VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html ANI photo NEW DELHI: Except for academic-turned-politician Sandeep Pathak — once considered the ‘Chanakya’ of AAP for playing a key role in leading it to victory in Punjab — and two — Raghav Chadha and Swati Maliwal — who were estranged, the switchover of four AAP MPs to BJP caused just as much surprise as their nominations for the coveted Rajya Sabha seats.There four — Ashok Mittal, Vikram Sahney, Rajinder Gupta and Harbhajan Singh — had no history of engagement with either the India Against Corruption movement, the precursor to AAP, or with the party before it became a political force, which with two states — Punjab and earlier Delhi — under its belt could dispense favours, including RS berths. Watch Political Storm Erupts As BJP Targets Kejriwal Over ‘Sheesh Mahal 2’ ClaimsTheir nominations, at the cost of those who were part of the anti-corruption movement, had sparked chatter about the possible reasons, with consensus being that they could be vulnerable to overtures from rivals.Chadha, Pathak and Maliwal were the only three traditional AAP members put in the upper House of Parliament as a reward for their loyalty and work in steering the party. Pathak who was credited for playing a key role in Punjab’s victory was also given the pivotal post of general secretary in-charge of organisation matters.But both Chadha and Maliwal had been estranged from AAP for sometime, with the former’s removal as the party’s deputy leader in RS only confirming what political circles had known about the state of his equations with AAP national convenor and fomer Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.In fact, when Kejriwal was arrested in the Delhi liquor ‘scam’ case in March 2024, the absence of many of its RS MPs had set the grapevine a buzz that all was not well in the AAP camp.On Friday, ED raids against Mittal, who replaced Chadha as deputy leader in RS, are being cited as the reason for the Mittal joining BJP — but the fact is that his defining credentials have always been as founder of Lovely Professional University (LPU).The other three — Sahney a businessman and social worker, Gupta an industrialist who is founder and chairman emeritus of Trident Group, and Singh, a former Indian cricketer — too were never seen as the voice of AAP on political issues both inside and outside of Parliament.But while RS seats for them raised eyebrows, it fitted in with the pattern of AAP preferring resourceful persons, including imports from rivals, over the faithful. It started after Kejriwal acquired a constituency that stretched beyond the core and became a trend when AAP became the first start-up to hold office in two states.This of RS MPs comes just a little over 14 months after AAP faced a rout on its homeground Delhi and when the party is bracing itself for a tough battle to save its govt in Punjab. The “defection” takes away the bounce the party enjoyed following Kejriwal’s discharge in the liquor case.The departures, besides denting AAP’s presence in Parliament also brings out its vulnerability as it now faces the big challenge of keeping its flock together — MLAs in Punjab ahead of the 2027 assembly.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia’s Army Chief Honoured With International Hall Of Fame At US War CollegeK. 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(ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: Raghav Chadha’s exit from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) does not come as a surprise. Nor, perhaps, his decision to join the BJP. Raghav Chadha’s political moves were widely anticipated given his open dare to the party leadership (read Arvind Kejriwal) after being removed from the post of deputy leader in Rajya Sabha last month. But what did come as a surprise is the vengeance with which Raghav Chadha hit back obliterating the very existence of AAP in the Upper House. Clearly, there was a lot of ground work done by Chadha before he dealt the final blow. Retrospectively, his remark “Ghayal hoon, issliye Ghatak hoon” after Rajya Sabha demotion was perhaps an indication of his plans vis-à-vis the AAP. Raghav Chadha’s AAP journeyRaghav Chadha did not just quit AAP, he ensured the merger of Kejriwal’s party with the BJP in the Upper House by garnering the support of 2/3rd of AAP MPs – 7 out of 10 to be exact. Addressing a press conference after announcing the revolt, Chadha said: “We have decided that we, the 2/3rd members belonging to the AAP in Rajya Sabha, exercise the provisions of the Constitution of India and merge ourselves with the BJP.”The six other MPs who have quit party include Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Swati Maliwal. Interestingly, the list includes Ashok Mittal, who had replaced Raghav Chadha as the deputy leader of AAP in Rajya Sabha and had hosted Arvind Kejriwal at his house in Delhi till a day ago. Mittal, who is the founder chancellor of Lovely Professional University, had to face ED raids soon after his elevation in the Upper House. Searches were also carried out at properties associated with the university and Mittal’s family members. According to reports, the ED raids were linked to a money laundering probe. AAP MLAs who switched sideThe AAP, as expected, reacted very strongly to this development and accused the BJP of “Operation Lotus”, a term used to define saffron party engineered defections of political rivals. AAP leader Sanjay Singh alleged that central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) were misused to pressure and break away AAP leaders. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of betraying Punjab, which is ruled by AAP and goes to assembly polls next year.AAP weakened in Punjab?After losing Delhi to BJP last year, AAP leaders including Arvind Kejriwal have focused on Punjab – the only state which the party governs now. Assembly elections are due in Punjab next year and Kejriwal has spent most of his time in the state planning and strategising party’s electoral strategy with his chief minister Bhagwant Mann. Raghav Chadha had played a key role in helping the AAP win Punjab in 2022. For almost three years he was central to party’s activities in the state. However, that changed in March 2025 when Kejriwal appointed Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain as incharge and co-incharge of party in Punjab replacing Jarnail Singh and Raghav Chadha.So, the big question is: Will this mass exodus of MPs weaken AAP in Punjab? Has Raghav Chadha also done some ground work in the state with the AAP MLAs? Punjab chief minister and senior AAP leader Bhagwant Mann is brutal in dismissing the impact of this mass exodus.“Ginger, garlic, cumin, fenugreek powder, red chili, black pepper, and coriander—these 7 things together make the vegetable taste great, but on their own, they can’t become a ‘vegetable,’” Bhagwant Mann said yesterday. AAP vs ChadhaHe didn’t stop there. “Let me be clear—none of them is capable of becoming even a village sarpanch on their own merit. The party is bigger than any individual. These 6-7 people who have left do not comprise Punjab. They were not mass leaders,” Mann added.Rhetoric apart, the first priority of Arvind Kejriwal and his team would be to ensure that their MLAs in Punjab stay intact. AAP has 92 MLAs in the 117-member assembly, a number huge enough to perhaps prevent any immediate threat to the Mann government. But with elections due next year, many of these MLAs would be open to exploring greener pastures with the BJP, which is trying to spread its base in the state.Can BJP gain in Punjab from AAP exodus?Well, this can be an interesting debate. The BJP, which was a junior ally of the Akalis in the state for decades, has been trying desperately to spread its base after its break-up with the Shiromani Akali Dal. The SAD quit the alliance over the three farmers’ bill and the BJP did nothing to bring it back in the fold even after junking the bills.Ever since, the BJP has relied heavily on Congress imports to make its presence felt in the state. The saffron party managed to rope in leaders like former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Sunil Jhakhar besides many others in its fold. Now with Raghav Chadha at its services, the BJP would hope to get some “disgruntled” AAP leaders on its side.But will these imports be enough to propel the BJP into power in the state? Let’s have a look at the numbers:In 2017 assembly elections, the BJP won 3 seats with a vote share of 5.4%. Five years later, in 2022 the saffron party managed only 2 seats with 6.6%. The BJP poll strategists would hope that the party could do a West Bengal in Punjab. In West Bengal, the BJP increased its tally from 3 seats in 2016 to 77 seats in 2021. The party’s vote share jumped from 10.3% to 38.4%. The Congress factorSo, while the big Bengal leap gave BJP some hope, the fact is that Punjab may be different. The Congress in Punjab, unlike in West Bengal, still has a significant presence and also vote share. While the grand-old-party was reduced to 18 seats in Punjab in 2022 assembly elections, its vote share was still at 23.1%. In the 2017 elections, the Congress had won 77 seats with a vote share of 38.8% to rule the state for 5 years. However, leadership tussle involving Capt Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu became the nemesis for the party. Besides, the Shiromani Akali Dal also managed a vote share of 18.5% in 2022 despite the fact that it could win only 3 seats. BJP vs Congress?Given these numbers, the Congress in Punjab may be in a better position to benefit from a weakened AAP than the BJP. This is provided the grand-old-party plays it cards well and manages to effectively control infighting in the state. The BJP, on the other hand, would in all likeliness go all out to maximise its gains after roping in Raghav Chadha and other AAP MPs in the state. The saffron party can also take hope from the fact that in West Bengal also, the Congress and the Left had significance presence in 2016, but were still decimated by the saffron party.So, while AAP firefights after Raghav Chadha led coup, the BJP and the Congress would both hope to gain from the turn of events. Kejriwal and his AAP on the other hand would leave no stone unturned to play the victim card and maximise its gains from the loss of its MPs.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAAP Fury Explodes: “Gaddar” Written On Harbhajan Singh’s House After BJP MoveBhagwant Mann Moves President Over AAP Rajya Sabha Exodus, Seeks Action Against 7 MPsRaghav Chadha’s Exit Explained: How 7 MPs Leaving Triggered AAP’s Biggest CrisisHow Raghav Chadha and 6 AAP MPs avoided disqualification under anti-defection lawIndia’s Army Chief Honoured With International Hall Of Fame At US War CollegeRaghav Chadha Blames ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for AAP’s Delhi Poll Defeat, Fresh AttackRaghav Chadha, AAP MPs Join BJP: How ‘Merger Clause’ Could Help Them Avoid DisqualificationPolitical Storm Erupts As BJP Targets Kejriwal Over ‘Sheesh Mahal 2’ ClaimsRam Madhav Says ‘India Agreed To Stop Buying Russian Oil’, Later Clarifies, Rahul Gandhi ReactsExplained: How the New US H-1B Bill Could Disrupt Indian Students’ Study-to-Work Pathway123PhotostoriesLove or loot? 5 glaring signs your partner is treating you like a human ATMDiabetes: 5 fruits that can be secret weapon against high blood sugar‘Marty Supreme’ to ‘Greenland 2’; English releases of the week on OTTWhy Chef Sanjeev Kapoor suggests visiting Kashmiri Kandur-waan: 7 must-try Kashmiri breadsVisiting Pune? 