Category: India

Modi said yoga is gaining tremendous popularity across the world.

The 1st World Yogasana Sports Championship 2026 will commence in Ahmedabad on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, confirming his virtual participation in the event.

Modi said yoga is gaining tremendous popularity across the world.

“… on June 4, a very special competition, the 1st World Yogasana Sports Championship 2026, will commence in Ahmedabad. This platform has brought together yoga enthusiasts from around the world. It is a significant milestone on the global sporting roadmap for Yogasana,” he said on microblogging site X.

Modi said he will join the event virtually at 6:40 pm on Thursday.

“My compliments to those who have organised such an innovative event and best wishes to all taking part,” he said.

“Yoga for Healthy Ageing” — the theme of the 12th International Day of Yoga to be observed on June 21, 2026 — reflects the growing global recognition of yoga as a holistic approach to promoting physical, mental and emotional well-being, according to a statement.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/pm-modi-to-virtually-join-inaugural-event-of-1st-world-yogasana-sports-championship-4026630#google_vignette

 

Muzaffarpur District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen said firefighters rushed to the spot and have brought the blaze under control.

A massive fire broke out in the ICU ward of Prasad Hospital in Muzaffarpur, Bihar on Thursday at 3 am, June 4, leaving at least five people dead and several others injured, PTI reported.

Muzaffarpur District Magistrate Subrat Kumar Sen said firefighters rushed to the spot and have brought the blaze under control.

“A total of 5 deaths has been confirmed. There are several injured persons, who are undergoing treatment at various hospitals,” Muzaffarpur Municipal Commissioner Rituraj Singh said.

The DM informed that around 13-15 patients were being treated in the ICU, and have now been shifted to other hospitals by their family members.

“We are trying to reach out to the kin of the deceased and other patients. The fire has been brought under control, and necessary legal action is being undertaken,” he added.

According to hospital authorities, the blaze is suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit in the ICU. The fire spread rapidly, hampering evacuation efforts.

Officials informed that rescue operations were launched immediately after the incident.

The hospital management said it was cooperating with the administration and that an inquiry had been initiated into the incident.

Officials said that the casualty toll could rise as details about several patients were still being ascertained.

Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary described the incident as “extremely tragic” and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.

“Instructions have been issued to immediately provide an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each deceased. The local administration is fully alert, and adequate arrangements have been made in district hospitals for the treatment of the injured,” he said in a post on X.

मुजफ्फरपुर के एक निजी अस्पताल में आग लगने से चार व्यक्तियों की मृत्यु अत्यंत दुःखद है।

शोक-संतप्त परिजनों के प्रति मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएँ हैं। ईश्वर दिवंगत आत्माओं को शांति प्रदान करें तथा परिजनों को इस कठिन समय में संबल दें।

मृतकों के परिजनों को अविलंब 4-4 लाख रुपये का अनुग्रह…

— Samrat Choudhary (@samrat4bjp) June 4, 2026

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said investigators are looking into the cause behind the fire, and the government will take appropriate action in the matter.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin, too, expressed grief over the loss of lives in the blaze.

“My heart is deeply grieved by the loss of lives due to the fire in a private hospital located in Muzaffarpur. I pray for peace of the departed souls and strength to their families to endure this unbearable pain. I also wish for the swift recovery of all those injured in this accident,” he wrote on X.

बिहार के मुजफ्फरपुर स्थित एक निजी अस्पताल में आग लगने से हुई जनहानि से मन अत्यंत व्यथित है।

ईश्वर से प्रार्थना है कि दिवंगत आत्माओं को शांति प्रदान करें तथा उनके परिजनों को इस असहनीय पीड़ा को सहने की शक्ति दें।

इस दुर्घटना में घायल हुए सभी लोगों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना…

— Nitin Nabin (@NitinNabin) June 4, 2026

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/bihar/five-killed-in-fire-at-bihars-muzaffarpur-private-hospital-4026790 

The TMC’s internal turmoil has delighted many in the BJP. But others in the party worry that if the Mamata Banerjee-founded party collapses entirely, the BJP might end up facing the rapidly reviving CPI(M)-led Left Front. Then there could be the Left-Congress combine too.

West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari had a prediction to make on May 4, the day the results of the state’s Assembly polls were announced; the Trinamool Congress (TMC) could disintegrate following its electoral debacle. A month later, while the TMC hasn’t disintegrated, it is facing its biggest internal crisis since its founding. Yet many in the BJP wouldn’t want the TMC to collapse. The reason: if the TMC were to collapse, the BJP might end up facing a more stronger foe in West Bengal, the CPI(M)-led Left Front.

The TMC is now facing its biggest existential crisis since its formation in 1998. On Wednesday, 60 of its 80 MLAs under the leadership of two-time Rajya Sabha MP and Uluberia Purba MLA Ritabrata Banerjee successfully rebelled against Mamata Banerjee’s choice of Leader of Opposition (LoP). The rebel MLAs got Ritabrata elected as the LoP.

While many in the BJP would undoubtedly welcome the TMC falling apart due to the rebellion, others are far less enthusiastic about such a scenario. Their concern is that the TMC’s collapse would create a vacuum that would be used by the CPI(M)-led Left Front alone or in combination with the Congress to mount a serious challenge. The Left Front could repeat what the BJP itself achieved in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly elections, flipping large segments of the state’s Left-aligned voter base.

Kolkata-based author and journalist Snigdhendu Bhattacharya told India Today Digital that many within the Bengal BJP now fear that a potential Left-Congress alliance could pull off a similar turnaround if the TMC implodes.

The Left Front, led by the CPI(M), was once the dominant political force in West Bengal, ruling the state uninterrupted for 34 years. However, over the course of 15 years of TMC rule, it was reduced to almost a political footnote, losing all representation in both the Assembly and the Lok Sabha from West Bengal.

Yet signs of a Left resurgence are beginning to emerge. For the first time since 2016, the CPI(M) has won an Assembly seat, securing victory in Domkal. Its long-dormant cadre network is reportedly becoming active once again, with social media posts showing party offices being renovated and reopened.

The Left’s affiliate organisations such as the ABTA (All Bengal Teachers’ Association) and the CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions) have also become more visible, returning to the streets after years of relative inactivity.

The clearest indication of this revival came in the Falta repoll, where the Left staged an unexpected comeback. The CPI (M) finished second behind the BJP, polling more than 40,000 votes. The CPI (M) comfortably outperformed the TMC candidate, Jahangir Khan, who surrendered at the last minute.

For the BJP, the Trinamool poses a relatively limited threat because it remains primarily a regional force under Mamata Banerjee, with its influence largely confined to West Bengal. While the party has attempted to expand into other states, including Assam, its footprint there remains modest and is unlikely to worry the BJP in the immediate future.

The Congress and the Left, however, present a different challenge. Both are national parties with organisational networks and political relevance across multiple states. What makes their potential revival particularly significant is West Bengal’s political history. The state was governed by the CPI(M)-led Left Front for an uninterrupted 34 years from 1977 to 2011, demonstrating the Left’s deep-rooted cadre base and ideological appeal.

With the CPI(M) showing signs of regaining political space in Bengal, the BJP might be wary that the state could emerge as the launching pad for a broader Congress-Left resurgence. A revival of this alliance in Bengal would not merely affect state politics. It could provide momentum for a national comeback of the Congress-Left combine. Such a development would be far more concerning for the BJP than the continued dominance of a regional player like the TMC.

WHY WOULD THE BJP WANT THE TMC TO REMAIN ALIVE?

According to author and journalist Snigdhendu Bhattacharya, sections within the West Bengal BJP are worried that a rising Left-Congress alliance could fill the vacuum left by the defeated TMC, absorbing a significant portion of its voter base just as the BJP had absorbed traditional Left voters in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 State Assembly Elections.

In both contests, the BJP successfully flipped more than 20% of the state’s traditional Left-leaning voters, helping it secure a firm foothold in Bengal with 18 Lok Sabha seats and 77 Assembly seats respectively.

This anxiety explains why the BJP in Bengal has so far refrained from trying to absorb dissident TMC MLAs, which would lead to a collapse despite the Mamata Banerjee-founded party being in the midst of a full-blown rebellion.

Ever since the election results were announced on May 4, both BJP and RSS leaders have repeatedly emphasised that TMC workers and leaders must not be easily admitted into the saffron camp.

“The BJP could very easily split the TMC if it wanted to,” Bhattacharya told India Today Digital. “But they are refraining from doing so because a section of the BJP leadership in Bengal wants the TMC to stay. They are worried the Left will repeat what the BJP did.”

This strategy aligns with author and journalist Sayantan Ghosh’s assessment of a new model in which a weakened but surviving TMC faction continues to occupy the opposition space without mounting a direct or effective challenge to the BJP.

“I am not prepared to describe this [the Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebellion within the TMC] as the Maharashtra model [referring to how 40 MLA’s led by Eknath Shinde broke away from the Uddhav Thackrey-led Shiv Sena].” Ghosh noted in a post on X. “What we are witnessing is a completely new model of dealing with an opposition party. The objective appears to be the creation of an opposition formation that does not directly challenge the ruling party—in this case, the BJP—while continuing to claim the political space of the original party.”

The BJP’s capability to fracture the ruling party has been openly confirmed by its own leadership. BJP MP Saumitra Khan recently claimed that approximately 50 TMC MLAs and 20 MPs were very disgruntled and prepared to switch allegiances to the BJP if the party’s central leadership gave the green light.

“If the BJP central leadership says it once, the TMC will not remain a party any more. Everyone is ready to come. Around 50 MLAs are unhappy with the party and 20 MPs are ready to join,” Khan stated, highlighting the delicate balance the BJP is currently trying to maintain in West Bengal.

Yet, this absorption of disgruntled TMC leaders into the BJP hasn’t happened. Party leaders, including State President, Samik Bhattachrya, have, in fact, stated that the doors of the party would remain closed to potential TMC rebels. This was to prevent the “Trinamoolisation of BJP”, he had claimed.

THE ODISHA BJD EXAMPLE FOR TMC IN WEST BENGAL?

In a Facebook post, Snigdhendu Bhattacharya argued that the BJP had helped ensure the survival of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha after the latter’s 2024 electoral defeat to prevent a Congress resurgence in the state. A similar scenario might also play out in West Bengal.

According to Bhattacharya, the BJD had come close to splitting amid tensions within its leadership over the relationship between party supremo Naveen Patnaik and his aide VK Pandian. The party ultimately remained intact, he noted, owing to Patnaik’s firm control over the organisation and the BJP’s decision to stay away from the internal dispute.

“The BJP kept the BJD together to keep the Congress out of Odisha,” Bhattacharya wrote. “Similarly, it will seek to keep the TMC more or less intact in West Bengal.”

CAN THE LEFT STAGE A COMEBACK, POSE A CHALLENGE TO BJP IN BENGAL?

While sections of the BJP are worried about a CPI (M)-led revival of communist parties in West Bengal, does the Left actually have what it takes to pull off such an act?

After its 2011 ouster by the TMC and a massive voter migration to the BJP after 2019, the Left Front is showing its first major signs of a grassroots revival in West Bengal.

The CPI(M) secured the Domkal Assembly seat and polled over 40,000 votes in the Falta repoll. It is actively reviving its cadre base and reopening offices. The Left has become highly visible on the ground, actively leading protests against railway station hawker evictions through organisations like the CITU while the TMC has remained largely absent.

Snigdhendu Bhattacharya told India Today Digital that sustaining this grassroots momentum was absolutely crucial for the Left to regain true political relevance, especially as the TMC grappled with internal fractures that weakened its ability to mobilise people for mass movements.

However, translating these local gains into a credible challenge against the BJP will require a massive strategic shift. To become the principal opposition, the Left must successfully flip a significant portion of the TMC’s voter base, just as the BJP did in recent elections.

Bhattacharya noted that while a potential Left-Congress alliance could credibly syphon away both minority and Hindu voters in southern West Bengal, the Left Front has to stop alienating potential defectors.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/why-bjp-wouldnt-want-trinamool-congress-to-collapse-completely-left-front-cpm-revival-tmc-west-bengal-mamata-2921054-2026-06-04

After graduating in Nashik, Capt Bharat Bhardwaj proposed to his fiancée beside a helicopter at the ceremony venue. The viral moment, though widely praised online, is now under scrutiny over military protocol and decorum.

An Army officer whose helicopter-side marriage proposal to his fiance after a graduation ceremony in Maharashtra’s Nashik went viral on social media may now face disciplinary action, sources said.

Capt Bharat Bhardwaj, who recently completed his training as an Army Aviation pilot, is likely to be issued a show-cause notice, with officials viewing the episode as a possible breach of military protocol and decorum.

The proposal took place shortly after the Passing Out Parade and convocation ceremony at the Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS) in Nashik, where trainee pilots were celebrating the completion of their training programme.

VIRAL MOMENT AFTER GRADUATION

Videos and photographs from the event showed Bhardwaj leading his fiance, Aarushi, towards a helicopter stationed at the venue.

As family members, fellow officers and guests watched, he went down on one knee and presented her with a ring.

The proposal took place in front of the helicopter that symbolised the culmination of his years of military aviation training. Aarushi accepted the proposal, drawing applause and cheers from those gathered at the venue.

The couple embraced as spectators celebrated the moment, which quickly spread across social media platforms.

SOCIAL MEDIA PRAISE

The video attracted widespread attention online, with many users describing it as a rare blend of personal joy and professional achievement.

Several social media users praised Bhardwaj for choosing a military graduation ceremony as the setting for the proposal, while others said the moment represented the beginning of two journeys, one in service to the nation and another in his personal life.

Many were also touched by the reaction of those present, saying the formal military atmosphere briefly gave way to a heartfelt celebration.

PROTOCOL QUESTIONS

However, sources said Army authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding the proposal.

Officials are understood to have viewed the act as inconsistent with military protocol and decorum, particularly because it took place immediately after an official military ceremony and involved equipment and premises linked to the graduation event.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/army-pilot-viral-proposal-nashik-capt-bharat-bhardwaj-protocol-action-2921549-2026-06-03

Uttar Pradesh will stop vehicles without a valid PUCC from refuelling at petrol pumps in its NCR districts from October 1. The move is part of a wider push to cut air pollution through stricter monitoring, cleaner transport and tighter industrial checks.

Vehicles lacking a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will not be allowed to refuel at petrol pumps across Uttar Pradesh’s National Capital Region (NCR) districts from October 1, as the state government steps up efforts to tackle worsening air pollution.

The decision was made during a high-level review meeting on air quality and pollution control chaired by Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary S P Goyal on Wednesday. The state has set an ambitious target of reducing air pollution levels in the NCR region by 30-35 per cent in 2026.

The NCR region in Uttar Pradesh comprises eight districts — Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat and Shamli. These districts form part of the larger Delhi-NCR region, which continues to face severe air pollution, particularly during the winter months.

Reviewing ongoing and proposed anti-pollution measures, Goyal directed all departments to work in coordination to improve air quality across the region.

“The participation of citizens should also be ensured by creating awareness among them,” the Chief Secretary said, according to a statement.

As part of the upcoming “No PUCC, No Fuel” policy, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be installed at 1,041 fuel stations across the NCR districts to identify vehicles that do not possess valid pollution certificates.

The state government is also pushing for the replacement of older polluting vehicles with cleaner alternatives under its “Naya Safar” initiative. The programme promotes BS-VI-compliant vehicles, compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles and electric vehicles.

Officials informed the meeting that around 26.19 lakh end-of-life vehicles have been identified across the NCR districts. Between January and April 2026, authorities scrapped 37,156 such vehicles and seized another 460.

To encourage cleaner public transport, the government aims to deploy 975 electric buses in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Meerut. Currently, 100 e-buses are operational in these cities.

The review also focused on strengthening air quality monitoring infrastructure. Of the 43 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) planned for the Uttar Pradesh NCR region, 25 are already operational. The remaining 18 stations are expected to be installed by October 2026.

Industrial emissions remain another major focus area. Officials reported that 725 polluting industries have been identified, with 613 already connected to the Central Pollution Control Board’s server through Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS).

Air pollution control equipment has been made mandatory for 665 industrial units. Installation has been completed in 179 units, while work is underway in another 100.

To address dust pollution, the state has drawn up plans to redevelop 1,792 kilometres of roads in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Meerut at an estimated cost of Rs 3,666 crore. So far, redevelopment work covering 143.8 kilometres has been completed.

Authorities have also assessed the requirement for 108 mechanised road-sweeping machines. While 45 machines are currently in operation, procurement of 50 additional units is underway.

In the construction and demolition waste sector, 29 of the proposed 37 secondary collection centres are already functional, with work progressing on the remaining facilities. GPS tracking, geo-tagging and Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC)-based monitoring systems are also being introduced for construction sites to improve compliance.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/vehicles-without-pucc-certificates-to-be-denied-fuel-in-ups-ncr-districts-from-oct-1-2921577-2026-06-04

Several critically ill patients have been shifted to nearby hospitals, and authorities are currently verifying their condition and whereabouts. The Civil Surgeon has also reached the spot to oversee the situation and coordinate medical assistance.

A day after a deadly fire at a B&B in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar claimed 21 lives, another major fire incident has been reported from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district. A blaze broke out at a hospital, with officials saying 4 people have lost their lives in the incident.

As the fire spread, thick and toxic smoke quickly engulfed large sections of the building, leading to chaos inside the hospital premises. Emergency response teams rushed to the spot and launched evacuation efforts to move patients to safety.

Preliminary reports suggest that a short circuit may have caused the fire, though the exact cause is yet to be officially confirmed.

More than 20 patients were reportedly injured in the incident and were safely evacuated from the building. Several of the rescued patients are said to be in critical condition.

The critically ill patients have been shifted to nearby hospitals, and authorities are currently verifying their condition and whereabouts.

The Civil Surgeon has also reached the spot to oversee the situation and coordinate medical assistance.

INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY

Subrat Kumar Sen, DM of the district, informed that four people have died in the incident, while efforts are underway to ascertain the status of all patients who were admitted at the time of the fire. Family members of some patients have approached authorities claiming they have been unable to trace their relatives following the incident.

The victims have been identified as Shashank Kumar, Uday Kumar, Geeta Devi and Brijnand Rai.

“The ICU in-charge of the hospital is also gravely injured. He is also admitted to a nearby hospital. We have to confirm the proper data about how many lives are lost. Currently, four deaths have been confirmed,” Sen said.

Talking about the cause of the fire, Sen said, “At first look, it seems like a short circuit at the oxygen unit and the monitor system. An investigation is underway. We will carry out the necessary procedures to find out the real reason for the fire breakout.”

Relatives of patients present at the hospital have levelled serious allegations against the hospital administration following the fire. One family member claimed that his father, who was admitted to the ICU, died in the incident. He alleged that the hospital authorities failed to hand over the body and that several staff members disappeared from the premises after the fire broke out.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/10-patients-dead-over-20-rescued-after-massive-fire-at-hospital-in-bihars-muzaffarpur-2921583-2026-06-04

A NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh died by suicide after the exam she took was cancelled amid the paper leak row. Her family said the uncertainty over the re-test deepened her distress despite months of preparation and financial sacrifice.

A NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh’s Mauganj district died by suicide after reportedly falling into depression following the cancellation of the medical entrance examination she had appeared for amid the paper leak fiasco.

Akanksha Chaturvedi left behind a note saying that “she did not have the courage” to appear for the test again.

She was among the lakhs of students who appeared for the NEET-UG exams conducted on May 3. The National Testing Agency (NTA), however, cancelled the examination on May 12 following allegations of a paper leak and announced a re-test on June 21.

According to her family, she had been preparing for the examination and was expecting a score of around 650 marks.

Family members claimed that Akanksha had become deeply distressed in the aftermath of the controversy surrounding the examination and had been under emotional strain in the weeks leading up to her death.

They alleged that the uncertainty surrounding the exam had affected her mental state.

Akanksha’s parents said they had made significant financial sacrifices to support her dream of becoming a doctor.

Despite their modest means, the family reportedly took a loan of Rs 3 lakh through a Kisan Credit Card to fund her coaching in Nagpur.

Her father, Krishna Kumar Chaturvedi, a farmer by profession, also took up work as a cook in Nagpur while his daughter prepared for the examination there.

The family said they were confident she would secure admission to a medical college this year.

The suicide note recovered from the spot reflected her concerns about the future.

“Mummy Papa, you believed your daughter would study and become a doctor. But I do not have the courage to take the NEET exam again. I have ruined both of you,” she wrote.

“There is no guarantee that I will perform well if I appear for the examination again.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/madhya-pradesh/story/neet-paper-leak-row-madhya-pradesh-aspirant-dies-by-suicide-after-exam-cancellation-2921588-2026-06-04

Rahul Gandhi claimed that the system that was once “controlled” by PM Modi is collapsing and now providing information about the prime minister and his cabinet colleagues to him.

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be at the top post in a year’s time. Gandhi warned that an “economic tsunami” is coming, and the system is also revolting due to public pressure.

Rahul Gandhi claimed that the system that was once “controlled” by PM Modi is collapsing. He said that the system is now providing information about the prime minister and his cabinet colleagues to him. He made the remarks while addressing tribal leaders from across the country at an event organised by the Adivasi Congress at the Indira Bhawan in New Delhi.

“In my assessment, Modiji will not be the prime minister in a year’s time,” Rahul Gandhi said, as quoted by PTI.

“From one side, a massive economic tsunami is coming, prices are rising and this is just the beginning. India will witness such an economic crisis that you have never ever witnessed in your lives. This is happening and no one can stop this.”

“On the other hand, there is an institutional revolt happening within India’s system … the Election Commission (EC) is fully controlled…,” Gandhi alleged.

Gandhi claimed that the chief election commissioner is sending messages to him and so are the head of intelligence and members of the senior judiciary. “All are revolting and information is coming to us.”

“So the system of control is collapsing internally. There will be such public pressure that if they continue to follow this path, it will be a risk for them.”

“If people know that the election system is rigged and if public anger comes out due to the economic pressure on them, the EC is also worried about what will happen tomorrow,” he said.

“What may happen is that they may try to suppress the public pressure and impose something like an Emergency. That is possible.”

“We are now entering the second stage, as they were earlier in full control but are now losing control,” he said.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/rahul-gandhi-claims-pm-modi-wont-remain-in-power-beyond-a-year-warns-of-economic-tsunami-article-154456358

IRDAI has tightened transparency requirements. If an insurer rejects a claim, it must explain the reason and point to the specific policy clause.

You pay your health insurance premium every year. Then comes the medical emergency. A hospital stay. A surgery. A sudden illness.

And just when you think your insurance policy will do its job, the real battle begins: getting the claim approved.

For years, this has been one of the biggest pain points for Indian policyholders. Delayed approvals. Endless paperwork. Partial settlements. And in some cases, outright rejections.

Now, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is trying to change that.

A series of reforms introduced by the regulator aims to make claims faster, more transparent and less stressful. But will they be enough to fix a system that has frustrated millions?

The Problem Is Bigger Than Most People Realise

The numbers tell a troubling story.

According to IRDAI’s Annual Report 2024-25, insurers processed 3.26 crore health insurance claims and paid out Rs 94,248 crore during the year.

But beneath those headline figures lies a worrying reality.

Narendra Bharindwal, President of the Insurance Brokers Association of India (IBAI), points out that the average health claim paid stood at just Rs 28,910, even as medical inflation continues to push hospital bills much higher.

More concerningly, around 8 per cent of health insurance claims were repudiated. In simple terms, nearly one in every 12 people who filed a health insurance claim did not receive a payout.

Consumer dissatisfaction is also rising.

Grievances registered on Bima Bharosa jumped 41 per cent year-on-year to 1.37 lakh in FY25 from 97,503 in FY24. Bharindwal notes that nearly 70 per cent of complaints in the health and general insurance segment were linked to claim rejections, delays, partial payments or documentation disputes.

“That is not a marginal problem – that is a systemic one,” he says.

Why Claims Become A Nightmare

Anyone who has dealt with a health insurance claim knows the experience can be emotionally draining. The stress often arrives at the worst possible moment-when a patient is ready to leave the hospital.

Arun Ramamurthy, co-founder of Staywell.health, says policyholders frequently face uncertainty around pre-authorisations, reimbursement reviews and documentation requirements.

The frustration is not always about money.

Patients and their families are often left waiting for updates, responding to repeated requests for documents, or trying to understand why a medically necessary treatment is being questioned.

Many disputes arise because of technical policy clauses, waiting periods, exclusions, room-rent limits or incomplete disclosures rather than outright fraud, Ramamurthy explains.

The result is confusion, anxiety and a growing trust deficit.

What Has IRDAI Changed?

IRDAI’s latest reforms are designed to tackle exactly these issues. One of the most significant changes relates to cashless claims.

Under the new framework, insurers must process cashless pre-authorisation requests within one hour. Once a hospital sends the final discharge request, insurers must communicate their decision within three hours.

If they fail to do so, they may have to bear additional hospitalisation expenses incurred because of the delay. This could be a game changer for families stuck in hospital rooms simply because paperwork is moving slowly.

Ramamurthy says the reform directly addresses a common problem where patients are medically fit for discharge but remain admitted while waiting for claim clearance.

The regulator has also tightened transparency requirements. If an insurer rejects a claim, it must clearly explain the reason and point to the specific policy clause supporting the decision.

For policyholders, this means fewer vague explanations and greater clarity about why a claim was denied.

Early Signs Look Promising

The initial results suggest insurers are responding.

According to Bharindwal, nearly 87 per cent of pre-authorisation requests and more than 96 per cent of discharge authorisations are now being processed within the prescribed timelines.

This marks a significant improvement from the delays many customers experienced in the past. The reforms have also been welcomed by industry participants.

Pankaj Goenka, Chief Business Officer at InsuranceDekho, says the measures address some of the biggest friction points in the customer journey.

“Measures aimed at faster cashless approvals, standardised documentation requirements, and tighter turnaround timelines directly address the friction points that erode customer trust the most,” he says.

Goenka believes the changes could make it easier for advisors and insurance partners to recommend health insurance products because customers will have greater confidence in the claims process.

But The Biggest Question Remains

While faster approvals are important, experts say speed alone does not solve everything. A claim approved quickly is not necessarily a claim settled fairly.

Bharindwal argues that the deeper issue lies in the gap between what customers expect and what they ultimately receive. Partial settlements due to sub-limits, exclusions, non-medical expenses or policy conditions continue to frustrate policyholders.

People pay premiums expecting protection. When a large part of a hospital bill remains unpaid, trust suffers.

This becomes even more important at a time when insurance penetration in India remains just 3.7 per cent, roughly half the global average.

Every delayed, disputed or partially paid claim can discourage potential customers from buying insurance altogether.

Nevertheless, there is broad agreement that IRDAI has taken a major step in the right direction. The regulator’s reforms aim to make insurers more accountable, reduce uncertainty and bring greater transparency to the claims process.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/business-news/irdai-health-insurance-policy-claim-settlement-medical-expenses-healthcare-11588524?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Authorities said the accident occurred after Singh failed to stop for law enforcement and led deputies on a high-speed chase that reached speeds of about 100 miles per hour before ending in a collision.

The mother of a pregnant teenager, who, along with her unborn child, was killed in a Range Rover Velar crash in Ohio, United States, has said she wants the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport the Indian man charged over the incident. Annette Holmes said she does not want 33-year-old Tarsem Singh to remain in the country.

According to the victims’ family, Singh, an Indian national living in the US illegally, was the father of 17-year-old Ashlee Holmes’ unborn child. Relatives told Newsweek that Ashlee tried to leave the relationship several times but was not successful.

“Nobody should ever deserve to die while pregnant with their first kid,” Annette Holmes, 40, told Newsweek.

“I’m OK with him being kicked out of the country permanently. We came to find out he came here illegally at first. They can send him wherever he is best off because I don’t want him in the States no more,” she added.

How Ashlee Holmes Was Killed

According to the police, Ashlee was a passenger in a Range Rover Velar when the vehicle crashed on February 16. Authorities said the accident occurred after Singh failed to stop for law enforcement and led deputies on a high-speed chase that reached speeds of about 100 miles per hour before ending in a collision.

Citing the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s crash report, Newsweek reported that the Range Rover was initially clocked at 79 mph in a 55 mph zone before accelerating to more than 120 mph during a pursuit. The vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, crossed left of centre, and struck a Jeep before overturning several times.

Ashlee was ejected from the car after it crashed. She suffered fatal injuries, and her unborn child also did not survive, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s crash report.

ICE has, meanwhile, lodged a detainer against Singh, 33. He has been indicted on multiple felony charges, including involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide and aggravated vehicular homicide. Under federal law, Singh — who has a $1 million bond — is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/tarsem-singh-indian-man-33-charged-in-us-crash-that-killed-his-pregnant-17-year-old-partner-11588544?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Companies alter AI usage approach after implementing a credit-based system.

A techie at one of the WITCH (Wipro, Infosys, TCS, Cognizant, and HCL) companies has claimed that the higher-ups are now throttling the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools by telling employees to be ‘mindful’ of it. In a social media post titled, “Companies sudden extended AI usage ask now tending to reduce,” the software developer detailed that ever since the rise of AI tools, the company was pressuring employees to use them to ship the products faster, but after major AI vendors introduced credit-based pricing systems, their strategy had changed.

