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Category: Government of India

  • Trump releases Martin Luther King assassination files

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The U.S. Justice Department on Monday released more than 240,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., including records from the FBI, which had surveilled the civil rights leader as part of an effort to discredit the Nobel Peace Prize winner and his civil rights movement.

    Files were posted on the website of the National Archives, which said more would be released.

    King died of an assassin’s bullet in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968, as he increasingly extended his attention from a nonviolent campaign for equal rights for African Americans to economic issues and calls for peace. His death shook the United States in a year that would also bring race riots, anti-Vietnam war demonstrations and the assassination of presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy.

    Earlier this year, President Donald Trump’s administration released thousands of pages of digital documents related to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and former President John F. Kennedy, who was killed in 1963.

    Trump promised on the campaign trail to provide more transparency about Kennedy’s death. Upon taking office, he also ordered aides to present a plan for the release of records relating to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and King.

    The FBI kept files on King in the 1950s and 1960s – even wiretapping his phones – because of what the bureau falsely said at the time were his suspected ties to communism during the Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union. In recent years, the FBI has acknowledged that as an example of “abuse and overreach” in its history.

    The civil rights leader’s family asked those who engage with the files to “do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family’s continuing grief,” and condemned “any attempts to misuse these documents.”

    “Now more than ever, we must honor his sacrifice by committing ourselves to the realization of his dream – a society rooted in compassion, unity, and equality,” they said in a statement.

    “During our father’s lifetime, he was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by J. Edgar Hoover through the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” the family, including his two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62, said, referring to the then-FBI director.

    James Earl Ray, a segregationist and drifter, confessed to killing King but later recanted. He died in prison in 1998.

    King’s family said it had filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in Tennessee in 1999 that led to a jury unanimously concluding “that our father was the victim of a conspiracy involving Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies as a part of a wider scheme. The verdict also affirmed that someone other than James Earl Ray was the shooter, and that Mr. Ray was set up to take the blame. Our family views that verdict as an affirmation of our long-held beliefs.”

    Jowers, once a Memphis police officer, told ABC’s Prime Time Live in 1993 that he participated in a plot to kill King. A 2023 Justice Department report called his claims dubious.

    (Reuters)

  • IMF’s Gita Gopinath to step down in August, return to Harvard University

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Gita Gopinath, the No. 2 official at the International Monetary Fund, will leave her post at the end of August to return to Harvard University, the IMF said in a statement on Monday.

    IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will name a successor to Gopinath in “due course,” the IMF said.

    Gopinath joined the fund in 2019 as chief economist – the first woman to serve in that role – and was promoted to first deputy managing director in January 2022.

    No comment was immediately available from the U.S. Treasury, which manages the dominant U.S. shareholding in the IMF. While European countries have traditionally chosen the Fund’s managing director, the U.S. Treasury has traditionally recommended candidates for the first deputy managing director role.

    Gopinath is an Indian-born U.S. citizen.

    The timing of the move caught some IMF insiders by surprise, and appears to have been initiated by Gopinath.

    Gopinath, who had left Harvard to join the IMF, will return to the university as a professor of economics.

    Gopinath’s departure will offer Treasury a chance to recommend a successor at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to restructure the global economy and end longstanding U.S. trade deficits with high tariffs on imports from nearly all countries.

    She will return to a university that has been in the Trump administration’s crosshairs after it rejected demands to change its governance, hiring, and admissions practices.

    Georgieva said Gopinath joined the IMF as a highly respected academic and proved to be an “exceptional intellectual leader” during her time, which included the pandemic and global shocks caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    “Gita steered the Fund’s analytical and policy work with clarity, striving for the highest standards of rigorous analysis at a complex time of high uncertainty and rapidly changing global economic environment,” Georgieva said.

    Gopinath has also overseen the fund’s multilateral surveillance and analytical work on fiscal and monetary policy, debt, and international trade.

    Gopinath said she was grateful for a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to work at the IMF, thanking both Georgieva and the previous IMF chief, Christine Lagarde, who appointed her as chief economist.

    “I now return to my roots in academia, where I look forward to continuing to push the research frontier in international finance and macroeconomics to address global challenges, and to training the next generation of economists,” she said in a statement.

    (Reuters)

  • IMF’s Gita Gopinath to step down in August, return to Harvard University

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Gita Gopinath, the No. 2 official at the International Monetary Fund, will leave her post at the end of August to return to Harvard University, the IMF said in a statement on Monday.

    IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will name a successor to Gopinath in “due course,” the IMF said.

    Gopinath joined the fund in 2019 as chief economist – the first woman to serve in that role – and was promoted to first deputy managing director in January 2022.

    No comment was immediately available from the U.S. Treasury, which manages the dominant U.S. shareholding in the IMF. While European countries have traditionally chosen the Fund’s managing director, the U.S. Treasury has traditionally recommended candidates for the first deputy managing director role.

    Gopinath is an Indian-born U.S. citizen.

    The timing of the move caught some IMF insiders by surprise, and appears to have been initiated by Gopinath.

    Gopinath, who had left Harvard to join the IMF, will return to the university as a professor of economics.

    Gopinath’s departure will offer Treasury a chance to recommend a successor at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to restructure the global economy and end longstanding U.S. trade deficits with high tariffs on imports from nearly all countries.

    She will return to a university that has been in the Trump administration’s crosshairs after it rejected demands to change its governance, hiring, and admissions practices.

    Georgieva said Gopinath joined the IMF as a highly respected academic and proved to be an “exceptional intellectual leader” during her time, which included the pandemic and global shocks caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    “Gita steered the Fund’s analytical and policy work with clarity, striving for the highest standards of rigorous analysis at a complex time of high uncertainty and rapidly changing global economic environment,” Georgieva said.

    Gopinath has also overseen the fund’s multilateral surveillance and analytical work on fiscal and monetary policy, debt, and international trade.

    Gopinath said she was grateful for a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to work at the IMF, thanking both Georgieva and the previous IMF chief, Christine Lagarde, who appointed her as chief economist.

    “I now return to my roots in academia, where I look forward to continuing to push the research frontier in international finance and macroeconomics to address global challenges, and to training the next generation of economists,” she said in a statement.

    (Reuters)

  • Meri Panchayat App secures WSIS Champion Award 2025 for Digital Governance Excellence

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The “Meri Panchayat” mobile application, a transformative digital governance initiative by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), has been honored with the prestigious World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2025 Champion Award. The accolade, awarded under the Action Line Category for Cultural Diversity and Identity, Linguistic Diversity, and Local Content, was presented at the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The WSIS Champion Certificate was formally handed over to Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, during a ceremonial event in New Delhi, attended by Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, and Secretary MoPR, Vivek Bharadwaj, among other senior officials.

