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: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended his greetings on the occasion of Chhath Puja, describing the festival as a reflection of the "deep unity" between culture, nature, and society. He noted that devotees from all sections of society come together at ghats, which he called the "most beautiful" example of India's social harmony. In the 127th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Modi said, "All of us celebrated Diwali a few days ago, and now a large number of people are busy with Chhath Puja. Thekuas are being made at homes. Ghats are being decorated. The way women devotees prepare for the Chhath is an inspiration. Mahaparva of Chhath is a reflection of the deep unity between culture, nature, and society. Every section of society comes together at the Chhath ghats. This sight is the most beautiful example of India's social unity."
New Delhi [India], September 3 (ANI): The All India LPG Distributors Federation has appealed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to reduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on LPG Suraksha Hoses (LPG pipes) from 18 per cent to 5 per cent. In the run up to the two-day GST Council meeting that started today, the Federation had written to the Union minister Also Read | Tamil Nadu Power Cut on September 4: TANGEDCO Maintenance to Hit Chennai Along With Parts of Thanjavur and Coimbatore; Know Timings and List of Affected Areas. In the letter, the Federation had stressed that the LPG Suraksha Hose ...Read More >
October 2025 is packed with major festivals like Dussehra, Diwali, Chath Puja and Durga Puja In this festive season, several states will observe many bank holidays during the month. In October 2025, there will be a national holiday when banks across all states will remain closed. Due to various local festivals, several bank branches will also remain closed in different states. While online banking services will remain available, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has listed specific days in October ...Read More >
Trump India Tariffs Impact: US 50% tariffs on Indian exports take effect tomorrow, targeting textiles, seafood, gems, jewellery, and leather. Analysts warn the move could threaten millions of jobs and shave 0.5% off India's GDP. Back in his first term, Donald Trump had first called India as the "tariff king." Now, in his second stint in the White House, he has repeated that often and is now bringing the 50 per cent tariff hit for New Delhi. The order, Executive Order 14329, links the penalty to India's continued imports of Russian crude and defence hardware. For New Delhi, this isn't just ano ...Read More >
Chennai: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said the GST reforms are a huge victory for each and every citizen of the country. Taking into account that every state in India has its own festivals, it has been decided to implement the GST reforms much ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's instruction of launching them before Deepavali festival, Sitharaman said at an event in Chennai. In her address at the joint conclave of the trade and industries association on "Tax Reforms for Rising Bharat' organised by Chennai Citizens Forum, she said the beneficial impact of Goods and S ...Read More >
Bihar Elections 2025: The current Assembly's term in Bihar ends on November 22, so a new Assembly must be elected and sworn in before that date. Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: As the political blame-game unfolds in Bihar, there is a rising debate and curiosity around when the Election Commission of India (ECI) will announce the poll dates. The ECI has reportedly ordered Chief Secretary of Bihar and the Chief Electoral Officer to finish all transfers and postings of government officers who have remained in the same location for over 3 years. A report on the action taken over this order has be ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], September 26 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami chaired a review meeting at the Chief Minister's residence on Friday regarding the ongoing GST and Swadeshi Awareness Campaign in the state. The Chief Minister said that the new GST rates, effective from September 22, are a significant step for the state's economy and local industries, and their benefits are now directly reaching the public. He urged all public representatives to make awareness activities more extensive and impactful. He asked representatives to actively carry the campaign forw ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: After four days of relentless downpours, Telangana is expected to have a brief respite on Monday, with no rainfall alerts issued. However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) placed the state under a yellow alert for thunderstorms. IMD data showed that Papannapet in Medak district received the heaviest 24-hour rainfall at 10.6 cm, followed by Manoor in Sangareddy with 9.28 cm and Nallabelly in Warangal at 9.15 cm. The statewide average rainfall for the day stood at 7.3 mm, notably higher than the normal 4.3 mm. Warangal's Sangem recorded the day's highest maximum temperature ...Read More >
Chennai: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms have reduced the tax burden on people. Addressing the Joint Conclave of Trade and Industries Association - 'Tax Reforms for Rising Bharat' in Chennai, she explained that the four-tier GST structure has now been simplified to just two slabs. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Statement "Earlier, GST had four categories. Now, we have simplified it into two slabs - 5 per cent and 18 per cent. Items that were taxed at 12 per cent and 18 per cent have largely been moved to the ...Read More >
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], September 15 (ANI): Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated Phase-2 Kanya Chhatralaya and Rs 100 crore "Dikri Dattak Yojana" at Sardardham. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel graced the event, the Chief Minister's office said in a press release. Union Home Minister and Chief Minister offered floral tributes to the statue of Sardar Patel at Sardar Dham. Furthermore, they engaged in a direct dialogue with all the trustees of Sardar Dham and held detailed discussions on the role of Sardar Dham in nation-building. On this occasion, Amit Shah stated th ...Read More >