“I am working in a WITCH company. Last week, they were pressuring and hosting multiple sessions on how to use GitHub Copilot (GHCP) more and more, asking us to use AI tools to increase productivity tenfold and all,” the user wrote in a Reddit post.

The techie explained that the new credit-based system kicked into effect from June 1, and the corporate directive shifted from rapid AI adoption to immediate cost-cutting.

“June 1, the new credit-based system has been applied. Now they are indirectly asking to be “Mindful” to use which model, and saying to reduce opus usage,” the user said.

“Lol, I find this funny but infuriating. Why did these guys even put their foot in without seeing the board of quicksand? I saw this GH scheme change coming a month ago when GitHub released it, and here they were doubling down on this.”

‘Reality Check’

As the post gained traction, social media users highlighted that companies that chased current trends by firing employees in order to save costs were now receiving a reality check.

“Now is a reality check for companies that made people redundant with the hope that LLMs will save money, and they don’t need people,” said one user, while another added: “Happening everywhere. Leadership likes to throw things at developers. You will be questioned both ways – earlier we were asked why your usage is low, and now asking why your usage is high.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/pushed-ai-like-crazy-now-asking-to-be-mindful-techie-exposes-companys-u-turn-11588628?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

 

An Indian game developer turns a layoff into a Rs 9.5 lakh monthly profit venture through independent games.

Losing a job can be one of the most humbling experiences of life. While being laid off is stressful, it can often act as a catalyst for exponential growth. A Mumbai-based game developer experienced this firsthand after being laid off in Germany almost four years ago. The firing forced him onto an entrepreneurial path that eventually yielded far greater returns than a traditional career ever could. Anul Agarwal, a game developer who works independently, recently took to social media to share how racism and internal management led to his ouster in Germany.

Agarwal detailed that he transformed a professional crisis into a highly lucrative venture, which proved that the end of employment can also mark the beginning of a new journey.

“I was laid off from my job in Germany as a Game Producer 3.5 years ago. Racism plus internal mismanagement led to this,” said Agarwal in an X (formerly Twitter) post, adding: “Coming from a tier-2 town in India, it was a great opportunity and learning experience, but then I decided to come back to India and build my own games.”

Agarwal said his decision to return to India and focus on independent game development started paying off. He revealed that he was now close to earning $10,000 (approximately Rs 9.52 lakh) a month in profits through his apps, games and content creation efforts.

“And I am close to hitting $10k/mo in profits with my apps/games/content. Building in public earned me good collaborations and freelance work via LinkedIn,” said Agarwal, adding that he had earned close to Rs 4.7 lakh on X as well.

“Building in public is always good if you have an interesting way to tell your stories. Approximately 70 million+ players across my various web/mobile games. Building more solid games this year, stay tuned.”

Check The Viral Post Here:

I was laid off from my job in Germany as a Game Producer 3.5 years ago

Racism +internal mismanagement led to this

Coming from a T2 town in India it was a great opportunity and learning experience but then I decided to come back to India and build my own games

And I am close… https://t.co/OIrfC9VlEz

— anul agarwal (@anulagarwal) June 1, 2026

‘Crazy Comeback’

As the post gained traction, social media users praised agarwal for the ‘crazy comeback’, highlighting that building your own thing is the best way to make money.

“Awesome journey, congrats. Would like to play some of your games,” said one user, while another added: “Crazy comeback. From getting laid off to hitting $10k/mo and 70M players is wild. Respect for turning it around instead of quitting.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/laid-off-in-germany-over-racism-indian-man-returns-and-builds-successful-business-earning-rs-9-5-lakh-11583608?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

Sachin Singh and Arijit Das Thakur – two Trinamool councillors arrested on Tuesday – face extortion charges.

First Sachin Singh, then Arijit Das Thakur. The Kolkata Police on Tuesday arrested two Trinamool Congress (TMC) Councillors on charges of extortion. The two councillors represent Wards 106 and 36 respectively of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

On Tuesday afternoon, when police personnel from the Narkeldanga police station went to arrest Singh, locals gathered in front of his house and staged a protest. The residents alleged Singh’s involvement in threatening and beating up opponents.

According to several complaints, Singh had been allegedly extorting money from parking operators and other establishments in the area. Allegations also include demanding kickbacks in connection with several civic and development projects.

Singh is also accused of post-poll violence, after the 2021 state Assembly election results were declared, the police sources told the news agency IANS. In 2021, Singh won the KMC election on a Trinamool Congress ticket for the first time.

“A case was registered on the basis of specific complaints alleging extortion, cheating and unlawful collection of money. Following a preliminary inquiry and collection of evidence, the accused councillor was arrested. Investigation is underway, and all aspects of the allegations are being examined,” a senior Kolkata Police officer told PTI.

Singh will be produced before the Sealdah court in the extortion case.

Later in the day, the police arrested Arijit Das Thakur. He too has been accused of intimidating and extorting money from local real estate developers and shopkeepers.

The arrests come amid the newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) crackdown on corruption. Ever since the BJP-led government came into power in Bengal, it has started re-opening all previous allegations against TMC leaders.

In the last few weeks, TMC councillors from other municipal corporations have also been arrested.

Earlier in the day, Tarun Chakraborty, a TMC councillor of Ward 87 of Asansol Municipal Corporation in West Burdwan district, was arrested on charges of hoarding relief packages in his house. The police recovered the relief items meant for poor people in the area from Chakraborty’s house on Tuesday.

Chakraborty is also accused of being involved in illegal sand trading, extortion, and extorting money in the name of providing financial assistance to the poor for housing projects.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2-trinamool-councillors-arrested-for-extortion-amid-bjps-action-on-corruption-sachin-singh-arijit-das-thakur-11583621?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

There is a buzz that K Annamalai’s departure is meant to make way for the launch of his new party. The 41-year-old already runs a non-profit leadership initiative called “We The Leaders”, which may morph into his political project.

The “En Mann, En Makkal (My Land, My People)” yatra, known as the signature statewide tour of K Annamalai, was launched by Amit Shah on July 28, 2023. The 200-day foot march had covered all 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu and ended with a massive public address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 28, 2024.

Back then, no one could have imagined that the dream run of K Annamalai in the BJP would be poised to end so soon.

The former chief of Tamil Nadu BJP has discussed his intention to resign with the party brass in Delhi today, seeking an “amicable” parting.

There is a buzz that his departure is meant to make way for the launch of his new party. The 41-year-old already runs a non-profit leadership initiative called “We The Leaders”, which may morph into his political project.

Annamalai had seamlessly changed into saffron from khaki.

In 2019, he had quit the police force and joined politics, saying he was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Within weeks, he was appointed the state vice president and a year down the line, the party’s state unit chief.

The 200-day yatra was not so much his launchpad, as the whetstone he sharpened his strategy on. At the end of it, he became a major political figure in the state, known for his fiery rhetoric and aggressive attacks on the ruling DMK.

It also produced dividends in the Lok Sabha election held later that year: From the meagre 3.66 per cent vote in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP voting percentage shot up to 11 per cent in 2024.

But Annamalai’s distance with the party grew over the question of alliance with the Dravidian parties.

The BJP, which never had a toehold in Tamil Nadu, had considered the alliance with the AIADMK its ticket to move forward. Annamalai differed, preferring that the party go it alone. It was his string of remarks against Dravidian idols including J Jayalalithaa that had deeply offended the AIADMK and helped bring down the curtain on the alliance.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/k-annamalais-200-day-foot-march-that-finetuned-bjps-tamil-nadu-blueprint-11582463?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

At least six people were killed and over 20 others injured after a Maharashtra state transport bus caught fire following a collision with another government bus in Gujarat’s Surat district.

At least six people died and more than 20 others were injured after a Maharashtra-registered state transport bus caught fire following a collision with another government bus near Uva village in Bardoli of Gujarat’s Surat district on Tuesday.

According to initial information, two Maharashtra government buses were involved in a major crash on a highway near Uva village. The impact of the collision reportedly caused one of the buses to lose control, jump over the divider, and land on the opposite side of the road, where it caught fire.

Local residents initially claimed that more than three people had died in the accident. However, authorities said they were focusing on rescue efforts and could not immediately confirm the exact death toll. Surat Rural SP Rajesh Gadhvi and Range IG Premveer Singh said the accident occurred after 4 pm and that rescuing passengers and ensuring medical treatment for the injured remained their top priority.

Later, Surat Rural Police confirmed that six people had died in the incident. Officials also said that more than 20 injured passengers were shifted to hospitals for treatment. Most of the passengers involved in the accident are residents of Maharashtra.

Fire department teams rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information about the crash and launched efforts to control the blaze. Rescue teams, police personnel, and local residents worked together to evacuate passengers trapped inside the buses and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.

Authorities said the bus was extensively damaged in the fire, and a clearer picture of the casualties would emerge after the rescue operation and assessment of the vehicle were completed.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gujarat-bardoli-bus-accident-killed-after-maharashtra-state-bus-catches-fire-surat-2920988-2026-06-02

Huzaifa was arrested in Mumbai in a joint operation by the Maharashtra ATS and Delhi Police Special Cell. Investigators believe he may reveal key details about the alleged ISI-underworld terror network.

In a major development in the investigation into a suspected terror-underworld network, Huzaifa, who allegedly was in close contact with Pakistan-based handler, has been arrested from Mumbai in a joint operation by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the Delhi Police Special Cell.

Investigators believe Huzaifa was in contact with Syed Mudassar Hussain alias Munna Jhingada, a close associate of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, who is believed to be based in Pakistan. Munna Jhingada is alleged to have acted as the handler of several terror suspects arrested earlier in connection with the case.

According to sources, security agencies had been conducting raids at multiple locations in Maharashtra for the past three days in an effort to trace Huzaifa. The operation culminated in his arrest from Mumbai on Wednesday.

Officials view Huzaifa’s arrest as a significant development in the investigation, as he is suspected to possess crucial information regarding the network’s operations, contacts and activities.

The Delhi Police Special Cell is expected to produce Huzaifa before a local court and seek a production warrant to bring him to Delhi for further questioning and investigation.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/isi-underworld-terror-case-huzaifa-arrested-was-in-touch-with-pakistan-based-handler-2921137-2026-06-03

A long political journey reaches its defining moment as DK Shivakumar prepares to take oath as Karnataka Chief Minister, opening a new chapter in the state’s politics after Siddaramaiah’s exit.

A political journey marked by persistence, setbacks and a prolonged tussle for the top post is set to culminate today when Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar takes oath as the state’s Chief Minister, ushering in a new chapter in Karnataka politics.

The 64-year-old Congress leader, will be sworn in at 4:05 pm at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan, where Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will administer the oath of office and secrecy. Along with Shivakumar, a group of ministers is also expected to take oath in the first phase of cabinet formation.

Though the final list has not been officially announced, sources indicated that around 13 ministers could likely be inducted into the new government.

Shivakumar was elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party last week, days after outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stepped down following directions from the party high command.

For the eight-time MLA and influential Vokkaliga leader, today’s ceremony will mark the fulfilment of a long-held ambition after years of positioning himself as one of the Congress party’s most powerful leaders in southern India.

FROM TROUBLESHOOTER TO CHIEF MINISTER

Known within Congress circles as a crisis manager and organisation man, Shivakumar played a key role in rebuilding the party in Karnataka and safeguarding its governments during periods of political instability.

His elevation comes after a prolonged power struggle with Siddaramaiah, whose resignation paved the way for a leadership transition that had been anticipated for months.

The change of guard is being watched closely both within Karnataka and across the Congress party, where Shivakumar is seen as one of the party’s most influential regional leaders.

DKS SPELLS OUT HIS VISION

On the eve of taking oath, Shivakumar spoke about his journey to the top office and described his elevation as the result of dedication and perseverance rather than a personal ambition.

“It was not a dream. It was a dedication. Dedication with hard work. So it was a tough, troubling time. Though it has been delayed, it was not denied,” he said in an interview.

The Congress leader also spoke about his long association with the Nehru-Gandhi family and credited the party leadership for placing faith in him over the years.

“That is the commitment I had with the Gandhi family, and they believed in me, and they gave me various opportunities,” Shivakumar said.

Praising Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, he said, “Sonia Gandhi sacrificed; she could have become the Prime Minister. Rahul Gandhi could have become the Prime Minister, but they did not.”

Looking ahead to his tenure, Shivakumar promised to work for all sections of society and projected Karnataka as a key driver of India’s growth story.

“The world is seeing India through Bengaluru and Karnataka,” he said.

“I will have to take every section of society together, from the farmer to the woman, to the youth and a new ‘Yuva Yuga’ will start.”

He also acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying, “The faith and the confidence the people of this country have shown me, I am very much obliged. I have to do a lot of hard work and deliver.”

CABINET FORMULA TAKES SHAPE

While Congress has not officially announced the names of ministers, sources said 13 leaders have been cleared for induction in the first phase of cabinet formation.

The likely ministers are Yathindra, G Parameshwara, KH Muniyappa, UT Khader, KJ George, Krishna Byre Gowda, MB Patil, Priyank Kharge, Satish Jarkiholi, Ramalinga Reddy, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Byrati Suresh and Eshwar Khandre.

Among them, Yathindra’s inclusion has drawn particular attention. The MLC and son of outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier expressed confidence about securing a cabinet berth, saying the party high command had assured him of a ministerial position.

Sources said Shivakumar will initially take oath with a smaller cabinet before expanding the ministry at a later stage.

The Karnataka Council of Ministers can have a maximum of 34 members, including the Chief Minister.

PARAMESHWARA LIKELY TO BE SOLE DEPUTY CM

One of the key questions before the oath ceremony was whether Congress would appoint multiple deputy chief ministers to balance competing caste and regional interests.

Sources said senior Dalit leader G Parameshwara is now likely to be the only Deputy Chief Minister in the new government.

Earlier discussions had included the possibility of more than one deputy CM, with Priyank Kharge among the names being considered.

Sources also indicated that senior Congress leader H K Patil is likely to become Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly.

SIDDRAMAIAH GETS NATIONAL ROLE

Even as Shivakumar prepares to take charge of the government, Congress has moved to give Siddaramaiah a larger organisational role by appointing him to the Congress Working Committee, the party’s highest decision-making body.

The announcement, made through a statement issued by AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Tuesday, comes less than a day before the oath event.

Party leaders see the move as an attempt to maintain organisational balance and ensure close coordination between the Karnataka government and the Congress leadership.

Sources also said the party is considering a coordination committee headed by Siddaramaiah to strengthen links between the government and the organisation.

Senior Congress leaders are also understood to have urged Siddaramaiah to accept a Rajya Sabha berth, though he is said to favour remaining active in state politics.

STAGE SET FOR OATH CEREMONY

Final preparations were underway at Lok Bhavan on Tuesday as workers completed arrangements for the oath ceremony.

In a departure from convention, the main stage at the Glass House has reportedly been reoriented from west-facing to east-facing after Shivakumar expressed a preference to take oath facing east.

Sources said the decision was taken following astrological advice, leading organisers to make last-minute adjustments to seating plans, security arrangements, media enclosures and VIP access routes.

The ceremony was initially planned on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha before being shifted to the indoor venue.

Sources indicated that concerns over traffic disruption caused by a large influx of Congress workers and supporters contributed to the decision to opt for a more controlled event.

TOP CONGRESS LEADERS TO ATTEND

A host of senior Congress leaders are expected to attend the ceremony.

Among those likely to be present are Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Chief ministers from Congress and INDIA bloc-ruled states, senior political leaders, dignitaries and guests are also expected to attend.

Religious leaders representing major communities and heads of various maths have been invited as part of the broad outreach planned for the event.

Officials said invitees include students from a government school in Doddaalahalli in Kanakapura, Shivakumar’s native village, as well as representatives of farmer groups, labourers, civic workers, women self-help groups and pro-Kannada organisations.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/karnataka/story/dk-shivakumar-oath-ceremony-karnataka-chief-minister-cabinet-ministers-june-3-2921097-2026-06-03

The Supreme Court, while slamming the NTA over the NEET paper leak, praised the UPSC for its ability to conduct large-scale examinations without scandals. What exactly does the UPSC do differently? What do the experts say? Does that mean the UPSC model is foolproof?

There is a running joke in the circles of UPSC aspirants in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar and Old Rajinder Nagar. Even if someone managed to get hold of the UPSC Civil Services Examination paper before the exam, there is no guarantee they would be able to solve it. Jokes apart, aspirants and mentors after the 2026 UPSC Prelims paper on May 24 said that the questions were difficult enough to leave even the best-prepared candidates sweating.

The joke highlighting the exam’s difficult and unpredictable nature throws a question that has gained relevance amid a string of paper leak controversies. How has the UPSC managed to conduct some of India’s biggest examinations year after year without finding itself at the centre of such scandals?

The question came up in the Supreme Court last week as the National Testing Agency (NTA) faced scrutiny over examination irregularities. During a hearing before a bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe, the court pointed to the UPSC as an example of how large-scale examinations can be conducted without repeated paper leak controversies.

“UPSC has never been in a situation. You need to learn,” Justice Narasimha observed, while questioning the NTA’s handling of exam security.

The observation has turned the spotlight on the puzzle that has long intrigued students and ordinary people alike.

Every year, the UPSC conducts examinations involving lakhs of candidates across thousands of centres. Yet unlike several recruitment boards and exam agencies that have repeatedly battled allegations of leaks and cancellations, the Commission has largely preserved its reputation for confidentiality and process integrity.

What exactly does the UPSC do differently?

Is it simply a matter of experience, or are there institutional safeguards that make leaks far more difficult?

And can other recruitment agencies such as the NTA or the SSC, learn from not just the UPSC, but also premier institutions like the IITs and IIMs, which conduct high-stakes entrance examinations like the JEE and CAT, on a massive scale?

The answers lie in a combination of secrecy, compartmentalisation of papers, use of technology and decades-old decorum, according to experts and stakeholders India Today Digital spoke to.

“The UPSC has an established strictness, established protocols and institutional decorum that makes any attempt to compromise the examination process far more difficult,” Chandigarh-based UPSC mentor Shekhar Dutt told India Today Digital.

THE SCALE OF THE UPSC CHALLENGE? WHICH EXAMS ARE CONDUCTED BY UPSC?

Every year, the UPSC conducts examinations that determine entry into India’s most coveted services, including the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Foreign Service. It is the Civil Services Examination or the CSE, which is among the many exams the Constitutional body conducts.

The CSE alone attracts nearly a million applicants annually. Besides this, the Commission conducts examinations for engineering services, combined medical services, NDA, CDS, Central Armed Police Forces and other recruitment tests.

Yet, unlike many state recruitment boards and entrance examinations that have been rocked by leak allegations in recent years, UPSC has largely maintained a reputation for confidentiality and process integrity.

WHO SETS UPSC CSE QUESTION PAPER?

One of the biggest differences lies in who gets access to the question papers and the nature of the UPSC CSE exam.

UPSC mentor and founder of Sleepy Classes, Shekhar Dutt, told India Today Digital that, “A reason the UPSC is less vulnerable to paper leaks is that most of its flagship examinations are conducted in multiple stages. “When an examination has prelims, mains and an interview stage, the incentive and impact of leaking a single paper are far lower than in a one-shot examination,” Dutt said.

He, however, cautioned against viewing the UPSC as a flawless institution. “It has its own share of issues and criticisms,” Dutt added. We would discuss those in this article later.

Another factor that he pointed out is that the question paper-setting is handled through a tightly controlled network of experts. Multiple subject experts prepare questions independently, while moderators and paper setters work under strict confidentiality agreements, who from that pool of questions make question papers.

Dutt said there is no clear public information on the exact process followed by the UPSC. “However, it is generally observed that a dedicated internal mechanism supervises question-paper preparation and related security protocols,” Dutt told India Today Digital.

Dutt argued that the nature of the UPSC examination itself acts as a deterrent against leaks. “The stakes are extremely high. Officials involved in the process are unlikely to put their careers and reputations on the line for something like this,” he said.

By contrast, he said, one-stage examinations such as NEET or UGC-NET create different incentives for the people who leak question papers. Just leaking the paper once is needed in cases of the single-state exams.

“The incentive for a leak can be much higher. There are millions appearing for these exams. In CSE this year, eight lakh aspirants applied, and just five lakh actually took the exam. In the case of exams like NEET, a leaked paper can help a candidate secure admission to a medical college or another institution. In the UPSC, you are talking about selecting people who will go on to form the country’s steel frame. The scrutiny, accountability and consequences are of a different order altogether,” Dutt told India Today Digital.

Several of the accused and arrested in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case had direct links to the question paper-setting process. The CBI arrested retired chemistry professor PV Kulkarni, who had served on NTA’s expert panel. Another accused, botany professor Manisha Mandhare of Pune’s Modern College, was also among the experts who had access to the paper.

UPSC’s SECURITY LAYER BEYOND QUESTION SETTERS

The printing and movement of question papers are treated as high-security operations.

Papers are printed in secure facilities under surveillance and transported in sealed packets to examination centres. With UPSC examinations, a positive aspect is that the level of government oversight is high, and the process remains largely shielded from private players.

Dutt pointed to another factor that, in his view, makes the UPSC relatively less vulnerable to paper leaks: the location of its examination centres.

“If you look at UPSC centres, they are largely concentrated in state capitals and major cities. Compare that with examinations like NEET, where centres are spread across hundreds of cities, including smaller towns. That becomes a major logistical challenge when it comes to safeguarding the sanctity of question papers,” he said.

A 32-year-old UPSC aspirant, who didn’t want to be named, told India Today Digital, “Over the years, the Commission introduced several technological and procedural reforms aimed at improving the transparency and security of exams. These include changes in seating arrangements, examination-centre management through 5G jamming and the evaluation processes”.

“Many of these practices were adopted by the UPSC first and are now being replicated by state commissions. For instance, measures such as making answer sheets available to candidates in the interest of transparency were introduced by the UPSC and have since been adopted by bodies such as the BPSC,” said the UPSC aspirant, who has one attempt left, and has been appearing for State Commission examinations as Plan B.

The Uttar Pradesh-based aspirant, who has twice faced the UPSC CSE interview boards, said he hoped the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) would take up such positive steps.

Days after the Civil Services Preliminary Examination was held on May 24, the UPSC released a provisional answer key, marking the first time in its history that candidates were allowed to challenge answers before the final key was published. The move is widely seen as a significant step towards greater transparency.

NOT PAPER LEAKS, UPSC HAS OTHER CHALLENGES TO ADDRESS

The absence of major paper leak scandals does not mean the UPSC is immune to malpractice. “Over the years, the Commission has had to contend with a different set of challenges, including impersonation, cheating through electronic devices, forged certificates and candidates allegedly misusing reservation and disability benefits,” Shekhar Dutt told India Today Digital.

Dutt recalled the most high-profile involving probationary IPS officer Safir Karim, who was caught using a Bluetooth device while reappearing for the Civil Services Examination in 2014 in an attempt to improve his rank and secure the IAS.

Investigators alleged that answers were being relayed to him from outside the examination hall by his wife, Joyce Joy. The case drew comparisons with scenes from Sanjay Dutt’s Munna Bhai MBBS.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/upsc-paper-leak-prevention-how-secrecy-stages-tech-keep-exams-secure-2920509-2026-06-03

Rylen Anil (@DarthKermy72747) claimed that the JEE Advanced 2026 candidate result infrastructure had a public cloud storage misconfiguration.

A 16-year-old cybersecurity researcher has flagged a major data security issue on the JEE Advanced 2026 results website, prompting a swift response from the organising institute, IIT Roorkee.

Rylen Anil (@DarthKermy72747) claimed that the JEE Advanced 2026 candidate result infrastructure had a public cloud storage misconfiguration that exposed large volumes of candidate data without authentication.

“JEE Advanced 2026 candidate/result infrastructure ([https://cdata.jeeadv.ac.in/result2026/](https://cdata.jeeadv.ac.in/result2026/)) had a public cloud storage misconfiguration exposing bulk candidate data without auth.

This exposed ~179.6k result records and ~187.3k admit-card PDFs, including candidate names, DOBs and mobile numbers.”

JEE Advanced 2026 candidate/result infrastructure (https://t.co/6mBpjkxH01) had a public cloud storage misconfiguration exposing bulk candidate data without auth.

This exposed ~179.6k result records and ~187.3k admit-card PDFs, including candidate names, DOBs and mobile numbers. pic.twitter.com/NUk4HGwqQP

— Rylen Anil (@DarthKermi72747) June 2, 2026

IIT Roorkee acknowledged the issue and initiated corrective action.

“Thank you @DarthKermy72747 for pointing out the configuration issue in the *cloud storage device*. The same is being plugged on priority. The data stored was read-only and so there was no possibility of any alteration. We applaud your responsible and ethical behaviour,” IIT Roorke wrote on its X handle.

After the corrective action, the student responded too.

“Thank you for the acknowledgment and for addressing the issue swiftly. Glad I could contribute towards improving security and appreciate the response from the team. Looking forward to continuing to support responsible security research.”

IIT Roorkee’s response

Responding publicly, IIT Roorkee said the issue stemmed from a configuration problem in a cloud storage device and assured that the data could not be altered.

“Thank you @DarthKermy72747 for pointing out the configuration issue in the *cloud storage device*. The same is being plugged on priority. The data stored was read-only and so there was no possibility of any alteration. We applaud your responsible and ethical behaviour.”

The disclosure comes at a time when concerns over examination technology systems are already under scrutiny.

CBSE’s verification portal

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday launched its long-awaited portal for Class 12 students seeking verification of answer sheets and re-evaluation of marks. The rollout, however, was marred by technical glitches, cyberattack claims and an administrative shake-up.

The portal, which opened a day later than scheduled, allows students to seek verification of discrepancies identified in scanned copies of answer books supplied by the Board and apply for re-evaluation of answers. The application window will remain open until midnight on June 6.

Meanwhile, CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh and Secretary Himanshu Gupta were transferred out of the Board on Tuesday, with Prashant Lokhande appointed as the new CBSE chairman.

The sudden changes come amid heightened government scrutiny of the procurement process for the Board’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, the digital platform used for the large-scale evaluation of Class 12 answer scripts.

What is happening?

The Union education ministry has ordered an intensive inquiry into the contract awarded to Hyderabad-based Coempt EduTeck and sought a detailed report from the Board.

Separately, a 17-year-old student appeared before a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Tuesday to present allegations of irregularities in the OSM system.

The committee on education, women, children, youth and sports affairs — the same panel that had warned after the 2024 NEET-UG paper leak that the National Testing Agency’s performance “had not inspired confidence” — is currently reviewing the use of OSM in CBSE Class 12 examinations and related issues.

Sarthak Sidhant, who says he was affected by the OSM system, presented his findings to members of the committee at the Parliament House Annexe, according to PTI.

Sidhant, who published his findings on his website after reviewing tender documents available on the Central Public Procurement portal, alleged that CBSE modified tender conditions in a manner that favoured Coempt EduTeck, the company operating the OSM system.

He claimed that a comparison of tender documents revealed “at least 15 discrepancies”, alleging that provisions relating to blacklisting, financial qualifications and eligibility criteria were altered across successive tenders.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/16-year-old-rylen-anil-flags-data-issues-on-jee-advanced-results-site-iit-roorkee-says-thank-you-takes-corrective-action-101780453586849.html

 

India is among 54 economies that, according to the USTR, have failed to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on imports made with forced labour.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed trade action against 60 economies, including India, after determining that they have failed to impose and effectively enforce prohibitions on the import of goods produced with forced labour.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the USTR said it had concluded under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974 that the acts, policies and practices of the 60 economies are “unreasonable and burden or restrict US commerce”, making them actionable under American trade law.

India is among 54 economies that, according to the USTR, have failed to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on imports made with forced labour. The list also includes countries such as Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable. This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field,” US trade representative ambassador Jamieson Greer said in the statement.

Additional duties proposed

As a result of the determination, the USTR has proposed additional duties on products from the investigated economies and has invited public comments.

According to the agency, economies that have already adopted, or committed to adopt, forced labour import prohibitions could face an additional tariff of 10%, while all others could be subject to a 12.5% duty. A separate textile mechanism has also been proposed for certain apparel and textile imports.

The investigations were launched on March 12 this year. The USTR said it received testimony from nearly 60 witnesses and around 500 comments during the public consultation process before reaching its findings.

According to the USTR, the absence of effective forced labour import bans undermines efforts to eliminate forced labour globally, distorts market conditions by allowing lower-cost production, hurts businesses that do not use forced labour, and enables circumvention of existing restrictions.

India-US trade negotiations on

The development comes at a sensitive time in India-US economic relations, with both countries working towards concluding the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement. Officials from New Delhi and Washington have held multiple rounds of negotiations in recent months, with market access, tariffs, digital trade and agriculture among the key issues under discussion.

The proposed USTR action also follows months of trade tensions triggered by US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariff policy. India was among the countries threatened with higher tariffs earlier this year before Washington temporarily paused some of the measures to allow negotiations with trading partners. New Delhi has maintained that it is seeking a balanced and mutually beneficial trade agreement while protecting sensitive domestic sectors.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/chef-kunal-kapur-shares-rich-and-creamy-chocolate-banana-mousse-recipe-see-step-by-step-preparation-101780410404495.html

Mumbai’s water stock has declined to 15.30% of total reservoir capacity, with the useful water reserve in Upper Vaitarna reaching zero. The BMC has already imposed a 10% water cut and secured approval for additional reserve water, while concerns persist over delayed monsoon rains and the city’s long-term water security.

