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, Sept 14: The Meghalayan Age Caves (East Khasi Hills) and Naga Hill Ophiolite (Kiphire) have been added to the tentative list of the UNESCO's World Heritage conventions. The permanent delegation of India to UNESCO Vishal V Sharma said that seven properties of India have been added to the tentative list of the UNESCO's World Heritage conventions. The other five properties include the Deccan Traps at Panchgani and Mahabaleshwar (Maharashtra), Geological Heritage of St Mary's Island Cluster (Karnataka), Natural Heritage of Erra Matti Dibbalu (Andhra Pradesh), Natural Heritage of Tirumala Hills (Andhra Pradesh) and Natural Heritage of Varkala (Kerala). With these, the number of Indian properties on the tentative list is now 69 (49 under cultural category, three under mixed category, and 17 under natural category). The addition of these properties highlight India's commitment to the preservation and conservation of its rich cultural heritage. Addition to the tentative list is a mandatory requirement before the inscription of any property on the World Heritage List. The river island of Majuli in the midstream of Brahmaputra river in Assam has been in the tentative list for consideration for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2004 under the cultural property category. Similarly, the iconic sari weaving clusters from Assam has also been in the tentative list for consideration for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2014. The Apatani Cultural Landscape of Arunachal Pradesh has been in the tentative list for consideration for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2014. The Thembang Fortified Village in Arunachal Pradesh has also been in the tentative list for consideration for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Jingkiengjri: Living Root Bridge Cultural Landscapes of Meghalaya was also in the tentative list in 2022. Similarly, the rock-cut sculptures and reliefs of Unakoti in Unakoti district of Tripura are in the tentative list for consideration for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage list under the cultural property list. The Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh has been in the tentative list for consideration for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage list under the natural properties category, while the Keibul Lamjao Conservation Area of Manipur and the Garo Hills Conservation Area have been in the tentative list for consideration for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List under the mixed properties list.
NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 crew members, including Shubhanshu Shukla, were welcomed with hugs and drinks as they stepped into the International Space Station on Thursday. The newly launched spacecraft -- the fifth in the Dragon series and named Grace -- successfully completed a soft docking with the International Space Station at 4.01pm while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean."At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4," the National Aeronautics ...Read More >
GURGAON: The investigation into the murder of a 25-year-old former international tennis player, allegedly by her father, has revealed a sudden deterioration in their relationship. The apparent reason was a disagreement over the academy she ran near their house, but the roots clearly run deeper. The father, who claims to have spent Rs 2 crore on his daughter's tennis career, told interrogators he was troubled by questions about her "character" that some of his associates had raised.Deepak Yadav, who shot Radhika at their house Thursday morning, had allegedly been insisting for two weeks on her ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 12 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed delight over the inclusion of the 'Maratha Military Landscapes' in the UNESCO World Heritage List, marking the country's 44th property to receive this prestigious recognition. India is currently a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for the term 2021-25. Taking to X, PM Modi said, "Every Indian is elated with this recognition. These 'Maratha Military Landscapes' include 12 majestic forts, 11 of which are in Maharashtra and 1 is in Tamil Nadu." Highlighting the significance of the Maratha Empire, ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 12 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday extended his congratulations to the followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj following the recognition of 12 forts associated with the Maratha king as UNESCO World Heritage sites. 'I congratulate the followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on this historic achievement. I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for nominating these forts for UNESCO recognition. I am confident that these forts will now attract more tourists, and our glorious history will be known across the globe, ...Read More >
Mumbai: The whole of Maharashtra and India rejoiced on Friday as 12 majestic forts associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (11 in Maharashtra and one in Tamil Nadu) were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. While PM Modi and other senior leaders welcomed the announcement, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday urged the government to act responsibly and ensure strict conservation measures. Last evening, UNESCO announced that it has accorded the status of World Heritage Sites to 12 forts built by Maharashtra's beloved and greatest King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, naming it 'Maratha Mili ...Read More >
Gingee Fort is fortified with high walls, deep moats, and hidden passageways ShowQuick Read Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed The fort is located in Viluppuram district and spans three rocky hills with strong fortificationsIts origins date to the 9th century with additions by Cholas, Vijayanagara, Marathas, Mughals, French, BritishRajaram Chhatrapati used Gingee Fort as a key Maratha resistance outpost during the 17th-century siege Did our AI summary help? Let us know. Chennai: Ta ...Read More >
Bangalore - The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has officially reopened Al Ain Museum to the public following an extensive redevelopment designed by Dabbagh Architects. The museum now spans more than 8,000 square metres and retains the original museum structure as a key part of its architectural narrative. The UAE's first museum, originally founded in 1969 by the Founding Father of the United Arab Emirates, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Al Ain Museum remains the centre of knowledge on the history and heritage of the Al Ain Region. H.E. Mohamed Khal ...Read More >
India added another feather to its cultural cap as the Maratha Military Landscapes of India have been officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The announcement was made on July 12 during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, marking a major milestone in recognising the Maratha Empire's military ingenuity and fortification architecture.This inclusion brings India's tally of UNESCO-recognised heritage sites to 44, spanning cultural, historical, and natural import ...Read More >
Ahmedabad: Eight years after earning the Unesco tag as India's first World Heritage City, Ahmedabad is chasing another global title -- host of the 2030 Commonwealth Games (CWG). On Wednesday, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), at its Special General Meeting, placed the city among the top contenders -- a move widely seen as a dress rehearsal for the bigger prize: the 2036 Olympics.Ahmedabad's bid is anchored by the Rs 6,000-crore Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave -- a 236-acre, Olympic-grade complex being developed through a state-AUDA public-private partnership. Scheduled for completi ...Read More >
Guwahati, Sept 14: The new generation remembers Bhupen Hazarika mostly through his songs, but his biography Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika by Sahitya Akademi awardee Anuradha Sarma Pujari seeks to highlight the varied genres of his creativity. "It is unfortunate that today's youth believe he was just a singer. My book aims to bring forth the many facets of this genius so that they understand his philosophy and the wide spectrum of his work," Pujari told PTI. Written in Assamese, the book was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the centenary celebrations on Saturday and will be translate ...Read More >
Shimla, Sep 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Himachal Pradesh's Spiti Valley in Lahaul-Spiti district has been recognised as India's first Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO's prestigious Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme. The recognition was formally conferred during the 37th International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC) meeting held in Hangzhou, China, from September 26 to 28. With this inclusion, India now has 13 Biosphere Reserves in the MAB Network. This feat has been made possible due to the efforts of the state government, which has consistently highlighted the region's unique ecology, ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], October 28 (ANI): A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking judicial intervention to restrain or regulate the release and exhibition of the upcoming film 'The Taj Story', alleging that the movie distorts historical facts and poses a threat to communal harmony and the dignity of national heritage. The petition, filed by Shakeel Abbas through advocate Shakil Sheikh, seeks an "order or direction seeking safeguards against the release and exhibition of the film 'The Taj Story' in order to protect communal harmony and preserve the dignity ...Read More >
Guwahati/Morigaon, Jun 6 (PTI) The flood situation in Assam continued to be critical with over 5.6 lakh people reeling under the deluge in 16 districts, an official bulletin said on Friday. The toll in this year's floods and landslides stands at 21, with two more deaths reported on Thursday. Also Read | Thane Shocker: Wife Booked for Hurling Hot Oil on Autorickshaw Driver During Fight Over Domestic Issues in Kalyan. Wildlife has also been affected with nearly 70 per cent of the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district facing inundation, an official said. The Regional Meteorological ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 14 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Monday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for "politicising" the inclusion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's 12 forts in UNESCO's World Heritage List. UBT's Rajya Sabha MP said that while inclusion of the forts is a cause for the celebration for the whole of Maharashtra, the BJP should have also released a joint statement along with the other political parties to celebrate Maratha history. Also Read | Double Murder Shocks Delhi: 2 Best Friends Die After Stabbing Each Other in Khyala, Police Pro ...Read More >
External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar emphasized that an Atmanirbharta mindset is crucial for navigating global instability and building a developed India (Viksit Bharat). He highlighted India's rich cultural heritage and the resilience of its people as key strengths. Dr. Jaishankar asserted that self-reliance is essential for boosting self-confidence and resilience in an unpredictable world. Dr S Jaishankar, Union Minister of External Affairs, on Wednesday said that Atmanirbharta mindset i ...Read More >
Lucknow, April 3 (UNI) To fulfill Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's vision of "Viksit Uttar Pradesh @2047," the State Tourism Department has released its roadmap to achieve the goal of a $6 trillion economy by 2047. As part of this roadmap, the department has set an ambitious target to establish the state as the spiritual and cultural capital of the world by 2047. In this direction, the state aims to progressively increase its contribution to tourism-based Gross Value Added (GVA) from the current 9.2% to 11% by 2029-30, 14% by 2035-36, and 16% by 2046-47. An official here on Friday said to a ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Since 2018, 15 sites across eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa have earned a UNESCO tag, and four new nominations from African countries will be examined at the ongoing session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in Paris, Director General of the UN organisation, Audrey Azoulay, said. The spirit of the World Heritage Convention is also to reflect the "diversity and equal dignity of cultures" throughout the world. Yet, 27 States Parties still have no sites inscribed, she said in her address at the opening ceremony of the 47th session of the WHC on Monday. "As you k ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) 'Maratha Military Landscapes', representing extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers, was on Friday inscribed on the coveted UNESCO World Heritage List, the UN body announced in a post on X. The decision was taken during the ongoing 47th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) being held in Paris. "New inscription on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List: Maratha Military Landscapes of India, #India," UENSCO said. The nomination for UNESCO tag was for the 2024-25 cycle. Its 12 components are - Salher Fort, Shivneri Fort, Lohga ...Read More >
India now has 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These were the first The World Heritage Committee met for the first time in 1978, marking the beginning of identifying global sites of "outstanding universal value". The inaugural session marked the beginning of the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, an initial list of 12 sites across seven countries, including the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, the historic centre of Quito, Ethiopia's Simien National Park, and Senegal's Island of Gorée. To make it to the list, a site must meet at least one of ten detailed selection criteria. These criteria rang ...Read More >
New Delhi, Aug 22 (UNI) A staggering Rs 42.68 crore of taxpayers' money had to be spent on senior advocates, including Abhishek Manu Singhvi and others, to contest as many as 542 "frivolous and false" cases filed against him during the previous UPA regime, said union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Speaking at his residence with Women Journalist Welfare Trust (WJWT), the Minister stressed that such politically motivated litigations not only burden individual public representatives but also drain resources from the exchequer that could otherwise be channelled into de ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Hundreds of people took part in the Bathukamma carnival hosted by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) at Tank Bund on Saturday evening, as part of the Dasara celebrations. The event showcased Telangana's cultural heritage and promoted the festival's tourism potential.The main attraction was a Bathukamma rally, accompanied by several highlights, including a floating Bathukamma on Hussainsagar that lit up the waters and drew loud cheers from the crowd. Food stalls ser ...Read More >
New Delhi, The fourth edition of the Autumn Festival 2025, a prelude to Nagaland's iconic Hornbill Festival, will commence here on Friday, showcasing the Northeastern state's rich tribal culture, traditional music, and cuisine, among others. The two-day event, to be held at the Nagaland House here, will offer visitors a glimpse of the state's vibrant culture through dance performances and handicrafts, an official statement said. Nagaland's Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna ...Read More >
Guwahati: The flood situation across Assam continues to be critical, with over 5.6 lakh people in 16 districts reeling under the severe flood, an official bulletin confirmed on Friday. The cumulative death toll from this year's floods and landslides has now climbed to 21, following two more fatalities reported on Thursday. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge! The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin stated that floodwaters are currently submerging 57 revenue circles and 1,406 villages, impacting a total of 5,61,644 individuals ...Read More >
Mumbai, July 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said that the UNESCO's move to grant World Heritage Site status to 12 forts, including 11 from Maharashtra and one from Tamil Nadu is a matter of great pride for the entire Maharashtra and the country. In a statement, CM Fadnavis said: "Eleven forts in Maharashtra including Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Panhala, Shivneri, Lohagad , Salher, Sindhudurg, Swarnadurg, Vijaydurg, Khanderi and Gingee fort in Tamil Nadu have been declared as World Heritage Sites. These forts built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 14 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, with other leaders of the Mahayuti alliance celebrated the inclusion of 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the UNESCO World Heritage List. At the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee, India official nomination for 2024-25 cycle, Maratha Military Landscapes of India got inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, becoming India 44th property to receive this recognition. Speaking about the inclusion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj forts ...Read More >
Jammu, Jul 18 (PTI) Senior officials of the Jammu and Kashmir government reviewed the arrangements for the smooth conduct of the 13-day-long Budha Amarnath pilgrimage in Poonch district that will begin on July 28. Deputy Inspector General of Police Tejinder Singh reviewed security in Poonch and stressed ensuring the safety of the devotees. "The first batch will depart from the Bhagwati Nagar basecamp in Jammu on July 28, moving towards the Mandi tehsil in Poonch in a regulated convoy amid full security arrangements," a spokesperson said. Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Inspec ...Read More >
Chennai, July 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin expressed joy over the inclusion of Gingee Fort in the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Taking to social media, CM Stalin wrote: "Delighted that #GingeeFort, famously known as the 'Troy of the East', has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Maratha Military Landscapes of India. This majestic hill fortress now joins Tamil Nadu's proud list of #UNESCO sites including the Great Living Chola Temples, the monuments at Māmallapuram, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway and the Western Ghats. A p ...Read More >
Jaipur, Jul 19 (PTI) A gang, allegedly involved in the adulteration of coal imported from the US, was busted by the Rajasthan Police, leading to the arrest of an individual, a senior official said on Saturday. The gang was adulterating high-quality coal (petcoke) imported from the US, cheating cement and steel factories out of crores of rupees through this illegal operation, Additional Director General of Police (Crime) Dinesh MN said. A team from the Crime Investigation Branch had been gathering intelligence about the theft of petcoke for some time. They were told by informants about several ...Read More >
Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], October 16 (ANI): In a heartfelt tribute, both daughters of Haryana-cadre IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar performed the 'mukhagni' to his mortal remains during his last rites at the Sector 25 crematorium. The solemn ceremony was attended by Haryana DGP OP Singh, along with other dignitaries, honouring the legacy of the esteemed officer. Puran Kumar allegedly shot himself at his residence in Chandigarh on October 7. In the 'final note' he left behind, he accused eight senior cops, including Haryana director general of police Shatrujeet Kapur, of "blatant caste-based ...Read More >
Madhya Pradesh has received the "Best Tourism State of the Year" award at the Travel and Tourism Conclave in New Delhi. The state's tourism department has been recognized for its efforts in improving infrastructure, enhancing accessibility, and promoting its cultural and natural attractions, aiming to establish it as a leading global tourist destination. Read less Great news for Madhya Pradesh! The beautiful destination has been honored with the prestigious "Best Tourism State of the Year" award at the Travel and Tourism Conclave and Awards in New Delhi. This is an impressive award in the tou ...Read More >