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.
Resubelpara, April 8: Justice (Retd) B P Katakey visited Resubelpara in Nofth Garo Hills (NGH) on Wednesday to meet officials of the district administrations North, East and South Garo Hills on issue of illegal coal mining. The meeting was held at the office of the Deputy Commissioner, NGH and was attended by the DC's, SP's and state officials Naba Bhattacharjee (technical advisor - GOM) and director of minimg MB Tomper. The primary focus of his visit and meeting with the district officials was developing and implementing action plans to curb illegal coal mining activities in Meghalaya. Katakey said the whole idea of was to discuss the action plan to be prepared for curving the illegal coal mining activities. Talking to media-persons following the meeting, Katakey said, "Nobody can deny the fact that illegal coal mining activity is going on in Meghalaya, which resulted in very unfortunate incident causing death of close to 18 persons recently." He added the meeting was to discuss the action plan to curb illegal mining of coal. He referred to four types of coal being moved around as of now - legally mined coal, inventoried coal, illegal coal that is seized and the last being completely illegally mined coal which is transported. "After that unfortunate incident, the district administrations have prepared the action plan as directed by the Mining and Geology Department Government of Meghalaya, in pursuance of the recommendation made by Meghalaya High Court," he added. He said that following the implementation of the new action plan, there has been some semblance of control over the situation. However, he added there were some findings that needed to be studied and worked on. He referred to cases filed against illegal coal mining that have been registered in police stations. "The role of the owner of the land is not investigated. Their role should be investigated because the mine cannot be dug up overnight to extract coal from there and subsequently transport it. They cannot say that they do not know what is going on over their own land," said Katakey. Katakey added that the implementation was good in Garo Hills as barring South Garo Hills, there are reportedly no active mines in either the North of East Garo Hills. Prior to coming to Resubelpara, Katakey had also visited the village of Hahim near Athiabari in Assam where he found many coal depots on the Assam side. "Where is the source of this coal? We have to find it out. Since there is illegal mining and transportation of coal in the state of Meghalaya, it is likely that this coal is sourced from Meghalaya. This has to be investigated," he felt. The former Justice stated that he would set up a recommendation for the creation of smart check gates in these areas so that these kinds of activities can be curbed. During the meeting, he had also spoken to the department of mining to look at the feasibility of setting up a gate near the Assam - Meghalaya border as a measure to curb such acts. Further he observed that in Dainadubi in NGH, there was only a transport check gate but no police picket which felt was necessary to curb this illegal transportation. Katakey stated that following the meeting he would put forward his recommendations to the Meghalaya High Court which would include the setting up of smart gate near Athiabari, the inclusion of a police picket within 100 metres of the Dainadubi transport gate and to make the temporary check gate at the Mendipathar Railway Station into a permanent one to ensure curbs remain to control illegal mining.
NEW DELHI: State-owned Coal India Limited (CIL) recorded a 34% year-on-year growth in environmentally friendly coal transportation in FY 2025, moving 102.5 million tonnes (MT) through 20 First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects linked to the Indian Railways network. In comparison, 76.5 MT was transported in FY 2024 through 17 such projects. In the current financial year, up to the end of May, CIL registered a 36.7% increase in coal dispatch via FMC projects, compared to 15 MT during the same period last year. CIL, India's largest coal miner, also plans to commission 19 additional FMC projects w ...Read More >
Guwahati, June 28 (UNI) Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, on Saturday reaffirmed the Centre's "unwavering support" for accelerating mineral and coal development across India's eight North‑Eastern states. Speaking on the second day on the second North‑East Mining Ministers' Conclave here, Reddy said robust mining infrastructure, quicker project clearances and eco‑friendly practices are crucial to realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision. "Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim are our Ashta Lakshmi," the ...Read More >
Jaipur, July 7 (UNI) Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy said here today that the availability of critical minerals is an issue and effort are being made to address it. In brief chat with media after a review meeting on mining related issues at the CM Residence here, the Union Minister said "Presently 90 per cent of requirement and demand of these minerals is fulfilled by imports. Efforts have been made at the highest level. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also held talks with some countries in this connection," Reddy said, adding that in his Argentina visit two days back PM M ...Read More >
Hit by economic slowdown and poor infrastructure, industrialists from Jharkhand's key industrial districts -- East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela-Kharsawan -- are looking to the newly formed state government for revival and support. The industrial zones of Adityapur, Gamharia, Kandra, and Chandil have been grappling with inadequate infrastructure, including poorly maintained roads, lack of bridges, erratic water supply, and unreliable power. Entrepreneurs in these regions hope the new administration will address these issues and work toward improving the state's industrial ecosystem ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Opposition BJD and Congress MLAs Tuesday staged a walkout from the Odisha assembly, accusing the ruling BJP of failing to control prices of essential commodities and resolve the potato crisis in the state. The issues were debated in the House over the admissibility of an adjournment motion moved by the Opposition on price rise of vegetables, pulses, edible oil and fuel. The opposition members took exception to comments made by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister K C Patra that adverse climate conditions, rates in international and domestic markets, and less production by ...Read More >
