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: A new study has found high levels of lead contamination in soil near battery recycling units across Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, raising concerns about public health and environmental safety. The analysis, 'Soiled with Lead: from Battery Recycling,' was carried out by Toxics Link, an environmental research and advocacy organisation, and published on Wednesday. The authors examined 23 soil samples collected near lead-acid battery recycling units in selected cities, including locations close to residential areas, local communities, and primary schools. "All samples showed evidence of widespread lead contamination ranging from 100 parts per million (ppm) to 43,800 ppm," said the analysis. With reference to the Environment Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules, 2025, the findings indicated that 52 per cent (12 out of 23 samples) of the collected soil samples contained lead concentrations exceeding the 5,000 ppm benchmark for a Hazardous Contaminated Site. Also, 31 per cent of the samples surpassed the permissible limits for industrial areas as prescribed in the rule.
Nagpur: Forced or allured conversion is violence, and bringing tribal brethren back to their original fold is correction, said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat during the valedictory function of RSS' Karyakarta Vikas Varg-II at Hedgewar Smruti Mandir premises in Reshimbagh on Thursday.Bhagwat was responding to concerns raised by the chief guest, former Congressman and minister in Indira Gandhi's govt, Arvind Netam, who warned the gathering of swayamsevaks that widespread conversions threaten the identity and existence of India's tribal communities. "If this contin ...Read More >
Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], August 4 (ANI): The Jharkhand government declared a three-day state mourning, starting Monday, following the passing of the state's former Chief Minister and co-founder of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Shibu Soren. "In honour of the late Honourable former Chief Minister-cum-Rajya Sabha MP, the State Government has decided to observe 03 (three) days of state mourning from August 4 to August 6," the message from the Jharkhand government read. Also Read | Kerala Shocker: 47-Year-Old Man Dies by Suicide After Failing to Arrange Funds for Son's Engineering College Admission. ...Read More >
PATNA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is all set to embark on 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' from Bihar's Rohtas district on August 17 to register a protest against how the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls was being conducted in the state. This comes at a time when the Opposition is ratcheting up its protest against the SIR and casting aspersions on the integrity of elections. AICC general secretary (organisation) and MP KC Venugopal held a meeting with the INDIA bloc leaders at Sasaram in Rohtas district on Wednesday and reviewed preparations for Rahul Gandhi's visit to Bi ...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: On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal, Justice Prakash Shrivastava, said that the plastic, in its myriad forms, has become an indispensable part of our lives, yet its convenience masks a devastating reality and from the single-use plastic bags that clog our drains and pollute our water bodies to the microplastics that infiltrate our food chain and even our own bodies, the hazards are undeniable. Citing the 2025 World Environment Day theme, "End Plastic Pollution," the NGT chief underscored the urgent need to acknowledge the inextri ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) The incentive scheme for recycling of critical minerals, such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements, is in the final stages, a mines ministry official said on Friday. The Union budget has allocated Rs 1,500 crore for recycling of critical minerals under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), Joint Secretary in Mines Ministry Dinesh Mahur said during an event here. He said, "the incentive scheme for recycling is in its final stages." Earlier, the government had approved a Rs 16,300-crore National Critical Mineral Mission, envisaging a total o ...Read More >
Eco Recycling has expanded its e-waste and lithium-ion battery recycling capacity in Maharashtra by 18,000 metric tonnes, reaching a total capacity of 31,200 MTPA. The new plant, located in Vasai, supports India's E-Waste Management Rules, 2022, and aligns with the Extended Producers Responsibility framework. Eco Recycling, a prominent waste management entity, announced on Friday that it has augmented its capacity for repurposing e-waste and lithium-ion batteries by 18,000 metric tonnes with the ...Read More >
Delhi's Artificial Rain Through Cloud Seeding: To combat air pollution, Delhi is set to witness the first trial of artificial rain, with cloud seeding operations between July 4 and 11. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the flight plan has been submitted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Pune. He said the current weather conditions are not suitable for cloud seeding until July 3, but a tentative flight window has been proposed between July 4 and 11. He added that a proposal has also been sent to the Directorat ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Three days after exempting majority of the coal- and lignite-based thermal power plants (TPPs) in India from installing key anti-pollution equipment that could have helped them meet the sulphur dioxide standards, the Union environment ministry on Monday sought to justify its move saying the current exposure levels provide no credible evidence to suggest that SO₂, under prevailing ambient conditions, is a major public health concern.It said any revision to SO2 standards must be driven by its actual contribution to PM2.5 levels and its corresponding health burden.Flagging a detailed s ...Read More >
