By March 2025, the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah railway routes, recognized as the two most bustling, will be fully integrated with the Kavach anti-train collision system. Simultaneously, within the next 7-8 months, a state-of-the-art AI-based sensor system named "Gajraj" will be implemented along a 700 km track spanning various states to avert rail-related elephant fatalities. Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed that the AI-powered intrusion detection system, designed to prevent accidents involving elephants.
Protests erupted at National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Srinagar on Tuesday, triggered by allegations of blasphemous remarks made by a student from outside J&K against a particular religion. The accused student was subsequently rusticated by the NIT authorities.Police intervened to address the unrest and pacify the protesting students. A YouTube video purportedly containing the alleged offensive remarks led to demonstrations on the campus. “Investigation into the matter is ongoing,” Birdi said
After 17 days, all 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel were rescued. Arnold Dix, an international tunnel expert, played a major role in the rescue operation. Dix arrived on November 20 and inspected the site, ruling out collapse risks. He never promised a quick or easy rescue, but assured the workers would be home by Christmas. The workers were trapped in a 2 km-built portion of the tunnel after a portion caved in on November 12.
A pan kiosk in the remote Mungeli district of Chhattisgarh has restricted political discussions at his shop due to toxic arguments and threats. The owner, Mahaveer Singh Thakur, has put up a board outside the shop asking people to wait until December 3 and not waste time arguing over politics. The shop is a popular spot for locals to discuss news and elections over paan and tea. Thakur decided to take this step to maintain decorum and avoid heated arguments.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accuses BJP and BRS of prioritizing their own wealth and power over the welfare of the underprivileged. She criticizes the leaders of Telangana for neglecting the poor while becoming richer themselves. Priyanka Gandhi urges voters to reject BJP and BRS and sends a message that the people of Telangana cannot be bought. She highlights the alliance between BJP and BRS in Telangana and how AIMIM supports both parties.
A video of Dwaraka, the daughter of slain LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, has surfaced on social media. In the video, she proclaims to continue the struggle for political freedom of Sri Lankan Tamils. The video was streamed on a web portal and pro-Tamil Youtube channels. Dwaraka criticizes the Sri Lankan government for converting Tamil Eelam into a Sinhala Buddhist territory. She also mentions that the United Nations and global powers have failed to ensure justice for the Eelam Tamils.
PM Modi commemorates Constitution Day and highlights the first amendment of the Constitution during Nehru's tenure, which curtailed freedom of speech. He also mentions the rectification of the 42nd amendment, which was imposed during the Emergency by the Indira Gandhi government, through the 44th amendment. The 44th amendment restored powers to the judiciary and allowed judicial review of the election process. PM Modi recalls the adoption of the Constitution on November 26, 1949, and the decision to observe this day as Constitution Day.
Four terrorist associates, including one affiliated with Ansar Ghazwatul Hind (AGH) and three with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were arrested with arms and ammunition at security checkpoints in Kashmir Valley. The AGH affiliate, Farman Khursheed Wani, was apprehended in Shopian district, while the LeT trio was arrested in Baramulla district. Wani was tasked with carrying out attacks on security forces. Two other LeT associates, Zameer Ahmad Khanday and Mohammad Naseem Khanday, were intercepted carrying bags containing Chinese grenades and cash.
The Indian American community in the New York Metropolitan Area hosted a farewell reception for Consul General Randhir Jaiswal, who is moving on to his next role as the spokesperson of the external affairs ministry. The reception, attended by members of JAIPUR FOOT USA-BRAHUD SENIORS and Rajasthan Association North America, featured messages of goodbye and congratulations for Jaiswal. During his tenure, Jaiswal was actively involved in the repatriation of Indian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. He will be succeeded by Arindam Bagchi.
JP Nadda, the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), held a roadshow in Musheerabad, Telangana, showcasing the party's popularity. He stated that the people of Telangana want to get rid of the Congress and Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS), and will decide in favor of the BJP. Nadda mentioned that the people of Telangana have recognized the corruption within BRS and want to eliminate it. He also expressed that the people want to get rid of the corrupt Congress party.
