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.
Bengaluru: The Election Commission of India has reiterated that, as per law, all employees who are entitled to vote must be granted a paid holiday on the day of polling. This applies to those employed in any business, trade, industrial undertaking, or other establishment.Polling for the ongoing elections will be held on April 9 in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland and Tripura. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra will vote on April 23, while West Bengal will go to polls in two phases on April 23 and 29."No deduction of wages shall be made on account of such a paid holiday. Any employer who contravenes these provisions shall be liable to a fine. All daily wage and casual workers are also entitled to a paid holiday on the day of the poll," the Commission said in a communiqué issued Friday. The Commission further stated that electors -- including casual and daily wage workers -- employed in establishments located outside their constituency, but registered as voters in a constituency going to polls, are entitled to paid leave.Labour secretary Salma Fahim said, "Directions have been received from the chief secretary, and the director of factories and boilers has issued a circular to all factories. Meanwhile, shops and commercial establishments have also been issued the notification through the labour department. Additionally, the labour officers and labour inspectors have been told to reach out to all shops and commercial establishments in their jurisdictions and issue the circular."Highlighting gaps in implementation, Labour minister Santosh Lad said, "There is no documented account of how many migrant workers come and go, making it difficult to track compliance with the paid leave mandate. This is especially challenging as the employment is short-term and highly migratory in nature."The hotel sector, which employs a large number of migrant workers, anticipates disruptions. Subramanya Holla, president of the Bangalore Hotels Association, told TOI, "While the LPG situation has improved with supplies and alternatives such as diesel and wood fire, labour has always been in short supply in the sector. Elections are usually a time when we grant paid leave. However, we also risk nearly 30% of employees not returning."He added most workers in Karnataka's hotel industry come from the northeastern states. "Elections will affect those from Assam, Nagaland, Tripura and West Bengal, who together account for about 35% of employees in both kitchen and customer-facing roles," he added.
Itanagar: The Northeast Human Rights (NEHR) has strongly condemned the deployment of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel in Siang District in Arunachal Pradesh to facilitate the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) for the NHPC's 11,000 MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP). In letters addressed to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary and Home Commissioner, NEHR expressed concerns about the potential for intimidation and rights violations of indigenous communities. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge! The organization urged the immediate withdraw ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Election Commission's 'Special Intensive Revision' of Bihar's electoral rolls has sparked a major political debate. However, this is not the first time that the poll panel has ordered an 'intensive' revision of electoral rolls -- at least nine such revisions were held from 1952 to 2004, several of which came with similar house-to-house verification and even a 'de novo' electoral roll in some cases. However, the EC has seldom ordered a full state intensive revision in a state 4-6 months ahead of assembly elections, as is the case with Bihar. Factor the last such instances: In Ju ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) YouTuber Samay Raina appeared before the National Commission for Women (NCW) in Delhi on Tuesday, months after he was summoned in connection with allegedly offensive and sexist content aired during his show "India's Got Latent", officials said. Raina was also among the five social media influencers who appeared before the Supreme Court in a case seeking action against them for ridiculing persons suffering from disabilities. Raina submitted his statement in response to the allegations to NCW officials. Officials said further steps will be considered after reviewing his ...Read More >
Himachal Pradesh faced nature's fury. Bridges collapsed in Shimla, Lahaul, and Spiti. Cloudbursts and flash floods caused widespread damage. Over 300 roads closed, disrupting travel. A police post swept away, shops damaged. No casualties reported yet. Orange alert issued for more heavy rain. The state has suffered significant financial losses this monsoon. Many people have died in rain-related incidents. Several bridges were washed away in Shimla and Lahaul and Spiti districts, while over 300 roads, including two national highways, have been closed across Himachal Pradesh following fresh inci ...Read More >
New Delhi: Northwest India has been experiencing heavy rainfall lately, which has also led to a drop in the temperature level. Last week, the Northwest received 102 per cent more rainfall than usual. However, the monsoon has not yet entered all the areas. Regarding the mountains, the landslides caused by continuous rain are proving fatal for the people. At many places, the roads are blocked due to falling rocks, causing difficulties for passersby. Apart from this, rivers, drains, ponds and canals are also in spate here. The water level is increasing. Monsoon rains are also occurring in South ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