    Rajiv Ranjan Singh praised the Meri Panchayat initiative for advancing citizen-centric governance through digital innovation. He highlighted the importance of leveraging such tools to enhance transparency, promote participatory democracy, and bridge the knowledge divide at the grassroots level. The app, recognized as a WSIS Prizes 2025 Champion Project, exemplifies India’s global leadership in digital governance.

    The WSIS+20 High-Level Event, held from July 7 to 11 in Geneva, marked two decades since the original WSIS. Co-hosted by ITU and the Swiss Confederation, and co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD, the forum served as a platform to evaluate progress and address challenges in building inclusive information societies. Sunita Jain, Senior Director, NIC/MoPR, accepted the Champion Award on behalf of the Government of India on July 10 during the event.

    The Meri Panchayat app empowers over 25 lakh elected representatives and approximately 950 million rural residents across India’s 2.65 lakh Gram Panchayats. It provides real-time access to panchayat budgets, receipts, payments, and development plans, along with details of elected representatives, public infrastructure, and civic services. The app also offers access to Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), project tracking, weather forecasts at the Gram Panchayat level, social audit tools, fund utilization data, and grievance redressal with geo-tagged and geo-fenced features. Supporting over 12 Indian languages, the app ensures inclusivity through its multilingual interface. Citizens can propose new projects, review and rate implemented works, and access Gram Sabha agendas and decisions, fostering greater civic engagement and transparency in rural governance.

  • Meri Panchayat App secures WSIS Champion Award 2025 for Digital Governance Excellence

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The “Meri Panchayat” mobile application, a transformative digital governance initiative by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), has been honored with the prestigious World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2025 Champion Award. The accolade, awarded under the Action Line Category for Cultural Diversity and Identity, Linguistic Diversity, and Local Content, was presented at the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The WSIS Champion Certificate was formally handed over to Union Minister of Panchayati Raj, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, during a ceremonial event in New Delhi, attended by Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, and Secretary MoPR, Vivek Bharadwaj, among other senior officials.

    Rajiv Ranjan Singh praised the Meri Panchayat initiative for advancing citizen-centric governance through digital innovation. He highlighted the importance of leveraging such tools to enhance transparency, promote participatory democracy, and bridge the knowledge divide at the grassroots level. The app, recognized as a WSIS Prizes 2025 Champion Project, exemplifies India’s global leadership in digital governance.

    The WSIS+20 High-Level Event, held from July 7 to 11 in Geneva, marked two decades since the original WSIS. Co-hosted by ITU and the Swiss Confederation, and co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD, the forum served as a platform to evaluate progress and address challenges in building inclusive information societies. Sunita Jain, Senior Director, NIC/MoPR, accepted the Champion Award on behalf of the Government of India on July 10 during the event.

    The Meri Panchayat app empowers over 25 lakh elected representatives and approximately 950 million rural residents across India’s 2.65 lakh Gram Panchayats. It provides real-time access to panchayat budgets, receipts, payments, and development plans, along with details of elected representatives, public infrastructure, and civic services. The app also offers access to Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs), project tracking, weather forecasts at the Gram Panchayat level, social audit tools, fund utilization data, and grievance redressal with geo-tagged and geo-fenced features. Supporting over 12 Indian languages, the app ensures inclusivity through its multilingual interface. Citizens can propose new projects, review and rate implemented works, and access Gram Sabha agendas and decisions, fostering greater civic engagement and transparency in rural governance.

  • Death toll rises to 27 in Bangladesh air force jet crash, official says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    At least 27 people were killed after a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into a college and school campus in Dhaka, officials said on Tuesday, with 88 people, including children, being treated in hospital.

    The F-7 BGI aircraft crashed soon after it took off at 1:06 p.m. (0706 GMT) on Monday from the airbase in Kurmitola in the capital on a routine training mission. The military said the plane experienced a mechanical failure.

    Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser on health, told reporters that 27 people had died and 88 were admitted to hospital with burn injuries.

    The government announced a day of mourning, with flags at half-mast and special prayers at all places of worship.

    The pilot was among those killed in the incident, the military said, adding that a committee had been formed to investigate what happened.

    The F-7  BGI is the final and most advanced variant in China’s Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft family, according to Jane’s Information Group. Bangladesh signed a contract for 16 aircraft in 2011 and deliveries were completed by 2013.

    The crash comes weeks after an Air India plane crashed into a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad in neighbouring India, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground in the world’s worst aviation disaster in a decade.

    (Reuters)

  • Female participation in skill training rises as govt expands outreach

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Centre is expanding its efforts to improve employability among Indian youth—particularly women—through focused skill development programmes under the Skill India Mission (SIM), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.

    As part of SIM, the government is providing training through schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and the Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) via Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). These programmes aim to equip youth with future-ready, industry-relevant skills, the ministry said.

    To increase women’s participation, the government has introduced special provisions for transport, boarding and lodging, and post-placement support. PMKVY 4.0 has prioritised projects that designate women as the primary beneficiaries. Courses in sectors such as electronics, retail, healthcare, beauty and wellness, handicrafts, and apparel have been structured to attract more women trainees.

    The ministry said that Skill Hubs and Special Projects are actively designed to align with local skill demands and facilitate rural women’s access to training. As a result, female participation in apprenticeship schemes has risen—from 22.79% in 2024–25 to 25.80% in 2025–26.

    Under the JSS scheme, more than 80% of beneficiaries are women. The government also runs 19 National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and over 300 ITIs exclusively for women. A 30% reservation for women candidates has been approved across all ITIs—both government and private—allowing each state to implement its own reservation policy.

    The MSDE has also launched several new initiatives. One of them is NAVYA, a pilot programme for adolescent girls (16–18 years) with at least Class 10 education. Developed in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), NAVYA focuses on providing vocational training in non-traditional roles.

    Additionally, the Swavalambini programme—launched in February 2025 in collaboration with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform of NITI Aayog—aims to nurture entrepreneurial mindsets among young women in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana. The initiative includes awareness and development training and is being implemented by NIESBUD (Noida) and IIE (Guwahati).

     

  • More than 34 crore jobs created in MSME sector since 2014: Centre

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Over 34 crore people have gained employment through micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) since 2014 via the Udyam and Udyam Assist portals, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi told the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

    Responding to a question in the Upper House, the Minister of MSMEs said there is no shortage of funds or workers in the sector. He also cited examples of traditional workers, such as cobblers, who have received financial support under schemes like the PM Vishwakarma Yojana.

    The government considers MSMEs the backbone of India’s industrial growth and has undertaken a series of measures to strengthen the sector. One major step was the revision of the MSME definition after 14 years, aimed at removing the fear of losing government benefits due to business expansion. The revised definition also makes access to credit easier.

