123PhotostoriesExclusive – From reacting to her bullying allegations against Gaurav Khanna to working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki 2; Shagun Sharma gets candid about KKK 15Why eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never notice123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh Amazon achieves new milestone! Market cap crosses $3 trillion as AI, cloud growth power stock rally Bulgarian teenager Nikola Veselinov solved a maths puzzle that stumped basic algebra; his theorem won a $75,000 global science award Rashmika Mandanna reveals one of her hip tendons detached during Mysaa shoot: ‘I should treat my body like a human, not a machine’ ‘They’ll arrest us at hospitals’: PoK protesters risk death over electricity, flour demands Kevin Smith paid £5 after dropping off his son and another £5 when collecting him; East Midlands Airport still sent two £100 fines Protests were held in various cities of Gujarat seeking the resignation of then education minister Dhrmendra Pradhan (PTI photo) NEW DELHI: The Gujarat government has directed the state police to withdraw all criminal cases registered against students, youths and others who took part in recent protests over the alleged NEET-UG examination paper leak, officials said on Monday.With this, Gujarat has become the latest BJP-ruled state to withdraw FIRs against NEET protesters. Similar decisions have already been taken by the BJP governments in Assam, Bihar, Delhi and Maharashtra.In a July 31 letter to the state’s Director General of Police GS Malik, the Gujarat home department cited the Supreme Court’s July 28 judgment restraining police from taking coercive action against minor student protesters and directed the immediate withdrawal of all existing cases.The department instructed the police not to initiate any adverse legal or penal action against individuals who participated in the protests in the state. It further directed that if any FIRs or criminal cases had already been registered against protesters, the legal process for their withdrawal should be completed immediately.The communication, however, did not specify how many FIRs or criminal cases would be withdrawn.Protests were held in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad and several other cities in support of demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online satirical outfit that had been leading an indefinite sit-in at Jantar Mantar since June 21, called off its protest on July 25 following the resignation of then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesBesides seeking Pradhan’s resignation, the CJP had demanded that no action be taken against its members or any NEET protesters across the country.The CJP has repeatedly warned that it would resume its agitation if the FIRs are not withdrawn.Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also clarified on Monday that the expression “criminal antecedents” in its July 28 order on releasing student protesters referred only to those involved in grave and heinous offences, and said states could close or withdraw FIRs against the remaining students in accordance with law.(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 MediaVideosBengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI ProbeThree Bypolls: From Prashant Kishor’s Make-or-Break to BJP’S Bastion, What’s At Stake?123PhotostoriesExclusive – From reacting to her bullying allegations against Gaurav Khanna to working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki 2; Shagun Sharma gets candid about KKK 15Why eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? These 7 simple rules can bring you and your partner closer than ever8 Montessori principles every parent should follow to raise confident and independent childrenMost people skip leg day, but doctors say it could be one of the smartest things you do for your heart, bones, blood sugar, and longevityAncient India’s forgotten fashion: What women wore in the era of Lord Rama8 foods served on Japan’s famous bullet trainsWomen who stay calm even when life falls apart often use these 7 simple phrases, according to psychologyWhy is there always a chair in hotel rooms? The hidden reason most guests never notice123Hot PicksBypoll resultsPM ModiBankipur bypoll resultCET CAP Round 1 allotmentRBI FD rulePrashant KishorKarnataka cabinet expansionAssam floodsKanwar Yatra 2026Top TrendingNew Karnataka Cabinet ListJoe BradyBrittany MahomesGhaziabad Psychiatrist SuicideJeM Operative GirlfriendRuchika SharmaHamim Mondal ArrestWomen Wrestlers Sexual Harassment CaseBypoll Election Result 2026Shradha Singh When Shah Rukh Khan’s accidental fall made Rahul and Anjali’s first meeting in ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ even more memorable In 2023, scientists turned part of San Diego’s ocean bright pink to see how river water reaches the sea From 2025 washout to historic sweep: How Prashant Kishor put Jan Suraaj on Bihar’s electoral map ‘Killed her, took bank card, put body in a suitcase’: Chilling details of the murder of aid worker who helped refugees in Greece, Afghan building cleaner arrested NEW DELHI: Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) founder Prashant Kishor has finally found a seat for his “school bag” in Bihar. The election strategist-turned-politician has flipped the Bankipur assembly seat, an unassailable bastion of the BJP for the last 30 years. Before today’s shock defeat, the BJP had registered 8 consecutive victories in Bankipur since 1995, when it won the seat for the first time.By-election in Bankipur was necessitated after Nitin Nabin resigned as BJP MLA from the seat in April after his election to Rajya Sabha. This followed Nitin Nabin’s elevation as BJP national president in January this year.To gauge the enormity of Prashant Kishor’s victory, look at these facts:BJP has held Bankipur assembly seat