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.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 31 (PTI) The Kerala government on Friday ordered an enhancement of the DA for teaching staff under the UGC, AICTE, and medical education schemes, and the DR for UGC pensioners and family pensioners in the state. The finance department said the rate of Dearness Allowance payable to teaching staff under these schemes, who shifted to the revised scale from January 2016 or later, will be increased from 42 per cent to 46 per cent. It also said that the DA rate for teaching staff under the University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education, and medical education schemes, who continue in the sixth pay scale effective from January 2006 or thereafter, will be enhanced from 221 per cent to 230 per cent. Further, the rate of Dearness Relief payable to UGC pensioners and family pensioners whose pension was revised as per the 2020 government order will be increased from 42 per cent to 46 per cent. For UGC pensioners and family pensioners whose pension was not revised as per the 2020 order, the DR rate will be raised from 221 per cent to 230 per cent, the order said. The enhanced DA will be payable along with the salary due for October 2025, while the increased DR will be applicable with the pension due for November 2025, it added. "The enhanced rate of DA is applicable, subject to the availability of funds, to grant-in-aid institutions, and others, where UGC, AICTE, and medical education schemes have been implemented through government orders," the department said. "The increased DR rate is applicable only to institutions, including universities, where statutory pension is followed as per government order," it added. On Thursday, the finance department had ordered that DA payable to state government employees, teachers, staff of aided schools, private colleges and polytechnics, full-time contingent employees, and employees of local bodies -- as well as the DR of state service pensioners, family pensioners, ex-gratia pensioners, and ex-gratia family pensioners -- be enhanced from 18 per cent to 22 per cent. "The additional expenditure on this account in respect of local governments will be met by them from their own funds," it said. It also noted that the enhanced DA rate will apply to part-time teachers and part-time contingent employees based on their pay, and to re-employed pensioners. Employees and pensioners of state Public Sector Undertakings, statutory corporations, autonomous bodies, boards, and grant-in-aid institutions following the state DA-DR pattern will also be eligible for the enhanced rate, subject to conditions such as approval by their governing bodies if they can meet the expenses from their own resources. If they cannot meet the additional expenditure from their own funds, prior government approval will be required. "Organisations where more than 90 per cent of the salary or pension expenses are met through Plan or Non-Plan grants from the government can release DA and DR without prior government approval, provided they secure approval from their board of directors, governing body, managing committee, or executive committee," the department said. It added that the DA-DR enhancement will not apply to organisations such as Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, which have been instructed to issue separate DA-DR orders. "Such organisations should follow the existing practice, including obtaining prior government approval where required, while sanctioning DA and DR to their employees and pensioners," it added. PTI HMP SSK
Guwahati, Jun 5 (PTI) The Assam Congress on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into alleged illegal stone mining in Karbi Anglong district in violation of a Supreme Court order. Addressing a press conference here, former Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora also alleged that Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang was allowing illegal activities in the district in nexus with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Large-scale illegal stone mining is taking place in the hills of Karbi Anglong in violation of the Supreme Court order. The SC had banned mining in and around K ...Read More >
New Delhi: The first warship in the anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft series, equipped to conduct subsurface surveillance, search and rescue missions, and low-intensity maritime operations, is set to be inducted into the Indian Navy on June 18, officials said on Friday. The commissioning ceremony of 'Arnala' at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam will be presided over by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan. "The warship incorporates more than 80 per cent indigenous content and integrates advanced systems from leading Indian defence firms, including Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), L& ...Read More >
Sivasagar, Jun 26 (PTI) Leakage of gas continued for the 15th day from a crude oil well of ONGC in Assam's Sivasagar district although the energy major on Thursday claimed that it is nearing to control the blowout. In its daily bulletin on the blowout, ONGC said it has achieved a key breakthrough in its ongoing operations in close coordination with international well control specialists from CUDD Pressure Control. "The team successfully cleared all remaining rig materials, including staircases, entangled wires and other structural components. "This critical step culminated in the safe remov ...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 >
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The museum police have arrested three caretakers of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for allegedly injuring a two-and-a-half-year-old child. The accused -- Ajitha, Maheswari, and Sindhu were taken into custody on Tuesday under the POCSO Act and relevant sections of the BNS. The incident reportedly happened when the child was hurt in the genital area as a punishment for urinating on the bed. The injury came to light when the child was being bathed. On noticing it, CWC General ...Read More >
New Delhi, May 26 (PTI) Niti Aayog on Monday pitched for tailored financial tools, technology integration and a centralised digital portal to transform medium enterprises into future growth engines of India's economy. In a report titled 'Designing a Policy for Medium Enterprises', the Aayog highlighted the critical yet under-leveraged role played by medium enterprises and outlined targeted interventions to unlock their full potential. To address challenges faced by medium enterprises, it recommended the introduction of a working capital financing scheme linked to enterprise turnover, a Rs 5 ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Fintech firm BimaPay Finsure on Thursday said it has entered into corporate insurance financing and aims for Rs 20 crore in premiums in 2025-26. Launching the pilot phase with insurance partners, BimaPay said the initiative will allow businesses to pay premiums in easy equated monthly instalments (EMIs) instead of bearing the burden of full upfront costs. Also Read | Who Is Pinaki Misra? From Age to Family Background and Net Worth, Here's All About BJD Leader With Whom Mahua Moitra Reportedly Married. The company aims to finance over Rs 20 crore worth of premiums by t ...Read More >
Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh govt has launched a statewide crackdown to detect and deport illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, an official said on Thursday.Acting on directives issued by the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA), the state has instructed all districts to immediately constitute district task forces (DTFs) to identify undocumented immigrants and ensure strict enforcement of Inner Line Permit (ILP) provisions.The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by advisor to home minister Mutchu Mithi and DGP Anand Mohan on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by senior police offi ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) The decision of the Reserve Bank to cut policy rate by 50 basis points will have a positive impact on the automobile sector as it will make loans cheaper, industry body SIAM said on Friday. The RBI on Friday cut repo rate by a higher-than-expected 50 basis points to prop up growth, which has slowed to a four-year low of 6.5 per cent in FY25. Following the rate cut, the key policy rate eased to a three-year low of 5.5 per cent, providing relief to home, auto and corporate loan borrowers. "Such reduction in repo rates would have a positive impact on the auto sector since ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 8 (PTI) Infosys has opened a new development centre at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Gandhinagar, to develop solutions for global Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) clients. The facility, designed to accommodate over 1,000 employees working in a hybrid model, was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel. "It will function as a key TechFin hub, delivering advanced digital solutions for global BFSI clients. Its services will span critical domains including digital banking, regulatory affairs, trade finance, capital markets, c ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will undertake an official visit to France, the European Union (EU), and Belgium from June 8 to 14, 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs announced in a press release on Sunday. The visit marks a significant step in further strengthening India's strategic partnerships with Europe. The EAM will first travel to Paris and Marseille, France, where he will hold bilateral discussions with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean Noel Barrot. Also Read | Indian Citizen Dies in UAE: Civil Engineer Issac Paul ...Read More >
Gangtok, Jun 8 (PTI) The Sikkim government on Sunday evacuated 28 people, including three minors, stranded in Chaten in the northern part of the Himalayan state, where road connectivity has been snapped due to multiple landslides triggered by heavy rain, officials said. Responding to distress calls from a few locals, some taxi drivers and government officials stationed in Chaten, seeking evacuation, the administration hired a helicopter to rescue them. "The state government arranged a helicopter and successfully evacuated 28 people, including three minors," one of the officials said. All ev ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 6 (PTI) The Kerala Government's decision to change Bakrid holiday triggered a political row in the state on Friday with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) accusing it of attempting to implement "communal agenda and fascism" in the state. Originally Friday (June 6) was marked as holiday for Bakrid. However, following the reports that the festival would be celebrated on Saturday across the state, on Thursday, the Kerala government announced that Saturday, June 7, will be a public holiday for Bakrid. As per the change, government also declared that June 6 (Friday) wou ...Read More >
Kochi, Jun 8 (PTI) A war of words erupted between Kerala Industries Minister P Rajeev and well-known industrialist Sabu M Jacob over the business environment and investment friendliness in the state. While Rajeeve took a dig at Jacob saying that those who had announced to shift their business from the state were still continuing here, Kitex Groups chairman Sabu Jacob gave a sharp reply saying that Kerala is not the "paternal property" of anybody. The minister and the businessman crossed swords a day after a delegation of Andhra Pradesh government visited Jacob here and invited him to invest ...Read More >
Saharsa, Jun 26 (PTI) A portion of a culvert collapsed in Bihar's Saharsa district, officials said on Thursday. There was no report of any casualty in the incident, they said. Also Read | 'Dreamer and Disciplined': School Teachers Recall Fond Memories of Shubhanshu Shukla As Astronaut Becomes First Indian To Enter International Space Station (Watch Videos). Talking to PTI, Saharsa DM Deepesh Kumar said, "The incident took place on Wednesday evening when a portion of a culvert collapsed in Patarghat block. According to locals, a pillar of the culvert, which is very old, caved in when an over ...Read More >
New Delhi: From 2025, the CUET-UG will be conducted exclusively as a computer-based test (CBT), and students will have the flexibility to appear for any subject, regardless of what they studied in class 12. This decision follows a review conducted by an expert panel set up by the University Grants Commission (UGC), as explained by UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar. What are the major changes? In an interview with PTI, Kumar elaborated on the changes saying, "The exam will be conducted only in CBT mode from 2025, unlike the hybrid mode used last year. We have also reduced the number of subjects fr ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Thursday said India has continuously aspired to become a hub of international arbitration by building a progressive legislative framework, a pro-enforcement judiciary and robust institutional support. In his keynote address on "Arbitrating Indo-UK Commercial Disputes" as part of the London International Disputes Week, the CJI said India and the United Kingdom shared a rich history, bound by a common legal heritage rooted in the principles of common law. He referred to the July 2018 memorandum of understanding signed between India and ...Read More >