India and the EU signed an MoU on semiconductors to strengthen the supply chains and promote cooperation in research, innovation, talent development, partnerships, and market information exchange. The Trade and Technology Council meeting discussed the progress made by the TTC working groups on strategic technologies, clean energy, resilient supply chains, and trade issues. Both sides expressed satisfaction and emphasized the need for practical outcomes and stakeholder consultations. They agreed to hold the next TTC meeting in India alongside the India-EU Summit.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) site in Bengaluru to review their manufacturing facility for Tejas jets. The Indian Air Force recently issued a tender to HAL for the purchase of 12 Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will be manufactured in India in partnership with Russian original equipment manufacturers. In a boost to India's defense sector, engines for the LCA Mark 2 and the first two squadrons of the indigenous AMCA will be produced domestically by American GE and HAL.
RJD's Shivanand Tiwari criticizes PM Modi for prioritizing temple renovation over poverty eradication; Tiwari expresses dismay over PM's focus on organizing pilgrimage tour of Char Daham; Tiwari highlights the grim level of hunger in the country; PM Modi extends free ration scheme for 80 crore poor people for next five years; Tiwari accuses PM of turning places of pilgrimage into picnic spots; Tiwari comments on PM's visit to Mathura and announcement of development for Braj.
Over 3 lakh people exercised their franchise via postal ballot ahead of the Rajasthan Assembly elections. 51,890 polling stations have been set up, with 12,500 booths marked sensitive. Webcasting and videography arrangements have been made at sensitive booths. Over 1 lakh police personnel have been deployed, along with facilities for differently-abled persons. Home voting facilities have been arranged and over 3 lakh people have cast their votes via postal ballot.
Rescue operation in the collapsed portion of Sikyara tunnel was delayed due to frequent obstacles of iron girders. The option of clearing the remaining stretch by experienced manual cutters is under consideration. Auger machine had to be stopped thrice during horizontal drilling. Steel lattice girders have been cut twice using gas cutters. Around 45-47 meters have been covered, with around 17-20 meters remaining.
The Joint Action Committee of Telangana Muslim organisations has announced their support for the Congress party in the upcoming State Legislative Assembly election. The committee stated that the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government failed to address their demands. They urged all Muslims in the state to vote for the Congress party and expressed concerns about the potential re-election of the BJP. The support from the Muslim community could be a setback for the BRS government.
A Maratha outfit on Tuesday withdrew its opposition to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' visit to Lord Vitthal temple in Pandharpur to perform puja on the occasion of Kartiki Ekadashi, which falls on Thursday. The members of Sakal Maratha Samaj (SMS) had asked the temple trust to not invite Fadnavis for the conventional annual puja till their demands, including the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to the Maratha community and the construction of Maratha Bhavan in Pandharpur and a sub-centre of SARTHI, are fulfilled.
Exasperated by the interminable delay on the part of Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi in processing bills sent for his assent after being passed by the assembly, one as far back as January 2020, the Supreme Court on Monday said, “After we passed the order, the governor took action. What was the governor doing for three years?” The SC was irked by the fact that the governor, after the court’s order frowning upon the delay, cleared some long-pending bills on November 13.
Anjali Damania, an anti-corruption activist, has given a deadline to Chhagan Bhujbal, the food and civil supplies minister, and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal, to settle the dues owed to a widow whose property they allegedly grabbed. Damania stated that if the dues are not paid, they will hold a peaceful vigil outside the building. Sameer Bhujbal had agreed to pay the family Rs 8.5 crores after the intervention of an NCP leader, but Damania insists that the entire sum should be paid upfront.
The World Cup final led to a boost in air traffic in India, with almost 460,000 domestic flyers on Saturday. This was the highest-ever figure recorded, in contrast to the lean daily numbers seen during the Diwali season. Industry insiders attribute this to the high advance fares set by airlines before Diwali, which led travellers to choose AC classes on premium trains instead. However, looking at the excitement in the audience, airlines later lowered the fares.
