India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
New Delhi: The expansion of the United Arab Emirates' visa-on-arrival programme for Indian nationals is a reflection of its enduring partnership with India, Abdulnasser Alshaali, the envoy of the Gulf nation, said. The UAE's mission in New Delhi has reaffirmed the significance of the expanded visa-on-arrival policy for Indian nationals, positioning it as a key milestone in advancing bilateral ties and people-to-people engagement. India has emerged as a cornerstone of the UAE's tourism success, with approximately 4.5 million Indians visiting the country in 2023, according to estimates. Indian passport holders with valid residence permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore are eligible to obtain a visa on arrival at all UAE entry points. The expanded eligibility, which has been implemented since February 13, represents a significant step in broadening and simplifying travel between India and the UAE, according to the embassy. This expansion adds to the existing eligibility criteria, which allow Indian nationals to obtain a visa on arrival if they hold a valid visa, residence permit, or Green Card from the United States, the European Union, or the United Kingdom. In a statement issued here, Ambassador Alshaali emphasised the significance of deeper people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. "The expansion of the UAE's visa-on-arrival programme for Indian nationals is a reflection of our enduring partnership with India. It is a practical step that will make it easier for families to reconnect, professionals to collaborate, and businesses to grow across borders," he said.
New Delhi, Jul 9: In line with its vision to become an engine of growth and diverting from an oil-based economy, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has restructured its visa programme to offer renewable residency of up to 10 years for investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, doctors, athletes and students. The UAE's "Golden Visa" programme provides talented and high-net-worth Indians and other nationalities the opportunity of long-term residency in the Gulf nation, UAE officials said. One of the most significant aspects of the government-regulated visa programme is that the applicants do not requir ...Read More >
Berlin/New Delhi: Germany has introduced a visa that allows people from outside the European Union (EU), including Indians, to live and work in the country as freelancers for up to one year. Known as the Freelance Visa or Freiberufler visa, it is designed for self-employed professionals such as writers, designers, consultants and artists. The visa can later be extended for up to three years if the individual continues to meet the necessary requirements. It offers a chance to explore Germany's culture and economy while working independently. The Freelance Visa is part of Germany's larger visio ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 19 (PTI) India remains a key destination for overseas investments and is likely to attract USD 100 billion in foreign direct investments (FDIs) from the four-nation European bloc EFTA, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Also Read | Bodoland Lottery Result Today, July 19, 2025: Assam State Lottery Sambad Saturday Lucky Draw Results Declared, Check Winners List With Ticket Numbers. Speaking at an Assocham Managing Committee meeting here, Goyal al ...Read More >
New Delhi: Harvard University economist Kenneth Rogoff on Wednesday said the high tariffs on several countries, including India, and the steep H-1B visa fee hike imposed by the Trump administration will hold back the US economic growth. US President Donald Trump's decision to increase the application fee for H-1B visas is expected to impact Indian nationals, who accounted for almost 70 per cent of all such visas issued in the last few years. "The new visa rules were done in a very haphazard manner and not in a very thoughtful way. The visas for high-skilled workers should be given very liber ...Read More >
In a post on X, Gogoi wrote, "Reading about the Golden visa in Dubai. It is a long-term residence visa which enables investors to live in the United Arab Emirates." The controversy stems from claims made by All India Congress Committee (AICC) Media and Publicity Department Chairman Pawan Khera, who alleged that documents suggested that Sarma's wife holds multiple active passports, raising questions over possible violations of Indian law. The issue gained traction after senior Congress leader Pa ...Read More >
India's pivotal shift in consolidating a Russia-India-China (RIC) axis, though tactically alluring, risks rendering it more vulnerable and increasingly isolated as a purported leader of the democratic Global South. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked hand-in-hand with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, crystallised a new phase of India's strategic signalling at a time when our economy is more interlinked with China and Russia than e ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) Two people died and four others were injured after a fire broke out at a house in east Delhi's Old Govindpura area on Tuesday evening, an official said. Police have identified the deceased as Tanveer (28) and Nusrat. A call was received at Jagatpuri police station at 8.46 pm regarding a fire incident at Band Gali, Old Govindpura, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Prashant Gautam said. When a police team reached the spot, it found that 10 people were trapped inside a residential building that caught fire, the DCP said. With the help of police personnel and fir ...Read More >
One of the two men suspected of carrying out a mass shooting at Bondi Beach was originally from southern India but had "limited contact" with his family there, police sources have said. Sajid Akram, who died at the scene in Sydney on Sunday, was originally from the city of Hyderabad, a police official from the Indian state of Telangana said. He had travelled to India just six times since moving to Australia in 1998 and his family "expressed no knowledge of his radical mindset or activities," th ...Read More >