Imphal (Manipur) [India], June 8 (ANI): The district magistrates of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur districts have issued prohibitory orders on Sunday. Citizens have been requested to cooperate with the orders, which include restrictions on gatherings. The assembly of four or more persons has been restricted in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, and Kakching districts. The orders have been issued in view of prevailing law and order situation. Also Read | Indian Citizen Dies in UAE: Civil Engineer Issac Paul Olakkengil From Kerala Dies During Scuba Diving Session at ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved bills to implement 'One Nation, One Election', and the draft legislations are likely to be introduced in Parliament in the ongoing Winter session, sources said. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The government is keen on holding wider consultations on bills which are likely to be referred to a parliamentary committee. Sources said the government was also keen to consult the Speakers of various state legislative assemblies through the committee. Moving ahead with it ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) The Delhi government has decided to set up thousands of water ATMs and water coolers in the city, including all its schools, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Friday. She inaugurated a water ATM during a visit to a local government school with Water Minister Parvesh Verma in her Shalimar Bagh constituency. "No one should remain thirsty during this summer season. Thousands of Water ATMs will be installed at schools and public places across the capital," she said. Addressing a gathering, Gupta said, service by offering water is a vital part of Indian culture. While wat ...Read More >
Resignation is the only option before Justice Yashwant Varma to avoid impeachment by Parliament as the government pushes for bringing a motion to remove the Allahabad high court judge over alleged corruption. IMAGE: Justice Yashwant Varma. Photograph: ANI Photo/span> Officials aware of the procedure to appoint and remove Supreme Court and high court judges pointed out that while defending his case before lawmakers in any of the House, Justice Varma can announce that he is quitting and his verba ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 17 (PTI) CPI(M) MP and former Kerala Minister K Radhakrishnan on Tuesday attributed the non-availability of an ambulance to transport a tribal woman's body to a failure by lower-level officials and assured appropriate action against those responsible. Radhakrishnan said the state has "sufficient facilities and systems in place" to handle such situations, but incidents like this occur when officials fail allegedly to act promptly. "The state government will intervene effectively in the matter. Appropriate action will be taken against those who failed to perform their d ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana, who was part of the all-party parliamentary delegation to Europe, said that during their recently conclued visit they successfully communicated India's development story and its resolute stand against terrorism, particularly emanating from Pakistan. Highlighting the delegation's key discussions during the tour, Khatana told ANI, 'We discussed how we dismantled the terrorism factory in Pakistan by responding... We also talked about tourism infrastructure, G20 Summit, and projects like the six-lane roads, bridges, solar initiatives, our ...Read More >
William B. Roberts, a director at Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:CPSS), recently sold a substantial amount of company stock. According to a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Roberts offloaded a total of 30,000 shares over several days, with transactions occurring on November 14, 15, and 18. The shares were sold at prices ranging from $10.37 to $10.49, generating proceeds of approximately $313,000. Following these sales, Roberts retains ownership of 770,078 shares of the company. Each sale was executed at a weighted average price, with the shares being sold ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Dec 11 (PTI) Farmer leader from Punjab Jagjit Singh Dallewal's fast unto death at the Khanauri border point to press the Centre to accept farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops, entered the 16th day on Wednesday. Farmers on Wednesday held prayers for the success of their agitation going on at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana in support of their various demands and for the good health of Dallewal. Farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) have been camping at Shambhu ...Read More >
Aryan Meena, who lived in the Dausa district of Rajasthan state, was trapped in the narrow well for three days after falling into it while playing on Monday afternoon. The boy, wearing pants and a t-shirt, had to endure plummeting winter temperatures inside the well as well as hunger and thirst. Children and even adult people dying from falling into open borewells is not uncommon in rural India where they are dug to pump water for irrigation and drinking and left abandoned after they run dry. ...Read More >
Bengaluru, 26th May 2025: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) will convene the 38th Meeting of the Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC) on 26th May 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Council, reconstituted in October 2024 under the chairmanship of Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon'ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), MSDE, plays a pivotal role in advising the Government on key policies related to apprenticeship training across the country. The last CAC meeting was held in June 2021. Since then, India's apprenticeship landscape has evolved considerably -- with over ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) India has always led in developer talent and now has a strong opportunity to lead in AI talent, OpenAI Global Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) Jason Kwon said on Thursday as the ChatGPT-maker launched OpenAI Academy in partnership with IndiaAI Mission. In an interview to PTI, Kwon said that India - which has the second largest number of ChatGPT users - is among the most important countries for OpenAI in terms of engagement. India has always had the "ingredients to succeed", he noted. OpenAI, he pointed out, is eyeing partnerships that will help build the future of AI infra ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 7 (PTI) RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar has been appointed as a part-time member of the 16th Finance Commission, the finance ministry said on Saturday. The appointment, the ministry said, is consequent to the resignation of one of the full-time members, former finance secretary Ajay Narayan Jha, on personal grounds. "The President has appointed T Rabi Sankar, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as a part-time Member of the 16th Finance Commission (XVIFC)," the ministry said in a statement. Sankar will hold office from the date of assuming charge until the submissi ...Read More >