VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Former women Maoists take over the fashion ramp in Chhattisgarh ‘Soon in a trash can’: Iran mocks Trump’s secret getaway via catering truck Mohuya Khan, 27, made about $130,000 from nine income streams in 2025 while living in Queens; after taxes and expenses, she took home about $70,000 5 things you should never ignore in the early stages of dating Who was Jessica Bang? Rising golf star dies at 18 after brain hemorrhage James, 18, Earl of Wessex, passes A-levels, to study rural land management at Royal Agricultural University after working as a farmhand at King Charles’ Sandringham estate Manager keeps employee on video calls for 8 hours a day: ‘She’s making me miserable’ IAF starts process to look for 150 new-gen jet trainers to replace its aging Hawk fleet Michigan’s historic Ford House is replacing concrete shoreline with natural habitat; the $7 million project will restore 1 mile of shore and 17.5 acres of aquatic and wetland habitat How AI boom has helped Microsoft keep a window open in China, a market that the company almost left nine years ago In June 2026, Washington began restoring 270 acres across two river islands; the project will reconnect the South Fork Skagit estuary to natural tides and hundreds more acres for endangered Chinook salmon NEW DELHI: The Govt of NCT of Delhi has notified 20% horizontal reservation for ex-Agniveers in direct recruitment to the posts of warder and matron in the prison department.The 20% quota he has been provided by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) in exercise of powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India, read with the relevant recruitment rules governing the posts of warder and matron in the Delhi prison department. It fits in with the policy of the govt of India for rehabilitation of ex-Agniveers, as communicated in a letter of the Union Home Secretary dated March 25, 2026.The home ministry has already reserved 50% of the posts at the constable (general duty) and rifleman level in all the Central armed police forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles, for ex-Agniveers.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesEx-Agniveers shall be granted a three-year age relaxation above the prescribed upper age limit in the relevant/applicable recruitment rules. For the first batch of ex-Agniveers, the age relaxation will be higher at five years beyond the prescribed upper age limit.A relaxation in physical efficiency test (PET) to ex-Agniveers shall be decided by the respective department.In case of non-availability of suitable ex-Agniveers, the applicable guidelines of govt of India on horizontal reservation will be followed.The 20% horizontal reservation will be available for all ex-Agniveers on lines of that for other horizontal reservation categories, as per the notification issued by the govt of NCT of Delhi on Wednesday.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAir India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | WatchPrajwal Revanna’s Jail Phone Had 90 Porn Videos, Senior Prison Official Suspended After Search’Is This The Way In Democracy?’Kharge Fumes, Raises Haldwani ‘Purification’ Row, Nadda Assures ProbeRed Fort Blast: UN Security Council Body Links Deadly Attack To AQIS; Reveals Grisly DetailsPit Bull Attack in Patiala Couple Suffers Multiple Injuries- Wife Undergoes SurgeryThreat Letter Targets Kashmiri Pandits In Kashmir, Employees Asked To Stay Alert Amid Security FearChilling Crash Video: Atiq Ahmed’s Son’s Creta Flips After Losing Control On Highway | WatchUdhayanidhi Backs CM Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Delimitation Stand, Demands No Cut In State’s LS Seats123PhotostoriesOprah Winfrey talks sleep with Dr John La Puma: Why your nighttime routine may be affecting your heart, hormones and body clock’Vishwanath And Sons’: Five reasons to watch Suriya and Mamitha Baiju starrer helmed by Venky Atluri on big screens10 baby names inspired by the “first light of dawn”Why defrosting your fridge is important and 3 smart ways to do itWhy do train tracks have small stones around them? 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The audit pointed to significant issues in planning and financial oversight, which severely undermined the mission’s objectives. Key vulnerable areas were neglected during afforestation, diminishing efforts to combat climate change. NEW DELHI: Red-flagging lapses in the country’s ongoing programme to increase and improve green cover, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pointed out non-achievement of forest cover targets, noting that the observed increase in forest cover fell short by nearly 98% during 10 years of implementation (2015-16 to 2024-25) of the Green India Mission (GIM).Releasing the performance audit report on the Mission, CAG highlighted the wrong choice of landscape for planting trees, absence of convergence of various schemes to increase green cover, financial mismanagement, improper planning, lack of coordination and deficient monitoring behind non-achievement of the GIM’s goals.The broad objectives under the Mission were to increase forest/tree cover, improve the quality of forest/non-forest lands, improve ecosystem services, including biodiversity, hydrological services and carbon sequestration because of forest land/non-forest land, and to increase forest-based livelihood income of households living in and around forests.Underlining its key audit findings, the CAG in its report tabled in Parliament on Wednesday said, “As against the target of 1.4 million hectares (mha), improvement of forest cover quality was observed in only 0.11 mha (nearly 92% shortfall). Similarly, an increase in forest cover was observed in only 0.03 mha as against the target of 1.4 mha (nearly 98% shortfall).”Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIt also noted that despite vulnerability being a key criterion, landscapes with low to moderate priority were selected over those more vulnerable to climate change for afforestation under the Mission.The performance audit examined the planning, implementation and monitoring of the GIM interventions in 16 states and UTs for which physical and financial targets were approved by the environment ministry during the period 2015-16 to 2024-25.Pointing out deficient monitoring, the CAG noted that 14 states even failed to provide required public web links for transparency. It flagged that audit evaluations revealed inflated data and overstated achievements, and GIS analysis showed that 70% of sampled sites had no noticeable changes attributable to GIM.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 MediaVideosAir India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | WatchPrajwal Revanna’s Jail Phone Had 90 Porn Videos, Senior Prison Official Suspended After Search’Is This The Way In Democracy?’Kharge Fumes, Raises Haldwani ‘Purification’ Row, Nadda Assures ProbeRed Fort Blast: UN Security Council Body Links Deadly Attack To AQIS; Reveals Grisly DetailsPit Bull Attack in Patiala Couple Suffers Multiple Injuries- Wife Undergoes SurgeryThreat Letter Targets Kashmiri Pandits In Kashmir, Employees Asked To Stay Alert Amid Security FearChilling Crash Video: Atiq Ahmed’s Son’s Creta Flips After Losing Control On Highway | WatchUdhayanidhi Backs CM Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Delimitation Stand, Demands No Cut In State’s LS Seats123PhotostoriesOprah Winfrey talks sleep with Dr John La Puma: Why your nighttime routine may be affecting your heart, hormones and body clock’Vishwanath And Sons’: Five reasons to watch Suriya and Mamitha Baiju starrer helmed by Venky Atluri on big screens10 baby names inspired by the “first light of dawn”Why defrosting your fridge is important and 3 smart ways to do itWhy do train tracks have small stones around them? 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Iranian photojournalist sentenced to 15 years over images, reporting The original order was issued after a campaign by the students against the participation of CJI Surya Kant in the convocation ceremony. NEW DELHI: The Bar Council of India (BCI) on Thursday modified its controversial circular that had effectively barred graduates of Hyderabad’s NALSAR University of Law’s 2026 batch from enrolling as advocates.In a fresh communication, released hours after the original decision, the BCI clarified that 2026 graduates of the university would be “entitled to seek enrolment with any state bar council of their choice”.”After thorough discussion, the members are of the unanimous view that as per the latest report, vast majority of the students of NALSAR (2026 pass out students) are innocent and they were not inclined to take part in the move of disrespect,” the BCI said, according to a letter shared by Bar and Bench.The latest development came hours after the legal regulator triggered widespread criticism by directing all state bar councils not to enrol any student graduating from NALSAR in 2026 until further orders.The earlier circular was issued after a section of graduating students at the premier law university objected to a reported proposal to invite Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the chief guest at the institution’s convocation.”No student who has obtained a law degree from NALSAR University of Law in the year 2026 shall be enrolled as an advocate until further directions are issued by the Bar Council of India,” the order had said.The regulator had also sought a detailed report from the university within three days, asking it to identify students who had allegedly initiated, organised or mobilised the campaign against the proposed participation of the Chief Justice.In a strongly-worded statement, BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra had said students who did not show respect for the country’s highest judicial office could not be expected to become responsible members of the legal profession.”A student of law, having no regard or respect for the highest judicial office of the country, is not expected to be a responsible or sensible advocate, teacher or a judge,” the statement said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”Such persons shall always be a liability on the profession. Such conduct reflects adversely upon the person’s suitability for entry into or association with the legal profession and is inconsistent with the dignity, discipline and ethical standards of the legal profession,” it added.