    The number of MSMEs in India has crossed 6 crore, the minister said, adding that lending to the sector has surged from ₹12 lakh crore a decade ago to around ₹30 lakh crore.

    In his Budget speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the guarantee cover for MSME loans would be doubled to ₹20 crore. The government also plans to roll out customised credit cards with a ₹5 lakh limit to meet working capital needs.

    Meanwhile, NITI Aayog has released a report suggesting systemic reforms in financing, skilling, innovation, and market access to unlock the sector’s full potential. It said MSMEs can become a key driver of sustainable growth through targeted interventions and stronger institutional support.

    Between 2020 and 2024, the share of micro and small enterprises accessing credit through scheduled banks rose from 14% to 20%, while access among medium enterprises increased from 4% to 9%, the report noted.

  • More than 34 crore jobs created in MSME sector since 2014: Centre

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Over 34 crore people have gained employment through micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) since 2014 via the Udyam and Udyam Assist portals, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi told the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

    Responding to a question in the Upper House, the Minister of MSMEs said there is no shortage of funds or workers in the sector. He also cited examples of traditional workers, such as cobblers, who have received financial support under schemes like the PM Vishwakarma Yojana.

    The government considers MSMEs the backbone of India’s industrial growth and has undertaken a series of measures to strengthen the sector. One major step was the revision of the MSME definition after 14 years, aimed at removing the fear of losing government benefits due to business expansion. The revised definition also makes access to credit easier.

    The number of MSMEs in India has crossed 6 crore, the minister said, adding that lending to the sector has surged from ₹12 lakh crore a decade ago to around ₹30 lakh crore.

    In his Budget speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the guarantee cover for MSME loans would be doubled to ₹20 crore. The government also plans to roll out customised credit cards with a ₹5 lakh limit to meet working capital needs.

    Meanwhile, NITI Aayog has released a report suggesting systemic reforms in financing, skilling, innovation, and market access to unlock the sector’s full potential. It said MSMEs can become a key driver of sustainable growth through targeted interventions and stronger institutional support.

    Between 2020 and 2024, the share of micro and small enterprises accessing credit through scheduled banks rose from 14% to 20%, while access among medium enterprises increased from 4% to 9%, the report noted.

  • Russia and Ukraine edge closer to first talks in seven weeks

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russia and Ukraine appear close to agreeing to hold a new round of peace talks in Turkey this week, although the Kremlin said on Monday that the two sides held “diametrically opposed” positions on how to end the war.

    Two days after Ukraine called for new talks in Istanbul this week, Russian state news agency TASS quoted an unidentified source as saying that negotiators – who have not sat down together for seven weeks – may meet there on Thursday and Friday.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told a gathering of his diplomats in Kyiv: “We need greater momentum in negotiations to end the war.”

    He added: “The agenda from our side is clear: the return of prisoners of war, the return of children abducted by Russia, and the preparation of a leaders’ meeting.”

    Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is under increasing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to show progress towards ending the conflict, turned down a previous challenge from Zelenskiy to meet him in person.

    Putin has repeatedly said he does not see Zelenskiy as a legitimate leader because Ukraine, which is under martial law, did not hold new elections when his five-year mandate expired last year.

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that as soon as there was a definitive understanding of the date for the next round of talks, then Moscow would announce it.

    “There is our draft memorandum, there is a draft memorandum that has been handed over by the Ukrainian side. There is to be an exchange of views and talks on these two drafts, which are diametrically opposed so far,” Peskov said.

    Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul, on May 16 and June 2, that led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers. But the two sides have made no breakthrough towards a ceasefire or a settlement to end almost three and a half years of war.

    Trump said last week he would impose new sanctions in 50 days on Russia and countries that buy its exports if there is no deal before then to end the conflict.

    -Reuters

  • Centre launches SASCI scheme to develop iconic tourist destinations at global standards

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Ministry of Tourism has rolled out operational guidelines for the ‘Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment – Development of Iconic Tourist Centres to Global Scale’ (SASCI) scheme, aimed at transforming select tourist destinations into globally competitive attractions.

    Under the scheme, the Centre intends to provide funding support for comprehensive development of iconic sites, with a focus on enhancing the end-to-end tourist experience. This includes strengthening the entire tourism value chain—from infrastructure to branding, sustainability, and operations.

    Project proposals submitted by state governments were evaluated based on parameters such as site connectivity, ecological sustainability, existing tourism infrastructure, carrying capacity, management models, potential impact, and marketing plans. Final selection and approval of projects have been made in line with the institutional framework laid out in the SASCI guidelines.

    While the government will provide financial support for the projects until March 31, 2026, the implementation and management of the sanctioned projects will rest with the respective State Governments. Each project is expected to be completed within a two-year period.

    The Ministry of Tourism will also support the promotion of these destinations through its ongoing domestic and international campaigns, including digital platforms, events, and social media.

    Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared this information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

  • Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns as Vice President citing health reasons

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from office on Monday, citing health concerns and the need to follow medical advice. His resignation, addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, comes into effect immediately under Article 67(a) of the Constitution.

    In his resignation letter, Dhankhar said, “To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately.”

    The 72-year-old, who also served as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, expressed gratitude to the President for her “unwavering support” and the “wonderfully harmonious working relationship” they shared during his tenure.

    Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers, Dhankhar said, “Prime Minister’s cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office.”

    He also acknowledged the trust and warmth extended by Members of Parliament, calling it a “cherished memory.”

    Reflecting on his time in office, Dhankhar said it had been a privilege to witness India’s economic growth and transformation. “Serving in this transformative era of our nation’s history has been a true honour,” he noted. “As I leave this esteemed office, I am filled with pride in Bharat’s global rise and phenomenal achievements and hold unwavering confidence in her brilliant future.”

    His resignation came on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

  • Bihar becomes first state to cap all polling stations below 1,200 electors; 12,817 new stations added

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Bihar has become the first state in the country to ensure that all polling stations have fewer than 1,200 electors, a move aimed at reducing overcrowding and enhancing voter convenience. The Election Commission has added 12,817 new polling stations across the state, raising the total number of polling stations from 77,895 to 90,712.

    This development follows the State Instructional Representation (SIR) order issued on June 24, 2025, which revised the earlier ceiling of 1,500 electors per polling station to 1,200. The model is expected to serve as a template for other states and Union Territories ahead of future electoral exercises.

    In preparation for the publication of the Draft Electoral Rolls on August 1, 2025, electoral officers at various levels—Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), District Electoral Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs)—have held extensive consultations with representatives of all 12 major political parties.

    As part of the ongoing efforts to ensure inclusive voter registration, election authorities have shared detailed lists of 29.62 lakh electors whose application forms are yet to be received, as well as 43.93 lakh electors who were not found at their registered addresses. Political parties have been urged to coordinate with their respective District Presidents and nearly 1.5 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to reach out to these individuals and assist in updating the records.

