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New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) As the Delhi government moves ahead with plans to develop "smog-eating" surfaces in the city, environmental experts on Wednesday warned that such technological interventions should not replace efforts to curb pollution at its source. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday announced that the government has signed a memorandum of understanding with IIT Madras to identify and develop photocatalytic or "smog-eating" surfaces, which will be tested in se ...Read More >

Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate a public service commission conference on December 19 and address a Brahma Kumaris event on December 20.Source : X Hyderabad, Dec 17 (PTI) President Drouapdi Murmu on Wednesday arrived at the Rashtrapati Nilayam at Secunderabad here as part of her winter sojourn.Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Telangana ministers along with senior officials received the President at the Air Force Station, Hakimpet. The Presid ...Read More >

A critically injured Kanwar Digvijay Singh, alias Rana Balachauria, was rushed to the Fortis Hospital in Mohali where he was declared brought dead, they said. Rana had got married on December 4. Unidentified assailants shot at a 30-year-old kabaddi player-cum-promoter, moments after clicking a selfied with him, after he and his team were leaving the ground following a match in Mohali on Monday, police said. A critically injured Kanwar Digvijay Singh, alias Rana Balachauria, was rushed to the F ...Read More >

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) A parliamentary panel examining the recent air traffic disruptions tried to fix responsibility for Indigo's mass cancellation of flights as senior aviation officials and IndiGo COO Isidro Porqueras appeared before it on Wednesday, but found the replies of the airline and DGCA "evasive and unconvincing", according to sources. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, chaired by JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha, did not come to any conclusion and decid ...Read More >

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Opposition MPs slammed a bill to raise FDI in the insurance sector to 100 per cent in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, calling it a colonial mindset and a threat to social security, while BJP members termed it a social reform to serve people. Participating in the debate on The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, John Brittas, CPI (M) from Kerala, said the BJP government, which always talks against gulami ki mansikta (colonial mindset), wants to ...Read More >

Panaji (PTI): A court in North Goa on Wednesday remanded Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub, in police custody for five days. The brothers, brought to Goa from Delhi after being deported from Thailand in connection with the December 6 blaze that killed 25, were produced in the court after undergoing health check-ups twice at the District Hospital in North Goa. Judicial Magistrate First Class Mapusa Puja Sardesai remanded the two brothers in police custo ...Read More >

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Samtel Avionics on Wednesday said it has raised Rs 75 crore from True North Private Credit to fund growth and expansion. The deal also carries a green shoe option of Rs 140 crore for additional funding as the company scales up. "This funding marks a significant milestone in Samtel Avionics' expansion strategy as it strengthens its capabilities in high-tech electronics for defence, aerospace, railways, as well as emerging sectors like satellites, and unmanned systems (UA ...Read More >

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Medical devices firm Healthium Medtech on Wednesday announced acquisition of a controlling stake in Paramount Surgimed Ltd. Paramount Surgimed is one of India's largest manufacturers and exporters of surgical blades, scalpels and dermal biopsy products. The non-surgical business of Paramount, including its lifestyle and hygiene business will be carved out prior to the transaction and retained with its promoter Grover family, Healthium Medtech said in a statement. The a ...Read More >

Hyderabad, Dec 17 (PTI) More than 85 per cent of eligible voters exercised their franchise in the final phase of gram panchayat elections in Telangana on Wednesday, the SEC said. The elections were held peacefully, and counting of votes was underway, officials said. Of the 50,56,344 eligible voters, 43,37,024 cast their votes, recording a turnout of 85.77 per cent, the State Election Commission said. Polling was conducted in 3,752 gram panchayats for 28,410 ward member seats. As of 7 pm, 1,9 ...Read More >

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested the linchpin of an illegal arms and ammunition trafficking case, originating from Bihar and spread across various parts of northern India, officials said on Wednesday. Kamalkant Verma alias Uncle Ji from Patna is the 11th accused to be arrested in the case, they said. NIA investigations have revealed that Kamalkant played a vital role in the syndicate, involved in procuring ammunition illegally from various gun houses ...Read More >

