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.
Bhubaneswar: Registration for Baristha Nagarika Tirtha Yatra Yojana (BNTYY) in Odisha for the current financial year began on Thursday. Eligible senior citizens can register themselves for the scheme in both online and offline modes between July 17 and August 15. "They can visit dedicated website yatra.odisha.gov.in for online registration or register themselves with the respective block or district administrations," Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida told a presser on Wednesday. The Odisha Government launched the scheme in 2016 to facilitate senior citizens residing in every district of our state, to travel to various pilgrim places in the country. It is being implemented in collaboration with the Tourism Department of the state government and the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). The state government provides transport facility to the pilgrims from their villages to the respective railway stations and back, while IRCTC arranges for accommodation, transportation and food and beverage during the journey along with travel guard, guide, travel insurance and medical facilities. Under this scheme, citizens aged 60 to 75 years are selected irrespective of caste and religion on the basis of their address/ age/ identity/ category. MGNREGA Job card/ Antyodaya/ Arnapurna/ Old age pension/ Widow pension/ Ration card under NFSA, in which name and age are clearly mentioned, are accepted as EWS Category proof of financial backwardness. In the case of a senior citizen couple, either one of them must be above 60 years of age. Senior citizens in the age group of 70 and 75 years are allowed to take one person over the age of 18 years with them as an attendant while traveling. The collectors select the pilgrims as per the quota specified for the district. In case of more applicants, the pilgrims are selected through a lottery. To meet the shortfall a waiting list of 20 per cent pilgrims is prepared. A total of 800 people (775 senior citizen pilgrims and 25 escort officers) travel on each trip. So far, more than 37,555 senior citizens from various districts have got an opportunity to visit pilgrimage sites like Madurai, Rameswaram, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Ajmer, Pushkar, Tirupati Balaji, Vellore, Srikalahasti, Shirdi, Nashik, Trimbakeshwar, Velankanni, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Sukeswara Kali (Kolkata), Kamakhya, Agra, Mathura and Vrindavan in 40 trips. In the financial year 2024-25, 7967 beneficiaries travelled to Sirdi, Nashik, Dakhineswar Kali (Kolkata), Kamakhya, Ayodhya and Varanasi in 10 trips, a government release said.
IMPHAL, Nov 17: The NPP on Sunday withdrew support from the BJP-led Government in Manipur, even as violence continued to rock the state as offices of the Congress and the saffron party were ransacked in the hill district of Jiribam where an unidentified body was found earlier in the day, officials said. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp A BJP MLA's ancestral house was vandalised in Imphal Valley while a building owned by Ashab Uddin, the Independent legislator of Jiribam, was ransacked, officials said. The incidents occurred a day after irate mobs set fire to the residences of ...Read More >
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday instructed officials to formulate proposals for constructing an iconic Deep-Technology building in the capital city of Amaravati. "I had built Hi-Tech City structure in Hyderabad to promote information technology. Now, it is time to embrace Deep-Tech and Artificial Intelligence to take advantage of the opportunities arising out of the latest technology," he underlined while reviewing the New IT Policy at the state secretariat. The Chief Minister announced that the state government will provide Rs 25 lakh as seed fundin ...Read More >
BJP member Manas Dutta blamed the previous BJD government and held it responsible for not extending their service agreement which ended in April, 2024. As hundreds of women working as support staff under the Mission Shakti department staged a demonstration outside the Assembly over different issues, the opposition BJD on Monday demanded immediate release of their salaries. While the agitating women were shouting slogans at the Mahatma Gandhi Road leading to the Assembly, the issue was raised in ...Read More >
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], December 11 (ANI): A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation, led by senior leaders, met Himachal Pradesh Governor Pratap Shukla recently to submit a comprehensive 106-page memorandum titled "Kachcha Chittha". The document, which alleges rampant corruption and administrative failures in the two years of Congress rule under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, aims to hold the state government accountable for what the BJP describes as a period of "unprecedented mismanagement and destruction." Speaking to the media after meeting the Governor, Himachal Prade ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 12 (ANI): The National President of Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) on Thursday criticised the ruling Mahayuti government in Maharashtra over the violence in Parbhani city, alleging that the unrest was a result of the state government's negligence and an insult to the Constitution. Speaking to ANI, Azad announced plans to launch a protest against the violence. "The negligence of the state government and the way the Constitution of India was insulted have caused this outrage. On the instructions of the government, the police lathi-charged supporters of Baba Saheb Am ...Read More >