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 MediaVideosAir India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | WatchPrajwal Revanna’s Jail Phone Had 90 Porn Videos, Senior Prison Official Suspended After Search’Is This The Way In Democracy?’Kharge Fumes, Raises Haldwani ‘Purification’ Row, Nadda Assures ProbeRed Fort Blast: UN Security Council Body Links Deadly Attack To AQIS; Reveals Grisly DetailsPit Bull Attack in Patiala Couple Suffers Multiple Injuries- Wife Undergoes SurgeryThreat Letter Targets Kashmiri Pandits In Kashmir, Employees Asked To Stay Alert Amid Security FearChilling Crash Video: Atiq Ahmed’s Son’s Creta Flips After Losing Control On Highway | WatchUdhayanidhi Backs CM Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Delimitation Stand, Demands No Cut In State’s LS Seats123PhotostoriesOprah Winfrey talks sleep with Dr John La Puma: Why your nighttime routine may be affecting your heart, hormones and body clock’Vishwanath And Sons’: Five reasons to watch Suriya and Mamitha Baiju starrer helmed by Venky Atluri on big screens10 baby names inspired by the “first light of dawn”Why defrosting your fridge is important and 3 smart ways to do itWhy do train tracks have small stones around them? Here’s what they actually doYour balcony can be more than a laundry zone: 8 clever makeover ideas to turn a small Indian apartment balcony into a space you will actually useAlia Bhatt’s hairstylist Amit Thakur reveals the truth about hair spas!Kangana Ranaut turns heads on her first Teej in a Kanjeevaram lime green saree, proving traditional never means boringWhy do onions make you cry? 3 tricks that actually work6 foods soldiers ate during World War II123Hot PicksKaroline LeavittNCERTTrump SocialJharkhand protestN ChandrasekaranNEET PG 2026 city slipIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingChhattisgarh NH-30 AccidentKarnataka Closed TodayMallikarjun KhargeBengaluru Mother AccidentGermany Haryana Youth MurderGujarat SuicideSouth Delhi MurderAbhijeet DipkeWeather TomorrowShakeel Noorani India’s critical mineral push: Govt plans processing parks in 4 states; lithium and nickel in focus ‘Awarapan’ ending explained: Revisiting Emraan Hashmi as Shivam, Shriya Saran as Aliyah and their tragic love story ahead of ‘Awarapan 2’ release on August 14 Scientists are recreating spider silk proteins to develop materials for drug delivery and tissue repair Explosion at Europe’s largest port kills one, injures six as investigators probe cause Record-low water levels are exposing the World War II wrecks near Serbia Rashmika Mandanna reflects on slowing down during hip injury recovery, expresses gratitude on ‘positivity and prayers’: ‘Hustling like a crazy person now seems scary’ Inspiring story of the day: “That’s my main goal, to try and be a better father than the one I had” : How LeBron James’ children gave him strength through the pressure, sacrifices and challenges of his NBA career Meet Scarlett Tiani, the Connecticut student whose dog-safety invention reached US Nationals and earned a national award plus patent-application support Meghwal on delimitation and opposition NEW DELHI: Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Thursday said delimitation is a “constitutional mandate” and asserted that the exercise must be carried out after 2026, as provided under the Constitution.Speaking in ANI , Meghwal criticised the Opposition over its objections to delimitation, saying that while opposition leaders “carry the Constitution around with them”, they do not read its provisions.“Delimitation is a constitutional mandate. They certainly carry the Constitution around with them, but they don’t actually read what is written in it,” Meghwal said.He said the Constitution provides for the freezing of Lok Sabha seats until 2026, after which delimitation must take place.“Seats are to remain frozen until 2026, after which delimitation must take place. Since it is written there, it has to be done,” the Union minister said.The concerns are particularly among southern states, that a population-based redistribution could reduce their relative representation.What is delimitation?Delimitation is the process of redrawing the boundaries of Lok Sabha and state assembly constituencies based on population. Under Article 82 of the Constitution, the exercise is to be carried out after every census.The aim is to ensure that constituencies have broadly similar population sizes, although their geographical areas can vary significantly. Each state is allocated a certain number of seats in Parliament and its assembly based on the population figures used for delimitation.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesWhy were Lok Sabha seats frozen?India carried out delimitation exercises in 1952, 1962 and 1972. However, the 42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976 froze the number of Lok Sabha seats based on the 1971 Census, in part to ensure that states that had successfully implemented population-control measures were not penalised with fewer parliamentary seats.The 84th Constitutional Amendment in 2001 extended the freeze on the allocation of seats among states until after 2026.A delimitation exercise was undertaken in 2008, but it used the 1971 Census to retain the existing distribution of Lok Sabha seats among states. It primarily involved redrawing constituency boundaries.