The Hyderabad police have frozen a sum of Rs 8 crore that was transferred online from a bank account of Visaka Industries to a security service provider. The transaction was flagged due to its high value, in light of the upcoming Telangana Assembly polls. The police visited the bank's branch, enquired about the transaction, and froze the amount. Further investigation will be carried out to determine the legality of the transaction.
Former J&K minister and Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party chairman Chaudhary Lal Singh, who was arrested by ED in Jammu on November 7 in connection with an alleged money laundering case, was sent to judicial custody for two weeks by a CBI special designated court on Saturday.The 64-year-old Lal Singh appeared before the court through video conferencing. The case involves an educational trust run by his wife and former MLA Kanta Andotra under PMLA.
West Bengal tea industry | Cup of woes
Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a rally in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Shah mentioned how Gandhi used to taunt him about the dates for the inauguration of the Ram Mandir. Shah announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be performing the "pran pratishtha" of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024. He also promised that if the BJP retains power in Madhya Pradesh, the government will arrange for people from the state to visit the Ram temple.
The BJP General Secretary in West Bengal, Agnimitra Paul, has denied allegations that her party was involved in the killing of a local Trinamool Congress leader. She criticized the Chief Minister and her party for blaming the BJP for the murder and called on Mamata Banerjee to stop engaging in low-level politics. Paul also accused the TMC of using minorities as a vote bank and stated that most killings in the state are the result of infighting within the TMC.
The Supreme Court of India has stated that the Constitutional Court should avoid setting fixed time limits for case disposal, unless the situation is exceptional. The court made this statement while dismissing a plea requesting a fixed time frame for the disposal of a criminal matter. The court emphasized that due to the enormous backlog of cases in high courts, some delays in the disposal of petitions are unavoidable. However, the court also mentioned that if there is an urgent need, the concerned bench can be approached for immediate action.
A portion of an under-construction tunnel of the Char Dham all-weather highway project collapsed in Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. Around 40 laborers are feared trapped inside. Rescue teams are working to reach them and provide oxygen and food supply. The tunnel, part of the project to widen roads connecting four Himalayan shrines, is one of the longest tunnels and will reduce the distance between Uttarkashi and Yamunotri by 26km. The collapse occurred near the Silkayara side of the tunnel, but there is a safe space between the landslide area and the tunnel's dead-end.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi who addressed a rally here on Saturday had to interrupt his speech for a moment after he noticed a young woman climbing a structure on which lights were fixed in the Parade Grounds. Modi was in the city to address a meeting organised by the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS), a community organisation of Madigas, one of the biggest constituents of Scheduled Castes in Telugu states. PM Modi also consoled MRPS founder Krishna Madiga, who broke down into tears and hugged him.
Indian-American singer Falu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's collaboration on a song promoting the benefits of millets has been nominated for a Grammy award in the best global music performance category. The song, titled "Abundance in Millets," was released in celebration of the "International Year of Millets" and aims to raise awareness about the grain as a potential solution to world hunger. Falu was inspired to create the song after meeting PM Modi in New Delhi following her Grammy win in 2022.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah virtually addressed the 62nd Raising Day ceremony of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and inaugurated the Self Sustainable Energy Buildings (SSEB) and drones for the supply of essential commodities at Border Observation Posts (BOPs). Shah emphasized the nation's respect for soldiers and highlighted the government's commitment to fortifying border security. He unveiled an energy-efficient building at 17,000 feet altitude and announced the use of drones for supplying remote BOPs.
Senior officers from ministries and central government departments have been asked to visit villages near the northern border in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh. The aim is to assess the challenges faced by the people living in these villages and identify gaps in implementation and planning. The visits are part of the government's Vibrant Villages Programme, which aims to comprehensively develop select villages in border areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the importance of these villages and urged states to assign their best officers to these areas.
Experts at the International Convention on Millets in Bhubaneswar have suggested that millets should be included in a baby's diet for the first 1000 days of their life. The convention discussed a 10-year policy roadmap for promoting millets in India, and experts stressed the need for increased cultivation area, incentives for farmers, and the inclusion of millets in the public distribution system. They also called for research on agriculture and the promotion of nutrition-rich and organic millets.
Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud emphasized the importance of women's status in determining the worth of a nation. He stated that ascribing worth to women is not just a women's issue but primarily a man's issue as well. The CJI also highlighted the need for forward-looking policies and judgments to ensure that social welfare measures benefit citizens. He called for the use of technology to facilitate legal awareness and ensure the delivery of justice to those seeking it.
Anuj Keshwani, a co-accused in the drug possession case involving Rhea Chakrabarty and the late Sushant Singh Rajput, has been granted bail by the Bombay High Court. Keshwani was arrested in 2020 for possessing a commercial quantity of drugs. The court noted that he is the last of the accused to be granted bail, with 35 others already released. The trial is expected to be lengthy, with 160 witnesses to be examined. Keshwani's bail was granted based on a Supreme Court order for another co-accused.
The Indian Army's aviation corps plans to replace its fleet of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters with indigenously built ones within the next 10-12 years. The army is exploring options like leasing helicopters temporarily and then acquiring them from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. "For the replacement of Cheetah and Chetaks in Army Aviation, a two-pronged approach has been adopted. We are progressing with the induction of Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) and looking at alternative replacement helicopter, said a senior Army officer.
The Energy Transition Dialogues (TETD) recently concluded with the release of TETD Communique, a roadmap for accelerating a sustainable energy transition in India and the world. The Communique covers key areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, decarbonisation of transport, and clean energy financing. The Global Biofuels Alliance was also announced during the event. A report on accelerating battery storage adoption in India was released, highlighting the importance of integrating battery energy storage systems at the distribution level.
Union Minister Smriti Irani has accused Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of being controlled by a remote from Dubai, suggesting his involvement in the Mahadev betting app scandal. She claimed that the Congress government had cheated the women of Chhattisgarh by not fulfilling its promise to ban liquor, instead looting Rs 2,000 crore through a liquor scam.
The BJP has released a video in which Shubham Soni, an accused in the Mahadev Book betting app case, claims to be its owner and alleges that he has paid Rs 508 crore to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh has dismissed the video as a conspiracy by the BJP. The Enforcement Directorate is investigating the illegal betting app syndicate and has raided Mahadev Book in Chhattisgarh. The Centre has also blocked 22 illegal betting platforms, including the Mahadev app.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter to a school girl from Chhattisgarh who had gifted him a sketch during his election rally. In the letter, Modi praised the girl for her sketch and expressed his gratitude for her loving expression. He also encouraged her to study well and fulfill her dreams, stating that the next 25 years will be crucial for the youth and the country. The girl and her family were excited and grateful for the letter, and she plans to frame it as a keepsake.
Responding to the increased complaints from airline pilots about their fatiguing work hours and its possible implications on flight safety, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday released a draft of revised duty and rest period norms for airline flight crew. Some of the changes proposed are increased rest period after seven days of duty, revised definition of night duty and most importantly, it states, airlines shall ensure adequate buffer margins during roster planning.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to defame the popular Congress government using agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Baghel responded to the ED's claims that the promoters of the Mahadev app paid him Rs 508 crore, stating that it was a political conspiracy. He questioned how large sums of money were being brought into the state during the ongoing elections and suggested the involvement of central agencies.
The Congress party has approved the appointment of Lok Sabha Observers for the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. The elections will be held in two phases on November 7 and 17. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed confidence that his party would come out victorious in the polls, stating that the public wants to vote for the Congress party. Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, calling him a 'pre-paid CM' of Congress. The counting of votes will take place on December 3.
Jyotiraditya Scindia has criticized the Congress party, calling its 15-month-long rule in Madhya Pradesh a government of cuts, commission, and corruption. He also questioned the Congress's use of the Jai-Veeru analogy, stating that the characters in the movie Sholay were known for cheating and stealing. Scindia emphasized that the Scindia family should not be included in the race for the chief minister position. Madhya Pradesh is one of the five states set to undergo polls in one phase on November 17 and the counting of votes will take place on December 3.
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