    The Election Commission has emphasized a “mission mode” approach to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded from the draft electoral rolls. Once the draft rolls are published on August 1, members of the public will be able to submit objections or requests for additions, deletions, or rectifications for a full one-month period, in line with provisions laid out in the June 24 SIR order.

    This collaborative push involving election authorities and political stakeholders is part of a broader effort to strengthen the electoral process and improve voter accessibility ahead of the upcoming elections.

  • Bihar becomes first state to cap all polling stations below 1,200 electors; 12,817 new stations added

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Bihar has become the first state in the country to ensure that all polling stations have fewer than 1,200 electors, a move aimed at reducing overcrowding and enhancing voter convenience. The Election Commission has added 12,817 new polling stations across the state, raising the total number of polling stations from 77,895 to 90,712.

    This development follows the State Instructional Representation (SIR) order issued on June 24, 2025, which revised the earlier ceiling of 1,500 electors per polling station to 1,200. The model is expected to serve as a template for other states and Union Territories ahead of future electoral exercises.

    In preparation for the publication of the Draft Electoral Rolls on August 1, 2025, electoral officers at various levels—Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), District Electoral Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Booth Level Officers (BLOs)—have held extensive consultations with representatives of all 12 major political parties.

    As part of the ongoing efforts to ensure inclusive voter registration, election authorities have shared detailed lists of 29.62 lakh electors whose application forms are yet to be received, as well as 43.93 lakh electors who were not found at their registered addresses. Political parties have been urged to coordinate with their respective District Presidents and nearly 1.5 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to reach out to these individuals and assist in updating the records.

    The Election Commission has emphasized a “mission mode” approach to ensure that no eligible voter is excluded from the draft electoral rolls. Once the draft rolls are published on August 1, members of the public will be able to submit objections or requests for additions, deletions, or rectifications for a full one-month period, in line with provisions laid out in the June 24 SIR order.

    This collaborative push involving election authorities and political stakeholders is part of a broader effort to strengthen the electoral process and improve voter accessibility ahead of the upcoming elections.

  • Over 3.3 crore candidates trained under NSDC and PMKVY schemes in 10 years: Govt

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    More than 3.3 crore individuals have received skill training under various initiatives of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) over the past decade, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.

    Responding to a written query, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary said that over 1.6 crore candidates have been trained or oriented under PMKVY, of whom 1.29 crore have been certified as of June 30, 2025. Under other programmes supported by the NSDC, an additional 1.74 crore individuals have been trained.

    The minister also said that NSDC has facilitated the certification of over 2.32 lakh trainers through awarding bodies. The trainer-to-beneficiary ratio, he noted, varies depending on the nature of training, batch size, sectoral requirements, and geographical factors.

    The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana is implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) through the NSDC. Though the government holds only 49 per cent equity in NSDC, it maintains oversight through representation on the board. To ensure standardisation and transparency, the government has introduced several regulatory and technological measures, particularly under the PMKVY 4.0 framework, which is currently in force.

    Chaudhary said PMKVY 4.0 places a strong emphasis on quality, industry relevance and flexibility. He added that On-the-Job Training (OJT) has been embedded in the short-term training component to offer practical exposure to candidates.

    The government has also introduced digital systems such as the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH), which monitors the full training cycle—ranging from Aadhaar-based enrolment and biometric attendance to geo-tagging and real-time dashboard updates. Training is conducted only by certified trainers and assessed by certified assessors. Measures such as e-KYC-based enrolment, performance audits, third-party evaluations and grievance redressal mechanisms have been put in place to enhance accountability.

    As of FY 2024–25, the MSDE has released ₹1,538.29 crore for the implementation of PMKVY. No funds have been released so far in the current financial year. Detailed State and UT-wise disbursal data has been published in the ministry’s official annexure.

    PMKVY, the minister said, is being implemented across all districts and is aimed at ensuring accessibility and inclusion, particularly for marginalised communities. Training centres are being set up even in Aspirational Districts and those affected by Left-Wing Extremism.

    Chaudhary said the scheme has also begun offering training in emerging sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, Electric Vehicles, Robotics, 5G and Data Analytics to make the workforce future-ready. He added that job roles are aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework and undergo regular updates based on feedback from industry and placement outcomes.

  • PM Modi condoles loss of lives in Dhaka air crash, offers India’s support

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condoled the loss of lives in the tragic air crash in Dhaka. He assured that India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance.

    In a post on X, the Prime Minister said:

    “Deeply shocked and saddened at the loss of lives, many of them young students, in a tragic air crash in Dhaka. Our hearts go out to the bereaved families. We pray for the swift recovery of those injured. India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance.”

    At least 19 people were killed and 164 injured when a Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into a college and school campus in Dhaka on Monday. The aircraft experienced a technical problem shortly after take-off, a military spokesperson confirmed.

    The F-7 BGI jet took off at 1:06 p.m. local time (0706 GMT) from the Bangladesh Air Force base in Kurmitola, Dhaka, as part of a routine training mission. It encountered a mechanical failure soon after take-off, said military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Sami Ud Dowla Chowdhury.

    “The pilot made a valiant attempt to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas. Despite his best efforts, the aircraft crashed into a two-storey building belonging to Milestone School and College,” he stated.

    The pilot was among those killed in the crash. The Bangladesh military has formed a committee to investigate the cause of the incident.

  • 497 DPMUs under PM Vishwakarma scheme to ensure effective implementation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A total of 497 District Project Management Units (DPMUs) have been appointed across 618 districts in the country to facilitate on-ground execution and monitoring of the PM Vishwakarma Scheme

    The PM Vishwakarma Scheme is being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance. The MoMSME acts as the nodal ministry for overall implementation and coordination, while the MSDE is responsible for the skilling component, with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) serving as the Project Implementing Agency (PIA).

    DPMUs play a key role in the effective outreach and coordination of the scheme. Their responsibilities include generating awareness among Vishwakarma beneficiaries, communicating training schedules, batch timings, training centre locations, and benefits. They also ensure regular monitoring of training centres to maintain adherence to established guidelines.

    As of July 16, 497 DPMUs have been deployed, with 107 of them assigned to manage multiple districts due to specific project needs and operational requirements. Despite multiple assignments, no instances of double payments have been reported, as payment processing is strictly based on verified personnel deployment.

    The functioning of DPMUs is closely monitored through a task-based review system. Daily tasks are assigned by the PIA, with weekly performance reviews in place. DPMUs undergo physical orientation sessions before deployment and are continuously guided through physical and virtual meetings by the PIA. They also work in coordination with the Regional Directorates of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (RDSDEs) to ensure efficient implementation at the district level.