From hospitals to exams, people's distrust of public institutions is growing because of past mistakes and broken promises In Prayagraj, student protests outside the UPPSC office slowed down after the government agreed to hold the provincial civil services exam on a single day. The decision to split the exam across two days was not a big issue in itself -- officials explained it was because there were so many applicants. This is a common practice both in India and around the world. However, what really upset students was the intense competition for government jobs, which are hard to get, along ...Read More >
Hit by economic slowdown and poor infrastructure, industrialists from Jharkhand's key industrial districts -- East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela-Kharsawan -- are looking to the newly formed state government for revival and support. The industrial zones of Adityapur, Gamharia, Kandra, and Chandil have been grappling with inadequate infrastructure, including poorly maintained roads, lack of bridges, erratic water supply, and unreliable power. Entrepreneurs in these regions hope the new administration will address these issues and work toward improving the state's industrial ecosystem ...Read More >
Gurdaspur (Punjab) [India], December 4 (ANI): Jasmeet Kaur, wife of Narain Singh Chaura, who attempted to assassinate Sukhbir Singh Badal, condemned her husband's actions on Wednesday. She stated that her husband had informed her he was attending a "death anniversary programme" in Amritsar. "I didn't know what had happened until reporters came knocking at my door. Earlier, he had been lodged in jails in Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Gurdaspur," Kaur told reporters. "I don't think what he did was right," Kaur added. Narain Singh Chaura opened fire at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: In a new twist to the prevailing potato crisis in Odisha, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Thursday blamed the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "playing dirty politics over the tuber" to defame the BJP government in the state. Speaking to the media today, Patra alleged that an artificial scarcity of potatoes has been created to defame the state government. Stating that he was clueless about the politics by West Bengal Chief Minister, he said, "I fail to understand why Mamata Banerjee first stopped the supply of potatoes to Odisha and later a ...Read More >
Assam Beef Ban: A political row has erupted over the Assam government's decision to ban the public consumption of beef in the state with the Opposition labelling it "against the right to freedom" while the ruling BJP lauding the state Cabinet's call. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced on Wednesday that his government has decided to ban the consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels and public places, drawing sharp reactions from the Opposition. Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Hasan ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) The Pakistan high commission on Wednesday said it issued 84 visas to Indian pilgrims to visit the Shree Katas Raj temples in Punjab province's Chakwal district. The group has been given visas to visit the Katas Raj temples from December 19 to 25. The temples are also known as Qila Katas. It is a complex of several Hindu temples connected to one another by walkways. Under the provision of a bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines, Sikh and Hindu pilgrims from India visit Pakistan every year.Pakistani pilgrims also visit India every year under the protocol. ...Read More >
New Delhi, December 5: Uttar Pradesh's Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh expressed confidence that Mahakumbh 2025 will play a pivotal role in showcasing India's rich cultural heritage and Sanatan traditions globally. Speaking on the progress of preparations, he told IANS, "The arrangements for Mahakumbh are progressing in full swing. We are committed to welcoming all devotees, irrespective of their origin -- whether from different states of India or other countries. We aim to host them with unmatched arrangements that combine magnificence, divinity, and cultural vibrancy." "This gran ...Read More >
Agartala (Tripura) [India], December 12 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha inaugurated the opening ceremony of the 68th National School Games for Judo (Under-17 Girls) at NSRCC, Netaji Chowmuhani in Agartala. The competition, which will take place from December 12 to 15, will feature talent at the national level and will feature 31 teams, comprising representatives from 27 states and four organisations. Approximately 350 players, coaches, and managers are attending. Tripura's athletes have consistently excelled, earning medals in previous editions of the National School Games and Khelo ...Read More >