New Delhi: India's coal sector has registered a 5.88 per cent increase in production to 830.66 million tonnes (MT) during April 2024 to January 2025 of the current financial year, from 784.51 MT recorded during the same period of 2023-24, according to a Coal Ministry statement issued on Monday. The total coal production during January 2025 has reached 104.43 MT, reflecting a 4.38 per cent increase over 100.05 MT recorded during the corresponding period of the previous year. The contribution from captive, commercial, and other entities for January 2025 has also been particularly strong, with ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Union minister for coal and mines G. Kishan Reddy, accompanied by students from various government schools in Telangana, who achieved top ranks in the 10th class public examinations, planted saplings at his official residence in Delhi as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative of 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' and asked them to don the role as new age environment warriors and work hard to save earth from plastic pollution. He also gave them tips on environmental protection. ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in the presence of leaders of Central Asian countries, touched upon various business opportunities and complementarities between these respective economies on Thursday. Jaishankar suggested a few areas where India and Central Asian countries should collaborate to improve their economies. Jaishankar noted that India's trade and economic ties with Central Asia have actually shown a very strong positive trend over the last decade. However, he has also said that the trade figures do not reflect the full potential. Given th ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar has urged the India-Central Asia Business Council to recommend a roadmap for further deepening of India-Central Asia ties in trade, economic and investment. Addressing the Business Council meeting in the national capital, EAM Jaishankar highlighted three broad objectives for strengthening the economic partnership -- deepen existing cooperation, diversify the trade basket and introduce sustainability and predictability in economic interactions. "One, is to deepen the existing cooperation both in terms of volume a ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jan 31 (PTI) The Gauhati High Court has issued notices to the Assam government and its various departments over rampant rat-hole coal mining and asked them to furnish what steps they have taken to stop the unlawful activity. Taking suo motu cognizance of the Dima Hasao coal mining tragedy, the high court registered a public interest litigation on Monday and issued notices the next day to seven government departments, including the office of the chief secretary. "The court has taken note of various reports which suggest that around more than 200 rat-hole mines are in operation in Um ...Read More >
Haridwar: A woman politician has been arrested for allegedly letting her boyfriend and others repeatedly rape her 13-year-old daughter in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The horrifying crime, which occurred between January and March, was exposed when the minor bravely confided in her father, prompting a police investigation that led to the arrest of the accused. The accused was arrested with her boyfriend and one more. According to police reports, the minor was gang-raped multiple times, often in the presence of her mother. The minor, who had been living with her father following her parents' separat ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a move towards achieving end-to-end digitalisation of the coal exploration value chain, the government on Tuesday said it is set to launch the Exploration Module on the Single Window Clearance System web portal. To be launched through Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL) by Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy on July 4, this module will allow allottees to submit their exploration proposals online, which will then be processed and approved by the ministry through the integrated system. The module covers the entire process of Explorat ...Read More >
: The Uttar Pradesh government is now using modern technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), drones, and satellites, to stop illegal mining and the illegal transport of minerals in the state. Officials said that more than 21,477 vehicles involved in illegal transport have been blacklisted. To monitor mining vehicles, the state has set up 57 smart check gates with help from the transport department. These gates use AI and Internet of Things (IoT) technology, along with Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) sensors, to detect overloaded vehicles and stop them. The directorate of geology and mining i ...Read More >
Mangaluru, (Karnataka) Feb 5 (PTI) District in-charge Minister of Dakshina Kannada, Dinesh Gundu Rao, directed officials on Wednesday to install CCTV cameras on both sides of bridges along major highways and main roads to prevent 'illegal' activities. During an inspection of the strengthening work on the Addur Bridge along the Perali-Addur State Highway, Rao highlighted reports of sand mining near bridges weakening their structures. Also Read | Delhi Assembly Elections 2025: National Capital Records 57.89% Voter Turnout; Exit Polls Give BJP Edge Over AAP. He said that although extracting sa ...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 >
DHARMAPURI: For the third time in the past two months, a wild leopard wandered into a private farmland near Valaithottam village near Palacode and hunted chicken raised by a local farmer. Locals are increasingly distressed and urged the forest department to take steps to relocate the leopard. Over the past few months, there have been several reports of leopard sightings in forest areas near Palacode, particularly in Valaithottam village, near the forest's fringe. There have been two instances when the leopard attacked farmlands, taking away a domestic dog and a chicken. On Saturday, the leop ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024 to expand the definition of mineral oils and include petroleum and natural gas passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The bill was introduced by Union petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri for consideration and passing. The Bill will regulate the exploration and extraction of natural gas and petroleum. The amended bill expands the definition of mineral oils to include petroleum and natural gas in it. Also Read | Pune: Doctors Perform Rare Laser Surgery on Woman Pregnant With Monoam ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday directed officials to take measures to supply sand at lower prices to people and supply sand free of cost to beneficiaries of Indiramma houses. During a review meeting on the mines and minerals department at his residence on Monday, Revanth Reddy ordered officials to inspect sand reaches and take stringent action against those involved in sand smuggling. District collectors and superintendents of police are being entrusted with the responsibility. In Hyderabad, HYDRAA has been assigned the task to curb sand smuggling. Special officers will ...Read More >