Gurugram (Haryana) [India], July 15: Following a successful debut at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo earlier this year, VinFast Auto India -- the Indian subsidiary of global electric vehicle leader VinFast -- has officially opened bookings today for its premium electric SUVs, the VF 7 and VF 6, across the Indian market. Also Read | Aadhaar Free Update: Government Requests Parents to Update Children's Aadhaar Biometrics Between Age 5-7, Free of Cost. These models will be officially launched for public sale in August, following the inauguration of the company's plant in Thoothukudi, with deliv ...Read More >
New Delhi: Ola Electric on Tuesday unveiled a special edition of Roadster X+, to mark the milestone of one-millionth vehicle roll-out from its Future Factory in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu. The special edition has been launched in a midnight blue finish with sporty red accents on the dual-tone seat, rims, and battery pack. The celebratory model also incorporates badges made from recycled copper waste and electroplated bar ends, highlighting the brand's sustainability focus. Ola Electric's growth has been driven by its popular S1 electric scooter line-up and the recently launched Roadster X motor ...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 >
Delhi-NCR's air quality watchdog has formed a 15-member expert panel to combat vehicular pollution, a major regional pollutant. This committee, comprising academics and specialists, will devise a comprehensive strategy for emission reduction. The Commission for Air Quality Management has set up a 15-member expert committee to tackle vehicular pollution in Delhi-NCR, saying that such emissions remain a major contributor to air pollution in the region. According to a statement, the committee brin ...Read More >
KOLKATA: NavPrakriti, a lithium-ion battery recycling and refurbishment company, has announced a plan to partner with over 150 battery companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the next three years. Through this, the company aims to create an extensive network for collecting, recycling, and refurbishing spent batteries, leveraging advanced technology and strategic industry collaborations to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible battery management across the value chain. According to industry projections, the country's demand for lithium batteries is set to soa ...Read More >
Patna, Aug 1 (PTI) Healthcare services were affected at AIIMS-Patna on Friday as resident doctors went on an "indefinite strike" in protest against the alleged high-handedness of Sheohar MLA Chetan Anand. According to a press statement issued by the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA), AIIMS-Patna, on Friday, "The RDA expresses deep disappointment and anguish over the lack of action by the administration following the violent and traumatic incident that occurred on Wednesday, when MLA Chetan Anand, his wife and their armed guards breached hospital security, physically assaulted staff, and thr ...Read More >
Thoothukudi, India. Vietnam's Vinfast on Monday began production at a $500 million electric vehicle plant in southern India's Tamil Nadu state, part of a planned $2 billion investment in India and a broader expansion across Asia. The factory in Thoothukudi will initially make 50,000 electric vehicles annually, with room to triple output to 150,000 cars. Given its proximity to a major port in one of India's most industrialized states, Vinfast hopes it will be a hub for future exports to the region. It says the factory will create more than 3,000 local jobs. The Vietnamese company says it scou ...Read More >
New Delhi: Protest at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) against a recently announced fee hike, the long-standing suspension of students' union elections and calls for administrative accountability have entered their sixth day, with students boycotting classes and staging sit-ins at the Bab-e-Syed gate (the iconic entrance of the varsity). The fee structure for different courses has witnessed a sharp revision. Students say the hike ranges from 25% to over 60% across various programmes. Many claim they first learned of the revised fees only while trying to pay through the university's online ...Read More >
New Delhi: The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki has announced the rollout of its first made-in-India electric vehicle - the e-Vitara SUV - in a major boost to the green segment from its upgraded Gujarat plant, which is now set to become one of the world's largest automotive manufacturing hubs with a projected annual capacity of one million units. Crucially, this facility will serve as Suzuki's global production base for electric vehicles (EVs), exporting to over 100 countries, including advanced markets in Japan and Europe, which is aligned with India's vision of becoming a global aut ...Read More >
Delhi schools are shifting to fully online classes for students up to Class V due to severe air pollution. This directive follows the invocation of Stage-IV of GRAP, with AQI levels reaching 'Severe+' in the capital. Neighbouring Noida and Ghaziabad have implemented similar measures for younger students. The Delhi government on Monday directed all schools in the capital to shift from hybrid learning to fully online classes for students up to Class V, citing a sharp deterioration in air quality a ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava on Thursday outlined an urgent need to curb plastic pollution as it negatively impacted marine life, suffocated terrestrial ecosystems, leached harmful chemicals into soil and water. In addition, it contributed significantly to air pollution when burnt, he said. The statement came on the occasion of World Environment Day and was uploaded on the NGTs website. Shrivastava said that plastic had become an indispensable part of our lives, yet its convenience masked a devastating reality. "This nonbiodegradabl ...Read More >