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 MediaVideosAir India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | WatchPrajwal Revanna’s Jail Phone Had 90 Porn Videos, Senior Prison Official Suspended After Search’Is This The Way In Democracy?’Kharge Fumes, Raises Haldwani ‘Purification’ Row, Nadda Assures ProbeRed Fort Blast: UN Security Council Body Links Deadly Attack To AQIS; Reveals Grisly DetailsPit Bull Attack in Patiala Couple Suffers Multiple Injuries- Wife Undergoes SurgeryThreat Letter Targets Kashmiri Pandits In Kashmir, Employees Asked To Stay Alert Amid Security FearChilling Crash Video: Atiq Ahmed’s Son’s Creta Flips After Losing Control On Highway | WatchUdhayanidhi Backs CM Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Delimitation Stand, Demands No Cut In State’s LS Seats123PhotostoriesOprah Winfrey talks sleep with Dr John La Puma: Why your nighttime routine may be affecting your heart, hormones and body clock’Vishwanath And Sons’: Five reasons to watch Suriya and Mamitha Baiju starrer helmed by Venky Atluri on big screens10 baby names inspired by the “first light of dawn”Why defrosting your fridge is important and 3 smart ways to do itWhy do train tracks have small stones around them? Here’s what they actually doYour balcony can be more than a laundry zone: 8 clever makeover ideas to turn a small Indian apartment balcony into a space you will actually useAlia Bhatt’s hairstylist Amit Thakur reveals the truth about hair spas!Kangana Ranaut turns heads on her first Teej in a Kanjeevaram lime green saree, proving traditional never means boringWhy do onions make you cry? 3 tricks that actually work6 foods soldiers ate during World War II123Hot PicksKaroline LeavittNCERTTrump SocialJharkhand protestN ChandrasekaranNEET PG 2026 city slipIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingChhattisgarh NH-30 AccidentKarnataka Closed TodayMallikarjun KhargeBengaluru Mother AccidentGermany Haryana Youth MurderGujarat SuicideSouth Delhi MurderAbhijeet DipkeWeather TomorrowShakeel Noorani US stock market today: Wall Street moves towards all-time high as inflation moderates and oil prices drop Meet Jimmy Chilimigras, the Mississippi teen who finished high school at 12, became a CPA at 15 and graduated in the top 2% at 18 Raj Kapoor and Krishna Kapoor’s love story began with a veil: ‘She was playing tanpura when uncle wanted to see her face’ reveals nephew Monty Premnath Sacked Delhi Police constable held for killing of 10 leopards in Kuno National Park North America’s longest cable-stayed bridge is now open with a massive 853-metre crossing linking US and Canada Nepali PM Balen Shah had raised up the issue of border with India, including Lipulekh. NEW DELHI: Nepal has apparently lost the decades-old original of the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli, a document that largely defined the Himalayan nation’s boundaries with British India, its foreign minister Shisir Khanal told Parliament on Monday.Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal told the House of Representatives recently that while some treaty-related documents are held in the National Archives, their status as the original official documents remains unclear.“The Government of Nepal does not have clear information on whether we possess the official treaty documents. There are records showing that some documents related to certain treaties are kept at the National Archives. But we do not have clear information as to whether those are the actual official treaties,” Khanal said.He said Nepal does have documents related to the 1816 Sugauli Treaty and the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship with India.The disclosure comes amid renewed tensions over the Nepal-India border after India and China agreed to reopen the Lipulekh trade route. Nepal claims Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani as its territories, while India maintains that they are part of its territory.This becomes significant, as the dispute resurfaced recently after Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah said Kathmandu had raised with India concerns over alleged encroachment, including in Lipulekh. Shah said both sides had agreed to examine the issue through historians, surveyors and territorial experts and resolve it through diplomatic talks. He also called for the UK to be involved, citing its role in shaping the region’s borders during the colonial era. Shah said Nepal had found that “not only had India encroached on Nepal’s land, but Nepal had also encroached on India’s land in multiple places.”India rejected any role for third parties, with MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal having said “there is no role for any third parties in a bilateral matter between India and Nepal.” He said nearly 98% of the boundary had been demarcated, with remaining issues including stretches affected by the shifting Gandak River and cross-border occupation or encroachment on no-man’s land. India has also rejected Nepal’s claims over Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as “neither justified nor based on historical facts and evidence.”The issue of missing treaty documents has been around for years. In 2016, when the Eminent Persons’ Group on Nepal-India Relations began discussions on reviewing or replacing the 1950 treaty, Nepal tried to locate the original but failed to find it. The government subsequently provided the Bhekh Bahadur Thapa-led committee with another copy of the treaty.The matter later prompted a parliamentary inquiry. On July 22, the Delegated Legislation and Governance Committee of Nepal’s National Assembly concluded that the original copies of both the Sugauli Treaty and the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship could not be found in the country.The committee said it searched various locations where historical records could have been preserved, including libraries, archives