Kolkata Dec 17 (PTI) Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday criticised the Centre's decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), calling it an "anti-Bengal" move and accusing the BJP of systematically erasing the state's cultural and historical legacy. Reacting to the Union Cabinet's approval of a Bill to rename MGNREGA as Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission Gramin (VB-G RAM G), the TMC national general secretary said the ...Read More >

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday launched a blistering attack on the government over the G RAM G bill, saying it is destroying Mahatma Gandhi's idea of Ram Rajya both in letter and spirit by repealing MGNREGA and renaming the scheme. She also accused the government of "dishonouring" both Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore, who gave the title of Mahatma to the Father of the Nation, by renaming MGNREGA. Participating in the debate on the Viksit Bharat Guarantee ...Read More >

Lucknow, Dec 17 (PTI) Out-of-form India vice-captain Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the last two T20I games against South Africa with a toe injury, sources close to the team told PTI. It is learnt that Gill has sustained the injury during training session and all precautionary measures are being taken to ensure his speedy recovery. "Shubman had an extended batting session at the nets on the eve of the fourth T20 International. Towards the end of the session, he was hit on the toe while bat ...Read More >

Bhubaneswar, Dec 17 (PTI) Odisha's opposition BJD and the ruling BJP on Wednesday traded charges over the allotment of a bungalow to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in the national capital, with the regional party alleging political control from Delhi and the BJP dismissing the charge as "electoral frustration". Both parties held separate press conferences during the day to counter each other over the allotment of a bungalow at 2, Teen Murti Lane in New Delhi for the CM. BJD spokesperson Len ...Read More >

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Wednesday welcomed seven judges who were appointed to the Supreme Court in 2025 and said the collective work and wisdom of judges speaking in one voice will strengthen their commitment to constitutional principles. The CJI said when he speaks with these judges, he finds their in-depth knowledge of law, constitutional principles and commitment to the institution and the cause of the common man. "I normally think that the court i ...Read More >

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday felicitated the historic World Cup-winning Indian squash team, and said the historic title is "great moment of pride" for the country's sports sector. Mandaviya felicitated the mixed team comprising Joshna Chinappa, Abhay Singh, Velavan Senthilkumar and Anahat Singh, which scripted history in Chennai last Saturday by winning India's maiden squash World Cup title, improving on their previous best finish -- a bronze medal at t ...Read More >

Sonbhadra (UP), Dec 17 (PTI) A 28-year-old man, wanted for allegedly trafficking codeine-based cough syrup, was on arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra on Wednesday, police said. Superintendent of Police Abhishek Verma said the accused, Satyam Kumar (28), a resident of Gola Deenanath in the Varanasi commissionerate, was carrying a reward of Rs 10,000 on his head. He was arrested from Chandi Tiraha here. Satyam allegedly obtained a drug licence in the name of "Maa Kripa Medical" by submitting ...Read More >

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Activists on Tuesday demanded that the VB-G RAM G Bill that seeks to replace MGNREGA with a new law on rural employment should be taken back, calling it an assault on the hard-earned right to work for the rural poor. At a press conference organised by the NREGA Sangharsh Morcha here, activists said the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025 not just repeals the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNRE ...Read More >

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Increasing the foreign direct investment limit to 100 per cent in the insurance sector will help expand coverage, create jobs and make life cover policies more affordable and accessible, said experts. They were commenting on the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, which was passed by the Parliament on Wednesday. The bill seeks to raise FDI (foreign direct investment) limit in the insurance sector from 74 per cent to 100 per cent. Terming th ...Read More >

Gangtok, Dec 17 (PTI) The Indian Army organised a five-day 'Bharat Ranabhoomi Darshan Supercar Drive' in Sikkim, a defence statement said on Wednesday. The event, organised from December 11-15, was a civil-military initiative conducted in partnership with Super Car Route (Mumbai) and the Sikkim government, aimed at promoting responsible tourism, showcasing India's border heritage and strengthening bonds between citizens and the armed forces, it said. A convoy of 17 supercars from Mumbai travel ...Read More >