Guwahati (Assam) [India], April 6 (ANI): Riniki Bhuyan Sharma on Monday rejected allegations made by Gaurav Gogoi that she or her family hold assets or business interests in Dubai or abroad. She also hit back at Gogoi, asking him to disclose details about his own family. Also Read | What Is the 'Shaurya Didi' Concept? All You Need To Know As Madhya Pradesh High Court Allows 19-Year-Old Married Woman To Live With Partner of Her Choice. In a post on X, the Assam Chief Minister's spouse said, "I'll save you the suspense and answer these laughable questions myself. Here it is: Neither I, nor my ...Read More >
Washington DC [US], August 2 (ANI): The new Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) are located in Boston, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Edison, Orlando, Raleigh, and San Jose, bringing the total number to 16 nationwide. A 17th centre is planned to open in Los Angeles later this month. The expansion, announced jointly by the Indian Mission and VFS Global, aims to make essential services more accessible to Indian Americans and other applicants seeking India-related documentation. The centres will handle a comprehensive range of services, including India visa applications, overseas Citizenshi ...Read More >
New Delhi: Traffic in central Delhi will be affected on Thursday as the traffic police has issued an advisory due to the Janmashtami and Tazia processions.According to police, the traffic movement in Paharganj is likely to be affected from 1.30pm in view of the shobha yatra for Janmashtami and the Tazia procession.The Janmashtami procession will start from Mandir Shri Banke Bihari Ji in Paharganj's Sangatrasan Bazar and pass through Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, Chuna Mandi, Main Bazar, Munja Chowk and Arakashan Road. The Tazia procession will start from Ajmeri Gate and proceed through Pul Paharganj ...Read More >
Shimla, Jul 17 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to remove encroachments on forest lands, including the fruit-bearing trees, all across the state and not limit it to some areas. The order was passed by a division bench consisting of Justices Vivek Thakur and Bipin C Negi on Wednesday after the Advocate General placed on record fresh instructions issued by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, informing that 2,456 apple and other fruit trees have been felled from forest lands in Chaithla village, and 713 and 490 trees in Rohru and Kotgarh forest divisions, r ...Read More >
New Delhi: A 54-year-old Canada-based man, claiming to be a former national-level kabaddi player, has been arrested by IGI Airport police for allegedly issuing fraudulent documents to two of the nine Indian passengers who were deported from Ethiopia six years ago. The case surfaced when on Sept 27, 2019, the passengers were deported from the east African country for possessing fake continuous discharge certificates (CDCs) allegedly issued by the ministry of works, transport and infrastructure, govt of Samoa. Samoa denied having issued the documents. A case was subsequently registered at the IG ...Read More >
Guwahati (Assam) [India], April 6 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday rejected allegations made by the Congress regarding overseas assets, calling purported Dubai property documents "fake" and part of a "fake AI campaign". In a post on X, Sarma said, "Busting another lie of #CongFakeAICampaign. The Dubai property title deeds have also turned out to be FAKE with glaring inconsistencies and no authentic record.... All of their lies are THUS BUSTED. Legal action will follow." Also Read | Karnataka High Court Refuses to Quash FIR Against Bengaluru Airport Staffer in South K ...Read More >
NEW DELHI (AP) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at an annual summit and agreed to diversify mutual economic ties, as the United States presses India to revise its decades-old partnership with Russia. The 23rd Russia-India Summit comes at a pivotal moment as the U.S. pushes for a Ukraine peace deal while seeking global cooperation. It will test New Delhi's efforts to balance relations with Moscow and Washington as the nearly four-year war in Ukraine grinds on. Putin was received by Modi at an airport in New Delhi on Thursday. Th ...Read More >
ISLAMABAD: Indian authorities have confirmed that Sajid Akram, the deceased suspect in the deadly shooting attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach, was an Indian national originally from Hyderabad in Telangana state. According to statements from Telangana police, Akram migrated to Australia approximately 27 years ago in 1998 and maintained limited contact with his family thereafter. The confirmation comes amid ongoing international investigations into the December 14, 2025, incident that claimed 15 lives during a Hanukkah celebration, highlighting cross-border cooperation in probing the background of i ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The US embassy in India has warned that "committing assault, theft, or burglary in the United States won't just cause you legal issues -- it could lead to your visa being revoked and make you ineligible for future US visas". The warning was issued days after a video of an Indian woman who tried to leave a store with a cart full of items without paying went viral. This also prompted the embassy to say, "The US values law and order and expects foreign visitors to follow all US laws."Responding to queries on the issue, the ministry of external affairs said that "whether a person is liv ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Motihari in Bihar Tomorrow on July 18 where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth Rs 7,200 crore. In a post on X, PM Modi said, 'Will be in Motihari, Bihar, tomorrow, 18th July. Development works worth Rs. 7200 crore will be dedicated to the nation or their foundation stones would be laid. These works cover Software Technology Parks, four new Amrit Bharat trains, road projects and more.' https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1945871093668978943 According to a statement from ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 19 (PTI) India remains a key destination for overseas investments and is likely to attract USD 100 billion in foreign direct investments (FDIs) from the four-nation European bloc EFTA, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Speaking at an Assocham Managing Committee meeting here, Goyal also emphasised the need to stay competitive. Earlier, he said the free trade agreement between India and the EFTA will be implemented from October 1. The two sides ...Read More >