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Watch 3 Killed, 5 Injured In Fresh Naga-Kuki Clashes In Manipur’s Ukhrul; Rights Group Opposes UAPA PowersThe protests were organised under the banner of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), with agitators taking out four separate rallies from different parts of the city.However, all processions were halted at key locations, including Keisampat junction, Kangla Gate, Konung Mamang and Moirangkhom, as heavy security deployment blocked access to the chief minister’s bungalow in the Babupara area.At Khurai Lamlong, around 2 km from the CM’s residence, the situation turned volatile when protesters tried to breach barricades. Security forces responded by firing several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, officials said.Despite the confrontation, a small group of representatives was later allowed to meet the chief minister, where they submitted a memorandum outlining their demands.Anger over children’s deaths in Bishnupur blastProtesters raised slogans and carried placards seeking justice for a five-year-old boy and a six-month-old girl killed in a recent bomb blast in Bishnupur district. The children and their mother were asleep when the explosion ripped through the room, leaving the mother injured.They also demanded rehabilitation and support for internally displaced persons affected by the prolonged ethnic conflict.COCOMI convenor Y K Dhiren said after the meeting that the agitation would intensify if concrete steps were not taken. He alleged that there has been no meaningful resolution to the crisis since violence first erupted on May 3, 2023.COCOMI spokesperson Nahakpam Shanta Singh said the group is seeking an action taken report from the state government on the death of two children in a bomb blast at Tronglaobi on April 7.”Along with that, we have raised several other demands. If the government fails to answer, we would be compelled to pursue other democratic forms of agitation,” he said.Fresh Naga-Kuki clashes leave three deadThe protests come amid a fresh spike in violence in the state. Earlier on Friday, three people, including a Tangkhul Naga and two Kuki-Zo individuals were killed in separate gunfights between rival armed groups in Ukhrul district. At least five others, including women, were injured in the clashes.The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) said a 29-year-old man, Horshokmi Jamang, was killed in an ambush by armed Kuki militants while patrolling near Sinakeithei village. Meanwhile, the two Kuki deceased, whose bodies were found by security forces near Mullam village in the district, have been identified as Paominlun Haolai (19) and Letlal Sitlhou (43).The Kuki groups claimed that besides the two Kuki village volunteers being killed, 17 houses were burnt, several villagers were injured, and many others, including women and children, were displaced.Also read: Manipur unrest: Torch rally over Tronglaobi blast turns violent; protesters clash with security forcesAdding to the complexity, a faction of the NSCN (Aleng Group) claimed it had killed five cadres of Myanmar-based Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B) in Kamjong district. However, there has been no official confirmation of this claim, and the KNA-B has dismissed related allegations as “baseless and false.”Torch rally turned violent; 58,000 displacedEarlier this week, a seven-kilometre-long torch rally was also taken out from Mayai Lambi to Keishamthong in Imphal West district over the killing of the two children in the bomb blast at Tronglaobi. However, the situation escalated when participants turned aggressive and confronted security personnel, a police officer earlier told TOI.Security forces fired multiple rounds of tear gas in the Keishamthong area after hundreds of protesters, defying curfew, demanded permission to march an additional 200 metres towards Keisampat, near the Lok Bhavan and the BJP state office, he added.The ongoing conflict between the Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and hill-based Kukis has so far claimed over 260 lives and displaced thousands. Fresh data obtained through an RTI reveals that 58,881 people remain internally displaced as of March 30, 2026, highlighting the scale of the humanitarian crisis.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 MediaVideosIndia’s Army Chief Honoured With International Hall Of Fame At US War CollegeK. Kavitha Launches Telangana Rashtra Sena, Revives TRS | Fallout of Delhi Liquor Policy CaseRaghav Chadha Blames ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for AAP’s Delhi Poll Defeat, Fresh AttackRaghav Chadha, AAP MPs Join BJP: How ‘Merger Clause’ Could Help Them Avoid DisqualificationPolitical Storm Erupts As BJP Targets Kejriwal Over ‘Sheesh Mahal 2’ ClaimsRam Madhav Says ‘India Agreed To Stop Buying Russian Oil’, Later Clarifies, Rahul Gandhi ReactsExplained: How the New US H-1B Bill Could Disrupt Indian Students’ Study-to-Work PathwayAnna Hazare Reacts to Raghav Chadha Joining BJP, Calls Party Switching for ‘Selfish Needs’ Wrong‘Rahman Dakait Of Delhi’: BJP Attacks Kejriwal Day After Chadha Exit, Shares ‘Sheeshmahal 2’ Pics3 Killed, 5 Injured In Fresh Naga-Kuki Clashes In Manipur’s Ukhrul; Rights Group Opposes UAPA Powers123Photostories‘Marty Supreme’ to ‘Greenland 2’; English releases of the week on OTTWhy Chef Sanjeev Kapoor suggests visiting Kashmiri Kandur-waan: 7 must-try Kashmiri breadsVisiting Pune? 