    A weekly tracking mechanism has been established by the PIA to monitor progress, and supervision and evaluation of DPMU operations are conducted on a weekly basis.

    The information was shared by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Monday.

    For detailed State/UT-wise information on DPMUs, including those managing multiple districts, the public may refer to the Ministry’s official website at [www.msde.gov.in/documents]

  • Parliament passes Bill to simplify, update framework for shipping documents

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025—previously cleared by the Lok Sabha in March this year—to replace the 169-year-old colonial-era shipping law with a simplified, modern legal framework for shipping documents.

    The bill was approved in the Upper House by a voice vote in the absence of the Opposition, who staged a walkout during the post-lunch session.

    In an effort to support the country’s growing shipping sector, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal moved the bill for consideration and passage by the Rajya Sabha.

    Sonowal said the new legislation will replace the Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856, and be enacted as the Bills of Lading Act, 2025. The proposed law aims to provide a more modern and user-friendly framework for maritime shipping.

    With both Houses of Parliament now having approved the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, it will be sent to the President of India for her assent before being promulgated as law.

    The current British-era law—a brief three-section Act—primarily governs the transfer of rights and confirms that goods have been loaded onto a vessel. However, with the evolution of the shipping industry and changing global trade dynamics, India requires a more comprehensive and internationally aligned legal structure.

    The Bills of Lading Bill, 2024, seeks to rename and replace the existing law with the Bills of Lading Act, 2025, introducing several key reforms. It simplifies the language and reorganises the provisions without altering their core intent.

    The legislation also empowers the Central Government to issue directions for its implementation and includes a standard repeal and saving clause, effectively eliminating the colonial legacy of the 1856 Act.

    A bill of lading refers to a document issued by a freight carrier to a shipper. It includes details such as the type, quantity, condition, and destination of the goods being transported.

    -IANS

  • Parliament passes Bill to simplify, update framework for shipping documents

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025—previously cleared by the Lok Sabha in March this year—to replace the 169-year-old colonial-era shipping law with a simplified, modern legal framework for shipping documents.

    The bill was approved in the Upper House by a voice vote in the absence of the Opposition, who staged a walkout during the post-lunch session.

    In an effort to support the country’s growing shipping sector, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal moved the bill for consideration and passage by the Rajya Sabha.

    Sonowal said the new legislation will replace the Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856, and be enacted as the Bills of Lading Act, 2025. The proposed law aims to provide a more modern and user-friendly framework for maritime shipping.

    With both Houses of Parliament now having approved the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, it will be sent to the President of India for her assent before being promulgated as law.

    The current British-era law—a brief three-section Act—primarily governs the transfer of rights and confirms that goods have been loaded onto a vessel. However, with the evolution of the shipping industry and changing global trade dynamics, India requires a more comprehensive and internationally aligned legal structure.

    The Bills of Lading Bill, 2024, seeks to rename and replace the existing law with the Bills of Lading Act, 2025, introducing several key reforms. It simplifies the language and reorganises the provisions without altering their core intent.

    The legislation also empowers the Central Government to issue directions for its implementation and includes a standard repeal and saving clause, effectively eliminating the colonial legacy of the 1856 Act.

    A bill of lading refers to a document issued by a freight carrier to a shipper. It includes details such as the type, quantity, condition, and destination of the goods being transported.

    -IANS

  • EU to ramp up retaliation plans as US tariff deal prospects dim

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The European Union is exploring a broader set of possible counter-measures against the United States as prospects for an acceptable trade agreement with Washington fade, according to EU diplomats.

    An increasing number of EU members, including Germany, are now considering using wide-ranging “anti-coercion” measures which would let the bloc target U.S. services and other sectors in the absence of a deal, diplomats say.

    The European Commission, which negotiates trade agreements on behalf of the 27-member bloc, had appeared on course for a agreement in which the EU would still have faced a 10% U.S. tariff on most of its exports, with some concessions.

    Such hopes now seem dashed after President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 30% tariff by August 1, and following talks between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and U.S. counterparts in Washington last week.

    Sefcovic, who has said a 30% tariff would “practically prohibit” transatlantic trade, delivered a sober report on the current state of play to EU envoys on Friday, diplomats told Reuters.

    U.S. counterparts had come up with diverging solutions during his meetings, including a baseline rate that could be well above 10%, the EU diplomats added.

    “Each interlocutor seemed to have different ideas. No one can tell (Sefcovic) what would actually fly with Trump,” one diplomat said.

    Prospects of easing or removing 50% U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium and 25% on cars and car parts appear limited.

    ‘NUCLEAR OPTION’

    Washington has also rejected the EU’s demand for a “standstill” arrangement, whereby no further tariffs would be imposed after a deal is struck. The rationale, according to diplomats, is that Trump’s hands cannot be tied on national security, the basis of Section 232 trade investigations into pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and timber.

    Accordingly, the mood has pivoted among EU countries, EU diplomats say, and they are more ready to react, even though a negotiated solution is their preferred option.

    The EU has one package of tariffs on 21 billion euros ($24.5 billion) of U.S. goods that is currently suspended until August 6. The bloc must still decide on a further set of countermeasures on 72 billion euros of U.S. exports.

    Discussions have also increased on using the EU’s wide-ranging “anti-coercion” instrument (ACI) that allows the bloc to retaliate against third countries that put economic pressure on member states to change their policies.

    Brought in more with China in mind, it would allow the bloc to target U.S. services, limit U.S. companies’ access to public procurement or financial services markets or restrict U.S. investment.

    France has consistently advocated using the ACI, but others have baulked at what some see as a nuclear option. Trump has warned he will retaliate if other countries take action against the United States.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a week ago that the ACI was created for extraordinary situations, adding: “We are not there yet.”

    The Commission would need a qualified majority of 15 countries making up 65% of the EU population to invoke it. It would not do so unless it was confident of passing it, but there are now growing signs of support building, with Germany among the countries saying it should be considered, EU diplomats say.

    (Reuters)

  • EU to ramp up retaliation plans as US tariff deal prospects dim

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The European Union is exploring a broader set of possible counter-measures against the United States as prospects for an acceptable trade agreement with Washington fade, according to EU diplomats.

    An increasing number of EU members, including Germany, are now considering using wide-ranging “anti-coercion” measures which would let the bloc target U.S. services and other sectors in the absence of a deal, diplomats say.

    The European Commission, which negotiates trade agreements on behalf of the 27-member bloc, had appeared on course for a agreement in which the EU would still have faced a 10% U.S. tariff on most of its exports, with some concessions.

    Such hopes now seem dashed after President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 30% tariff by August 1, and following talks between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and U.S. counterparts in Washington last week.