and government repositories, as well as the Department of Archaeology, Narayanhiti Palace Museum, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The matter had also come up in Parliament in 2019. Then Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali said the government had copies of both treaties but was unsure whether they were originals. “We have both treaties, but we have to forensically verify whether these copies are originals or not,” Gyawali had said. “We are also trying to find historical documents and maps in India and the United Kingdom.”Khanal’s remarks came as he outlined a broader plan to review Nepal’s existing international agreements. He said the country has 655 treaties and agreements, including 412 bilateral and 243 multilateral agreements.Of these, 55 have already been concluded or amended, while the government plans to review the remaining 600 based on their necessity and relevance. Khanal said older or inactive agreements would be reviewed, amended or renewed in coordination with the countries or international organisations concerned.“Under the general principles of international treaty law, the review, amendment, or renewal of any bilateral or multilateral treaty or agreement depends on the mutual consent and approval of the concerned state parties or relevant international organisations,” Khanal said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHe added that the government would undertake the exercise with the cooperation and approval of the relevant countries and international organisations.What is the Sugauli Treaty?The Sugauli Treaty was agreed between Nepal and the British East India Company after the Anglo-Nepalese War. It was signed in December 1815 and ratified in March 1816, with the agreement establishing the basis for Nepal’s territorial boundary with British India.The treaty required Nepal to cede significant territories to the East India Company and renounce claims to lands west of the Kali River, while also setting out provisions governing relations between Nepal and the Company.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAir India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | WatchPrajwal Revanna’s Jail Phone Had 90 Porn Videos, Senior Prison Official Suspended After Search’Is This The Way In Democracy?’Kharge Fumes, Raises Haldwani ‘Purification’ Row, Nadda Assures ProbeRed Fort Blast: UN Security Council Body Links Deadly Attack To AQIS; Reveals Grisly DetailsPit Bull Attack in Patiala Couple Suffers Multiple Injuries- Wife Undergoes SurgeryThreat Letter Targets Kashmiri Pandits In Kashmir, Employees Asked To Stay Alert Amid Security FearChilling Crash Video: Atiq Ahmed’s Son’s Creta Flips After Losing Control On Highway | WatchUdhayanidhi Backs CM Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Delimitation Stand, Demands No Cut In State’s LS Seats123PhotostoriesOprah Winfrey talks sleep with Dr John La Puma: Why your nighttime routine may be affecting your heart, hormones and body clock’Vishwanath And Sons’: Five reasons to watch Suriya and Mamitha Baiju starrer helmed by Venky Atluri on big screens10 baby names inspired by the “first light of dawn”Why defrosting your fridge is important and 3 smart ways to do itWhy do train tracks have small stones around them? Here’s what they actually doYour balcony can be more than a laundry zone: 8 clever makeover ideas to turn a small Indian apartment balcony into a space you will actually useAlia Bhatt’s hairstylist Amit Thakur reveals the truth about hair spas!Kangana Ranaut turns heads on her first Teej in a Kanjeevaram lime green saree, proving traditional never means boringWhy do onions make you cry? 3 tricks that actually work6 foods soldiers ate during World War II123Hot PicksKaroline LeavittNCERTTrump SocialJharkhand protestN ChandrasekaranNEET PG 2026 city slipIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingChhattisgarh NH-30 AccidentKarnataka Closed TodayMallikarjun KhargeBengaluru Mother AccidentGermany Haryana Youth MurderGujarat SuicideSouth Delhi MurderAbhijeet DipkeWeather TomorrowShakeel Noorani What Trump tariffs? Russia accounts for more than half of India’s crude oil imports Jr NTR discharged from hospital post successful shoulder surgery, begins structured rehabilitation for complete recovery ‘Why does he seem happier than me?’ How the first clockmaker knew the correct time and how time was measured before mechanical clocks RG Kar rape-murder case: How mobile trail led Bengal cops to ex-TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh in Odisha hotel A 112-acre New Jersey restoration project is planting about 50,000 native trees and shrubs, creating vernal pools and rebuilding Raritan River floodplain habitat As Mayawati’s base shrinks, BJP, SP and Congress intensify fight for Dalit votes in UP NEW DELHI: Dalit politics in Uttar Pradesh is at a crossroads. For a very long time, Mayawati and her Bahujan Samaj Party were synonymous with the idea of Dalit vote in UP. Not any more. Mayawati’s BSP today is a much weaker force. The last three elections in the state have pushed Mayawati, the four-time chief minister of UP, to the margins of state politics. This has opened up the Dalit space and triggered an interesting scramble among political parties for a slice of the Dalit pie in the 2027 assembly elections.So, we have the BJP playing the name-change game in Bhadohi and organising a 7-month campaign to honour 15th-century saint-poet Sant Ravi Das. Then we have Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav announcing 14 extra seats for the Dalits to cement his PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) politics. Congress too is trying to win back voters it lost decades ago. Then there is Chandrashekhar Azad, who is trying to consolidate his own space in the state.As Uttar Pradesh heads towards 2027, the question is: if the BSP continues to lose ground, where does Mayawati’s old support base go and which of her rivals stands to gain the most?From 206 seats to one: How BSP lost groundThe BSP’s rise in UP politics was as dramatic as its fall. The party was founded by Kanshi Ram in 1984 with the idea of giving Dalits and other marginalized communities an independent voice. Mayawati, who emerged as his political successor, took the BSP to great heights in Uttar Pradesh. Under her leadership, the BSP won a majority on its own in the 2007 assembly elections, winning 206 seats with a vote share of 30.43%.Dalits, who constitute around 21% of UP’s population as per the 2021 census, have for years been the core base of Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party. But that dynamic has now changed.BSP is a much weaker force today. Mayawati has failed to mobilise Dalit support for her BSP in the last two elections in the state, thereby opening up the space for other political contenders. In the 2022 assembly elections, the BSP could win just 1 seat with a vote share of 12.88%. This was a sharp decline from the 19 seats and a 22.23% vote share that Mayawati had got in 2017.The 2024 Lok Sabha elections went on to showcase that Mayawati’s dismal 2022 performance was not an aberration. The BSP supremo failed to win even one Lok Sabha seat, while her party’s vote share dipped to 9.4% from 19.43% in 2019. Clearly, the results reinforced the gradual decline in BSP’s influence among Dalits.As Mayawati gears up for the 2027 assembly challenge, she faces an uphill road. The BSP chief has not just lost support of voters, but also control over her party. So, when Mayawati issued a stern message that all the candidates for the upcoming poll will be finalised by her and not by her nephew Akash Anand, it was an indication of the internal tussle in her party.Akash Anand, who has been in and out of Mayawati’s favour in the past, launched the party’s 2027 assembly poll campaign from Sadabad in Hathras this week.Mayawati, who has often been accused of helping the BJP, has ruled out any pre-poll alliance. She has claimed that some candidates have already been finalised for the upcoming assembly elections. Mayawati has asked party cadres to start rebuilding the party and drum up OBC support ahead of the polls. The cadres have apparently been asked to remind people of the party’s past governance and convince them that the real benefit and welfare of the OBC community lie with the BSP and its “iron lady government”.Mayawati, however, must consider that it will be difficult for the BSP to come back to power only by holding on to its core Dalit vote alone. It will have to recreate the Dalit-OBC combination that originally carried Mayawati to power in Lucknow with a majority of her own.BJP’s Dalit outreach gets sharper ahead of 2027One interesting fallout of BSP’s decline has been the BJP’s aggressive outreach to woo the Dalits. When Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced the renaming of Bhadohi district as Sant Ravidas Nagar last month, he put the BJP right at the middle of the Dalit outreach battle ahead of 2027 polls.The move also revived an old political contest over name-change politics. Mayawati was the one who had renamed Bhadohi as Sant Ravidas Nagar in December 1997. Akhilesh Yadav restored the old name in 2014. Now, by bringing Sant Ravidas Nagar back, Yogi sought to make a bigger political point, accusing the SP of erasing a Dalit symbol while positioning the BJP as a party willing to restore it.Mayawati publicly welcomed the decision, a rare moment of agreement with the ruling party. She was quick, however, to remind voters that it was her government that had changed the district’s name in the first place and that the decision was later reversed under Akhilesh.The party realises that Dalit votes are up for grabs and hence is going all out to woo them. The party’s ‘Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan’ appears planned to coincide with assembly elections in two key states, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, early next year.Both these states have a sizeable population of Dalits who play an important role in many constituencies. In the 2022 assembly elections, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal (Soneylal) together bagged 63 Scheduled Caste (SC) seats compared to 20 won by the then Samajwadi Party-led opposition alliance. But the 2024 Lok Sabha polls changed the dynamics, with the SP and the Congress winning 43 of the 80 seats in the state and pushing the BJP to make an aggressive outreach. The loss of Faizabad seat to SP’s Awadhesh Prasad, a Pasi leader, was particularly significant and gave Akhilesh Yadav fresh ammunition for his PDA pitch.Earlier this year, the Yogi Adityanath government approved the “Dr B R Ambedkar Murti Vikas Yojna” under which Rs 1 crore is to be allocated to each of the state’s 403 assembly constituencies for the beautification and development of statues of social reformers.The BJP’s efforts to woo