New Delhi: Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has moved a writ petition before the Supreme Court challenging the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to revise electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the ensuing Assembly polls. As per the petition, order of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, if not set aside, can "arbitrarily" and "without due process" disenfranchise lakhs of voters from electing their representatives, and disrupt free and fair elections and democracy -- a part of basic structure of the Constitution. "The documentation requirements of the ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha has moved the Supreme Court challenging an Election Commission's order directing for special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has also approached the apex court against the EC's order. Also Read | PM Modi Narendra Highlights Pahalgam Terror Attack at BRICS Summit 2025, Says Condemning Terrorism Should Be Our 'Principle', Not Just 'Convenience'. In his plea filed through advocate Fauzia Shakil, Jha said EC's June 24 order be quashed for being violative of Articles 14, 21, 325 and ...Read More >
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 16 (ANI): Following the tragic road accident in the Muwani area of Pithoragarh district on Tuesday that claimed eight lives, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that the state government would provide Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. This would be in addition to the ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF), announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which would be given to the next of kin of the deceased. Also Read | Weather Forecast Today, July 16: Check ...Read More >
Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday (July 19, 2025) said that it was a Bharatiya Janata Party government led by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that carved out smaller States like Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, which are now creating history in development and growth. Speaking at Rudrapur during the celebration of 'Uttarakhand Investment Festival 2025' organised on realisation of ₹1 lakh crore investment in the State, Mr. Shah hailed the development being done by the Pushk ...Read More >
Mumbai, July 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Actor Harshvardhan Rane, who was last seen in 'The Miranda Brothers', is heaping praise on the recently released film 'Saiyaara', and its team. On Saturday, the actor took to the Stories section of his Instagram, and penned a special note for the film and its makers after it witnessed a stellar opening day. He wrote, "Another melodious example of a love story shattering all myths and formulas of the industry. Honest heart wrenching love story wins again in 2025! #Saiyaara". 'Saiyaara', which stars Aneet Padda, and marks the debut of Ahaan Panday, is helmed b ...Read More >
Chennai: Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram on Sunday said the reported move to add 6.5 lakh guest workers from Bihar in the electoral rolls of Tamil Nadu was alarming and illegal."The SIR (special intensive revision) exercise is getting curiouser and curiouser. While 65 lakh voters are in danger of being disenfranchised in Bihar, reports of adding 6.5 lakh persons as voters in Tamil Nadu is alarming and patently illegal," Chidambaram said in a social media post. He alleged the Election Commission of India was abusing its powers and was trying to change the electoral character and pat ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Revenue minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday said Odisha would not be allowed to follow the lawless path in sand operations like it is in Bihar and West Bengal, while responding to the recent assault of an additional tehsildar in Kaptipada block, Mayurbhanj district, by the sand mafia. He promised stringent action against the sand mafia regardless of their connections, while speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday."The Kaptipada incident represents a serious escalation in conflict between law enforcement and the sand mafia. The attack on officers performing their enforcement dutie ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
VIJAYAWADA: The State government on Friday accorded approvals to a slew of industries. Among those are Krishnapatnam Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), which is set to establish a 350 MW Solar and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Thamminapatnam and Mommidi villages of SPSR Nellore district with a Rs 1,225 crore investment, creating 575 jobs. Furthermore, the government also waived off a Rs 54 crore extension of time fee, contingent on project completion within two years as per the Andhra Pradesh Integrated Clean Energy Policy-2024. The government also allocated 22.80 acres at MPSEZ in N ...Read More >
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 18 (ANI): Reacting to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announcement of free electricity up to 125 units, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that whatever schemes the Congress party is giving in Karnataka, the entire country is following it. Speaking to the media, Shivakumar emphasised that in the entire country, Congress Party has stood for the welfare of the people. After independence, till today, whenever the Congress Party is in power, either in the Central or state government, it has given various schemes, such as pension, woman and ch ...Read More >
JAMMU, June 7: Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India today disbursed margin money subsidy of Rs 300 crore to 8794 beneficiaries across the country. The subsidy was disbursed through virtual mode program under the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). The event was held at KVIC Central Office, Irla Road, Vile Parle (West), Mumbai, wherein KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar released the subsidy to the beneficiaries through virtual mode. KVIC, CEO Roop Rashi along with other senior officers of the Central ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Ravada A Chandrasekhar took charge as the new State Police Chief on Tuesday. He succeeds Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who retired on June 30. His tenure will run until July 1, 2027. A 1991-batch IPS officer currently serving as Special Director with the Intelligence Bureau, Chandrasekhar is on central deputation. He was selected over Nitin Agarwal, who topped the official list of probables. The appointment order, issued by Kerala Chief Secretary Dr A Jayathilak on behalf of the Governor, was released soon after a cabinet meeting held on Monday. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh's Godav ...Read More >