The water stock in the seven lakes supplying Mumbai has now dropped to 2.13 lakh million litres (ML), or 15.30 per cent of total capacity. The BMC has already imposed a 10 per cent water cut from May 15 to ensure supply until August 19, but concerns persist over the delayed monsoon.

Meanwhile, the useful water stock in the Upper Vaitarna lake fell to zero on Tuesday.

Lake levels continue to decline

Mumbai receives around 4,000 ML of water daily from seven lakes—Modak Sagar, Tansa, Bhatsa, Tulsi, Vihar, Upper Vaitarna and Middle Vaitarna.

Civic data as of June 2 shows that the useful water content in Upper Vaitarna has been exhausted, while Modak Sagar stands at 33.89 per cent, Vihar at 45.71 per cent, Tulsi at 27.10 per cent, Middle Vaitarna at 22.21 per cent, Bhatsa at 14.57 per cent and Tansa at 10.58 per cent.

Despite the declining reserves, the overall stock is higher than the levels recorded on the same date in the previous two years—12.89 per cent in 2025 and 7.59 per cent in 2024.

A civic official said that the State Irrigation Department has approved the BMC’s request for additional reserve water stock from supply lakes Bhatsa (1.4 lakh ML) and Upper Vaitarna (93,500 ML).

Water cuts continue amid delayed monsoon concerns

Water cuts have become a recurring measure in Mumbai during years of low lake levels. The BMC imposed a 10 per cent water cut in 2022, 2023 and 2024, while no curbs were required in 2021 and 2025.

The city also witnessed an extended 10 per cent cut between November 2018 and July 2019, while the highest restriction in recent years was a 20 per cent cut imposed for 15 days in August 2020.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-water-crisis-lake-stock-falls-to-153-upper-vaitarna-runs-dry-as-monsoon-delay-raises-concerns

A large number of ministerial aspirants, including former ministers, MLAs, and MLCs, have camped in Delhi to lobby with central leaders for a place in the new cabinet.

Senior Congress leaders held preliminary meetings on Monday to prepare list of candidates for induction into the Karnataka Council of Ministers, ahead of DK Shivakumar’s swearing-in as Chief Minister on June 3.

Caretaker Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with former minister KJ George, met Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal to discuss and prepare a probable list of ministers.

Separately, Shivakumar held discussions with Congress General Secretary (in-charge Karnataka) Randeep Surjewala.

Kharge is likely to chair a key meeting on Tuesday morning with Venugopal, Surjewala, Siddaramaiah, and Shivakumar to finalise the composition of the ministry.

It is not yet confirmed whether Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi will attend the meeting Tuesday’s meeting.

As per the current plan, around 10 to 12 ministers will be inducted in the first phase.

The list is expected to include a mix of senior leaders and young faces.

A meeting originally scheduled for Monday evening with Kharge was postponed as Venugopal and Rahul Gandhi arrived in the national capital late at night.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/congress-leaders-huddle-in-delhi-to-finalise-probable-list-of-ministers-ahead-of-dk-shivakumars-swearing-in-as-cm-newsalert-4023954

People are mocking Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee and have brought protests to his doorsteps. Here’s why the anger, even from TMC leaders, seems mostly directed at bhaipo (nephew), and not at party chief Mamata Banerjee.

A curious scene unfolded outside TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s south Kolkata residence on May 11. Two men appeared at the spot, one of them wearing a large photograph of Banerjee over his face and a rope tied around his waist. With his hands folded, the man launched into a mock confession, declaring: “I, Abhishek Banerjee, hereby admit that I stole coal, stole cars, enabled illegal immigration from Bangladesh, authorised atrocities against Hindu women in Sandeshkhali…” The list of alleged admissions went on. He then dropped to his knees and dramatically begged for forgiveness from the small crowd of bewildered onlookers.

The address was Abhishek Banerjee’s four-storey Shantiniketan on Harish Mukherjee street in south Kolkata. The house, unlike Mamata Banerjee’s humble house in Kalighat, had come to symbolise opulence. With half the road barricaded in front and causing inconvenience to passersby, it also became a symbol of TMC’s high-handedness. Then there were Abhishek’s big cavalcades, which shut down entire streets as they snaked through Kolkata in a brazen display of power.

The scene in front of Abhishek’s house unfolded only a week after the TMC was unseated from West Bengal by the BJP in the 2026 Assembly polls. The party, which reigned dominant for 15 years, was reduced to 80 seats in the 294-member state assembly. The BJP, on the other hand, has grown its tally to 208 seats.

Since then, the TMC has entered a state of crisis. The party that once held sway across West Bengal is only a shadow of its former self. Its cadre base is dissolving, its leaders are resigning from their posts and the local strongmen it used to cow down the opposition are being hunted down (and paraded in their underwear) by the police. People and TMC leaders, however, are refraining from blaming the party’s supremo, Mamata Banerjee, for their current state of affairs. Rather, all their anger seems to be directed at her nephew and designated successor, Abhishek Banerjee.

Only a couple of months ago, Abhishek Banerjee was the unquestioned de-facto number-two in the TMC. Having been parachuted into the party’s top brass by his aunt, despite having little experience in the field of politics, Abhishek cemented his role in the party, going as far as to displace several veteran leaders from the party, including current BJP Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari.

In 2026, however, things are different. After the TMC’s crushing defeat, Mamata managed to retain the aura of a leader. Abhishek, however, is drawing sharper backlash as the visible architect of the party’s organisational failures, dynastic overreach, aggressive campaigns, and syndicate-style control.

His lieutenant, Jahangir Khan, conceded the Falta seat, part of Diamond Harbour, without a fight. His name continues to crop up in corruption scandals that many TMC leaders feel destroyed the trust it once enjoyed. Party leaders claim he is responsible for bringing him I-PAC, the political consultancy firm they deem responsible for the TMC’s electoral washout.

The mock confession outside his residence was one of the many ways in which Abhishek Banerjee is being mocked. People, angered by years of the TMC’s misrule and high-handedness, are making Abhishek the target. They have been shouting “chor, chor” (“thief, thief”) to suggest Abhishek’s role in the several scams during the Trinamool regime.

On Saturday, Banerjee was confronted by an angry crowd while visiting the family of a TMC worker allegedly affected by post-poll violence. Protesters shouted “chor, chor” and hurled eggs and stones at him. While the TMC blamed the BJP for “orchestrating” the attack on Abhishek in Sonarpur, people claimed it was the result of public anger.

Clips of Abhishek talking about “public anger” after BJP leader JP Nadda was attacked in Diamond Harbour in 2021 went viral. People suggested that Abhishek, too, was facing “public anger”.

There are several reasons as to why the knives are out for Abhishek, and not Mamata. One, Mamata Banerjee, is still seen as a fighter who built the Trinamool Congress single-handedly. The TMC chief is given the clean chit by most people, though they also fault her for turning a blind eye to the rampant corruption, persecution and the free-run Abhishek has had. While Mamata has successfully projected that she lives a humble life, the taint has reached Abhishek’s doorsteps.

MAMATA BUILT TMC, ABHISHEK WAS PARADROPPED

Unlike his aunt, Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee is far from a mass leader. He played little to no role in the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) decades-long struggle against the then-in power Left Front regime, only joining the party in 2011 after the TMC ousted the CPI(M) in the Assembly polls.

Nevertheless, Mamata rapidly elevated her bhaipo (nephew) to the party’s de facto second-in-command, appointing him as the National President of the All India Trinamool Youth Congress and, later, the party’s General Secretary. Over the course of the TMC’s 15-year rule, Abhishek cemented his authority, bolstered by his tight grip on the Diamond Harbour constituency, which he has represented as a Member of Parliament since 2014.

With the TMC now out of power, members of Mamata’s old guard, who were consistently passed over in favour of Abhishek, are openly attacking the once-untouchable bhaipo (nephew).

A TMC MLA told the Deccan Chronicle that Abhishek’s “arrogance of power” and “blatant nepotism” had “ruined the party”.

This was echoed by former TMC MLA Krishnendu Choudhury, who was reported by Anandabazar Patrika as saying that Abhishek has destroyed the party slowly, bit by bit. He claimed that Mamata knew everything, but she could not do anything. She had no option but to remain like “Dhritarashtra” (turning a blind eye to all wrongdoings).

ABHISHEK’S RISE LED TO BATTLE OF OLD VS NEW IN TMC

While leaders have stopped short of directly blaming Mamata for the TMC’s electoral drubbing, a section of party veterans told the Deccan Chronicle that her “blind affection” for Abhishek hastened the party’s internal disintegration.

A senior TMC leader told the Deccan Chronicle that Abhishek Banerjee’s rapid rise after 2011 widened internal divisions, particularly with the sidelining of Mukul Roy, once regarded as the party’s key organisational strategist alongside Mamata Banerjee. Roy’s marginalisation reportedly fuelled resentment among the old guard. He left for the BJP in 2017, returned after the 2021 Assembly polls, and remained largely inactive due to ill health before his death earlier this year.

The leader also cited the exit of now Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari as a turning point. Then chief of the Trinamool Youth Congress, tensions between Adhikari and Abhishek gradually grew after the latter launched a parallel youth platform.

The rift deepened when Mamata replaced Adhikari with Abhishek as head of the party’s youth wing. Adhikari gradually lost control over key districts such as Malda, Murshidabad and Dinajpur, while also facing pressure from the Narada sting fallout. He resigned as transport minister in November 2020, quit as an MLA the following month before ultimately joining the BJP.

TMC LEADERS BLAME ABHISHEK FOR I-PAC FIASCO

Abhishek Banerjee’s heavy dependence on the political consultancy firm I-PAC, brought in after TMC’s poor 2019 Lok Sabha performance, has emerged as one of the biggest sources of resentment within the party. Many veterans accuse I-PAC of effectively hijacking the Trinamool Congress’s Assembly poll campaign, sidelining old leaders, and imposing a corporate-style approach that damaged the party’s grassroots connectivity.

TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee told Anandabazar Patrika that I-PAC deliberately sowed divisions: “I-PAC hijacked the Trinamool Congress organisation and ruined it. They instigated fights among potential candidates. Those who didn’t get tickets helped the BJP out of anger.” He also criticised Abhishek’s over-reliance on the firm, saying it was never accepted by senior party leaders.

Suspended spokesperson Riju Dutta made even sharper allegations, claiming I-PAC demanded 50 lakh from aspirants for tickets and ran targeted “hit-jobs” against those who resisted. Veteran MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar told India Today TV, “The I-PAC people have no clue about electoral politics. The workers were maligned and left idle.” She claimed her repeated warnings to the top leadership were ignored.

A senior TMC veteran told The Telegraph, “Under the direct patronage of Bhaipo (Abhishek), the party’s soul was outsourced to corporate mercenaries from I-PAC. Mass leaders and street-hardened veterans found themselves placed under the dictatorial supervision of corrupt data analysts and local police chiefs.”

Critics also point to I-PAC’s role in ticket distribution. The party dropped 74 sitting MLAs on the firm’s advice, of whom 51 went on to lose the election.

THE FALIURE OF ABHISHEK BANERJEE’S DIAMOND HARBOUR MODEL IN FALTA

Every politician has a political stronghold. For Abhishek Banerjee, that stronghold was Diamond Harbour. He has represented the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency since 2014, while the Falta Assembly seat within the region had remained a TMC bastion since 2011. Helping maintain that dominance was his trusted lieutenant, Jahangir Khan.

Much of Banerjee’s influence in the area was attributed to what supporters dubbed the “Diamond Harbour Model”—a mix of targeted welfare delivery and tight political control. Critics, however, alleged that the model relied heavily on intimidation to keep opponents in check.

Ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, Banerjee confidently predicted that the TMC would retain Falta. Instead, the election delivered a devastating blow to the party, with the BJP sweeping to power in West Bengal with 208 seats. In Falta, allegations of voter intimidation and EVM tampering during the April 29 polling prompted the Election Commission to order a repoll across all 285 booths.

Khan, the TMC candidate in Falta, withdrew from the contest. The May 21 repoll produced a crushing verdict for Khan, with BJP candidate Debangshu Panda securing a landslide victory.

Though Mamata Banerjee lost the Bhabanipur seat to Suvendu Adhikari, the loss at Falta was seen as the crumbling of Abhishek’s Diamond Harbour Model, which had come to be associated with communal politics and intimidation.

The fallout was immediate. Within 24 hours of the Falta result, nine TMC councillors resigned from the Diamond Harbour Municipality. According to reports, the councillors accused the much-vaunted “Diamond Harbour Model” of enabling corruption and suppressing dissent, alleging that critics were routinely harassed and silenced with police backing.

ABHISEK BANERJEE’S NAME CROPPED UP REPEATEDLY IN TMC-LINKED SCAMS

Many within the TMC have attributed the party’s defeat to allegations of misgovernance and corruption during its 15 years in power in West Bengal.

Among the most notable voices was Ghosh Dastidar, who resigned from a key party post on May 24. In her resignation letter, she wrote, “Some alarming incidents of crime and corruption in West Bengal in recent times have naturally raised questions and apprehensions in the minds of ordinary people. To make democracy stronger, it is necessary to give greater importance to transparency, accountability, commitment, courtesy, responsibility towards the people, and values in politics.”

Former TMC national spokesperson Shantanu Sen publicly expressed discomfort over repeatedly having to defend the party against corruption allegations. “I couldn’t defend it anymore… I was forced to defend huge corruption despite personal discomfort,” he said.

Abhishek Banerjee’s name has repeatedly surfaced in some of the state’s most high-profile corruption investigations, although he has denied wrongdoing and has not been convicted in any of the cases. Mamata, on the other hand, has somehow remained untouched by the taint.

In the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment scam, central agencies have questioned Abhishek on multiple occasions, including over his past association with Leaps and Bounds Pvt Ltd, a company that figured in investigations involving several key accused.

Investigators have also examined a 2017 audio recording cited in a CBI supplementary chargesheet filed in February 2025. The chargesheet referred to an individual named “Abhishek Banerjee” who allegedly demanded Rs 15 crore in exchange for illegal school appointments. However, the CBI did not explicitly identify the individual as the TMC leader.

Abhishek and his family have also come under scrutiny in the coal-smuggling case, in which investigators alleged that an estimated Rs 1,300 crore was generated through the illegal excavation and theft of coal from leasehold areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited in the Asansol region.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned Abhishek and his wife, Rujira Banerjee, over allegations that proceeds from the scam were routed through intermediaries and layered through financial channels linked to individuals close to the family. Both have denied the allegations.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/abhishek-banerjee-news-west-bengal-tmc-general-secretary-ipac-west-bengal-assembly-elections-diamond-harbor-model-2920263-2026-06-01

At his first major rally as Chief Minister, Vijay defended his black-and-white suits and attacked the DMK. He used the Tiruchirappalli event to cast TVK as Tamil Nadu’s principal political force.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday used his first major public rally after assuming office to push back against criticism of his attire, attack the DMK’s political culture and position the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam as the state’s principal political force.

Addressing a Thanksgiving Rally in Tiruchirappalli, Vijay questioned why his choice of wearing suits had become a topic of political debate and said clothing was not a privilege reserved for those in power.

“Now several people are talking about us wearing suits. Why can’t we wear a suit? Can only those with power wear suits? There is nothing like that,” he told supporters.

Vijay said his clothing carried a message rather than a fashion statement.

“Am I wearing suits in different colours? Only two colours, black and white. It is just to show that Vijay will be black and white in everything. I don’t have to say it, but you all know what that black denotes,” he said.

The remarks came during a rally organised to thank voters following TVK’s maiden Assembly election victory, which propelled the actor-turned-politician to the Chief Minister’s office.

‘I AM YOUR VIJAY’

The Chief Minister also responded to comparisons between his electoral debut and that of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M G Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR.

“They said that even late CM MGR did not secure this much vote share in his very first election. Yet today, you have extended such tremendous support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. I am not comparing myself to MGR; MGR is MGR, but I am your Vijay, who has come to work in the path shown by MGR, Anna and Periyar,” he said.

Addressing supporters at the St Joseph’s College ground, Vijay thanked voters for backing TVK and described Tiruchirappalli East as a constituency close to his heart despite retaining the Perambur Assembly seat.

“Now, people refer to me as the MLA of the Perambur constituency. That is only in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Election Commission. But as far as I am concerned, the people of the Tiruchirappalli constituency are also very, very close to my heart,” he said.

DMK IN FIRING LINE

Vijay used the rally to sharpen his attack on the DMK, accusing the party of continuing its criticism despite TVK having been in power for only a few weeks.

“Only a few weeks have passed since I assumed office, yet those who claimed they would remain silent for six months could not remain silent even for six days,” he said.

He alleged that the DMK’s family-centric politics had contributed to its defeat in the April 23 Assembly election and argued that voters had chosen a different political path.

“By rejecting the two people who had been taking turns deceiving you for so many years, you chose your Vijay, your elder brother, your younger brother, who came to genuinely work for you, and made him not the Chief Minister, but your first servant,” he said.

Vijay also rejected allegations of horse-trading levelled against him by political rivals and accused both the DMK and AIADMK of attempting to form the government despite the public verdict.

Without directly naming the AIADMK, he suggested there was little political space left between TVK and the DMK.

“Even now, I say this politically: the contest is only between two parties, one is the DMK and the other is the TVK. There is no role or space for anyone else in between,” he said.

TVK’S FUTURE ROADMAP

Projecting confidence about the future, Vijay said TVK had broken barriers of caste, religion and cash-for-votes politics and promised that his government would remain committed to secularism and the rights of Tamil Nadu.

“The people have made me the first sewak, not Chief Minister,” he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/tvk-vijay-black-and-white-suit-remarks-dmk-attack-at-tiruchirappalli-rally-2920440-2026-06-01

Neeraj Dubey, who was made a witness in the Twisha Sharma death case, claimed that four to five men attacked him on May 30 near his beauty parlour in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area and questioned why he was testifying in the high-profile case.

A key witness in the Twisha Sharma death case has alleged that he was attacked by friends of her husband, Samarth Singh, in Bhopal, amid an ongoing CBI probe into dowry harassment allegations raised by the woman’s family.

Neeraj Dubey, who runs a beauty salon near the home of Samarth’s mother, Giribala Singh, in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area, claimed that four to five men assaulted him on May 30 and questioned him about his role as a witness in the high-profile case.

A video accessed by India Today TV purportedly shows Dubey being surrounded by several men in a marketplace in broad daylight. The footage shows the men shouting at and abusing him before a scuffle breaks out. Some of the men appear to be carrying sticks as they try to corner him.

According to Dubey, the group confronted him over his testimony in the case and demanded to know why he was acting as a witness. He alleged that the men then assaulted him and threatened him with serious consequences.

ALLEGES NO ACTION ON POLICE COMPLAINT

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Dubey said he was listed as a witness during the preparation of the panchnama in the Twisha Sharma death investigation.

Dubey further alleged that he has faced repeated harassment and intimidation since being named a witness in the case. He specifically identified Sandeep Bhattacharya as one of the individuals allegedly involved in the attack.

Dubey said he submitted a written complaint to police following the alleged assault and threats. However, he claimed that no action had been taken against those named in his complaint.

According to Dubey, police have assured him that appropriate action will be taken. He further claimed that he was again taken to the police station following developments related to his complaint. The matter falls under the jurisdiction of Katara Hills police station.

CBI RECREATES SCENE IN TWISHA SHARMA DEATH PROBE

The latest allegations come as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) continues its probe into the death of 33-year-old Twisha Sharma, who was found hanging at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12.

On Monday, the CBI conducted a crime scene recreation using a dummy weighing roughly the same as Sharma. Investigators, along with forensic and crime scene experts, took Samarth Singh and his mother Giribala Singh — both currently in CBI custody — to the residence and asked them to reconstruct the sequence of events surrounding the night of May 12.

The agency is attempting to establish a minute-by-minute timeline of what transpired before and after Sharma was found hanging.

According to the FIR, Sharma’s husband told investigators that she had hanged herself at home before being taken to AIIMS Bhopal. Doctors later informed police that she had been brought dead to the hospital.

The post-mortem report concluded that the cause of death was “antemortem hanging by ligature” but also noted multiple ante-mortem injuries, described as simple in nature and possibly caused by a blunt object.

After recording statements from Sharma’s family and examining the post-mortem findings, police registered an FIR on May 15.

Her family has alleged that she was subjected to mental and physical harassment by her in-laws over dowry-related demands after her marriage to Samarth Singh on December 9, 2025. They have accused her husband and in-laws of driving her to take the extreme step.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/twisha-sharma-death-case-witness-neeraj-dubey-alleges-assault-death-threats-husband-samarth-singh-friends-cctv-testimony-2920481-2026-06-01

Thousands of Jammu and Kashmir migrant families living in Delhi could soon receive long-pending relief under relaxed eligibility norms, as the government moves to simplify a scheme that has remained burdened by conditions and paperwork.

The Delhi government has approved a One-Time Amnesty Scheme for 1,832 migrant families from Jammu and Kashmir living in the national capital, easing eligibility conditions under a long-running relief programme and paving the way for direct financial assistance.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, which approved key proposals related to the Ad-Hoc Monthly Relief (AMR) scheme for Jammu and Kashmir migrant families.

The move is aimed at providing relief to families who were displaced from Jammu and Kashmir and have spent decades rebuilding their lives while continuing to grapple with the consequences of migration.

RELAXATION IN ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS

As part of the approved amnesty scheme, the Delhi government has waived conditions related to income and ownership of immovable property that were earlier linked to eligibility under the relief programme.

The relaxation is expected to benefit 1,832 migrant families residing in Delhi who may have faced difficulties accessing assistance under the existing framework.

Officials said the objective is to ensure that support reaches eligible beneficiaries in a more dignified and seamless manner.

MONTHLY RELIEF TO CONTINUE

The Cabinet also approved proposals connected to the Ad-Hoc Monthly Relief scheme, under which eligible migrant families receive financial assistance from the government.

The scheme has been in place to support families displaced from Jammu and Kashmir, many of whom have been living in Delhi for years after being forced to leave their homes.

AADHAAR-BASED DIRECT TRANSFERS

To improve transparency and efficiency, payments under the scheme will be made through Aadhaar-based Direct Benefit Transfer mechanisms.

The government believes the system will reduce procedural hurdles and ensure that financial assistance reaches beneficiaries directly.

RS 30 CRORE BUDGETARY PROVISION

The Delhi government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 30 crore for the scheme during the 2026-27 financial year.

Officials said the allocation is intended to support the implementation of the relief measures and ensure uninterrupted assistance to eligible families.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/delhi/story/delhi-government-approves-amnesty-relief-for-1832-jk-migrant-families-2920523-2026-06-01

India has finalised a Letter of Request to France for 114 Rafale fighter aircraft. The proposed deal could expand IAF capability and boost domestic aerospace manufacturing.

India has taken a significant step towards bolstering its air combat capabilities by finalising a Letter of Request (LoR) to France for the acquisition of 114 Dassault Rafale multi-role fighter aircraft in a deal estimated to be worth around Rs 3.25 lakh crore.

The LoR, a formal government-to-government communication under the Intergovernmental Agreement framework, is expected to be sent to France in the coming weeks, initiating negotiations for what is set to become India’s largest-ever fighter aircraft procurement programme.

The development comes as Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, began a three-day visit to France on June 1. His visit coincides with India’s push to acquire the additional Rafale fighters and is being closely watched as New Delhi advances plans for one of its biggest defence purchases.

Under the proposed agreement, nearly 90 of the 114 Rafale jets will be manufactured in India through a partnership between Dassault Aviation and an Indian company under the government’s Make in India initiative. The remaining aircraft will be supplied in fly-away condition from France. Some estimates suggest that 92 aircraft could be built in India, while 22 would be delivered directly from French production facilities.

The programme is expected to feature indigenous content of nearly 50 percent, providing a major boost to India’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem while supporting the government’s drive for self-reliance in defence production.

The acquisition is aimed at addressing the Indian Air Force’s operational readiness amid evolving regional security challenges. The Rafale is regarded as one of the world’s most advanced multi-role fighter aircraft, capable of carrying out air superiority, ground attack, reconnaissance and strategic deterrence missions.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-114-rafale-jets-france-letter-of-request-rs-3-25-lakh-crore-deal-2920563-2026-06-02

India and the US have finalised most of the first-phase trade deal text, with only minor issues remaining. Signing awaits clarity on Washington’s new tariff regime after legal challenges to Trump’s tariffs.

India and the United States have finalised most parts of the legal text for the first phase of their proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday. However, the deal will be signed only after there is clarity on how the US plans to impose tariffs once the current 10% levy expires next month.

Negotiations are now focused on minor legal details, while both sides await a clearer picture of the Trump administration’s new tariff framework.

India is seeking assurances that its exports will continue to enjoy a tariff advantage over competing countries. The concern stems from possible US action under Section 301, a trade law under which India is currently facing two investigations along with several other nations.

One investigation relates to alleged structural overcapacity in sectors such as solar modules, processed food, steel and aluminium. The second concerns allegations that some countries have failed to act against forced labour.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is expected to visit India once Washington finalises its new tariff mechanism. The earlier “reciprocal tariffs” introduced by US President Donald Trump were struck down after the US Supreme Court ruled that the emergency powers used to impose them were unlawful.

Officials are working to keep the trade agreement text ready so that tariff rates can be finalised once the new US system is in place.

India and the US had agreed on an interim trade framework in February, but progress slowed after the court ruling. Meanwhile, American trade negotiators are in New Delhi for a three-day round of talks beginning Tuesday.

“…mostly everything is finalised. As you know, US Ambassador Sergio (Gor) said that 99% of the things have been finalised. Discussions are going on about small issues, commas and full stops. While finalising, how will the legal changes that have taken place in the US be reflected in the final agreement, and what kind of changes will be made accordingly. After finalising that, I am fully confident that, with the US, we will conclude the first tranche of the BTA as soon as possible, sign it and start further discussions on how to have a more comprehensive BTA,” Goyal told reporters.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/india-us-trade-deal-99-ready-only-commas-and-full-stops-left-says-piyush-goyal-article-154444502

Candidates who want to apply for the re-evaluation process and verification can find the direct link to do it on the official website of CBSE at cbse.gov.in.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has opened the portal for verification of marks and re-evaluation of Class 12 board examination results after facing multiple delays.

In a post on X, CBSE urged students to carefully watch the instructional video available on the portal before submitting applications. The board has provided step-by-step guidance on the process of applying for verification of marks and re-evaluation.

Dearest Students,

The verification and re-evaluation portal is now LIVE !

Please watch the video carefully for step-by-step instructions on how to apply for Verification of Marks and re-evaluation.

Portal Link: https://t.co/ILQvluZJ7W@EduMinOfIndia @PTI_News @PIB_India… pic.twitter.com/Ydc2wmGEol

— CBSE HQ (@cbseindia29) June 1, 2026

The board had said earlier that it will open the CBSE Class 12 Re-Evaluation portal on June 1.

Candidates who want to apply for the re-evaluation process and verification can find the direct link to do it on the official website of CBSE at cbse.gov.in.

Muliple delays in opening portal

The portal was initially scheduled to reopen on May 29 for candidates who had obtained scanned copies of their evaluated answer books. However, the CBSE deferred the launch to June 1, stating that additional time was required to ensure a transparent and error-free process.

Students were allowed to apply for scanned copies of their answer scripts between May 19 and May 25, but the portal remained inaccessible after May 26.

Under the revised schedule, candidates who have received their answer books can submit question-specific objections if they believe marks were incorrectly awarded or omitted. These objections will then be examined by subject experts through the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, an Education Ministry official said.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cbse-class-12-results-2026-how-to-apply-for-re-evaluation-and-verification-of-marks-step-by-step-guide-101780365319361.html

 

Thousands of consumers across South Mumbai have faced repeated power outages over the past two weeks due to cable faults, transformer failures and rising electricity demand. Experts say ageing infrastructure, some dating back to the 1980s, requires urgent replacement as Mumbai’s power consumption recently crossed 4,500 MW amid intense summer heat.

Repeated power outages across South Mumbai over the past two weeks have exposed the growing strain on the city’s ageing electricity infrastructure, leaving thousands of residents and businesses struggling with frequent disruptions.

Areas including Girgaon, Bhuleshwar, Opera House, Thakurdwar, Kalbadevi, Dadar, and Wadala have witnessed multiple outages triggered by cable faults, transformer failures, and rising electricity demand during the ongoing heatwave.

Cable faults and ageing infrastructure under focus

The latest disruption occurred in the early hours of Sunday when electricity supply was interrupted in Girgaon and adjoining localities. BEST engineers restored power gradually by around 11 am after identifying and rectifying a cable fault.

However, officials admitted that the original fault remains difficult to trace as several underground cables pass beneath the suburban railway tracks between Marine Lines and Grant Road. Located nearly 15 feet below ground, these cables are far deeper than standard utility lines and require extensive excavation, railway permissions, and road-digging approvals before repairs can begin.

Residents say the outages have become a daily concern. Apart from darkness and discomfort, many buildings are facing water supply issues as pumps fail to operate during prolonged power cuts.