Kottayam (Kerala), Dec 12 (PTI) The historic struggle for equality that took place in Vaikom a century ago, popularly known as the Vaikom Satyagraha, was not a movement confined to Kerala but marked the starting point for various other struggles for social justice, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Thursday. In his address at Vaikom in this district after inaugurating the renovated Thanthai Periyar Memorial and Periyar Library, Stalin said that while impressive strides have been made in areas of social justice and economy in 100 years, a lot more has to be achieved. Stalin inaugur ...Read More >
Also Read - Bengaluru likely to see heavy rainfall and thunderstorms from December 8, predicts IMD A group of 46 students and six teachers from Morarji Desai Residential School, Mulabagilu in Kolar district visited Murudeshwar on Tuesday as part of their school trip. According to the police, around 5.30 pm, the teachers, along with the students went to the beach. Despite warnings from lifeguards, seven students ventured into the sea. The sea was rough, and three girls were swept away by the cu ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The government received 8 million applications for Indiramma houses and the acceptance of these applications should be completed by December 31, said the revenue and housing minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy. On Wednesday, December 12 the minister held a video conference at the secretariat with Telangana chief minister's advisor Vem Narender Reddy and chief secretary Shanti Kumari. They discussed the examination of Indiramma house applications, the conduct of Group-II examinations, a social survey, and other related issues. Instructing officials to involve members of the Indiramm ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while addressing representatives of the Brahmin community from across the state at his residence, Sant Kabir Kutir, said that the state government would celebrate the birth anniversary ofLord Parshuram in a grand manner at the government level. In addition, in response to the demand from Brahmin community representatives for the formation of a Brahmin Welfare Board, the Chief Minister assured that prominent members of the society would be inv ...Read More >
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], December 2 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) President Farooq Abdullah claimed that Muslims are feeling unsafe and stated that there is no discrimination based on religion, as guaranteed by the Constitution. The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir also said that the government should treat Muslims without any discrimination. "...There is no doubt that Muslims are feeling unsafe. I will ask the govt of India to stop that. 24 crore Muslims cannot be thrown into the ocean. They (the govt) should treat Muslims equally, there is no di ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) met the injured ASHA workers at a hospital in Hyderabad on Tuesday. December 10. ASHA workers were injured after they were manhandled by police officials during a protest at the Telangana Directorate of Medical Education (DME) demanding a salary hike of Rs 18,000 on Monday. The two injured women were identified as Raheembi and Santhoshini. After enquiring about the women's well-being, the BRS MLA condemned the police action against the ASHA workers. He extended solidarity with their fight offered all possible support ...Read More >
Bhopal: The Gita recitation programme by the Madhya Pradesh government has found a place in the Guinness World Records. "More than 7,200 'acharyas' and 'vatuks' collectively recited the third chapter 'Karma Yoga' on Wednesday, making a record," a statement issued by the government said. The event was parallely organised at Bhopal's Lal Parade Ground and Ujjain to mark the sacred occasion of Gita Jayanti. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said that the collective recitation of the Gita by thousands of Acharyas in Bhopal and Ujjain has been registered in the 'Guinness Book of World Records'. He con ...Read More >
Kochi: The High Court has directed the Kerala state government to convince the central government that the state deserves more assistance for the Wayanad landslide disaster. The division bench also expressed its readiness to mediate between the central and state governments in this regard. According to the latest figures, the state disaster relief fund holds around Rs 700 crore, but only Rs 61 crore is available for expenditure, as reported by the amicus curiae. Kerala: Court orders inclusion of abetment charges against police officers in Dalit youth suicide case The Kerala state government ...Read More >
MUMBAI/LUCKNOW: Backing the call for a uniform civil code in India, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath quoted on Sunday a recent statement by Allahabad HC judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav at an event in Mumbai to assert that "majority sentiments are respected globally". Speaking at a the World Hindu Economic Forum-2024 event in Mumbai, the CM attacked the Congress-headed opposition, saying that by the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code the difference between majority and minority communities needs ...Read More >