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised the contribution of RSS, which is completing 100 years of its inception this Dussehra, to nation building through sacrifice and dedication. In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' address, he said the Sangh fountainhead was formed in 1925 to fight intellectual slavery and restore self-confidence among the people during British rule and at the time of Independence. "This Vijayadashami is special for another reason. This day marks 100 years of the fo ...Read More >
The country's attraction towards Khadi has increased significantly in the last 11 years, said PM Modi. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the 126th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday, called on the countrymen to adopt 'Swadeshi' this Gandhi Jayanti and express pride in it. "October 2 is Gandhi Jayanti. Gandhiji always emphasised the adoption of Swadeshi, and Khadi was the most prominent among them. Unfortunately, after Independence, the charm of Khadi was fading away, but dur ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi Sunday said when Chhath Puja finds a place in Unesco's list, people across the world will be able to experience its grandeur and divinity, reports Manash Gohain. He pointed out that Kolkata's Durga Puja had earlier received a similar recognition, reinforcing the possibility of Chhath securing global acknowledgment.During his campaign for Bihar's last assembly poll, Modi had highlighted his scheme of free distribution of foodgrains, saying it ensured that women in Bihar celebrated Chhath.Looking ahead to the festive season, Modi urged citizens to prioritise local pro ...Read More >
Bangalore Gold Rate Today: Shattering all hopes of retail jewellery buyers of some relief amid the ongoing Navratri festival, gold rates in Bangalore, and other Indian cities broke another record on Monday, September 29. The price of gold in Bangalore, aka Bengaluru, witnessed a sharp surge bringing 24 karat gold Rs 16,000 above the historic Rs 1 lakh mark. The gold price rally in Karnataka capital mirrored the surge in gold rate in India and across the world. The sharp rally in precious metal is on its path to beat the record-rally of 1979. Multiple factors like US Fed rate cut, trade becau ...Read More >
MADURAI: Likening the custodial murder of Ajith Kumar in Tiruppuvanam to an 'organised crime by police where the state kills its own citizens,' Madras high court lambasted the Tamil Nadu police and said the action against the perpetrators should be more stringent than in normal murder cases.A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice A D Maria Clete pointed to 44 external injuries on the person of Ajith Kumar and said no part of the body was spared by the delinquent cops. "Even an ordinary murderer would not have inflicted such kind of injuries," the bench said on Tuesday.The natur ...Read More >
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 4 (ANI): Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Friday has raised objections to the timing of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, stating that it could result in the exclusion of a large number of voters who return to the state only during the festive season. Speaking to ANI, Kishor said, 'We are against this, we have expressed concern, and we have also called a meeting of our executive to discuss this issue because there is a very large section in Bihar that comes from outside during Diwali, Chhath, and for them, coming before Diwali, ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said over 90% of items in the 18% GST slab and 99% of goods in the 12% slab have been shifted to the 5% bracket under the recent tax reforms. She added that moving towards a two-slab system of 5% and 18%, along with reducing tax rates on a majority of items, would positively impact all 140 crore Indians. She was speaking at Tax Reforms for Rising Bharat, an event organised by the Joint Conclave of Trade and Industries Association. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier announced that the reforms would be rolled out before D ...Read More >
Mumbai, Sep 26 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray will likely lead a protest march in Maharashtra's Marathwada region on October 11 on the issue of assistance to the farmers hit by unprecedented rains, party MP Sanjay Raut said here on Friday. Raut, however, did not specify the city or district where the march will be held. Thackeray has demanded that the BJP-led state government provide Rs 50,000 per hectare and loan waiver to farmers from the PM CARES Fund, he told reporters. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis -- who is in Delhi -- should meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Unio ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], September 26 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in an awareness program organised in Patel Nagar, Dehradun, on Friday as part of the 'GST Bachat Utsav.' During the event, the Chief Minister interacted with traders and local residents to gather feedback on the benefits of the reduced GST rates. He stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a new era of economic reforms has commenced in the country, and the reduction in GST rates represents a historic step toward enhancing the quality of life for all sections ...Read More >