Kargil , Jul 2: Pursuant to putting in place a comprehensive legal framework to ensure fair, inclusive, and transparent recruitment to public services, the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh has initiated a large-scale recruitment drive for 359 Gazetted posts through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This marks the first-ever recruitment of Gazetted posts through UPSC since the formation of the Union Territory, officials said. This follows the establishment of a unique and dedicated legal framework specifically designed for Ladakh. The framework ensures maximum local re ...Read More >
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 4 (ANI): Independent MP from Bihar's Purnia, Pappu Yadav, on Friday accused the Election Commission (EC) of trying to disenfranchise poor, Dalit, and migrant workers through its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. Speaking to ANI, Yadav alleged that the EC is demanding proof of citizenship dating back to before 1987, documents he claims most Dalits, Adivasis and migrant labourers do not possess. 'Are we not Indians? Are we from Nepal or Bangladesh? You released all the lists six months ago--what's the point now, after 22 years ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 7 (ANI): Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare & Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday inaugurated the 11th edition of the India Maize Summit, organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in association with (IIMR) Indian Institute of Maize Research. Speaking at event, Chouhan emphasized that 'Farmers' sewa is our mool mantra,' reaffirming the government's commitment to farmer-centric policies. He outlined a multi-pronged strategy to boost maize production, and increase farmer incomes, while ensuring environme ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 9 (ANI): Following the violent protest at Kerala University, a case has been registered against 27 activists of the ruling CPM's Students Federation of India (SFI), including its state secretary P S Sanjeev, who has been named the prime accused, police said. The case also names 1,000 identifiable protesters who have been accused of damaging public property, forcibly entering the university campus, and assaulting police and university staff, police said on Tuesday. Also Read | Nobel Peace Prize 2025: From Mahatma Gandhi to Jawaharlal Nehru, Check Full ...Read More >
Bareilly (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) A teacher from Bahedi district, who went viral recently after reciting a poem mentioning Kanwar Yatra, approached the police on Thursday stating a threat to his life from anti-social elements. A case has been registered at Bahedi police station based on a complaint from Dr Rajneesh Kumar Gangwar, a teacher at MGM Inter College in the district. According to Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh, Gangwar's complaint says that ever since his recitation of the poem 'Tum Kanwad Lene Mat Jana, Gyaan Ka Deepak Jalaana' (You don't go get Kavad, light the lamp of knowledge inste ...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 >
JAMMU, June 26: Two senior IAS officers of the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir cadre, Bipul Pathak and Pandurang K Pole, have been assigned significant responsibilities in the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD). Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp As per an order issued today by the office of the Lt Governor of Delhi, Bipul Pathak, a seasoned bureaucrat from the erstwhile J&K cadre, who is presently serving as Additional Chief Secretary (Industries) and holding additional charge of Additional Chief Secretary (Environment & Forests), has been transferred and appoin ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday warned educational institutions that cases would be booked against them if drugs were found in their premises. The CM announced that the state's Anti-Narcotics Bureau would henceforth be known as Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) and was tasked with curbing the menace of narcotics in the state. Speaking at an event marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025 at Shilpakala Vedika here, Reddy placed an onus on educational institutions to ensure their campuses were free of drugs. "It is the ...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 >
Srinagar: The Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) unit of Jammu and Kashmir Police is conducting searches at ten locations across four districts in the Valley. An official told news agency -- Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the raids are part of an ongoing investigation into a terror-crime case linked to a terrorist sleeper cell and recruitment module handled by Jaish commander Abdullah Ghazi from across the border. The searches are underway at one location in Pulwama, six in Ganderbal, one in Srinagar, and two in Budgam district -- (KNO) ...Read More >
Chennai: Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram on Sunday said the reported move to add 6.5 lakh guest workers from Bihar in the electoral rolls of Tamil Nadu was alarming and illegal."The SIR (special intensive revision) exercise is getting curiouser and curiouser. While 65 lakh voters are in danger of being disenfranchised in Bihar, reports of adding 6.5 lakh persons as voters in Tamil Nadu is alarming and patently illegal," Chidambaram said in a social media post. He alleged the Election ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 8 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday said his party is ready to come together with anyone who will work to protect the interests of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos, his statement coming amid the rapprochement buzz between the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Talking to reporters here, Thackeray accused the BJP of "swallowing" Mumbai and Maharashtra. He said injustice is being meted out to Maharashtra by the BJP. "We have been saying this consistently. We are ready to work with anyone, any party that is ready to ...Read More >