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: Alternative datasets offer crucial distinctive perspectives, making them essential for policymaking, chief economic advisor (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran said on Thursday. However, he emphasised that these data sources are not a substitute to the official statistical system and serve as a complement to it. Official statistics are backed by decades of usage, rigorous methodologies and inbuilt checks, which lend them a high degree of reliability and accuracy, Nageswaran said at a two-day workshop on 'Using Alternate Data Sources and Frontier Technologies for Policy Making', organised by the statistics ministry. Suman K Bery, vice chairperson of NITI and chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the prime minister (EAC-PM), also highlighted the need to integrate conventional and alternate data sources for more robust decision-making. The workshop was attended by over 450 participants from central ministries, state governments, international organisations such as the World Bank, research institutions and the private sector. Saurabh Garg, secretary, MoSPI emphasised on creating an ecosystem of policy, technology and basic skill environment to promote the usage of alternate data sources.
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Saturday withdrew its earlier decision to de-empanel three leading private sector banks -- Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank -- from handling the business and deposits of state government organisations and departments. A notification issued by the state finance department confirmed the reversal, allowing the three banks to continue as empanelled institutions authorised to manage government-related financial transactions. The government had, through a notification dated June 21, 2025, removed the banks from its empanelled list, citing their "poor perfo ...Read More >
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged five individuals, including goldy Brar, in relation to the 2024 Gurugram club bombing plot, as revealed in a recently filed chargesheet. This case involves a conspiracy to bomb two clubs, aiming to disrupt communal harmony in Haryana, with the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) implicated. The NIA's investigation highlights the severity of the plot. Those charged include satinderjit Singh (Goldy Brar), Sachin Talian, Ankit, Bhavish, and Randeep Singh. News Directory 3 provides crucial updates on sensitive cases such ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 17 (ANI): India's Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) is expanding into states and strengthening its public-private partnership model to boost women-led development, as it builds on its original mandate of bridging information gaps and moves into emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, Anna Roy, Principal Economic Advisor to NITI Aayog and Mission Director of WEP told ANI on Wednesday. "When it was established and launched on the International Women's Day (March 8) in 2018, at that time primarily it was for overcoming information asymmetry amongst women e ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), in partnership with NITI Aayog and the World Bank as a knowledge partner, organised a two-day National Workshop entitled 'Using Alternate Data Sources and Frontier Technologies for Policy Making.' This event took place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on June 5 and 6. The National Workshop concluded with a Valedictory Session on 6 June. According to the release, the Valedictory Session was graced by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to GoI as the Chief Guest; Prof. Abhay K ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): In recognition of the remarkable contributions made by Professor (Late) Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis to the field of statistics and economic planning, the Government has designated his birth day, June 29, as Statistics Day. The primary objective of celebrating this Day is to raise public awareness, particularly among the younger generation, about the pivotal role of statistics in policy formulation for national development, the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation said in a release on Sunday. As per the release, the celebration for the 19th Stati ...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 >
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his international tour, questioning the effectiveness of India's diplomatic efforts in isolating Pakistan globally. Moitra commented on Modi's extensive traveling and expressed concerns about Pakistan's support from international organizations. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a multi-nation tour, he faced critical remarks from Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who questioned why India's diplomatic act ...Read More >
The ISA will launch the Africa Solar Facility, a $200 million programme focusing on distributed renewable energy and serving as its first financial product for risk mitigation.During the 8th Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi from October 27 to 30, delegates from all 124 member countries are expected to visit South Asia's first distribution storage site in India's national capital. The ISA will launch the Africa Solar Facility, a $200 million programme focusing on di ...Read More >
Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran on Wednesday said US tariffs-related challenges will dissipate in the next one or two quarters, and urged the private sector to do more as the country navigates through other longer-term challenges. He attributed the growth slowdown in FY25, which saw a deceleration to 6.5 per cent from FY24's 9.2 per cent, to tight credit conditions and liquidity issues. The right agriculture policies can add 25 per cent to ...Read More >
New Delhi: A protracted conflict in the Middle East could push Bangladesh's inflation higher, widen the current‑account deficit, weaker exports, lower remittances and reduce fiscal space as energy subsidies rise, a new report has said. The latest Bangladesh Development Update projects growth to slow to 3.9 per cent in FY26, World Bank said. Bangladesh's economy also faces rising poverty, persistent inflation, stressed banking sector, weak revenue mobilization, and subdued private investment, compounded by the Middle East conflict. Inflation remained high at 8.5 per cent in FY26, with both f ...Read More >
