Is India Winning the War Against Pollution? The fight for cleaner air and water intensifies as the nation grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change. From the devastating floods in Assam to the alarming rise in air pollution levels in Delhi, environmental challenges demand urgent action. This week saw crucial discussions on sustainable agriculture and renewable energy sources at the India Climate Change Conference, highlighting the government's commitment to tackling deforestation and promoting biodiversity conservation. But are these efforts enough? Experts warn of looming water scarcity and the need for stricter regulations on industrial emissions. The future of India's environment hangs in the balance, demanding collective responsibility and innovative solutions. Explore Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and the latest updates on environmental policies, climate activism, and the ongoing struggle for a sustainable India. Discover how you can contribute to a greener tomorrow.
Shimla, July 19 (UNI) This Raj day Town once celebrated as the cleanest city in Himachal Pradesh, has slipped to third place in the state and plummeted to 347th position nationally in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 rankings. The Queen of Hills, renowned for its scenic beauty, has been overtaken by Theog and Nadaun, exposing persistent civic issues, unplanned construction activities, and mismanaged waste disposal. The city's fall in rankings is attributed to the lack of vision among successive governments -- be it the former BJP regime or the present Congress-led Municipal Corporation. While crores have been spent on purchasing ultramodern cleaning vehicles, the failure of door-to-door garbage collection, poor treatment of liquid waste, corruption in sewage and solid waste management, and non-functional corporate-based sewage treatment plants (STPs) have marred the city's image. Shimla continues to operate without a dedicated slaughterhouse after the modern facility at Krishna Nagar was shelved two years ago. Public places such as the Mall Road, Ridge, Sabji Mandi, and vending zones are increasingly littered due to overflowing garbage bins, unauthorised vendors, and lack of proper waste disposal. Events like food festivals and fairs on landmark sites like the Ridge add to the filth, with overflowing dustbins becoming easy targets for stray dogs and monkeys. The survey findings highlight that while cleanliness has slightly improved in residential colonies and marketplaces, Shimla lagged in critical areas such as waste segregation, dumping of construction debris, and cleaning of drinking water sources. Out of 7,500 points, the city could secure only 4,798. A senior MC official, unwilling to be named, said, "We have decided to challenge this ranking. There appears to be a problem with the process under which the survey was conducted. Shimla is doing excellent work in several areas, but we were given very low marks." Shimla's national ranking has been on a steady decline -- from 56th in 2022 to 188th last year and now 347th. Unchecked construction activities, poor waste disposal mechanisms, and weak accountability threaten to erode the city's historic reputation for cleanliness. A major challenge in keeping the town clean is crowded streets and tourism activities in the peak time. The authority lacks proper infrastructure and sufficient dedicated manpower and increasing commercial activities.
OCCRP had published news articles against Adani; BJP MP Sambit Patra calls Rahul 'traitor of highest order' After a hiatus of two days, the Winter Session of Parliament plunged into chaos again Thursday, this time due to the ruling BJP targeting Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, accusing them of being part of a plan to "derail" India's economy and "disrupt" its democracy. Senior BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised the matter in the Lok Sabha, alleging that a "dangerous triangle" ...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: Delhi chief minister Atishi on Thursday described Aam Admi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal as a prominent leader and said he is the first leader who understood the pain of women. "Arvind Kejriwal, the prominent leader, is the first leader in the history of this country who understood the pain of women. The biggest concern for women is that they have to stretch out their hands before a man even for their humble needs. In childhood, it is before their parents, before their spous ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, Dec 3 (PTI) Odisha MLAs across party lines on Tuesday demanded an increase in their salaries and enhanced pensions for former lawmakers. The issue was raised during Zero Hour by Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik, supported by members from both Congress and BJP. Mallik emphasised the need to increase the pension of former MLAs, saying they were struggling to manage due to rising market prices and medical expenses. She pointed out that a committee formed by the previous government had already submitted a report recommending an increase in the salary of MLAs to Rs 2.5 lakh per ...Read More >