“We have never experienced such frequent outages in recent years. The impact goes beyond electricity because even water cannot be pumped to overhead tanks,” said Amit Raju, a resident of Girgaon.

Former corporator and Shiv Sena leader Dilip Naik claimed nearly 50,000 consumers in the area have been affected and accused authorities of failing to anticipate rising demand from redevelopment projects and high-rise buildings.

Rising electricity demand adds to pressure

The crisis is not limited to South Mumbai. Last week, faults at the Kingsway Receiving Station in Dadar and a transformer fire at Girgaon Chowpatty disrupted power supply in Dadar, Naigaon, Wadala East, and surrounding areas.

The incidents occurred as Mumbai recorded one of its highest-ever electricity demands, crossing 4,500 MW amid soaring temperatures and widespread use of air conditioners.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/south-mumbai-power-crisis-repeated-outages-expose-ageing-cables-and-rising-electricity-demand

Occupying some of India’s most valuable, government-owned real estate, elite clubs from Delhi to Mumbai are facing uncomfortable questions. The Delhi Gymkhana Club row has sparked a conversation on whether public land should continue to support private privilege. The row has left the elites sweating.

India’s elite clubs have suddenly become a bit uncomfortable. There are questions being asked by both the government and those who denounce the “club culture”, like, can institutions built on public land continue to enjoy extraordinary privileges in a country where every acre is under pressure? The debate has been ignited by the Delhi Gymkhana Club, one of the country’s most exclusive social institutions, after it received an eviction notice from the Union government in May.

The Land and Development Office asked the club to vacate its 27-acre premises by June 5, citing its use for defence infrastructure and other public purposes in the high-security zone just steps away from the Prime Minister’s residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.

Members of the Delhi Gymkhana Club swiftly challenged the order in the Delhi High Court. But the controversy has already sent ripples through elite clubs across the country. From Mumbai and Bengaluru to Chennai and even smaller cities like Varanasi, several prestigious gymkhanas and membership clubs occupy prime government-leased land in some of India’s most valuable neighbourhoods.

In principle, there is nothing wrong with private clubs. They offer spaces for recreation, networking and community life. But when such institutions operate on publicly owned land at concessional rates, questions are bound to arise – about transparency, accountability and whether these arrangements continue to serve any public interest.

For instance, the Delhi Gymkhana Club sits on 27 acres of prime Lutyens’ Delhi land, leased from the government at a nominal rent of Rs 1,000 a year. Yes, Rs 1,000 a year for 27 acres. Not just that, the club has also drawn attention because of alleged mismanagement and opaque membership procedure.

The Delhi Gymkhana dispute has brought those questions into focus, and elite clubs and gymkhanas across India are sweating over the possibility that the easy access and privileges they have long enjoyed could be snatched away. Privilege, after all, is a difficult thing to give up once one gets used to it.

Even the Delhi Golf Club, spread across nearly 170 acres of government-leased land in the heart of the capital, has come under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court. Although its lease runs until 2050, people have questioned why such a large parcel of prime public land is being used mainly for the benefit of a small, privileged group, while generating relatively little revenue for the government.

The club also houses several heritage monuments, including some under the Archaeological Survey of India, all of which remain inaccessible to the public.

Here is a closer look at similar clubs across India and how, and their actions after the Delhi Gymkhana row.

MUMBAI’S LEGACY CLUBS ON MARINE DRIVE UNDER SCRUTINY

The Trinamool Congress was forced to call off a legislators’ meeting at Mamata Banerjee’s residence after only 20 of the party’s 80 newly elected MLAs attended.

A day after Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee was attacked, a meeting of the party’s newly elected legislators failed to take off as only 20 of the 80 MLAs turned up at Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence. The absence of nearly three-fourths of the legislators raised eyebrows. However, the TMC was quick to dismiss concerns, saying several MLAs were busy organising ground protests against the authorities over alleged political violence and therefore could not attend the meeting.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said many legislators could not attend the meeting because of developments on the ground following Saturday’s attack on Abhishek Banerjee and the alleged assault on party MP Kalyan Banerjee a day later.

Speaking to reporters outside former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, where the meeting was due to be held, Ghosh said the party had instead decided to intensify its protest programme over the next 48 hours against the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government. He also announced block-level and ward-level rallies on Monday, followed by a day-long sit-in in central Kolkata on Tuesday to be led by Mamata Banerjee.

Ghosh said the meeting had been fixed in advance, but the attacks on the party’s leaders had led MLAs to organise protests in different areas. He said police action had then been taken against TMC workers, and several legislators who could not attend were occupied with handling the situation locally and helping workers who had been arrested.

According to Ghosh, those MLAs informed the legislative party about the developments and asked whether the meeting could be postponed for the time being. He said the party accepted what he described as a valid request and decided to call off the meeting for now, even though around 20 MLAs had already reached the venue for the 3 pm meeting.

He said the meeting would be held later and that the revised details would be communicated to all MLAs. Ghosh added that all the party’s legislators had conveyed that they stood firmly with the organisation during this period. Party sources said that despite the low attendance, Mamata Banerjee held informal discussions with those who were present.

Announcing the party’s next steps, Ghosh said leaders had been told to hold protest rallies on Monday at the block level in rural areas and in municipal wards in urban parts of the state. He said the rallies would protest against the attacks on Abhishek Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee and party workers, whom he described as targets of post-poll terror by the BJP.

Ghosh, who is also the TMC MLA from Beleghata, said the party would then hold a one-day symbolic sit-in on Tuesday at the Rani Rashmoni Road protest site in Esplanade. He said the protest, to be led by Mamata Banerjee, would be against the continuing post-poll violence and the eviction of hawkers through the use of bulldozers across the state. He added that the party’s next political programme would be announced from the dharna venue on June 2.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tmc-mlas-low-turnout-mamata-kalighat-meeting-after-abhishek-banerjee-attack-2920045-2026-06-01

According to the state government, the exercise was part of an event titled “Sikhiya Da Maha Jashan”, held to mark Punjab’s top ranking in the NITI Aayog’s School Education Quality Report 2026, where it claimed to have surpassed Kerala on key foundational learning indicators.

The Punjab government on Saturday organised simultaneous mega Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) across more than 19,000 government schools in the state.

According to the state government, the exercise was part of an event titled “Sikhiya Da Maha Jashan”, held to mark Punjab’s top ranking in the NITI Aayog’s School Education Quality Report 2026, where it claimed to have surpassed Kerala on key foundational learning indicators.

Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said teachers and non-teaching staff were felicitated for their performance during the programme. Students, including board exam toppers, achievers of the English Edge Programme, and JEE qualifiers, were also given certificates and recognition.

The government said more than 20 lakh parents participated in the PTMs and related workshops, which focused on summer learning continuity, holiday homework management and developing study routines during the vacation period.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/punjab-aap-government-schools-parent-teacher-meetings-20-sikhiya-da-maha-jashan-2919982-2026-05-31

 

A Delhi couple exchanged rings inside Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple and posted the video online. The viral clip led the temple committee to remove the post, penalise staff and tighten enforcement.

A Delhi couple performed their engagement ceremony inside the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain and later shared a video of the event on social media, prompting action from the temple committee. The committee got the video deleted from Instagram and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the temple’s security agency for the violation.

According to temple authorities, the incident came to light on May 26 when the couple from Delhi entered the temple through the VIP protocol arrangement after obtaining the required receipt. The couple exchanged engagement rings inside Ganesh Mandapam within the temple premises and recorded the ceremony.

The devotee who uploaded the video on Instagram captioned it, “Jab Mahakal raazi to kya karega kaazi.” After the video went viral on social media, the Mahakaleshwar Temple Committee took immediate action.

The committee first got the social media post removed for violating temple rules. It then initiated action at the temple level. Mahakaleshwar Temple Assistant Administrator Ashish Falwadiya said the committee imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the security agency responsible for the area.

Authorities also completely barred the attendant seen in the video from entering through any special gates of the temple. The committee issued a warning to the concerned protocol personnel and priest, while officials are also preparing show-cause notices for the temple employees linked to the incident.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-couple-mahakaleshwar-temple-ujjain-engagement-video-fine-instagram-deletion-2919997-2026-05-31

 

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education will meet on 1 and 2 June to examine the NEET paper leak, CBSE on-screen marking and the three-language policy. The hearings will bring education, health and examination officials before MPs as they seek answers on students’ concerns and key policy issues.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports will hold meetings on June 1 and 2 to discuss the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case, examination reforms, CBSE evaluation practices and the implementation of the three-language policy in schools.

On June 1, the committee has summoned the Secretary of Higher Education, the Secretary of the Ministry of Health, the Director General of the National Testing Agency (NTA), and Gulshan Garg of the United Doctors Front. The panel will seek the NTA’s views on the NEET-UG paper leak issue and discuss examination-related matters, including reforms in the conduct of tests.

On June 2, the parliamentary panel will meet the Secretary of School Education and the Chairman of the CBSE. Members are expected to examine the utility of the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system used in Class 12 CBSE examinations and discuss concerns faced by students because of the evaluation method. The committee will also review the implementation formula for the three-language policy in Classes 9 and 10 and seek clarifications on its rollout.

The meetings come amid heightened scrutiny of the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. Members of a parliamentary panel on May 29 stressed the need to protect the sanctity of the NEET-UG examination and plug loopholes in the system while reviewing the ongoing investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), according to sources.

The Committee on Government Assurances, headed by AIADMK MP M Thambidurai, heard presentations from Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh, CBI Director Praveen Sood, senior Health Ministry officials and the Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC).

During the meeting, members questioned NTA officials about statements made in the Rajya Sabha in July 2024 regarding the conduct of NEET examinations and the investigation into alleged irregularities. The CBI is currently probing the leak of this year’s NEET-UG examination, which was cancelled and rescheduled for June 21. NTA officials are learnt to have briefed the committee on developments in the case. Members also emphasised that the MBBS seat matrix should remain undisturbed and counselling should proceed on schedule.

The Education Ministry had informed Parliament in July 2024 that the NEET-UG 2024 examination was conducted on May 5, 2024, and that several cases of alleged irregularities, cheating and malpractice were reported after the test.

The ministry subsequently referred the matter to the CBI for a comprehensive investigation and also constituted a seven-member high-level committee headed by former ISRO Chairman Dr K. Radhakrishnan to recommend reforms in examination processes, data security and the structure and functioning of the NTA. Parliamentary members have sought details on the implementation of the committee’s recommendations.

The Standing Committee had last week also sought an update from the NTA Director General on the NEET-UG paper leak probe and the steps being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. Sources said the NTA chief informed members that the leak did not originate from the agency’s systems and that the CBI was investigating the source of the leaked question paper. The committee also discussed preparations for the transition of NEET-UG to a computer-based test from next year, including infrastructure, frequency and duration of examinations.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/parliamentary-standing-committee-education-neet-paper-leak-cbse-on-screen-marking-three-language-policy-2920014-2026-06-01

His remarks come as the CBSE faces huge pressure after reports of technical glitches in its post-result portal and irregularities in evaluated answer sheets.

Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday blamed the Centre and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for compromising the evaluation process of answer sheets of the Class 12 examinations, alleging that changes in tender specifications led to answer sheets being scanned on mobile phones.

He was responding to a social media post by Sarthak Sidhant, a Class 12 student from Jharkhand, who alleged that the board gradually altered technical requirements across three consecutive rounds of tenders in a way that favoured the vendor that ultimately secured the contract.

The Congress MP’s remarks come as the CBSE faces mounting pressure after reports of technical glitches in its post-result portal and irregularities in evaluated answer sheets.

Rahul Gandhi’s fresh attack on CBSE

In a post on X, Gandhi pointed to a CBSE tender released in May 2025 and alleged that key technical standards for scanning answer sheets were diluted in a revised version issued later.

“CBSE’s May 2025 tender required answer sheets to be scanned with automatic robotic scanners, spines preserved, at a minimum of 300 DPI. The tender reissued in August quietly removed all of it. ‘Scanners’ became generic. Resolution dropped to 200 DPI,” Gandhi said.

He also claimed that answer sheets had been scanned using mobile phones.

CBSE’s May 2025 tender required answer sheets to be scanned with automatic robotic scanners, spines preserved, at a minimum of 300 DPI.

The tender re-issued in August quietly removed all of it. “Scanners” became generic. Resolution dropped to 200 DPI.

Now we know what that… https://t.co/XXdorOi3oq

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 31, 2026

“Now we know what that meant in practice. It has been exposed that COEMPT scanned the answer sheets using mobile phones. The blurred copies, the missing pages, the unscanned books — they are not ‘errors.’ They are the predictable outcome of a contract written to fit a vendor,” Gandhi alleged.

Describing the issue as “fraud”, Gandhi said, “This is fraud. And every child whose marks were wrongly evaluated is a victim of it.”

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Gandhi questioned why the government had not responded to the issue.

“This morning, the Prime Minister had time to speak about mangoes. He has not had time to speak about 18.5 lakh children whose answer sheets were scanned with phones. Dharmendra Pradhan still sits in office. Modi’s silence is no longer indifference. It is complicity,” Gandhi said.

Notably, he was responding to a post by Sidhant, who spent several days examining tender documents available on the Central Public Procurement portal and later shared his findings on his website.

Sidhant said that the key issue was that the technical and eligibility requirements for the OSM contract were gradually relaxed across three rounds of the Request for Proposal process, eventually allowing Coempt EduTeck to qualify. He alleged that several of the changes appeared to align closely with the company’s profile.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-says-cbse-answer-sheets-scanned-using-mobile-phones-osm-row-this-is-fraud-101780278312632.html

 

Sarthak Sidhant, 17, claimed several discrepancies in the tender process that pointed towards preferential treatment of a particular service provider.

Amid controversy surrounding the CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system to check Class 12 results, a student has alleged several discrepancies in the tender process, which he argued pointed towards preferential treatment of Hyderabad-based Coempt Eduteck Pvt Ltd.

Sarthak Sidhant, 17, claimed several discrepancies in the tender process that pointed towards preferential treatment of a particular service provider. He shared his findings in a detailed blog that included a comparison of several CBSE tender documents.

Sidhant, a Class 12 student from Jharkhand, described himself as one of the 17 lakh students affected by the OSM process. He said concerns over his own evaluation experience prompted him to investigate the OSM tender process.

What Did Sarthak Find?

Over several days, Sidhant reviewed and compared multiple versions of CBSE’s tender documents before publishing his findings on his website. In his blog, the student said that CBSE gradually modified eligibility and technical criteria across three rounds of bidding, ultimately enabling Coempt EduTeck to qualify for the contract.

He also highlighted that Coempt Eduteck, earlier called Globarena Technologies, had previously faced scrutiny over its role in the 2019 Telangana Intermediate examination process. He said the company never signed a formal agreement with the Telangana State Board, and missing marks and systemic discrepancies impacted over 3.8 lakh students.

Sidhant said the CBSE issues a public Request for Proposal (RFP) to invite competitive bids. It issued its first tender on February 4, 2025, for which TCS and Coempt Eduteck applied, before it was wiped from public records.

The student alleged that the CBSE modified clauses related to previous blacklisting, poor performance criteria, turnover requirements and project eligibility norms to favour Coempt Eduteck over TCS. In the old RfP, the board said a service provider would be instantly disqualified in case of a record of poor performance, but the clauses were completely wiped out in the new RfP.

The blog also alleged revisions to software certification requirements and image-scanning standards used during answer-sheet digitisation.

“The third thing I found out is the 50 crore limit, which you needed to qualify, and Coempt qualified that by 1.7%. The time frame of corrupt practices was halved, and there were project criteria changes,” he told news agency ANI, adding that the revised criteria disadvantaged larger technology firms.

#WATCH | Ranchi, Jharkhand | A class 12th student, Sarthak Sidhant, says, “…I have written a blog that compares the tender documents of CBSE. I have uploaded and published it… There were at least 15 discrepancies, as per my blog. I would like to highlight three or four of them.… pic.twitter.com/TtL7DgOe9M

— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2026

Rahul Gandhi Backs Student’s Claims

The blog quickly caught attention after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared it on X. “17-year-old Sarthak Sidhant has exposed how CBSE manipulated its own selection process to benefit COEMPT, using CBSE’s own documents,” he said.

“An independent judicial inquiry is now essential to uncover the full extent of this scam. Sarthak’s work shows that India’s Gen Z is brilliant and fearless. And sooner or later, they will find out the full truth,” he added.

17-year-old Sarthak Sidhant has exposed how CBSE manipulated its own selection process to benefit COEMPT, using CBSE’s own documents.

The details in his blog reveal how CBSE changed the RFP to unduly benefit COEMPT, at the cost of TCS.

He has revealed the hollowness of… https://t.co/g7YSYIxDrh

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 29, 2026

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also urged people to read Sidhant’s blog, alleging that rules were altered to award the contract to a “shady company” that impacted the future of lakhs of students.

CBSE Response

CBSE officials denied any wrongdoing, stating that the tender was awarded in accordance with established procurement norms and that Coempt EduTeck emerged as the lowest qualified bidder under the Quality-and-Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) framework.

Officials said the modifications made during the bidding process were intended to address shortcomings identified in earlier rounds and should not be viewed as attempts to favour any particular company, according to Moneycontrol.

Meanwhile, Coempt Eduteck also denied any irregularities, with CEO VSN Raju insisting that the company was cleared in subsequent legal proceedings after the 2019 Telangana fiasco.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/time-frame-of-corrupt-practices-halved-class-12-student-decodes-red-flags-in-cbses-osm-tenders-ws-l-10121965.html

 

 

Sources say the ISI has actively propped up Lahore-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti as a cost-effective, deniable proxy to orchestrate low-intensity terror

In a major national security development, intelligence agencies have decoded a dangerous new dimension of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) hybrid warfare strategy against India. According to top intelligence sources, the ISI has actively propped up Lahore-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti as a cost-effective, deniable proxy to orchestrate low-intensity terrorism, targeted radicalisation, and criminal disruption across India. Bhatti, who previously operated from Dubai before relocating to Pakistan under the direct protection of state handlers, represents a highly sophisticated “gangster-turned-operative” model. This structural setup allows Islamabad to maintain persistent security pressure on Indian border states and metropolitan centres at minimal diplomatic risk, keeping state fingerprints completely hidden behind the facade of independent gang activity.

Operating as a key pivot for the ISI, Bhatti has demonstrated lethal efficiency in digital narrative management and social media recruitment, specifically targeting vulnerable Indian youth. These recruits are groomed into highly disposable, localised modules tasked with executing high-risk operations, including grenade attacks, targeted killings of police personnel, and the defacement of public property. To fund these expansive operations, the ISI has established a continuous stream of capital through cross-border narco-terror smuggling networks, aimed primarily at triggering widespread communal and civil unrest across Punjab and other strategic border regions.

The TTH Banner and Recent Pan-India Plots

A critical component of Bhatti’s recent operational blueprint is the creation of a front organisation known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan (TTH). Under this banner, the module has unleashed aggressive propaganda campaigns alongside highly coordinated targeted killing plots. The extent of this hybrid threat was starkly exposed throughout May 2026, when law enforcement agencies busted multiple interconnected interstate modules. These crackdowns revealed extensive propaganda operations, police shooting plots, and provocative terror graffiti painted across public spaces in Delhi and Faridabad, leading to several high-profile arrests that effectively unmasked the TTH as an ISI-Bhatti construct.

Simultaneously, the module had been actively laying the groundwork for a series of spectacular strikes on highly sensitive installations across the National Capital Region (NCR) and neighbouring states. Investigations in May 2026 exposed advanced terror plots targeting a prominent temple in Delhi, a crowded commercial dhaba on the Delhi-Sonipat highway, and a heavily fortified military camp spanning Delhi NCR and Haryana. By utilising local criminal logistics, Bhatti came close to executing these reconnaissance-backed operations before federal agencies intervened to neutralise the immediate threat.

Extensive Geographic Footprint and Judicial Crackdowns

The operational history of the Shahzad Bhatti module reveals a relentless trajectory of violence stretching over the last two years. Bhatti first drew significant federal scrutiny following a high-profile grenade attack on the residence of YouTuber Rozer Sandhu in Jalandhar, Punjab, a case that subsequently culminated in a comprehensive chargesheet filed against him by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Undeterred by federal indictments, the module struck again in November 2025, executing a targeted grenade attack directly on a police station in Gurdaspur, Punjab, in a blatant bid to demoralise local law enforcement.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/the-gangster-operative-model-inside-isis-cost-effective-blueprint-to-destabilise-indian-states-exclusive-10121694.html

The case was uncovered on 6 January 2025, when Omaha police went to the hotel after receiving a theft complaint.

A 27-year-old man from Gujarat, India, has been sentenced to ten years in prison in the United States after he paid sex traffickers to abuse a teenage girl at the hotel where he worked.

Kavankumar Patel worked at the AmericInn hotel in Omaha, Nebraska. He told the court that he used money from the hotel’s cash till to pay traffickers to have sex with a 15-year-old girl.

The case was uncovered on 6 January 2025, when Omaha police went to the hotel after receiving a theft complaint. Once there, they found signs of sex trafficking. Officers from the Homeland Security Task Force and the Omaha Police Department then rescued two girls, aged 15 and 16. The girls had been brought to the hotel from another state by traffickers who were selling them for sex.

The US Attorney’s Office in Nebraska described the terrible conditions the girls had been living in. “The two minor females reported that their traffickers had instructed that the minors must engage in sex with hotel staff for a reduced room rate or they would be kicked out of the hotel,” the office said.

Three hotel staff members were involved in the abuse. Two of them, including Patel, paid the traffickers to access one of the girls. A third employee abused the other girl without making any payment. After this, all three employees allowed the traffickers and the girls to keep staying at the hotel for several more days.

The girls told investigators they had barely any food and felt they had no way out. While they were being held at the hotel, the traffickers kept posting adverts online to arrange more sex acts involving the teenagers.

Source : https://www.news18.com/world/indian-hotel-staff-had-sex-with-minor-in-exchange-for-cheaper-room-rates-for-traffickers-arrested-ws-l-10120950.html

Schengen Visa: Slovenia emerged as the toughest Schengen destination for Indian applicants, with a non-issuance rate of 46.1%.

Schengen Visa: More than 181,000 Schengen visa applications submitted by Indian travelers did not result in a visa being issued in 2025, according to newly released data from the European Commission. India remained the world’s third-largest source market for Schengen visas last year, with 1.15 million applications filed. However, 181,111 of those applications were not issued visas, resulting in an overall non-issuance rate of 15.8%.

The figures mean that roughly one in every six Schengen visa applications submitted by Indians failed to result in a visa. While several major European destinations maintained relatively low non-issuance rates, others recorded rates that were more than double the average.

Which Schengen Countries Had Highest Non-Issuance Rates For Indians?

Slovenia emerged as the toughest Schengen destination for Indian applicants, with a non-issuance rate of 46.1%. Nearly half of all applications submitted for Slovenian visas did not result in a visa being granted. Bulgaria followed with a non-issuance rate of 37%, while Greece recorded a rate of 33%, meaning about one in three Indian applicants failed to secure a visa. Malta and Estonia also reported high rates of 31.7% and 30.1%, respectively.

Among higher-volume destinations, Greece stood out for combining strong demand with a high non-issuance rate. The Greek Embassy in New Delhi processed more than 41,000 applications from Indians in 2025, with 13,532 applications not resulting in a visa.

The Netherlands and Austria also reported rates above the overall average. The Netherlands recorded a non-issuance rate of 20.6%, while Austria’s stood at 21.6%.

Which Schengen Countries Were More Likely To Approve Indian Visa Applications?

Germany, which processed more than 153,000 applications from India, reported a non-issuance rate of 10.5%. Italy recorded a rate of 12.7%, while Switzerland- the most sought-after Schengen destination among Indians in 2025- reported a rate of 13.6%. Belgium and Denmark recorded some of the lowest non-issuance rates among major destinations, at 7.7% and 6.9%, respectively.

Which Schengen Countries Recorded Highest Number Of Non-Issued Visas

Switzerland recorded about 30,700 non-issued applications, followed by France with roughly 29,500, the Netherlands with about 20,100, Germany with around 16,000 and Greece with approximately 13,500.

Source : https://www.news18.com/world/181000-indian-schengen-visa-applications-failed-in-2025-list-of-countries-with-highest-rejection-rates-ws-l-10121652.html

The building had a coaching institute on the ground floor and construction work was underway on upper floors. It is suspected that those trapped maybe students.

As many as 12 people were rescued, two with critical injuries, after a five-storey commercial building collapsed near the Saket metro station in south Delhi on Saturday evening.

The entire structure was reduced to a massive mound of rubble, with twisted metal, broken pillars and concrete slabs scattered across the site.

“A total of 12 people have been rescued. Two are critically injured. It doesn’t look like anyone else is trapped but the search operation is still ongoing,” a senior police officer said, adding that a case will be registered over the incident.

A multi-agency operation is underway to search for anyone who may still be trapped under debris, officials said.

Witnesses said cries for help could be heard from beneath the debris. “All we could hear were screams coming from under the rubble. There was a huge cloud of dust. When it settled, we realised that part of an adjoining structure had also been affected,” a local resident said.

The building, with a coaching institute, cafes and offices operating in it and construction work underway on the third floor, collapsed around 7.45 pm on Western Marg in Saidulajab area near Saket metro station.

According to Delhi Fire Services (DFS), three people were rescued by local and PCR personnel before firefighters arrived, while others were pulled out by DFS personnel with assistance from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Fire officials said the ground-plus-three-floor building collapsed completely, toppling onto an adjoining temporary tin-shed canteen where students were having dinner. Balwant Yadav, father of an injured student, said his 25-year-old daughter Neelam was at the canteen adjacent to the building when the structure came crashing down. Neelam had recently returned from abroad after completing her MBBS and was preparing for her postgraduate entrance examination at Arise Medical Academy in Saket.

“At the time of the incident, around 30 to 35 students were present in the canteen. Most of them were students preparing for various medical entrance examinations at the institute. My daughter suffered a fracture in her leg and is currently undergoing treatment,” Balwant said.

Residents said the building was frequented by a large number of students and office-goers.

Locals had claimed around 100 to 150 people could be trapped under the debris.

“Around 100 to 150 people may be trapped under the collapsed building. Several cafes, coaching centres and corporate offices were operating from the premises.

“The building was relatively new and probably constructed around four or five years ago,” said Ravindra Singh, a local resident.

Dharamveer Singh, an official from the district magistrate’s office present at the site, said rescue personnel were working to reach those still trapped underneath.

“The exact number of fatalities, if any, can only be confirmed after all the trapped individuals are evacuated and shifted to hospital,” he said.

Ravinder Singh, president of the Chaar Gaon Committee, said many of those feared trapped could be students.

Aspiring doctors come here for coaching and other courses, and some of them may be among those trapped in the collapsed building, he said.

According to DFS officials, three fire tenders and an emergency response vehicle were initially dispatched. Additional fire engines and a lighting vehicle were later rushed to the scene as the scale of the collapse became clear.

Firefighters, NDRF personnel, police teams and local residents are jointly carrying out search operations. Heavy machinery, including JCB excavators, have been pressed into service to carefully remove debris. Teams are using hydraulic cutters and jacks to cut through steel girders and concrete slabs, while specialised equipment such as victim-location cameras, earth-auger drilling machines and trained sniffer dogs are on the site to search the debris.

Visuals from the site showed anxious relatives, residents and students gathering around the debris as rescue teams worked under floodlights.

Several rushed between hospitals, including AIIMS, in search of information about their loved ones. Many said they were unable to immediately ascertain whether relatives inside the building had been rescued or were still trapped.

Police said an investigation would subsequently examine ownership of the building, whether necessary permissions had been obtained for construction activities and whether any lapses contributed to the collapse.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/5-storey-building-collapses-in-south-delhi-several-feared-trapped-11569583?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Abhishek Banerjee, one of the party’s most prominent leaders, was assaulted by a mob in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas, where he had gone to meet the victims of the post-election violence. Several INDIA Bloc members criticised the attack.

The assumption that the Bengal Assembly election reversal diminished Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s stature within the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) came under strain on Saturday, as several Opposition leaders rallied behind her in condemning the assault on her nephew and TMC leader, Abhishek Banerjee.

Abhishek Banerjee, one of the party’s most prominent leaders, was assaulted by a mob in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas, where he had gone to meet the victims of the post-election violence. Mamata Banerjee, who was unseated earlier this month after a whirlwind 15 years in power, blamed her nemesis, the Bharatiya Janata Party, for the attack. The ruling party, however, denied the allegation.

Amid question marks on the future of the alliance, which is fraught with internal contradictions and infighting, the Opposition appeared united over this matter. Making the attack the focal point of a broader Opposition offensive against the BJP, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal accused the ruling party of fostering political violence.

“Strongly condemn the shocking attack on MP Shri Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur, as he went to meet the families affected by post-poll violence in the state,” Mallikarjun Kharge said, alleging “a deliberate lack of adequate police protection for a prominent Opposition leader”.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav described the incident as a “heinous conspiracy”, alleging that the attack was intended to create unrest.

“By getting a murderous attack carried out on senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, the anarchic BJP government has proved that it can do nothing except indulge in hateful and violent politics,” Yadav said in a post on X.

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal said the incident pointed to a worsening law-and-order situation in the state.