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Try this simple fix | Leo, Weekly Horoscope, April 26 to May 02, 2026: Work demands increase, your efforts yield results British Airways warns of higher airfares as UK govt monitors oil price surge amid Iran war Mamata Banerjee and Amit Shah NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that she is going to file a ‘legal case’ against home minister Amit Shah over his ‘violent remarks’ targeting TMC workers. Addressing a gathering in Hoogly, she said: “We are going to file a legal case against Amit Shah for his violent remarks. As Home Minister, he cannot make such comments.”This comes after Amit Shah asserted that the voters in West Bengal would “reply to bombs and bullets with votes” and bring the Bharatiya Janata Party to power in the Assembly elections.“The goons of TMC will no longer be able to terrorise the people of Bengal with their bomb blasts. The people of Bengal will respond to bombs with ballots and to fear with trust,” Shah said, addressing a rally in Birbhum district.Sharpening his rhetoric, Shah said, “Let the people bid adieu to the Mamata government. The BJP will then take up the task of hanging the syndicate and cut-money promoters upside down to make them straight,” alleging entrenched corruption and a “mafia raj” under TMC rule.He also issued a warning ahead of polling, saying, “I advise TMC goons to stay in their homes on April 23… else we will pick them up one by one on May 4 and throw them in jail,” while claiming that BJP workers had faced prolonged violence under the current regime.Banerjee in response targeted Shah’s ‘hang upside down’ warning directed at TMC workers post polls, asserting that the BJP’s ‘forceful approach’ would fail to resonate with Bengal’s voters.”What kind of language is a Home Minister using? To say you will hang people upside down post-election is unacceptable. With this mindset, you will never win Bengal–never!” she said.The polling for Phase I of the assembly elections concluded at 6 pm on Thursday, with West Bengal recording a significantly higher voter turnout of 91.78 per cent, according to the Election Commission.The second phase of the polling will be held on April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4.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 MediaVideosRaghav Chadha Blames ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for AAP’s Delhi Poll Defeat, Fresh AttackRaghav Chadha, AAP MPs Join BJP: How ‘Merger Clause’ Could Help Them Avoid DisqualificationPolitical Storm Erupts As BJP Targets Kejriwal Over ‘Sheesh Mahal 2’ ClaimsRam Madhav Says ‘India Agreed To Stop Buying Russian Oil’, Later Clarifies, Rahul Gandhi ReactsExplained: How the New US H-1B Bill Could Disrupt Indian Students’ Study-to-Work PathwayAnna Hazare Reacts to Raghav Chadha Joining BJP, Calls Party Switching for ‘Selfish Needs’ Wrong‘Rahman Dakait Of Delhi’: BJP Attacks Kejriwal Day After Chadha Exit, Shares ‘Sheeshmahal 2’ Pics3 Killed, 5 Injured In Fresh Naga-Kuki Clashes In Manipur’s Ukhrul; Rights Group Opposes UAPA PowersAAP Exodus: 3 MPs Present At BJP HQ, Where Are The Others Raghav Chadha Named?DAILY ESSENTIALS HIT HARD: Hair Oil, ACs, Soaps Turn Costlier In FMCG Shockwave123PhotostoriesWhy Chef Sanjeev Kapoor suggests visiting Kashmiri Kandur-waan: 7 must-try Kashmiri breadsVisiting Pune? These 6 incredible day trips deserve a spot on your itineraryFrom an opulent house worth Rs 20 crore to an apartment with girlfriend Tejasswi Prakash in Dubai- Karan Kundrra’s lavish lifestyle5 heritage-inspired Indian design elements influencing modern housing trends5 signs your divorce is inevitableHow heavy traffic pressure is straining Bengaluru’s key highway infrastructureSimple and elegant home interior ideas inspired by Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha5 Indian summer vegetables you can grow in a pot at homeBhindi Fry to Sprouted Moong: Hrithik Roshan’s idea of diet includes eating these desi foods dailyMumbai-Pune Expressway finds its ‘missing link’: India’s longest road cable-stayed bridge to open on May 1123Hot PicksTamil Nadu ElectionWest Bengal voter turnoutAssembly Election 2026Mamata BanerjeeTamil Nadu voter turnoutAmit ShahPM ModiTop TrendingRaghav Chadha Joins BJPTamil Nadu electionAP SSC Class 10 resultsRRB opens qualificationAIIMS B.Sc. coursesJac Class 12 ResultPatrick MahomesBengal PollsNirmala SitharamanIPL Orange Cap Apr 25, 2026, 18:11 IST UP Board Exam 2026: Application for answer sheet re-evaluation begins; check how to apply ‘Qarib Qarib Singlle’ co-star Parvathy remembers Irrfan Khan: ‘It doesn’t make sense that I am alive and he is not’ The hidden ecosystem in your laundry: Why your washing machine might be making your clothes smelly | Cancer, Weekly Horoscope, April 26 to May 02, 2026: Week demands steady effort and patience In 1850, a local Orcadian surveyed a storm-battered shoreline and accidentally discovered a Neolithic village hidden for millennia File photos Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has delivered both the Tehran’s demand and their reservations about the US demands as peace talks 2.0 continues to be uncertain.Delhi Police arrests YouTuber Salim Wastik, allegedly a fugitive convicted killer living under a new identity for 26 years.Raghav Chadha loses over 1 million Instagram followers within 24 hours of joining BJP.Coordinated terrorist attacks hit Bamako, Mali, with gunfire and explosions reported across the capital and fighting still ongoing.Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly uses a covert courier network of handwritten messages to avoid US-Israel surveillance.Here are top 5 news of the day:Iran’s FM delivers demands to Pakistan; US envoys enroute for peace talksAbbas Araghchi conveyed Iran’s negotiating positions along with its reservations about US demands to Pakistani officials during his visit to Islamabad, with discussions focusing on regional dynamics and diplomatic coordination. Follow live updatesYouTuber Salim Wastik, who was stabbed more than 10 times in abdomen at Ghaziabad office, arrested for killing boy in 1995In a dramatic turn of events that bridges a decades-old cold case with modern-day social media fame, the Delhi Police Crime Branch has apprehended Salim Wastik, a YouTuber and social activist known for his vocal criticism of Islam, in a two-decade-old kidnapping and murder charge. Read full storyRaghav Chadha loses over 1 million followers, flooded with hate comments after joining BJPWithin 24 hours of announcing his exit from the Aam Aadmi Party and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha has seen a sharp decline in his Instagram following, losing over 1 million followers. Once seen as a Gen Z political icon, Chadha’s follower count dropped from 14.6 million to 13.3 million. Read full story’Gunfire everywhere’: Explosions heard near Mali international airport, military baseA series of coordinated attacks rocked Mali on early Saturday, with gunfire and explosions reported in the capital Bamako. Firing was also heard near a military camp close to the city’s international airport. The Malian Armed Forces said unidentified “terrorist” groups targeted several positions in the capital and other parts of the country in a coordinated assault. Read full storyHandwritten letters, human chain: How Mojtaba Khamenei controls Iran from the shadowsIran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is commanding the country through a secret “human chain” of handwritten letters to avoid detection by the US and Israel, according to a report by The New York Times. The report said messages meant for the leader are “handwritten, sealed in envelopes and passed on via a human chain” of trusted couriers. These couriers travel on highways and rural back roads using motorcycles and cars to reach his “hide-out,” with replies sent back through the same secure route. Read full storyAbout 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 MediaVideosK. 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Bite into ‘adulterated’ truth Canadian court pauses deportation of Indian-origin driver Jaskirat Singh Sidhu over 2018 crash that killed 16 CM Revanth flags off India’s first pvt orbital rocket Vikram-1 at Skyroot Aerospace HYDERABAD: India’s first privately built orbital rocket moved yet another step closer to its historic mission with Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy flagging off Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 flight hardware to Sriharikota, where the company is hopeful of launching the rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in June this year.Calling it a proud moment for Telangana and a major milestone in the state’s ambition to emerge as a global aerospace leader, the CM pointed out that Vikram-1 had been entirely designed and developed in Hyderabad which is indicative of the state’s growing importance in India’s aerospace and space technology ecosystem.“Skyroot has developed India’s first privately built orbital rocket to carry satellites into space. The company launched its first rocket (suborbital) in 2022, and reaching the stage of orbital launch in such a short time is a remarkable achievement,” Revanth Reddy said while interacting with the company’s leadership and engineering teams.Telangana industries & IT minister D Sridhar Babu was also present for the flag-off along with other senior officials.The CM said Telangana was already ranked number one in India in the aerospace sector and pointed to the presence of global majors such as Boeing, Airbus and Safran in the state. He added that the government had set a long-term goal of making Telangana a global aerospace hub by 2047, with aerospace identified as one of the state’s key growth engines.He also linked the rise of the aerospace sector to the state’s export performance. Citing Central government data, he said Telangana recorded the highest growth in engineering goods exports among Indian states, at 117.9% between 2023-24 and 2024-25.He said aircraft parts and defence equipment were among the biggest contributors to this surge, reflecting the rapid expansion of advanced manufacturing capabilities in the state. Revanth Reddy said the government was focusing strongly on building a skilled workforce to support future growth in aerospace and other high-technology sectors.He outlined ongoing efforts through Young India Skills University, Advanced Technology Centres and polytechnic institutions, saying the state planned to bring ATCs and polytechnics under the ambit of the Skills University.According to him, the move is intended to create a uniform, industry-driven curriculum and ensure that training remains aligned with changing industrial requirements. He said the government’s emphasis was not only on student training but also on improving the quality of instructors.