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 9 (ANI): More than half of all tuberculosis (TB) deaths occur within the first two months of treatment. In response, the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE) has introduced a new alert feature designed to immediately notify frontline healthcare workers when a patient is identified as severely ill following a TB diagnosis. Also Read | Delhi-NCR Rains: Waterlogging and Traffic Disruptions in Several Areas As Sudden Spell of Heavy Rain Batters National Capital; IMD Issues Red Alert (Watch Video). The predictive model ...Read More >
Gurgaon: MCG additional commissioner Yash Jaluka directed bulk waste generators (BWG) across the city to ensure proper disposal of waste by private agencies who are assisting them. Giving these instructions in a meeting held on Friday, he said it is often observed that BWGs hand over their waste to private agencies, which only sort valuable items and dump the remaining waste on roads, drains, vacant land or public places. This, he said, not only affects cleanliness of the city but also poses a threat to public health."Under the Solid Waste Management Rules-2016, it is the legal and moral respo ...Read More >
Guwahati: The East Khasi Hills district administration will enforce a new set of parking regulations from August 1 to improve urban mobility across Shillong in Meghalaya. The initiative, which spans seven key traffic zones including Sadar, Madanrting, Laban, Mawlai, Rynjah, Lumdiengjri, and Laitumkhrah, aims to organize parking in critical stretches of the city. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge! The Urban Affairs Department has introduced standard hourly parking fees, setting the rate at Rs 20 for two-wheelers and Rs 40 for four-wheelers, with z ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 14: Medulla Communications Pvt. Ltd., one of the world's most awarded healthcare-specialist advertising agencies, has announced the launch of its new hub in Singapore. With over 15 years of experience in solving complex healthcare challenges, Medulla is now looking to create a super-specialist category as the first digital healthcare advertising agency in Asia. New Hub to Deliver Scalable, Specialist Healthcare Marketing Solutions Across APAC. Also Read | New Cheque Clearing System: Banks To Clear Cheques Within Few Hours Starting October 4, Announces RBI. ...Read More >
Kurnool Bus Fire: The tragic Kurnool bus fire, which claimed the lives of 19 passengers, was made far worse by the presence of 234 smartphones on board. Investigators revealed that these phones, being transported as part of a commercial consignment, likely intensified the blaze. Forensic experts have suggested that the batteries in the smartphones exploded during the fire, amplifying the heat and destruction inside the bus. Eyewitnesses recalled hearing multiple battery explosions as the flames spread. - According to a report by NDTV, the consignment of 234 Realme smartphones was valued at R ...Read More >
Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone (AMTZ) managing director and founder-CEO Jitendra Sharma said the Vizag Science & Technology Cluster (VSTC) based at AMTZ is a catalyst for the convergence of science, industry and innovation. The AMTZ is translating this synergy into self-reliant healthcare solutions that advance 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', he added during a high-level meeting in New Delhi recently, according to a release here on Saturday (June 28). Spearheaded by AMTZ, the cluster brings together researchers, startups, industry and academic institutions to create scalable impact th ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday announced the provisional attachment of assets worth approximately ₹131.45 crore in Spain, including a luxury yacht and immovable properties, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). These assets belong to Pavel Prozorov, a Spanish national and the alleged mastermind behind the unauthorised forex trading platform OctaFX. The attached assets comprise a commercial Italian-model luxury yacht cruising in the Western Mediterranean, a minijet boat, a luxury car, and two residential properties in Spain. The ED's probe was launched ...Read More >
Bengaluru - VinFast Auto India announced the inauguration of its biggest showroom in India, located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The opening marks a significant milestone in VinFast's nationwide retail journey and its growing footprint in India's EV market. This new showroom reinforces the brand's commitment to building a robust, customer-centric electric mobility ecosystem tailored to the needs of Chennai. This outlet is promoted by Maansarovar Motors, a well-established and trusted name in the city's automotive retail landscape. Strategically located in the prominent area of Teynampet, the 4,70 ...Read More >
The National Human Rights Commission has taken note of widespread reuse of cooking oil. Concerns were raised about public health risks and environmental pollution. The NHRC has directed the Union Health Ministry and FSSAI to investigate these allegations. A state-wise report is required. An action taken report is also mandated within two weeks. The NHRC has issued a notice to the Union Health Ministry and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) over a complaint raising concerns on a ...Read More >