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released a comprehensive holiday calendar, urging citizens to plan their banking activities accordingly to avoid inconvenience. Major festivals such as Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali, Chhath Puja, Lakshmi Puja, Bhai Dooj, and Gandhi Jayanti contribute to the extended closures. In addition to these, the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays further reduce working days for banks. 🏦 Key Dates to Note: * October 1: Dussehra, Ayudha Puja, Durga Puja (West Be ...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 8 (ANI): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that with cleanliness and yoga, the country will move towards realising the dream of 'Viksit Bharat' at a fast pace. Preparations for International Yoga Day 2025 have begun with the launch of a cleanliness campaign on May 27, and daily yoga classes are underway for the grand event on June 21. CM Saini said, 'When Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea of Yoga at the United Nations, 177 countries agreed. Today, Yoga, derived from our land, has reached everyone globally. The Prime Minister has worked to spre ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], September 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Sunday and had an insightful discussion on a wide range of subjects. In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, Called on Vice President Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji and had an insightful discussion with him on a wide range of subjects. Called on Vice President Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji and had an insightful discussion with him on a wide range of subjects. Earlier today, VP Radhakrishnan graced the valedictory session of the third edition of Unmesha - International Literature Festival in Patna, Bihar ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Sep 29 (PTI) The Punjab Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the "lack of response and the failure" of the BJP-led Centre to sanction a special financial package for the flood-hit Punjab. The resolution also condemned the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for "not responding" to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's repeated request for a meeting, thereby "insulting" the people of the state, and preventing the state from making a proper and comprehensive representation of the full scale of the disaster. The two BJP members were not present in the House when t ...Read More >
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], September 29 (ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday assured that before Diwali, the government will start distributing cheques to affected individuals, including farmers and residents, for crop damage, cattle loss, and house damage. This initiative aims to provide timely relief to those impacted by the floods. Addressing a press conference, Mann outlined the compensation details: Rs 20,000 per acre for crop damage, Rs 37,500 for cattle loss, and Rs 7,200 per acre for desilting efforts and Rs 4.5 crore has been sanctioned for draining water from Fazil ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], September 29 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday said that the national capital will witness a grand Chhath Puja this year and arrangements will be done at banks on both sides of the Yamuna river. She said focus will be given on cleanliness of the ghats. "To ensure that the Chhath Puja festival is historic, this year, we will make a detailed plan and preparations for it. Arrangements for the Chhath puja will be done at banks on both sides of the river. Focus will be laid on cleanliness at the ghats. Delhi will witness a grand Chhath Puja this year." Prime Mi ...Read More >
New Delhi : Good news for Biharis living outside the state -- celebrating festivals with family back home will now be easier. In a major move aimed at easing travel during festive seasons, the Bihar government has announced the launch of 299 AC and non-AC special buses. These buses will operate from key states, including Delhi, to various destinations across Bihar. A Heartfelt Desire to Celebrate with Loved Ones During major festivals like Holi, Diwali, and Chhath Puja, people from Bihar living across India yearn to return to their ancestral homes. However, due to limited availability of tra ...Read More >
Patna: The railways' announcement on Wednesday about operating 12,000 special trains to handle the surge in passenger traffic during the upcoming Diwali and Chhath festivals has drawn criticism from the passengers' association in Bihar. Bihar Daily Passengers' Association (BDPA) has expressed doubts about the feasibility of running such a large number of additional trains, citing the limitations of the existing railway infrastructure in the state.Shoaib Quraishi, general secretary of BDPA, questioned how the railways -- already operating around 13,198 passenger trains daily across the country, ...Read More >
Chennai: As high as 99% of all the goods which were earlier in the 12 per cent GST bracket have now been brought down to the 5 per cent GST bracket, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Sunday. She made the remarks while addressing a joint conclave of the Trade and Industries Association, titled 'Tax Reforms for Rising Bharat' in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The sweeping GST rationalisation and reforms unveiled after the GST Council meeting on September 3, once implemented, are expected to bring about a massive change across the country, directly impacting India's 1.4 billion citizens. The tax cu ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], September 16 (ANI): Consumers will get the benefits of reduced GST on medicines that have been manufactured and on chemist shelves before the new rates are implemented from September 22. The sweeping GST reforms unveiled on September 3, among other measures by the central government, have provided a substantial relief on health care, with taxes being either fully exempted or brought down to the lowest slab. Since then, there has been a widespread query about what will happen to medicines already in the supply chain before the new GST rates come into effect. Is it required ...Read More >
Mumbai, September 27: Banks will be closed for more than 15 days in October 2025 as the 10th month of the 25th year of the 21st century is packed with major festivals such as Dussehra, Diwali, Chath Puja and Durga Puja. During October, several states will observe bank holidays due to regional festivals in addition to national holidays. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), banks across the country will stay shut for a total of 15 days in October. The October bank holiday of 15 days excludes all Sunday holidays when banks remain closed for business. As per the RBI list, banks will stay ...Read More >