from 1995 (Till 2005, the seat was known as Patna West)BJP chief Nitin Nabin won from the Bankipur assembly seat four times in a row Nitin Nabin won from Bankipur for first time in 2010 with a margin of 56%From 1995 to 2010, the seat (known as Patna West) was represented by Navin Kishore Prasad Sinha (Nitin Nabin’s father)Father-son duo has won the seat 8 consecutive times For PK, as Prashant Kishor is popularly known, contesting the Bankipur byelection was a huge political gamble. PK, who made a high-pitched entry into Bihar politics with a padyatra spanning months ahead of the 2025 assembly elections, cut a sorry figure when his Jan Suraj Party failed to win even one seat less than a year ago. Such dismal was his first electoral show that JSP lost deposit in 236 of the 238 seats it contested. Prashant Kishor did not contest the election himself and instead led a high-voltage campaign for his party across the state.Little wonder his decision to contest the Bankipur bypoll was fraught with the danger of becoming a make-or-break political move. But the gamble has paid off and Prashant Kishor with his debut win has propelled into the centrestage of Bihar politics.‘Bankipur’s message to BJP central leadership’Prashant Kishor polled over 64,151 votes and won the key electoral battle by a margin of 19,324 votes over BJP’s Neeraj Kumar. Prashant Kishor’s resounding success, nine months after his party’s humiliating defeat, marks a remarkable turnaround.And making the most of his victory, Prashant Kishor immediately trained his guns at Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary.”This is the victory of the people of Bankipur. As we stated during the election campaign, this was not just an election to choose an MLA. It was an attempt by the people of Bihar to send a message to the BJP’s central leadership that they should appoint a good person as the chief minister of Bihar. They do not want a person with a criminal background or questionable conduct, character, or reputation to lead Bihar. They want a good chief minister who can improve education, create employment opportunities for the youth, and ensure that the children of Bihar do not have to migrate elsewhere for work,” Kishor told reporters as his supporters celebrated his maiden electoral victory.Prashant Kishor’s use of his victory to target Samrat Choudhary did not come as a surprise. Ksihor been unrelenting in his attacks against the BJP leader ever since the election strategist became a full-time politician. He has targeted Samrat Choudhary over the chief minister’s educational qualification and his alleged criminal past.Kishor’s development pitch or disappointment against BJP?The Jan Suraaj chief also called upon the BJP’s central leadership to focus on governance ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections, stating, “Before the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Modi, the BJP, and Amit Shah should focus on improving Bihar, creating jobs for its youth, and stopping migration. That is our only objective. We do not want to become MLAs merely to award contracts. Our sole objective is the development of Bihar.”These are the very themes on which Prashant Kishor fought the 2025 assembly elections and lost. Clearly, while he keeps focus on these issues, his victory in bankipur may less be about endorsement of his development focus and more about people’s disappointment with the BJP. The result is also perhaps a fallout of the students’ agitation against NEET-UG paper leak, which saw huge protests in Bihar. In Siwan, a police constable was suspended after a video purportedly showing him using an AK-47 rifle during a student protest on July 25 went viral on social media.Leader of opposition in Bihar assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, slammed Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary for the incident. He posted a video of the purported incident on X and, along with it, said, “During the protest in Siwan, police resorted to direct firing with an AK-47 on students. When a criminal becomes chief minister, then police fire bullets at innocent students.”‘Verdict by Bihar’s youth against BJP’CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya in his message to Prashant Kishor described his victory as a significant verdict by Bihar’s youth against the BJP-led state government.In a post on X, Bhattacharya termed Kishor’s victory a “well-earned debut victory” and said the bypoll result reflected public anger against the ruling dispensation.”Congratulations to Prashant Kishor on his well-earned debut victory in Bankipur bypoll. Kudos to the youth of Bihar for delivering such a telling blow to the supremely arrogant, incompetent and tyrannical BJP government of Bihar,” he said.Shock verdict for BJPThe BJP was quick to accept the verdict of the people. State BJP president Sanjay Saraogi said in a statement, “We bow before the will of the people. We shall draw lessons from the debacle, unlike our opponents who tend to blame every electoral loss of theirs on EVMs and the Election Commission”.But for the BJP, this defeat comes as an embarrassment for both its national president Nitin Nabin and the party’s first chief minister in the state Samrat Choudhary. Bankipur seat was literally a personal fiefdom of Nitin Nabin’s family which represented the constituency for 30 long years. A defeat in the backyard will surely embarrass the BJP chief.For Samrat Choudhary, this was the first electoral test of his government which was formed after the BJP took over the reins of the state from JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar. It was Nitish Kumar who had led the NDA to an emphatic triumph in the 2025 assembly elections. And the BJP would have hoped that Samrat Choudhary would have given it a winning start. But that was not to be.Lalu’s RJD pushed to fringesThe Bankipur bypoll result also has a worrying message for the main opposition party RJD. Tejashwi Yadav’s party seems to have learnt no lessons from the 2025 electoral drubbing. The party which has been reduced to 25 seats in the assembly did little to show intent on the ground. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIts candidate Rekha Kumari polled just 14,273 votes. This was over 32,000 votes less than the figure of 46,363, which she had polled in the 2025 assembly elections as the runnerup in the seat. Ironically, for the greater part of the campaign, RJD’s star campaigner Tejashwi Yadav was missing in action.Time to pause, reviewIt may not be prudent to overexaggerate the outcome of one bypoll. The result of one seat, even though high-profile, may not be indicative of any larger trend. But for the BJP and the RJD to brush aside the defeat as a one-off setback would be doing harm to their cause. The BJP should remember that it rules Bihar but is still dependent on its allies for survival. The RJD, meanwhile, remains the main opposition party but seems to have lost the plot to factionalism and family feuds after its dismal 2025 show. Both need to pause and review what went wrong in Bankipur. MLA Prashant Kishor, on the other hand, will perhaps be now preparing for another bout with his political bete noir Samrat Choudhary – this time on the floor of Bihar assembly.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBengal STF Busts Alleged JeM Module, Probe Points To Pak-Based Handlers And Intelligence Network’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI ProbeThree Bypolls: From Prashant Kishor’s Make-or-Break to BJP’S Bastion, What’s At Stake?123PhotostoriesExclusive – From reacting to her bullying allegations against Gaurav Khanna to working with Smriti Irani in Kyunki 2; Shagun Sharma gets candid about KKK 15Why eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? 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Immigration attorney says ICE can still arrest you; Oakland’s Chantal Morales Rojas also did her paperwork before deadline “Ethanol policy is flawed”: Arvind Kejriwal on planned march to PM’s residence Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced that he will march to the Prime Minister’s residence on Tuesday to personally hand over a petition signed by over 2.33 lakh people against what he termed a “flawed” ethanol policy.Addressing the media, Kejriwal said, “A few days ago, we launched an online petition addressed to the Prime Minister, and approximately 2,33,238 people signed it within just a short period. Tomorrow at 12:00 PM, I will set out from my office with a group of a hundred people to head towards the Prime Minister’s residence. We want to hand over this petition to him personally and discuss why the ethanol policy is flawed.” Watch India’s E20 Fuel Debate Explained: Facts, Myths & The Road to E100Earlier on Saturday, addressing a townhall programme outside the Constitution Club in New Delhi, Kejriwal said, “Earlier, I asked you to sign a petition addressed to the Prime Minister. More than 2,00,000 people have signed it online, and I have taken printouts of those signatures. On Tuesday, the 4th, at 12:00 PM, I will personally go to the Prime Minister’s residence to hand over the petition.”Kejriwal further said that there is no need for a larger turnout, but those who are not scared of police action would be taken.”There is no need for everyone to come along. I will take 100 people with me who are not afraid of police batons. I will take 100 people with me who are not afraid of going to jail. Those who wish to join should write to me, tag me and send me a message. We will take 100 people with us, march toward the Prime Minister’s residence, and then see what happens,” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe march would be the latest escalation in AAP’s campaign against the Centre’s E20 fuel policy. During the programme, Kejriwal put forward three demands on the issue to the Centre: there should be an option for E20 and pure petrol at petrol pumps, E20 should be cheaper than pure petrol, and the price of petrol should be less than 84 rupees/litre.He also urged people to halt their purchase of vehicles until vehicles compatible with E100 are manufactured in the country. I appeal to the people of my country to stop buying petrol and diesel vehicles. Until E100 vehicles start being manufactured in the country, do not buy a vehicle. This government will ruin you,” he said on X.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’30-Year Stronghold Fell In 30 Days’: Prashant Kishor’s 1st Remarks As He Eyes Historic Bankipur Win‘I Was A Moderate Hindu’: Kangana Ranaut Says ‘People Become Leftist After Meeting Islamists’’Will Lay Down Protocol’: Pellet Guns Under Supreme Court Lens After Jantar Mantar ProtestsCandidates Protest, Walk Out Of Exam Centre Over OMR Mismatch Confusion; Exam Board ClarifiesOnly One Woman Finds Place In DK Shivakumar’s Karnataka Cabinet Even After Major ExpansionDelhi Court Acquits Brij Bhushan In Wrestlers’ Sexual Harassment Case After Two-Year TrialWhy Two Crucial ISRO Satellites Are Still Waiting For Government Clearance To Launch?JPSC Protest Escalates: Devendra Mahato Begins Hunger Strike, Demands Exam Cancellation & CBI ProbeThree Bypolls: From Prashant Kishor’s Make-or-Break to BJP’S Bastion, What’s At Stake?Delhi Police To Not Register Case Against Minor Who Abused PM Modi, Say Sources123PhotostoriesWhy eating dinner after 7 pm may be silently damaging your health: Doctor explains what happens inside your body at nightOTT releases this week (August 3 to August 9): ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, ‘Sterling Point’, ‘Operation Safed Sagar’, ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ and moreWant a happy married life after becoming parents? 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