Lalu Yadav was reacting to Nitish Kumar's plans to launch the Mahila Samwad Yatra, an initiative aimed at directly engaging with women in Bihar. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Tuesday stoked controversy after passing a sexist remark at Nitish Kumar's upcoming women's rally, saying that the Bihar Chief Minister was attending it to "ogle at women." Yadav was reacting to Kumar's plans to launch the Mahila Samwad Yatra, an initiative aimed at directly engaging with women in Bihar. "Nain sekne ja ra ...Read More >
Jharkhand supplementary budget: The Jharkhand Assembly on Thursday (December 12) passed the second supplementary budget of Rs 11,697.45 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Following the budget's passage, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato adjourned the four-day session of the assembly sine die. Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore tabled the second supplementary budget, with the largest allocation of Rs 6,390.55 crore directed to the Women, Child Development, and Social Security Department. This significant funding aims to enhance the government's flagship initiative, the Maiyan Samman Yojana. Und ...Read More >
Chandigarh [India], December 3 (ANI): Punjab Legislative Assembly Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa on Tuesday, slammed the BJP-led central government for neglecting the interests of farmers in Punjab and Haryana. Bajwa's scathing attack comes amidst growing discontent among farmers in the region, who feel their concerns have been ignored by the ruling party. "Ever since the BJP government has come to power, they have not taken a single decision that is in the interest of the farmers of India, especially the farmers of Punjab and Haryana. It is their fundamental rig ...Read More >
The Supreme Court halted new temple-mosque legal battles. The court will review the 1991 law impacting religious site status. This law froze the status of religious sites as of August 15, 1947. Several cases, including Gyanvapi and Shahi Idgah, challenge this law. The law's validity is being questioned. The court's decision impacts ongoing and future disputes.In its ruling on the keenly-watched Place of Worship Act case, the Supreme Court said on December 12 that no new Mandir-Masjid suits are to ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], December 12 (ANI): Launching a scathing attack against the Congress-led Telangana government, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao on Thursday called it an "abject failure" and said that Congress party's saga of betrayal is endless. "The Congress party in Telangana has been an abject failure... Their saga of betrayal is endless... They are tampering with the cultural icons, with the Telangana self-respect and pride. I wrote to Rahul Gandhi that we are compelled that when BRS comes back three years later, we will change the name of all the i ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 15 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in Lok Sabha, where he emphasized zero tolerance towards corruption. Raut questioned PM Modi's sincerity, pointing out the presence of allegedly corrupt leaders within the BJP, such as Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde. Raut's criticism also extended to PM Modi's relationship with business magnate Gautam Adani, implying that the Prime Minister's tolerance of Adani undermines his claims of zero tolerance towards corruption. "Ask your 56-inch ...Read More >
The Delhi BJP also shared a rap song "Delhi ka millionaire" alleging corruption against the party's top leadership. In a recently-released video, the Delhi BJP has given a tour of the luxurious bungalow of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, where he lived while serving as the Chief Minister of the state. The party also shared a rap song "Delhi ka millionaire" alleging corruption against the party's top leadership. Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, who shared the video on X, called the Civil Lines bu ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 11 (ANI): Rohini District Court on Wednesday issued a notice to BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj in a civil defamation suit filed by AAP leader Satyendra Jain. Jain has stated that Bansuri Swaraj made defamatory remarks in an interview with a television channel in October 2023. Senior Civil Judge Naina Gupta issued notice to Bansuri Swaraj and others and sought a response to the suit. The next date of hearing is 22 February 2025. Jain has prayed for direction to the TV channel to take down the content in question and restrain her from making further statements. Jain has cla ...Read More >
New Delhi: Delhi government cabinet on Thursday gave its nod to the cash assistance scheme for women, Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, ahead of the Delhi Assembly Elections scheduled for next year. The announcement was made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief, Arvind Kejriwal, in the presence of Chief Minister Atishi and other women legislators. The scheme was part of the Delhi government budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year. It had a proposed allocation of Rs 2,000 crore and was proposed by Kejriwal early this year. "This scheme is for empowering women and addressing their financial needs. W ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Backing embattled Adani Group, rating agency CRISIL Ratings on Friday said the conglomerate has sufficient liquidity and operational cash flows to meet debt obligations and committed capex and that there has been no negative actions so far by lenders and investors following the US indictment of group founder chairman. The Adani Group, which has the flexibility to reduce certain discretionary capital expenditure (capex) depending on developments in financial markets and future capital availability, has a healthy Ebitda and cash balance that reduces its dependence on external debt to ...Read More >
The new circle rates in Gurugram have come into effect from December 1 Gurugram: People eyeing a home in Gurugram will now have to pay more as the district administration has hiked the circle rates by 10% to 30%, driven mainly by demand. Luxury residential areas like Golf Course Road are likely to see a 30% hike in circle rates. According to reports, the new circle rates have come into effect from December 1 and will be applicable at least till March 31 next year. The price hike, however, has irked the residents, who alleged that the administration should also "improve basic amenities". Gu ...Read More >
The BJP has accused Rahul Gandhi of collaborating with "anti-India international forces," citing a Mediapart report on OCCRP's funding and Gandhi's meetings with alleged Modi government critics. The party highlighted the timing of reports critical of India coinciding with parliamentary sessions, including those on farmers, Pegasus, Hindenburg, and the BBC documentary.BJP on Thursday accused Lok Sabha's Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of colluding with 'anti-India international forces'. The ruli ...Read More >
Ranchi, Dec 12 (PTI)The Jharkhand Assembly on Thursday passed the second supplementary budget of Rs 11,697.45 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal. After this, the four-day session of the assembly was adjourned sine die by Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato. Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore tabled the second supplementary budget, allocating a maximum outlay of Rs 6,390.55 crore to the women, child development and social security department to boost the government's flagship scheme Maiyan Samman Yojana. Under this scheme, the state government initially provided Rs 1,000 per month to women between the ...Read More >
Dhanbad/Gumla, Dec 4 (PTI) Thousands of people from various Hindu organisations on Wednesday took out rallies in Jharkhand's Dhanbad and Gumla cities in protest against the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and the arrest of spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das. Demanding the immediate release of Das, the protesters urged the Indian government to intervene and stop the atrocities being perpetrated on minority Hindus in the neighbouring country. In Dhanbad, Hindu Rashtriya Samanvya Samiti (HRSS) organised the protest, which was attended by members of Dhanbad ISKCON, Bajrang Dal, BJP and other o ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Ex-Karnataka Chief Minister and former External Affairs Minister SM Krishna died here early on Tuesday, leaving behind a rich legacy of statesmanship and public service that saw the 92-year-old leader scale all heights of political achievements. Suave, sophisticated and a man with enviable academic credentials, Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna started off his political innings as an independent MLA from Maddur in 1962, stunning a then Congress veteran in the elections, and went on to become the state's CM and later the country's External Affairs Minister. Tributes poured in for the fo ...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 >
Bengaluru techie suicide: Bollywood actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has courted controversy once again with her remarks on the suicide of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, whose tragic death has shocked the nation. While expressing her condolences, she also blamed men for most issues in marriages, sparking a fresh debate. Atul Subhash, a 34-year-old software professional from Uttar Pradesh, was found hanging in his residence in Bengaluru's Manjunath Layout area. In a viral 80-minute video and a 24-page death note, Subhash accused his wife, her family, and a judge in Uttar Pradesh of harassment ...Read More >
Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday that he held discussions on cabinet expansion with union home minister Amit Shah, party national president J P Nadda, and the party national general secretary B L Santhosh on Wednesday night. Fadnavis was on a two-day visit to Delhi days after being sworn in as chief minister. He met President Draupudi Murmu, PM Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh and union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari. He also presented five different ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 12 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in the National Capital and presented him with an idol of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. "It was an absolute pleasure to meet and interact with Hon Union and Cooperation Minister Amitbhai Shah at his residence in New Delhi. Also presented him a 'murti' of SwatantryaVeer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar," the Chief Minister posted on X (formerly Twitter). Also Read | RRB JE Exam 2024 Admit Card Out at rrbapply.gov.in: Hall Ticket for 7,951 Junior Engineer Posts ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Undeterred by the backlash over land acquisition for his Pharma Village project in Lagacherla, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has unveiled plans for another ambitious project -- the "Future City." He aims to acquire 30,000 acres of land to establish a world-class urban development that he claims will rival global cities like New York, Tokyo, and Singapore. Speaking at the MAUD Vijayotsavalu on Monday, Reddy revealed that 15,000 acres of land had already been identified in Mucherla, Begarikancha, and neighboring areas. He proposed using an additional 15,000 acres of forest ...Read More >
Mandya (Karnataka) [India], December 11 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday paid his last respects to former Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 92. Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy also paid his respects to the former Chief Minister at his native place in Mandya. Also Read | RBI Will Remain Alert and Agile to Meet Challenges, Says New Governor Sanjay Malhotra (Watch Video). The Karnataka government has declared three days of mourning following his demise. According to an official notice, "His last rites will be performed with fu ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Dec 12 (VOICE) The Panchamasali quota row has added to the woes of the Congress-led Karnataka government facing a series of charges of alleged cases. Even as the state government is putting a brave face by defending the police action against protestors demanding quota for the Panchamasali Lingayat sect, sources confirmed that the grand old party is deeply worried about the polarisation of the influential Lingayat community. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had managed to guide the Congress to achieve a simple majority in 2008, as the Lingayat vote bank was divided between the BJP and t ...Read More >
CHANDIGARH: 1991-batch IAS officer Ashok Khemka, known for his uprightness during his 33-year-long career in which he was transferred 57 times, has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary of Transport. Khemka, who will retire on April 30 next year, has replaced 1994-batch IPS officer Navdeep Virk. Khemka has returned to the transport department, overseen by Anil Vij, transport minister of the state; ten years ago, he had been posted as transport commissioner during the first term of the then BJP government with Manohar Lal Khattar as Chief Minister. When Khemka was the state transport comm ...Read More >
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], December 11 (ANI): BJP Leader CN Ashwath Narayan on Wednesday said that Former Karnataka chief minister SM Krishna, who passed away early on Tuesday, has a lot of contribution for the state and the country. "SM Krishna has contributed a lot to the state and the country. Yesterday we lost him...His body will be taken to Somanahalli...Final rites will be held at 4 pm... Several senior leaders will attend in it," Ashwath Narayan told ANI after paying his last respect to Krishna. Meanwhile, mortal remains of Krishna have been taken to Mandya district. The Karnataka ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Dec 12 (UNI) In a fresh twist to the ongoing controversy surrounding the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), complainant Snehamayi Krishna has filed a petition with the Karnataka Lokayukta, calling for the registration of a new First Information Report (FIR) against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others involved. Belagavi, Dec 12 (UNI) Tensions flared in Karnataka as BJP MLAs protested at the Dr BR Ambedkar statue on Suvarna Soudha premises on Thursday, condemning the police lathi charge on Lingayat Panchamasali community members who had gathered in Belagavi to demand inclu ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) The initial public offer of Inventurus Knowledge Solutions Ltd, which provides healthcare support services, got subscribed 1.36 times on the first day of share sale on Thursday. The initial share sale received bids for 1,40,74,698 shares against 1,03,66,780 shares on offer, as per NSE data. Also Read | RRB JE Exam 2024 Admit Card Out at rrbapply.gov.in: Hall Ticket for 7,951 Junior Engineer Posts CBT 1 Examination Released, Know Steps To Download. The Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) part fetched 1.67 times subscription, while the Qualified Institutional Buyers (QI ...Read More >