    Sefcovic, who has said a 30% tariff would “practically prohibit” transatlantic trade, delivered a sober report on the current state of play to EU envoys on Friday, diplomats told Reuters.

    U.S. counterparts had come up with diverging solutions during his meetings, including a baseline rate that could be well above 10%, the EU diplomats added.

    “Each interlocutor seemed to have different ideas. No one can tell (Sefcovic) what would actually fly with Trump,” one diplomat said.

    Prospects of easing or removing 50% U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminium and 25% on cars and car parts appear limited.

    ‘NUCLEAR OPTION’

    Washington has also rejected the EU’s demand for a “standstill” arrangement, whereby no further tariffs would be imposed after a deal is struck. The rationale, according to diplomats, is that Trump’s hands cannot be tied on national security, the basis of Section 232 trade investigations into pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and timber.

    Accordingly, the mood has pivoted among EU countries, EU diplomats say, and they are more ready to react, even though a negotiated solution is their preferred option.

    The EU has one package of tariffs on 21 billion euros ($24.5 billion) of U.S. goods that is currently suspended until August 6. The bloc must still decide on a further set of countermeasures on 72 billion euros of U.S. exports.

    Discussions have also increased on using the EU’s wide-ranging “anti-coercion” instrument (ACI) that allows the bloc to retaliate against third countries that put economic pressure on member states to change their policies.

    Brought in more with China in mind, it would allow the bloc to target U.S. services, limit U.S. companies’ access to public procurement or financial services markets or restrict U.S. investment.

    France has consistently advocated using the ACI, but others have baulked at what some see as a nuclear option. Trump has warned he will retaliate if other countries take action against the United States.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a week ago that the ACI was created for extraordinary situations, adding: “We are not there yet.”

    The Commission would need a qualified majority of 15 countries making up 65% of the EU population to invoke it. It would not do so unless it was confident of passing it, but there are now growing signs of support building, with Germany among the countries saying it should be considered, EU diplomats say.

    (Reuters)

  • Veteran communist leader and former Kerala CM V.S. Achuthanandan passes away at 101

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Veteran Communist leader and former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan passed away on Monday afternoon at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He was 101.

    Achuthanandan had been battling for his life for over a month after suffering a cardiac arrest at his son’s residence in the state capital on June 23. Since then, he had been on ventilator support in the intensive care unit.

    Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, along with CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan, rushed to the hospital to meet Achuthanandan’s family and consult with the attending doctors. Following their visit, a steady stream of political leaders arrived at the hospital to pay their respects.

    A special medical board comprising experts from the Medical College had been overseeing his treatment in coordination with hospital staff. He was also undergoing dialysis, which was temporarily suspended during the course of his illness.

    Achuthanandan’s son-in-law, a doctor, administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at home before the veteran leader was taken to the hospital last month.

    Since stepping down as Chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission in January 2021, Achuthanandan had been living alternately with his son and daughter in Thiruvananthapuram. His own residence in Alappuzha, which he had built during his long political career, remained closed.

    Achuthanandan was a towering figure in Kerala’s political landscape. As Leader of the Opposition from 2001 to 2006, he relentlessly attacked the then A.K. Antony-led UDF government. His populist stance and uncompromising image earned him admiration across party lines, particularly among apolitical and first-time voters.

    He led the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) to victory in the 2006 Assembly elections and served as Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011. In 2011, he once again spearheaded the LDF campaign and came close to securing a second term. However, the Oommen Chandy-led UDF narrowly won, securing 72 seats in the 140-member Assembly.

    Achuthanandan’s passing marks the end of an era in Kerala politics—one defined by fierce ideological battles, grassroots activism, and an unwavering commitment to public life.

    —IANS

  • Russia says it favours new round of peace talks with Ukraine, highlights gulf between them

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Kremlin said on Monday that Moscow was in favour of a new round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine but the two sides’ positions were diametrically opposed so there was a lot of diplomatic work to be done.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Kyiv has sent Moscow an offer to hold another round of peace talks this week, and that he wants to speed up negotiations for a ceasefire.

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that as soon as there was a definitive understanding of the date for the next round of talks then Moscow would announce it.

    “There is our draft memorandum, there is a draft memorandum that has been handed over by the Ukrainian side. There is to be an exchange of views and talks on these two drafts, which are diametrically opposed so far,” Peskov said.

    Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul, on May 16 and June 2, that led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers. But the two sides have made no breakthrough towards a ceasefire or a settlement to end almost three and a half years of war.

    (Reuters)

  • Russia says it favours new round of peace talks with Ukraine, highlights gulf between them

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Kremlin said on Monday that Moscow was in favour of a new round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine but the two sides’ positions were diametrically opposed so there was a lot of diplomatic work to be done.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that Kyiv has sent Moscow an offer to hold another round of peace talks this week, and that he wants to speed up negotiations for a ceasefire.

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that as soon as there was a definitive understanding of the date for the next round of talks then Moscow would announce it.

    “There is our draft memorandum, there is a draft memorandum that has been handed over by the Ukrainian side. There is to be an exchange of views and talks on these two drafts, which are diametrically opposed so far,” Peskov said.

    Ukraine and Russia have held two rounds of talks in Istanbul, on May 16 and June 2, that led to the exchange of thousands of prisoners of war and the remains of dead soldiers. But the two sides have made no breakthrough towards a ceasefire or a settlement to end almost three and a half years of war.

    (Reuters)

  • Bedouin civilians evacuate Syria’s Sweida as tense truce holds

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Hundreds of Bedouin civilians were evacuated from Syria’s predominantly Druze city of Sweida on Monday as part of a U.S.-backed truce meant to end fighting that has killed hundreds of people, state media and witnesses said.

    With hundreds reported killed, the violence in the southern province of Sweida has posed a major test for interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, drawing Israeli airstrikes last week and deepening fissures in a country fractured by 14 years of war.

    A ceasefire took hold on Sunday as interior ministry security forces deployed on Sweida’s outskirts. Interior Minister Anas Khattab said on Sunday the truce would allow for the release of hostages and detainees held by the warring sides.

    On Monday morning, ambulances, trucks and buses ferried hundreds of Bedouin civilians including women, children and wounded people out of Sweida to nearby displacement camps, Reuters footage showed.

    The initial batch included some 300 Bedouins, and a second group of about 550 civilians will be evacuated within the next 24 hours if the situation remains calm, said Shoaib Asfour, a member of the Syrian security forces overseeing the evacuation.

    The next phase would see the evacuation of Bedouin fighters detained by Druze militias and the transfer of bodies of Bedouins killed in the fighting, Asfour said.

    Syria’s state news agency said a total of 1,500 Bedouins would be evacuated from Sweida city.

