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: Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on a plea alleging that sanitary pad vending machines at metro stations across the capital are either faulty or non-functional, causing inconvenience to women commuters.Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Nikhil Goyal, a bench of chief justice D K Upadhyaya and justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued notices to DMRC, Delhi govt, and other concerned authorities. The court gave DMRC two weeks to respond and directed it to provide details on the number of vending machines and disposal units installed across metro stations -- and how many of them are currently operational.While expressing confidence in the DMRC's overall work, the bench emphasised the need to address the issue of menstrual hygiene infrastructure in public transport.The plea urged the court to direct authorities to ensure the immediate installation and proper functioning of sanitary pad vending machines and disposal facilities in all women's toilets at Delhi Metro stations.Highlighting that lakhs of women rely on the metro for daily commuting, the PIL argued that their health, dignity, and fundamental rights are compromised due to the inadequate availability of menstrual hygiene facilities. It claimed that despite the scale of female ridership, only a small number of women's toilets at metro stations are equipped with sanitary pad vending machines."The state's obligation to ensure menstrual hygiene cannot be diluted by offering partial measures. The right to sanitation is recognised as a fundamental human right both internationally and under the Indian Constitution," the petition said.It added that merely recognising sanitation as a right is ineffective unless supported by accessible infrastructure and inclusive policies. The petition also called for a comprehensive menstrual hygiene policy for public transport systems, along with establishment of a grievance redressal mechanism for menstrual health-related issues within Delhi Metro system.
Srinagar, Nov 27 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir's Road Transport Corporation (RTC), a crucial backbone of public transportation, has raised serious concerns over the barring of its buses from entering Srinagar city limits. The move has triggered alarm within the Corporation, with officials cautioning about significant disruptions to public transport services and daily commutes, alongside substantial financial losses for the RTC. The restriction, in effect since November 4 when the maiden session of the Assembly commenced, is causing a daily revenue loss of Rs. 4 lakh to the Corporation. In a lette ...Read More >
Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan has called for the replacement of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with ballot papers, citing concerns over the legitimacy of election results. Ranjan raised doubts about the EVM's accuracy, suggesting that the results may be influenced and advocating for a ballot paper system like many other countries. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also echoed similar sentiments, accusing EVMs of wasting votes from marginalized communities. This comes after the Congress' defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly election. The Supreme Court, however, dismissed a petition seeking th ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Centre is likely to build a new 6-7 km Metro line from Indraprastha station to North Block, connecting Bharat Mandapam, C Hexagon at India Gate, Kartavya Path, Central Secretariat, and the proposed Yuge Yugeen Bharat Museum at the North and South Blocks. The underground corridor will provide connectivity to all the 10 proposed govt buildings along the Kartavya Path and India Gate, Delhi's most popular tourist spots. Sources said the proposed stretch will be an extension of the 12.3 km Inderlok-Indraprastha Metro corridor (Green Line), which was approved by the Union cabinet in Mar ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 8 (ANI): The upcoming union budget 2025-26 should focus on giving personal tax relief to common taxpayers by raising the basic exemption limit in the new tax regime from Rs 3 lakhs to Rs5 lakhs and reducing tax rates, suggests global consulting and professional services firm Ernst & Young India (EY India). EY India also asks for deferring tax deduction at source (TDS) on PF interest rate (above 2.5 lakhs) until the withdrawal stage to reduce compliance burden. In the previous budget TDS rate rationalization was undertaken to a certain extent. To further simplify th ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the stand of comptroller and auditor general of India (CAG) on a PIL seeking its 14 reports on city administration to be made public. A bench of Justices Yashwant Varma and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar asked CAG to explain why its report could not be made public, and posted the hearing on January 24. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Woman Throws 4 Children Into Canal in Vijayapura Allegedly Due to Financial Distress, 2 Bodies Recovered. Brij Mohan, a retired civil servant, who filed the PIL said the voters in Delhi must be aware of ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 17 (ANI): Congress candidate from Malviya Nagar assembly, Jitender Kumar Kocher, on Friday, slammed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and said that Delhi wants a change and that people in the national capital seek relief from AAP. "Delhi wants a change. They want relief from AAP... The people of Delhi still remember the work I did... Only Congress will form a government in Delhi. Malviya Nagar is not getting clean. There is garbage everywhere. Sewers are choked. I am going to people with work I have done in 15 years. Congress will be ahead of all the parties in this electio ...Read More >
Bengaluru: In a significant milestone for Bengaluru's public transport system, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) registered its highest-ever single-day ridership on June 4, with a record 9,66,732 commuters utilizing Namma Metro services. The achievement highlights the growing reliance on the metro as the city's primary mode of travel. The surge in passenger numbers was witnessed across various metro lines, with Line 1 accounting for 4,78,334 commuters and Line 2 seeing a ridership of 2,84,674. The Kempegowda Interchange Station (KGWA) at Majestic, one of the city's busiest ...Read More >