“I strongly condemn the attack on Abhishek Banerjee ji. There is a deeply worrying breakdown of law and order in West Bengal at present. Wherever the BJP comes to power,” he said, alleging that the BJP can’t tolerate a strong opposition.

“High praise to Abhishek Banerjee ji for standing strong and supporting the grieving family during this tragedy,” he added.

BJP Reaction

The BJP rejected allegations that it orchestrated the attack and maintained that residents were protesting against the ruling Trinamool Congress over recent incidents of violence in the region.

BJP leaders argued that public anger against the TMC was being mischaracterised as a politically motivated assault. BJP leaders have also accused the Trinamool Congress of attempting to use the incident for political mileage.

“There is no BJP involvement in the egg-throwing, manhandling incident. People know how TMC has governed for the last 15 years in the state. The police and authorities should look over the families affected by post-poll violence. The TMC has no moral or political right to go over to them,” said Samik Bhattacharya, the chief of the ruling party’s Bengal unit.

TMC leaders insisted the incident was not a spontaneous expression of public anger but a pre-planned attack.

Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev alleged that the assault was “premeditated and planned”.

“This is not people’s outrage, this is the fear of AITC’s support that may be silent now but still stands with us. This will not work,” Dev said, urging BJP leaders not to blame ordinary people of Bengal for the incident.

What Happened

The confrontation occurred during Abhishek Banerjee’s visit to Sonarpur to meet the family of a TMC worker who recently died amid ongoing political tensions in the area. A mob gathered near the route of Banerjee’s convoy and allegedly attempted to block and attack his vehicle.

Videos circulating on social media show Banerjee being surrounded by a crowd, with eggs, stones, and shoes hurled at him amid chants of “chor chor” (thief). His shirt was torn, and he was seen wearing a helmet for protection while being escorted away.

Police personnel later intervened to control the situation and dispersed the crowd.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-revival-in-bengal-support-for-mamata-banerjee-over-nephews-assault-11569753?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

A parking dispute in Kasol market allegedly led a tourist to fire at a local youth. The incident triggered panic, led to four arrests, and renewed concerns over tourist behaviour.

What began as a routine argument over a parking space in the bustling tourist hub of Kasol quickly descended into chaos, with a tourist allegedly opening fire on a local youth, leaving him injured and triggering panic in the crowded market area.

The dramatic incident, which has since gone viral on social media, unfolded in full public view as tourists, shopkeepers and local residents watched a parking dispute spiral into violence. Videos circulating online purportedly show an armed tourist openly waving a pistol on the street moments after the firing, sending shockwaves through one of Himachal Pradesh’s most popular tourist destinations.

Police have arrested four accused in connection with the incident and seized the pistol allegedly used in the firing, along with the vehicle in which the suspects were travelling.

PARKING DISPUTE TURNS UGLY

According to police, the trouble began over vehicle parking in Kasol market.

What started as a verbal exchange between a group of tourists and local youths soon escalated into a confrontation. The argument quickly turned into a physical altercation as tempers flared in the busy market area.

Amid the clash, one of the tourists allegedly pulled out a pistol and fired at a local youth.

The gunshot triggered panic across the market, with people rushing for safety as the situation spun out of control.

The injured youth was immediately taken to hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.

MARKET DESCENDS INTO PANIC

Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion and fear following the firing.

The sound of the gunshot sent tourists, local residents and traders scrambling for cover. Several people rushed to help the injured youth while others attempted to calm the situation.

The incident unfolded in one of Himachal Pradesh’s busiest tourist destinations, amplifying concerns among visitors and local business owners.

Videos from the scene show crowds gathering in the market amid shouting, commotion and confusion as people tried to understand what had happened.

TOURIST SEEN WAVING PISTOL IN VIRAL VIDEO

One of the most striking aspects of the incident emerged through videos that quickly spread across social media.

The footage purportedly shows a tourist wearing a white shirt openly walking through the market while brandishing a pistol.

Witnesses claimed he continued waving the weapon in public for some time, creating fear among people gathered in the area.

The visuals show the armed man standing in the middle of the road with the pistol in hand while onlookers maintain their distance.

According to eyewitnesses, his companions eventually intervened and attempted to pull him away from the scene before leaving the area.

The videos have since gone viral, drawing widespread attention and outrage.

POLICE SWING INTO ACTION

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said Vietnam has already signed a deal with India for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, though it is yet to be publicly announced, while Indonesia is in the final stages of concluding a similar agreement.

India has signed a deal with Vietnam to supply BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles jointly developed with Russia, while negotiations for a similar agreement with Indonesia are in the final stages, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Saturday.

The financial details of the Vietnam and Indonesia agreements have not been officially disclosed. However, a deal with Vietnam could be worth about Rs 60 billion (USD 629 million), including training and logistical support, Reuters had previously reported, citing a source.

Speaking at Asia’s premier defence forum, the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Singh said Vietnam had already signed the agreement, although it had not yet been publicly announced.

“My understanding is that with both Indonesia and with Vietnam, the deal is in the final stages that in fact, for Vietnam, I understand that it has already been signed, probably not publicly announced, but it’s already been signed,” Singh said while responding to a question on potential buyers of the BrahMos missile system.

India has a strong commitment to ASEAN nations, Singh said, without disclosing further details of the BrahMos deals.

The Philippines became the first foreign buyer of the BrahMos missile system after signing a contract worth nearly USD 375 million in 2022. India has been expanding defence exports as part of its broader push to strengthen domestic defence manufacturing for both local use and overseas sales.

Indonesia announced in March that it had entered into an agreement with India to procure the BrahMos missile system. Singh’s remarks indicated that negotiations have progressed significantly and are nearing completion.

Earlier this month, media reports suggested that Vietnam was close to signing a BrahMos missile deal with India. Singh’s comments on Saturday marked the first official public confirmation that the agreement had already been signed.

Referring to the broader issue of defence technology transfers, Singh said countries generally shared advanced military technologies with trusted partners.

“Obviously you share technology with people you trust,” he said.

He added that India viewed ASEAN countries as friendly partners.

“We treat all of you as friendly foreign countries with whom we can share advanced defence technologies,” Singh said.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

India’s BrahMos exports to Southeast Asia have attracted attention as New Delhi expands defence cooperation with the region. Several ASEAN members, including the Philippines and Vietnam, have overlapping maritime claims with China in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest trade routes.

Addressing a session titled “Building Defence Industrial Resilience”, Singh said India was ready to work with partners across the region and beyond to develop resilient supply chains, trusted defence partnerships, secure maritime commons and innovation cooperation.

“Today, resilience has become one of the defining strategic requirements of our time,” he said.

Highlighting growing geopolitical uncertainty, Singh pointed to conflicts in Europe and West Asia, disruptions in maritime trade routes, supply chain vulnerabilities, technological disruptions and increasing strategic competition as factors reshaping the global security environment.

“The lessons from recent years are clear. Defence preparedness cannot depend upon fragile or overly concentrated supply chains. Nations today require resilient, trusted, diversified, and technologically adaptive defence industrial ecosystems,” he said.

For India, resilience is not only about self-reliance but also about building trusted partnerships, diversified manufacturing networks, innovation ecosystems and secure supply chains that contribute to regional and global stability, he added.

Singh said India had implemented major reforms in defence production, innovation and exports over the past decade. The government opened the sector to greater private-sector participation, encouraged startups and small industries, strengthened indigenous design and manufacturing capabilities and expanded collaboration with global partners.

India is not only modernising its armed forces but is also emerging as a dependable defence manufacturing and maintenance hub, he said.

According to Singh, government-owned companies account for nearly 72 per cent of India’s defence production, while the private sector contributes the remaining share. He also noted that three Indian government-owned defence firms are among the world’s top 100 arms-producing companies.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/brahmos-missile-deal-vietnam-already-signed-with-india-indonesia-pact-in-final-stages-2919650-2026-05-30

Abdul Majeed from Kalikavu in Kerala received a Kerala PSC advice memo for a junior Arabic teacher post last month, despite having appeared for the exam in 2005. The selection came from a rank list that had already expired in 2008, highlighting an unusual administrative lapse.

An advice memo for a government job is usually a moment of joy for aspirants. But it turned into a matter of disappointment for a Kerala man who received it at retirement age – 18 years after the rank list from which he was selected had expired.

Abdul Majeed, a native of Kalikavu in Malappuram district, was taken by surprise when he received an advice memo from the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) last month for appointment as a part-time junior Arabic teacher.

The irony, however, was that Majeed had appeared for the PSC examination in 2005 and the rank list from which he was selected had expired in 2008.

A disheartened Majeed said a government job had long been a cherished dream for him, and he had waited with hope for an appointment after securing a place in the rank list. However, as years went by without any communication, he gradually gave up hope.

By the time he crossed 60, even that hope had faded, he told reporters on Saturday.

“It took 18 years for the PSC to issue the advice memo. The appointment was delayed to such an extent that I have lost any realistic chance of serving in the post,” Majeed said.

According to him, the appointment was made against a vacancy that remained unfilled after repeated notifications and recruitment efforts failed to find eligible candidates.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/kerala/story/kerala-psc-advice-memo-abdul-majeed-teacher-post-retirement-age-2919737-2026-05-30

National para athlete Chirag Tyagi was found dead in Ghaziabad under suspicious circumstances. Police discovered a hole on the athlete’s back in the early examinations.

National para athlete Chirag Tyagi was found dead in Ghaziabad on Friday night under strange circumstances, a shocking incident that has shocked the sports community. According to authorities, an investigation has been started to confirm the precise cause of death after the body was found in the Sai Upvan region, which is under the jurisdiction of Kotwali police station. Kotwali SHO Sachin Kumar said that the event was reported to the police at approximately 7:00 p.m.

An injury mark or hole in the athlete’s back was discovered during a preliminary examination of the body, raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding his demise. Officials have stated that it is too soon to determine whether the injury was caused by a firearm or anything else.

Sanjay Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India, defended the selection trials for the 2026 Asian Games amid Vinesh Phogat’s allegations of unfairness.

Sanjay Singh, President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), affirmed the fairness of the Asian Games 2026 selection trials following Vinesh Phogat’s loss in the women’s 53kg semi-final at the Indira Gandhi Stadium. After losing against Meenakshi 4-6, Phogat’s ambition to represent India at the Asian Games was dashed. She had previously defeated Jyoti 7-1 and Nishu in her second fight to make it into the semis. However, her winning road came to an end in the semi-finals.

A group of relatives and some locals gathered at the spot and allegedly assaulted Das, who later succumbed to injuries.

A migrant labourer was beaten to death by a mob in Thiruvallur district after he allegedly misbehaved with a woman, police said on Saturday.

The victim has been identified as Prosenjit Das (35), who along with six labourers from Assam came to Thiruvallur in search of a job and were staying in a rented room, they said.

Initial probe revealed that Das, who was under the influence of alcohol, misbehaved with a woman under the pretext of asking for drinking water at her residence. However, the woman was forced to shut the door and go inside her house for safety.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/tamil-nadu/migrant-labourer-beaten-to-death-by-mob-in-tamil-nadu-for-misbehaving-with-woman-4021399

The Supreme Court was informed on Friday that PM Modi was personally monitoring concerns regarding the cancellation of NEET-UG.

In a dig at the government’s counsel informing the Supreme Court that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally overseeing the ongoing NEET probe, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the PM “personally supervised” the paper leak.

His remarks drew a sharp response from the BJP, which asked the Congress MP to “not make absurd and sensational allegations”.

On May 12, the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET-UG, that had been conducted on May 3 for admissions to medical courses, following a paper leak, which is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Rahul Gandhi attacks PM over NEET paper leak issue

During a hearing linked to the probe on Friday, the Supreme Court was informed that PM Modi was personally monitoring concerns regarding the cancellation of NEET-UG following the paper leak controversy.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta made the submission after the apex court asked the government to file an affidavit explaining the process being followed in the investigation and how conclusions in the probe would be reached.

“Honourable Prime Minister is personally supervising,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court, according to LiveLaw.

Reacting to a post on the development, Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the prime minister, saying, “PM Modi also personally supervised the NEET paper leak.”

PM Modi also personally supervised the NEET paper leak. https://t.co/VOph0x7zid

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 29, 2026

The Congress leader has, in recent days, repeatedly targeted the BJP-led Centre over the NEET paper leak row and the controversy surrounding the CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, while demanding accountability from Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the prime minister.

BJP reacts to Rahul Gandhi’s jibe

The ruling party hit back at the Congress leader’s comments, saying the Lok Sabha LoP had chosen “sensationalism over responsibility”.

Union tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat called hi statement “absurd” and urged him not to make “sensational allegations”.

He wrote on X, “These kind of absurd statement from @RahulGandhi reflects the immaturity and irresponsibility with which he approaches every sensitive issue concerning India’s youth.

These kind of absurd statement from @RahulGandhi reflects the immaturity and irresponsibility with which he approaches every sensitive issue concerning India’s youth.

A Leader of Opposition is expected to present facts, not make absurd and sensational allegations merely for… https://t.co/25U7uIC0gT

— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) May 30, 2026

A Leader of Opposition is expected to present facts, not make absurd and sensational allegations merely for political attention. Such statements do not strengthen democracy; they weaken public trust and trivialise the genuine concerns of lakhs of aspirants and their families.”

BJP leader Amit Malviya wrote on X, “It is preposterous, outrageous, and a stretch beyond reason to suggest that Prime Minister Modi personally supervised the NEET paper leak. This is precisely why Rahul Gandhi struggles to be taken seriously on matters of national importance.

Time and again, he demonstrates a lack of gravitas and the maturity required to handle serious issues with the thoughtfulness and sensitivity they deserve.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/modi-also-supervised-neet-leak-rahul-gandhi-jabs-pm-after-govt-submissions-to-supreme-court-bjp-reacts-101780113039956.html

 

 

Kerala CM V D Satheesan has clarified that there is no legal requirement to sing the national song Vande Mataram in full. This statement comes after Kerala Governor expressed displeasure over the song being played only by a band in the state Assembly.

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Friday said that rendering the national song, Vande Mataram, in full was not mandatory as there was no law enacted by the Parliament in that regard.

Satheesan was responding to reporters’ queries regarding Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar expressing concern over Vande Mataram not being sung in full in the state Assembly when he was present for the UDF government’s policy address.

Arlekar was displeased that neither was the song sung in full, it was only played by a band.

Satheesan said that the Congress and its UDF alliance work within the framework of a political ideology and is governed according to the decisions of the party’s central leadership.

He said that the party’s central leadership has a clear stand on the issue and that is applicable to the alliance also.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/kerala/story/vande-mataram-full-rendition-not-mandatory-says-kerala-cm-vd-satheesan-2919375-2026-05-29

The women and child-friendly initiatives were part of the policy address of the new VD Satheesan-led government, read out by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar in the State Assembly on Friday.

Three days of monthly menstrual leave for schoolgirls is among the women and child-friendly initiatives planned by the UDF government in Kerala, along with ensuring that all workplaces with more than 50 employees provide safe, high-quality daycare centres and creches.

The women and child-friendly initiatives were part of the policy address of the new VD Satheesan-led government, read out by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar in the State Assembly on Friday.

“Our commitment to girl students is reflected in Project ‘Menstrual Dignity’, under which we intend to make educational institutions and public spaces friendly for girls and women.

“My Government also plans to announce upto three days of monthly menstrual leave for school students, along with weekend catch-up classes, so that these girls do not fall behind in their studies,” said the Governor in the address.

He said the government proposes to put in place Child Care Rules, as mandated under the Maternity Benefit Act,1961 ensuring that all public offices, industrial establishments, IT parks and all establishments with more than 50 employees run safe, high-quality daycare centres and creches.

The governor said that under the Destitute and Orphan-Free Kerala Initiative, the government plans to promote adoption campaigns and build a network of trained, well-paid foster families based on the Juvenile Justice Act, aiming to make Kerala India’s first “orphan-free” state.

“My Government will transform Kerala into the most woman-friendly State in the country. Steps will be taken to implement equal pay for women in workplaces. Public restroom facilities will be arranged in all major towns across Kerala,” he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/kerala/story/kerala-menstrual-leave-for-schoolgirls-weekend-catch-up-classes-project-menstrual-dignity-2919344-2026-05-29

AAP dominated Punjab’s civic body polls, sweeping most municipal wards across the state, while the BJP and Congress wrested control of Abohar and Kapurthala from AAP.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) put up a dominating performance in Punjab’s civic body polls on Friday, sweeping a majority of municipal wards across the state, while the BJP and Congress managed to capture key municipal corporations in a politically significant contest ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls.

The strong performance came as a major shot in the arm for AAP after the party recently faced political setbacks and defections, including Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and six other leaders joining the BJP, triggering concerns over internal cracks within the Punjab unit.

While AAP won five of the eight municipal corporations – Mohali, Barnala, Batala, Moga and Bathinda – the Congress scored a major victory in Kapurthala and the BJP wrested control of Abohar, while emerging as the single-largest party in Pathankot. Punjab witnessed civic body elections to eight municipal corporations, 75 municipal councils and 20 municipal committees.

Out of the 1,977 wards that went to the polls, results for 1,963 wards had been declared until the filing of this report. AAP won 954 wards, Congress secured 390, Independents bagged 251, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) won 191, BJP secured 170 and BSP managed seven wards. Results for a few wards were still awaited.

Seen as a crucial political test for AAP, BJP, Congress and SAD ahead of next year’s Assembly polls, the civic polls witnessed 7,554 candidates contesting across Punjab. Polling was held using ballot papers on May 26 and recorded a voter turnout of 63.94 per cent.

Despite AAP’s statewide dominance, the Congress delivered a surprise result in Kapurthala Municipal Corporation by winning 31 out of 50 wards and securing a clear majority. The BJP, meanwhile, registered a key urban victory in Abohar and strengthened its presence in Pathankot where it emerged as the single-largest party.

Out of the 75 municipal councils, AAP dominated by winning close to 45 councils, while the party also secured victory in around 10 municipal committees till the report was filed.

BHAGWANT MANN HAPPY WITH AAP’S PERFORMANCE

A jubilant Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann termed the civic poll outcome a reflection of public support for the AAP government and claimed the results offered a glimpse into the 2027 Assembly polls.

“People of Punjab have shown immense faith in us and all the opposition parties have been rejected. We can see the results of the 2027 Assembly polls through this,” he said.

The Chief Minister said voters had backed the developmental works carried out by the AAP government over the last four-and-a-half years. “Standing in queues in hot weather, people came out to cast their vote,” he said.

Taking a swipe at the BJP, Mann referred to it as the “ED party” and alleged that central agencies had been used to target AAP leaders. “They used the ED against our leaders, but the people of Punjab do not tolerate arm-twisting,” he added.

However, political analysts cautioned against linking the civic poll outcome directly with the 2027 Assembly polls.

Speaking to India Today TV, political expert Prof Kuldeep Singh said municipal election results have historically not translated into Assembly victories in Punjab.

“We have seen this pattern before. Congress won the municipal elections in 2021 but lost the Assembly polls in 2022. Similarly, SAD performed strongly in municipal elections in 2015 but lost the Assembly elections in 2017,” he said.

He added that the results also sent a signal to the BJP that its electoral strength in Punjab remains limited without an alliance with the SAD.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/punjab-civic-polls-results-aap-sweeps-wards-bjp-congress-win-key-corporations-2919372-2026-05-29

The Supreme Court granted regular bail to Tathya Patel in the Ahmedabad ISKCON Bridge crash case and ordered him to deposit Rs 1 crore within 15 days. The court said the amount is not compensation and left that question to be decided during the trial process.

Nearly three years after the fatal ISKCON Bridge crash in Ahmedabad that claimed nine lives, the Supreme Court has granted regular bail to the main accused, Tathya Patel, while directing him to deposit Rs 1 crore before the trial court within 15 days.

Before passing its written order, the apex court sought an assurance from Patel regarding his bona fides. During the hearing, the Gujarat government’s counsel suggested that an amount equivalent to Rs 10 lakh for each deceased victim be deposited. Patel’s counsel agreed to the proposal, following which the court ordered a lump-sum deposit of Rs 1 crore.

The court clarified that the deposit should not be construed as compensation, as the trial in the case is still underway and Patel has not been convicted. The issue of compensation, it noted, would be decided at an appropriate stage depending on the outcome of the proceedings.

The case stems from the July 2023 ISKCON Bridge tragedy in Ahmedabad, where Patel allegedly drove,e a speeding vehicle, Jaguar into a crowd and several parked vehicles at the accident site, killing nine people and injuring several others. The incident triggered widespread outrage across Gujarat and the country.

A chargesheet was filed within a week of the crash, and the trial is currently being conducted in the Ahmedabad Rural Sessions Court. Statements of around 29 witnesses have been recorded so far, while many more remain to be examined. The prosecution has listed 191 witnesses in total.

Patel faces charges under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code, among other provisions. His bail pleas had previously been rejected by both the trial court and the Gujarat High Court, which cited the seriousness of the allegations and the wider societal impact of the case.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/supreme-court-grants-bail-to-ahmedabad-iskcon-bridge-crash-accused-tathya-patel-orders-rs-1-crore-deposit-2919389-2026-05-30

During a breakfast meeting with ministers at his official residence ‘Cauvery’, Siddaramaiah informed Cabinet colleagues that he would step down on the directions of the Congress high command.

In a dramatic, yet carefully managed power transition in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced his deputy D K Shivakumar as his successor before formally resigning, bringing the curtains down on his second term in office.

During a breakfast meeting with ministers at his official residence ‘Cauvery’, Siddaramaiah informed Cabinet colleagues that he would step down on the directions of the Congress high command and told them the party had decided to make Shivakumar the next chief minister.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil later confirmed the development to reporters. “The chief minister informed us that, following discussions in Delhi, he would resign as advised by the high command. He also told us that the party would make D K Shivakumar the new chief minister,” said Patil.

A defining moment was Shivakumar touching Siddaramaiah’s feet seeking his blessings. His embracing Siddaramaiah in an emotional moment is seen as a public signal of unity after a protracted power-tussle.

Around 2.45 pm, Siddaramaiah left for Lok Bhavan and submitted his resignation letter to the Governor’s secretary, as Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot was away from Bengaluru. He is expected to meet the Governor later to complete the formalities.

Hours later, Siddaramaiah left for Delhi along with Shivakumar, where the two leaders are expected to meet the Congress high command to finalise Cabinet formation and possible restructuring of the party too. He will meet Rahul Gandhi on Friday at 9 am.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/siddaramaiah-resigns-as-karnataka-cm-names-d-k-shivakumar-as-successor-4019868

The largest online expression of dissent against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 12-year rule began with a satirical riposte to a jibe about young people, triggering death threats to its founder and pushback from ruling party politicians.
The rapid fame of 30-year-old Abhijeet Dipke and his Cockroach Janta Party, which says it represents “the lazy, the unemployed, and the chronically ​correct”, is driven by the concerns of the young in a country where those below 30 are estimated to number more than half a population of 1.42 billion.

Political analysts say the group’s enormous popularity has begun to dent Modi’s image, despite ‌his party’s recent victories in key state elections, even as wider frustration grows over rising fuel prices and gas shortages brought by the Iran war.
“If all was well with the country and the economy, 20 million young people would not rally around something like this,” said political activist Yogendra Yadav, who was a top leader of a national movement against corruption in 2011.
“This is a critical moment that tells us something about the state of our polity: underlying all the claims of total dominance, there is a latent but widespread disquiet.”

The 75-year-old Modi has so dominated Indian politics since coming to power in 2014 on the back of massive street protests against government corruption that few analysts expect ​him to cede ground easily to any dissenter.
But the new movement, fuelled by persistently high youth unemployment and recurring leaks of examination papers that threaten to derail the careers of millions of students, hints at cracks in a carefully cultivated image of stability and control.
“This ​is their moment, but they need to walk carefully,” said prominent lawyer Prashant Bhushan, a founding figure of the anti-graft movement.
“If they want to take it forward they will have to organise and then come on ⁠the streets protesting on the issues which they have been raising online.”
Without such a presence, the movement risks fizzling out, analysts and supporters said, adding that Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, which draws much of its support from India’s Hindu majority, has steadily weakened the opposition.

Critics say its tactics include ​wielding investigative agencies against senior opposition politicians, but the government has responded by saying authorities had been given a free hand to tackle corruption.
Senior cabinet minister Kiren Rijiju has said Dipke’s group was undermining the world’s biggest democracy by choosing the name of an insect, while accusing it of seeking social media ​followers from arch-enemy Pakistan and the “anti-India gang”.

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS CREATING CONTENT

In interactions with Reuters from the United States, where he has lived for the past two years, Dipke described sleepless nights creating social media content and doing media interviews.
“The Indian government has declared me a national security threat,” he said by telephone from Chicago. “They are trying to defame me. But democratically, within our constitutional rights, we will do what needs to be done.”

He said he has worked to free his X account from a government block, regain control of his CJP Instagram page from unknown hackers, and ensure the safety of family members in both countries after receiving threats of physical harm on WhatsApp.
Police in the ​western state of Maharashtra, from which he hails, have assured him they will ensure his family’s safety, he said.
Dipke has publicly shared data showing about 95% of the nearly 23 million followers of the Instagram account are based in India, followed by countries such as the United States, home ​to large groups of overseas Indians.
More than two-thirds of these followers are Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2007, said Dipke, a public relations strategist, who graduated from Boston University and was a social media intern with India’s opposition Aam Aadmi Party.
“They know I started this as a joke, as satire,” Dipke said. “But the country’s ‌Gen Z wants ⁠me to actually do something. They don’t want this to be just another meme.”
He has challenged the block of the X account in a Delhi court. X and India’s home and infotech ministries, as well as Modi’s office, did not respond to requests for comment.
“The rise of web blocking in India shows how dissent and satire are being treated not as democratic expression, but as administrative threats,” said Apar Gupta, a lawyer and director of the Internet Freedom Foundation in New Delhi.
Dipke said his followers want him to go beyond memes and he is discussing ways to turn the campaign into a credible movement, but no decision has been made on becoming a political party.

‘WHAT IF ALL COCKROACHES COME TOGETHER?’

The furore was set off by Dipke’s X post on May 16 that quickly went viral, asking, “What if all cockroaches come together?”
He said the post was a response to comments by India’s top judge, Chief ​Justice Surya Kant of the Supreme Court, that compared some unemployed youth ​to cockroaches.
Kant later said he did not mean to criticise ⁠young people but was referring to those with “fake and bogus degrees” whom he likened to “parasites”.
CJP adopted a manifesto and took as its mascot the image of a cockroach on a mobile phone. With its message amplified by Indian social media influencers and content creators, it amassed a massive following on Instagram within days, far outpacing the 9.3 million followers Modi’s BJP has built over more than a decade.
Unemployment in 2025 stood at 3.1% among those aged ​15 and above, government data shows, but in the bracket from 15 to 29 it was much higher, at 9.9%, and higher in urban areas, at 13.6%, than the 8.3% figure in rural regions.
Dipke says ​this disenchanted group has flocked to his ⁠page.
“I have an MBA degree, and I am overqualified for my job and also underpaid,” said Shurin Dixit, a 23-year-old who works in entry-level operations for a tech company in the northern city of Lucknow.
“If the group calls for any protest, I am ready to join them.”
CJP’s burgeoning popularity has drawn comparisons to deadly Gen Z-led uprisings in neighbouring Bangladesh and Nepal that toppled governments, but Dipke cautioned against such parallels.
He said 70% of CJP’s followers were younger than 28 and apolitical people who do not align with any party.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/indias-gen-z-cockroach-party-channels-youth-anger-faces-offline-hurdles-2026-05-28/

Asaram surrendered at Jodhpur Central Jail after the Rajasthan High Court cancelled his interim bail. The court upheld his life sentence in the 2013 minor rape case and recorded strong observations on the survivor’s ordeal.

Self-styled godman Asaram surrendered before the authorities at the Jodhpur Central Jail on Thursday evening, a day after the Rajasthan High Court cancelled his interim bail while upholding his life sentence in the 2013 minor rape case.

News of his arrival had drawn a large crowd of supporters to the Jodhpur airport earlier in the day.

He greeted followers and offered blessings from inside his vehicle before proceeding to his ashram in Pal village.

After spending some time at the local ashram in Jodhpur, he visited AIIMS for a medical examination and later surrendered in the evening.

The Jodhpur bench of the high court on Wednesday dismissed Asaram’s appeal and revoked the interim bail, which was extended till July 7.

At the time of the verdict, Asaram, who has been out on bail since October, was staying in Haridwar, Uttarakhand.

His counsel said that they are studying the order and would proceed accordingly on challenging the High Court’s verdict in the Supreme Court.

The division bench of Justice Arun Monga and Justice Yogendra Kumar Purohit had delivered a detailed judgment in the sensational case, affirming the life imprisonment awarded by the trial court.

While delivering the order, the bench made strong observations on the impact of the crime on the survivor.

Referring to the survivor’s birth date, the court remarked that she was born on July 4, celebrated as Independence Day in the United States, and symbolised freedom, dignity and self-respect.

The bench observed that on the night of August 15, 2013, when a country was celebrating Independence Day, the girl’s freedom, dignity and innocence were taken away inside a hut in Jodhpur by “a man she regarded as God”.

Terming faith as a powerful force, the court said devotees quite often adhere to their religious gurus’ instructions without question.