Mandsaur (MP), Dec 17 (PTI) A leopard entered a densely populated area in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur city, prompting forest officials to launch an operation to rescue the big cat, an official said on Wednesday. The big cat entered the house of forest department staffer Shiv Sharma in Mayur Colony on Tuesday night. It jumped over a wall and sat in the rear side of the house where a cow and a calf were tied. After being alerted, a team of forest officials captured the male adult leopard by tranqu ...Read More >

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) The government on Wednesday decided to exercise green shoe option to divest a higher 3 per cent stake in Indian Overseas Bank through offer-for-sale following overwhelming response from investors on the first day of subscription. The OFS of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) opened for subscription on Wednesday for non-retail investors at a floor price of Rs 34 per share. "Offer for Sale in Indian Overseas Bank received good response from non-retail investors today. "Against a ...Read More >

Mumbai, Dec 17 (PTI) The Mumbai Congress on Wednesday took out a protest march to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office here, alleging misuse of central agencies by the BJP-led Union government in the National Herald case, and demanded an apology from the ruling party to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The protest march was led by Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad, who alleged that the ED was acting at the behest of the Modi government to harass the Congress leadership ...Read More >

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) India and Oman will sign a free trade agreement on Thursday in Muscat, opening greater opportunities for sectors such as textiles, food processing, automobiles, auto components, and gems and jewellery. It will be signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a four-day, three-nation visit. He arrived in Ethiopia on Tuesday from Jordan and will depart from Addis Ababa for Oman. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has reached Muscat for the FTA ...Read More >

New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Biopharmaceutical firm Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and IT services company Accenture on Wednesday announced the opening of a new AI-powered content hub, Mosaic, in Mumbai. The generative AI-enabled facility is designed to accelerate BMS's global commercialisation strategy through enhanced digital capabilities, enabling the rapid creation of hyper-personalised, patient-centric content tailored for healthcare professionals, according to a joint statement. The launch of Mos ...Read More >

Kolkata, Dec 17 (PTI) TMC's Lok Sabha leader Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday said the party would take appropriate action only if credible and complete video evidence emerges to substantiate allegations that a party MP smoked an e-cigarette inside Parliament. His remarks came amid a political row after BJP MP Anurag Thakur lodged a written complaint with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla last week, seeking action against a Trinamool Congress lawmaker for allegedly using an electronic cigarette inside t ...Read More >

Kolkata, Dec 17 (PTI) At a global conference in Kolkata, experts deliberated on making quantum machines, which are currently error-prone, reliable at scale, charting the next phase of the technology, organisers said on Wednesday. India's growing leadership in frontier quantum research took centre stage at the concluded International Conference on Quantum Information Science and Technology (ICQIST 2025), marking the finale of the United Nations-declared International Year of Quantum. Quantum en ...Read More >

Congress Members of Parliament on Wednesday staged a protest in the Parliament House complex, accusing the Centre of misusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) following relief granted to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. The protest came a day after a Delhi court refused to take cognisance of the ED's money laundering charges against the two Congress leaders. Party MPs said the court's decision proved that "truth has prevailed" in the case. Holding a banner reading "Sa ...Read More >

Mumbai, Dec 17 (PTI) The Nationalist Congress Party is ready to contest the January 15 Mumbai civic polls independently, but the final decision on the issue will be taken by NCP president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, party MLA Sana Malik said on Wednesday. The NCP is a constituent of the ruling Mahayuti, which also consists of the BJP and Shiv Sena. However, the BJP has made it clear it will not ally with the NCP for polls to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as ...Read More >

Bengaluru, Dec 17 (PTI) World No. 23 Denis Shapovalov unleashed just-enough power to beat Kites' Dakshineshwar Suresh to give an early 25-21 advantage to Hawks in the opening contest of the World Tennis League (WTL) here on Wednesday. Shapovalov won the fourth tie 7-5 to keep his side ahead. Suresh matched the Canadian star shot for shot in the first 10 games, primarily through his booming serve. Staying close to Suresh through a mix of big serves and ground shots, Shapovalov nosed ahead in t ...Read More >
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