In this edition of Frontline Conversations, former Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare discusses how the Ladki Bahin scheme, which provided direct cash transfers to 2.35 crore women, transformed both the economic landscape and political dynamics of the State. The programme, which distributed Rs.7,500 across five instalments to women earning less than Rs. 2.5 lakh annually, not only empowered women with financial independence but also proved to be a decisive factor in Mahayuti's electoral victory, marking a shift in Maharashtra's traditionally male-dominated political ...Read More >
Hong Kong, December 3, (ANI): Mainland Chinese shoppers are once again flocking to stores in Hong Kong, but this time, their focus is on purchasing sanitary towels and other feminine care products, rather than infant formula, cooking oil, or Yakult drinks. This shift in shopping habits is driven by concerns over reports of contaminated and discoloured cotton fillings in similar products sold in mainland China. These safety issues have led many consumers to seek alternatives in Hong Kong, where the quality is perceived to be more reliable, Radio Free Asia reported. A shopper from Guangzhou, i ...Read More >
Hong Kong: Mainland Chinese shoppers are once again flocking to stores in Hong Kong, but this time, their focus is on purchasing sanitary towels and other feminine care products, rather than infant formula, cooking oil, or Yakult drinks. This shift in shopping habits is driven by concerns over reports of contaminated and discoloured cotton fillings in similar products sold in mainland China. These safety issues have led many consumers to seek alternatives in Hong Kong, where the quality is perceived to be more reliable, Radio Free Asia reported. A shopper from Guangzhou, interviewed by Radio ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Lieutenant governor VK Saxena has given his approval to the reconstitution of Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, paving the way for govt to prepare a scheme to provide compensation to the construction workers who lost work due to the implementation of GRAP IV provisions. The board was not in place for the last couple of years. While giving his nod to its reconstitution, LG directed that immediate steps should be taken to implement Supreme Court directions to provide subsistence allowance to workers affected due to restrictions on construction activities be ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
Lucknow: A man accused of raping a three-year-old girl died in an encounter with Uttar Pradesh police in Lucknow on Friday, a day after a complaint was registered against him. The accused was identified as Deepak Verma. After receiving the complaint, the police formed five teams and launched a manhunt operation to nab Kumar. Kumar was initially injured in the gunfight. However, he succumbed to injuries during treatment. "Accused Deepak Verma, who was injured in an encounter with the Police, has died during treatment," DCP Central Lucknow Ashish Srivastava told news agency ANI. The girl was a ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition seeking to revert to ballot paper voting in elections in the country. "What happens is, when you win the election, EVMs (electronic voting machine) are not tampered. When you lose the election, EVMs are tampered (with)," remarked a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale. Apart from ballot paper voting, the plea sought several directions including a directive to the Election Commission to disqualify candidates for a minimum of five years if found guilty of distributing money, liquor or other material inducement to the voters d ...Read More >
India's housing market is booming, with 2024 projected to be the best year yet. Over 300,000 homes worth ₹510,000 crore are expected to be sold across the top seven cities, driven by economic growth and infrastructure improvements. Sales in the first nine months already reached nearly 230,000 homes, indicating continued robust demand and rising capital values.India's housing property market continues to remain on a strong footing, with the year 2024 expected to end as the best year ever in term ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry is likely to build a 7-km underground metro corridor connecting key landmarks such as the new Common Central Secretariat, India Gate, Bharat Mandapam and the North and South blocks to the Indraprastha metro station, sources said on Tuesday. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been asked to finalise the proposed alignment, they said, adding it will be an extension of the Inderlok-Indraprastha metro corridor that was approved by the Union Cabinet earlier this year. According to the plan, the proposed line will pass through the Kartavya P ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 26 (VOICE) India in 2024 saw a boom in employment rates, with women and youth leading the charge in workforce participation, according to a report.The report by Apna.co, a job and professional networking platform, showed women contributed an impressive 2.8 crore job applications -- 20 per cent higher than in 2023. Similarly, the youth posted a 27 per cent year-on-year increase in job applications. Women contributed an impressive 2.8 crore job applications out of a total of 7 crore, a 25 per cent year-on-year surge, in 2024. Flexible work opportunities, gender-focused initiativ ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 27 (UNI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released its manifesto for the next month Assembly election with 15 guarantees, including employment and the women's dignity scheme. While releasing the manifesto on Monday, AAP's national convener and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "Kejriwal's guarantees are solid," emphasising that free electricity for 24 hours, free water, free education, free pilgrimage for senior citizens, free bus travel for women, and free medical treatment in hospitals and Mohalla Clinics will continue in Delhi. He alleged, "BJP leaders and spokespersons ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 7 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday rejected Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegation of alleged discrepancies in the 2024 Maharashtra assembly election stating that the Opposition leader, aware of his party's imminent defeat in Delhi election results was attempting to "cover fire." Earlier today addressing a press conference in the national capital Rahul Gandhi flanked by Supriya Sule and Sanjay Raut had alleged that over 39 lakh voters were added to Maharashtra's electoral rolls within a span of fiv ...Read More >
New norms to avoid another Bengaluru stampede, said Home Minister G Parameshwara. Bengaluru: Karnataka government will formulate a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for mega events, meetings and celebrations aimed at preventing any untoward incidents, state Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Thursday. The initiative comes in the wake of the stampede near the Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday that claimed 11 lives. Speaking to reporters, Mr Parameshwara said that the governm ...Read More >
LUCKNOW: Hours after the abduction and rape of a three-year-old girl sleeping with her mother under a bridge near Alambagh metro station, the accused was killed in an encounter with Lucknow police early Friday.The accused, identified as Deepak Verma, a habitual offender with multiple criminal cases lodged across city police stations, was traced through CCTV footage that captured him fleeing with the child on a white scooter around 3.30 am on Thursday.Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone) Ashish Srivastava said multiple police teams were formed immediately after the incident, and a rewar ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Former head of Air India and chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani is the new Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) director. The official order for his appointment was issued on Wednesday. A 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME), Lohani is known for turning around various organisations during his illustrious career. Following his retirement from IRSME service, he joined the GMR Group as the CEO. According to the order dated June 4, his appointment to the post of director, Prime Ministers Museum and Library in the rank and pa ...Read More >
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal inaugurated an online Hindi course on the Constitution of India, celebrating 75 years of the document. The initiative aims to make constitutional principles more accessible. Developed with NALSAR University, it aims to educate citizens on their rights and democratic duties. In a significant step marking 75 years of India's Constitution, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has launched an online Hindi course designed to make constitutional education more accessible to the public. This initiative, a collaboration between the Department of Legal Affairs and ...Read More >
Kuldeep Singh Sengar is also serving a 10-year jail term in connection with the custodial death of the Unnao rape victim's father. Kuldeep Singh Sengar sought interim bail on the grounds that he was suffering from various ailments The Delhi High Court on Thursday granted a two-week interim bail on medical grounds to expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar who is serving life term for raping a minor in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao in 2017. A bench headed by Justice Prathiba M Singh suspended the sent ...Read More >
Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), considered the richest civic body in the country, tabled its budget of Rs 74,427 crore for 2025-26 at its headquarters in Mumbai on Tuesday. The additional municipal commissioners presented the budget to BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, the state-appointed administrator. BMC is currently run by an administrator since the term of the corporators ended on March 7, 2022. This is the third year of the budget being presented to the administrator, in deviation from the norm where the municipal commissioner presents the budget to the standing co ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has taken suo motu cognizance of a press release issued by the Press Club of India, New Delhi, highlighting the alleged brutal assault of two journalists by police in Bhind district, Madhya Pradesh. The incident reportedly took place on May 1, 2025, under the supervision of the District Superintendent of Police. 'NHRC, India takes suo motu cognisance of the reported assault of two journalists by police in Bhind district, Madhya Pradesh,' in a post in X, NHRC stated. https://x.com/India_NHRC/status/193056213 ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah has made it clear on several occasions that in the delimitation exercise, concerns of the southern states will be taken care of and discussed with all concerned at appropriate time. A spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said this on Thursday, a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed concern over the Census-linked delimitation exercise. "The Honourable Home Minister has made it clear on several occasions that in the delimitation exercise, concerns of southern states will be taken care of and discussed with a ...Read More >
Ahmedabad: Infocity police in Gandhinagar registered a theft case on Wednesday after materials worth Rs 3.81 lakh were stolen from the GNLU metro station at Koba village. This was the third theft reported on the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar metro rail network in the past two weeks.Ravindrasinh Bihola, a 27-year-old security guard, filed the FIR with Infocity police. He stated that he was posted at the GNLU metro station for the past three months. He was on night duty from 8 pm to 8 am. According to his complaint, the theft occurred during the intervening night of May 30 and May 31.Bihola said that th ...Read More >
New Delhi, November 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the government at the Centre has strengthened the spirit of the Constitution over the last 10 years. Addressing the Constitution Day celebrations at the Supreme Court, PM Modi highlighted that in the last 10 years, more than 53 crore bank accounts were opened, more than 4 crore pukka houses were given and more than 10 crore free gas connections were given. "In the last 5-6 years, by providing tap water facilities in more than 12 crore houses, the government made the lives of citizens easy, particularly of women," he sai ...Read More >
India Budget: The Union Budget 2025-26 should prioritise giving tax relief to common taxpayers by raising the basic exemption limit in the new tax regime from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh and lowering tax rates, according to Ernst & Young India (EY India), a global consulting firm. EY India also recommended delaying the tax deduction at source (TDS) on provident fund (PF) interest above ₹2.5 lakh until the withdrawal stage to reduce the compliance burden on taxpayers. Also Read: India to simplify decades-old income tax filing rules in Budget In the last budget, some TDS rate rationalisation was intro ...Read More >