“Devotees of religious gurus will often embrace, without question, the most superstitious pronouncements and irrational counsel, including tales of ghosts and the supernatural. As seems to have happened in the case in hand,” the court noted.

Before pronouncing the order, the court reportedly remarked that it had a “mixed bag” of good and bad news for the accused and asked which part he wished to hear first.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/asaram-surrenders-at-jodhpur-jail-after-rajasthan-high-court-upholds-life-term-in-rape-case-2918804-2026-05-29

Illegal Bangladeshi migrants, who are flocking to the Bangladesh border amid a crackdown in West Bengal, are describing how middlemen moved them into India and helped them in securing documents. Here’s the entire trail, reconstructed from the admissions by the illegal immigrants themselves.

Fearing being detained at holding centres amid a crackdown, hundreds of Bangladeshi illegal immigrants are now flocking to border points and transit terminals in West Bengal. While unsure about crossing over, Bangladeshi aliens who have lived in India for decades, and in some cases their entire lives, are now speaking about how they entered India illegally and procured documents.

Some recalled crossing rivers to enter India, while others spoke about how dalal, or middlemen, used the cover of darkness to coordinate crossings. A person revealed that they could slip into India in 10 minutes if the middlemen found a “patrolling gap”. Others claimed that people of a network, which included workers of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, helped arrange identity documents. They said they received cash benefits through various schemes and even voted in India.

The accounts come amid a crackdown on illegal immigrants in West Bengal. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has declared that illegal Bangladeshi migrants should neither be sheltered nor produced in court, but instead be directly handed over to the BSF at the border. The BJP government has also said that welfare benefits for illegal migrants in Bengal are being identified and cut off.

Border districts in West Bengal have seen increased checking and monitoring in recent weeks. Amid this, reports have also emerged of people voluntarily seeking to return to Bangladesh to avoid detention centres or deportation proceedings.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, referring to the reports of hundreds of people heading to Bangladesh, said “since the infiltrators were returning on their own”, the government would not take any legal action against them. He “congratulated Suvendu Adhikari for handing over 600 hectares of land to the BSF”, including some along the Chicken Neck.

The most striking detail in the testimonies is how organised some of the crossings allegedly were. The entire trail has been reconstructed from admissions by illegal immigrants to several outlets.

A carpenter from Bangladesh’s Kushtia district said that he paid Rs 7,000-8,000 to a middleman who watched the movement of BSF personnel at night and sent groups across whenever there was a “gap” in patrolling. Another Bangladeshi illegal migrant in Bengaluru claimed he crossed over despite “military at the border” after paying Rs 20,000 to an agent.

‘THE MOMENT THEY FIND A GAP, THEY SEND BANGLADESHIS ACROSS TO INDIA’

An illegal Bangladeshi migrant told a local YouTube channel, Haldia Live, that he crossed into India from Kushtia with his brothers through a middleman network.

“I worked in Kerala. Now they are asking for a voter card and Aadhaar card to even give a room on rent, and I don’t have those [documents],” he said. He then described how the border crossing worked.

“They have teams of five to six people. At night, they check which areas have the BSF presence and which do not. The moment they find a gap, they send people across. That’s the system,” he said.

“Sometimes you have to wait the whole night for a chance to cross. Sometimes it happens within 10 minutes,” the Bangladeshi illegal told the YouTube channel.

According to the man, the middleman charged around Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 per person.

Another illegal Bangladeshi migrant in Bengaluru gave a similar account.

“By paying Rs 2,000 to the man who brought people across, he would take us from Bangladesh into India, even with the military at the border,” he said.

“An Aadhaar card was arranged for Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000. We later travelled to Bengaluru by train,” he added.

These routes are not entirely unknown to authorities. India’s 4,096-km border with Bangladesh includes riverine stretches, agricultural land and densely populated areas. The human traffickers exploit these loopholes to send Bangladeshis into India. Security agencies have for years flagged the role of trafficking and smuggling networks that also facilitate illegal crossings.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday said that the border fencing work along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya is nearing completion, with only 40-45 kilometres remaining out of the total stretch.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said in February 2025 that around 79% of the 4,096.7-km India-Bangladesh border has been fenced, with 3,232.218 km already covered.

‘I GOT MY VOTER CARD AND RATION CARD MADE IN INDIA’

An illegal Bangladeshi migrant claimed local political workers of the Trinamool Congress helped them arrange documents after she entered India.

“I got my voter card and ration card made when Mamata’s party was in power. The party people helped me get the documents. I also received Lakshmir Bhandar benefits for two to three years,” she told ABP News.

Another migrant described how things changed after recent anti-illegal migrant crackdowns in West Bengal began.

“No one said anything during the Trinamool Congress rule. Now the government has changed. Now people are after us. Our landlords were also afraid that if they kept Bangladeshi people, they would be fined Rs 2 lakhs and two years in jail,” he said.

People renting out their properties are now under pressure to not harbour illegal immigrants.

The person admitted that he had voted once and claimed his wife received cash transfers through the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said 30 lakh ineligible people were receiving cash benefits under Mamata Banerjee’s Lakshmir Bhandar. He said these bogus beneficiaries, including non-Indians, had been weeded out, and won’t be receiving benefits under the new Annapurna Bhandar scheme.

YEARS IN INDIA AS CARPENTERS, MASONS, DOMESTIC WORKERS, BANGLADESHIS LEAVE FOR HOME

Many of those now returning to Bangladesh or waiting near border points in West Bengal said that they had been in India for years.

Salam Dali, while waiting near the Hakimpur border with his wife and child, told India Today TV that he worked as a carpenter in India. Dali, who said he’s from Khulna district of Bangladesh, said he entered India around five years ago after paying Rs 8,000-10,000 to a middleman.

Another migrant told ABP News that his parents had brought him to India when he was around 10 years old.

“My parents brought me to this country when I was young. Father worked as a carpenter. No one said anything. We just ate, drank and worked,” he said.

The Times of India also reported similar accounts from migrants waiting at border terminals.

Among them was Taklima Khatun from Khulna, who said she entered India through the Ghojadanga border two years ago to work as a domestic help.

According to the report, Khatun said she was returning voluntarily because she feared detention centres or forced deportation. Shahidul Gazi, a mason from Bangladesh’s Satkhira, said he entered India three years ago through the Swarupnagar border with the help of a middleman.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bangladeshi-migrants-west-bengal-crackdown-illegal-entry-routes-india-2918596-2026-05-29

The ‘tunnel view’ technique is the method through which investigators synchronise CCTV, phone records, Wi-Fi logs, internet activity, smart-device data, forensic mapping, and witness accounts into a focused timeline to digitally reconstruct a crime’s final moments.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the death of former actor-model Twisha Sharma, has deployed what’s known as ‘tunnel view’ investigation technique to digitally reconstruct her final moments before she was found dead at her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12.

The agency is creating a highly detailed, minute-by-minute virtual reconstruction of the events leading up to Twisha’s death in an attempt to decode the exact circumstances and sequence of events on the night of the incident.

The ‘tunnel view’ technique is a method through which investigators synchronise CCTV, phone records, Wi-Fi logs, internet activity, smart-device data, forensic mapping, and witness accounts into a single, focused timeline that digitally reconstructs the final moments of an incident.

According to sources, the CBI is integrating CCTV footage, mobile phone data, Wi-Fi logs, Call Detail Records (CDRs), and maps of rooms at the Katara Hills residence to build a virtual spatial model of the house.

The objective is to trace Twisha’s movements, determine who entered or exited specific areas of the house at what time, and establish the timeline of events before her death.

Investigators are also synchronising timestamps from surveillance cameras with phone activity and internet usage to generate a simulated visualisation of Twisha’s final hours.

Through the “tunnel view” analysis, the agency hopes to identify critical time gaps, suspicious movements, inconsistencies in witness statements, and any possible attempts to tamper with evidence after the incident.

Sources said the digital reconstruction could help investigators determine whether there was any coercion, conspiracy, or deliberate manipulation of the crime scene on the night Twisha died.

Twisha Sharma was a Noida-based former actor and model and was married to Samarth Singh of Bhopal last December. She was found hanging at her matrimonial home on May 12 under mysterious circumstances, raising suspicions of alleged foul play.

Following her death, Twisha Sharma’s parents accused her in-laws and her husband of physical abuse, domestic violence, mental torture and even her “murder”. They said that Twisha’s mother-in-law Giribala Singh, a former district court judge, was even trying to influence the probe.

Initially, Twisha’s parents even refused to conduct her funeral, demanding a second post-mortem at AIIMS Delhi. Twisha was finally cremated on May 24 after a second post-mortem was done at AIIMS Delhi.

Meanwhile, Twisha’s in-laws have refuted all claims of foul play and their involvement in her death. They have rather claimed that Twisha had been behaving erratically after she learnt about her pregnancy in April and said she wanted to abort it as she did not want a child.

After absconding for 10 days, Twisha Sharma’s husband Samarth Singh surrendered and was arrested in Jabalpur on May 22.

CBI ARRESTS GIRIBALA SINGH

Japan follows a zero-tolerance policy for invasive pests like fruit flies, which are considered a major threat to domestic agriculture.

Japan has suspended mango imports from India after its quarantine officials found lapses in pest-control procedures at Indian treatment facilities during inspections earlier this year. The move has disrupted exports during the crucial summer mango season and affected premium Indian varieties such as Alphonso, Kesar, Langra and Banganapalli.

First Ban In 20 Years

The suspension marks the first such restriction in nearly two decades. Japan had earlier banned Indian mangoes over fruit fly concerns and lifted those curbs only in 2006 after India strengthened its treatment protocols.

Now, Japanese authorities have once again raised concerns over whether Indian mango shipments are meeting the country’s strict plant health standards.

Japan follows a zero-tolerance policy for invasive pests like fruit flies, which are considered a major threat to domestic agriculture.

A video of Russian tourist Kira Suvorova feeling uncomfortable on Yamuna Kinara Road in Agra went viral, sparking debate over tourist safety. Agra Police said no molestation or explicit harassment occurred and warned that social media claims were misleading. Authorities affirmed commitment to “Atithi Devo Bhava” and legal action may follow against false or inflammatory posts.

A video posted by a Russian woman tourist describing her uncomfortable experience while walking on a road in Agra has gone viral on social media, triggering widespread debate over tourist safety and public behaviour in the Taj city.

The 23-second clip was shared on Instagram by Russian tourist Kira Suvorova, who describes herself as a psychologist on her profile. In the caption, she wrote: “We decided to walk to the shop in Agra. Never do this.”

See more

Viral Video Shows Kira Walking In Agra

The video, reportedly shot on Yamuna Kinara Road, shows Kira walking along the roadside when an auto-rickshaw driver and another man approach her. She appears visibly uncomfortable and continues walking while some locals can be heard saying “Ma’am, Ma’am, Excuse Me Ma’am” in the background. The clip appears to have been recorded by one of her companions walking behind her.

The video quickly gained traction online, receiving more than 23,000 likes and thousands of shares within 48 hours, with many users expressing concern over the experience shared by the foreign tourist.

However, Agra Police later stepped in and said several claims circulating online regarding the incident were misleading and exaggerated.

Agra Police Issues Clarification On The Viral Video

Assistant Police Commissioner Sukanya Sharma clarified that no molestation or explicit harassment had taken place and said some social media posts were spreading false narratives around the incident.

#BREAKING: आगरा में रूसी महिला पर्यटक के वायरल वीडियो को लेकर पुलिस ने बड़ा खुलासा करते हुए कहा है कि वीडियो को सोशल मीडिया पर गलत तरीके से प्रस्तुत किया गया। जांच में किसी भी तरह की छेड़छाड़ या अभद्रता की पुष्टि नहीं हुई है। रूसी पर्यटक किरा सुवोरोवा ने यह वीडियो खुद सड़क पर… pic.twitter.com/rZkI0wJUae

— Uttarpradesh Newz (@upnewz_) May 27, 2026

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/russian-tourist-kira-suvorovaas-video-alleging-harassment-while-walking-in-agra-goes-viral-police-say-claims-are-misleading 

 

Siddaramaiah’s 2005 expulsion from JD(S) after floating the Ahinda movement, followed by his 2006 entry into Congress with a group of JD(S) leaders, made him the face of the bloc.

If Siddaramaiah steps down as chief minister, the impact on Congress’s Ahinda vote bank will hinge on one question: did he create Ahinda or did he simply consolidate it? The answer could shape the party’s prospects in 2028 Assembly polls.

As Karnataka braces for a possible power transition, the larger political question is whether his exit will weaken Congress’ Ahinda base. Ahinda — minorities, Dalits and backward classes — has long been Congress’s core social coalition. Siddaramaiah did not invent it, but gave it political shape and leadership.

His 2005 expulsion from JD(S) after floating the Ahinda movement, followed by his 2006 entry into Congress with a group of JD(S) leaders, made him the face of the bloc. He became chief minister twice.

Siddaramaiah strengthened Ahinda by elevating his former JD(S) colleagues – Dr H C Mahadevappa, Satish Jarkiholi, Zameer Ahmed Khan and Byrathi Suresh, often overshadowing THE “original” Congress leaders including Dr G Parameshwara, P M Narendraswamy, H M Revanna, Roshan Baig and Tanveer Sait.

In doing so, he sustained Devaraj Urs’ social justice experiment of broad-basing OBC leadership while keeping Vokkaliga-Lingayat-Brahmin dominance in check, note party veterans.

His Ahinda politics helped Congress secure 43% vote share and 135 seats in 2023, including 21 of 36 SC seats and 14 of 15 ST seats.

But the victory was also shaped by Shivakumar’s organisational push, Lingayat anger against BJP after B S Yediyurappa’s exit as CM, the ‘big five’ guarantee schemes and Vokkaliga support shifting to Congress in anticipation of Shivakumar becoming CM.

“The Ahinda vote swing will depend on how Siddaramaiah handles his stepping down and how he aligns with the party in the next two years. His son is likely to be inducted into the Cabinet and his interests will be taken care of. In the last elections itself, non-dominant OBCs had started shifting towards BJP, and Congress win was largely due to Dalit vote, a marginal split in Lingayat vote and Vokkaliga votes,” said political analyst Dr Sandeep Shastri.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/by-forcing-cm-siddaramaiah-out-is-congress-risking-ahinda-drift-4018715#google_vignette

Many migrants at the Bengal border said they had worked as domestic helpers, labourers and rag-pickers in Kolkata’s outskirts before being forced to vacate rented homes. Several admitted crossing illegally through agents, while others said they were brought to India as children and barely remembered Bangladesh.

Fear and uncertainty are unfolding at the Hakimpur border in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, where dozens of undocumented Bangladeshi migrants have gathered over the past two days seeking to return to Bangladesh. This comes amid growing pressure from authorities and the setting up of holding centres for illegal migrants across the state.

Carrying bags, blankets and identity documents, families who had spent years living in India now wait near the border, to cross back into their country.

At the Hakimpur border outpost, police have set up a registration desk where details of those arriving are being recorded. Officials are verifying Bangladeshi documents and preparing a database before migrants are shifted to holding centres.

According to officials on the ground, records of more than 350 Bangladeshis have already been prepared since Monday.

Around 50 to 60 people were present at the border on Wednesday, many of them from Kolkata’s New Town, Hatiyara, Khardah, Dum Dum and Dankuni areas. Most admitted they had entered India illegally through agents or middlemen over the years in search of work.

“We are poor people. That is why we came here,” said Salam Dali, a carpenter who said he entered India from Khulna district in Bangladesh around five years ago after paying Rs 8,000-10,000 to a middleman.

“The government told us to leave because we do not have documents. So now we are leaving,” he said while waiting near the border with his wife and child.

Several migrants said the atmosphere had changed sharply in recent months, with police visits, document checks and fear of detention forcing them to leave.

Hidoy Mulla, a young man born in 2003 who claimed he grew up in Madhyamgram after his parents migrated from Bangladesh in 2001, said local police had repeatedly demanded proof of residence prior to 2002.

“I was born in 2003. My parents are completely uneducated. They don’t even know ABCD. How were they supposed to make documents?” he said.

Mulla said he possessed Aadhaar, PAN, ration card and school certificates, but his voter ID applications were rejected multiple times.

“I grew up here. This culture is part of me. My parents feel they are returning to their country, but for us it feels like we are leaving our country and going to another country,’ he said.

“What mistake did we make? The mistake was of our parents. They brought us here.”

He added that the family no longer had land or relatives to depend on in Bangladesh.

“What will I do there? There is no friend circle, no future for me there,” he said.

Among those gathered near the border was a visually impaired family from Khardah — Mohammad Shamsur Rahaman, his wife Asiya Khatun and his brother Bilal — all of whom are blind and survived by begging on trains and streets in Kolkata.

“We are requesting the authorities to send us back immediately,” Rahaman said.

The family claimed they had lived in India for over a decade and had obtained Aadhaar and other documents while staying in the Khardah area.

Another migrant, Mohammad Ali Munshi, who claimed he was born in India after his father crossed the border decades ago, said fear and pressure had forced the family to leave.

“I only had Aadhaar and ration card. I left everything behind because none of it is useful now.”

One of the most striking stories came from Mafuza Khatun, originally from Bangladesh’s Khulna district, who said she had lived in India for years and voted in elections multiple times.

She claimed she had Aadhaar and voter ID cards prepared through local political and municipal channels.

“We voted here for years. Now our voter IDs have been cancelled,” she said.

“For the government, we are people from another country, so now we have to go back to Bangladesh.”

Many women at the border said they worked as domestic helpers, rag-pickers and labourers in Kolkata’s outskirts before being forced to leave rented accommodations.

Several migrants admitted they had crossed the border illegally through agents operating on both sides. Some said they were brought into India as children and had little memory of Bangladesh.

Authorities have shifted many of those arriving at Hakimpur to temporary holding centres set up across North 24 Parganas district. The largest centre has been established at Tentulia inside the Pather Saathi building, where officials said 116 Bangladeshis are currently being housed.

Health department teams, cooks and police personnel have been deployed at the facility to manage food, medical care and security.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/west-bengal-illegal-migrants-hakimpur-border-bangladeshis-seek-return-holding-centres-2918142-2026-05-27

Chaos erupted inside a BHU hostel after students allegedly found a dead lizard in chicken curry served at the mess, triggering protests, health concerns and fresh complaints over hostel facilities and food quality.

Panic and protests broke out at Banaras Hindu University in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi after students allegedly found a dead lizard inside chicken curry being served at the Dalmia hostel mess on Tuesday, triggering outrage over food safety and hostel conditions.

According to students, around 30 to 40 hostel residents had already consumed the meal before the reptile was spotted in the curry container. Soon after the discovery, several students complained of nausea and vomiting, creating chaos inside the hostel premises.

STUDENTS GHERAO WARDEN AFTER VIDEO SURFACES

As news of the incident spread across the hostel, angry students gathered outside the mess and confronted hostel authorities over what they called serious negligence in food quality and hygiene standards.

Visuals from the hostel showed heated arguments between students and officials, while some residents surrounded the warden demanding immediate action against the mess contractor.

The university’s proctorial board and hostel warden rushed to the spot after being informed about the situation.

Students also submitted a written complaint raising several issues linked to hostel management, including poor food quality and shortage of clean drinking water.

MESS OPERATOR BLAMES SUMMER CONDITIONS

Mess operator Arvind Chaurasia claimed the reptile may have accidentally fallen into the food because of the extreme summer weather.

“During summers, many lizards enter the area. One of them may have fallen into the food,” he said.

Students, however, accused the administration of ignoring repeated complaints about hygiene and maintenance inside the hostel mess.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/uttar-pradesh/story/bhu-hostel-mess-dead-lizard-chicken-curry-student-protest-varanasi-2918224-2026-05-27

Once valued at $22 billion, Byju’s is now buried under debt, lawsuits, unpaid dues, and careers that are still not recovered. Founder Byju Raveendran has been sentenced in absentia to jail in Singapore. Byju’s collapse has become India’s biggest cautionary tale on startup greed and unchecked ambition.

Once hailed as India’s most valuable startup, Byju’s soared to a $22-billion valuation in 2022. Its growth was fuelled by demand for online learning driven by the Covid pandemic, massive venture capital inflows, and an ambitious founder. Today, the EdTech giant’s valuation is not even zero. It’s minus Rs 8,245 crore, given the money and incentives it still owes to its employees. Its founder, Byju Raveendran, was sentenced to six months in prison in Singapore. The trial was conducted in absentia with Ravindran reportedly in Dubai. The spectacular collapse of Byju’s, an EdTech pioneer in India, is a tale of caution for start-ups.

After its collapse, while some Byju’s employees have moved on to greener pastures, many others were forced to accept substantial pay cuts in their next jobs, which rarely matched the lucrative compensation Byju’s had offered at its peak. Several former employees are still coming to terms with the sudden reversal of fortunes. Parents of millions of students who bought education packages from Byju’s have lost money.

The company faces debt worth billions, and is mired in dozens of lawsuits. The recent sentencing of founder Byju Raveendran to six months in jail for contempt of court in Singapore is a stark reminder of how unchecked ambition and poor governance can kill even the brightest success stories.

We will return to how greed and unchecked ambition led to the collapse of Byju’s but after looking at the latest case in Singapore.

WHY HAS BYJU RAVEENDRAN BEEN SENTENCED TO JAIL IN SINGAPORE?

The trigger for this latest chapter came on Wednesday, when a Singapore court ordered Raveendran to serve six months in jail for non-compliance with disclosure orders related to his assets. The ruling, initiated by a subsidiary of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), stems from disputes over document disclosure in ongoing financial proceedings. Raveendran must surrender to authorities, pay legal costs of 90,000 Singapore dollar, or about Rs 67 lakh, and provide proof of ownership of Beeaar Investco Pte, a corporate entity linked to the company.

In a statement, Raveendran described the order as “procedural contempt” tied to document disputes, not a finding of fraud or dishonesty on the merits. He emphasised that settlement discussions with lenders and investors, including GLAS Trust and QIA, were nearing conclusion and expressed disappointment that the matter was being pursued at this stage.

“The parties have also acknowledged that there has been no wrongdoing on my part or on the part of the other founders,” he said in a statement, adding that he prioritises resolution over confrontation and plans to appeal.

It must be noted that Byju Raveendran still harbours hopes of reviving his EdTech empire.

“Byju Ravindran firmly believes the company can be turned around. Despite the fall, he plans to return to India and is convinced that one strong turnaround moment could help restore the business. I don’t know exactly how he intends to do it, but he remains remarkably positive,” a top associate and close confidant of the founder told India Today Digital.

A LOOK AT THE RISE AND EXPANSION OF BYJU’S

Byju Raveendran, a former maths tutor, built Byju’s from a simple learning app into a global EdTech powerhouse. The Covid-19 pandemic supercharged its growth as schools shut and parents turned to online education. The company raised billions of dollars from top investors, expanded aggressively, and signed high-profile brand ambassadors, like Shah Rukh Khan and Lionel Messi, while sponsoring major events like the Indian Premiere League (IPL).

At its peak, Byju’s claimed over 150 million users and positioned itself as a one-stop learning platform.

However, this ascent laid the groundwork for its fall.

A top executive at Byju’s, who requested anonymity due to ongoing sensitivities, told India Today Digital, “We rode the wave perfectly during the pandemic. Demand was insane, money was flowing, and the vision was to build the world’s largest learning company. But we scaled too fast without building strong foundations.”

THEN CAME BYJU’S FALL, FUELLED BY FOUNDER’S GREED

The core issue was greed-fuelled overexpansion.

Flush with capital, Byju’s spent over $2.5–3.6 billion on more than a dozen acquisitions between 2019 and 2022.

Major deals included Aakash Educational Services for nearly $1 billion, WhiteHat Jr for $300 million, Epic for $500 million, Toppr for $150 million and others like Great Learning and Osmo. Many acquisitions were poorly integrated, delivered limited synergies, and continued to bleed cash.

When the pandemic eased, demand for paid online learning dropped sharply as schools reopened.

The company’s revenue growth stalled, but costs, especially from acquisitions and heavy marketing, remained high. The company posted massive losses, reportedly Rs 4,588 crore in one year, with cash burn accelerating. Aggressive, sometimes predatory sales tactics exacerbated the problem.

Its sales teams faced intense pressure to meet targets, leading to complaints of misleading parents about course benefits, pushing EMI options, and hard-selling to vulnerable families.

Parents lost significant money on courses that didn’t deliver promised results or flexibility for refunds. Many reported being locked into long-term subscriptions or facing aggressive recovery calls.

This correspondent received multiple SOS messages from both parents and employees about the losses incurred by them at the behest of the company.

Meanwhile, the company’s internal financial health kept deteriorating.

“There was pressure to maintain hyper-growth led to decisions that prioritised short-term optics only,” a top lawyer associated with Byju’s told India Today Digital.

TOP-TIER EMPLOYEES AT BYJU’S VS EVERYONE ELSE

While Byju’s empire crumbled, the pain was unevenly distributed.

Top executives and the founder reportedly retained significant personal wealth and benefits even as the company struggled. In contrast, mid- and lower-level employees faced months of salary delays, sudden layoffs (sometimes via phone calls), and harsh working conditions.

Many worked 14–15 hour shifts to meet the intense sales pressure.

The top executive, who spoke to India Today Digital, said, “At the leadership level, we knew what was about to come, but we were still chasing big visions and deals. Meanwhile, people at lower levels were waiting for salaries. It created immense guilt, but we continued till the ship sank.”

Parents, too, bore the brunt of the collapse of Byju’s.

Thousands have taken to social media to complain about poor learning outcomes and persistent technical glitches in the tablets. These are issues that fell on deaf ears, despite the expensive courses aggressively pushed during uncertain pandemic times. Even today, Byju’s tablets keep surfacing in clearance sales and grey markets. Parents of millions of students lost money.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/byjus-collapse-byju-raveendran-singapore-contempt-debt-greed-jail-term-india-edtech-companies-2918153-2026-05-28

When the couple explained they were in the country “to explore the world,” the stranger responded aggressively, saying, “No, we don’t want you here. You have to go home.”

A video from the United States has sparked outrage online after an Indian couple was allegedly subjected to an unprovoked racist confrontation by a stranger. In the clip circulating on social media, a man sitting inside a car asks the couple if they are from India before telling them to leave the country. The exact location of the incident has not been independently verified, but the video has reignited conversations around racism, xenophobia, and the experiences of immigrants abroad.

In the video, the stranger questions the couple about whether India is better than the US. The husband gracefully replied that “both have both,” without escalating the situation. When the husband mentions that their family lives in India, the man asks why they are in the US if India is so good.

When the couple explained they were in the country “to explore the world,” the stranger responded aggressively, saying, “No, we don’t want you here. You have to go home. Get the f*** out of my country.” Despite the hostile remarks, the couple remains composed throughout the exchange.

Here’s the video: 

I encountered some incredible H-1B indians, and I had to let them know something! pic.twitter.com/Qi8FyfcjzF

— tone (@AyTone4th) May 20, 2026

The clip quickly gained traction online, with many praising the couple for handling the situation calmly. Social media users commended the couple’s dignity, noting that they refused to match the attacker’s volatile energy.

Others, however, argued that remaining silent during such incidents can embolden racist behaviour. Several social media users also pointed out that immigrants and visitors enter the country legally through visas issued by the government, questioning the logic behind targeting random individuals with abuse.

Many users tagged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio while sharing the video online. During an earlier visit to India, Rubio had said that every country has people who make racist remarks, while maintaining that the United States remains welcoming overall.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/feature/get-the-f-out-of-my-country-indian-couple-faces-unprovoked-racist-attack-in-us-11554553?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

Karan, a resident of Makwal village in Jammu region, was lured by a female ISI operative on Snapchat a few months ago, the police said

A 23-year-old school dropout from Jammu and Kashmir has been arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) after falling prey in a honeytrap.

Karan, a resident of Makwal village in Jammu region, was lured by a female ISI operative on Snapchat a few months ago, the police said. She posed as a Border Security Force (BSF) soldier posted in Punjab and gradually gained his trust through frequent chats and obscene video calls.

Once she was certain Karan was under her influence, she asked him for a WhatsApp one-time password (OTP) of a family member, claiming she had been transferred to the Sunderbani sector in Rajouri where mobile connectivity was poor.

Without suspecting anything, Karan shared his mother’s OTP, giving the ISI handler access to the account.

The ISI operative then nudged him to send photos and videos of army bunkers, defence installations and flyovers near Jammu region. For the first batch of pictures, Karan allegedly received Rs 2,000 in his bank account. When she demanded more, Military Intelligence (MI) grew suspicious.

Sources said MI kept him under discreet surveillance. Once his espionage activities were confirmed, the army alerted the police in Jammu. A joint team then arrested Karan from Makwal.

Police have seized his mobile phone and are looking into his social media accounts and digital footprint. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed to sharing sensitive material. A case has been filed and further investigation is on.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/j-k-man-honeytrapped-by-pakistani-woman-spy-shared-military-pics-arrested-11556909?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Heatstroke has killed at least 16 people in southern Telangana state, and Prime Minister Modi has said Indians must heed warning signs. The heat wave has also sparked forest fires in the north.

The two sides opposed ‘any unilateral actions’, apparently referring to the August 5, 2019, move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to strip J&K of its special status and reorganise the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.