“Our focus is on giving the best training to the trainers in these institutions. Tata Technologies is providing training to our trainers in ATCs across the state,” he said.Skyroot Aerospace CEO and co-founder Pawan Kumar Chandana said with this flag-off it will reach Sriharikota over the next week where they will start assembling the rocket for launch hopefully in June this year.Chandana said Skyroot is in discussions with IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to get a launch window for the rocket.“We will be announcing the launch window soon,” he said, adding that after the first test launch of Vikram-1 in the next few months the company will have more test launches coming up.“By next year the aim is to get to a capacity where we can produce one rocket a month and probably next year sometime we will be able to reach the full payload capacity of 300kg in each rocket,” he said pointing out that the first few test launches will carry only partial payloads.He describing this as a proud moment not just for India but globally as well because very few companies in the world have the capability and technology to make rockets. “About the AuthorSwati BharadwajSwati Bharadwaj is a business journalist with 30 years of experience covering a host of sectors – right from technology, GCCs, talent, cybersecurity, pharma & biotech, aerospace & defence, BFSI, gems & jewellery to automotive, hospitality, infrastructure, retail, among others. She has worked with TOI and ET across multiple cities such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune and Ahmedabad.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosRaghav Chadha Blames ‘Sheesh Mahal’ for AAP’s Delhi Poll Defeat, Fresh AttackRaghav Chadha, AAP MPs Join BJP: How ‘Merger Clause’ Could Help Them Avoid DisqualificationPolitical Storm Erupts As BJP Targets Kejriwal Over ‘Sheesh Mahal 2’ ClaimsRam Madhav Says ‘India Agreed To Stop Buying Russian Oil’, Later Clarifies, Rahul Gandhi ReactsExplained: How the New US H-1B Bill Could Disrupt Indian Students’ Study-to-Work PathwayAnna Hazare Reacts to Raghav Chadha Joining BJP, Calls Party Switching for ‘Selfish Needs’ Wrong‘Rahman Dakait Of Delhi’: BJP Attacks Kejriwal Day After Chadha Exit, Shares ‘Sheeshmahal 2’ Pics3 Killed, 5 Injured In Fresh Naga-Kuki Clashes In Manipur’s Ukhrul; Rights Group Opposes UAPA PowersAAP Exodus: 3 MPs Present At BJP HQ, Where Are The Others Raghav Chadha Named?DAILY ESSENTIALS HIT HARD: Hair Oil, ACs, Soaps Turn Costlier In FMCG Shockwave123PhotostoriesWhy Chef Sanjeev Kapoor suggests visiting Kashmiri Kandur-waan: 7 must-try Kashmiri breadsVisiting Pune? 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Few databases capture Indian genetic variations, Bratati Kahali, geneticist and computational biologist at the Indian Institute of Science and principal investigator in the GenomeIndia Project, told The Scientist.That invisibility carried real consequences. For Indian patients, drug dosages, efficacy forecasts, and risk profiles — all were calibrated to someone else’s genome.That gap is now, at least partially, being closed.What a Genome actually isYour genome is the complete instruction manual for building and running you. It is the entire set of genetic material, DNA, present in an individual, containing all the information necessary for development, functioning, and maintenance of that organism. In humans, that instruction manual runs to more than three billion chemical base pairs, written in a four-letter alphabet — A, T, C, G — coiled up inside nearly every cell in your body.Genome sequencing is the process of reading that manual, letter by letter. What makes it medically significant is that roughly 0.1 percent of that sequence differs between any two people. These genetic variations among individuals are crucial for understanding disease predispositions and rare inherited disorders. They determine our response to drugs and help track migration and evolutionary patterns of population groups. The problem, historically, has been that those reference maps of human genetic variation were built largely from European populations. A 2022 study revealed that participants of European ancestry accounted for 86.3% of genome-wide association studies, a method for identifying genetic markers linked to diseases or traits, while South Asian populations contributed far less. For a country like India, with its extraordinary genetic complexity, this was not just a scientific inconvenience. It was a structural problem in healthcare.Why India is genetically unlike anywhere elseIndia is not one population. It is, more accurately, hundreds of populations living alongside each other, shaped by thousands of years of migration, adaptation, and- cruciall- a social structure that kept communities remarkably separate from one another.The Indian population comprises more than 4,600 population groups, and several thousand of them are endogamous – meaning people within these communities have, for generations, married within their own group. The consequences of this for genetics are profound. When a community practices endogamy over centuries, rare disease-causing mutations that might be diluted out in a more mixed population instead get amplified and passed down. Some communities carry elevated risks for specific diseases that the broader medical world hasn’t studied, simply because no one had looked closely enough at their genomes.India has one of the most genetically diverse populations in the world, with over 4,600 distinct groups. Due to this, some populations have unique genetic markers that may increase susceptibility to certain diseases or affect responses to specific drugs. The challenge wasn’t just that Indian genomes were understudied globally. It was that findings from genetic research in Europe, America, or East Asia couldn’t be reliably applied to Indians — their biology and risk profiles diverged sharply. Picture a doctor treating Type 2 diabetes in rural Tamil Nadu, relying on tools calibrated for someone in Manchester.The GenomeIndia Project: What was doneIn January 2020, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under India’s Ministry of Science and Technology launched the GenomeIndia Project- a coordinated national effort to do what had never been done at scale: sequence the genomes of a representative sample of Indians and build a reference database that actually reflected this country’s genetic reality.More than 20 illustrious research institutions, including IISc, IITs, CSIR, and DBT-BRIC, played a major role in the research. The project was spearheaded by the Centre for Brain Research (CBR) at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, and involved institutions spread across the country- from CSIR-CCMB in Hyderabad to the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics in Kolkata. The dataset was drawn from 83 population groups and represented equitably, with 36.7% of the samples collected from rural populations, 32.2% from urban populations, and 31.1% from tribal populations. The genomes of India’s four major linguistic families — Indo-European, Dravidian, Austro-Asiatic, and Tibeto-Burman — were all included. Participants were healthy, unrelated individuals, and the project collected over 20,000 blood samples, which are now stored in a biobank at CBR in Bengaluru.Then came the actual sequencing and this is where the scale of what India pulled off becomes apparent. Technological advancement in this field has been remarkable: the first whole genome project required 13 years and $3 billion to complete, whereas this project sequenced genomes in 3-4 months per batch. The falling cost of sequencing technology made the project financially feasible, and the institutional network made it logistically possible even as Covid-19 disrupted the timeline midway through.Where the project stands todayIn February 2024, the Department of Biotechnology officially announced the completion of whole genome sequencing of 10,074 individuals. The project successfully sequenced the genomes of 10,000 individuals, archived at the Indian Biological Data Centre portals. A biobank housing 20,000 blood samples has been established at the Centre for Brain Research, IISc, to support future research endeavours. The completion was marked with a significant event in January 2025, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Genomics Data Conclave at Vigyan Bhavan, calling it a historic step in the world of research. The data consisting of the genome sequences of 10,000 Indians was made available at the Indian Biological Data Centre, and researchers and scientists can now use it to understand India’s genetic landscape.The data is housed at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) in Faridabad, India’s first national life science data repository, and access is governed by the FeED Protocol (Framework for Exchange of Data), which was launched alongside the GenomeIndia Data Conclave to ensure responsible, transparent data sharing.Then, in April 2025, the preliminary scientific findings were published in Nature Genetics, bringing the project’s work into the peer-reviewed record. Preliminary findings of the GenomeIndia project revealed 180 million genetic variants from 9,772 individuals across India. The project identified around 130 million genetic variants, including over 44 million previously unknown variants that were not present in global databases. Of the 27 million rare variants identified, 7 million are novel and not found in global databases at all, highlighting India’s unique genetic landscape. What the findings actually meanThe most immediate medical implications are in pharmacogenomics – the study of how our genes affect how we respond to drugs. The researchers observed that many Indian populations carry several gene variants implicated in reducing the efficiency and efficacy of antiviral drugs. The project identified 38 critical genetic variants that impact drug metabolism. This is not a small finding. It means that for a significant portion of the Indian population, the standard doses of certain medications may not work as intended — either under-treating or over-treating patients because the drug guidelines were derived from populations with different metabolic genetics.The implications for disease risk are equally significant. Researchers linked many of the rare variants to diseases such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypercholesterolemia, and cancers. The project also made progress on understanding genetic links to conditions like thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, particularly prevalent in tribal communities, and neurological disorders like muscular dystrophies and epilepsy.Then there is the matter of what scientists call population history. Because endogamy has kept Indian communities genetically distinct from one another for centuries, the genomes carry signatures of ancient migrations and admixtures. Genetic signatures provide clues to ancient migrations and ancestry; India has around 4,000 endogamous groups with minimal gene flow between them. In effect, reading these genomes is also a way of reading India’s history- the movements of peoples, the formation of communities, the biological imprint of social structures that are thousands of years old.The unfinished workIt would be a mistake to read the project’s completion as the end of the story. It is, more precisely, the end of Phase One.The 10,000 genomes sequenced represent approximately 2% of India’s documented 4,600 population groups. Programs like the USA’s All of Us initiative aim to enroll at least 1 million participants from historically underrepresented populations, representing 0.3% of the national population. Similarly, the UK’s 100,000 Genomes Project represents 0.15% of the country’s diverse population. By comparison, GenomeIndia currently covers approximately 0.007% of the population.Union minister of state (independent charge) for science and technology Dr Jitendra Singh announced a future target of sequencing 10 million genomes to accelerate India’s advancements in genomics and personalised medicine. Whether the funding, infrastructure, and institutional coordination required to reach that number will materialise is an open question. But the ambition reflects a genuine understanding within government that the 10,000 genomes are a foundation, not a ceiling.There are also real challenges that the project has surfaced rather than solved. Many Indian genomic samples are sent abroad for sequencing, as existing regulations allow commercial export of biological samples, raising concerns about data security and privacy. The genomic data of entire communities- their disease risks, their ancestry, their biological vulnerabilities- sitting in databases requires careful governance. The massive dataset generated, 8 petabytes, poses significant challenges in terms of storage, management, and data security. Ethical questions around informed consent are not trivial either. Genomic data is unlike other personal data, it implicates not just the individual whose sample was taken but their entire family. When a community’s genetic vulnerabilities are mapped, that information can be misused for insurance discrimination, stigmatisation or purposes that the original participants never consented to.The larger betWhat India is doing with the GenomeIndia Project is placing a long bet that the future of medicine is personalised and that being part of that future requires owning your own data. India’s bioeconomy has surged from $10 billion in 2014 to over $130 billion in 2024, with projections to hit $300 billion by 2030. India now ranks 12th globally in biotech and 3rd in the Asia-Pacific region. The GenomeIndia Project is part of that larger ambition. India produces nearly one-fifth of the world’s generic medicines and runs one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical industries. But its drug development has historically been derivative, making cheaper versions of medicines discovered elsewhere, for diseases profiled elsewhere, in populations that are not Indian. A national genomic database changes the terms of that equation.States are beginning to move too. Gujarat has become the first Indian state to launch a tribal genome sequencing project, an initiative to enhance health and well-being of tribal citizens. The Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre will sequence the genomes of 2,000 individuals from the tribal population in 17 districts, with the aim of identifying genetic markers for natural immunity, cancer, and hereditary diseases such as sickle cell anaemia and thalassemia.A country of 1.4 billion people, extraordinary genetic diversity, and a documented problem with diseases that the rest of the world’s research establishment hasn’t fully studied, that is simultaneously India’s challenge and its scientific opportunity. The GenomeIndia Project has, for the first time, given the country a foundation to act on that opportunity. What happens next depends on whether India can translate that foundation into medicine, policy, and research infrastructure that actually reaches the people whose genomes made the project possible in the first place, the rural farmer in Odisha, the tribal community in Gujarat, the Tibeto-Burman speaker in Arunachal Pradesh.About the AuthorManya JainA writer at Times of India, I cover the stories that live in the gaps — between a screen and real life, between what we’re sold and what we actually feel. I try bring curiosity and candour to everything I write, whether I’m digging into global affairs, modern relationships, or the quieter anxieties of everyday life.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosRaghav Chadha, AAP MPs Join BJP: How ‘Merger Clause’ Could Help Them Avoid DisqualificationPolitical Storm Erupts As BJP Targets Kejriwal Over ‘Sheesh Mahal 2’ ClaimsRam Madhav Says ‘India Agreed To Stop Buying Russian Oil’, Later Clarifies, Rahul Gandhi ReactsExplained: How the New US H-1B Bill Could Disrupt Indian Students’ Study-to-Work PathwayAnna Hazare Reacts to Raghav Chadha Joining BJP, Calls Party Switching for ‘Selfish Needs’ Wrong‘Rahman Dakait Of Delhi’: BJP Attacks Kejriwal Day After Chadha Exit, Shares ‘Sheeshmahal 2’ Pics3 Killed, 5 Injured In Fresh Naga-Kuki Clashes In Manipur’s Ukhrul; Rights Group Opposes UAPA PowersAAP Exodus: 3 MPs Present At BJP HQ, Where Are The Others Raghav Chadha Named?DAILY ESSENTIALS HIT HARD: Hair Oil, ACs, Soaps Turn Costlier In FMCG ShockwaveBangladesh PM Tarique Rahman Writes To BJP Chief, Seeks BJP-BNP Political Dialogue123PhotostoriesVisiting Pune? 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