VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Lionel Richie hospitalized in ICU after St Louis concert, doctors investigate possible dehydration after 77-year-old singer reportedly needed a chair during All Night Long Leo Horoscope Today, September 01, 2026: Productive day for love and work ‘Don’t come to the US, telling you with folded hands’: Indian man’s appeal to students goes viral; ‘Feeling sad as I am making this video’ J&K HC has set aside the dismissal of a bank executive sacked without an inquiry into an alleged #TortureKashmir hashtag campaign on social media SRINAGAR: Jammu & Kashmir high court has set aside the dismissal of a J&K Bank executive sacked without an inquiry into an alleged #TortureKashmir hashtag campaign on social media, ruling that a financial institution’s managing director “cannot be trusted with the drastic power to dismiss an employee without investigation”.“The President and governor are high constitutional functionaries and, therefore, they can dispense with the services of an employee without holding an inquiry in appropriate cases. But the same level of trust cannot be reposed in an officer of the level of managing director and CEO of a bank,” the single-judge bench of Justice Sanjay Dhar said in its verdict last Saturday.The petitioner, Saadut Hussain Pampori, joined J&K Bank as a computer engineer in June 1995 and rose to deputy general manager by 2022, serving as an officer on special duty to the chief minister from 2016 to 2018 under the BJP-PDP govt led by Mehbooba Mufti.The bank’s then MD suspended him on April 15, 2024, pending investigation into misconduct before ordering his dismissal on July 15 that year under Clause 12.29 of the officers’ service manual.The dismissal followed a report by DGP (CID) based on “credible sources, as also from discreet enquiries”. The report accused Pampori of spreading misinformation about alleged state-backed atrocities on Kashmiris.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe court held that information gathered from sources or through discreet enquiries by DGP does not qualify as an “investigation” under Clause 12.29, since the process involves no collection of evidence or recording of witness statements.Justice Dhar drew a line between Clause 12.29 and Article 311(2)(c), under which govt may terminate an employee without the normal procedure if satisfied that retention is prejudicial to state security.J&K administration has dismissed nearly 100 govt employees under that provision.Clause 12.29, the court said, lays down specific preconditions, including an investigation by a state, Union territory or central agency, before an employee can be sacked.Quashing the order against Pampori as “not sustainable in law”, the court restored him to the post he held before his dismissal, albeit allowing the bank to proceed against him afresh.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNepal Flood Crisis: 8,900 Army Personnel Deployed As Search For Missing People ContinuesDelhi Draft Voter Roll Out: 47.7 Lakh Electors Excluded, Claims Allowed Till September 30Akhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award’One May Call Bharat Superpower But…’: RSS Chief Bhagwat’s ‘Vishwaguru’ Msg In Canada‘Islam Is Greater Than Other Dharams’: Karnataka Minister Sparks Row, BJP Calls Cong ‘Anti-Hindu’123PhotostoriesFrom quitting his well-paying engineering job in Dubai to Sonalika Joshi recommending him for Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah; When Mandar Chandwadkar recalled his journeyBigg Boss Telugu through the years: A look back at all seasonsVaibhav Suryavanshi breaks all-time Duleep Trophy record as a teenager: Times the young cricketer has made historyThe glass-skin obsession: Can Indian skin really achieve that mirror-like glow?Personality test optical illusion: Only sharp-eyed people can find all the hidden deer in this image within 11 secondsTamannaah Bhatia just made Rs 2.43 lakh look like a personality trait in this Aisha Rao ivory ensembleNew OTT releases this week (August 31-September 6): ‘Gandhari’, ‘Dhamaal 4’, ‘The Gentlemen’ Season 2, ‘Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly’ and moreTravelling by train in India? 10 things you should never do on a journeySamantha Ruth Prabhu joins the polka-dot club, and maternity fashion just got a lot more funBigg Boss Malayalam: A look back at seven unforgettable seasons123Hot PicksNepal floodMumbai port fireGandak riverMumbai milk priceDelhi rapeWeather tomorrowTN milk price hikeGATE 2027 registrationIndia GDP growthTop TrendingCanyon Flash FloodStuart BroadBabaz AzamNovak DjokovicUS Iran WarTravis Kelce BusinessKai CenatCoco GauffsNaomi OsakaLebron James Gemini Daily Nadi Horoscope (1st September 2026): Amrit Siddhi Yoga May Bring a Career or Income Opportunity Florida bans Flock cameras days after a sheriff’s deputy resigns for misusing AI cameras to track ex-girlfriend Cancer Horoscope Today, September 01, 2026: Shines as superiors take notice; family dynamics bring mixed feelings today Built in 1743, this 1,050-acre Maryland farm became a War of 1812 battlefield where bullets and buckles remained buried for two centuries; the family now plans to sell Taurus Daily Nadi Horoscope (1st September 2026): Aries Moon May Expose a Hidden Expense ‘Keep my wife’s name the hell out of your mouth’: JD Vance fires back at El-Sayed over comments about Second Lady Usha Vance Gemini Horoscope Today, September 01, 2026: Big opportunities await today; financial gains encourage secure investments for the future At 19, Baylee Laine gave up a full softball scholarship and worked two jobs to take in her four younger siblings; after a two-year fight, she adopted them File photo: MBBS interns of Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and its associated hospital hold a poster during their protest demanding a hike in their monthly stipend. JAMMU: MBBS and BDS interns across medical colleges in Jammu & Kashmir went on an indefinite strike on Monday, demanding an increase in their monthly stipend from Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000.“Our stipend has remained stagnant for seven years, while in other states it ranges between Rs 25,000 and Rs 45,000 a month. We are performing the same duties, including 24-hour shifts and rural postings,” one of the protesters said.Protesters cited a health and medical education department committee which in 2023 recommended increasing the stipend to Rs 25,000 for the academic year 2025-26.Congress’ J&K unit chief Tariq Hameed Karra on Monday wrote to chief minister Omar Abdullah, urging a sympathetic and immediate consideration of the demand.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNepal Flood Crisis: 8,900 Army Personnel Deployed As Search For Missing People ContinuesDelhi Draft Voter Roll Out: 47.7 Lakh Electors Excluded, Claims Allowed Till September 30Akhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award’One May Call Bharat Superpower But…’: RSS Chief Bhagwat’s ‘Vishwaguru’ Msg In Canada‘Islam Is Greater Than Other Dharams’: Karnataka Minister Sparks Row, BJP Calls Cong ‘Anti-Hindu’123Hot PicksNepal floodMumbai port fireGandak riverMumbai milk priceDelhi rapeWeather tomorrowTN milk price hikeGATE 2027 registrationIndia GDP growthTop TrendingCanyon Flash FloodStuart BroadBabaz AzamNovak DjokovicUS Iran WarTravis Kelce BusinessKai CenatCoco GauffsNaomi OsakaLebron James Taurus Horoscope Today, September 01, 2026: Moon and Saturn create tension; manage self-doubt and spending wisely today Meet Prakhar Purohit, the North Carolina student who found a way to make tiny batteries from dirty water Aaron Donald is back and Myles Garrett could help turn the Los Angeles Rams into an NFL Super Bowl nightmare In 1781, a live oak stood beside one of the Revolutionary War’s final major battles; 245 years later, crews are removing old chains that once saved it but are now choking it “In constant discussions with Russian side…”: MEA says 239 Indian nationals discharged from Russian Army NEW DELHI: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Monday that 139 of the 227 Indian nationals recruited into the Russian armed forces had been discharged, while 51 had died. India continues to have talks with Moscow to secure the release and repatriation of those still serving.Misri gave the figures while responding to a question on Indians serving in the Russian army during a Ministry of External Affairs briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kyrgyzstan.He said the issue of Indian nationals being recruited into the Russian armed forces had been raised with Russia “at various levels on various occasions”.“At last count, we had information about 227 Indian nationals who had been recruited into the Russian army,” Misri said. “Out of that, we have information that 139 of our nationals have been discharged from the army. And unfortunately, of course, we have information also about 51 people who have perished so far.”Misri said India remained engaged with Moscow to secure the early discharge and return of those whose cases were still pending.“This is an issue that we are in constant discussions with the Russian side,” he said.He added that the Indian Embassy in Moscow was regularly monitoring the situation and working with Russian authorities to facilitate the release and repatriation of the remaining Indian nationals.“Our embassy in Moscow is monitoring this situation regularly with regard to the release and repatriation of these Indian citizens,” Misri said, adding that India was seeking to ensure that those still serving were discharged at the earliest and returned to their families.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesMEA’s remarks come as PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Bishkek.During the meeting, Modi stressed the need for the world to move from an era of “endless wars” towards the “end of war”, while the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation and global developments.Misri also said India and Russia were looking to expand bilateral trade. He said an Indian Exporters Forum would be organised alongside the next annual summit in Russia to encourage Indian businesses to diversify and increase exports to the Russian market.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPrisha PatnaikPrisha Patnaik is a journalist with The Times of India, writing across geopolitics, international affairs, culture, history and internet culture. With over two years of experience in social media and digital content, she is interested in how news, politics and culture are shaped for digital audiences. She holds a master’s degree in Media and Communications from Goldsmiths, University of London.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNepal Flood Crisis: 8,900 Army Personnel Deployed As Search For Missing People ContinuesDelhi Draft Voter Roll Out: 47.7 Lakh Electors Excluded, Claims Allowed Till September 30Akhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award’One May Call Bharat Superpower But…’: RSS Chief Bhagwat’s ‘Vishwaguru’ Msg In Canada‘Islam Is Greater Than Other Dharams’: Karnataka Minister Sparks Row, BJP Calls Cong ‘Anti-Hindu’123Hot PicksNepal floodMumbai port fireGandak riverMumbai milk priceDelhi rapeWeather tomorrowTN milk price hikeGATE 2027 registrationIndia GDP growthTop TrendingCanyon Flash FloodStuart BroadBabaz AzamNovak DjokovicUS Iran WarTravis Kelce BusinessKai CenatCoco GauffsNaomi OsakaLebron James On his last day as Apple CEO, Tim Cook sends memo to employees; says: I am not leaving Apple, but I am… Aries Horoscope Today, September 01, 2026: Shine with confidence today; trust fosters strong business relationships and financial gains D4vd’s private lawyers withdraw from murder case as public defender takes over his legal representation Scientists reconstructed the face of ‘Conquest Man’, a 1,000-year-old skeleton buried just 13 years after the Norman Conquest | World News Rohit Sharma makes TV debut with ‘Family Full House’; Revives his viral ‘Garden’ dialogue | US announces emergency executive shutdown of 110 driving schools for 5000 violations: ‘No English, no trucking – it’s common sense’ Badshah and Isha Rikhi announce divorce five months after their marriage after much speculation around their relationship: ‘Mutually decided to part ways’ 13-year-old Kevin Tang turned his grandmother’s fall into a device that detects when seniors need help and won $25,000 for the invention 47km, 0 stops & defunct CCTV: Security gaps exposed in Delhi-NCR bus gang rape case Quote of the day by Lionel Messi: “If I wasn’t paid to be a professional footballer I would…” – famous words reveal why football was always more than just a career | World News ‘World’s best little chef’: Little girl’s dal dhokli recipe video wins hearts online Nepal floods: Avalanche from 5,200 metres raced down Himalayas at 167 kmph, triggering deadly deluge Quote of the day by Christopher Reeve: “The fact that I was in a wheelchair and dependent on others for…” – powerful words on disability and identity | World News Rahul Gandhi NEW DELHI: Congress hit the streets nationwide in protest Monday, with the party dubbing the FIR against Rahul Gandhi for demanding action for “purification” of Haldwani rally venue of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge as reflective of BJP’s “abhorrently casteist behaviour”.AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said, “They are willing to put the entire might of the state to attack those who speak against Dalit atrocities.” He added, “What the BJP has done is to attack the values of social justice enshrined in the Constitution, and the Congress will fight against this attack tooth and nail. We will not rest until the true culprits of the insult to Kharge are punished, and this frivolous FIR against Rahul is thrown in the dustbin.”As a reaction from Rahul Gandhi, Congress released a video with the title “cases are my medals” and with footage of the leader of opposition saying, “There are 36 cases against me. I am not afraid of Narendra Modi. But the truth is if anyone is scared, it is Modi.” Sachin Pilot asked if seeking justice is a crime, adding, “Voice for justice cannot be suppressed under the weight of FIRs. The anti-dalit face of BJP stands exposed.”Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh mocked that Rahul held a press conference to highlight the injustice and hate faced by Dalits, and “BJP-RSS took less than 24 hours to prove it correct”. He added, “This mindset faces the hurdle of Ambedkar’s Constitution. That is why they are disturbed by the Constitution and want to change it.”Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesVenugopal said BJP has shown to the entire world that they are the biggest perpetrators of social injustice.To protest the FIR against Rahul and “caste atrocity” against Kharge, Congress held protests at district level across states. A directive from AICC general secretary Venugopal to state units said, “Our fight should continue against the ones who attack the values of social justice. Active and mandatory participation must be ensured across all levels – PCC office-bearers, District leadership, CLP leaders MLA/MLC, MPs, senior leaders, frontal organisations… maximum mobilization and media dissemination must be undertaken to send an unyielding message – Congress will not be intimidated by state-sponsored witch-hunts and will fight relentlessly for social justice.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAkhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award’One May Call Bharat Superpower But…’: RSS Chief Bhagwat’s ‘Vishwaguru’ Msg In Canada‘Islam Is Greater Than Other Dharams’: Karnataka Minister Sparks Row, BJP Calls Cong ‘Anti-Hindu’FIR Against Rahul Gandhi Under SC/ST Act For ‘Giving Caste Angle’ In Haldwani ‘Purification’ RowFor Every Rs 100 Laundered, Only Re 1 Is Recovered By Authorities: CJI Surya Kant At Cambridge123Hot PicksNepal floodMumbai port fireGandak riverMumbai milk priceDelhi rapeWeather tomorrowTN milk price hikeGATE 2027 registrationIndia GDP growthTop TrendingCanyon Flash FloodStuart BroadBabaz AzamNovak DjokovicUS Iran WarTravis Kelce BusinessKai CenatCoco GauffsNaomi OsakaLebron James Pentagon Missile Production Agreements: US signs 7-year deals with Lockheed, GD-OTS to boost THAAD & Patriot missile production Aleutian Cackling Goose: In 1975, fewer than 800 Aleutian cackling geese remained; fox removal and habitat protection helped the population rebound to around 200,000, and regulated hunting later returned Telangana CM Revanth Reddy (File photo) NEW DELHI: Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday asked Congress workers to take to the streets against BRS president and leader of opposition K Chandrasekhar Rao, demanding his resignation over what he called KCR’s “1,000-day confinement” to his farmhouse.Reddy said the Congress government would complete 1,000 days in office on September 1 and claimed it was taking Telangana from “destruction to development” after inheriting a debt burden of more than Rs 8 lakh crore from the previous BRS regime.Reddy also put a price tag on KCR’s absence, claiming that the former chief minister had drawn Rs 1.24 crore in salary over the last 1,000 days, while the government spent another Rs 21 crore on his security, bullet-proof vehicles and other facilities, according to news agency PTI.”That means KCR ate away Rs 22,24,40,000 of government money in 1,000 days,” Reddy said, asking whether Rao had devoted even a single day to the concerns of the poor, women, students, farmers, Dalits and Adivasis.Taking another swipe at his predecessor, Reddy said he had not taken leave “even for an hour” during his 1,000 days in office and questioned whether KCR had spent even an hour addressing people’s issues during the same period.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe chief minister then reached for a colourful Telugu comparison, saying the difference between him and KCR was like that between a ‘Nandi’ (sacred bull of Lord Shiva) and a ‘Pandi’ (pig).”How can you be compared with me?” he asked.Reddy also questioned how an opposition leader could remain confined to a farmhouse for 1,000 days and challenged KCR to attend the assembly and participate in the upcoming monsoon session, beginning September 7.”Is there any other opposition leader in the country who did not come out of his farmhouse for 1,000 days?” Reddy asked.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 MediaVideosDelhi Draft Voter Roll Out: 47.7 Lakh Electors Excluded, Claims Allowed Till September 30Akhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award’One May Call Bharat Superpower But…’: RSS Chief Bhagwat’s ‘Vishwaguru’ Msg In Canada‘Islam Is Greater Than Other Dharams’: Karnataka Minister Sparks Row, BJP Calls Cong ‘Anti-Hindu’FIR Against Rahul Gandhi Under SC/ST Act For ‘Giving Caste Angle’ In Haldwani ‘Purification’ Row123Hot PicksNepal floodMumbai port fireGandak riverMumbai milk priceDelhi rapeWeather tomorrowTN milk price hikeGATE 2027 registrationIndia GDP growthTop TrendingCanyon Flash FloodStuart BroadBabaz AzamNovak DjokovicUS Iran WarTravis Kelce BusinessKai CenatCoco GauffsNaomi OsakaLebron James September 2026 Monthly Horoscope: What changes, what improves and what needs care for each moon sign India name 26-member squad for big friendlies against Brazil, Uruguay and Panama A New Jersey town agreed to spend $13.4 million to preserve about 50 acres once eyed for dense housing; the first 17 acres have now become public land India is bracing for below-average rainfall this September, signaling an early end to the monsoon season with overall inadequate precipitation. NEW DELHI: Monthly rainfall over the country as a whole is most likely to be ‘below normal’ in Sept, the last month of the monsoon season, said IMD on Monday — an indication that the four-month rainy season is likely to end with overall deficient cumulative (June-Sept) rainfall as predicted earlier with high probability due to the impact of El Nino.The Met department said August, which reported a deficit of more than 16 percent in monthly rainfall in the country despite good rains in certain parts, was the warmest August in India since 1901, recording a mean temperature of 28.01 degrees Celsius.Region-wise, August in south Peninsular India was the second-warmest August since 1901, whereas it was the third warmest for east and northeast India, and fifth warmest for northwest India in the past 126 years.So far, the country as a whole reported a deficit of 14 percent in cumulative (June 1-Aug 31) rainfall, despite ‘normal’ rainfall in July. In June, the deficit was as high as 35 percent. Out of a total of 741 districts assessed for monsoon rainfall distribution, 312 districts (42 percent) received ‘below normal’ rainfall and 38 districts (5 percent) reported large deficient rainfall till Aug 31.A forecast of ‘below normal’ rainfall in Sept may lead to a deficit in overall kharif crop acreage. Though sowing of most of the seasonal crops is almost complete with a decline in acreage by nearly 2 percent compared to the corresponding period last year, low rainfall in Sept means an increase in the input cost due to farmers’ spending on irrigation of standing crops.“Spatially, many parts of the country are likely to receive below-normal rainfall, but some areas of northwest, northeast, east, east-central and south-east Peninsular India are likely to receive ‘normal to above-normal’ rainfall,” said IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.He said currently “strong El Niño conditions” are prevailing over the equatorial Pacific Ocean, with sea surface temperature (SST) remaining above normal across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. “These conditions are expected to strengthen further in the coming months,” said Mohapatra, hinting at its negative impact on Sept rainfall.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesEl Niño, characterised by the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, is invariably associated with a weak monsoon and a harsh summer in India.At present, neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions prevail over the Indian Ocean and the forecasts from the Monsoon Mission Coupled Forecast System (MMCFS) indicate that neutral IOD conditions are likely to persist through Sept. It means the monsoon may not benefit from this climatic phenomenon as only positive IOD helps increase rainfall activities.IMD noted that the extreme weather events (lightning, thunderstorm and heavy rains) took 113 human lives in Aug. Mohapatra, however, said this figure can be cross-checked with the data compiled by the states.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 MediaVideosDelhi Draft Voter Roll Out: 47.7 Lakh Electors Excluded, Claims Allowed Till September 30Akhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award’One May Call Bharat Superpower But…’: RSS Chief Bhagwat’s ‘Vishwaguru’ Msg In Canada‘Islam Is Greater Than Other Dharams’: Karnataka Minister Sparks Row, BJP Calls Cong ‘Anti-Hindu’FIR Against Rahul Gandhi Under SC/ST Act For ‘Giving Caste Angle’ In Haldwani ‘Purification’ Row123PhotostoriesBigg Boss Telugu through the years: A look back at all seasonsVaibhav Suryavanshi breaks all-time Duleep Trophy record as a teenager: Times the young cricketer has made historyThe glass-skin obsession: Can Indian skin really achieve that mirror-like glow?Personality test optical illusion: Only sharp-eyed people can find all the hidden deer in this image within 11 secondsTamannaah Bhatia just made Rs 2.43 lakh look like a personality trait in this Aisha Rao ivory ensembleNew OTT releases this week (August 31-September 6): ‘Gandhari’, ‘Dhamaal 4’, ‘The Gentlemen’ Season 2, ‘Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly’ and moreTravelling by train in India? 10 things you should never do on a journeySamantha Ruth Prabhu joins the polka-dot club, and maternity fashion just got a lot more funBigg Boss Malayalam: A look back at seven unforgettable seasonsSimple things that make you feel good without spending money, from taking a walk to reconnecting with people you love123Hot PicksNepal floodMumbai port fireGandak riverMumbai milk priceDelhi rapeWeather tomorrowTN milk price hikeGATE 2027 registrationIndia GDP growthTop TrendingCanyon Flash FloodStuart BroadBabaz AzamNovak DjokovicUS Iran WarTravis Kelce BusinessKai CenatCoco GauffsNaomi OsakaLebron James In 2025, researchers used fired clay bricks and eggshell waste, reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling by 50%, turning food waste into useful building material Tiny Scottish village of 200 homes in Auchtertool, Fife, fights plans for world’s second-largest data centre covering more than 100 football pitches; 1,600 objections pile up, residents fear it could dwarf their community File photo: Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera during a press conference The Congress on Monday hit out at the government over India’s 7.8 per cent GDP growth in the April-June quarter, saying the figure was “not an economic spring” and presented a “Greatly Distorted Picture” of the state of the economy.The opposition party questioned why the country’s economic growth was not translating into jobs and prosperity, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the first-quarter performance as an “exemplary” and “herculean feat”.Jairam Ramesh flags investment, consumer confidence concernsCongress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the quarterly GDP numbers did not reflect what he described as depressed private investment sentiment, both domestic and foreign.”The quarterly GDP numbers, such as they are reported, present a GDP – Greatly Distorted Picture – of the economy. They do not convey the decidedly depressed private investment sentiment in the economy – both domestic and foreign,” Ramesh said in a post on X.He also claimed that consumer confidence was sluggish, household savings rates had fallen and debt had reached record highs.”Consumer confidence is very sluggish, hitting its lowest point since COVID and on a relentless downward trajectory since November 2025. Prices of household essentials are galloping. Educated unemployment is at alarming levels. The unabated trade deficit with China is wreaking havoc,” Ramesh said.He further claimed that the concentration of key sectors among a few large conglomerates was having “deleterious effects”, adding that the wealth of India’s five richest families had grown by 400 per cent while the real wages of salaried workers had fallen.Congress asks: Where are the jobs?Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said one quarter of 7.8 per cent growth did not amount to an “economic spring”.”One quarter of 7.8 per cent growth is not an economic spring. If India has truly ‘bloomed’, why do rampant unemployment, leaked exam papers, and a crumbling education system define the ground reality?” he said.”Why is the republic’s prosperity not translating into the prosperity of its public?” Khera asked.Taking aim at the prime minister’s remarks, he said GDP measures national output rather than jobs, wages or opportunities.”Modi can manage his headlines. For India’s youth, the question remains the same as ever: Where are the jobs?” Khera said.PM Modi calls Q1 growth a ‘herculean feat’The Congress’s criticism came after government data released on Monday showed that India’s economy grew by a faster-than-expected 7.8 per cent in the April-June quarter.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe growth figure exceeded the Reserve Bank of India’s forecast of 7 per cent for the quarter and kept India as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.Responding to the data, PM Modi took a dig at those questioning the state of the Indian economy, saying “doomsayers were doomed and India bloomed yet again”.The prime minister said India’s GDP growth during the first quarter of FY 2026-27 was a “herculean feat”.”The collective strength of our people ensured India delivered such growth despite oil price shocks and supply chain issues in the midst of global uncertainties,” PM Modi said in a post on X.The Q1 growth compares with a 6.9 per cent expansion in the year-ago quarter.The RBI has projected India’s economy to grow by 6.7 per cent in the full 2026-27 fiscal year.Get the latest India News and Live updates. 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