Guwahati, November 27 (IANS): Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday underscored the northeastern region's legacy, cultural diversity, and natural wealth emphasising its rich cuisine, crafts and biodiversity while inaugurating the 12th edition of the four-day long International Tourism Mart (ITM) in Assam's Kaziranga. Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister said that the ITM is a remarkable opportunity for the northeast India to showcase its rich culture and diversity to the world, adding that the event also offers a platform for people from across the g ...Read More >
Dehradun: A person, who completes his age of 59 years and 6 months, can now apply for an old age pension on the social welfare department's pension portal. The applicants will start receiving pension from the end of the month in which he completes the age of 60 years following the approval of his application form. This is meant to ensure that the elderly people can get the benefits of old age pension on time. The department launched a campaign to identify the eligible person for the pension According to Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Neeraj Khairwal, his department launched a month-l ...Read More >
Ayodhya, Dec 5 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday accused the Opposition parties of trying to divide society, saying what Mughal ruler Babur's army did in Ayodhya and Sambhal is what is happening in Bangladesh. The chief minister, who was in the temple town for the inauguration of the 43rd Ramayan Mela, said Lord Ram united the whole society. "Had we given importance to unity and not let the strategy of nation's enemies succeed in creating social animosity, this country would have never become a slave. Our pilgrimages would not have become impure. A handful of inv ...Read More >
Bhopal: Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has said that the state government is continuously working with commitment to realize the dream of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of developed India @2047. On completion of one year of the state government, two programmes are being launched from 11 December on the auspicious occasion of Gita Jayanti. "Jan Kalyan Parv" will run from 11 December to 26 December 2024 and "Mukhya Mantri Jan Kalyan Abhiyan" will run from 11 December 2024 to 26 January 2025. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that in the Jan Kalyan Parv being organised from 11 December to 26 Decem ...Read More >
Belagavi, Dec 12 (UNI) The Karnataka BJP on Thursday accused the Congress state government of secretly relocating protesters injured during a lathi charge to prevent opposition leaders from meeting them. Speaking to reporters here, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said BJP leaders had planned to visit the injured protesters in hospital. However, the victims were moved to an undisclosed location. "This government is acting like Hitler by not allowing us to meet the injured. We don't even know where they have been taken," he said. The lathi charge occurred during a protest by the Panchamasal ...Read More >
Times of India's Edit Page team comprises senior journalists with wide-ranging interests who debate and opine on the news and issues of the day. Hospitals to exams, public suspicion of public institutions comes from bitter experiences In Prayagraj, student protests outside the UPPSC office have waned after it agreed to conduct the provincial civil services preliminary exam on a single day. The decisions that drew these large protests were per se unobjectionable. Officials cited the large number of applicants to split the exam over two days, then normalise the results. This is a routine pract ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha BJP government has renamed 21 schemes launched by the previous BJD regime, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi told the assembly Thursday. The BJP government took oath June 12 after defeating the 24-year-old Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government in the assembly elections. In a written reply to a query by BJD legislator Tusharkanti Behera, the Chief Minister said the state government has renamed 21 existing schemes and launched seven new ones. According to a statement, the BJP government has rebranded eight schemes that were named after the late Biju Patnaik, father of form ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday expressed her sorrow over the havoc wreaked by Cyclone Fengal in south India including Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Offering her condolences to those who lost their loved ones, Vadra appealed to the Congress workers to work with the administration in relief work amid the crisis. "Deeply saddened by the devastation caused by Cyclone Fengal in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. My prayers are with those who have lost loved ones and those facing immense loss and hardship. I appeal to all Congress workers to join hands with ...Read More >