    Citing Ahmed al-Dalati, head of Syria’s internal security forces in Sweida, state media said those forces would also facilitate the return to Sweida of others displaced from it.

    According to the United Nations, at least 93,000 people have been uprooted by the fighting – most of them within Sweida province but others to Daraa province to the west, or north to the countryside around the capital Damascus.

    The U.N. said on Sunday that humanitarian convoys with medical supplies had been waiting to enter Sweida for two days but were not granted access. It said only a convoy of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent had been allowed to enter.

    PRESSURES ON SYRIA’S MOSAIC

    The Druze are a small but influential minority in Syria, Israel and Lebanon who follow a religion that is an offshoot of a branch of Islam. Some ultra-conservative Sunni Muslims deem Druze beliefs to be heretical.

    Citing the goal of protecting the Druze and keeping southern Syria demilitarized, Israel attacked government forces last week in the south and struck the defence ministry in Damascus.

    Washington, which has expressed support for Damascus since Sharaa met U.S. President Donald Trump in May, said it did not approve of Israel’s strikes.

    U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said on Monday the Syrian government needed to be held accountable. “They also need to be given the responsibility that they’re there to do,” he said, speaking on a visit to Beirut.

    Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz defended Israel’s attacks on government targets, saying they were “the only way to stop the massacre of Druze in Syria”.

    The fighting began a week ago with clashes between Bedouin and Druze fighters. Damascus sent troops to quell the fighting, but they were drawn into the violence and accused of widespread violations against the Druze.

    Residents of Sweida said friends and neighbours were shot at close range in their homes or in the streets by Syrian troops, identified by their fatigues and insignia.

    Luna Albassit, a Druze activist in the town of Shahba in Sweida province, said the situation after so much bloodshed remained tense despite the end to clashes late on Sunday.

    “People were killed in the streets, in their homes, they were humiliated and it was in the name of the state,” she said.

    Hamzah Mustafa, Syria’s information minister, told Reuters last week that the Damascus government strongly condemned all abuses and rejected sectarian violence in all its forms.

    Interim President al-Sharaa has promised to protect the rights of Druze and hold to account those who committed violations against “our Druze people”.

    He has blamed the violence on “outlaw groups”.

    After Israel bombed Syrian government forces in Sweida and hit the defence ministry in Damascus last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded the demilitarisation of southern Syrian territory near the border, stretching from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to the Druze Mountain, east of Sweida.

    He also said Israel would protect the Druze.

    (Reuters)

  • Israel sends tanks into Gaza’s Deir Al-Balah, raising concerns among hostages’ families

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israeli tanks pushed into southern and eastern areas of the Gazan city of Deir Al-Balah for the first time on Monday, an area where Israeli sources said the military believes some of the remaining hostages may be being held.

    Gaza medics said at least three Palestinians were killed and several were wounded in tank shelling that hit eight houses and three mosques in the area, and which came a day after the military ordered residents to leave, saying it planned to fight Hamas militants.

    The raid and bombardment pushed dozens of families who had remained to flee and head west towards the coastal area of Deir Al-Balah and nearby Khan Younis.

    In Khan Younis, earlier on Monday, an Israeli airstrike killed at least five people, including a man, his wife, and their two children, in a tent, medics said.

    There was no immediate Israeli comment on the Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis incidents.

    Israel’s military said it had not entered the districts of Deir Al-Balah subject to the evacuation order during the current conflict and that it was continuing “to operate with great force to destroy the enemy’s capabilities and terrorist infrastructure in the area.”

    Israeli sources have said the reason the army has so far stayed out is that they suspect Hamas might be holding hostages there. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in captivity in Gaza are believed to be still alive.

    Families of the hostages expressed their concern for their relatives and demanded an explanation from the army of how it would protect them.

    HUNGER CRISIS

    The military escalation comes as Gaza health officials warned of potential “mass deaths” in the coming days due to mounting hunger, which has killed at least 19 people since Saturday, according to the territory’s health ministry.

    Health officials said hospitals were running out of fuel, food aid, and medicine, risking a halt to vital operations.

    Health ministry spokesperson, Khalil Al-Deqran, said medical staff have been depending on one meal a day, and that hundreds of people flock to hospitals every day, suffering from fatigue and exhaustion because of hunger.

    At least 67 people were killed by Israeli fire on Sunday as they waited for UN aid trucks to enter Gaza.

    Israel’s military said its troops had fired warning shots towards a crowd of thousands of people in northern Gaza to remove what it said was “an immediate threat.”

    It said initial findings suggested reported casualty figures were inflated, and it “certainly does not intentionally target humanitarian aid trucks.”

    The new raid and escalating number of fatalities appeared to be complicating ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel that are being mediated by Qatar and Egypt, with U.S. backing.

    A Hamas official told Reuters on Sunday that the militant group was angered over the mounting deaths and the hunger crisis in the enclave, and that this could badly affect ceasefire talks underway in Qatar.

    Israel and Hamas are engaged in indirect talks in Doha aimed at reaching a 60-day truce and hostage deal, although there has been no sign of breakthrough.

    UNRWA, the U.N. refugee agency dedicated to Palestinians, said in a post on X on Monday, it was receiving desperate messages from Gaza warning of starvation, including from its own staff as food prices have increased 40-fold.

    “Meanwhile, just outside Gaza, stockpiled in warehouses UNRWA has enough food for the entire population for over three months. Lift the siege and let aid in safely and at scale,” it said.

    Israel’s military said on Sunday that it “views the transfer of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip as a matter of utmost importance, and works to enable and facilitate its entry in coordination with the international community.”

    The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

    The Israeli military campaign against Hamas in Gaza has since killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to health officials, displaced almost the entire population and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis.

    (Reuters)

  • Centre rolls out key strategies to ensure sustainability, competitiveness of coal sector

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The central government has outlined a set of measures aimed at making the coal sector more sustainable and competitive, while aligning with global climate commitments. Despite the growing push towards renewables like solar and wind, coal continues to play a dominant role in India’s energy mix, meeting 55% of the country’s energy needs. With the world’s fifth-largest coal reserves, India is adopting a multi-pronged strategy to modernise the sector, enhance environmental compliance, and reduce dependence on imports.

    Greening and efficiency initiatives

    To reduce the ecological footprint of coal mining, Coal and Lignite PSUs have intensified reclamation and afforestation efforts around operational mines. Under various greening initiatives, plantations and bio-reclamation work are being carried out across mining sites.

    Coal PSUs are also adopting energy efficiency measures — such as replacing conventional lighting with LED systems, deploying energy-efficient appliances, using electric vehicles, and introducing energy-saving technologies like super fans and auto timers in street lighting.

    In a significant sustainability push, mine water is being treated and reused for purposes ranging from irrigation and community water supply to firefighting, underground sprinkling, and fish farming. Several MoUs have also been signed with state governments to expand treated mine water supply to local communities.

    Additionally, coal companies are making productive use of overburden (OB) — the soil and rock removed during mining. By extracting sand from OB for construction, PSUs have commissioned nine plants, including four OB processing and five OB to M-Sand plants. This move not only curbs river sand mining but also aids groundwater recharge and reduces environmental degradation.

    Shift towards cleaner technologies

    To reduce pollution and fuel consumption, coal PSUs have been upgrading transportation infrastructure under the First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects. These projects focus on mechanized coal handling and transport systems, reducing reliance on diesel and cutting emissions.

    The sector is also deploying blast-free technologies such as Surface Miners, Continuous Miners, and Rippers to eliminate the need for drilling and blasting — significantly reducing dust and noise pollution.

    Meanwhile, coal companies are investing in clean energy alternatives, including renewable power projects and clean coal technologies like coal gasification and coal bed methane (CBM). Participation in the Green Credit Programme launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) further reflects the sector’s green commitment.

    Reducing coal iImports and boosting domestic production

    In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy said coal imports have declined from 264.5 million tonnes (MT) in 2023–24 to 243.6 MT in 2024–25. This reduction comes in the backdrop of efforts to increase domestic coal output and reduce reliance on imports.

    Key measures include faster allocation of coal blocks, encouraging private participation, and streamlining approval processes. Public sector undertakings are also adopting digital solutions and advanced mining technologies to ramp up production.

    An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been formed to promote coal import substitution. The IMC is working with import-based power plants to assess and address their coal needs using domestic supply channels. Some of these plants have already indicated their preferred suppliers from Coal India Limited’s (CIL) subsidiaries.

    Coal evacuation and transportation are being improved with the construction of new railway lines and expanded FMC projects, aimed at enhancing supply chain efficiency.

    With these integrated measures, the government aims to maintain coal’s competitiveness in India’s energy mix while advancing sustainability and reducing environmental impact.

  • Indian stock market rebounds sharply amid buying in banking heavyweights

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Snapping the losing streak, the Indian stock market closed in the positive territory on Monday, following value buying in banking heavyweights, as Sensex gained over 442 points.

    Sensex settled at 82,200.34, up 442.61 points or 0.54 per cent. The 30-share index opened in green at 81,918.53 against last session’s closing of 81,757.73. However, the index experienced a volatile session, hitting intra-day low at 81,518.66.

    Nifty50 closed at 25,090.70, up 122.30 or 0.49 per cent.

    The manufacturing segment gained today as the government is reviewing the scope of expanding the infrastructure spending to support growth.

    In the Sensex basket, Zomato, ICICI Bank, Adani Ports, HDFC Bank, Mahindra and Mahindra, BEL, Kotak Bank, Tata Motors, Bajaj FinServ, L&T, Power Grid and Kotak Mahindra Bank settled in positive territory. While Reliance, HCL Tech, Hindustan Unilever, TCS, and ITC were closed in red.

    Meanwhile, 28 stocks advanced, 21 declined, and one remained unchanged from the Nifty50.

    Among sectoral indices Bank Nifty soared 430 points or 1.62 per cent and, Nifty Auto jumped 0.67 per cent or 160 points. At the same time Nifty IT and Nifty FMCG ended the session in red.

    Broader indices witnessed a sharp rally with Nifty 100 closed 121 points higher, Nifty Midcap 100 surged 363.85 points, and Nifty Next 50 settled 278 points up.

    “Persistent uncertainty surrounding ongoing trade negotiations between the US and India tempered overall market gains, with investors closely monitoring the outcome of these high-stakes discussions for further cues, according to Ashika Institutional Equities.

    Rupee traded weak by 0.18 per cent at 86.25 as focus shifts to this week’s Fed Chair Powell’s speech, which is expected to drive volatility in the dollar index.

    Additionally, key economic indicators such as Manufacturing and Services PMI will be closely tracked by market participants, said Jateen Trivedi from LKP Securities.

    (IANS)

  • Israel Strikes Houthi Targets at Yemen’s Hodeidah Port Over Alleged Military Use

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Israeli military has confirmed that it struck targets at the port of Hodeidah in Yemen, claiming the facilities were being used by the Houthi movement for military purposes. Colonel Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said in a post on X that the operation targeted infrastructure belonging to what he described as the “terrorist Houthi regime.”

    According to Adraee, the strikes destroyed engineering equipment used to rebuild port facilities, fuel barrels, and naval components allegedly involved in military activity against Israel and shipping vessels in the surrounding maritime area. He asserted that the port has been previously used to transfer combat materials from Iran to the Houthis, which are then deployed in attacks on Israel and its allies.

    The IDF said it had been monitoring renewed Houthi activity at the port and launched the strike in response to attempts to reconstruct what it called terrorist infrastructure. It further accused the Houthi movement of using civilian infrastructure for military operations targeting international commercial shipping.

    The Israeli military stated it would continue to act against what it views as ongoing threats from the Houthis and reiterated its commitment to striking hostile targets regardless of their distance from Israeli territory.

    Reports also indicate that Israeli forces have launched a combined ground and air offensive on Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, marking the first ground operation in the city since the outbreak of the conflict with Hamas 21 months ago.

  • IMD predicts week-long rain spree in southern, central India; Delhi-NCR to witness light showers till July 23

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall over multiple regions in southern and central India across the country in the next few days. Western Himalayan Region and adjoining plains, eastern and central India regions are expected to receive intense precipitation.

    States including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are also expected to receive heavy rainfall over the next 3–4 days, while Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand are expected to witness similar conditions from July 23 to 27.

    Southern and western coastal regions – including Kerala, Karnataka, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Konkan & Goa, central Maharashtra, Vidarbha, and Chhattisgarh – are also bracing for heavy rains over the next 5–7 days.

    The IMD has issued specific alerts for very heavy rainfall on July 21 over Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and coastal Andhra Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are expected to receive intense rainfall on July 21 and 22, while the Konkan region, Goa, and the ghat areas of Maharashtra are likely to see continued heavy showers until July 27.

    In the past 24 hours, isolated places in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Tripura recorded heavy to very heavy rainfall (ranging between 7–20 cm).

    Delhi-NCR Weather Update

    For Delhi-NCR, the IMD has predicted generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning from July 21 to 23. Maximum temperatures are expected to range between 31–34°C, slightly below normal. The capital may experience very light rain on July 24 with partly cloudy skies, and temperatures could rise slightly to 34–36°C.

    Winds in the region are expected to vary in direction and speed over the forecast period, predominantly from the southeast to southwest, with speeds ranging from 8 to 20 kmph during different times of the day.