Dalits has also been visible in its recent Cabinet expansion. Of the six new ministers inducted into the Yogi government, two were Dalits, Krishna Paswan from the Pasi community and Surendra Singh Daler from the Valmiki community. Three others were from OBC groups. Two non-Yadav OBC ministers were also given independent charge.The BJP’s primary task ahead of 2027 would be to hold on to the non-Jatav Dalit support it built over the past decade and prevent a repeat of 2024.SP’s Dalit outreachThe 2024 Lok Sabha elections also showed that the Dalits in UP were ready to back other political parties who wooed them. Dalit support played a key role in the spectacular success of Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, which won 37 seats in 2024.Together with its alliance partner Congress, the INDIA bloc won 43 of the 80 seats in the state, pushing the BJP on the back foot. Akhilesh Yadav, who has centred his politics around PDA (Pichhde, Dalits and Aplasankhyaks), gained from his Dalit outreach in the 2024 elections. His Samajwadi Party fielded two Dalit candidates from general seats. While one of them went on to win the all-important Faizabad seat, the other lost by just 10,585 votes to the BJP in Meerut.How Samajwadi Party performed when they contested independentlyLittle wonder, in the run-up to the 2027 assembly elections, Akhilesh has already announced plans to field 14 Dalit candidates from general seats. Uttar Pradesh has 84 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and two for Scheduled Tribes. With 14 more candidates on general seats, the total tally of reserved candidates for SP will increase to 100. This will help reinforce his message to the Dalits in line with his PDA politics. The move will also help the SP shed the narrative of being a Muslim-Yadav party.Congress tries to reclaim lost groundRahul Gandhi has made it clear that Dalits would now play a ‘central role’ in Congress. Before Mayawati and the BSP built their massive Dalit vote bank in the 1990s, Congress was the primary choice for Uttar Pradesh’s Dalits. For nearly three decades after that, Congress was almost pushed out of UP politics.Rahul Gandhi has started his road to the UP election by acknowledging that the party had failed to take the right steps for the community in the 1980s and 1990s. He even praised Kanshi Ram for bringing Dalits together and giving the community a sense of confidence.Rahul has also made the Constitution a regular part of his social justice pitch. He is often seen carrying the red book of the Constitution while warning that constitutional rights and reservation are under threat. He has repeatedly invoked BR Ambedkar in the same pitch, asserting that Congress wants to position itself as a guardian of the Constitution.The party has also put a Dalit leader in charge of Uttar Pradesh. Rajendra Pal Gautam, who heads the Congress’s Scheduled Castes Department, has been appointed UP in-charge ahead of the 2027 polls. Interestingly, Gautam had also made an unsuccessful attempt to meet Mayawati at her Lucknow residence earlier this year.Whether the party will be able to translate this outreach into votes remains to be seen.Chandrashekhar Azad adds another claimantThen there is Chandrashekhar Azad, whose 2024 victory from Nagina made him a prominent figure in UP’s Dalit politics. Unlike BJP, SP or Congress, Azad is trying to build an independent space outside the BSP. His challenge now is to take that appeal beyond one constituency and build an organisation strong enough to matter across the state in 2027.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThat is what makes the coming assembly election in Uttar Pradesh interesting. For decades, politics in Uttar Pradesh has revolved around caste. Political parties build their electoral strategies around social coalitions, loyalty of communities and traditional vote base.Mayawati may no longer command the Dalit vote the way she once did, but that vote bank has not disappeared. It simply has more claimants. And in 2027, where those voters eventually move could make a significant difference.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorPriyanka MukherjeePriyanka Mukherjee is an Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, where deadlines rarely slow down. Often juggling breaking news, long-form explainers and the everyday chaos of the newsroom, she is usually managing stress, chasing clarity and trying to log off on time (rarely successful). She also cares deeply about stories around women’s rights and social change, while two very opinionated dogs make sure she never truly switches off.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAir India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | WatchPrajwal Revanna’s Jail Phone Had 90 Porn Videos, Senior Prison Official Suspended After Search’Is This The Way In Democracy?’Kharge Fumes, Raises Haldwani ‘Purification’ Row, Nadda Assures ProbeRed Fort Blast: UN Security Council Body Links Deadly Attack To AQIS; Reveals Grisly DetailsPit Bull Attack in Patiala Couple Suffers Multiple Injuries- Wife Undergoes SurgeryThreat Letter Targets Kashmiri Pandits In Kashmir, Employees Asked To Stay Alert Amid Security FearChilling Crash Video: Atiq Ahmed’s Son’s Creta Flips After Losing Control On Highway | WatchUdhayanidhi Backs CM Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Delimitation Stand, Demands No Cut In State’s LS Seats123PhotostoriesOprah Winfrey talks sleep with Dr John La Puma: Why your nighttime routine may be affecting your heart, hormones and body clock’Vishwanath And Sons’: Five reasons to watch Suriya and Mamitha Baiju starrer helmed by Venky Atluri on big screens10 baby names inspired by the “first light of dawn”Why defrosting your fridge is important and 3 smart ways to do itWhy do train tracks have small stones around them? 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NEW DELHI: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has directed all state bar councils to halt the enrolment of any 2026 law graduate from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, as an advocate until further orders. This follows an alleged organised campaign against the participation of Chief Justice Surya Kant in the university’s convocation ceremony.The directive was issued by bar council chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, who said the Council had taken note of reports and material in the public domain regarding an organised campaign at NALSAR’s convocation ceremony.The bar council has also sought an authenticated factual report from the university within three days and said the matter will be considered on August 19, after the vice-chancellor submits the report.The council has asked NALSAR to identify, on the basis of verifiable material, the persons allegedly instrumental in initiating, drafting, circulating, coordinating or mobilising the campaign. It has sought details of those involved in organising meetings, communicating with the media, administering social media or organised groups used for coordination, or proposing or mobilising any call for boycott, obstruction, disruption or organised non-participation in the convocation or any programme connected with the CJI.The bar council has also sought information on whether any student body, student bar council, students’ union or other recognised student organisation was involved in initiating, approving, coordinating or circulating the campaign. The university has also been asked to specify whether any faculty member, research scholar, alumnus or outsider participated in initiating, drafting, coordinating, advising or facilitating the campaign.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIn addition, the council has requested copies of relevant resolutions, minutes, agendas or other official records of meetings connected with the matter, and details of whether permission was sought or granted for any protest or organised activity and whether university rules governing student conduct or official functions were invoked.At the same time, the bar council clarified that participation in the representation or campaign would not automatically result in disqualification from enrolment. It said a distinction must be maintained between those who merely signed or supported a representation and those who organised or coordinated the campaign or proposed or mobilised an actual boycott, obstruction or disruption.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 MediaVideosAir India Tightens Pilot Safety Checks After AI2379 Altitude Loss And Positive Marijuana TestJPSC-JSSC Stir Enters Day 20: Police Book 600 After Assembly March, Students Refuse To Back DownAkali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Near Hazur Sahib Gurdwara, Assailant Uses Sharp Weapon | WatchPrajwal Revanna’s Jail Phone Had 90 Porn Videos, Senior Prison Official Suspended After Search’Is This The Way In Democracy?’Kharge Fumes, Raises Haldwani ‘Purification’ Row, Nadda Assures ProbeRed Fort Blast: UN Security Council Body Links Deadly Attack To AQIS; Reveals Grisly DetailsPit Bull Attack in Patiala Couple Suffers Multiple Injuries- Wife Undergoes SurgeryThreat Letter Targets Kashmiri Pandits In Kashmir, Employees Asked To Stay Alert Amid Security FearChilling Crash Video: Atiq Ahmed’s Son’s Creta Flips After Losing Control On Highway | WatchUdhayanidhi Backs CM Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Delimitation Stand, Demands No Cut In State’s LS Seats123PhotostoriesOprah Winfrey talks sleep with Dr John La Puma: Why your nighttime routine may be affecting your heart, hormones and body clock’Vishwanath And Sons’: Five reasons to watch Suriya and Mamitha Baiju starrer helmed by Venky Atluri on big screens10 baby names inspired by the “first light of dawn”Why defrosting your fridge is important and 3 smart ways to do itWhy do train tracks have small stones around them? Here’s what they actually doYour balcony can be more than a laundry zone: 8 clever makeover ideas to turn a small Indian apartment balcony into a space you will actually useAlia Bhatt’s hairstylist Amit Thakur reveals the truth about hair spas!Kangana Ranaut turns heads on her first Teej in a Kanjeevaram lime green saree, proving traditional never means boringWhy do onions make you cry? 3 tricks that actually work6 foods soldiers ate during World War II123Hot PicksKaroline LeavittNCERTTrump SocialJharkhand protestN ChandrasekaranNEET PG 2026 city slipIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingChhattisgarh NH-30 AccidentKarnataka Closed TodayMallikarjun KhargeBengaluru Mother AccidentGermany Haryana Youth MurderGujarat SuicideSouth Delhi MurderAbhijeet DipkeWeather TomorrowShakeel Noorani Direct link to download here ‘I thought I’d die,’ says Manisha Koirala as she recalls the night she found out about having stage IV ovarian cancer: ‘Scariest, Darkest space, very lonely’