India on Tuesday categorically rejected “unwarranted references” to its Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in a joint statement issued by China and Pakistan.

The joint statement was issued after Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in Beijing on Monday.

Xi’s meeting with Sharif and Munir saw both sides reaffirming “the importance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and resolving all outstanding disputes through dialogue and diplomacy”, according to the joint statement issued by the governments in Beijing and Islamabad, apparently making an indirect reference to the dispute over J&K between the two South Asian neighbours.

The two sides opposed “any unilateral actions”, apparently referring to the August 5, 2019, move by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to strip J&K of its special status and reorganise the erstwhile state into two Union Territories.

Sharif and Munir, according to the joint statement, briefed Xi on “the latest situation in Jammu and Kashmir”. Xi reiterated that the issue of Kashmir was a historical dispute and should be properly resolved peacefully in accordance with the United Nations Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and relevant bilateral agreements.

“India’s position is consistent and well known to the concerned parties,” Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said in New Delhi on Tuesday, reacting to the reference to Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement issued by China and Pakistan.

“The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are and will always remain integral and inalienable parts of India. No other country has the locus standi to comment on the same,” he added, articulating New Delhi’s position on the issue.

New Delhi maintains that the 1972 Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan and the 1999 Lahore Declaration had left no scope for the United Nations or any other third party to play any role in resolving the “outstanding issues” between the two South Asian neighbours.

The joint statement issued by Beijing and Islamabad also referred to the upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

New Delhi opposed the CPEC 1.0 as it violated the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of India. The 3000-km-long connectivity project, a flagship component of the Belt and Road Initiative envisaged by Xi, linked China’s Xinjiang Autonomous Region and the port city of Gwadar in southern Pakistan.

It covered India’s territory in J&K under illegal occupation by Pakistan. China pledged to invest $65 billion in infrastructure projects along the CPEC, including the territories of India occupied by Pakistan.

The CPEC 2.0 is likely to allow China to spread its tentacles not only in Pakistan and areas illegally occupied by Pakistan but also over the larger Afghanistan-Pakistan-Iran region, posing a strategic challenge to India.

“As regards the so-called CPEC projects, some of which are in India’s sovereign territory, we resolutely oppose and reject any moves by other countries to reinforce or legitimise Pakistan’s illegal and forcible occupation of these territories, impinging on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Jaiswal, the MEA spokesperson, said in New Delhi. “This has been clearly conveyed to Pakistani and Chinese authorities several times.”

The China-Pakistan joint statement also referred to the “willingness” of both sides for “trans-boundary water resources cooperation based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit”.

“We have also seen references to the so-called ‘trans-boundary water resources cooperation’ between China and Pakistan,” Jaiswal said on Tuesday.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/india-rejects-unwarranted-references-to-jk-in-china-pakistan-joint-statement-4017101#google_vignette

The “true goal” of this movement is to “derail the focussed hard work” required for nation-building and replace it with a “culture of grievance”, claimed one of the articles

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is an “anarchic digital activism” and has been launched from overseas in an attempt to “indoctrinate Gen Z against the government”, according to two articles published in RSS-linked Organiser magazine.

The CJP is a satirical digital outfit that recently took social media by storm.

The “true goal” of this movement is to “derail the focussed hard work” required for nation-building and replace it with a “culture of grievance”, claimed one of the articles, titled ‘Cockroach Syndrome: The new face of anti-India tech cynicism’, published on the magazine’s website.

Krishnakumar Kaimal, the author of the article, noted that the “digital eruption of the so-called Cockroach Janta Party is being enthusiastically hailed by a certain freebie-centric, left-leaning political ecosystem as a masterstroke of Generation Z satire”.

However, a “close serious examination of their so-called five goals reveals a terrifying blueprint for institutional collapse, masquerading as youthful, digital rebellion,” he said.

Another article, titled ‘Cockroach Janta Party: A bid to indoctrinate Gen Z against the government’, noted, “One AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) member living in the United States created an Instagram page called Cockroach Janta Party and made great promises to young people, plainly indicating an anti-BJP push.” “In a short period of time, this page attacked millions of followers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, the United States and other countries. The objective can be interpreted as brainwashing young people in order to overthrow the government,” Dr Pankaj Jagannath Jayswal, the author of the article, said.

In his article, Kaimal noted that the most sinister of the CJP’s promises is the “explicit documented demand” to cancel the licences of media houses owned by the Adani Group and Reliance Industries alongside probing the bank accounts of “specific journalists”.

“This is textbook Stalinist communist censorship. It is vicious, targeted attack on domestic capital, seeking to silence any platform that does not align with their chaotic left-wing worldview,” he charged.

“This explicit venomous attack on major Indian conglomerates exposes the profound, unignorable hypocrisy of the CJP, its founder, and its digital supporters,” he added.

The author of the article said the CJP’s demand that the chief election commissioner be arrested under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) if votes are deleted, is a “violent threat designed to paralyse the democratic process”.

“Demanding an arbitrary, mandated 50 per cent reservation for women in Cabinet positions, completely bypassing parliamentary strength, electoral mandates and meritocratic realities, showcases a complete, frightening ignorance of constitutional governance,” Kaimal said.

It is a “hollow slogan” designed for social media engagement, not a serious policy for running a complex nation for 1.4 billion people, he added.

Kaimal further noted that CJP’s call for an immediate 20-year ban on politicians who switch parties is a “totalitarian oversimplification of democratic representation”.

“It strips elected officials of their constitutional agency and binds them as slaves to party high commands, destroying the very essence of intra-party democracy and representative flexibility,” he added.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/cockroach-janta-party-an-anarchic-digital-activism-against-govt-rss-linked-magazine-4017094

The latest video comes days after Burhan’s funeral on May 22, which reportedly brought several Pakistan-based wanted terrorists under one roof, including Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin and Al-Badr commander Bakht Zameen Khan.

A new video of terrorist Hamza Burhan, who was killed by unidentified gunmen on May 21, holding an AK-47 rifle has further exposed the ISI’s role in protecting the most-wanted terrorist in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

According to sources, the video was recorded a few days before his killing. They further said that Burhan was often seen carrying the weapon, as he feared being targeted by unknown assailants.

Intelligence sources also claimed that the ISI had appointed him as a school principal, a position he used to spread propaganda among children in PoK.

TOP TERRORISTS ATTEND FUNERAL

The latest video comes days after Burhan’s funeral on May 22, which reportedly brought several Pakistan-based wanted terrorists under one roof, including Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin and Al-Badr commander Bakht Zameen Khan.

Apart from senior terror operatives, individuals linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agency were also seen at the funeral gathering, according to visuals shared by locals on social media.

Visuals from the ceremony also showed heavily armed militants carrying AK-47 rifles and other weapons deployed around senior figures, highlighting the security presence during the gathering.

According to sources, the funeral footage further underscored allegations of Muzaffarabad being a hub for Pakistan-based terror networks.

WHO WAS HAMZA BURHAN?

Burhan, also known as Arjumand Gulzar Dar and by the alias ‘Doctor’, was buried in Muzaffarabad a day after he was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in PoK.

He was allegedly one of the masterminds of the Pulwama terror attack that killed more than 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in February 2019.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/hamza-burhan-video-ak-47-isi-pok-principal-cover-2917486-2026-05-26

 

The raids were part of the ED’s ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities involving Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited and Exalogic Solutions, a private company owned by Pinarayi Vijayan’s daughter T Veena.

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted searches at 10 locations across Kerala, including the home of ex-Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a money laundering probe linked to the Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited (CMRL) corruption case in which his daughter is implicated.

Officials told news agency ANI that the raids were part of the ED’s ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities involving Cochin Minerals and Rutile Limited and Exalogic Solutions Pvt Ltd, owned by Vijayan’s daughter T Veena. The searches came a day after the Kerala High Court refused to cancel the ED’s investigation into the CMRL case.

ED sleuths also raided former minister and MLA PA Muhammad Riyas in Kozhikode. He is T Veena’s husband.

CMRL, a Kerala-based company engaged in the manufacture of synthetic rutile and industrial chemicals, has been under the scanner over allegations of bribery and money laundering.

The controversy centres on claims that Exalogic Solutions received large sums from CMRL without providing any services in return. Though the case does not directly name Vijayan as an accused, it triggered a major political storm in Kerala. Notably, the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation had a 13.4 per cent stake in CMRL.

WHAT IS THE CMRL CASE?

The allegations first surfaced in August 2023 after reports claimed that Exalogic had received Rs 1.72 crore from CMRL between 2017 and 2020 despite rendering no services. Following the revelations, the Centre directed the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) to carry out a detailed probe.

In its 160-page prosecution complaint, the SFIO named Veena, CMRL Managing Director Sasidharan Kartha and 25 others as accused. The agency also named several companies, including CMRL, Exalogic Solutions and its subsidiary Empower India Capital Investments.

According to the SFIO, Veena’s firm received Rs 2.70 crore from CMRL. Separately, the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board reported in 2023 that Rs 1.72 crore had been paid to the company, citing depositions by CMRL employees.

In April 2025, the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs approved prosecution proceedings against T Veena in connection with the alleged illegal payments.

Veena has been charged under Section 447 of the Companies Act, 2013, which deals with corporate fraud. The offence carries a jail term ranging from six months to 10 years, along with a fine that can extend to three times the amount involved in the alleged fraud.

‘POLITICALLY MOTIVATED’

CPI(M) General Secretary MA Baby called the ED a heinous attack that was politically motivated. He also alleged that two members of the VD Satheesan-led cabinet also received money from CMRL.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/former-kerala-cm-pinarayi-vijayan-house-among-10-locations-raided-by-enforcement-directorate-in-money-laundering-case-2917660-2026-05-27

How the Delhi Gymkhana Club was the stage for a CIA intelligence coup involving the Indian Army’s Soviet-built tank fleet.

New Delhi’s 113-year old Delhi Gymkhana club has been asked to vacate its premises by June 5, 2026. The eviction notice from the central government cites ‘national security, defense infrastructure’ and ‘urgent public interest’ in taking over the 27-acre club, located a stone’s throw away from the Prime Minister’s residence on 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The club with its manicured lawns, two dozen tennis courts, a swimming pool, a wooden-floored ballroom, and multiple bars, serves Delhi’s elite. Nearly fifty years ago, the club was also a drop site for the egregious leak of Indian military secrets. This incident was detailed in granular detail in ‘See No Evil’, the 2002 autobiography of a former CIA agent Robert Baer.

The Gymkhana Club then was one of the places where spies disguised as diplomats could mingle with Indian officials, bypassing government rules forbidding contact with foreign nationals. Spies could also enter the club and shake off determined ‘tails’ from India’s Intelligence Bureau.

The story began in the late 1970s with the arrival of Baer, a freshly minted CIA agent to the US Embassy. The Cold War was then at its peak. NATO and Warsaw Pact armies stood ranged against each other, on hair-trigger alert, across Europe. Among the growing mass of military hardware were some cutting edge Soviet platforms that caused the West serious worry.

If the Cold War burst into a hot war, titanium-hulled Alfa class interceptor submarines would barrel down the Atlantic Ocean to hunt NATO warships, stratosphere-skimming MiG-25 ’Foxbats’ would shoot down US bombers, and on the ground, a new battle tank, the T-72 would lead Soviet armoured spearheads across the Fulda Gap into West Germany.

The Pentagon and the CIA pursued these advancement in Soviet hardware with relentless zeal— to understand their capabilities, detect their vulnerabilities and field countermeasures.

The T-72 was of great interest to the Pentagon. A 41-tonne medium tank that was a generational leap over the older T-55s and T-62s, it was armed with a new 125 smoothbore gun that fired kinetic energy rounds at 1,800 meters per second, several hundred meters per second more than Western tanks. Its glacis— the sloped frontal part of the tank— was protected by ceramic/steel laminate armour, it had a laser rangefinder, an auto-loader which eliminated the need for a fourth crew member. The tank reached full scale production in 1979, when the USSR produced 2,000 T-72s that year.

The West relied on intelligence coups like the defection of Soviet pilot Viktor Belenko who flew his MiG-25 into Japan in 1976. Western engineers took the jet apart to understand the secrets behind the world’s fastest jet. But such coups were rare. It was difficult to persuade someone to not just betray his country but also take a piece of sensitive military technology while doing so.

So, the next best thing was to rely on what the CIA called SOVMAT— Soviet military manuals, which minutely detailed the capabilities of the hardware. The CIA efforts to vacuum SOVMAT extended into the Warsaw Pact countries and interestingly, India. By the 1970s, India had become the biggest buyer of Soviet hardware— tanks to fighter jets and submarines.

‘Since the Soviets typically would sell India their most advanced weapons, it had also become the most important country in the world for vacuuming up information on the Soviet military,’ Baer writes.

In 1978 the Indian Indian Army directly imported the first batch of 500 T-72, T-72M and the T-72M1 tanks from the Soviet Union. The CIA station in New Delhi intensified its efforts to obtain information on the Indian Army’s newest acquisition. Baer claims these efforts ranged from trying to get an Indian military contact to do a ‘Belenko’— drive a T-72 tank across the border into Pakistan to bribing a contact in a tank depot to drill a core sample into a T-72 hull to understand its armour composition. These efforts came to nought.

There was also the constant threat of surveillance by India’s Intelligence Bureau (IB), an agency which Baer calls ‘focused, disciplined and tough’. The IB could field thousands and thousands of surveillants on foot and in cars. Their job was to keep a watch on foreign diplomats, particularly spies. A few years before Baer was posted in Delhi, the IB caught a CIA case officer with several sub-sources. The case officer and the station chief in Delhi were sent home and Indian operations were shut down for almost two years. The IB was one reason Baer says ‘India was one of the toughest operating environments in the world.’

Sometime in late August, Baer hit an intelligence jackpot. One of his Indian agents brought him a duffel bag filled with T-72 tank manuals.

‘The T-72 tank manuals were the Holy Grail we’d been after for years, the keys to the kingdom of knowledge. My heart started racing, especially when the agent said he had to have them back in two hours. The sergeant who had borrowed the manuals needed to return them to the safe before he went off duty. There wasn’t enough time to go to the office, copy them, and run a good counter surveillance route. Worse, at that hour New Delhi would be crawling with IB, but I could take them that night or maybe never.’

Baer chose to take the manuals. He slammed on the brakes, pushed the agent out of the car and yelled at him to meet me in two hours behind guest house number three at Delhi’s Gymkhana Club.

At the US Embassy, Baer copied the tank manuals. He had exactly 17 minutes to drive back to the Gymkhana Club. By now there were three pairs of car lights behind him which he hints at being his IB surveillants. By the time he pulled through the Gymkhana’s gates, the three pairs of lights had grown to five.

‘In my rearview mirror I watched them file through the gates one by one. The closest car was maybe ten feet from my rear bumper. There wasn’t any more road, but I kept going- right down a gravel walking path between two tennis courts. I figured they wouldn’t follow me. I was right. All five cars stopped in front of the club’s main building and started deploying on foot. I hit the brakes, stuffed the duffel bags with the manuals in it into a tennis bag, and ducked between two tamarind trees. Footsteps echoed behind me as I followed a path bordered by tall myrtle until I came to a protected section of the hedge that fronted guest house number three. I could see the agent’s shadow through the foliage, right where I had told him to be. Without stopping, I pulled the duffel bag out of the tennis bag and tossed through the hedge in one quick motion. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the agent pick it up and walk away.’

Baer then entered the Gymkhana’s bar through the back door. ‘The place was empty except for a distinguished Indian gentleman in a three-piece suit, sitting alone and reading a newspaper. I walked over and sat next to him. Without saying a word, I summoned a waiter and ordered two double Scotches, straight up and no ice, for both of us. It wasn’t until I struck up a conversation as if we were old friends that he looked like he might run for it.’

When the CIA agent glanced at the back door, he saw two IB surveillants looking at the two of them. ‘I could tell that their interest was quickly narrowing down to the Indian gentleman, trying to figure out why I had been in such a hurry to come see him. By the time they got around to questioning him, the agent would have long cleared the area and returned the manuals to the sergeant.’

Copies of the tank manuals made their way back to the CIA headquarters in Langley, and to the Pentagon. Interestingly, a 1982 CIA SWOT analysis of the T-72 tank based its observations on the T-72M export model of the tank. One of its biggest strengths, a fire control system superior to previous versions, which used optical gyrostabilised sights and automatic changes in the ballistic cam when different types of ammunition were selected. A critical weakness the CIA observed, the T-72 had extremely poor night fighting capabilities, its thermal sights had a range of just 800 metres.

These revelations would have been shared with the US military industrial complex— Chrysler defence was then producing the new MBT the M1 Abrams and Hughes Aircraft making the Javelin anti-tank missile. The intelligence might also have been given to the Pakistan Army, a frontline US ally and potential Abrams buyer.

After a three-year stint in Delhi, Baer went on to serve in the Middle East where his exploits framed him as one of the CIA’s most celebrated field agents in that geography. He quit the agency in 1997, around the time a handful of field agents had begun worrying about the threat posed to American interests by a former Mujahideen fighter, Osama bin Laden.

Baer finished writing his book just two months after the CIA’s most spectacular intelligence failure— the September 11, 2001 ‘ 9/11’ attacks. The attacks were masterminded by bin Laden, a civil engineer brought in by the CIA to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan. The title of Baer’s book ‘See No Evil’ is a dig on the CIA’s post Cold War bureaucratisation, when the agency fell in love with technology and got rid of human intelligence assets. This led to intelligence failures like missing 9/11 lead hijacker Mohammed Atta openly recruiting suicide bombers from a mosque in Hamburg for a spectacular strike on the US.

Baer’s book hit the stands in 2002 after being cleared by the CIA’s Publications Review Board which eliminated classified information from it. Strangely, the book went unnoticed in India.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/the-cia-the-t-72-and-the-delhi-gymkhana-club-a-cold-war-tale-2917604-2026-05-27

Following the change in government, authorities have moved swiftly to address long-standing border security concerns by implementing a strict “3D Policy” — Detect, Detain and Deport. Under the policy, every district has been directed to establish specialized “Holding Centres” where undocumented immigrants will be kept pending lawful repatriation.

In less than a year, the Hakimpur Border in North 24 Parganas has once again become the center of national attention. Just last August, ahead of the implementation of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), thousands of undocumented immigrants had gathered at this very checkpost. Today, hundreds are lining up once more — this time to return to Bangladesh — driven by a new political and administrative reality.

Following the change in government, authorities have moved swiftly to address long-standing border security concerns by implementing a strict “3D Policy” — Detect, Detain and Deport. Under the policy, every district has been directed to establish specialized “Holding Centres” where undocumented immigrants will be kept pending lawful repatriation.

The impact of the policy was immediate. Fearing detention and legal action, thousands of illegal immigrants living across the Greater Kolkata region have started heading voluntarily toward the Hakimpur Border in hopes of avoiding legal complications and returning to Bangladesh on their own.

TIGHT SECURITY AND MULTI-LAYER VERIFICATION

Despite the sudden surge, Indian security agencies have maintained strict order at the border, turning what could have become chaos into a tightly controlled processing operation.

The repatriation process follows a multi-layer verification system:

Individuals are first divided into groups and their credentials verified by the Border Security Force (BSF).

Those cleared then undergo fingerprint and biometric registration to create a permanent digital record and prevent future unauthorized entry.

After Indian authorities complete verification, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) cross-checks the documents with its own records before allowing entry into Bangladesh.

According to officials, the process is moving efficiently. Around 50 individuals were repatriated yesterday, while another larger batch is currently awaiting final clearance at the checkpoint.

HUMAN STORIES BEHIND THE BORDER CRISIS

Even as the government pushes ahead with its “3D Policy” for border security and law enforcement, the scenes at Hakimpur underscore the human cost of illegal immigration.

CASE STUDY 1: THE FAMILY RETURNING AFTER CANCER TREATMENT

For Rozina Bibi, the border marks the end of a long and uncertain stay in India.

“We came to India seven years ago for my husband Saidul’s cancer treatment,” she said. As the treatment stretched on, the family continued living in India illegally. But after the new policy came into force, their landlord allegedly asked them to vacate the house, leaving them with no option but to return.

CASE STUDY 2: A FAMILY TORN APART

Thirty-six-year-old Sabina Khatoon sat near the checkpoint holding her two young children.

Years ago, she had crossed into India illegally with the help of touts and later married an Indian citizen. She said both her children were born at RG Kar Hospital using her husband’s documents.

Now, the new policy has left the family divided. Her husband, being an Indian citizen, cannot accompany them to Bangladesh.

“I do have family in Satkhira, but I don’t know how we will reunite,” Sabina said tearfully while looking at her children. “Will my children ever get to see their father again?”

CASE STUDY 3: DREAMS WASHED AWAY

For 25-year-old Akhruzamman, the dream of building a better life in India lasted barely two months.

“I swam across the Sonai river at night to reach India,” he admitted. Coming from a financially struggling family in Khulna, he risked everything hoping for work and stability.

Now, he waits at the border for clearance from both BSF and BGB officials.

“I have no other option left,” he said quietly.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/new-detect-detain-deport-policy-sparks-exodus-towards-hakimpur-border-2917624-2026-05-27

A police complaint has been lodged by a lawyer in Siliguri, who has alleged that Mamata Banerjee, during her stint as West Bengal’s CM, made derogatory remarks against Hindus and Hinduism at an Eid celebration in Kolkata last year.

A case has been registered against Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal’s Siliguri following a complaint by a lawyer, who has alleged that the erstwhile chief minister hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus by making derogatory remarks against Hinduism while attending an Eid celebration in Kolkata last year.

The police have invoked Sections 351 (1) (criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke breach of peace), 353 (promoting feeling of enmity, hatred or ill will between communities) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Mamata in the case.

The complainant, Rinki Chatterjee, has referenced the then-West Bengal CM’s speech at an Eid event that was organised on Kolkata’s iconic Red Road in 2025.

While targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the stage, Mamata had purportedly said, “I do not subscribe to that filthy religion — a religion that this ‘Jumla Party’ has deliberately fabricated.” She characterised the version of Hinduism espoused by the BJP as “Ganda Dharm,” or “filthy religion.”

Chatterjee has alleged that Mamata’s comment labelled Sanatan Dharma as “filthy” and offended Hindus across India and the rest of the world. The lawyer further said in her complaint that the remark, made from the stage of a Muslim religious congregation, was “absolutely unacceptable.”

She said she is hopeful that appropriate legal action will be taken.

The reported statement by Mamata had triggered sharp reactions last year from the state BJP leadership, including from now-CM Suvendu Adhikari and other prominent figures, who had voiced strong objections.

Chatterjee’s complaint and the resulting FIR mark the first direct legal step in connection with the matter.

In her complaint, she has also claimed that multiple senior leaders of the TMC, including ministers in the earlier government, have targeted Hinduism in recent years. She described the purported “Ganda Dharm” remark by Mamata as the most serious of those instances.

Chatterjee has also alleged that Mamata made an indirect threat to the Hindu community during the campaign period of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls.

“Such remarks allegedly created fear among members of the Hindu community and promoted social unrest, religious provocation, and communal disharmony with the intention of influencing voters through fear and intimidation,” she said in her complaint, referring to a specific instance.

Asked about his reaction to the police complaint, Atri Sharma, who is a lawyer and the general secretary of the TMC’s Darjeeling unit, refrained from making any comment in his capacity as his party’s spokesperson.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mamata-banerjee-faces-legal-trouble-over-anti-hindu-remark-tmc-bengal-news-2917556-2026-05-26

China accused the Quad of bloc confrontation after the grouping criticised coercive actions in disputed waters. The exchange came as the four countries widened cooperation on critical minerals, port infrastructure and shipping security.

Hours after Quad foreign ministers meeting in New Delhi issued a joint statement criticising coercive actions in the South China Sea and unveiled fresh cooperation on critical minerals, maritime security and Indo-Pacific infrastructure, China accused the grouping of promoting “bloc confrontation” and forming exclusive small cliques aimed at targeting third countries.

“Cooperation between nations should be conducive to promoting regional peace, stability, and prosperity, and should not target any third party,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a press briefing.

“We oppose the creation of exclusive small cliques and oppose bloc confrontation,” she added.

The sharp response came after the Quad ministers voiced direct concern over the East China Sea and South China Sea, where Beijing has steadily expanded its military and maritime presence in recent years.

QUAD’S CLEAR MESSAGE ON CHINA’S ACTIONS

The Quad foreign ministers — India’s S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi — met in New Delhi on Tuesday for the latest Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting hosted by India.

In their joint statement, the four countries said they remained “seriously concerned” about developments in disputed waters across the Indo-Pacific.

“We reiterate our strong opposition to any destabilising or unilateral actions, including by force or coercion, that threaten peace and stability in the region,” the ministers said.

The statement also criticised dangerous military manoeuvres, interference in offshore resource development, obstruction of freedom of navigation and the “militarisation of disputed features” in the South China Sea.

While China was not named directly, the language left little doubt about who the statement was aimed at.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea despite overlapping claims from several Southeast Asian countries and has built military infrastructure across disputed islands and reefs. China and Japan also remain locked in a separate territorial dispute in the East China Sea.

Despite Beijing portraying the Quad as an anti-China alliance, officials from India insisted the grouping was far broader than a military or strategic bloc. Addressing reporters after the meeting, Ministry of External Affairs Additional Secretary Nagaraj Naidu said the Quad had evolved steadily over the years around practical development projects and regional cooperation.

“The Quad’s existence is not because we need to address a particular geography’s concerns,” Naidu said. He pointed to the grouping’s vaccine coordination efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of practical cooperation.

“As we always keep saying, our focus within the Quad has been to deliver practical projects,” he added.

The Quad also announced its first major joint infrastructure project, a plan to help develop port facilities in Fiji as part of efforts to expand its presence across the Indo-Pacific.

“We are going to be partnering on issues of port infrastructure,” Rubio said.

CRITICAL MINERALS AND SHIPPING SECURITY TAKE CENTRE STAGE

One of the biggest outcomes of the meeting was the launch of a new critical minerals framework designed to strengthen supply chains for materials essential to modern industries such as semiconductors, defence systems and renewable energy.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/china-opposes-creation-of-exclusive-small-cliques-after-quad-meet-in-india-over-deepening-indo-pacific-cooperation-2917505-2026-05-26

DGCA has issued strict SOPs for airlines after WHO declared the Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, officials said. Airlines linked to Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo must collect passenger self-declaration forms, make onboard health announcements and strengthen screening at international gateways to reduce the risk of infection entering India.

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued a strict set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for airlines after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Ebola virus disease outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.

Airlines Must Enforce Rigorous Screening Measures

The directives have been issued to airlines linked to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, which have witnessed Ebola outbreak. The new protocols aim to establish a robust line of defence at international gateways to mitigate the risk of the highly contagious virus breaching Indian borders.

Under the newly released guidelines, airlines operating direct or connecting flights from Uganda and the Congo are mandated to enforce rigorous screening measures. Carriers have been directed to ensure the mandatory filing and collection of physical or digital self-declaration forms from all passengers before they are permitted to disembark. Airlines will also have to broadcast targeted health announcements during flights to educate passengers on the virus’s early warning signs and encourage self-reporting before reaching the terminal.

Passengers Urged to Report Fever, Bleeding or Vomiting

With his resignation, the seat from Odisha now stands vacated.

Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan on Monday accepted the resignation of BJD Rajya Sabha MP Debashish Samantaray.

Earlier in the day, Samantaray quit the BJD and also resigned from the Rajya Sabha. He met the Rajya Sabha chairman in Parliament and submitted his resignation from the Upper House.

With his resignation, the seat from Odisha now stands vacated.

According to a notification by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Samantaray’s membership in the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs and the Committee on Public Undertakings also ends.

A long-time associate of BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, Samantaray said he would soon join the BJP and that talks with the saffron party leadership had been finalised.

Sources said Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and state BJP president Manmohan Samal are in New Delhi, and Samantaray may join the BJP in their presence either later on Monday or the following day.

In his resignation letter to Patnaik, Samantaray said he felt “systematically belittled” in the party.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/resignation-of-bjd-mp-debashish-samantaray-accepted-by-rajya-sabha-chairman-4015952

“Stay Tuned – the cockroches are just getting started,” read the Instagram post of the CJP, after the founder Abhijeet Dipke claimed crackdown on party’s X handle and official website. ​​

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical outfit launched on social media by Abhijeet Dipke, on Sunday claimed that the “cockroaches have just gotten started” and the party aims to build an independent, youth-driven movement focused on holding the government accountable and amplifying youth voices.

The outfit, which emerged as a online protest after Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant’s “cockroach” remarks, attracted a massive support from Indian youth on social media and crossed an extraordinary number of 22.8 million followers on Instagram. The party’s Instagram page overtook the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Instagram followers count, which currently sits at approximately 8.8 million followers on the platform, in just a span of a week.

While the CJP garnered significant attention and support soon after its launch, questions remain about what lies ahead for the satirical outfit. Will it fade into the sea of countless meme pages, or evolve into a more tangible political force?

Well, the answer, has emerged from the Cockroach Janta Party’s own social media page.

“Stay Tuned – the cockroaches are just getting started,” read the Instagram post of the CJP, after the founder Abhijeet Dipke claimed crackdown on party’s X handle and official website.