New Delhi: Traffic in central Delhi will be affected on Thursday as the traffic police has issued an advisory due to the Janmashtami and Tazia processions.According to police, the traffic movement in Paharganj is likely to be affected from 1.30pm in view of the shobha yatra for Janmashtami and the Tazia procession.The Janmashtami procession will start from Mandir Shri Banke Bihari Ji in Paharganj's Sangatrasan Bazar and pass through Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, Chuna Mandi, Main Bazar, Munja Chowk and Arakashan Road. The Tazia procession will start from Ajmeri Gate and proceed through Pul Paharganj ...Read More >
Vijayawada: The state government approved 281 projects worth Rs 10,319.93 crore under the AMRUT 2.0 programme to upgrade water supply and sanitation systems in urban areas across the state. The projects will be implemented under the Concessionaire Hybrid Annuity Model through the Andhra Pradesh Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (APUFIDC). The projects were cleared under the Revised State Water Action Plan Tranche I and II. Of the total project cost, Rs 6,477.03 crore has been earmarked for capital expenditure and Rs 1,498.97 crore for operation and maintenance over ten ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, India, March 2, 2026 /CNW/ - Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi. The leaders agreed that their joint efforts to renew and expand the relationship between Canada and India have achieved important results. During their meetings at Hyderabad House today, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Modi focused on how they can build on this progress through new strategic partnerships in energy, talent and innovation, and artificial intelligence (AI). The leaders welcomed the new Canada-India Talent and Innovation Stra ...Read More >
Bengaluru, 29 September 2025: Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, in collaboration with Freecharge, has unveiled Credit on UPI with Gold Loans - India's first gold-backed credit line accessible through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). This innovative product is designed to unlock the economic potential of gold assets, especially for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), self-employed entrepreneurs and merchants across both urban and rural India. Credit on UPI with Gold Loans enables customers to access instant credit against their gold holdings. The produc ...Read More >
Srinagar- A local court in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday dismissed a case of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violation filed against PDP leader and MLA Waheed-Ur-Rehman Parra in connection with a roadshow he held during last year's Lok Sabha elections in Pulwama district. The case, registered under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), was dismissed by Additional Special Mobile Magistrate Awantipora, Muneer Ahmad Bhat, who ruled that no cognisance of the offence could be taken due to procedural lapses in the chargesheet. Parra, the PDP candidate from Srinagar parliamentary constituency, was ...Read More >
Indian Navy's Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue Strengthens Maritime Cooperation And Strategic Connectivity Across Oceans: Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan (L)Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue, launched by Indian Navy in 2018, serves as a key platform for regional cooperation and maritime understanding. Conceived as a 'listening forum', it explores all dimensions of security. New Delhi: When the Indian Navy first launched the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) in 2018, the term Indo-Pacific had already ...Read More >
Mumbai, Apr 8 (PTI) The Reserve Bank on Wednesday said HDFC Bank's board meeting minutes and other records are studied as part of supervision exercise, and reiterated that the largest private sector lender has not been found wanting on ethics and governance. "I would like to reiterate that at no point during our supervision or after examining their records did any governance or conduct-related material issue come to our notice. Under our regular supervision, board minutes are also reviewed. Copies of the minutes are provided to us," RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said, replying to a specific qu ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), in partnership with NITI Aayog and the World Bank as a knowledge partner, organised a two-day National Workshop entitled "Using Alternate Data Sources and Frontier Technologies for Policy Making." This event took place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on June 5 and 6. The National Workshop concluded with a Valedictory Session on 6 June. Also Read | UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy Meets PM Narendra Modi, Expresses Support for India's Fight Against Cross Border Terrorism (See Pics). According to ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): In recognition of the remarkable contributions made by Professor (Late) Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis to the field of statistics and economic planning, the Government has designated his birth day, June 29, as Statistics Day. The primary objective of celebrating this Day is to raise public awareness, particularly among the younger generation, about the pivotal role of statistics in policy formulation for national development, the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation said in a release on Sunday. As per the release, the celebration for the 19th Stati ...Read More >
Nagpur: Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar questioned the govt's priorities on Tuesday, highlighting the increasing number of farmer suicides in Maharashtra. He accused the govt of neglecting agrarian crisis while approving Rs20,000 crore for Shaktipeeth highway project."Money is available for massive infrastructure projects, but where is the budget for farm loan waivers as promised by the BJP before last year's assembly polls to the farmers?" Wadettiwar asked while moving an adjournment motion in the Legislative Assembly. He cited official data showing that between January and ...Read More >
Chennai: Madras high court has clarified that private self-financing medical colleges are required to pay only a stipend, and not a full salary, to in-service govt doctors pursuing postgraduate or super-specialty courses under the govt quota.A division bench of Justice R Subramanian and Justice K Surender passed the order while partly allowing a batch of appeals moved by Karpaga Vinayaga Medical College and others. They challenged a single judge's order that directed private colleges to pay salaries to in-service doctors studying in their institutions.The appeals were moved based on a GO dated ...Read More >
Patna: Non-vegetarian dishes have made Bihar's politics spicier on several occasions, and so union minister and senior JD (U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh aka Lalan Singh' recent mutton party for party workers and supporters under his Munger constituency was no exception. Lalan Singh listened to problems of common people at Suryagarha in Lakhisarai district of Bihar (part of Munger constituency) to sort them out with local authorities and also threw a mutton party for them, creating a controversy as the feast was organised in the month of saawan. Although Lalan Singh made separate arrangements ...Read More >
Dimapur, Jul 18 (PTI) Two persons have died of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Nagaland, a health department official said on Friday. Chief Medical Officer, Dimapur, Dr Yartenla Jamir, said that of the seven JE cases detected in Dimapur, Chumoukedima, and Niuland districts, two persons have died so far. She expressed concern over the rise in Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases in the three districts, especially during the monsoon season, which increases the risk of transmission. The Health department has urged district administrations to issue a public advisory on JE prevention measures and to i ...Read More >
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu would share the nation's vision for solar power-led development and 'One World, One Sun, One Grid' in her address at the 8th Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly on Tuesday at Bharat Mandapam, a statement said on Monday. This would mark the first-ever address by the President of India to the ISA Assembly that underscores India's commitment to ISA's leadership in advancing global solar energy cooperation and its founding vision of "One World, One Sun, One Grid", said the statement. The Eighth Assembly of the ISA, scheduled from October ...Read More >
New Delhi, Mar 2 (PTI) Amazon India on Monday announced 'Zero Referral fee' on more than 12.5 crore products, a move, the ecommerce giant said, aims to accelerate growth for lakhs of sellers across the country. Building on last year's fee revision, the company has expanded zero referral fees coverage more than 10-times from 1.2 crore products in 2025 to over 12.5 crore products priced under Rs 1,000 across 1,800-plus categories, the company said in a release. In addition, Amazon has reduced Easy Ship fees by over 20 per cent for products priced below Rs 300. Easy Ship allows sellers to stor ...Read More >
Kota, Jun 6 (PTI) A relationship manager in an ICICI bank branch in Kota allegedly swindled around Rs 4.58 crore from customers' accounts only to lose the lot of it in the stock market, police on Friday said. She was arrested last week and is currently under judicial custody, they said. Also Read | Bengaluru Stampede: Police Complaint Lodged Against Virat Kohli Over Stampede Tragedy Near Chinnaswamy Stadium. The accused, Sakshi Gupta, was posted as a relationship manager at ICICI Bank's DCM branch. Police said she had been pilfering from more than 110 accounts belonging to 41 customers for ...Read More >
In April, India reached 224 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity, with 108GW representing solar exclusively. Of this solar capacity, 105GW was added in the last decade. It accounts for a third of total additions in the Global South. This rise can be attributed to the fact that India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has a clear policy and regulatory framework for private sector-led investments in solar energy. India's efforts to make solar energy accessible and desirable have been decisive. The Solar Energy Corporation of India instilled confidence in the private sector by ensuring ...Read More >
New Delhi: The International Solar Alliance (ISA), presided over by India, will review progress, identify challenges, and take measures to promote affordable solar energy for all-especially for the least developed countries and small island states-at its upcoming assembly later this month, Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday. Joshi, who also serves as President of the ISA Assembly, said the alliance is united by a shared belief that the future is solar. Launched by India and France at COP21 in Paris, the ISA is the largest treaty-based intergovernmental organisation fro ...Read More >
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday referred to chief minister Mamata Banerjee's loss in Nandigram in the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections and said the same would be repeated in Bhabanipur, her constituency in Kolkata, and the rest of the state on the cusp of change after 15 years of Trinamool Congress (TMC) rule. "Nandigram in East Midnapore showed the path for change five years ago. Now, the entire West Bengal has started walking in that direction. The feat, which Nandigram achieved fi ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday urged private sector lenders ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank to significantly improve their loan disbursement performance under key welfare schemes, days after the state government removed them from its empanelled list of banks. Chairing a meeting with senior officials from the three banks at Lok Seva Bhawan on Monday, the Chief Minister underlined the critical role of timely financial assistance in empowering underprivileged communities and strengthening grassroots economic activity. According to a statement from the Chie ...Read More >