Guwahati (Assam) [India], April 7 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma mounted a strong attack on Congress for second successive day over its allegations against them even as Congress leaders continued to raise issues related to their allegations during their campaign for the assembly polls slated for April 9. Riniki Bhuyan Sharma on Monday said she has filed an FIR over the allegations levelled by Congress and accused the opposition party of acting in frustration and trying to "set up a playbook". Also Read | Weather Forecast Today, April 7, 2026 ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 30 (PTI) The expansion of the United Arab Emirates' visa-on-arrival programme for Indian nationals is a reflection of its enduring partnership with India, Abdulnasser Alshaali, the envoy of the Gulf nation, said. The UAE's mission in New Delhi has reaffirmed the significance of the expanded visa-on-arrival policy for Indian nationals, positioning it as a key milestone in advancing bilateral ties and people-to-people engagement. India has emerged as a cornerstone of the UAE's tourism success, with approximately 4.5 million Indians visiting the country in 2023, according to esti ...Read More >
Agartala (Tripura) [India], July 10 (ANI): A large-scale state-level mock exercise simulating flood and landslide scenarios was successfully conducted across Tripura with special emphasis on West Tripura District by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) under the supervision of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Vishal Kumar, District Magistrate (DM) of West Tripura, addressed the media following the drill, and highlighted that rescue operations were carried out simultaneously at 13 strategic locations across the district. The central event was staged at the Intern ...Read More >
New Delhi: India's passport power slipped to the 85th rank out of 199 countries, losing its global mobility, according to a quarterly report of the 2025 Henley Passport Index released on Wednesday. The country previously stood at the 77th position in July. The quarterly report of the index, released by citizenship and residence consultancy firm Henley & Partners, assesses the strength of passports by determining how many destinations citizens can visit without obtaining a visa beforehand. While last year Indian passport holders could travel to 62 countries without a visa, the latest index s ...Read More >
New Delhi: A U.S. visa on an Indian passport does not just unlock America. It also opens the gates to a world beyond borders. No paperwork. No consulate interviews. No long waits. If you have a valid multiple-entry U.S. visa with at least one past use, seventeen countries welcome you like an old friend. The passport itself does not hold the magic. That U.S. visa tucked inside does. Albania allows Indian citizens to stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day stretch, provided they have entered the United States at least once using that visa. Argentina also opens its arms, requiring only an onlin ...Read More >
Odisha police on Wednesday (July 9, 2025) released 25 persons out of 444 migrant labourers suspected to be Bangladeshi or Rohingya (Myanmar) held in Jharsuguda after ascertaining their Indian nationality. Document verification was still underway late Wednesday evening, as those detained continued to procure their papers through various means, including WhatsApp and physical submission "Persons with valid documents are already returning or are in process of returning to their place of stay. We urge the public to refrain from speculation and trust the authorities to carry out this process tran ...Read More >
The US Consulate General in Chennai announced on Thursday, October 23, 2025, that it has reopened and restarted visa application processing. Only applicants with appointments scheduled for October 23 were allowed to attend, while those affected by the October 22 closure are being rescheduled and will receive new appointment details.The US Consulate General Chennai on Thursday announced that it will re-open and restart visa application processing services. In a post on X, the consulate said, "US ...Read More >
Thrissur (Kerala), Jan 13 (PTI) A man from Kerala, employed by the Russian Military Support Service, has reportedly been killed, one of his relatives claimed on Monday. Binil T B, an electrician from Thrissur, has died, his relative Saneesh told reporters. However, there was no official confirmation. Multiple state government agencies have also said they have not received any official information. The news comes amidst efforts to repatriate Binil and his cousin-in-law, Jain T K, who were stranded in the Russia-Ukraine war zone. Speaking to the media, Saneesh said: "The Indian Embassy in Mo ...Read More >
Patna, Jul 19 (PTI) The Bihar government on Saturday said that more than 12,000 new polling stations have been created in the state as per the recommendation of the Election Commission, as part of special intensive revision (SIR). According to a release issued by the election department, the total number of polling stations has risen to 90,712 from 77,895, after the establishment of 12,817 new ones. Of these, 12,479 polling stations have been set up "at the same building or premises housing the existing ones", while the remaining ones are "in the vicinity". A "district-wise list" of the new ...Read More >
Guwahati (Assam) [India], April 6 (ANI): Riniki Bhuyan Sharma on Monday rejected allegations made by Gaurav Gogoi that she or her family hold assets or business interests in Dubai or abroad. She also hit back at Gogoi, asking him to disclose details about his own family. In a post on X, the Assam Chief Minister's spouse said, "I'll save you the suspense and answer these laughable questions myself. Here it is: Neither I, nor my children, nor my husband have any business interests or assets in Dubai or anywhere outside India. Now your turn. Can you disclose whether your wife has or has ever ha ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Telangana Police confirmed on Tuesday that Sajid Akram, one of the shooters involved in the deadly shooting incident at Sydney's Bondi Beach, actually hailed from Hyderabad and migrated to Australia in 1998. Sajid and his son Naveed Akram killed 15 civilians on Sunday as they targeted Jews who were celebrating Hanukkah, a festival of lights. Sajid, an Indian passport holder, died in police crossfire, while Australian citizen Naveed is battling for life in a Sydney hospital, having suffered multiple bullet injuries. According to a press note from the Telangana DGP, there is no con ...Read More >