Guwahati, May 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi launched a scathing attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday, citing recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids as "evidence of illegal coal mining operations" in the state, and also issued a clarification on his 'links' in Pakistan. Speaking to the media in Delhi for the first time after becoming the Assam unit chief of Congress, Gogoi pointed to the April 24 raids conducted across Assam and Meghalaya, where the ED reportedly unearthed a coal smuggling network, seizing Rs 1.58 crore in cash, digital devices, and ...Read More >
Maharashtra will use special camera drones (LiDAR drones) to check mining and make more money. Following the government conncern over losing money because companies dig up more soil and stone than they report. These drones will accurately measure what's being dug Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced on Saturday that the state government intends to utilise advanced LiDAR-based drone technology to monitor mining activities and boost revenue. This initiative will commence with a pilot project in the Pune district, reported news agency PTI. The state revenue minister highlight ...Read More >
New Delhi: On this day in 2024, India defeated South Africa by 7 runs and lifted the T20 World Cup title at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. India posted a 177-run target for the Proteas in 20 overs after opting to bat first. Virat Kohli smashed 76 runs off 59 balls with the help of six boundaries and two maximums. Axar Patel also batted brilliantly and scored 47 runs off 31 balls, hitting four maximums and one boundary in his sensational knock. Chasing the target of 177 runs, Bumrah provided India their first breakthrough when he removed Reeza Hendricks in the second over of the run-chase, ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Friday released the Copper Vision Document and the Aluminium Vision Document at the international conference here on sustainable and responsible mining through best mine closure practices, organised by the Indian National Committee of the World Mining Congress. Reddy emphasised copper's vital contribution to India's energy transition, infrastructure growth, and green technologies such as electric vehicles and solar power. He stated that the Vision Document provides a long-term strategy to meet growing domestic demand while ensuri ...Read More >
Guwahati, June 27: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced that his government will soon issue a blanket order to the Central Government to facilitate the exploration of Assam's mining potential. The announcement was made during the second edition of the North East Mining Ministers' Conclave, held in Guwahati. "This morning, we discussed granting a blanket exploration order for geological investigations. I want to commit that within a very short time, we will allow the Government of India to explore mining potential across," the Chief Minister said. He further informed that t ...Read More >
Guwahati, June 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy reaffirmed the Central Government's full support to the mineral and coal-rich North Eastern states at a Mining Ministers' Conclave held here on Saturday. Addressing the gathering on the second day of the event, the Minister highlighted the Centre's commitment to strengthening mining infrastructure, fast-track project approvals, and promoting sustainable mining practices in the region. He stated that the development of the North East is central to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, with the eight states -- Ass ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 2 (ANI): Coal production from captive and commercial mines in June 2025 reached 15.57 million tonnes (MT), while coal dispatches were recorded at 17.31 MT, according to the Ministry of Coal. These figures indicate a solid performance by the coal sector, which plays a crucial role in meeting the energy and raw material needs of key industries across the country. Also Read | Hemant Khandelwal Takes Charge As Madhya Pradesh BJP President, Replaces VD Sharma. The first quarter of the financial year 2025-26 has shown significant year-on-year growth. Coal production during ...Read More >
Guwahati: VL Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, underscored that the Geological Survey of India has identified over 36,000 square kilometres in the Northeast India as having mineral potential, translating to nearly 3,000 prospective mines. He highlighted that Assam has now firmly entered the national auction map, signalling a new era for mineral development. The 2nd North East Geology and Mining Ministers' Conclave was inaugurated in Guwahati, Assam on Friday. He called for expanding exploration and research, including leveraging Artificial Intelligence in mineral discovery. Notably, ...Read More >
Puri: Despite travel uncertainties due to recent conflicts in some parts of the world, people from Europe and elsewhere have reached Puri to witness the annual Ratha Yatra of the sibling deities.As non-Hindus are not allowed inside the 12th-century Jagannath Temple, the Ratha Yatra provides a rare opportunity for devotees across the world to see the deities in their full glory atop their majestic wooden chariots."Back home, we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear. But here, I found peace. I came because this is my only chance to see Lord Jagannath. He comes out for the whole world. This is v ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 3 (ANI): Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Thursday said the central government is actively encouraging private companies to mine and explore critical minerals overseas and bring them back into the country to serve the needs of the domestic industry. "We are encouraging private companies to mine and explore critical minerals overseas. We are for Indian private companies mining overseas and bringing minerals back into India. We are actively encouraging them," Reddy told reporters here. Also Read | New Zealand Nurse Undergoes Robotic Double Hip Replacement in ...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 >
MUMBAI: Tata Power, the utility arm of the Tata Group, plans to contest the $490 million (Rs 4,200 crore) verdict handed down by the Singapore arbitral tribunal. The ruling stems from alleged breaches of confidentiality agreements with investment firm Kleros Capital Partners concerning a potential coal mining project in Russia. At Tata Power's annual shareholder meeting on Friday, chairman N Chandrasekaran said: "The company is reviewing the contents of the July 1 arbitration award and is discussing with lawyers. It will look at all options, including challenging the decision." He emphasised, ...Read More >