VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html British student says he was denied entry to the US despite having valid visa only because he is Muslim: ‘Felt as if I was kidnapped’ NEW DELHI: Even before former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal could challenge his conviction and the 10-year imprisonment awarded by the Goa bench of Bombay HC in a sexual assault case, Goa govt Tuesday filed an appeal in Supreme Court seeking enhancement of the sentence to life imprisonment, arguing that he got away lightly given the gravity of the offence.Goa govt’s appeal said the woman was his employee and friend’s daughter, and Tejpal misused his position of authority to commit the offences when she was performing her duties at an event organised by him in his capacity as employer.The state contested the HC’s decision to direct the two 10-year sentences to run concurrently because the crime was committed 13 years ago and the woman and the convict had moved on with their lives. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”Passage of time cannot operate to the benefit of the offender or become a premium for the delay in the administration of justice, particularly at the cost of the victim,” govt said.”The sentence imposed does not adequately reflect the gravity of the offences or the aggravating circumstances found proved… The HC itself found that Tejpal occupied a position of ‘dominance, control, trust and authority’ over the victim,” the state said, adding, “The manner in which the victim was treated during the trial is another aggravating circumstance which deserved due consideration at the stage of sentencing.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAAP Leader Satyendar Jain Arrested In Delhi Jal Board ‘Corruption’ Case; Kejriwal Hits Out At BJPTrump Praises India’s Voter ID System, Pushes Same In US, Puts CEC Gyanesh Kumar In SpotlightBihar Transfers 18 Top Cops, Including Siwan SP, Amid Row Over AK-47 Use During Student Protest‘Join Republican Party’: Union Minister’s Big NDA Offer To CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In Tears123PhotostoriesExclusive – Rubina Dilaik on Khatron Ke Khiladi 15, staying away from daughters and Abhinav Shukla’s support: ‘Cried over the phone, wondering if I made the wrong decision’Aishwarya Rai Bachchan just reopened the timeless beauty files with these unseen Cannes 2026 gown photosYour liver may be struggling without pain: 7 warning signs you can spot in your eyes, skin and urine10 baby girl names drawn from ancient texts and mythologies associated with wisdomOptical illusion personality test: Elephant or village? What you see first reveals a hidden side of your personalityTravel vlogger Shenaz Treasury gets a vampire facial: Know its benefits, risks, and cost in India?‘Kantara’ star Rishab Shetty wore a black kurta and silk dhoti with a Gandaberunda motif, for a look fullof regal drama at Melbourne9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and more123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledSatyendar JainSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Von Miller goes to Dallas Cowboys, next up – Najee Harris joins Cam Skattebo’s New York Giants NEW DELHI: Electricity consumption at public charging stations (PCS) jumped by over 72% in 2025-26, indicating a steady rise in the use of electric vehicles – private and commercial – as India’s automotive sector shifts towards cleaner energy.Data compiled by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) showed that 848 million units (MU) of electricity were consumed by public chargers in FY25, which increased to 1,460 MU in FY26. Over 74% of the electricity was consumed at heavy-duty public chargers used by electric buses, trucks, high-capacity passenger coaches and commercial fleet vehicles, while light and medium personal and commercial e-vehicles consumed 26%. In FY25, heavy-duty and medium and light vehicles accounted for 70% and 30% of electricity consumption, respectively.The data, however, is not comprehensive as it does not include electricity consumed by public chargers in all north-eastern states, as well as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the UTs of Puducherry, Chandigarh and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. CEA said power distribution companies in those states and UTs did not provide the relevant information.CEA said information on PCS was required to assess progress in the development of a reliable EV charging ecosystem, ensure energy security and reduce emission intensity, to make necessary policy interventions.”The data on energy consumption in these EV charging stations is also important for the purpose of load forecasting, distribution system planning and integrated resource planning in the country,” the report stated.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesPublic chargers in Maharashtra consumed nearly 378 MU, or 26% of India’s total energy consumption at PCS, followed by Delhi (359 MU), Karnataka (213 MU) and Telangana (111 MU).With govt pushing for adoption of EVs to foster a cleaner environment and achieve its net-zero emissions goal by 2070, total EV sales in India crossed 2.5 million units in 2025, marking a robust 24.6% year-on-year growth and accounting for nearly 8.5% of all new vehicle registrations, driven by strong growth in the two-wheeler, three-wheeler and passenger vehicle segments.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAAP Leader Satyendar Jain Arrested In Delhi Jal Board ‘Corruption’ Case; Kejriwal Hits Out At BJPTrump Praises India’s Voter ID System, Pushes Same In US, Puts CEC Gyanesh Kumar In SpotlightBihar Transfers 18 Top Cops, Including Siwan SP, Amid Row Over AK-47 Use During Student Protest‘Join Republican Party’: Union Minister’s Big NDA Offer To CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In Tears123PhotostoriesExclusive – Rubina Dilaik on Khatron Ke Khiladi 15, staying away from daughters and Abhinav Shukla’s support: ‘Cried over the phone, wondering if I made the wrong decision’Aishwarya Rai Bachchan just reopened the timeless beauty files with these unseen Cannes 2026 gown photosYour liver may be struggling without pain: 7 warning signs you can spot in your eyes, skin and urine10 baby girl names drawn from ancient texts and mythologies associated with wisdomOptical illusion personality test: Elephant or village? What you see first reveals a hidden side of your personalityTravel vlogger Shenaz Treasury gets a vampire facial: Know its benefits, risks, and cost in India?‘Kantara’ star Rishab Shetty wore a black kurta and silk dhoti with a Gandaberunda motif, for a look fullof regal drama at Melbourne9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and more123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledSatyendar JainSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Aug 19, 2026, 01:09 IST Taurus Horoscope Today, August 19, 2026: Today isn’t ideal for heated emotional exchanges How to download Minecraft Bedrock 26.50.26 beta and preview on all platforms A San Francisco man was digging in his backyard when his shovel hit something hard; he unearthed a 150-pound limestone sculpture and nobody knows who made it “Zero self awareness”: Jayden Daniels draws fresh criticism as Joe Burrow breaks silence on LSU number drama Chinese doctors claim first-ever successful double thigh replantation; factory worker starts walking again after losing both legs The controversy was triggered by Sonia Gandhi’s gestures at Congress’ I-Day event. BJP has said that singing of all six stanzas of Vande Mataram was an integral feature of the freedom struggle until Congress gave in to pressure from those aligned with Muslim League and curtailed it to just two stanzas NEW DELHI: Congress and BJP tussled over Vande Mataram Tuesday with the opposition party’s president Mallikarjun Kharge defiantly declaring Congress would restrict to only two stanzas of the national song despite a just-passed law requiring all its six stanzas to be rendered, and BJP hitting back by saying the party which curtailed the song because of Muslim hardliners should stop claiming to be the “sole custodian of freedom movement”.”I sang Vande Mataram that Gandhi, Nehru and Patel sang, the song that Vajpayee sang as PM and that he (Narendra Modi) himself sang as CM and as PM till now. If this is a crime, then he has been doing this crime for 18 years. If this is a crime, then file a case against Gandhi, Nehru and Patel,” Kharge said.BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad pointed out that singing of all six stanzas of Vande Mataram were an integral feature of the freedom struggle until Congress gave in to pressure from those with Muslim League’s divisive mindset and curtailed it to just two stanzas. “The same mindset is on display now. Congress is abandoning its own traditions due to vote bank politics,” Prasad added.Kharge’s remarks came in the wake of BJP’s objections to his rendition of the song in Goa. Earlier, MP Sonia Gandhi’s gestures during Congress’s Independence Day function also triggered accusations that she objected to the singing of the song beyond initial two paragraphs.The song has become a source of controversy since a Union home ministry notification issued in Feb mandated the song’s six stanzas as the official version to mark 150th anniversary of the composition of Vande Mataram.In Parliament’s monsoon session, the House passed Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which made singing of all six stanzas mandatory and provided for punishment for non-compliance and disrespect. Muslims have objected to the singing of the song beyond the two stanzas because they consider the rest of it to be idolatrous.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesSlamming BJP, Kharge underlined Congress had passed a resolution about national songs “before they (BJP netas) were born”, a reference to post-independence identification of Jana Gana Mana as national anthem and Vande Mataram as national song, and their official versions. “Will BJP decide what is the national song? If there is a new govt tomorrow, will it decide the national song? We did what has been going on for 90 years,” he said.Talking to reporters, Prasad said it was the first president and head of Constituent Assembly Rajendra Prasad who was instrumental in getting Vande Mataram declared national song. “He was also a Congressman,” he said.Sources said the Congress Working Committee meeting on Wednesday will clear the party’s stand on the song.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAAP Leader Satyendar Jain Arrested In Delhi Jal Board ‘Corruption’ Case; Kejriwal Hits Out At BJPTrump Praises India’s Voter ID System, Pushes Same In US, Puts CEC Gyanesh Kumar In SpotlightBihar Transfers 18 Top Cops, Including Siwan SP, Amid Row Over AK-47 Use During Student Protest‘Join Republican Party’: Union Minister’s Big NDA Offer To CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In Tears123PhotostoriesExclusive – Rubina Dilaik on Khatron Ke Khiladi 15, staying away from daughters and Abhinav Shukla’s support: ‘Cried over the phone, wondering if I made the wrong decision’Aishwarya Rai Bachchan just reopened the timeless beauty files with these unseen Cannes 2026 gown photosYour liver may be struggling without pain: 7 warning signs you can spot in your eyes, skin and urine10 baby girl names drawn from ancient texts and mythologies associated with wisdomOptical illusion personality test: Elephant or village? What you see first reveals a hidden side of your personalityTravel vlogger Shenaz Treasury gets a vampire facial: Know its benefits, risks, and cost in India?‘Kantara’ star Rishab Shetty wore a black kurta and silk dhoti with a Gandaberunda motif, for a look fullof regal drama at Melbourne9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and more123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledSatyendar JainSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir How to dry clothes faster in humid weather: 5 simple tips | Watch: Indian-origin Nasa astronaut Anil Menon takes second spacewalk SRINAGAR: US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, is scheduled to arrive in Jammu & Kashmir on Wednesday for his first visit to the union territory.Gor, the 27th US ambassador to India who also serves as his country’s special envoy for South and Central Asia, is likely to meet lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha and CM Omar Abdullah.NC spokesperson and legislator Tanvir Sadiq said Gor would be meeting Omar at his Gupkar residence Wednesday afternoon.Gor will leave for Ladakh on Thursday. However, it is not clear whether he is meeting Ladakh LG Vinai Kumar Saxena, who is in New Delhi and will be returning to Leh only on Aug 22.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThough US diplomats have often visited Kashmir over the past few years, Gor’s visit is seen as significant in the Valley given his profile.Former minister and PDP spokesperson Naeem Akhtar said, “Given that Gor is also the special envoy to South and Central Asia, the visit assumes some significance. Especially in the context of Trump’s wholesome endorsement of recent Pak-Saudi-Turkey defence pact.”In 2024, a delegation of US diplomats had met Omar Abdullah, then vice-president of the National Conference, at his residence. The delegation had also met Peoples Conference‘s Sajjad Lone, NC MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi and BJP‘s Hina Bhat.Following the abrogation of Article 370 in Aug 2019, the govt had invited and escorted foreign diplomats on visits to Kashmir.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAAP Leader Satyendar Jain Arrested In Delhi Jal Board ‘Corruption’ Case; Kejriwal Hits Out At BJPTrump Praises India’s Voter ID System, Pushes Same In US, Puts CEC Gyanesh Kumar In SpotlightBihar Transfers 18 Top Cops, Including Siwan SP, Amid Row Over AK-47 Use During Student Protest‘Join Republican Party’: Union Minister’s Big NDA Offer To CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In Tears123PhotostoriesAishwarya Rai Bachchan just reopened the timeless beauty files with these unseen Cannes 2026 gown photosYour liver may be struggling without pain: 7 warning signs you can spot in your eyes, skin and urine10 baby girl names drawn from ancient texts and mythologies associated with wisdomOptical illusion personality test: Elephant or village? What you see first reveals a hidden side of your personalityTravel vlogger Shenaz Treasury gets a vampire facial: Know its benefits, risks, and cost in India?‘Kantara’ star Rishab Shetty wore a black kurta and silk dhoti with a Gandaberunda motif, for a look fullof regal drama at Melbourne9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and moreBest time to oil your hair for growth: Morning, night, or before a wash? The truth is finally out123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledSatyendar JainSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Horoscope Today: Daily astrological predictions for August 19, 2026 Monarch butterfly has been added to endangered species list, to conserve them scientists in California have given them solar-powered radio backpacks JAMMU: Security forces launched search operations following reports of the movement of terror suspects in Udhampur, Reasi and Kathua districts of Jammu & Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday.A man from Udhampur’s Talot village reported to the local police that some suspected individuals knocked on his door late Monday and asked for food.When locals did not respond to the repeated knocks for several minutes and then alerted the security forces, the suspects left the area towards higher reaches of Khuban in the district.The searches come just a week after a video purportedly showing four suspected terrorists moving near Ramtund Peak in Doda district surfaced, prompting security forces to launch a massive search operation on Aug 11.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAAP Leader Satyendar Jain Arrested In Delhi Jal Board ‘Corruption’ Case; Kejriwal Hits Out At BJPTrump Praises India’s Voter ID System, Pushes Same In US, Puts CEC Gyanesh Kumar In SpotlightBihar Transfers 18 Top Cops, Including Siwan SP, Amid Row Over AK-47 Use During Student Protest‘Join Republican Party’: Union Minister’s Big NDA Offer To CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In Tears123PhotostoriesAishwarya Rai Bachchan just reopened the timeless beauty files with these unseen Cannes 2026 gown photosYour liver may be struggling without pain: 7 warning signs you can spot in your eyes, skin and urine10 baby girl names drawn from ancient texts and mythologies associated with wisdomOptical illusion personality test: Elephant or village? What you see first reveals a hidden side of your personalityTravel vlogger Shenaz Treasury gets a vampire facial: Know its benefits, risks, and cost in India?‘Kantara’ star Rishab Shetty wore a black kurta and silk dhoti with a Gandaberunda motif, for a look fullof regal drama at Melbourne9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and moreBest time to oil your hair for growth: Morning, night, or before a wash? The truth is finally out123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledSatyendar JainSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Wladimir Klitschko vows to protect Hayden Panettiere’s memory for daughter Kaya as WWE star Jacob Fatu shares cryptic post after her death “I was very scared and frightened and.”: How Stephen Curry’s wife Ayesha Curry navigated motherhood, career ambitions and the struggle to build an identity beyond raising her kids In 1951, a New Jersey couple bought 185 acres as a summer retreat after which an injured owl turned their property into a wildlife refuge | World News Three-day RSS coordination meeting to discuss demographic imbalance, youth de-addiction Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], August 18 (ANI): The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) upcoming three-day All India Coordination Meeting will primarily deliberate on issues including demographic imbalance and drug abuse among youth, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar said on Tuesday.Addressing mediapersons at the venue, Ambekar said the ‘Akhil Bharatiya Samanvay Baithak’ will be held at Vijnana Vihara School in Gudilova, near Visakhapatnam, from August 19 to August 21.The meeting will commence on August 19 and continue until the evening of August 21, he said.Key functionaries from 32 Sangh-inspired organisations will participate in the meeting. RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale, Sah-Sarkaryavahs, and other central office-bearers will also attend.National presidents, general secretaries and organising secretaries of various Sangh-inspired organisations, including Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Vishva Hindu Parishad, Bharatiya Janata Party, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and Rashtra Sevika Samiti, will participate.A total of approximately 327 delegates, including 253 functionaries from organisations across the country and 49 women delegates, along with RSS leaders, are expected to take part.Ambekar clarified that the meeting is not an executive decision-making meeting, but is aimed at sharing experiences and strengthening coordination among Sangh-inspired organisations for the betterment of society.RSS is engaged in activities such as public welfare, raising public awareness, systemic change, and problem-solving. Discussions will take place to strengthen mutual coordination among all the Sangh-inspired organizations.Current national developments, social transitions, and practical solutions to emerging challenges will be reviewed and discussed during the meeting.Deliberations will include changing demographic patterns across the country, their broader implications, and the necessary course of action, Ambekar said. Youth de-addiction, or ‘Nasha Mukti’, will also be a particular focus, with discussions on formulating a comprehensive action plan to keep youth away from drugs and substance abuse and creating wider awareness.The meeting will also continue discussions on the five transformative dimensions of ‘Panch Parivartan’ – social harmony, an eco-friendly lifestyle, family values, sense of self or indigenous consciousness, and adherence to civic duties, which have been propagated by the Sangh during its centenary phase.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAmbekar said deliberations would also include formulating a holistic ‘Bharatiya Development Model’ that harmonises all spheres of society alongside economic growth. He said development should not be restricted to economic indicators but should encompass comprehensive progress across sectors.According to the RSS, public interest in the organisation has increased during its centenary phase. Through the ‘Join RSS’ website, 57,423 people registered between January and July 2025, while the figure rose to 1,23,287 during the corresponding period in 2026. More than 65 per cent of those registered are below 30 years of age, while nearly 85 per cent are below 40.Dakshina Madhya Kshetra Sah Sanghchalak Sri Dusi Ramakrishna, Sah Prachar Pramukh Sri Pradeep Joshi, Andhra Pradesh Pranta Prachar Pramukh Bayya Vasu, and Sah Prachar Pramukh Vasudeva Rao were present at the press briefing. (ANI)Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Praises India’s Voter ID System, Pushes Same In US, Puts CEC Gyanesh Kumar In SpotlightBihar Transfers 18 Top Cops, Including Siwan SP, Amid Row Over AK-47 Use During Student Protest‘Join Republican Party’: Union Minister’s Big NDA Offer To CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face Scrutiny123PhotostoriesAishwarya Rai Bachchan just reopened the timeless beauty files with these unseen Cannes 2026 gown photosYour liver may be struggling without pain: 7 warning signs you can spot in your eyes, skin and urine10 baby girl names drawn from ancient texts and mythologies associated with wisdomOptical illusion personality test: Elephant or village? What you see first reveals a hidden side of your personalityTravel vlogger Shenaz Treasury gets a vampire facial: Know its benefits, risks, and cost in India?‘Kantara’ star Rishab Shetty wore a black kurta and silk dhoti with a Gandaberunda motif, for a look fullof regal drama at Melbourne9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and moreBest time to oil your hair for growth: Morning, night, or before a wash? The truth is finally out123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledSatyendar JainSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Indian mom has the funniest problem after daughter moves to India with an American accent In the 1990s, a predatory flatworm was released in Samoa to control giant African snails; it later became linked to the decline and extinction of native island snails OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: Within six months, ChatGPT could watch your screen, meetings and emails Indonesian woman gives birth under torchlight during magnitude 7.7 earthquake | World News BRICS nations need stronger frameworks to mobilise private capital at scale: Nirmala Sitharaman NEW DELHI: BRICS nations, including India, China, Russia, South Africa, Brazil and others, on Tuesday opposed the European Union’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and any other such trade barriers, calling them “unilateral, punitive, discriminatory and protectionist measures”.CBAM, which entered its operational regime on January 1, is a tool to put a price, through imposing a border tax, on carbon-intensive goods, like iron and steel, aluminium and cement, that are entering the 27 EU nations.India opposed the proposal from the time it was conceived, arguing that the unilateral move placed an additional burden on businesses in developing economies due to embedded emissions in their products.“We oppose unilateral, punitive, discriminatory and protectionist measures that are not in line with international law, such as CBAM, and express concern that such measures undermine efforts by countries, specifically the developing countries, aimed at addressing the adverse impacts of climate change, increasing adaptive capacity and resilience,” said BRICS nations’ joint ministerial statement (JMS) adopted unanimously at the conclusion of the group’s 12th environment ministers’ meeting here.Delivering his keynote address at the meeting, held under India’s BRICS chairship 2026, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav highlighted the growing global environmental challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and disaster risks, and called for stronger cooperation among 11 member countries of the group on forest fire prevention, preparedness, early warning, response and post-fire recovery.The meeting unveiled four knowledge compendiums prepared by the BRICS Environment Working Group, reflecting leading practices, knowledge systems and innovations among the member countries.The countries also adopted four outcome documents, including terms of reference for a network of BRICS institutions to advance knowledge sharing, research and innovation in sustainable lifestyles, and integrated landscape management for combating desertification.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesBesides Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, other members of the group are Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, UAE and Saudi Arabia. These countries, put together, account for 40% of global GDP. Ministers or heads of delegations of all member countries, except Saudi Arabia, attended the ministerial meeting.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 MediaVideosAAP Leader Satyendar Jain Arrested In Delhi Jal Board ‘Corruption’ Case; Kejriwal Hits Out At BJPTrump Praises India’s Voter ID System, Pushes Same In US, Puts CEC Gyanesh Kumar In SpotlightBihar Transfers 18 Top Cops, Including Siwan SP, Amid Row Over AK-47 Use During Student Protest‘Join Republican Party’: Union Minister’s Big NDA Offer To CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In Tears123PhotostoriesAishwarya Rai Bachchan just reopened the timeless beauty files with these unseen Cannes 2026 gown photosYour liver may be struggling without pain: 7 warning signs you can spot in your eyes, skin and urine10 baby girl names drawn from ancient texts and mythologies associated with wisdomOptical illusion personality test: Elephant or village? What you see first reveals a hidden side of your personalityTravel vlogger Shenaz Treasury gets a vampire facial: Know its benefits, risks, and cost in India?‘Kantara’ star Rishab Shetty wore a black kurta and silk dhoti with a Gandaberunda motif, for a look fullof regal drama at Melbourne9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and moreBest time to oil your hair for growth: Morning, night, or before a wash? The truth is finally out123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledSatyendar JainSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Love Predictions Today (19th August 2026): These Zodiac Signs May Find Love, While Others Risk Heartbreak Meet Finnegan McGill, the 18-year-old Arizona student who spent four years building an AI device that can identify birds from their calls and pinpoint where they are ‘When there are roads, accidents happen’: Pune MLA’s remark after 11-year-old’s death triggers row Prove you won’t take government benefits: US issues details of new Green Card rules coming into effect on September 18 Aug 18, 2026, 22:54 IST Meet Ankan Das, the 15-year-old Florida student who built a shape-shifting robot that crawls on Moon soil and squeezes through tight spaces ‘Ready to deal with any threats’: UAE vows response after Iran fires two missiles Meet Archishman Dey, the Ohio eighth-grader who tested an air fryer, candle, humidifier, gas and incense; incense produced the most fine-particle pollution The government has approved the scheme to accelerate the expansion of domestic piped natural gas (PNG) connections, with the aim of making clean, safe and affordable cooking fuel accessible to more households across the country. NEW DELHI: To promote the expansion of PNG network and ensure more families start using piped gas in their kitchens, the government on Tuesday approved an incentive scheme promising additional lower-priced domestic gas to distribution companies for each new connection activated by them.According to the government, city gas distribution (CGD) companies have made provision for more than 1.7 crore domestic PNG connections across the country, but the actual number of billed or active connections is only over 1.1 crore. Under the new scheme, CGD companies will be allocated an additional 200 standard cubic metres of domestically produced, lower-priced (APM) gas for each unbilled connection converted into a working one above the threshold level.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines The additional gas allocation will substitute the costlier liquefied natural gas that CGD entities currently procure for their compressed natural gas (transport) segment, thereby lowering their overall gas-sourcing costs.“The resulting cost savings are expected to shorten the payback period for capital expenditure incurred on domestic PNG connections from around 10 years to approximately 3 years — giving CGD entities a strong financial incentive to expand household PNG connectivity more rapidly and bringing the benefits of clean, safe and affordable piped cooking gas to a larger number of Indian households in the months ahead,” the petroleum ministry said in a statement.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Praises India’s Voter ID System, Pushes Same In US, Puts CEC Gyanesh Kumar In SpotlightBihar Transfers 18 Top Cops, Including Siwan SP, Amid Row Over AK-47 Use During Student Protest‘Join Republican Party’: Union Minister’s Big NDA Offer To CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face Scrutiny123PhotostoriesAishwarya Rai Bachchan just reopened the timeless beauty files with these unseen Cannes 2026 gown photosYour liver may be struggling without pain: 7 warning signs you can spot in your eyes, skin and urine10 baby girl names drawn from ancient texts and mythologies associated with wisdomOptical illusion personality test: Elephant or village? What you see first reveals a hidden side of your personalityTravel vlogger Shenaz Treasury gets a vampire facial: Know its benefits, risks, and cost in India?‘Kantara’ star Rishab Shetty wore a black kurta and silk dhoti with a Gandaberunda motif, for a look fullof regal drama at Melbourne9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and moreBest time to oil your hair for growth: Morning, night, or before a wash? The truth is finally out123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledSatyendar JainSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Shubhra Shetty recalls her parents’ reaction to her relationship with Anurag Kashyap: ‘My mom calls him a bakra, she thinks he is like a henpecked husband’ Daily Horoscope, August 18, 2026: These Chinese zodiac signs may make a highly profitable move, while others need extreme caution In 1937, Australian scientists released infected rabbits on an island to test a virus that would later transform rabbit control across the continent Trollmeister Trump takes his cartographic aggression to Hormuz One dead, over 200 ill in UK Salmonella outbreak: Symptoms, cause and all you need to know | World News Aug 18, 2026, 22:31 IST How to clean a burnt iron pan: 5 methods that actually work | Meet Ella Lu, the 17-year-old North Carolina student who taught AI to recognise how Impressionist painters arranged objects in their paintings Trump’s new election guru? India Moroccan women once walked hours to collect water; now giant nets harvest drinking water from mountain fog | World News AAP leader Satyendar Jain arrested. NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain was arrested in connection with alleged corruption in the Delhi Jal Board, an official told news agency ANI.The Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ABC) has arrested six people in connection with the case.Those arrested include former Delhi minister Satyendar Kumar Jain, former Delhi Jal Board CEO Udit Prakash Rai, former contractual consultant Ankit Srivastava, and three private persons, Nagendra Yadav, Raja Kumar Kurra and Pankaj Verma.The arrests were made in connection with an FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch on May 11, 2024, under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code.The case includes charges under provisions relating to bribery, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy.The case was registered on the complaint of Directorate of Vigilance, GNCTD regarding large-scale irregularities, manipulation of tender conditions and criminal conspiracy in the tendering process relating to augmentation/upgradation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).Kejriwal, Sisodia attack BJPAAP chief and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal attacked the BJP over Jain’s arrest, saying his party colleague was arrested on the “BJP’s behest”.Calling the case ‘fake,’ Kejriwal said: “The BJP’s cup of sins is now full. No matter how much authoritarianism they resort to, the end of the Modi government is now certain. The entire Aam Aadmi Party and the people of the country stand firmly with Satyendar Jain.”Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesEx-Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia linked Satyendar Jain’s arrest to the Punjab polls, saying BJP was back with its election-time tactics.””Just ahead of the Punjab elections, Satyendar Jain, who is the party’s co-incharge for Punjab, has been arrested. He was earlier kept in jail for two and a half years in a false case, and now there is yet another false case. From the Gen Z protests to allegations of donation irregularities over the Ram Temple and the E20 issue, the BJP is facing questions on several fronts and has once again resorted to its old electoral tactic of using the ED, ACB and CBI,” Sisodia wrote on XGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRajeev SinghRajeev Singh is a Digital Content Producer with The Times of India. He covers politics, policies, defence, and conflicts for readers curious to know their implications. He loves digging into legal maxims and political trivia. On off days, when not turning pages or learning русский, he lives in the reverie of “what ifs” and “how abouts.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Praises India’s Voter ID System, Pushes Same In US, Puts CEC Gyanesh Kumar In SpotlightBihar Transfers 18 Top Cops, Including Siwan SP, Amid Row Over AK-47 Use During Student Protest‘Join Republican Party’: Union Minister’s Big NDA Offer To CJP Founder Abhijeet Dipke30,000 Protesters, 5,000 Cops: Delhi Police Defends Force Before Supreme Court In Protest CaseSIT Gives Clean Chit To Champat Rai & Anil Mishra In Ayodhya Probe, Submits Final Report | WatchVijay Apologises In Assembly After Karunanidhi Remark Sparks DMK Uproar Over Decorum BreachCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face Scrutiny123PhotostoriesAishwarya Rai Bachchan just reopened the timeless beauty files with these unseen Cannes 2026 gown photosYour liver may be struggling without pain: 7 warning signs you can spot in your eyes, skin and urine10 baby girl names drawn from ancient texts and mythologies associated with wisdomOptical illusion personality test: Elephant or village? What you see first reveals a hidden side of your personalityTravel vlogger Shenaz Treasury gets a vampire facial: Know its benefits, risks, and cost in India?‘Kantara’ star Rishab Shetty wore a black kurta and silk dhoti with a Gandaberunda motif, for a look fullof regal drama at Melbourne9 Simple daily remedies to enhance the power of your planetsHow to peel garlic quickly: 7 easy ways to remove garlic skin without sticky fingersRhea Chakraborty’s new luxurious home: A dreamy closet, French windows and moreBest time to oil your hair for growth: Morning, night, or before a wash? The truth is finally out123Hot PicksArshdeep Singh DangBank holidays this weekBihar STET 2026BJP new teamJharkhand ProtestJSSC-CGL exam cancelledSatyendar JainSupreme Court HolidayTwisha SharmaTop TrendingTwisha SharmaDelhi Draft PollMadhya Pradesh AccidentKolkata Airport Building FireAbhijeet DipkeKiren RijijuBengaluru Double MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Daily Career Predictions, 19th August, 2026: Good News for These Zodiac Signs, Target Pressure Causes Office Stress for Others In 1986, a 29-year-old teacher spent 55 days crossing the Arctic and became the first woman to reach the North Pole Jharkhand exam scam: CID arrests key accused’s wife, brother who cleared JSSC-CGL Natalie Harp, Kristen Holmes and White House’s ‘your children will come across your disgusting question’ rebuke: Here’s what happened