According to a post on the CJP Instagram page, the outfit acknowledged that while it began as a satirical voice, it quickly “resonated with crores of young Indians frustrated with systemic issues like paper leaks, unemployment, and a lack of accountability in the system.”

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“As the movement continues to grow exponentially with each passing day, there is growing public curiosity around the direction it will take in the days ahead. We want to make it clear – we want to build an independent, youth-driven movement focused on amplifying the concerns of young people and holding the government accountable. Our values align with the Constitution of India. Taking inspiration from our nation’s founders – Gandhi, Ambedkar, Nehru, Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, we believe in secularism, democracy and social justice,” the post read.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/just-gotten-started-cockroach-party-charts-next-move-as-instagram-following-crosses-22-8-mn-article-154392058

 

This is his second parole in 2026. Before this, he had been granted parole and furlough 15 times. The current release is his 16th parole/furlough since conviction.

The incarcerated chief of the Sirsa-based sect Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, walked out of Rohtak’s Sunaria Jail on Tuesday after being granted 30 days of parole, the 16th temporary release he has received since 2017. He is serving a 20-year sentence in the Sadhvi sexual assault case.

Earlier, on January 5, 2026, he was released on a 40-day parole during celebrations marking Shah Satnam Singh’s birth anniversary.

This is his second parole in 2026. Before this, he had been granted parole and furlough 15 times. The current release is his 16th parole/furlough since conviction.

Listed as convict 8647/C in prison records, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has spent 406 days outside Rohtak’s Sunaria prison during the 3,193 days of his sentence completed so far, roughly eight years and eight months.

He is serving a 20-year sentence after a special CBI court convicted him in 2017 for raping two women disciples. In 2019, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in the murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, and in 2021, for conspiring to kill Dera manager Ranjit Singh.

However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him in the Ranjit Singh murder case in 2024 and in the Ram Chander Chhatrapati murder case in 2026.

With the latest 30-day parole, the dera chief has now exhausted the 10-week parole limit permitted for 2026 under the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022. Earlier this year, he had been granted 40 days of parole in January.

Under the law, prisoners can avail parole for a cumulative period of 10 weeks in a calendar year, split into two parts. Separately, they may also receive three weeks of furlough, which cannot be divided. The dera chief remains eligible to avail three weeks of furlough this year.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/dera-chief-gurmeet-ram-rahim-walks-out-on-30-day-parole-16th-release-since-conviction-ws-l-10112333.html

Abortion and a ₹7 lakh claim: What Twisha Sharma’s husband told MP SIT before CBI took over probe

Before handing the Bhopal ‘dowry death’ case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday, the Madhya Pradesh police Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Twisha Sharma ‘dowry’ death case questioned her husband, Samarth Singh, for over three hours, during which the lawyer reiterated to the investigators that the former model has become “distressed” following her abortion.

Twisha Sharma, a Noida-based former Miss Pune title holder, was allegedly found hanging at her marital home in Bhopal on May 12. While her in-laws and an autopsy report have claimed that she died by suicide, her family alleges foul play.

According to MP police sources quoted by news agency ANI, the SIT conducted a recreation of the crime scene, lasting over two hours, prior to which the SIT interrogated Twisha’s husband, Samarth Singh, for approximately three hours.

The quoted sources added that Samarth informed the SIT that Twisha had been distressed following her abortion. Earlier, he had claimed during previous rounds of questioning that their relationship had soured after Twisha learnt about her pregnancy, news agency PTI reported citing sources.

When questioned regarding his period of abscondence, Samarth repeatedly attempted to mislead the investigators, the ANI sources said. During the interrogation, he reiterated his claim of having given ₹7 lakh to Twisha.

The SIT has seized Samarth’s laptop, mobile phone, passport, Aadhaar card, and other key documents.

CBI takes over

The CBI on Monday registered an FIR in the case and formally took over the investigation after the Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant handed over the probe to the central agency.

The CBI booked Twisha Sharma’s husband and her mother-in-law, former district judge Giribala Singh, invoking sections 80(2), 85, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita along with sections of the Dowry Prohibition Act, which were levelled by the state police as well.

Earlier in the day, the agency sent a Special Crime unit to Bhopal to take charge of the investigation and collect the necessary documents and evidence.

After the meeting, the CBI re-registered the state police FIR naming Samarth Singh and Giribala Singh as accused in its own case, in accordance with the procedure.

The Bhopal police had registered the FIR two days after Twisha’s death.

What the state police FIR had alleged

The FIR alleged that Twisha’s husband, Samarth, brought her to the AIIMS, Bhopal, after she, her husband claimed, hanged herself at home at 10.20 pm on May 12.

Doctors at AIIMS informed the police on May 13 at 12.05 am that she was brought dead to the hospital, and a PMLC was registered, the FIR said.

The post-mortem report said that death was due to “antemortem hanging by ligature” and her body bore “multiple antemortem injuries (simple in nature, possible by blunt force over other parts of the body have been noted).”

After receiving the post-mortem report and recording the statement of Twish’s family members, the police registered the FIR on May 15.

A second autopsy was conducted by a specialised team from AIIMS Delhi, and the report is still awaited.

The dowry claim

Twisha Sharma’s family members, in their statements, alleged that she was tormented by her in-laws, who were not satisfied with the dowry paid at the time of marriage on December 9, 2025.

They accused her in-laws of mental torture and domestic violence, and pushing the 33-year-old to take the extreme step.

Twisha’s mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, has, in her turn, questioned her purported medical treatment, alleged drug use, and mental state in several media interviews.

In the statement given to the police at the time of filing the FIR, Twisha’s family said that she had spoken to her mother at 9.41 pm.

During the call, her husband was heard shouting, and the call was cut abruptly, the FIR citing the statement alleged.

After repeated calls, Giribala Singh picked up the phone and told Twisha’s sister-in-law that “she is no more” and cut the call, it is alleged.

The central probe agency initiates an investigation, referred by the state police, by re-registering the police FIR, which serves as the starting point of the investigation.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/abortion-and-a-7-lakh-claim-what-twisha-sharma-husband-told-madya-pradesh-sit-before-cbi-takeover-of-probe-101779758344147.html

Ahead of Bakrid, high-priced goats Salman and Sultan have become talking points at Patna’s Jagdev Path market.

As Bakrid approaches, two premium goats named Salman and Sultan have emerged as major attractions at Patna’s bustling goat market on Jagdev Path, though traders say the intense heatwave has kept several buyers away.

A two-year-old black goat named Salman Khan has become the centre of attention due to its hefty price tag of Rs 2.4 lakh. Standing four feet tall and weighing over 100 kg, the goat was brought to Bihar’s capital by Parvez, a trader from Ara, who purchased it for Rs 1.8 lakh from Uttar Pradesh.

Parvez said Salman is fed grains and green vegetables and has been drawing curiosity at the market. However, he added that soaring temperatures have significantly reduced footfall, affecting sales.

“People are not even coming to see the goats because of the heat,” he said, recalling that he had sold a goat for Rs 2 lakh during last year’s Bakrid season.

Another crowd-puller at the market is Sultan, a two-year-old goat priced at Rs 1.8 lakh. Sultan was brought by Saddam, a trader from UP’s Mau, who said he had raised the animal himself.

Saddam echoed concerns over weak customer turnout due to the heatwave but remained hopeful of finding a buyer before Bakrid. “The market is slow because of the weather, but we expect business to improve closer to the festival,” he said.

Buyers visiting the market said goat prices were comparatively higher this year. While some customers arrived with budgets of around Rs 40,000, most said they were looking for goats priced around Rs 15,000.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/patna-bakrid-goat-market-salman-sultan-prices-heat-hit-footfall-2916956-2026-05-25

In a post on social media, newly elected BJP MLA Ratna Debnath said she met CM Suvendu Adhikari on the 14th floor of the state secretariat and contrasted her own loss with Mamata Banerjee’s political defeat.

BJP MLA Ratna Debnath, the mother of the RG Kar rape-murder victim, met West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at the state secretariat on Monday and later took a swipe at TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee over her loss in the Assembly polls.

In a post on social media, the Panihati legislator said she met CM Adhikari on the 14th floor of the state secretariat and contrasted her own loss with Banerjee’s political defeat.

On the intervening night of August 8 and 9, 2024, Debnath’s daughter, a 31-year-old post-graduate trainee resident doctor on duty, was raped, tortured and murdered inside the seminar room of the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.

There have been allegations that evidence was destroyed and attempts were made to downplay the incident in its immediate aftermath.

Following the sweeping defeat of the Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal elections, the BJP government announced the case would be expedited and that justice would be served.

In the social media post, Debnath said, “Today I am on the 14th floor of Nabanna in a meeting with the chief minister. His name is Suvendu Adhikari. The power of honesty is immense. One only needs to patiently fight against injustice.”

“Today, both Mamata (Banerjee) and I are bereaved. I have lost my only daughter and have dedicated myself to serving people. She has lost her chair on the 14th floor,” she said.

The newly elected MLA also said that the former chief minister and her “team” would face a “more tragic outcome”. “Wait and watch,” she said.

The Calcutta High Court last week ordered setting up a three-member special investigation team (SIT) of the CBI to probe the developments from the time the RG Kar Medical College’s trainee doctor had dinner on the ill-fated night of August 2024 to her cremation.

The young medic’s rape and murder had caused an uproar in the state as well as among the doctors’ community across the country.

Debnath has repeatedly alleged that several individuals were directly and indirectly involved in the crime and that not all suspects had come under the purview of the investigation.

According to sources, she had earlier written to Chief Minister Adhikari in a sealed communication, seeking action against individuals she believed should be investigated in connection with the case.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Debnath said that despite becoming an MLA, “all happiness” had disappeared from her life and her only goal was to secure justice for her daughter.

“I may have become an MLA, but all the joy has gone from my life. My only objective is justice. The names I submitted to the chief minister had earlier also been shared with investigators,” she said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rg-kar-victim-mother-ratna-debnath-says-i-lost-my-daughter-mamata-banerjee-lost-her-chair-2917008-2026-05-25

The Garib Nagar demolition in Mumbai’s Bandra suburb has triggered calls to clear more slums across the city, with viral videos shot from local train windows fuelling demands for similar drives in Wadala, Kurla, Dadar and beyond. But these settlements also house the workers Mumbai depends on.

Days after bulldozers tore through Garib Nagar in Mumbai’s Bandra East, calls for more slum demolitions across Mumbai have only grown louder. As Western Railway carried out another demolition drive between Goregaon and Malad on Monday to reclaim illegally occupied railway land under Bombay High Court directions, social media was flooded with videos shot from local train windows — of stretches of blue tarpaulin roofs in Wadala, Kurla, Dadar, Govandi and beyond.

Many users tagged authorities and demanded that similar drives be carried out across the city, not just on railway land but also on BMC and government-owned plots.

Barely a week after authorities evicted over 1,500 people from Garib Nagar from over 400 two-three storey shanties, Western Railways has reclaimed approximately 1,500 square metres of vital Railway land in the northern suburbs of Goregaon and Malad. A total of 36 hard encroachments and 24 soft encroachments were cleared through a coordinated operation.

When it comes to “urban clean-up” drives, there is always a contradiction at play. The videos from Garib Nagar struck a nerve not just because many saw the demolition as inevitable, but because they also laid bare the human cost behind Mumbai’s idea of “order” — a city where slums and skyscrapers have long co-existed, often uneasily, but dependently.

As the earthmovers reduced homes to rubble under a Bombay High Court-backed eviction drive by the Western Railway, the demolition of hundreds of homes also unleashed something else across Mumbai. It was anger for many, and a moment of applause for the rest.

But perhaps the most revealing videos were shaky phone clips shot from local trains, zooming into slum clusters along tracks in Wadala, Dadar and Kurla. “Next please”, the captions read.

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While #Mumbai celebrating @WesternRly railway reclaiming it’s land at #BandraEast that was illegally occupied by slum dwellers, why is slums on BMC & Govt land being spared.

Maybe the Real Estate bonanza thru the SRA scheme.

Meanwhile enjoy the Slum view from Govandi to… pic.twitter.com/MDwMvGOmSR

— मुंबई Matters™🇮🇳 (@mumbaimatterz) May 23, 2026

An X user, Satish Pandita, said, “Mumbai, a world city, is reduced to City of Slums. Have a look at this video [a video taken from a local train], it is just a fraction [pointing at the slums in Wadala]. When will Mumbai be free from slums?”

Referring to Mumbai as “Slumbai”, another person commented on a video shared by Indian Tech and Infra that showed sprawling slum clusters across Mumbai. “When I went to Mumbai, I was under the impression that slums were confined to Dharavi and that the rest of the city was modern. But slums are everywhere. I still can’t believe the scale of it. And the sheer size of these settlements means they cannot simply be cleared overnight. It would take decades.”

The calls for demolition have since expanded beyond railway land, with several local train commuters now demanding that the government clear slum clusters not just from railway property, but also from BMC and other government-owned land across the city.

For a section of Mumbai’s upper and upper-middle classes, the demolition of Garib Nagar slums was a long-awaited “clean-up” of the city. The demolition of the slums in Dharavi has also been lauded by the same section of society.

But there is a contradiction here that Mumbaikars confront every day, and yet sometimes forget. The city needs the labour, but its administration and the governments over the years have been unwilling to accommodate it.

Slums occupy nearly 24% of Mumbai’s land while housing more than half its population, according to Maharashtra’s Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA).

Mumbai-based architect PK Das, on his website, estimates that roughly 7.5 million people live in these slums. That alone explains why Mumbai’s slum debate can never be reduced to aesthetics.

Almost every second Mumbaikar lives in informal housing, compressed into barely a quarter of the city’s geography.

People invest in houses worth crores of rupees, and the view is slums. This is true for the majority of real estate markets in Mumbai and its northern suburbs. Even in a place as posh as Colaba Causeway, there are slums.

More importantly, the people being pushed out of these settlements are not peripheral to the city’s economy. They are the city’s economy.

They drive the delivery bikes that keep Mumbai’s app economy alive. They clean homes in gated towers overlooking the Arabian Sea. They pour concrete into luxury skyscrapers they will never live in. They run roadside eateries, work as security guards, tailors, plumbers, electricians, nurses, drivers, mechanics, loaders and sanitation workers.

Mumbai’s pace survives on the backs of workers who often cannot afford formal housing within the same city they sustain.

MAHARASHTRA GOVTS, BMC, RAILWAYS HAVE FAILED TO CREATED SPACE FOR MIGRANTS

A Mumbai-based senior journalist, who has lived in the city since childhood and has covered the city’s civic issues for over 15 years, described the current situation as a failure of urban imagination as much as governance.

“What Mumbai, Maharashtra, the BMC, the Railways, everyone in authority, failed to do was create space for the millions of migrant workers who came here and took up the jobs many others didn’t want to do,” the journalist said, requesting anonymity.

The journalist pointed out that migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and southern states have long filled the city’s labour vacuum, often performing physically demanding work with little security or dignity in return.

“And now, when it is inconvenient, we are simply throwing them away,” the journalist added.

The emotional charge around Garib Nagar also reflects a shift in the city’s social mood. In older “Bombay”, class divides certainly existed, but there was still a performative idea of coexistence — a belief, however imperfect, that the city belonged to everyone who worked in it. The mill workers were a great example of this, who lived in places that now house the most expensive real estate in India.

The journalist argued that this social compact now appears to be eroding.

“There was at least a social expectation that you should behave with some humanity. Now even that pretence is disappearing,” the journalist told India Today Digital.

The remarks come at a time when public spaces themselves are increasingly becoming sites of class conflict.

In Bandra, debates have erupted over access to gardens, promenades and open spaces, with residents in some affluent pockets complaining about “outsiders”, street vendors, dog-walkers and children from “poorer neighbourhoods” using public amenities.

The Garib Nagar demolition, therefore, did not happen in isolation. It has tapped into a wider aspiration among sections of the city who view slums less as housing crises and more as visual blight.

MEGACITIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE DEPENDED ON INFORMAL, LOW-INCOME SETTLEMENTS

Urban historians have pointed out that megacities across the world have always depended on informal or low-income settlements.

Paris has its banlieues. New York had immigrant tenements. Los Angeles, which has Skid Row, struggles with homelessness. Most global cities absorb migrants faster than formal housing systems can accommodate them.

Mumbai’s challenge is more extreme and acute. Its geography constrains expansion, while one of the world’s most expensive property markets has made affordable housing scarce even for many middle-class residents. The market has paralysed affordable housing even for the top 1% of this country.

The city has effectively become a place where luxury towers and informal settlements exist wall-to-wall, and that is not because of accident. Each has economically sustained the other.

And that is perhaps the central paradox of Mumbai. The same city that markets itself as India’s financial capital often relies on invisible housing economies to function.

Everybody in Mumbai knows this, even if the city rarely says it aloud.

Soon after the demolitions in Garib Nagar, videos of chaos at Mumbai’s Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) went viral. Sources that India Today Digital spoke to could not confirm whether the people leaving were migrants displaced from Garib Nagar returning home. But on social media, there was hostility. “Send them back,” some wrote. “Kick them out,” said others.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mumbai-slum-demolition-garib-nagar-local-train-videos-who-will-do-the-city-work-rehabilitation-sra-2916428-2026-05-26

 

A woman in Bilaspur was taken into custody after allegedly attacking her sleeping husband with a sickle. Police said recurring disputes over a suspected affair may have led to the incident.

A woman was arrested in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur after she allegedly attacked her husband with a sickle while he was asleep and severed his private parts over suspicions of an extramarital affair, police said.

The victim, identified as Rajesh Kaushik, a mason by profession, was admitted to the state-run SIMS Hospital in critical condition. Doctors said he is undergoing treatment.

According to police, the couple had been facing frequent domestic disputes for a long time, with the accused woman, Draupati Bai, suspecting her husband of having a relationship with another woman.

Police said the couple had dinner together on the night of the incident before going to sleep. Late at night, the woman allegedly attacked Rajesh with a sickle while he was asleep, chopping off his private parts, and seriously injuring him.

Bleeding heavily, the injured man reportedly ran out of the room screaming for help, alerting family members. His minor son woke up on hearing the cries and informed relatives, following which the family rushed Rajesh to hospital along with the severed body part.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/chhattisgarh-woman-attacks-sleeping-husband-cuts-off-private-part-over-affair-suspicion-2917046-2026-05-26

 

India will host the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, where EAM S. Jaishankar will meet counterparts from the US, Japan, and Australia. Discussions will focus on Indo-Pacific cooperation, maritime security, supply chains, critical minerals, emerging technologies, and regional geopolitical challenges. The meeting may also unveil new economic and technology partnership measures.

India will host the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar set to welcome Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for high-level discussions under the Quad framework.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the meeting is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, maritime security, critical minerals, emerging technologies, supply chain resilience, and regional geopolitical developments, including the situations in West Asia and Ukraine.

The official statement said, “In keeping with the Quad vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, the Ministers will build on discussions held in Washington, DC on 1 July 2025. They will exchange views on advancing Quad cooperation across priority areas, review progress on ongoing Quad initiatives, and reflect on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region and other international issues of mutual concern.”

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#WATCH | Taipei, Taiwan: On Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Fellow of Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation, Sana Hashmi says, “… What we are seeing right now is something that is much more evolved and transformed and much more aligned with the interests of the four countries. In… pic.twitter.com/TTk6fgB9Cy

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2026

The meeting is expected to focus on key areas of cooperation, including maritime security, resilient supply chains, infrastructure development, critical and emerging technologies, climate action, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The discussions will also review ongoing Quad initiatives aimed at strengthening regional stability and economic growth.

During their India visit, the Foreign Ministers of Australia and Japan, along with the US Secretary of State, were also expected to hold bilateral meetings with EAM Jaishankar.

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Delighted to welcome FM Toshimitsu Motegi of Japan to New Delhi today.

Held wide – ranging discussions on various facets of our cooperation including economic security, trade, energy, supply chain resilience, shipping, technology & innovation and people to people ties.

Also… pic.twitter.com/pzgzZtmsUD

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 25, 2026

Earlier on Monday, EAM Jaishankar met Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi ahead of Tuesday’s Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, highlighting that the special strategic and global partnership between both countries remains rooted in their joint vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“Between India and Japan of course, we have a special strategic and global partnership and that signals that our ties have a larger implication, larger importance, larger impact and one example of that will be tomorrow when we meet in the Quad format to discuss how to advance free and open Indo-Pacific,” EAM Jaishankar said in his opening remarks during a meeting with the visiting Japanese Foreign Minister.

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My remarks during meeting with FM Motegi Toshimitsu of Japan.

🇮🇳 🇯🇵 https://t.co/uK1pPl4F4x

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 25, 2026

During his stay in New Delhi, the Japanese Foreign Minister is also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi with other ministers on Tuesday.

The Quad meeting comes at a time when Indo-Pacific geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve, with member countries seeking to deepen cooperation and coordination on shared regional and global challenges.

Reports suggest the Quad countries may announce new measures to strengthen economic security and technology partnerships during the meeting.

Earlier on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that India and the US are strategically aligned on several key global issues, including critical minerals, supply chains and terrorism. He called India “one of the most important strategic partners” for the US in the world.

While addressing a joint press briefing with EAM Jaishankar, Rubio said that India and the US have suffered due to global terrorism networks. He noted that India and the US as democracies understand the importance of public scrutiny, accountability.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/india-to-host-quad-foreign-ministers-meeting-today-amid-evolving-indo-pacific-challenges

 

A 12-year-old girl was raped and murdered in Budgam district, triggering protests and SIT probe.

A 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district on Sunday. The body of the minor girl was found near 200 metres from her home. The incident has triggered protests and demands for justice and tracking down perpetrators.

The police investigation has been launched and prima facie, it appears to be a case of rape and murder.

According to reports, the child went missing on Saturday evening at Galwanpora village. On Sunday morning, she was found dead in nearby fields.

“At around 7:15 am today, the body was recovered from a spot nearly 200 metres from her home. All medico-legal formalities were subsequently completed and prima facie, it appears to be a case of rape and murder,” said Hariprasad KK, SSP Budgam.

Police said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the case. The officer said the SIT is examining all possible angles to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police have assured that the investigation will be conducted in a fair, transparent, and professional manner.

Locals have described the incident as horrific and deeply disturbing. The killing has sparked widespread outrage, with political leaders demanding strict action against the culprits. National Conference leaders, including Education Minister Sakeena Yatoo, visited the bereaved family and assured them of prompt justice.

“She left home around 4 PM for her religious class. We fail to understand how she went missing despite so many houses in the surrounding area,” said a local elderly resident. “The killer should be caught immediately. We just want justice for the girl,” he said, adding that the girl was carrying a Quran with her, which was later found nearby too.

Police have requested people not to circulate unverified information or indulge in speculation regarding the matter, as such actions may hamper the investigation and cause unnecessary distress.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has strongly condemned the brutal murder of a young preteen girl in the Budgam district, describing the incident as “shocking and deeply distressing”.

Expressing profound grief over the tragedy, the Chief Minister condemned the heinous act in the strongest possible terms and conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.

“May she find place in Jannat,” the Chief Minister said while expressing solidarity with the grieving family.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/missing-girl-12-raped-murdered-in-j-k-body-found-200-metres-from-home-11542766?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Medical experts have long warned that multiple pregnancies in quick succession can significantly increase the risk of anemia, malnutrition, chronic fatigue, pregnancy complications and maternal health emergencies.

A video shared by a gynecologist in Uttar Pradesh has sparked widespread concern online after revealing the case of a 22-year-old woman who is pregnant with her sixth child. According to the doctor, the woman and her husband were married when they were 15 and already have five children – four daughters and one son. Despite this, the couple, who are from Rajasthan, reportedly decided to continue having children in hopes of having another boy. The case was shared by Dr. Pragya Tomar of Spandan Hospital, who said the video was posted with the consent of the patient and her husband.

During the interaction, the woman reportedly told the doctor, “I keep having girls… we have one boy, we need another boy.” Her husband added that one son was “not enough” to support the family and continue the family lineage, remarks that quickly triggered debate online over deep-rooted son preference and gender bias.

The doctor warned the couple about the severe health risks linked to repeated pregnancies at such a young age. According to her, the woman had already complained of breathlessness, dizziness, and body pain – symptoms commonly associated with physical exhaustion, anemia, and nutritional deficiencies caused by closely spaced pregnancies.

“You’re risking your life with so many pregnancies,” the doctor told the patient, warning that repeated childbirth without proper recovery time could seriously endanger both the mother and unborn child.

Watch the video here:

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The video soon went viral on social media, with many users expressing concern over the woman’s condition and criticising the societal pressure placed on women to give birth to male children. Many users also pointed to broader issues such as lack of awareness around contraception, early marriage, limited access to family planning education, and the unequal value often placed on daughters and sons in parts of society.

Medical experts have long warned that multiple pregnancies in quick succession can significantly increase the risk of anemia, malnutrition, chronic fatigue, pregnancy complications and maternal health emergencies, especially among very young mothers.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/viral-video-ek-aur-beta-chahiye-doctor-raises-alarm-after-22-year-old-woman-becomes-pregnant-for-sixth-time-11541048?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

 

She explained that Meta’s long-term ambitions no longer aligned with her own personal and professional goals.

A Meta employee has gone viral after revealing that she voluntarily asked to be included in the company’s latest round of layoffs, citing growing misalignment with Meta’s direction and its increasing focus on becoming an “AI-first” workplace. Julie Bone, who worked as a content designer for Facebook in Los Angeles, shared in a LinkedIn post that she left the company after completing exactly six years at Meta. According to her, the decision to leave had been building for a long time rather than being a sudden reaction to the layoffs.

She explained that Meta’s long-term ambitions no longer aligned with her own personal and professional goals. Bone also said the timing felt right for her personal life and added that part of her motivation was the hope that voluntarily stepping away might help another employee retain their position.

“I had been there exactly six years, which was longer than 80% of the company. This was not an impulsive decision. For a long time now, Meta’s ambitions and my own were in different continents. I wanted to move on because the timing was right for my personal life, and partly because I hoped it might help save the spot of someone who wanted to stay,” she wrote.

In the post, she acknowledged that she was unsure whether her request had actually changed anything internally, joking that she may already have been included in the layoff plans before making the request.

Bone also reflected on the changing work culture inside Meta, describing how AI-focused skills had increasingly become an expectation across teams. She said employees were encouraged to use AI tools for prototyping ideas, troubleshooting coding problems, and automating repetitive tasks. At the same time, she argued that simply learning AI tools would not guarantee long-term job security for workers in the tech industry.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/feature/meta-employee-goes-viral-after-volunteering-to-be-laid-off-amid-ai-push-i-asked-to-be-included-11541320?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

Rather than waiting until their 60s to retire, Bianca and Charlie decided they wanted to enjoy life while they were still young, healthy, and financially stable enough to take the risk.

Bianca Chan and Charles Boddie, a married couple who built successful careers at Amazon and Business Insider, made an unconventional decision that many professionals only dream about. In their early 30s, the couple walked away from high-paying corporate jobs to begin a “first retirement” – a temporary mid-career break focused on travel, freedom, and personal growth aboard a sailboat.

What initially started as a joke slowly turned into a serious life plan. Rather than waiting until their 60s to retire, Bianca and Charlie decided they wanted to enjoy life while they were still young, healthy, and financially stable enough to take the risk.

Before leaving her job, Bianca worked as a senior finance reporter at Business Insider, where she covered how major Wall Street firms were investing in and using technology. Charlie, meanwhile, had spent eight years at Amazon after joining the company as a college hire. Over time, he rose through the ranks and was on track to become a principal engineer. He led multiple engineering teams responsible for much of Amazon’s buy-now-pay-later business operations in the United States and Canada, Business Insider reported.

Despite their professional success, the couple admitted that the intense commitment required by their jobs often came at the expense of other parts of life. Long work hours and career ambition left little room for hobbies, flexibility, or extended travel experiences. Though they often talked about finding a lifestyle with more freedom, lucrative salaries, bonuses, and career opportunities repeatedly kept them tied to corporate life.

Bianca Chan and Charles Boddie, a married couple who built successful careers at Amazon and Business Insider, made an unconventional decision that many professionals only dream about. In their early 30s, the couple walked away from high-paying corporate jobs to begin a “first retirement” – a temporary mid-career break focused on travel, freedom, and personal growth aboard a sailboat.

What initially started as a joke slowly turned into a serious life plan. Rather than waiting until their 60s to retire, Bianca and Charlie decided they wanted to enjoy life while they were still young, healthy, and financially stable enough to take the risk.

Before leaving her job, Bianca worked as a senior finance reporter at Business Insider, where she covered how major Wall Street firms were investing in and using technology. Charlie, meanwhile, had spent eight years at Amazon after joining the company as a college hire. Over time, he rose through the ranks and was on track to become a principal engineer. He led multiple engineering teams responsible for much of Amazon’s buy-now-pay-later business operations in the United States and Canada, Business Insider reported.

Despite their professional success, the couple admitted that the intense commitment required by their jobs often came at the expense of other parts of life. Long work hours and career ambition left little room for hobbies, flexibility, or extended travel experiences. Though they often talked about finding a lifestyle with more freedom, lucrative salaries, bonuses, and career opportunities repeatedly kept them tied to corporate life.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/feature/us-couple-quits-corporate-careers-for-first-retirement-at-30-buys-a-sailboat-to-explore-the-world-11542043?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories