Category: India

An Indian Armed Forces delegation led by Lieutenant General Pushpendra Pal Singh attended SOF Week 2026 in Tampa and joined key strategic engagements. India also made its first CAPEX appearance, underlining deeper Special Operations cooperation with partner nations.

A high-level Indian Armed Forces delegation led by Lieutenant General Pushpendra Pal Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, and the seniormost serving Special Forces officer of the Indian Armed Forces, participated in the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2026 held in Tampa, Florida, USA, from May 18 to May 21, 2026.

India’s participation in one of the world’s premier Special Operations events highlighted the country’s growing stature as a global security partner and reflected its commitment to advancing multilateral defence cooperation.

SOF Week 2026 was jointly organised by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Global SOF Foundation. The event brought together military personnel, defence industry leaders, and strategic partners for discussions, exhibitions, and networking engagements focused on Special Operations Forces.

According to officials, the event witnessed participation from over 28,000 attendees, more than 850 exhibitors, and representatives from over 70 countries, making it one of the largest global gatherings dedicated to Special Operations Forces.

During the event, the Indian delegation took part in high-level strategic engagements and bilateral interactions with senior Special Operations commanders from partner nations. The delegation also observed advanced capability demonstrations and defence industry exhibitions. These engagements provided an important platform for exchanging operational experiences and strengthening defence partnerships.

In a landmark first for the Indian Army, a dedicated Capability Demonstration team participated in CAPEX, the biannual capability demonstration event that serves as a signature highlight of SOF Week.

The 2026 USSOCOM Capability Demonstration, titled “Battle in the Bay,” was conducted on May 20 at the Tampa waterfront. The exercise featured US Special Operations Forces along with contingents from ten partner nations operating in an integrated live operational environment.

India’s debut participation in the capability demonstration showcased the operational proficiency of Indian Special Forces in counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, high-altitude combat, and jungle warfare operations.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-army-marks-historic-debut-at-us-special-forces-exercise-battle-in-the-bay-2915229-2026-05-22

Ahead of his first visit to New Delhi, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington wants to sell India “as much energy as they’ll buy” as uncertainty grows over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

As turmoil in West Asia continues to shake global energy markets, the US is moving to position itself as a bigger energy supplier to India, one of the world’s largest crude importers. Ahead of his first visit to New Delhi, beginning May 23, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington wants to sell India “as much energy as they’ll buy” as uncertainty grows over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

“We want to sell them as much energy as they’ll buy. And obviously, you’ve seen, I think we’re at historic levels of US production, and US export,” Rubio told reporters in Miami before departing for Sweden.

India imports the majority of its crude oil requirements and remains heavily dependent on shipping routes passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The ongoing crisis in the region has increased concerns in New Delhi over long-term energy security and supply diversification.

US PUSHES FOR BIGGER ROLE IN INDIA

Rubio made it clear that the Trump administration wants American energy exports to become a larger part of India’s import portfolio.

“We want to be able to do more. We were already in talks with them to do more. We want them to be a bigger part of their portfolio,” he said.

The US has increased oil and gas production in recent years and is now looking to expand exports to major buyers such as India, especially as Asian countries search for more reliable suppliers amid geopolitical instability.

Rubio also hinted at possible cooperation involving Venezuelan crude oil.

“We also think there are opportunities with Venezuelan oil. In fact, it’s my understanding that the interim president of Venezuela will be travelling to India next week as well,” Rubio said.

ENERGY SECURITY ON AGENDA

Rubio called India a “great partner” and said the visit comes at an important moment for bilateral ties.

“They are a great ally, a great partner. We do a lot of good work with them. And so it is an important trip,” Rubio said.

Rubio will visit Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi during his May 23-26 trip. According to the US State Department, the visit will focus on energy, defence, trade and security cooperation.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said Rubio would discuss “energy security, trade, and defense cooperation” during meetings with senior Indian officials.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ahead-of-india-visit-rubio-says-us-wants-larger-role-in-delhis-energy-basket-hints-at-venezuelan-oil-option-2915200-2026-05-21

Baljit Singh, a resident of Pathankot, had installed a CCTV camera at a shop near a bridge on the Pathankot-Jammu stretch of the National Highway-44.

The police in Punjab’s Pathankot have blown the lid off a suspected espionage network and arrested a man for sharing sensitive information on Indian Army and paramilitary movements with handlers in Pakistan.

Baljit Singh, alias Bittu, a resident of Chakk Dhariwal village, had installed a CCTV camera at a shop near a bridge on the Pathankot-Jammu stretch of the National Highway-44 to allegedly keep an eye on the movement of the army and paramilitary forces, the police said.

The surveillance feed was transmitted electronically to operatives based in Pakistan and abroad, senior police officer Daljinder Singh Dhillon said.

During questioning, Singh confessed that he had installed an internet-based CCTV camera at a shop on the highway near Sujanpur in January.

He was also getting directions from an unknown person in Dubai. He was given Rs 40,000.

A CCTV camera, along with an internet WiFi router, was recovered from his possession.

The police action came after they received intelligence about suspicious activity along the Pathankot-Jammu stretch of the highway. The Sujanpur police then filed a case against four persons.

Besides Singh, the case was filed against Vikramjit Singh alias Vikka, Balwinder Singh alias Vicky, and Taranpreet Singh alias Tannu. Police said the accused were engaged in criminal and anti-national activities.

Officials said a detailed report has been sent to senior authorities. Further investigation is underway to map the cross-border linkages of the network and trace the source of funding behind the alleged espionage.

Raids are underway to arrest the remaining accused.

Spy Modules In Punjab

The Punjab Police had last month busted two espionage modules backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which were using high-tech, China-made solar-powered CCTV cameras to transmit live feeds of sensitive military locations to Pakistan-based handlers.

A module was busted by the Counter Intelligence Wing in Jalandhar with the arrest of an operative and recovery of a China-made CCTV camera along with a USB-connected solar plate with 4G connectivity from his possession.

The other module was dismantled by the Kapurthala Police in a joint operation with a central agency, resulting in the arrest of two individuals and the recovery of four mobile phones linked to foreign handlers, and also one SIM-based CCTV camera and one WiFi set.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said these modules were strategically installing SIM-based and solar-powered CCTV cameras at various locations to monitor sensitive sites, including establishments linked to defence forces, and transmitting live footage to Pakistan-based handlers through mobile applications.

“These Chinese cameras are ideal for off-grid surveillance as they operate via 4G connectivity and solar power, bypassing the need for traditional wiring,” he said.

The arrested accused in the counter-intelligence operation was identified as Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha, a resident of village Sahanke in Ferozepur.

In the second operation conducted by Kapurthala Police, the arrested individuals were identified as Sona, a resident of Dona Mattar in Ferozepur and Sandeep Singh alias Sonu, a resident of village Chhanga Khurd in Ferozepur.

Assistant Inspector General of Police, Counter Intelligence, Jalandhar, Simratpal Singh Dhindsa, sharing details of the Jalandhar operation, said that following the arrest of Sukhwinder Singh, police recovered one CCTV camera along with a solar plate and a SIM card.

Providing details on the Kapurthala module, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kapurthala Gaurav Toora said based on secret information regarding surveillance near the Army Cantt, a shop was raided in Model Town, Kapurthala.

The arrested accused had rented the shop to install a SIM-based camera on a nearby pole to monitor military movements, he said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/baljit-singh-punjab-pathankot-man-installs-cctv-on-highway-sends-footage-of-forces-movement-to-pakistan-11530972?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Meta 8,000 Job Cuts: According to an internal memo, Meta’s Head of People said the company wants flatter teams and smaller AI-focused groups.

For months, employees at Meta were reportedly being pushed deeper into AI. Teams were being reshuffled. Managers were talking about speed, leaner structures, and smaller AI-first groups. Inside the company, the message seemed clear: adapt to the AI era or risk being left behind.

Then came the layoffs.

Now, a viral post on X is adding a deeply personal layer to that conversation.

The post, shared by a user named Julian, claims employees at Meta were first encouraged to build internal AI tools before job cuts began rolling out across teams. The post has already crossed nearly a million views and is now being widely discussed across social media, especially as Meta pushes aggressively into artificial intelligence.

While the claims in the post has not been independently verified, the timing has caught attention.

Meta recently began laying off employees across several regions, including Singapore, Europe, and the US. Thousands of workers reportedly started receiving termination emails on May 20, with some employees getting notices as early as 4 amlocal time.

According to Julian, Meta had organised a company-wide “AI week” a few months ago. During that period, regular work was allegedly paused and employees were asked to familiarise themselves with AI tools and workflows.

By the end of the exercise, workers were reportedly expected to create early versions of internal AI products that could later be developed further inside the company.

“Projects that were approved were chosen to continue further development with AI and engineers,” the post said.

But it was the next part of the story that struck a nerve online.

Julian claimed his wife spent months refining one such AI product alongside senior leadership and engineers — even while quietly fearing that the very tool she was helping build could eventually replace her own role.

“Fast forward to today: She’s canned,” the post added.

The fear of job loss due to AI among white-collar workers is no longer limited to factory floors or repetitive jobs. It is slowly creeping into offices, tech campuses, meeting rooms, and engineering teams. The people building AI are beginning to wonder whether they are also training their replacements.

Across social media, users reacted with a mix of anger, anxiety, and resignation. Some called the story dystopian. Others said it felt inevitable.

There is no public evidence confirming that sequence of events at Meta. But the conversation around them reflects a growing unease across the tech industry.

According to an internal memo reviewed by Bloomberg, Meta’s Head of People, Janelle Gale, said the company wants flatter teams and smaller AI-focused groups that can “move faster and with more ownership.”

Reports suggest nearly 7,000 employees have already been reassigned to AI-focused teams and AI agent projects as Meta sharpens its focus on artificial intelligence.

For Mark Zuckerberg, AI appears to be the company’s defining priority now. Reports indicate Meta could pour more than $100 billion into AI infrastructure and related technologies this year as competition intensifies with Google and OpenAI.

At the same time, the company is trying to steady nerves internally.

In a note sent to employees, Zuckerberg reportedly said he does not expect more “company-wide” layoffs this year, though he left room for targeted cuts in specific divisions. He also said Meta employees are increasingly working in smaller AI-native “pods” with reduced layers of management and bureaucracy.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/business-news/meta-layoff-employee-ai-training-job-cut-tech-workers-viral-post-mark-zuckerberg-silicon-valley-11530840?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

He also targeted the Union government over its handling of the economy amid the West Asia war, warning that an “economic storm is coming our way”.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a sharp broadside on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the RSS, terming them “traitors” who are destroying all constitutional institutions and have sold the country to select industrialists.

He also targeted the Union government over its handling of the economy amid the West Asia war, warning that an “economic storm is coming our way”.

Addressing an event in his Raebareli constituency, Rahul accused the PM of “attacking the Constitution 24 hours a day”.

“Those who disregard the Constitution are called traitors…..I have no hesitation in saying this,” he said.

“When RSS workers come to your homes and talk about Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, you must tell them that their organisation, Modi and Shah are traitors. They have worked towards selling our country and attacked our Constitution, Ambedkarji and Mahatma Gandhi,” he said after unveiling a statue of Veera Pasi, a Dalit icon.

Rahul asserted that he would never apologise for his remarks on the RSS under any circumstances.

The senior Congress leader said while the country has been facing several economic problems, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is handing out candy in Italy. Rahul’s attack — during the second day of a visit to his home constituency — came after Italian PM Giorgia Meloni posted a video of Modi gifting her a packet of Melody toffees.

“The youth is in depression…exams are cancelled…there is no gas…fuel prices are increasing…and Indian PM is offering toffee to Meloni…reels are being made,” Rahul told reporters.

Referring to the crisis in the fuel sector due to the West Asia war, Rahul alleged that some industrialists are still exporting fuel. “It must be stopped….the people of the country need fuel now,” he added.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/modi-shah-rss-traitors-economic-storm-coming-rahul-4010502

Parvathaneni’s remarks came after Pakistan’s representative raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at the debate.

India on Wednesday called out Pakistan’s “long-tainted” history of genocidal acts at the UN Security Council.

India told UNSC that the country’s inhuman conduct reflects its attempts over decades to externalise internal failures through acts of violence within and beyond its border.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni was speaking at the Annual UNSC Open Debate on ‘Protection of civilians in armed conflict’ when he said, “It is ironic that Pakistan, with its long-tainted record of genocidal acts, has chosen to refer to issues that are strictly internal to India.”

Parvathaneni’s remarks came after Pakistan’s representative raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at the debate.

He also raised the issue of Pakistan’s strikes on Afghanistan earlier this year and said, “The world has not forgotten that it was during the holy month of Ramadan in March this year, at a time of peace, reflection, and mercy, that Pakistan conducted a barbaric airstrike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul.”

He said that according to UNAMA( United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan ), “this cowardly and unconscionable act of violence claimed the lives of 269 civilians and injured a further 122 in a facility which can by no means be justified as a military target.”

Parvathaneni added that it is “hypocritical” of Pakistan to espouse high principles of international law while “targeting innocent civilians in the dark.” The air strikes by Pakistan occurred at the conclusion of tarawih evening prayers, when numerous patients were leaving the masjid, as per UNAMA.

Over 94,000 people were assessed as displaced due to cross-border armed violence perpetrated against Afghan civilians, according to UNAMA.

He said that such heinous acts of aggression by Pakistan should not come as a surprise from a country that “bombs its own people and conducts systematic genocide.” Parvathaneni said that Pakistan sanctioned the systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape of 400,000 women citizens by its own army during Operation Searchlight in 1971.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/bombs-its-own-people-india-calls-out-pakistans-long-tainted-record-of-genocidal-acts-at-unsc-4010723

A dramatic incident linked to a loan dispute was caught on camera in Karnataka’s Mysuru, where a man was allegedly dragged for nearly 500 metres while clinging to the bonnet of a moving car.

A man was allegedly dragged for nearly 500 metres on the bonnet of a moving car in Mysuru following a dispute with his debtor over repayment of money, in an incident that was caught on camera.

Visuals from the scene showed a man clinging to the bonnet of a red Maruti Suzuki Baleno as the vehicle sped through the busy corridor from the Sub-Registrar’s office near Andolana Circle to the Kuvempunagar Police Station road.

According to preliminary information, Mahadev, who had allegedly lent money to a man identified as Dhananjay, approached him seeking repayment when a heated argument broke out between the two.

As the altercation escalated, Dhananjay allegedly attempted to flee the spot in his car. In an apparent attempt to stop him, Mahadev reportedly jumped onto the bonnet and held on tightly. However, instead of stopping the vehicle, the driver allegedly continued driving at speed with Mahadev hanging precariously from the front of the car.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/karnataka/story/mysuru-loan-dispute-viral-video-man-dragged-500-metres-on-car-bonnet-2914716-2026-05-21

The party targeted PM Modi over the gesture, suggesting he appeared more focused on optics and public relations abroad while people back home were struggling with soaring prices of essential commodities and fuel.

A day after a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifting a packet of the popular Indian candy Melody to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his visit to Rome went viral, the Congress on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Prime Minister, accusing him of being insensitive to the hardships faced by people in India amid rising inflation and the ongoing oil and gas crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict.

The chief Opposition party targeted PM Modi over the gesture, saying the Prime Minister appeared more focused on optics and public relations abroad while people back home were struggling with soaring prices of essential commodities and fuel.

Sharing a video on its X handle, the Congress mocked the Prime Minister with the slogan “M for Melody”, saying the “M” did not stand for “Mehngai” (inflation), despite the growing burden on ordinary citizens.

“The people of the country are spending their lives in poverty. Modi is distributing ‘Melody’ in Italy,” the Congress captioned the post.

The remarks came against the backdrop of concerns over global energy supplies following tensions in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route through which nearly 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply passes.

In the video, the party alleged that the country was facing a severe economic crisis while the Prime Minister was busy handing out candies overseas. It accused him of ignoring pressing domestic concerns such as inflation, unemployment and rising living costs.

“The nation is grappling with a severe economic crisis. What is the Prime Minister doing? He has become Santa Claus and is handing out toffees in Italy,” the video said.

The Congress also referred to PM Modi’s earlier foreign visits, claiming he “hid behind the teleprompter in Sweden” and “sneaked away after a Norwegian reporter posed a question to him”, before reaching Italy “to hand out toffees”.

The video further said, “He cannot say M for Mehngai (inflation), but M for Melody”.

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देश के लोग गुरबत में जिंदगी काट रहे हैं
मोदी इटली में ‘मेलोडी’ बांट रहे हैं pic.twitter.com/UYJdMMNxKM

— Congress (@INCIndia) May 20, 2026

Listing issues allegedly affecting the public, the Congress said prices of fuel, gas cylinders, milk, bread and medicines had become unbearable for common people.

It claimed farmers, young people, women, labourers and small traders were all under financial stress while the Prime Minister continued with “photo shoots” and “reels”.

“And the PM is making reels sporting a smile, doling out toffees and the BJP supporters are clapping for him,” the video added. “This is not leadership, but drama”.

The BJP had not immediately responded to the Congress attack till the filing of this report.

RAHUL GANDHI SHARPENS ATTACK ON PM

On Wednesday, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi intensified his attack on PM Modi over the latter’s viral “Melodi” moment with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, accusing him of indulging in “theatrics” while the country faces economic distress.

The criticism followed PM Modi gifting Meloni a packet of Melody toffees, referencing the viral “Melodi” nickname popular on social media.

Addressing an event in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi, Rahul Gandhi said an “economic storm” was looming over India while the Prime Minister was “busy distributing toffees in Italy”.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/modi-meloni-melody-toffee-row-congress-attacks-pm-over-rome-gesture-2914715-2026-05-21

 

A PIL in the Supreme Court has sought President’s Rule in Tamil Nadu over alleged horse-trading during the May 13 trust vote. The plea also seeks a court-monitored CBI investigation, saying the floor test was vitiated by corruption.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Supreme Court has sought the imposition of President’s Rule in Tamil Nadu over allegations of large-scale horse-trading during the May 13 trust vote won by the government led by C. Joseph Vijay and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The plea has also demanded a court-monitored investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into alleged corruption linked to the floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

The petition was filed by Madurai resident KK Ramesh, who accused the Vijay-led government of securing power through unethical political practices that allegedly undermined democratic principles. According to the plea, TVK failed to secure a clear majority in the Assembly elections and later obtained support through financial inducements and political pressure to win the confidence motion.

“In the Tamil Nadu Assembly, some MLAs from other parties were allegedly involved in horse-trading, and huge sums of money were handed over to certain legislators by TVK. Some MLAs allegedly violated their party whip directions in exchange for monetary and other benefits,” the petition said.

TVK had emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections with 108 seats. The party later received unconditional support from Left parties, including CPI and CPI(M), along with VCK and several independent MLAs, helping it cross the majority mark and form the government. Vijay was subsequently sworn in as Chief Minister.

However, the petitioner questioned the manner in which the ruling party secured the backing of legislators. The plea alleged that the trust vote process was “vitiated by corruption” and sought a CBI probe into the alleged buying and selling of MLAs. It also impleaded the Centre, the CBI, and the Tamil Nadu government as parties in the matter.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/supreme-court-plea-seeks-cbi-probe-into-tvk-trust-vote-win-presidents-rule-in-tamil-nadu-2914706-2026-05-21

Bhopal Police have raised the reward on absconding accused Samarth Singh as raids continue in the Twisha Sharma death case.

Bhopal Police have increased the reward amount on absconding accused Samarth Singh from Rs 10000 to Rs 30000 as efforts continue to trace him in connection with the death of Noida woman Twisha Sharma.

Multiple police teams are conducting raids to arrest Samarth, who has remained missing for eight days since Twisha’s death. Acknowledging the delay in the arrest, Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said that while some major criminals are caught quickly, lesser offenders can sometimes evade arrest for longer periods. He expressed confidence that Samarth would soon be taken into custody.

Meanwhile, a Bhopal court has dismissed a plea seeking a second postmortem examination and forensic analysis at AIIMS Delhi in the Twisha Sharma death case. The application, filed on May 19, sought a fresh autopsy after family members raised suspicions over the circumstances surrounding her death.

While rejecting the plea, the court also raised concerns regarding the preservation of Twisha’s body, which has remained in the mortuary of AIIMS Bhopal since May 13.

The Police Commissioner on Wednesday confirmed that Twisha Sharma’s death was a case of suicide, stating that the postmortem report clearly identified the cause of death as hanging. However, he added that the investigation would continue to determine the circumstances that pushed her to take the extreme step.

Twisha was found hanging from an exercise rod installed on the terrace of her matrimonial home in Bhopal on May 12. The incident sparked controversy after her family accused her husband and in-laws of prolonged mental and physical abuse, along with dowry harassment.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/madhya-pradesh/story/twisha-sharma-case-reward-raised-on-absconding-samarth-singh-2914705-2026-05-21

More than 68 transport unions under the banner of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and the United Front of All Transport Associations (UFTA) are expected to participate in the “chakka jam” protest.

Commercial vehicle unions across Delhi and its surrounding cities have announced a three-day strike from May 21 to May 23. The move will bring cabs, auto-rickshaws and several transport services to a halt across the national capital region (NCR).

More than 68 transport unions under the banner of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and the United Front of All Transport Associations (UFTA) are expected to participate in the “chakka jam” protest.

The unions say rising fuel prices, stagnant fares and increasing operational expenses have pushed drivers into severe financial distress.

‘We Have No Rights’

Speaking to NDTV, Chaalak Shakti Union vice-president Anuj Kumar Rathore said, “Taxi fares have not been increased for the last 15 years, while CNG prices have continuously risen. Despite repeated discussions, the government has not listened to us.”

Several drivers participating in the protest expressed frustration over their living conditions.

“In this inflation, it has become impossible to run a household. We do not want anyone’s child to become a driver in the future,” driver Suraj said.

Another taxi driver, Ashish, said, “We drive for 24 hours a day. Don’t we have any rights? We should at least be given the right to live.”

Drivers also pointed to mounting annual expenses such as vehicle fitness certificates, insurance and permits, saying their incomes are no longer enough to sustain their families. “What should we do? Should we kill ourselves? Who is going to listen to us?” Suraj asked.

The unions, however, maintained that the protest would remain peaceful. “We will carry out the protest completely peacefully,” said taxi driver Ashish.

4 Lakh Taxi Owners To Support The Strike

The association expects that around 4 lakh registered taxi owners will support the strike and refrain from taking rides during these days.

On Monday, the All India Motor Transport Congress wrote to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, listing its demands.

Among the key demands are an increase in taxi fares, rollback of the Enhanced Congestion Charges (ECC), and reconsideration of restrictions on commercial vehicles. The unions argue that while fuel prices have risen sharply over the years, taxi fares in Delhi-NCR have remained unchanged for nearly 15 years.

The unions have warned that if the Delhi government does not issue a notification increasing taxi fares within the next two weeks, the agitation will be intensified.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/taxi-auto-unions-announce-3-day-strike-in-delhi-ncr-starting-today-11525055?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

“I have not studied India. India is not a field I cover either. But I’ve read a lot about it in the newspapers,” Helle Lyng said.

Having shot into the spotlight for asking why Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not take questions at a press briefing and then about why India should be trusted, Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng appeared to have difficulties when faced with some questions herself on Wednesday.

NDTV’s Gaurie Dwivedi posed a series of queries to the young journalist in an exclusive conversation, ranging from press freedom in Norway to how much she knew about India. Lyng was also pressed on the cartoon depicting PM Modi as a snake charmer, but refused to condemn it.

Asked about her post on X stating that she wasn’t expecting PM Modi to answer her question and whether her motive was actually theatrics, Lyng, who is a commentator for the Norwegian newspaper Dagsavisen, said she was doing her job.

“My job as a reporter or a journalist, and now a commentator, is to question the premise of these foreign visits or state visits to Norway. So, for me, it was very important to try to get a question in and give Prime Minister Modi the opportunity to take questions,” she said.

When Lyng was asked whether she was aware that PM Modi was giving a joint statement alongside his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store and why she had not raised the issue earlier with the foreign ministry in Norway if she had a problem with the format, she admitted that she had not.

The journalist argued that because she did not know when she would get access to PM Modi again, she decided to ask a question as they were in the same room.

Emphasising that she was shocked by the amount of attention her questions were receiving in India, Lyng noted that Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had also commented on her post.

“I have asked Gandhi for an interview and, if I get a chance, I will also ask him some of the concerns I have about press freedom in India, how he would change that, and if he would prioritise it,” she said.

Ranking Disparity

Lyng had been touting the fact that Norway was ranked number 1 in the press freedom rankings. When she was asked whether she was aware that Qatar, an illiberal monarchy, and Jordan were ahead of India in the index, the journalist said she was open to looking into whether some countries were higher than they should be.

Lyng was then questioned about the Norwegian royal couple going to China in 2018, when they had feigned ignorance about the Uighur internment camps. Her response was that she was not a journalist at the time.

“I’ve never covered Xi Jinping. If he comes to Norway, I will also try to question him. Make no mistake, I’m very critical of the human rights situation in China,” she said.

PM Modi Cartoon

Asked about the stereotyping of Indians in a cartoon by the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten and whether this is what press freedom was about for her, Lyng said she hadn’t read the accompanying article.

Pressed on whether she did not think this was racism or stereotyping, the journalist did not give a clear answer.

“Racism and stereotyping, especially racism, is not press freedom. I have just seen this, I haven’t noticed how far of a reach this had, but I’m sure it has had a far reach because you are bringing this up. But that’s something that the newspaper that published this would have to really evaluate. But for me, I can’t comment on it before I know because I don’t want to comment on something I’m not educated about yet. So that’s just how I feel about it,” she said.

“But I will say that I deeply feel that anyone feeling like a newspaper in Norway is being racist or having a cartoon that’s stereotyping Indians, that’s something that we have to discuss and see whether it was satire or political satire… We would have to evaluate whether they did not understand that this was hurtful,” she added.

It was also pointed out to Lyng that Dagsavisen, the newspaper she works for, was a mouthpiece of the Norwegian Labour Party until the 1990s.

“I think it’s kind of offensive that you call it a mouthpiece… Some of the greatest thinkers of Norway have worked for this publication, and they were able to do a lot… Things were different back then,” she said.

India Knowledge  

To a question on how much she knew about India and whether she had read any books on Indian democracy, Lyng began talking about Indian food and yoga.

“I think my impression of India is that it’s a great country. And the people of India have been so supportive… I love Indian food and I love yoga as well, which was a part of the press conference on Monday. And so I have a very good impression of India as a country and the Indian people, but I do question press freedom and human rights violations. And that’s also a part of it,” she said.

To a follow-up question on whether she had actually been to India, Lyng explained she was going to do so in 2020, but could not because of the pandemic.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-india-helle-lyng-norway-was-question-for-pm-modi-designed-to-go-viral-norway-journalist-exclusive-11524746?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Saifullah alias Sajid Jatt alias ‘Langda’, a terrorist of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its proxy The Resistance Front (TRF), operated from Pakistan’s Lahore and gave instructions to the terrorists in Pahalgam, the NIA chargesheet said

The terror attack that killed 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam in April 2025 was entirely controlled from Pakistan, according to the chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the country’s top terror-fighting body.

The entire conspiracy to carry out the terror attack at the popular tourist place in the picturesque Union Territory was also planned in Pakistan, the chargesheet said. Pakistani terrorists then floated a fake narrative of a “false flag operation” by India to mislead the world, sources said.

All these findings have been corroborated with solid evidence, the chargesheet said.

Saifullah alias Sajid Jatt alias ‘Langda’, a terrorist of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its proxy The Resistance Front (TRF), operated from Pakistan’s Lahore and gave instructions to the terrorists in Pahalgam.

Saifullah is now among India’s most wanted terrorists, the NIA said. Hiding deep inside Pakistan, he has not stopped planning terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, sources said.

The NIA has also exposed Pakistan’s “false flag” narrative over the Pahalgam terror attack. Immediately after the killings of the tourists, the TRF claimed responsibility on a Telegram channel called ‘Kashmir Fight’.

As international criticism rose and the UN Security Council condemned the attack, the TRF began to backtrack and it subsequently claimed the Telegram channel had been hacked, and that the TRF had no involvement in the attack.

The NIA’s technical investigation found the ‘Kashmir Fight’ Telegram channel originated from Battagram area in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A second Telegram channel named ‘TheResistanceFront_OfFcial’ operated from Rawalpindi, the NIA found.

LeT and its proxy orchestrated the “false flag” narrative to mislead the world and create an impression that someone else carried out the attack.

At least two mobile phones recovered from the terrorists killed during ‘Operation Mahadev’ turned out to have been bought somewhere in Pakistan, the NIA said. One of the phones was bought online and was sent to an address in Lahore’s Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate; the other was bought from Karachi’s Shahra locality.

On April 15 and 16, Saifullah, based in Pakistan, sent three terrorists – Faisal Jatt alias Suleiman, Habib Tahir alias Chhotu, and Hamza Afghani – to recce Baisaran valley and its surrounding areas, the NIA chargesheet said. They looked at security arrangements and tourist movement.

Then, on the day of the terror attack, Saifullah remained in constant contact from Lahore with the terrorists and sent them real-time information including coordinates and other location data, the NIA chargesheet said.

Saifullah’s direct instructions from Pakistan included the terrorists’ movements, their hideouts and escape routes, the NIA said. Two local residents identified as Parvez and Bashir Ahmed had helped the Pakistani terrorists in carrying out the attack, the NIA said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/how-lashkar-terrorist-directed-pahalgam-terror-attack-from-pakistan-nia-chargesheet-gives-details-11525018?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Decades after it built a reputation for academic success Latur is in the national spotlight for the rot that has set into its powerful coaching ecosystem.

Before Kota, there was Latur. The mid-sized Marathwada town, twice ravaged by earthquakes, rebuilt its equity as one of Maharashtra’s biggest coaching centres with “The Latur pattern” that attracted thousands of students across the state. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Maharashtra state board had a merit list which was invariably stacked with students from Latur division.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/maharashtras-latur-epicentre-of-neet-leak-confronts-unwelcome-scrutiny-101779325098452.html

The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the Council of Ministers at Bharat Mandapam during which he will review the government’s performance, schemes, infrastructure projects.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting of the entire Council of Ministers at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi at 5 pm on May 21. The meeting is being seen as a key midterm review of the government’s performance.

The meeting will be attended by Union Cabinet ministers, ministers of state with independent charge, and ministers of state.

The meeting will be the first gathering of the Council of Ministers this year and comes amid growing speculation over a possible Cabinet reshuffle.

All the Union ministers have been asked to remain in the national capital today as the government continues to indulge in heightened political and economic discussion, according to India Today.

The government review will focus on the implementation and progress of important government schemes and infrastructure projects, with emphasis on coordination, execution and delivery across ministries.

The meeting is expected to focus on the government’s push for reforms across sectors aimed at improving the lives of ordinary citizens.

Earlier, the Prime Minister had laid out the government’s reform agenda for the coming decade, saying the Centre’s “Reform Express” had driven systemic changes and delivered tangible benefits to the common people.

The government is also likely to assess the status of ongoing policy initiatives and flagship welfare programmes. The meeting comes days before the third Modi government’s second anniversary on June 10.

The Prime Minister generally chairs meetings of the full Council of Ministers to review governance priorities, establish targets for the ministries and sketch the government’s political and administrative roadmap for the coming months.

Will West Asia Conflict Dominate Meeting?

The ongoing conflict in West Asia and its economic impact on India are likely to be a major point of discussion in the meeting.

The government has been monitoring fuel supply disruptions, inflation and increasing oil prices amid the US-Iran war.

A high-powered informal group of ministers, headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has already been constituted by the government to monitor the crisis and suggest measures to protect India from disruptions, according to India Today.

Union ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman and Hardeep Singh Puri are also part of the council. Recently, Rajnath Singh said that the government has been maintaining “round-the-clock monitoring” of the situation.

“Whether it is crude oil, energy, or LPG even today, we have enough stocks. There is no particular problem,” he added.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-to-chair-high-stakes-council-of-ministers-meet-at-bharat-mandapam-today-ws-l-10102879.html

India and the US are intensifying cooperation in the nuclear energy sector, with New Delhi focusing on expanding nuclear power generation and building a manufacturing ecosystem.

India’s push to deepen civil nuclear cooperation with the United States has gathered fresh momentum, with two broad objectives emerging at the centre of ongoing discussions – rapidly scaling up nuclear power generation to meet India’s growing base-load energy needs, and building a manufacturing ecosystem around small modular reactors (SMRs).

The developments come amid a high-level visit by an American nuclear industry delegation to India and a series of meetings with Union ministers, state governments and private sector companies.

According to multiple official statements and reports, India is positioning nuclear energy as a critical pillar of its long-term industrial and energy strategy, especially as electricity demand rises sharply because of expansion in sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, logistics and advanced manufacturing.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said nuclear power would be essential for “carbon-free and industrial-scale baseload power supply” and stressed that renewable energy sources alone would not be enough to sustain round-the-clock industrial growth.

He noted that Maharashtra already hosts nearly 60 per cent of India’s data centre capacity and receives more than 40 per cent of the country’s foreign investment.

“Maharashtra will lead the next phase of nuclear energy expansion in India,” Fadnavis said, adding that the state had already signed agreements for projects with a capacity of 25,000 MW in the sector.

He also said the state government was ready to support American firms with industrial land, infrastructure, skill development, research collaboration and incentives if they invested in nuclear projects in Maharashtra.

The Indian Express, citing officials and executives involved in the discussions, reported that India conveyed two clear priorities to the visiting American delegation after recent changes to the country’s nuclear laws: increasing nuclear power generation to expand a reliable base-load electricity supply, and progressively entering the SMR manufacturing value chain.

The report said India remains committed to its domestic pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) programme while selectively exploring foreign collaboration, particularly in the SMR segment.

The report further noted that while India has mastered PHWR technology, concerns remain over the high costs associated with imported light water reactors (LWRs), which dominate globally.

As a result, there is growing policy emphasis on strengthening indigenous nuclear manufacturing capabilities while seeking foreign capital and expertise in emerging reactor technologies.

SMALL MODULAR REACTORS EMERGE AS KEY FOCUS AREA

A major component of the India-US nuclear discussions is centred around SMRs, which are increasingly viewed globally as a more commercially viable and flexible nuclear energy solution.

Fadnavis said Maharashtra was eager to become an “early hub” for SMR technology and described the state as an ideal testing ground for next-generation nuclear energy systems.

“SMR technology is compatible with the future needs of the industrial economy,” he said.

The Indian Express report said India is actively seeking foreign funding and expertise in the SMR space, with sovereign wealth funds from West Asia also showing preliminary interest in financing India’s nuclear expansion plans.

The report added that SMRs are increasingly seen as essential for ensuring nuclear power remains commercially competitive in the future.

The discussions are taking place after Parliament passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025, which opened India’s tightly-controlled nuclear sector to greater private participation.

The legislation allows private players to enter operations, fuel management and other segments that were previously dominated by the public sector.

HIGH-LEVEL US NUCLEAR DELEGATION IN INDIA

The ongoing engagement has been driven by the “US Nuclear Executive Mission to India”, organised by the Washington DC-based Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).

The delegation includes NEI President and CEO Maria Korsnick, executives from Centrus Energy, Clean Core Thorium Energy, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, Holtec International and other American nuclear companies.

Meetings have already taken place with Union ministers, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, apart from interactions with state governments and Indian private sector companies.

The delegation is also scheduled to meet major Indian industrial groups, including Reliance Industries, Adani Group, Tata Power, JSW Energy, Vedanta, Larsen & Toubro and Hindalco Industries.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor amplified the growing momentum around the partnership by reposting Maharashtra government updates on social media and writing, “Big things ahead in India-US collaboration on Nuclear energy!”

TECHNOLOGY AND STRATEGIC COOPERATION

Separately, Sergio Gor also met Union Minister Jitendra Singh to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation across biotechnology, quantum technology, space, atomic energy and nuclear medicine.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh informed the US side that India had opened nuclear research to the private sector for the first time, enabling investment and international collaboration in advanced healthcare and scientific research.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/india-us-nuclear-energy-collaboration-smr-objectives-maharashtra-devendra-fadnavis-us-nuclear-delegation-shanti-act-2025-sergio-gor-india-energy-security-ws-l-10102822.html

Viral video shows dangerously overcrowded Mumbai local train, with commuters hanging from doors, sparking outrage and renewed calls for safer public transport

Another day, another viral clip exposing the harsh reality of Mumbai’s daily commute, and this one has deeply resonated with social media users across the country.

A viral video circulating online shows men and women struggling to board an extremely overcrowded Mumbai local train during rush hours. In the clip, passengers can be seen hanging dangerously near the entrance while others push from behind just to squeeze into the compartment. The chaotic scene has once again sparked conversations around public transport safety in India’s financial capital.

What especially struck viewers was the visible desperation on commuters’ faces. Many users pointed out that for thousands of working professionals, students, and daily wage earners, this exhausting routine is not occasional; it is everyday life.

The video, widely shared across X and Instagram, has triggered strong emotional reactions online, with several people calling the situation “heartbreaking” and “unsafe beyond limits”.

One user wrote, “This isn’t public transport anymore; it’s survival.”

Another commented, “People leave home every day not knowing whether they’ll travel safely or not.”

A third user said, “Mumbai runs because these people show up to work despite conditions like this.”

Many users also highlighted the risks women face during overcrowded commutes, especially during peak office hours.

One comment read, ‘Women and men both deserve safer ways to travel.’ Nobody should risk their life just to earn a living.”

Another person wrote, “One sudden jerk or slip is enough to cause a tragedy.”

Some users defended the spirit of Mumbai locals, calling them the “lifeline of the city”, while others argued that overcrowding has become dangerously normalised over the years.

A Reddit user commented, “People praise Mumbai’s hustle culture, but clips like these show the human cost behind it.”

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/viral-mumbai-rush-in-local-train-shocks-social-media-internet-says-one-slip-and-its-over-watch-ws-l-10102311.html

 

The provision allowing euthanasia of aggressive or dangerous dogs could become a tool for mass culling, activist argued.

In a far-reaching judgment aimed at curbing rising stray dog attacks across the country, the Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed authorities to euthanise rabid, incurably ill, or dangerous and aggressive dogs to protect human life and safety.

The ruling triggered sharp reactions among animal welfare activists and civic voices in the city, many of whom raised concerns about possible misuse of the directive and the lack of safeguards on the ground.

City-based animal activist Sukanya Sinha said the provision allowing euthanasia of aggressive or dangerous dogs could become a tool for mass culling.

“I am deeply distressed and fear that this order will be extensively misused on the ground,” Sukanya said. “It feels overwhelming because this is not going to solve the problem. In fact, there is a beautiful sense of coexistence in many institutional areas, like the college campus I am currently in.”

Echoing similar concerns, Chaithra, a volunteer with a city-based animal rescue group, questioned whether civic personnel were equipped to assess animal behaviour.

“Municipal catchers are not behavioural experts. Any dog that barks out of fear or defends its litter will now be labelled as dangerous and put down just to clear the streets. This completely undermines the spirit of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,” she said.

Sahana Charan, another animal activist who volunteers with the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to feed stray dogs, said the chances of misuse were high.

“I just hope the authorities use caution in using their judgment. When the authorities haven’t been able to find a proper shelter for the animals, what is the guarantee that they will be able to protect them?” she said.

‘Decades of neglect’

Srikanth Narasimhan, founder of the Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party (BNP), criticised the Apex Court’s approach, calling it a reactive measure that overlooks decades of municipal neglect.

“I do not agree with the Supreme Court order at all,” Narasimhan said. “Problems like these are because of the gross inaction and systemic failure, which has been thrust upon us by the municipal bodies over decades, and it cannot be undone overnight. Hence, the ruling is fundamentally flawed.”

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/activists-concerned-over-sc-ruling-on-euthanising-dangerous-stray-dogs-4009265#google_vignette4

 

Delving into predatory pricing, Ratnam alleged that large corporate entities are disturbing “market balance through deep discounting”.

Nearly 43,000 medical shops in Andhra Pradesh will shut shop for a day on May 20, protesting alleged unregulated functioning of online pharmacies, predatory pricing and the delay in withdrawal of certain notifications.

PV Ratnam, president, Andhra Pradesh Chemists and Druggists Association (APCDA), an affiliate of the All India Organisations of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), which represents over 12.4 lakh chemists and medicines distributors, on Tuesday said protests and demonstrations will be staged tomorrow across the southern state.

“AIOCD has announced a one-day nationwide shutdown on May 20 against government inaction. In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the organisation has made it clear that despite repeated requests, no concrete action has been taken on the serious issues affecting the pharmaceutical trade,” Ratnam said in a release.

Alleging that e-pharmacies are a threat to public health, he said that they were exploiting “weak regulation” to sell medicines without physical verification, resulting in the repeated use of a single prescription.

Through AI-based fake prescription, he alleged that uncontrolled availability of antibiotics and addiction-forming drugs are giving rise to threats such as Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), compromising public health.

Delving into predatory pricing, Ratnam alleged that large corporate entities are disturbing “market balance through deep discounting”.

While margins on essential medicines are fixed by the government, he claimed that corporate entities are creating unfair competition. This is threatening the survival of small chemists in rural and semi-urban areas, he said, adding that “this will ultimately destroy the accessible medicine supply system.”

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/andhra-pradesh/over-40000-chemists-to-observe-one-day-shutdown-in-andhra-on-may-20-4009134

A Texas A&M professor explains why protein needs are highly individual, warns against excessive intake, and reveals why more protein does not always mean better health or muscle gain.

For years, protein has enjoyed the superstar status in the wellness world. From high-protein snack bars and shakes to influencers promoting “protein goals,” this one nutrient has become central to modern fitness culture. But according to Dr. Nicolaas Deutz, most people may already be getting enough protein – and the idea that everyone needs the same amount could be outdated.

As per the professor from Texas A&M University, protein requirements are far more personal than many people even realize. Factors like age, body size, muscle mass, physical activity and even long-term eating habits can influence how much protein a person truly needs. “Our research really showed that we should not see protein requirements as a stationary number that is OK for everybody,” Dr. Deutz explained. He further added, “We really have to start thinking that everybody has their own needs depending on the condition, depending on the body size, depending on how much muscle they have, depending on their activities through the day.”

Why Protein Needs Are Not ‘One Size Fits All’

Dr. Deutz, who works in the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, said that the conversation around protein has become oversimplified. According to him, it is not just about protein itself but also the amino acids that proteins contain. “If you think about it, protein requirements is actually not completely a correct term,” he said. “It should actually be amino acid requirements because the protein consists of amino acids.”

With this, he also pointed out that the traditional methods used to estimate protein requirements were less precise than the techniques researchers use today. This has opened the door to a more nuanced understanding of how the body processes protein.

One of the biggest takeaways from his research is that protein requirements can adapt based on what a person normally eats. For instance: Someone who regularly consumes a high-protein diet may react differently to reduced intake as compared to someone who eats moderate amounts of protein daily.

Are We Eating Too Much Protein?

Over the last decade, protein consumption has steadily increased worldwide. High-protein foods are heavily being marketed as healthier, better for weight loss and essential for muscle building. But Dr. Deutz believes there is a danger in overdoing it.
“Personally, I think we should not overdo it with eating so much protein,” he said. “There’s so much protein products in the stores. There is too much protein. Your body does not need it and get used to it.”

He also warned that protein rarely comes alone. Protein-rich foods often contain additional components like fats, calories or sodium, which can become problematic when consumed in excess. For instance, eating large amounts of meat may also increase saturated fat intake. “That is the biggest problem in nutrition when you overeat,” he explained. “Although there is a lot of push to eat more protein, I don’t think it is wise.”

So, How Much Protein Do You Really Need?

While current dietary guidelines often recommend around 0.8 grams of protein per kg of body weight daily for adults, Dr. Deutz believes the number should not be treated as universal. He says the body’s needs shift depending on lifestyle, exercise levels, metabolism and health conditions. Rather than obsessing over protein goals, people should focus on overall balance.
“As long as what you eat, you do not lose weight, you know at least that you eat enough,” he explained.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/health/top-us-professor-reveals-how-much-protein-your-body-actually-needs-article-154352007

Making any AIADMK faction part of the TVK government is against the people’s mandate, which has been against the DMK and the AIADMK, the Left party said.

Actor-politician Vijay’s government in Tamil Nadu is yet to be 10 days old, but its wafer-thin majority has sparked concern about its stability. The matter was brought under focus again today as one of its allies, the CPM, said it would “reconsider support” to the government if the AIADMK gains entry into the coalition.

Answering a question from the media today about AIADMK MLAs joining the coalition, the CPM said making any AIADMK faction part of the TVK government is against the people’s mandate, which has given a big thumbs down to the DMK and the AIADMK.

The AIADMK’s presence in the coalition will also be against the TVK promise of clean governance, it said.

“We are supporting the TVK as Tamil Nadu is not ready for another poll and we don’t want the BJP make a rear entry through Governor’s rule,” the CPM said.

Vijay’s TVK, while scoring an unprecedented victory that blew apart the decades-old binary politics of Tamil Nadu, did not have majority after the results were announced May 4. The TVK had swept 108 of 234 seats – 10 short of the majority mark.

After days of negotiations and political drama that could put a Bollywood thriller to shame, the TVK received support from the Congress, which won five seats, and eight more from the Left front, the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League or IUML.

The trust vote held on May 13 was the sequel that packed in the bigger punch – leaving a vertical rift within the AIADMK open to public scrutiny.

Vijay was backed by 144 lawmakers – 24 of them from the AIADMK, who were in favour of backing him since the beginning but got vetoed by party chief E Palaniswami. On the day of the trust vote, they ignored the party whip and voted for Vijay. It has led the party to take action, including invoking the anti-defection law.

But their support, given the CPM reaction, has not brought much joy in the ruling coalition, especially in view of Vijay’s meeting with the AIADMK rebels ahead of the trust vote.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/will-reconsider-support-if-aiadmk-joins-alliance-cpm-warning-for-vijay-11518528?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

According to the FIR registered by CBI, directors of a Kanpur-based company allegedly paid bribes to secure Army tenders. The central agency claims that a major tender was awarded to the firm earlier this year in return for bribes.

A Colonel-rank officer posted with the Army Ordnance Corps under the Eastern Command in Kolkata has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with an alleged Rs 50 lakh bribery case, officials said on Tuesday.

The officer, identified as Colonel Himanshu Bali, is accused of favouring a Kanpur-based company by allegedly manipulating the award of tenders, approving substandard samples, and facilitating clearance of pending and inflated bills.

According to the FIR registered by CBI, directors of the firm, Eastern Global Limited, allegedly paid bribes to secure Army tenders. The central agency claims that a major tender was awarded to the company earlier this year in return for bribes.

The investigation has allegedly revealed that Colonel Bali met the firm’s representatives in Kolkata’s Park Street area on April 22. Two days later, on April 24, the said tender was awarded to the company, per the agency.

On May 16, Colonel Bali allegedly demanded the remaining bribe amount of Rs 50 lakh, the CBI said. The money was to be routed through hawala channels, it alleged.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cbi-arrests-army-colonel-in-alleged-rs-50-lakh-bribery-case-2914207-2026-05-20

 

Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the building where Twisha Sharma was found unconscious after going to the terrace. The visuals and her final call have sharpened questions over the unexplained hour before she was brought downstairs.

The mysterious death of Twisha Sharma in Bhopal has taken a dramatic turn after investigators recovered crucial CCTV footage that now forms the centrepiece of the ongoing probe into her final moments.

The footage, accessed by investigators, allegedly shows Twisha walking up the staircase towards the terrace of the building in a calm and normal condition. Nearly an hour later, another clip shows her husband, Samarth Singh, along with two other men carrying her downstairs in a critical state.

The gap between those two moments — roughly 60 minutes — has now become the biggest focus of the investigation.

According to sources familiar with the probe, Twisha appeared completely normal while climbing the stairs. She was also seen carrying headphones in her hand. After reaching the terrace, she reportedly made a phone call to her mother.

Her mother later told investigators that Twisha spoke about alleged harassment at her marital home during the call. The conversation, according to the family, continued for some time before an unknown voice was allegedly heard in the background and the line suddenly disconnected.

Twisha’s mother suspects the voice may have been that of her husband, Samarth Singh, though police have not officially confirmed this claim.

Minutes later, Twisha’s mother called Giribala Singh, informing her that Twisha was not answering her phone. According to the account shared with investigators, Giribala and Samarth then rushed to the terrace, where Twisha was allegedly found hanging with a gymnastic-style elastic resistance belt.

Subsequent CCTV visuals reportedly show Samarth Singh, a relative living nearby, and a domestic worker bringing Twisha downstairs through the staircase. At one point, they also appear to attempt CPR on the staircase before eventually taking her to hospital.

Investigators are also examining another detail from the footage in which Twisha’s mother-in-law, Giribala Singh, is allegedly seen entering a room briefly before coming downstairs moments later.

The sequence of events has intensified suspicions surrounding the circumstances of Twisha’s death, with her family continuing to allege foul play and demanding an impartial investigation.

The central question investigators are now trying to answer is what exactly happened on the terrace during the one-hour window between Twisha going upstairs and being brought back down unconscious.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/twisha-sharma-death-case-cctv-footage-of-last-60-minutes-under-scrutiny-2914216-2026-05-20

A Norwegian newspaper sparked outrage after publishing a cartoon depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a snake charmer amid a row over a journalist trying to question him at a press briefing.

A Norwegian newspaper on Wednesday published a racist cartoon depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a snake charmer, triggering accusations reinforcing western stereotypes, amid a row over a journalist questioning the Prime Minister for allegedly avoiding queries India during his state visit to the European country.

The illustration on Aftenposten showed him holding what appeared to be a fuel-station pipe shaped like a snake, alongside an opinion article reportedly titled “A clever and slightly annoying man”.

The controversy intensified amid a row over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s press briefing in Norway, where Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng publicly questioned why he did not take media questions during a joint appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. PM Modi did not respond to the query, but the exchange later drew a sharp rebuttal from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, represented by diplomat Sibi George.

‘BLATANTLY RACIST’

The cartoon triggered massive outrage, with many on the internet calling it blatantly racist and rooted in old colonial stereotypes that portrayed India as a land of “snake charmers”. Many slammed the newspaper arguing that the imagery was xenophobic and disrespectful to India and its elected leader.

“This cartoon is blatantly racist,” a user wrote on X, adding, “What also stands out is the irony. PM Modi used to speak about how earlier the world thought of India as a ‘land of snake charmers’. And now, during his visit to Oslo, a major European newspaper depicts him exactly that way”.

Another user, who goes by the name Prady, wrote, “Europeans still can’t come out of their colonial fantasies, sigh”, as he slammed the daily.

Several others also reacted sharply, echoing the view that “colonial arrogance still survives in the Western elite media”.

A similar backlash had emerged in 2022 when a Spanish newspaper used snake-charmer symbolism in coverage related to India’s economic rise.

Notably, Prime Minister Modi, in his Madison Square Garden speech in the US in 2014, had referred to how India was once stereotyped abroad as a country of “snake charmers” before becoming a technology-driven nation of “mouse charmers”. He later repeated the same portrayal of India at other global forums as well.

EXCHANGE AT PM’S NORWAY BRIEFING

A row erupted after Norwegian journalist Helle Lyng questioned why PM Modi did not take questions from the media during a joint appearance with Norway’s Prime Minister during his visit to the country. Lyng reportedly asked why there was no open press conference and raised concerns over press freedom and human rights in India. Although the two leaders left without responding, Lyng recorded the interaction and posted it on X, where it quickly went viral and triggered a wider international debate.

Responding to the controversy, Ministry of External Affairs Secretary Sibi George defended India’s democratic framework and accused critics of forming opinions based on selective reports published by “ignorant NGOs” without understanding the country’s scale and complexity.

“You know how many stories are up here [in India]. We have a lot of breaking news coming every day in the evening. At least 200 TV channels in Delhi alone, in English, Hindi and multiple languages. People have no understanding of the scale of India,” he said. “They (India’s critics) read one or two news reports published by some godforsaken, ignorant NGOs and then come and ask questions,” the senior diplomat added.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/narendra-modi-cartoon-controversy-norwegian-newspaper-aftenposten-racism-row-prime-minister-journalist-press-meet-2914225-2026-05-20

Police said the woman also left behind a suicide note in which she accused Yogesh Rawat and his two sisters of mentally harassing her and sought strict action against them.

A 25-year-old PhD scholar from Madhya Pradesh’s Datia died by suicide after accusing a man of rape and blackmail with obscene videos, police said. The accused, identified as Yogesh Rawat, also 25, has been arrested.

The woman was pursuing her PhD while staying in Gwalior. According to police, she became friends with Yogesh Rawat, the brother of one of her friends. Investigators said Rawat called her to a hotel in Gwalior, where he made her consume an intoxicating substance and raped her after she lost consciousness.

Speaking at a meeting of TMC MLAs at her residence, Mamata alleged that minority communities and roadside hawkers are being targeted by the newly formed BJP government in West Bengal.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo and former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that it will soon be “removed from power in Delhi,” with her nephew and Lok Sabha MP, Abhishek Banerjee, who recently received a demolition notice over alleged unauthorised construction, saying that he won’t give in to any form of intimidation.

Speaking at a meeting of TMC MLAs at her residence, Mamata alleged that minority communities and roadside hawkers are being targeted by the newly formed BJP government in West Bengal. “Minority communities are being targeted. Hawkers stalls are being bulldozed,” she said, referring to alleged instances of post-poll violence and action against illegal encroachment in recent days in various parts of the state.

“This government is tampering with our constitutional ideas and values,” Mamata claimed, criticising the Suvendu Adhikari-led state government. She also suggested that the BJP, which leads the country’s ruling National Democratic Alliance, will lose power in the Centre in the near future. “BJP will be removed from power in Delhi in coming days,” she remarked.

ABHISHEK BANERJEE’S DARE TO BJP
The meeting chaired by Mamata was also attended by Abhishek, who is also the national general secretary of the TMC. He addressed the notice sent to him by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), which has directed him to demolish “unauthorized parts” of his house in south Kolkata.

The TMC leader said, “Let them do whatever they want… raze down my home, send notice; I won’t bow down over these things. Come what may, fight will continue against BJP.” It is worth mentioning here that the KMC, which sent the demolition notice, is still under the control of the TMC, and party MLA Firhad Hakim, considered a close aide of Mamata, is the mayor of Kolkata.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/mamata-banerjee-attacks-bjp-abhishek-banerjee-slams-suvendu-adhikari-bengal-news-2914150-2026-05-19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Rome on Tuesday for the final leg of his five-nation tour, with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni posting “Welcome to Rome, my friend!”. Modi said he would meet President Sergio Mattarella and Meloni, focusing on India-Italy cooperation, IMEC and the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 during visit.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday warmly welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival in Rome for the final leg of his five-nation diplomatic tour.

Sharing a picture with PM Modi on social media platform X, Meloni wrote, “Welcome to Rome, my friend!”, highlighting the close personal rapport between the two leaders. She also shared an earlier photograph of them together at the Colosseum in Italy.

PM Modi Receives Grand Reception In Rome

PM Modi received a warm reception from the Indian diaspora soon after landing in Rome. Members of the Indian community gathered to greet him with cultural performances, traditional welcomes and enthusiastic slogans outside his hotel.

Prices were hiked by Rs 3 a litre on May 15; petrol now retails at Rs 98.64 a litre in Delhi and Rs 107.12 in Bengaluru

Petrol and diesel prices were increased by 90 paise per litre on Tuesday, the second increase in less than a week.

Petrol price was hiked to Rs 98.64 a litre from Rs 97.77 in the national capital. Diesel now costs Rs 91.58 a litre against Rs 90.67 previously, according to a PTI report quoting industry sources.

This is the second increase in rates in less than a week. Prices were hiked by Rs 3 a litre on May 15.

Rates vary across states due to differences in value-added tax.

In Delhi, petrol now retails at Rs 98.64 a litre, up by 87 paise, while diesel is priced at Rs 91.58 a litre, higher by 91 paise.

Mumbai saw petrol rise by 91 paise to Rs 107.59 litre and diesel by 94 paise to Rs 94.08 a litre.

Kolkata recorded one of the steepest hikes in petrol at Re 1 to Rs 109.7 a litre, while diesel prices rose by 94 paise to Rs 96.07 a litre.

In Bengaluru, petrol price has gone up by 0.95 paise to Rs 107.12 a litre and diesel price by 94 paise to Rs 95.04 a litre.

In Chennai, petrol prices rose by 79 paise to Rs 104.46 a litre, and diesel by 86 paise to Rs 96.11 a litre.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/petrol-diesel-prices-up-by-90-paise-a-litre-second-hike-in-five-days-check-city-wise-prices-4008074#google_vignette

The All India Motor Transport Congress on Monday wrote to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, raising their demands.

New Delhi: Commercial vehicle drivers’ unions in Delhi are planning to go on a three-day strike from May 21 to 23, demanding a hike in taxi and auto fares in view of the increasing fuel prices.

The All India Motor Transport Congress on Monday wrote to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, raising their demands.

“Due to the continuously increasing prices of CNG, petrol and diesel, middle-class drivers are struggling to support their families. Therefore, in coordination with other organisations of Delhi, the ‘Chaalak Shakti Union’ has called for a Chakka Jam (strike) and appealed not to operate vehicles on May 21, 22 and 23,” said Anuj Kumar Rathore, vice-president of the Chaalak Shakti Union.

“If the government does not immediately increase taxi fares and issue a notification within one or two weeks, this movement will be intensified into a large-scale protest, for which the Delhi government solely would be responsible,” the union added.

The drivers of commercial vehicles also stated that “strong policies be formulated to stop the economic exploitation of taxi drivers”.

“The union had to approach the Delhi High Court last year, which clearly directed that the problems of taxi drivers should be resolved and the taxi fare should be increased. Despite this, the Delhi government continues to make excuses and delay this matter by saying that the file has been sent to the Lieutenant Governor for approval,” the letter added.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/delhi-taxi-drivers-unions-to-go-on-3-day-strike-from-may-21-demanding-fare-hike-4007825

Twisha Sharma’s husband, Samarth Singh, and his mother, Giribala Singh, a retired judge, have been accused of murder and dowry harassment. On the question of dowry, Navnidhi Sharma described indirect pressures “common” in such cases.

Navnidhi Sharma has spent days protesting outside the Chief Minister’s residence in Madhya Pradesh, demanding justice for his daughter Twisha Sharma and a second post-mortem on her body. Twisha’s husband, Samarth Singh, a lawyer in Bhopal, remains on the run after his bail was denied.

Navnidhi Sharma spoke to NDTV about the events leading to his 33-year-old daughter’s death.

“They met on a dating app. We came to know about this relationship about a year before marriage. And later we all agreed and gave approval to this relationship,” he told NDTV.

Twisha’s husband, Samarth, and his mother, Giribala Singh, a retired judge, have been accused of murder and dowry harassment. On the question of dowry, Navnidhi Sharma described indirect pressures “common” in such cases.

“Look, in today’s time, dowry is such a word that people demand in various ways without using it. They create a situation in which money is taken out of your pocket. No one says that give me dowry,” he said.

Navnidhi Sharma said demands arose around standards and expenses. After the marriage, taunts followed.

“After Twisha lost her job, their taunts started: ‘How will we feed you?’ All these things came out,” he said. The first clear sign of trouble surfaced during the honeymoon.

“It’s right in the beginning, because in the beginning, a man does not attack so suddenly. His attitude was seen in the beginning as a criminal mindset — a man who can push his wife by getting angry for some reason on her honeymoon at the airport. Twisha then asked her brother, ‘Have I taken a wrong decision?’

“Her brother said no, sometimes a man gets a little impulsive in something, so don’t take it seriously, ignore that. We should not have ignored,” Navnidhi Sharma told NDTV. “Daughters ignore a lot of things to save their marriage.”

Navnidhi Sharma described Twisha’s husband as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”.

“If you look at their history, even their first daughter-in-law had also divorced due to harassment,” he said. “A lot of assurances were given, which later did not materialise.”

Twisha was discovered hanging at her husband’s house in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area on May 12.

Messages between Twisha and her mother detailed her growing distress. On April 30 she wrote: “Kyu bheja mujhe yaha. Ye yaha baat hi nahi kar raha hai.” (Why did you send me to Bhopal? He isn’t talking to me.) Bhopal bula kar phir se sab natak. (He called me to Bhopal only to stage the same old drama all over again.) Mera jeevan narak ho gaya hai mummy.” (My life has become a living hell, Mom.)

On May 7 she pleaded: “Maa aap mujhe yaha se lene aajao kal please.” (Please come and pick me up from here tomorrow.)

She said it seemed her husband no longer needed her and had been “tolerating” her for a year. She asked her mother to come alone.

Twisha also wrote about feeling lonely and blamed her “bad deeds” for her situation. She alleged her husband questioned the paternity of her child and forced an abortion. In messages sent on May 9 she said: “Mujhe pooch raha hai vo kiska bacha tha, aur main ignore karu??? … Ye apne ghatiya pane ki har limit cross kar ke baitha hai. Kaise reh lu iske saath.” (He is asking me whose child it was and you expect me to just ignore it? … He has crossed every limit. How am I supposed to live with him?)

She told her mother: “Mummy yaha par mai bas pagal ho jaungi. Mujhse nahi ho pa raha ab ye sab.” (Mom, I’m going to go crazy here. I just can’t take this anymore.)

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/twisha-sharma-death-latest-news-wolf-in-sheep-attire-twisha-sharmas-father-on-her-husband-samarth-singh-11514098

With this, multiple US regulatory and legal investigations involving the group have all closed in the last couple of days.

The US Department of Justice has permanently dropped all criminal charges against Indian tycoon Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar, bringing high-profile securities and wire fraud case in New York to a complete close after prosecutors concluded they could not sustain the allegations.

With this, multiple US regulatory and legal investigations involving the group have all closed in the last couple of days.

Last week, the US Securities and Exchange Commission settled civil allegations against the two men tied to disclosures made to investors in connection with solar energy projects in India. Court filings showed Gautam Adani agreed to pay USD 6 million and Sagar Adani USD 12 million, without admitting or denying wrongdoing.

Thereafter, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) settled allegations of the Adani Group violating US sanctions on Iran in LPG imports. This followed the Indian conglomerate agreeing to pay USD 275 million while extending “extensive cooperation” with the investigation and making “proactive” disclosures.

Now, the US prosecutors at the Eastern District of New York dropped all charges against Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani.

In a filing before the court, the US Department of Justice requested for dismissal of the indictment against the Adanis with prejudice.

“The Department of Justice has reviewed this case and has decided, in its prosecutorial discretion, not to devote further resources to these criminal charges against individual defendants,” it said.

Thereafter, the court ordered that the indictment against Adani and others “be dismissed with prejudice”.

The closure marks a dramatic turn in a case that had threatened to disrupt the Adani Group’s global expansion plans. The SEC and DOJ cases, filed in late 2024, alleged the Adanis orchestrated a USD 265 million bribery scheme involving Indian officials to secure solar power contracts and concealed the arrangement from US investors and lenders while raising capital.

The dismissal was “with prejudice”, preventing the case from being reopened.

Such dismissals are uncommon in US criminal proceedings and typically reflect a determination that pursuing the case is no longer warranted after extensive review.

The case turned in Adani’s favour after prosecutors found no clear US linkages and insufficient evidence to sustain the allegations, according to people familiar with matter.

The anticipated decision follows months of aggressive engagement between US prosecutors and a formidable legal team assembled by the Adanis.

Five American legal counsel from Sullivan & Cromwell, alongside Nixon Peabody, Hecker Fink, Norton Rose Fulbright and Bracewell, made a series of submissions and presentations to US authorities as part of the review process. The review failed to produce findings capable of sustaining charges against Gautam and Sagar Adani, prompting the DoJ to move towards dismissal.

In submissions disclosed publicly on April 7, 2026, before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Adani’s lawyers mounted a forceful challenge to the US SEC’s fraud-related proceedings, calling them an “impermissibly extraterritorial application” of US securities laws. The defence argued the case involved, “Indian Defendants, an Indian issuer”, securities not traded on US exchanges and alleged conduct occurring “exclusively in India”.

The filings stated the SEC “lacked necessary jurisdiction”, failed to establish actionable misstatements and could not tie either defendant to the bond offering. The lawyers asserted the SEC had “recast” unviable anti-bribery allegations into securities fraud claims. The submissions noted there were “no investor losses”, all bond obligations were honoured and Gautam Adani “did not authorise the issuance of the bonds”.

The case had faced mounting scrutiny from legal experts over whether prosecutors had stretched securities laws to pursue conduct centred overseas.

Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain were charged only under securities and wire fraud statutes (counts 2, 3 and 4). They were not named in the more serious Foreign Corrupt Practices Act bribery charge or obstruction-related count (counts 1 and 5), which prosecutors brought against other defendants in the wider case.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/us-drops-all-charges-against-gautam-adani-case-closed-permanently-11513895?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The woman’s husband is purportedly seen trying to perform CPR on her twice before bringing her downstairs with the help of two others.

Fresh CCTV footage has surfaced in the suspected suicide case of a 33-year-old Noida resident at her marital home in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal.

The 33-year-old was found dead at her in-laws’ home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area on May 12, with her husband and mother-in-law under the scanner over allegations of dowry harassment, assault and murder.

Two CCTV videos have emerged, shedding light on what went down on the day of the incident.

In one of the videos, accessed by Hindustan Times, the deceased is seen climbing the staircase in her marital home. And in the second footage, the woman’s husband is purportedly seen performing CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) on her — an attempt that he is seen making twice.

Meanwhile, another woman, seemingly the deceased’s mother-in-law, a retired judge, is seen entering the CCTV frame and heading to another room.

Two other men head upstairs and help the husband bring down the unresponsive woman, the video showed.

Pre-arrest bail rejected for husband

A Bhopal court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to the deceased’s mother-in-law, a retired judge, who is also an accused in the case, news agency PTI reported.

However, the court rejected the anticipatory bail plea of the deceased Noida woman’s husband, a lawyer, who is the main accused in the case, and is absconding.

Additionally, the Bhopal Police also announced a cash reward of ₹10,000 for any information leading to the husband’s arrest.

Noida woman said she ‘felt trapped’

Days before her death, the 33-year-old Noida woman had reportedly told her mother that she felt badly trapped at her marital home, and that she wanted to return to her maternal home.

She had been in touch with her parents till around 10pm on the day of her death.

In chats with her mother, the deceased had said that people in her marital home neither let her cry nor did they give her a reason to smile.

She also alleged that her husband accused her of infidelity as she wanted to abort her pregnancy.

Her family alleged that she lost 15 kilograms due to relentless mental torture after marriage, news agency PTI reported.

Her family also claimed lapses in the local probe and post-mortem procedure at AIIMS Bhopal and demanded that a fresh, independent autopsy be conducted at AIIMS Delhi.

She was a ‘drug addict’, claims husband

In the husband’s bail plea, which surfaced on social media, he has purportedly claimed that his wife was a psychiatric patient and a drug addict whose hands and feet would tremble in withdrawal.

In a press conference after the hearing, the deceased’s mother-in-law claimed that the woman suffered from psychological illness and depression.

She claimed that the 33-year-old’s death was like a “nightmare” for the family as she was a part of it.

The retired judge further alleged that the deceased’s family had forced her into the glamour world at a very young age, claiming that she was under mental pressure because of it.

The mother-in-law claimed that the deceased’s family had not visited her in the last five months, adding that they were now not allowing for her funeral to be conducted.

The husband’s bail plea also alleged that the deceased’s behaviour towards her in-laws changed after she became pregnant, claiming that her husband had taken her to a beauty salon on the day of her death.

The Noida resident had also suffered a miscarriage, PTI reported, citing the bail plea.

SIT probe underway

A six-member special investigation team (SIT) has been formed to probe the 33-year-old’s death and the related allegations of dowry harassment and abuse.

An FIR has been registered against the deceased’s husband and mother-in-law under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 80(2) related to dowry death.

Misrod Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rajneesh Kashyap, who is heading the SIT, took note of the reported lapses in the local probe and said that while the post-mortem report from AIIMS Bhopal points to a “hanging suicide”, the deceased’s family claims multiple injury marks on her body indicate murder.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bhopal-dowry-death-noida-woman-seen-going-upstairs-in-new-cctv-clip-3-men-bring-her-down-minutes-later-101779144358556.html

During a media interaction in Oslo, MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George defended India’s democratic record and media landscape. He said foreign observers often misunderstand the country by relying on selective reports.

Extraordinary scenes unfolded during the Ministry of External Affairs’ press briefing in Norway on Monday night after a female Norwegian journalist repeatedly interrupted Indian diplomats with questions on press freedom, minority rights and human rights in India, triggering a sharp response from MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George.

The tense exchange escalated after journalist Helle Lyng questioned why India should be “trusted” on issues concerning democratic freedoms and rights. At one point during the interaction, she even walked out of the briefing room before later returning to the presser.

Responding firmly to Lyng’s questions at the briefing, George defended India’s democratic framework and accused critics of forming opinions based on selective reports published by “ignorant NGOs” without understanding the country’s scale and complexity.

“You know how many stories are up here [in India]. We have a lot of breaking news coming every day in the evening. At least 200 TV channels in Delhi alone, in English, Hindi and multiple languages. People have no understanding of the scale of India,” he said. “They [India’s critics] read one or two news reports published by some godforsaken, ignorant NGOs and then come and ask questions,” the senior diplomat added.

George also pointed to India’s constitutional guarantees and democratic institutions while rebutting the allegations raised during the briefing. He said India’s Constitution ensured fundamental rights for all citizens and provided legal remedies in cases of violations. “We have a Constitution which guarantees the rights of the people, fundamental rights of the people. We have equal rights for the women of our country, which is very important,” George said.

The MEA official further highlighted India granting voting rights to women immediately after Independence, contrasting it with several countries where women got franchise rights decades later. “In 1947, we gave the freedom to vote for our women. Many countries, I know, the voting right for women came several decades after India gave that freedom,” he added.

George asserted that India’s electoral democracy itself remained the strongest proof of its commitment to equality and human rights. “What is the best example of human rights? The right to change government, the right to vote. And that is what is happening in India. We are so proud of that,” he said.

The confrontation came a day after Lyng posted on X that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not taken her question during his Norway visit. “Norway has the number one spot on the World Press Freedom Index, India is at 157th, competing with Palestine, Emirates & Cuba. It is our job to question the powers we cooperate with,” she wrote.

The Indian Embassy in Norway responded publicly to the journalist’s post, inviting her to attend the official media briefing. “Dear Ms @HelleLyngSvends, The Embassy is organizing a press briefing on the Prime Minister’s Visit this evening at 9:30pm at hotel Raddisson Blu Plaza hotel. You are most welcome to come and ask your questions there,” the embassy said on X.

The row also drew political reactions in India, with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi sharing Lyng’s X post and taking a swipe at Prime Minister Modi.

“When there is nothing to hide, there is nothing to fear. What happens to India’s image when the world sees a compromised PM panic and run from a few questions?” Gandhi wrote on X.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/norwegian-journalist-questions-trust-human-rights-press-freedom-india-draw-sharp-mea-response-oslo-pm-modi-visit-2913747-2026-05-19

Damayanti Sen, a 1996-batch IPS officer, came into prominence during the 2012 Park Street rape case, which snowballed into a major political controversy after a woman alleged she was gangraped inside a moving car after leaving a nightclub in Kolkata’s Park Street area.

Senior IPS officer Damayanti Sen, who was allegedly sidelined during the former Trinamool Congress regime in the wake of the controversial 2012 Park Street rape case, has been appointed by Bengal’s current BJP government to a commission probing crimes against women.

On Monday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced Sen’s appointment as member secretary of a commission set up to examine atrocities against women and children, particularly from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and minority communities, during the TMC’s 15-year rule.

The move marked a significant return to prominence for Sen, a 1996-batch IPS officer who rose to prominence during the Park Street rape case in 2012 under the then TMC government led by Mamata Banerjee.

At the time, Sen was serving as Joint Commissioner (Crime) of Kolkata Police and was the first woman officer to hold the post.

The Park Street case had erupted into a major political controversy after a woman alleged she was gang-raped inside a moving car after leaving a nightclub in Kolkata’s Park Street area on February 6, 2012.

As public outrage mounted, Banerjee had described the incident as a “sajano ghatana” (fabricated story) allegedly aimed at maligning her newly-elected government.

The remarks triggered nationwide criticism, protests by women’s rights groups and intense political debate over the handling of the case.

While the political controversy escalated, investigators under Sen proceeded with the probe and tracked down the accused within days.

The investigation established that the assault had taken place, placing the police findings at odds with the political narrative surrounding the case.

Soon after the case was cracked, Sen was transferred from the Crime Branch at Lalbazar to the Police Training College in Barrackpore.

Though officially described as a routine administrative move, the timing triggered political controversy, with opposition parties and critics questioning whether the officer had been sidelined for pursuing an investigation that contradicted the government’s public position.

No official link between the probe and the transfer was ever acknowledged by the state government. However, the episode remained part of Bengal’s political and bureaucratic discourse for years.

Despite her academic credentials and reputation within policing circles, many observers felt Sen remained away from politically sensitive assignments during much of the TMC tenure. Though she later served as Special Commissioner of Kolkata Police, she was rarely placed at the centre of high-profile investigations.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/west-bengal/story/damayanti-sen-park-street-case-bengal-women-crimes-commission-2913732-2026-05-19

On Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day, Vijay expressed solidarity with Sri Lankan Tamils and remembered victims of the final phase of the 2009 civil war, commemorated by Tamils globally as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day also coincides with the day LTTE chief Prabhakaran was killed there.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK chief C Joseph Vijay expressed solidarity with Sri Lankan Tamils, invoking Mullivaikkal in Sri Lanka, where Velupillai Prabhakaran, founder of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and one of the world’s most ruthless guerrilla leaders, was killed by the Sri Lankan army on May 18, 2009.

In a post on X, Vijay said, “We will carry the memories of Mullivaikkal in our hearts! We will always stand in solidarity for the rights of our Tamil kin living across the sea!”

Vijay’s remarks came as May 18 is observed by the global Sri Lankan Tamil population and by sections of Tamils in India as Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day, named after the place.

Also called Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, the date marks the final stage of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009 and commemorates the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians who were killed, injured, or went missing in the coastal village of Mullivaikkal during the final stages of the 26-year-long civil war.

The LTTE remains a banned organisation in India for its role in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, in which LTTE chief was named the prime accused.

The conflict in Sri Lanka, which began with demands for a separate homeland for Sri Lankan Tamils alleging discrimination, later evolved into a prolonged ethnic conflict that lasted nearly three decades.

Prabhakaran’s struggle often struck a chord in Tamil outreach by political parties in Tamil Nadu, although mainstream Dravidian parties like the AIADMK and the DMK navigated the issue cautiously, especially after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.

However, new parties like Vijay’s have invoked Prabhakaran in the past to evoke a “Tamil First” identity. Vijay’s minority government has the outside support of DMK ally Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, which is known for its pro-LTTE stand.

In the run-up to the Tamil Nadu elections, Vijay stirred a row by likening him to a “mother” figure for Sri Lankan Tamils who showered them with “motherly love.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/c-joseph-vijay-v-prabhakaran-death-anniversary-mullivaikkal-tamil-rights-2913715-2026-05-19

The Supreme Court’s verdict on the stray dog case today will settle key legal questions surrounding the balance between animal welfare and the fundamental right to life and safety of citizens.

The Supreme Court is set to pronounce its verdict on Tuesday in the high-profile stray dog management case that has triggered a nationwide debate over public safety, animal welfare and the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules.

The judgment, to be delivered by a three-judge Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria, follows months of hearings involving state governments, municipal bodies, animal rights groups, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). The Bench had reserved its verdict on January 29 after hearing extensive submissions from all stakeholders.

The case originated from a court-initiated proceeding launched last year after alarming reports of rising dog bite and rabies cases, particularly involving children. The issue quickly snowballed into a national controversy after an earlier two-judge bench of the Supreme Court directed authorities in Delhi-NCR to round up stray dogs and relocate them to shelters and pounds.

That August 2025 order, passed by Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, had instructed civic bodies to remove stray dogs from public spaces and ensure they were not released back onto the streets after sterilisation and vaccination. The court had also warned that any obstruction to the exercise by individuals or organisations would invite contempt proceedings.

The directive sparked widespread protests from animal welfare activists, NGOs and public figures, who argued that the order violated Rule 11(19) of the ABC Rules, 2023, which mandates that sterilised and immunised dogs be released back into the same locality from where they were picked up. Critics also contended that civic authorities lacked the infrastructure, manpower and shelters required to impound lakhs of stray dogs.

Responding to the backlash, the three-judge Bench later modified the earlier order and restored the ABC framework. In its revised directions issued in August 2025, the court allowed sterilised, vaccinated and dewormed dogs to be released back into their original territories, except those infected with rabies or displaying aggressive behaviour. Such dogs, the court said, must be housed separately in shelters or pounds and should not be returned to public spaces.

The Bench, however, simultaneously emphasised that public safety remained paramount. In November 2025, the Supreme Court directed states and the NHAI to remove stray dogs from institutional areas such as schools, colleges, hospitals, railway stations, bus depots and sports complexes. It also ordered authorities to fence educational and healthcare institutions and ensure that dogs picked up from such areas are not released back into the same premises.

During hearings earlier this year, the court expressed sharp dissatisfaction with several states over their failure to expand sterilisation capacity and create adequate animal birth control centres. At one stage, the Bench remarked that governments were “building castles in the air” instead of implementing concrete measures to curb the stray dog population and rabies threat.

The court also took note of alarming national figures related to dog bites. During proceedings, it was informed that India recorded nearly 37 lakh dog bite incidents in 2024, while some states continued to have inadequate sterilisation infrastructure despite mounting public health concerns.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/supreme-court-stray-dogs-case-verdict-today-abc-rules-public-safety-fundamental-rights-2913716-2026-05-19

The BJP government of West Bengal led by CM Suvendu Adhikari has launched anti-encroachment drives in and around Kolkata. Bulldozers have rolled into localities of Kolkata, including Sealdah and Howrah railway stations. Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh said that the drives in Kolkata were just the beginning, and more bulldozer action across the state would follow.

Days after coming to power, the BJP-led government of West Bengal has intensified its efforts against illegal encroachment of public places. Earthmovers have hit the streets in the state, targeting illegal structures, unauthorised hawkers and street vendors across Kolkata and the metropolitan region surrounding it.

On Monday, authorities in Howrah (across the Hooghly from Kolkata) began demolishing an allegedly illegal G+5 building in Ward No 44 of the Howrah Municipal Corporation area after finding that permission had reportedly been granted only for G+1 construction.

This follows a major anti-encroachment drive that took place in Howrah and Sealdah railway stations late on Saturday and ended early on Sunday.

Amid the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government’s anti-encroachment push, Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh said that it was only the beginning of a wider crackdown on illegal construction and encroachment across the state. He promised to run bulldozers across West Bengal.

Urging people to follow the law or face action, Ghosh, the Kharagpur Sadar MLA said, “The new government has initiated this process from day one. We will not tolerate any form of encroachment on government land”.

KOLKATA BECOMES GROUND ZERO FOR BJP GOVT’S ANTI-ENCROACHMENT DRIVE

Encroachment has long been one of Kolkata’s most political and urban management challenges. From roadside markets and makeshift stalls to illegal extensions jutting onto pavements and roads, large parts of the city operate in a blur between formal and informal space. Alongside this, illegal construction, including unauthorised extra floors, shop extensions and buildings allegedly raised without approval have emerged as a growing civic concern. The BJP alleged that the Trinamool Congress, during its 15-year-rule in the state, had patronised them.

The scale of the issue is especially visible around Howrah Station and Sealdah stations, two of India’s biggest and busiest transport hubs.

The areas surrounding both stations are lined with street vendors selling everything from tea and cigarettes to vegetables and clothes to cooked food for travellers. Many of these stalls have been operating there for years, even decades. The encroachments often choke key footpaths, forcing pedestrians onto already congested roads and contributing to traffic snarls outside the critical transit hubs.

Similar scenes play out across Kolkata in areas like Park Circus, Gariahat, Esplanade, Burrabazar and Topsia, where unauthorised commercial activity and illegal structures have steadily expanded into public spaces over decades.

Spend a few minutes parked in Kolkata’s New Market and your vehicle might quickly become part of the marketplace itself, with hawkers temporarily stacking goods on and around it to display their wares, only to clear the space once it is time for you to leave.

For years, urban planners have warned that unchecked encroachments and illegal construction worsen traffic congestion, strain ageing infrastructure and create serious safety risks. It is this vast informal network of hawkers, illegal extensions and unauthorised structures that the new BJP administration now says it intends to dismantle with bulldozers and eviction drives across Kolkata and the rest of West Bengal.

BENGAL CM SUVENDU ADHIKARI ORDERED DEMOLITION DRIVE IN TOPSIA-TILJALA AFTER BLAZE

Days after taking over the reins of the state government in West Bengal, the Suvendu-led administration on May 12 conducted a demolition drive in Kolkata’s Topsia-Tiljala belt, which is a major leather goods manufacturing hub in Kolkata.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had previously designated the area as a red zone for demolition alongside Garden Reach, Metiaburz, Rajabazar, Burabazar and EM Bypass. A Red Zone denotes that a specific area has a lot of illegal construction, and they are marked for demolition.

A KMC official told The Times of India that over 1,000 structures had been earmarked for demolition in Topsia-Tiljala and that at least 70% of all structures built in the last decade were illegal.

The demolition drive, where earthmovers and bulldozers moved into the area under police and CRPF protection, came a day after a fire in an illegal leather factory in a multi-story building had killed two people in Tiljala.

West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari ordered the KMC to raze the building while announcing a “zero-tolerance policy” against any and all illegal constructions in Kolkata.

But even as earthmovers and bulldozers moved into the area under security cover, Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury of the Kolkata High Court on Friday issued an interim stay on further demolitions in the area until June 22. Several residents of the area had petitioned the court alleging they were evicted without due notice or process.

State minister Agnimitra Paul defended the action against illegally constructed units in Topsia, stating that “If there is an illegal construction, we will send you a notice. But we will not allow you to operate if you do not have any documents to prove the legality of the structure”.

This stay, however, did little to calm tempers. On Sunday, a large crowd turned up at the Seven-Point Crossing in Park Circus to protest, among other things, the demolitions. This gathering would escalate into an all-out clash as the protestors resorted to stone pelting. At least 10 police and central forces personnel were injured and forces had to resort to lathi charge.

MASS ENCROACHMENT DRIVE IN HOWRAH AND SEALDAH STATIONS

The Topsia-Tiljala episode was only the start.

A much larger eviction drive took place at the Howrah and Sealdah stations late on Saturday that affected at least 500 hawkers. These are among the busiest train stations in the country, handling lakhs of suburban and long-distance passengers every day.

“Not only Howrah station, but every single station in Bengal has been turned into a marketplace. It is overflowing with filth. There is absolutely no space for women, children, or adults to sit. The [Indian] Railways will reclaim its own property and utilise it to provide services to the public. To achieve this, whether it be the Railways or the Bengal Police, everyone will extend their full support,” news agency ANI reported minister Dilip Ghosh as saying on Monday.

In Howrah, a joint operation was carried out by the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), railway authorities and Howrah City Police on Saturday. Bulldozers and earthmovers worked past midnight to demolish rows of makeshift shops and illegal structures along the stretch from the Ganga ghat to the Howrah station premises, reported the news agency, PTI.

Officials and local sources told PTI that the operation removed around 150 stalls and roadside shops and close to 200 hawkers from the Howrah station area. The affected establishments included vendors selling food items, fruits, toys and daily essentials.

Some vendors attempted to resist the eviction in Howrah, reported PTI. This led to heated exchanges and small physical clashes between police personnel and hawkers. Attempts to halt the drive failed in the face of heavy police deployment.

Meanwhile, in Sealdah station, hawkers and stalls were cleared from platforms 1 to 21 of the railway station to ensure smoother passenger movement inside the terminal, officials told PTI. An estimated 250 hawkers and stalls were removed from the station premises as part of the drive in Sealdah.

The Eastern Railways last week attempted to evict slum dwellers residing around the Brace Bridge railway station in southern Kolkata. The exercise was halted by the Kolkata High Court last week after it observed that several legal questions concerning the eviction process needed further questioning.

And on Monday, a new demolition drive was launched in Howrah’s Ward number 44 targeting an illegally built multistory building in the area. According to reports, authorities used earthmovers to demolish parts of a five-story building under heavy police protection. Permission had been granted only for a G+1 structure, but a G+5 building was constructed in violation of the approved plan.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/west-bengal/story/west-bengal-news-bulldozer-action-in-kolkata-topsia-demolition-howrah-sealdah-hawkers-evicted-enroachment-crackdown-2913484-2026-05-19

The Union Home Ministry has amended the Citizenship Rules, 2009, introducing a paragraph under which the applicant should not be in possession of a valid and/or expired passport issued by the governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh.

Applicants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh seeking Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Rules, 2009, will now have to give a declaration about the status of their passport from their native country, according to a notification issued by the Home Ministry on Monday.

The ministry has amended the Citizenship Rules, 2009, introducing a paragraph under which the applicant should not be in possession of a valid and/or expired passport issued by the governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan or Bangladesh.

In case the applicant is carrying an active passport, the person will have to submit the passport number and other details such as date and place of issuance and date of expiry, the gazette notification said.

They will also have to give a declaration to surrender their valid and/or expired passport to the Senior Superintendent of Post or Superintendent of Post concerned within 15 days of approval of the citizenship application, it said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-tightens-citizenship-rules-for-applicants-from-pakistan-bangladesh-afghanistan-2913687-2026-05-18

 

Rajnath Singh is in Vietnam for talks centred on a possible BrahMos missile sale. The visit highlights a wider push to deepen India-Vietnam defence coordination.

In his key official visit to Vietnam, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the discussions surrounding the possible sale of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system was once again the main focus. During the two-day visit from May 18 to 19, Singh is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Vietnam’s Minister of National Defence, General Phan Van Giang. The visit marks 10 years of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam, which was recently upgraded to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the Vietnamese President’s state visit to India earlier this month.

The potential BrahMos missile deal is being viewed as one of the most significant defence agreements currently under discussion between the two countries. Sources indicate that negotiations are in the final stages, with the proposed deal estimated to be worth nearly Rs 60 billion.

If finalised, Vietnam would become one of the key international operators of the Indo-Russian BrahMos missile system after the Philippines, which signed a Rs 36.11 billion agreement for the missile system in 2022.

The proposed acquisition is expected to significantly strengthen Vietnam’s maritime defence capabilities amid rising strategic tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. Several countries in Central Asia, South America and the Middle East have also reportedly shown interest in acquiring the missile system.

India and Vietnam had earlier signed a Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030 during Rajnath Singh’s previous visit to Vietnam in June 2022, outlining a roadmap for deeper defence cooperation.

Apart from official meetings, Singh is also expected to pay tribute to former Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh on the occasion of his 136th birth anniversary by laying a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Following his Vietnam visit, the Defence Minister will travel to South Korea from May 19 to 21 for discussions with South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Defence Acquisition Program Administration Minister Lee Yong-cheol.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/brahmos-missile-deal-rajnath-singh-vietnam-visit-final-stage-talks-2913675-2026-05-18

PM Narendra Modi and Jonas Gahr Store held talks in Oslo and elevated ties to a Green Strategic Partnership. The visit also put the India-EFTA trade pact, institutional reforms and coordinated backing for peace in focus.

India and Norway on Monday agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship into a Green Strategic Partnership, marking a major expansion of cooperation across climate technology, renewable energy, maritime economy, digital systems and innovation, alongside a renewed push for trade and investment under the India-EFTA agreement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre made the announcement in Oslo after wide-ranging talks that also reaffirmed a shared commitment to a rules-based global order and called for reform of international institutions.

GREEN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AT CORE OF NEW TIES

The centrepiece of the discussions was the decision to upgrade ties to a Green Strategic Partnership, aimed at building long-term cooperation in clean energy, green technology, maritime services, healthcare systems, digital infrastructure and research.

“We are elevating our relationship to a Green Strategic Partnership, which provides a foundation to work together on knowledge, resources, and ambitions for the green transition,” said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Prime Minister Modi said both countries are committed to expanding cooperation in sectors that support sustainable growth and innovation-driven development.

See more

List of outcomes (12 in total) : Official visit of PM @narendramodi to Norway ⬇️

🇮🇳 🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/nMJwhV6oRe

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) May 18, 2026

TRADE PACT AND INVESTMENT PUSH UNDER TEPA

The leaders also reviewed progress under the India-European Free Trade Association Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, which both sides described as a cornerstone for future economic engagement.

PM Modi said the agreement carries a target of USD 100 billion in investment into India and creation of one million jobs over 15 years.

Trade between India and Norway has doubled over the past decade, and both sides have now set an ambition to further accelerate economic ties by 2030.

Støre called the agreement “one of the most important trade agreements we have ever signed”, adding that it opens “major opportunities for investment, innovation and job creation”.

COMMON POSITION ON GLOBAL CONFLICTS

Both leaders expressed concern over ongoing global instability, particularly conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, and reiterated that military force cannot resolve international disputes.

“We agree that no solution can be found on any issue through military conflict,” PM Modi said.

“We support every step towards peace in Ukraine as well as in West Asia,” he added.

The two sides also stressed the need for reform of global institutions to reflect contemporary challenges.

BROADER COOPERATION ACROSS KEY SECTORS

The talks covered cooperation in blue economy, Arctic research, space, AI, robotics, cybersecurity, fisheries, shipbuilding, tunnelling and infrastructure development.

Both countries also agreed to strengthen collaboration in carbon capture, utilisation and storage, offshore wind energy and renewable technologies.

Norway was also invited to participate in future innovation initiatives, including start-up-focused platforms and green technology exchanges.

TRADE, TECHNOLOGY AND GREEN GROWTH AGENDA

 

Amit Shah said in Bastar that India is now free of Naxalism after decades of insurgency. He linked the claim to security forces’ sacrifices and outlined rehabilitation and development plans.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday declared that India has become free from Naxalism, saying the decades-long insurgency had finally been defeated after immense sacrifices by security forces.

“I can say with my chest puffed out that India is now free of Naxals,” Shah said while addressing an event in Jagdalpur, once considered the epicentre of Maoist activity in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region.

Shah, who is on a three-day visit to Chhattisgarh, said both the Centre and the state government were committed to ensuring permanent peace and rapid development in Bastar, adding that the tribal belt would emerge as the country’s most developed tribal region within the next five years.

Addressing people at the Bastar Academy of Dance, Art and Literature (BADAL) campus, the Home Minister described the occasion as a “historic day” and credited the achievement to the sacrifices made by security personnel over the years during anti-Naxal operations.

“This was a dream that has been achieved after numerous security personnel sacrificed their lives in operations,” Shah

Furthermore, the senior BJP leader said Left Wing Extremism, which began spreading in the 1970s, had “consumed three generations” through violence and denied people access to basic facilities and development.

“In 2014, when the Modi government took charge, there were challenges (related to internal security) in Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeastern states and Left Wing Extremism. Today, I can say that by and large, the country has overcome all three challenges,” he said.

During the programme, Shah also interacted with families of civilians killed in Naxal violence, security personnel honoured for bravery in anti-Maoist operations, and tribal community leaders who shared their experiences from the insurgency-hit years.

The Home Minister also paid homage at Amar Vatika memorial to more than 1,000 security personnel who lost their lives fighting Maoists. “The sacrifices of our jawans in bringing peace, security and development to Bastar will never be forgotten,” he said.

Urging society to support the rehabilitation of former rebels, Shah appealed to community leaders across Bastar’s seven districts to accept surrendered Naxals into mainstream society by setting aside past bitterness.

“About 3,000 Naxals have surrendered in the state. We have made a comprehensive plan to get them a respectable place in society. The Narendra Modi government will leave no stone unturned in this context,” he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/amit-shah-india-free-of-naxalism-bastar-chhattisgarh-insurgency-bjp-government-2913650-2026-05-18

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) was conducted across 551 Indian cities and at 14 overseas centres.

Latur: The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing the alleged NEET-UG paper leak, conducted searches at the main office of Renukai Chemistry Classes (RCC) in Maharashtra’s Latur city on Sunday, sources said.

CBI officials began the search at RCC in the city’s Shivnagar locality in the afternoon, and it was still underway till late evening, they said.

The central agency had questioned RCC founder Shivraj Motegaonkar for nearly eight hours on Friday at his residence, located in the same area.

Sources said the CBI suspects that some doctors from Latur had purchased the “leaked” NEET examination paper.

A CBI team has been camping in Latur for the past four days.

The federal agency has registered an FIR and formed teams to probe the alleged paper leak that resulted in the cancellation of the exam held on May 3.

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) was conducted across 551 Indian cities and at 14 overseas centres.

Nearly 23 lakh candidates had registered for the test, which was administered by the NTA (National Testing Agency) across the country.

According to the NTA, information regarding alleged malpractice was received on the evening of May 7, four days after the exam was held. It said the inputs were escalated to central agencies the following morning for “independent verification and necessary action”.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/education/neet-ug-leak-cbi-conducts-searches-at-renukai-chemistry-classes-in-latur-4006478#google_vignette

India condemned the drone attack targeting the UAE’s Barakah nuclear facility, calling it a “dangerous escalation” and urging restraint and diplomacy.

India on Monday strongly condemned the drone attack targeting the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), calling it a “dangerous escalation” and urging all sides to return to dialogue and diplomacy amid rising regional tensions.

In an official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, India said it was “deeply concerned” about the strike on the UAE’s sole nuclear facility.

“India is deeply concerned at the attack targeting the Barakah nuclear facility in the UAE. Such actions are unacceptable and represent a dangerous escalation. We urgently call for restraint and a return to dialogue and diplomacy,” the statement said.

The remarks came after a drone strike triggered a fire near the Barakah nuclear power plant on Sunday in what UAE authorities described as an “unprovoked terrorist attack”.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the strike.

DRONE STRIKE SPARKS FIRE AT BARAKAH PLANT

The attack caused a fire on the edge of the Barakah nuclear power facility, located in the western UAE.

Authorities, however, said there were no injuries and no radiological leak from the site.

The UAE’s nuclear regulator stated that the incident did not compromise the safety of the plant and confirmed that “all units are operating as normal.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also said the strike caused a fire in an electrical generator while one reactor shifted to emergency diesel generators.

The UAE Defence Ministry said three drones crossed into the country over its western border with Saudi Arabia, two of which were intercepted.

An investigation into the source of the drones is currently underway.

The Barakah nuclear plant, built with South Korean assistance and operational since 2020, is the Arab world’s only nuclear power station.

The $20 billion facility supplies nearly a quarter of the UAE’s energy needs.

REGIONAL TENSIONS ESCALATE

The attack comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia, particularly involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

The UAE had recently accused Iran of launching drone and missile strikes, while tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route, have continued to intensify.

Reacting to the broader regional situation, US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iran on social media after reportedly speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them,” Trump said.

Iranian military adviser Mohsen Rezaei, meanwhile, said on state television that Iran’s armed forces remained prepared while diplomatic channels were still open.

“Our armed forces’ fingers are on the trigger, while diplomacy is also continuing,” he said.

The ceasefire in the region remains fragile, with renewed fears of conflict involving Israel, Iran and Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah and the Houthis.

UAE, SAUDI ARABIA REACT

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, described the attack as a serious escalation regardless of whether it was carried out directly or through proxy groups.

“The attack, whether carried out by the principal actor or through one of its proxies, represents a dangerous escalation,” Gargash said on social media.

Saudi Arabia also condemned the strike and later announced that it had intercepted three drones that entered its airspace from Iraq.

The Associated Press highlighted that this was the first known attack targeting the four-reactor Barakah facility since the outbreak of the ongoing regional conflict.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels had earlier claimed to have targeted the plant during its construction phase in 2017, though the UAE had denied those claims at the time.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/india-condemns-uae-barakah-nuclear-plant-abu-dhabi-drone-attack-calls-for-restraint-diplomacy-west-asia-tensions-ws-l-10096746.html

PM Modi will be the first Indian premier to travel to Norway since 1983, and he will hold a bilateral meeting with his Norwegian counterpart.

A new partnership in digital technologies and collaboration between India and the Nordic countries to cope with disruptions caused by geopolitical churn around the globe will be in focus when Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in the Norwegian capital on Monday for several crucial meetings.

Modi will be the first Indian premier to travel to Norway since a visit by Indira Gandhi in 1983, and he will hold a bilateral meeting with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Støre on Monday and co-chair the third India-Nordic Summit on Tuesday. Norway is the fourth leg of the PM’s five-nation tour.

Besides three agreements that are expected to be signed between India and Norway for cooperation in digital public goods, health and space, close to 20 pacts are set to be inked by firms of the two countries at Norway-India Business and Research Summit to be attended by Modi and Støre on Monday, officials said.

“We are looking at this visit with great importance. It’s 43 years since an Indian prime minister visited Norway, and for us, it’s very important. He is the leader of the world’s most populous country, and now the fourth largest economy and the fastest growing,” said May-Elin Stener, Norway’s ambassador to India.

“There will be an MoU signed for a new health partnership between India and Norway. We will also sign an agreement on digital public goods — how we together can help third countries for better digital solutions,” Stener said. “And there will be quite a few business-to-business MoUs, mainly in areas such as green energy, maritime, waste water management and the circular economy.”

Ahead of Modi’s visit, Støre said Modi’s visit underlines the importance of cooperation between India and the Nordic countries in “times of global instability”. He added, “We stand together in promoting international cooperation and a rules-based world order.”

The business conclave on Monday will be an opportunity for India and Norway to explore avenues to strengthen trade and investment ties by capitalising on the trade and economic partnership agreement (TEPA) signed by India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which entered into force last October. Besides Norway, the other members of EFTA are Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.“The prime focus of the business conference will be how to implement the TEPA, and how to get it working harder,” said Stener.

Both sides are keen to drive two-way trade, worth $2.73 billion in 2024, and investments by Norway’s Government Pension Fund (GPFG), which has poured close to $28 billion into India’s capital market.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-s-norway-visit-to-focus-on-digital-technology-health-and-space-101779070171073.html

Investigators believe the racket involved financially well-off parents who allegedly paid large sums to secure medical admissions for their children.

The Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) probe into the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak has widened beyond paper setters, experts and middlemen, with several parents who allegedly purchased leaked question papers now coming under the agency’s scanner, officials said.

A CBI team comprising eight officers conducted searches on Saturday and Sunday at three to four different premises including a house in the Vidyut Nagar area in Nanded and in Latur after receiving inputs that the family had allegedly procured leaked NEET papers for their daughters. Officials suspect they paid between ₹5- ₹10 lakh to alleged middlemen to obtain the leaked papers before the examination.

Investigators believe the racket extended beyond the core network of paper setters and intermediaries and involved financially well-off parents who allegedly paid large sums to secure medical admissions for their children.

According to officials, the CBI team arrived in Nanded on Friday and launched the search operation. The officials questioned the parents of a girl who appeared for the NEET-UG on May 3. The parents were interrogated for more than eight hours, officials added.

CBI officials also examined electronic devices, documents and communication records, including phone calls and messages exchanged by family members.

Officials alleged that in the Nanded case, the girl’s father, a businessman, paid around ₹10 lakh — ₹5 lakh to a middleman and ₹5 lakh to a separate individual — for access to leaked papers. Investigators are probing the girl’s links with a coaching institute in Pune, where she had reportedly stayed for around 15 days for NEET preparation.

A private coaching institute, AIB, had displayed flex banners featuring photographs of its top-performing students in Nanded under the tagline “The Results To Come”. Officials said investigators were examining claims related to the student’s expected performance in the examination as part of the broader probe.

AIB’s Atul More told HT that he had no information regarding the CBI action.

“Yes, she was my student and was repeating NEET this year. In our mock tests, she used to score around 400 to 450 marks,” More said. He further said the student had not been associated with the institute for the past 15 days.

Officials said searches were also carried out at residences of another parents in Nanded on Sunday morning, after which another CBI team moved towards Latur.

Investigators suspect some parents may have circulated leaked papers to others in an attempt to recover part of the money they had paid. They suspect the alleged racket was being operated through a well-organised network spread across Pune, Latur, Nanded and nearby districts.

Officials said some parents allegedly paid amounts ranging between ₹10 lakh and ₹25 lakh to gain access to leaked question papers.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cbi-questions-parents-who-bought-leaked-neet-paper-for-their-children-101779065804415.html

 

A woman in Prayagraj saved her three children during a residential fire before she died. A video of the incident surfaced on social media on Saturday, days after the May 12 fire.

A tragic incident has come to light from Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, where a woman lost her life in a fire incident, but not before she ensured the safety of her children. While the tragedy took place on May 12, a video showing the heartbreaking moments and the mother’s selfless and heroic act surfaced on social media only as late as Saturday, May 16.

The clip shows the woman stranded on the terrace of a multi-storey residential building as smoke rises from a fire, supposedly on a lower floor. She struggled amid the thick smoke for 30 minutes to help her three children get evacuated.

As the fire continued to spread, she wrapped her one-year-old baby in a bedsheet and managed to pass them over to her neighbours across the lane. After the infant was pulled to safety, the neighbours placed a ladder between the two buildings.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/prayagraj-fire-mother-saves-children-before-dying-in-blaze-viral-video-uttar-pradesh-news-2913128-2026-05-18

The award is the highest distinction that can be given to a Head of Government. This is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 31st international honour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Sweden’s highest honour, the ‘Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross,’ on Sunday, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to bilateral ties and his visionary leadership.

The award is the highest distinction that can be given to a Head of Government. This is Prime Minister Modi’s 31st international honour.

“A reaffirmation of friendship! Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden conferred upon PM @narendramodi the ‘Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross’ in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the India-Sweden relationship and his visionary leadership,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

“The Prime Minister dedicated the honour to the historic ties between India and Sweden, and described it as a tribute to the warmth and affection shared between the people of India and Sweden,” he added.

The Royal Order of the Polar Star was instituted in 1748 and is intended to recognise personal endeavours for Sweden or for Swedish interests, particularly within public activities, as well as the successful performance of public tasks and duties, according to the official website.

Also, PM Modi and his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson exchanged special gifts commemorating Rabindranath Tagore and the enduring civilisational and intellectual ties between India and Sweden in the presence of Swedish Crown Princess Victoria.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-receives-swedens-royal-order-of-polar-star-his-31st-global-honour-2913122-2026-05-17

 

Indian PM Narendra Modi and Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson held talks in Gothenburg and upgraded India-Sweden ties to a strategic partnership. The move was paired with an action plan and a wider pitch for deeper India-Europe trade, technology and investment links.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging bilateral talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Gothenburg and addressed the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), underlining India’s growing strategic and economic engagement with Sweden and Europe.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden also participated in the bilateral meeting and conveyed warm wishes from King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. PM Modi extended greetings to the Swedish monarch on his 80th birthday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also awarded Sweden’s highest honour, the ‘Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross,’ on Sunday, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to bilateral ties and his visionary leadership.

INDIA-SWEDEN TIES ELEVATED TO STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

India and Sweden agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to the level of a Strategic Partnership, reflecting growing cooperation across key sectors and shared democratic values.

The partnership will be guided by four pillars — Strategic Dialogue for Stability and Security; Next-Generation Economic Partnership; Emerging Technologies and Trusted Connectivity; and Shaping Tomorrow Together – People, Planet, Health and Resilience.

To operationalise the upgraded partnership, the two leaders adopted the India-Sweden Joint Action Plan 2026-2030, which lays out a roadmap for cooperation across political, economic, technological, security, climate and people-to-people domains.

FOCUS ON TRADE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

The leaders reviewed the full spectrum of India-Sweden relations and noted growing momentum in sectors including trade and investment, innovation, green transition, emerging technologies, defence and security, digitalisation, SMEs, space, research, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

PM Modi appreciated Sweden’s continued engagement with India in strategic sectors such as clean technologies, advanced manufacturing, sustainable mobility and digital transformation.

Prime Minister Kristersson praised India’s progress in digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence and highlighted the positive contribution of the Indian community to Sweden’s economy and innovation ecosystem.

INDIA-EU FTA TO BOOST ECONOMIC TIES

The two leaders underlined that the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement has opened a new chapter in economic and commercial relations.

They agreed to continue efforts for the early implementation of the agreement to deepen trade, investment and technology linkages between India and Europe.

CALL FOR RESILIENT SUPPLY CHAINS AND GLOBAL REFORMS

The leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments and emphasised the urgent need for reforms in the United Nations and other multilateral organisations.

PM Modi thanked Sweden for its support in the fight against terrorism. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace, stability, resilient supply chains and sustainable economic growth.

PM MODI ADDRESSES EUROPEAN INDUSTRY LEADERS

Later, PM Modi addressed the European Round Table for Industry hosted by the Volvo Group. The interaction was attended by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, senior European industry leaders and representatives from leading Indian and European companies.

In his keynote address, PM Modi highlighted the growing strategic convergence between India and Europe and stressed the importance of trusted partnerships in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

INDIA PROJECTED AS GLOBAL INVESTMENT HUB

PM Modi described India as one of the world’s most attractive destinations for investment, innovation and manufacturing, pointing to the country’s rapid economic growth, next-generation reforms, expanding digital public infrastructure and infrastructure transformation.

Reiterating the vision of “Design for India, Make in India and Export from India,” he invited European companies to deepen their engagement with India as a trusted and reliable economic partner.

IMEC, AI AND CLEAN ENERGY IN FOCUS

The Prime Minister highlighted the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), saying connectivity initiatives would add new momentum to India-Europe business cooperation.

He also invited European industry leaders to partner with India in sectors including telecom and digital infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, electronics, deep-tech manufacturing, renewable energy, green hydrogen, mobility, healthcare and life sciences.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-sweden-strategic-partnership-modi-kristersson-gothenburg-industry-talks-2913137-2026-05-18

Twisha Sharma’s family has intensified its protest over her mysterious death in Bhopal, demanding a fresh AIIMS Delhi post-mortem and refusing last rites, while her final “I am trapped” message to a friend has added a new layer of intrigue to the case.

“I am trapped, bro. Baas tu mat phasna (Just, don’t get trapped yourself). Can’t talk much. I’ll call when the time is right,” Twisha wrote to Minakshi on Instagram.

Her friend Minakshi replied: “I am worried about you, Tuktuk. I love you. I love you so much. I am with you.”

However, Twisha Sharma’s call to her friend never came. The next day, the 31-year-old, who was two months pregnant, was found hanging at her home in Bhopal. That was the last message she sent her friend, urging her not to get married.

Twisha, who was from Noida and married into a Bhopal family of lawyers and a retired judge, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on May 12.

On Sunday, Twisha’s family protested outside the residence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, demanding a fresh post-mortem examination at AIIMS Delhi. They also refused to perform her last rites, saying they would do so only after learning the truth behind her death.

The family has accused Twisha’s husband and in-laws of prolonged mental and physical abuse, and alleged that they were trying to influence the investigation. It also demanded that Twisha’s body be preserved properly for post-mortem purposes and said the ongoing probe had not inspired confidence.

Speaking to India Today TV, Twisha’s father, Navnidhi Sharma, said the family could not meet the chief minister as he was occupied with a visiting delegation, but they did speak to his OSD instead. He claimed the OSD acknowledged deficiencies in the police investigation.

Navnidhi Sharma also said the family had requested that Twisha’s body be preserved at minus 4 degrees Celsius, arguing that storage at 4-5 degrees Celsius could lead to decomposition. He alleged that this was being done at the behest of the accused and said the family would again approach the court seeking directions to lower the temperature.

On Sunday, the family remained outside the CM House for several hours, insisting on a direct meeting with the chief minister. Police personnel and senior officers tried to persuade them to hold talks with administrative officials, but the family refused to leave without an assurance from the chief minister. Navnidhi Sharma also threatened self-immolation if justice was not delivered.

Ever since the incident, the family alleged foul play in Twisha’s death and questioned the credibility of the investigation. It demanded a second post-mortem examination and said the initial report from AIIMS Bhopal was unsatisfactory.

Navnidhi Sharma alleged serious lapses in the inquiry, claiming that the FIR was registered two days after his daughter’s death and that no arrests had been made so far. He said the family had lost faith in the Special Investigation Team formed by the police and wanted the matter to be investigated under the Supreme Court’s supervision.

According to the family, Twisha’s body had injury marks on her hands and ears, raising suspicion of murder and destruction of evidence. The family also alleged that the case was being presented as a suicide despite several unanswered questions. Twisha, who was from Noida, was found hanging at her marital home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area on the night of May 12.

A former Miss Pune, Twisha had married Bhopal-based lawyer Samarth Singh in December 2025 after meeting him through a dating app in 2024. Her relatives said she wanted to leave Bhopal and return to Noida, and remained in touch with the family until shortly before her death. Her brother, Harshit Sharma, serves as a Major in the Indian Army.

Police said an SIT had been formed to investigate allegations of dowry harassment, assault and destruction of evidence against Twisha’s husband Samarth Singh and his mother, retired judge Giribala Singh.

A local court has granted anticipatory bail to retired judge Giribala Singh, while the hearing on Samarth Singh’s anticipatory bail plea is scheduled for May 18.

Katara Hills police station in-charge Sunil Dubey has said that efforts are underway to arrest Samarth Singh and that the police would challenge the bail granted to Giribala Singh and continue legal proceedings. Dubey also said that if the family continued to refuse to accept the body despite court procedures, the authorities would carry out the cremation in accordance with legal provisions.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/twisha-sharma-death-case-family-protests-cm-house-seeks-aiims-delhi-post-mortem-2913153-2026-05-18

Romin Vohra, who lost three family members in the Air India crash last June, told the Daily Mail that he witnessed scenes inside the hospital morgue that he “can never unsee”.

A man who gained access to the morgue where victims of the fiery Air India AI-171 crash were kept has revealed he witnessed scenes he “can never unsee”, including the body of the plane’s captain still clutching the aircraft’s steering column.

The London-bound Air India flight, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed into the hostel building of BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad within seconds of takeoff. The disaster killed 260 people, including 241 passengers and crew on board and 19 people on the ground. Only one flier miraculously survived.

Among those killed were Romin Vohra’s aunt Yashmin, his brother Parvez, who worked for Amazon in London, and his three-year-old niece.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Vohra said he managed to gain entry into the mortuary because he had worked as a pathology lab assistant at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic and still knew people there. He hoped to identify the remains of his relatives.

Instead, he walked into a vision straight out of hell.

According to Vohra, many of the bodies had been laid side by side on the floor. He recalled seeing severed heads and limbs, a charred mother with her child still in her arms, and the skull of a little girl that he desperately tried to match with a photograph of his niece.

But one image, he said, stood apart from the rest.

Vohra claimed he saw the body of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot in command of the ill-fated flight, placed separately in a corner of the mortuary.

“He was still in a sitting position,” Vohra told the Mail. “His back was burnt, but the front of his body was absolutely perfect.”

He said the captain’s white uniform shirt, complete with four gold stripes on the shoulders, dark tie and trousers, appeared intact. Even his shoes were still on.

What shocked him most, however, was what Sabharwal was allegedly still holding.

Vohra claimed the pilot remained clutching the aircraft’s double-handled yoke — the steering column used to control the plane — which may have broken off during impact or while rescuers removed him from the cockpit.

The Mail reported that a doctor who was purportedly present in the mortuary also backed Vohra’s account.

If accurate, aviation experts said the detail could support the argument that Captain Sabharwal was trying to save the aircraft until the final seconds.

In its preliminary report released on July 12 last year, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau said the fuel supply to both engines was cut off within one second of each other shortly after takeoff, leading to confusion inside the cockpit.

The report mentioned cockpit voice recordings in which one pilot asked, “Why did you cut off?” while the other replied, “I didn’t.”

The exchange triggered speculation that pilot error may have contributed to the crash.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/air-india-crash-report-pilot-captain-sumeet-sabharwal-ahmedabad-morgue-scenes-bodies-2913164-2026-05-18

In a groundbreaking operation, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized nearly 227.7 kilograms of Captagon, a potent synthetic stimulant often associated with conflict zones.

In a first-of-its-kind crackdown in India, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized nearly 227.7 kilograms of Captagon, often referred to as the “jihadi drug” or “war drug”, during a massive international anti-drug operation named Operation RAGEPILL on Saturday.

Officials said the seized Captagon tablets and powder are estimated to be worth around Rs 182 crore in the illegal international market.

What Is Captagon?
Captagon is a highly dangerous synthetic stimulant linked to amphetamine-type psychotropic substances. The drug is known for keeping users awake for long periods, reducing fatigue, increasing alertness and triggering aggressive behaviour. Because of its alleged use in conflict zones and by extremist groups in the Middle East, Captagon has often been described as a “jihadi drug.”

According to the NCB, this is the first-ever seizure of Captagon in India.

Syrian National Arrested
The agency said one Syrian national linked to the international drug syndicate has been arrested during the operation. Investigators said the accused entered India on a tourist visa on November 15, 2024, but continued staying illegally after his visa expired in January 2025.

While National Testing Agency (NTA) has deployed short-term fixes, eradicating organised ‘solver gangs’ and institutional paper leaks requires a comprehensive structural overhaul

Securing the integrity of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) has become an absolute necessity for India’s medical education framework. With over 22 lakh candidates now competing annually for a limited number of MBBS seats, recurring vulnerabilities in the paper distribution network threaten the trust of students and parents alike. While the National Testing Agency (NTA) has deployed short-term fixes, eradicating organised “solver gangs” and institutional paper leaks requires a comprehensive structural overhaul.

By combining digital modernisation, rigorous legal deterrence, and tighter logistical control, here are five definitive ways to secure the NEET examination process.

1. Switch to an Encrypted Digital Just-in-Time Printing Model
The most critical vulnerability in the current pen-and-paper format is the long custody chain. Physical question papers are printed weeks in advance, transported across multiple states, and stored in bank vaults, creating numerous opportunities for local leaks.

To eliminate this vulnerability, the NTA must shift to a digital, secure delivery system. Question papers should be encrypted and transmitted to designated test centres electronically, milliseconds before the scheduled exam time. Utilising automated, high-security digital printing kiosks at the venue ensures that papers are generated only when the candidate is inside the hall. This entirely bypasses the physical transport and storage risks that have historically compromised the test.

2. Deploy Rigorous Multi-Layered Biometric and AI Surveillance
Impersonation and proxy candidates remain a primary revenue driver for illicit cheating syndicates. Sophisticated networks often forge admit cards or manipulate identities to place expert test-takers into exam halls.

To build an impenetrable defence, exam centres must enforce strict real-time e-KYC protocols, including automated facial recognition and mandatory biometric fingerprint checks at the entry gate. This data must be cross-matched dynamically with the databases compiled during the application stage. Furthermore, integrating AI-enabled CCTV networks inside the testing halls can automatically flag unusual candidate movements or anomalies, ensuring that any localised malpractice is instantly logged and intercepted.

3. Mandate 5G Jammers and Comprehensive Tech Blockades
As consumer electronics miniaturise, classical frisking methods struggle to catch sophisticated wireless communication devices. Cheating networks routinely use micro-Bluetooth earpieces or sub-miniature transmitters hidden inside clothing to feed leaked answers to candidates in real time.

The NTA must standardise the deployment of advanced 5G signal blockers and jammers at all designated test venues. These devices must be capable of completely neutralising all data bands, local Wi-Fi hotspots, and Bluetooth frequencies within the facility. Blocking communication lines completely breaks the link between inside candidates and outside helpers, rendering even successfully smuggled devices completely useless.

4. Enforce the Strictest Penalties Under the Anti-Cheating Act

Administrative penalties, such as simple exam debarment, are no longer sufficient to deter multi-million-rupee cheating syndicates. The state must vigorously enforce the provisions of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act.

Under this legal framework, individuals participating in organised examination fraud face rigorous imprisonment ranging from five to ten years, alongside a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore. Crucially, the law allows for the attachment and forfeiture of properties belonging to involved institutions or third-party service providers. Treating paper leaks as non-bailable, cognisable offences, sending clear signals to paper mafia kingpins that the cost of malpractice far outweighs any potential illicit financial gains.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/no-cheat-neet-5-ways-india-can-end-the-exam-leak-epidemic-10095657.html

President Murmu has approved an ordinance increasing the Supreme Court’s sanctioned judge strength from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India.

Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal on Sunday announced that President Droupadi Murmu has approved an increase in the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court through an ordinance, a move aimed at tackling rising pendency and improving the pace of justice delivery in the country’s highest court.

In a post on X, Meghwal said, “The President is pleased to increase the Judge strength of the Supreme Court from 33 to 37 Judges (Excluding the Chief Justice of India) by promulgating The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, which has further amended the ‘Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956’.”

The ordinance raises the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India.

With the Chief Justice included, the total strength of the apex court will now rise to 38 judges.

According to government sources cited in multiple reports, the move has been undertaken in view of the growing workload of the Supreme Court and the steady rise in pending cases.

 

CABINET HAD CLEARED THE PROPOSAL EARLIER

The development comes days after the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a proposal to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.

The Cabinet on May 5 cleared the proposal for introducing the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, in Parliament to increase the number of judges in the apex court by four.

The government has maintained that the expansion in judicial strength is necessary to ensure quicker disposal of cases and reduce delays in hearings.

The increase is also expected to strengthen judicial infrastructure and improve access to timely justice for litigants across the country.

The Supreme Court’s strength was last revised in 2019, when Parliament amended the law to increase the number of judges from 30 to 33, excluding the Chief Justice of India, through the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 2019.

LEGAL FRATERNITY WELCOMES MOVE

Devansh Tyagi has gone viral on Instagram, with millions of users watching him build a temporary food stall at a scenic mountain spot and sell Maggi to tourists

Maggi in the mountains has long been seen as the perfect meal for travellers looking for comfort food in cold weather. A Delhi-based content creator recently decided to turn that idea into a business experiment by setting up a roadside Maggi stall in the hills to see how much money it could make in a single day.

The experiment, carried out by Devansh Tyagi, has now gone viral on Instagram, with millions of users watching him build a temporary food stall at a scenic mountain spot and sell Maggi to tourists and trekkers passing by. The video shows Tyagi arriving at the location with packets of instant noodles, cooking equipment, foldable tables and plastic chairs before assembling a small open-air cafe overlooking the hills.

As soon as the stall opened, customers began stopping by for hot bowls of Maggi while enjoying the mountain view. The creator prepared each order himself and chatted with visitors throughout the day. He sold a plate of regular Maggi for ₹100, while butter Maggi was priced at ₹120.

By the end of the challenge, Tyagi claimed that the stall generated ₹24,000 in a single day.

A Hyderabad-based software engineer claims he is “dead scared” to take a loan right now due to lack of job security.

A Hyderabad-based software engineer claims he is “dead scared” to take a loan right now due to lack of job security. Mutha Nagavamsi shared an X post where he obliquely referred to the climate of fear in the IT industry brought on by frequent layoff cycles across companies.

Nagavamsi compared the current scenario to a few years ago, when software engineers could take on loans without a second thought, thanks to decent job security. He claimed that today, most people are unsure whether they will even have jobs in the future, and are hence hesitant to take on a financial obligations.

‘Dead scared to take loan’
“I’m an engineer. And I’m scared to take a loan right now. 5 years ago, software engineers used to take loans left, right & center. There was decent job security,” then,” the Hyderabad techie said in his X post. “And now… no one has a clue on what’s coming in 1 year. So I wonder, is it just me or does everyone have the same problem.”

“I am pained to read how a section of the media has misquoted my oral observations made during the hearing of a frivolous case yesterday,” Chief Justice of India Surya Kant said

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday issued a strongly worded clarification on his ‘parasites’ remarks, saying he was “pained” by media reports that suggested he criticised youth.

“I am pained to read how a section of the media has misquoted my oral observations made during the hearing of a frivolous case yesterday,” the CJI said in a statement.

Kant emphasised that his remarks were specifically directed at individuals entering the legal profession through “fake and bogus degrees” and were “misquoted by a section of the media.” The clarification follows a controversy during a hearing on Friday, when the CJI used words like “parasites” and “cockroaches” while pulling up a lawyer for his plea seeking senior designation.

“What I had specifically criticised were those who have entered professions like the Bar (legal profession) with the aid of fake and bogus degrees. Similar persons have sneaked into the media, social media, and other noble professions as well, and hence, they are like parasites.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cockroaches-remarks-misquoted-aimed-at-fake-degree-holders-chief-justice-of-india-surya-kant-11506609?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

In its judgement declaring the Bhojshala complex a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati or Vagdevi, the court also asked the government to consider formal steps for bringing back the historic idol currently housed in the British Museum in London.

A recent ruling by the Madhya Pradesh High Court on the disputed Bhojshala complex in Dhar has once again drawn national attention to an ancient idol of Goddess Saraswati that has remained outside India for over a century.

In its judgement declaring the Bhojshala complex a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati or Vagdevi, the court also asked the government to consider formal steps for bringing back the historic idol currently housed in the British Museum in London.

“The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) shall have full supervisory control over the preservation and conservation. Further relief claim by the petitioner to bring the idol of goddess Saraswati from the London Museum to establish same within Bhojshala complex, the petitioners have made number of representation before the Government, which may consider the representations to bring back the idol,” the bench said.

The idol is believed to have originally stood inside the shrine complex during the reign of King Bhoj in the 11th century.

Idol Taken To England During British Rule

The statue, around four feet tall and weighing nearly 250 kilograms, is considered one of the most historically significant artefacts associated with Bhojshala. Sanskrit inscriptions in Devanagari script carved onto the sculpture further underline its cultural and archaeological importance.

According to historical accounts, large portions of the Bhojshala complex were damaged during Alauddin Khilji’s invasion in 1305. Centuries later, during excavations carried out in 1875 under British rule, the idol was reportedly recovered from the debris. A British officer is said to have taken the sculpture to England in 1880, where it has remained ever since.

“While Britain preserves pieces of art in an excellent way, not many curators of the UK’s museums understand Sanskrit language and that makes it difficult for them to fully comprehend the true cultural, artiistic meaning and value of the artefacts..” said Dr Vivek Gupta, an art historian and Postdoctoral fellow at the University College of London.

NDTV has accessed exclusive visuals of the ancient idol preserved at the British Museum in London. The museum, one of the largest in the world, attracts millions of visitors annually and houses nearly 7.5 million artefacts.

See more

#NDTVExclusive | London Museum holds Vagdevi idol, awaits India return @RadhikaIyer_ reports pic.twitter.com/5uuooO0hvG

— NDTV (@ndtv) May 16, 2026

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ndtv-exclusive-inside-british-museum-housing-bhojshalas-saraswati-idol-11506036?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll 

“I have said this before too: whether it is my own son or a common citizen, everyone is equal before the law,” Bandi Sanjay Kumar said.

Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar’s son Bandi Bhageerath Sai has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor, hours after the Telangana High Court denied him interim protection from arrest.

Kumar, who is the junior minister for Home Affairs and a BJP MP, said on Saturday that he handed Sai over to the police for investigation into the case, which was registered after a 17-year-old girl accused him of harassment and sexual assault.

The 25-year-old was charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

In a post on X, Kumar wrote that he believes everyone is equal before the law.

“With utmost respect for the law and judiciary, today my son Bandi Bhageerath went before the Telangana Police through our advocates for investigation. I have said this before too: whether it is my own son or a common citizen, everyone is equal before the law. My son has consistently maintained that he has committed no mistake. After consulting legal experts and placing before them the evidence available with us, we were advised that the matter would be addressed appropriately through the legal process,” the minister wrote.

See more

Satyameva Jayate

With utmost respect for the law and judiciary, today my son Bandi Bhageerath went before the Telangana Police through our advocates for investigation.

I have said this before too: whether it is my own son or a common citizen, everyone is equal before the law.…

— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) May 16, 2026

“At the same time, I believe in fully cooperating with the investigation and respecting the judicial system. Even though court proceedings are underway and orders are expected next week, and despite advice from our legal team, I felt there should be no hesitation from our side in cooperating with the inquiry. I have complete faith in the justice system. Justice may be delayed, but not denied,” he added.

In a hearing that lasted until nearly midnight on Friday, the Telangana High Court did not grant Sai interim protection from arrest. Sai’s counsel told the judge that the survivor’s mother, who is the complainant in the case, had said that her daughter had entered into a relationship with him last year and that it was cordial. The bail plea was opposed by the survivor’s lawyer.

Justice T Madhavi Devi said she was not inclined to issue any interim order at this stage.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/union-minister-bandi-sanjays-son-bandi-bhagirath-surrenders-in-sexual-assault-case-11505499?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

Five children from the Biwal family managed to clear NEET at the same time last year. Three members of the family are key accused in the NEET leak.

As the NEET paper leak investigation continues, two key players appear to be Dinesh and Mangilal Biwal from Rajasthan, who allegedly bought the leaked paper for children in the family.

Two children appeared for the test this year but five others had cleared it last year and secured admission in different government colleges. At least two of these five, officials said, were average students and agencies are now investigating whether the family had some ‘help’ last year as well.

One of these five is Vikas Biwal, who has been arrested by the CBI along with his father Dinesh and uncle Mangilal. Vikas, a first-year student, went missing from the Sawai Madhopur Medical College on May 11 and was arrested two days later.

BP Meena, principal of Sawai Madhopur Medical College told NDTV that Vikas was chronically absent from January this year and his academic performance was not up to the mark.

“His attendance has been very low; sometimes he came to college only once or twice a month. We take feedback from teachers and what I am given to understand by his teachers is that his performance was not satisfactory,” Meena said.

In the tests he did appear in, Vikas scored an average of 30%.

Vikas’ earlier academic records also indicate that he was an average student who managed to put in an extraordinary performance in NEET, securing a seat in a sought-after government medical college. Sources have told NDTV that Vikas scored 55% his Class 12 exams but managed to get 86% in the medical test.

The Other Four

Vikas’ cousin, Palak, was brighter in school, but average in college, her teachers said. Palak – who is the daughter of Dinesh and Mangilal Biwal’s late brother Ghanshyam – scored 93% in Class 10, 89% in Class 12 and achieved a 98.61 percentile in NEET.

At the SMS Medical College in Jaipur, where Palak is a first-year student of medicine, additional principal Dr Monika Jain said, “She was an average performer in college tests. She attended classes regularly and lived in the college hostel, but when the news came that her uncle Dinesh had been arrested by the CBI, she disappeared without informing anyone.”

Pragati, daughter of Mangilal Biwal, is a student of Dausa’s Naval Kishore Sharma Medical College. She scored 69% in Class 10, 91% in Class 12 in a Covid-affected year and 89% in NEET. Pragati took leave from college on Wednesday, when her father, brother and uncle were arrested.

The other two cousins in the Biwal family who gave the exam last year also did well. Saniya, the other daughter of Ghanshyam, is studying in a medical college in Mumbai. She managed to get 63% in Class 10, 89% in Class 12 and a 94.07 percentile in NEET.

Gunjan, daughter of Dinesh Biwal, got 86% in Class 10 and 70% in Class 12. Despite averaging between 320 and 342 out of 720 in coaching tests, she secured a 92.53 percentile in NEET and managed to get admission in a government medical college in Varanasi.

Both Saniya and Gunjan are also missing.

On November 6, 2025, Dinesh Biwal shared a Facebook post celebrating the selection of five children from the family into MBBS programmes. Coaching institutes in Sikar also prominently featured the success stories of Gunjan, Saniya, and Palak in their advertisements.

The investigation will now also look at these social media posts and promotional material featuring the Biwal children.

“The unusually high success rate of multiple members from the same family, despite many having average or below-average academic records, is definitely a cause for concern,” said an official.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/education/neet-ug-2026-paper-leak-neet-leak-neet-paper-leak-rajasthan-cbi-average-students-extraordinary-neet-scores-curious-case-of-the-rajasthan-5-11506118?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The guard of Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express first noticed flames emerging from the compartment and alerted the loco pilot, following which the train was stopped and passengers were evacuated.

A massive fire broke out in Thiruvananthapuram-Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam district early on Sunday. According to railway officials, there were 68 passengers in the coach when the fire was detected.

The incident took place in the B-1 coach as well as an adjoining SLR (Seating cum Luggage Rake) coach of Train No. 12431 at around 5.15 am between Luni Richha and Vikramgarh Alot stations under the West Central Railway’s Kota Division. No injuries or casualties have been reported so far.

The train guard first alerted the loco pilot after noticing smoke and flames emerging from the compartment, following which the train was stopped and emergency evacuation procedures were initiated.

The overhead electric (OHE) supply was immediately disconnected and the affected coach was later detached from the train to prevent the fire from spreading further.

Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, along with onboard railway staff and other officials, began de-boarding passengers immediately and the coach was cleared within around 15 minutes. Nearby coaches were also evacuated as a precautionary measure.

“All passengers of the affected coach were safely deboarded. No injury or casualty to any passenger or railway staff. OHE supply was cut immediately. The affected B-1 coach was detached from the rake,” the West Central Railway, Kota Division said in a statement.

Relief and rescue teams from the Kota Railway Division were dispatched to the spot soon after information about the incident was received.

Senior railway officials, including DRM Anil Kalra, along with police and fire department teams, reached the site to oversee rescue and restoration operations.

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Kota Division, Saurabh Jain said railway authorities were arranging additional coaches from Kota, while the remaining part of the train was likely to continue its journey after operational formalities were completed.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/massive-fire-erupts-in-ac-coach-of-thiruvananthapuram-hazrat-nizamuddin-rajdhani-passengers-evacuated-2912892-2026-05-17

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed solidarity with the UAE, and pushed for an open Strait of Hormuz on the first leg of a five-nation tour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Friday, holding wide-ranging talks with UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi that yielded a landmark defence partnership framework, a $5 billion investment package, and a clutch of energy agreements – the most substantive outcomes of the first stop on a five-nation diplomatic tour.

PM Modi was received at the airport by President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and accorded a ceremonial welcome before the two leaders sat down for a series of detailed discussions covering the full breadth of the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The visit carried an unmistakably strategic tone from the outset. PM Modi reaffirmed India’s strong condemnation of recent attacks on the UAE and conveyed his country’s solidarity with the UAE’s leadership and people. He also stated India’s clear position in favour of safe transit passage and unimpeded navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as vital for regional peace and stability as well as global energy and food security.

Energy At The Core

Energy security dominated much of the substantive agenda. The two sides concluded a Strategic Collaboration Agreement between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), under which the UAE will enhance its participation in India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves to 30 million barrels. The two nations also agreed to work together to establish strategic gas reserves in India. A separate arrangement between Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and ADNOC on long-term LPG supplies was also formalised. Both leaders acknowledged the UAE’s role as an important and enduring partner in India’s energy security, including crude oil, LNG, and LPG supplies, and agreed to promote new initiatives for a comprehensive energy partnership going forward.

$5 Billion Investment Commitment

In what is among the most tangible outcomes of the visit, UAE entities announced investments totalling $5 billion into India. Emirates NBD will invest $3 billion in India’s RBL Bank, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) will deploy $1 billion alongside India’s National Infrastructure and Investment Fund (NIIF) into priority infrastructure projects, and the International Holding Company will invest $1 billion in Sammaan Capital of India. The Ministry of External Affairs described these commitments as underscoring the UAE’s “sustained and long-term commitment to India’s growth story.”

Defence Partnership Formalised

The visit saw the signing of a Framework for Strategic Defence Partnership between the two countries – a significant step in institutionalising what both sides described as a steady and strong defence relationship. Under the framework, India and the UAE agreed to deepen defence industrial collaboration, cooperate on innovation and advanced technology, expand training and joint exercises, and strengthen maritime security, cyber defence, and secure communications and information exchange.

Technology, Shipbuilding and Trade

Beyond energy and defence, the visit produced agreements across several other sectors. A term sheet was signed to establish an 8 Exaflop Super Compute Cluster in partnership between India’s CDAC and the UAE’s G-42, marking an ambitious leap in bilateral technology cooperation. Two MoUs involving Cochin Shipyard Limited and Dubai’s Drydocks World were concluded – one on setting up a Ship Repair Cluster at Vadinar including offshore fabrication, and another, a tripartite agreement with the Centre of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding, focused on skill development in ship repair to position India as a hub for maritime professionals.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/narendra-modi-uae-visit-uae-announces-5-billion-investment-in-india-as-pm-modi-visits-abu-dhabi-11501183?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

PM Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with the Dutch leadership in The Hague, focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, semiconductors, clean energy, water management, agriculture, defence, and emerging technologies.

 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday evening as part of his multi-nation diplomatic tour aimed at strengthening India’s strategic and economic partnerships in Europe.

Announcing the Prime Minister’s arrival, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X: “Goedeavond Nederland! PM @narendramodi has arrived in the Netherlands. The visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen the multifaceted India–Netherlands partnership and to engage with the largest Indian diaspora on mainland Europe.”

PM Modi wrote on X, “Landed in Amsterdam. This visit to the Netherlands is taking place at a time when the free trade agreement between India and the European Union has given a significant boost to trade and investment relations. It offers the opportunity to strengthen ties in areas such as semiconductors, water, clean energy, and more.”

“I will hold talks with Prime Minister Dick Schoof and pay a visit to Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. I also look forward to addressing the community during an event on the morning of May 16,” the Prime Minister added.

PM Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with the Dutch leadership in The Hague, focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, semiconductors, clean energy, water management, agriculture, defence, and emerging technologies.

The visit is also expected to witness deliberations on enhancing collaboration in areas such as climate action, green hydrogen, resilient supply chains, digital innovation, and maritime cooperation.

Officials said the Netherlands remains one of India’s key economic partners in Europe, with strong trade and investment ties. The Dutch port city of Rotterdam also serves as a major gateway for Indian exports into Europe.

PM Modi is also expected to interact with members of the Indian diaspora, one of the largest Indian communities on mainland Europe, during his stay in the Netherlands.

The Indian community in the Netherlands expressed excitement over PM Modi’s visit, hailing India’s rise over the last decade.

Source:https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-arrives-in-netherlands-to-deepen-bilateral-ties-11502606

India saw its first retail fuel price revision as the West Asia conflict drives international crude to multi-year highs.

State-run oil companies raised pump prices of petrol and diesel by ₹3 per litre each across the country on Friday, while Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) increased compressed natural gas (CNG) rates by ₹2 per kg in and around Delhi — the first retail fuel price revision since the West Asia conflict drove international crude to multi-year highs.

The man said the company appreciated his profile and work experience but ultimately rejected his application.

A man has shared an unusual job rejection experience after a company allegedly turned down his application because his previous office was located just meters away from theirs.

Sharing the experience on Reddit, the man said the company appreciated his profile and work experience but ultimately rejected his application because his previous office was located “approximately 600 meters” away from their own office.

“Today I received the most funny rejection mail of my life,” the user wrote, while sharing a screenshot of the rejection email. The email cited the company’s “confidentiality and data security policy” as the reason behind the decision.

“Thank you for your time and interest in our company. We liked your profile and experience. However, due to internal management policies related to confidentiality and data security, we are unable to move forward with your application at this time, as your previous company is located approximately 600 meters from our office. Please note that this decision is policy based and not a reflection of your capability or professionalism,” the email read.

In the post, this Redditor wrote, “They said they liked my profile and experience, but they cannot continue because my previous company is located ‘approximately 600 meters’ from their office,” adding jokingly, “Bro, they actually measured the distance.”

The man also said that he appreciated the honesty of the recruiter. “At least they were honest instead of saying: ‘we moved forward with other candidates’,” he added.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/corporate-world-is-amazing-man-says-company-rejected-him-because-previous-office-was-600-metres-away-101778854673724.html

CBI has arrested Professor PV Kulkarni, identifying him as the ‘kingpin’ behind the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak

In a massive breakthrough that threatens to upend the credibility of the National Testing Agency (NTA), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Professor PV Kulkarni, identifying him as the “kingpin” behind the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Kulkarni, a chemistry lecturer at Latur’s Dayanand Medical College, was reportedly a member of the committee tasked with setting the question paper for this year’s medical entrance exam.

The arrest, made in Pune, marks a significant shift in the investigation. Unlike the 2024 probe where the NTA was largely absolved of internal leaks, the 2026 investigation has pointed directly to an “insider role” from the outset.

The Modus Operandi: Private Dictation and ‘Exactly Tallied’ Notes

The CBI’s investigation revealed a sophisticated operation led by Kulkarni during the final week of April 2026. Sources indicate that Kulkarni used his authorised access to the question papers to mobilise a select group of students with the assistance of an accomplice, Manisha Waghmare, who was apprehended by the agency on May 14.

The Secret Classes: Kulkarni allegedly conducted “special coaching classes” at his private residence in Pune for students who paid several lakhs of rupees for entry.

The Dictation: During these sessions, he dictated specific questions, options, and correct answers.

The Evidence: Students recorded these questions in their notebooks. Forensic analysis has confirmed that these handwritten notes exactly tally with the actual NEET-UG 2026 paper held on May 3.

Widening Net: Transit Remands and Nationwide Raids

Kulkarni originally hails from Latur, a known hub for medical coaching, but was operating out of Pune when the agency closed in. Following his interrogation, he is being produced before a Pune court for transit remand before being shifted to New Delhi for further questioning by top officials.

In the last 24 hours, the CBI has intensified its crackdown, conducting raids at multiple locations across India and seizing a haul of electronic gadgets, mobile phones, and incriminating documents.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/neet-paper-leak-cbi-unmasks-kingpin-as-nta-insider-with-chemistry-professors-arrest-in-pune-10093756.html

The cancellation of the NEET 2026 exam has led to tragic consequences, including the suicide of Pradeep, a 23-year-old student from Rajasthan. He had dedicated four years to preparing for the exam and felt devastated by the abrupt cancellation of the exam.

After the NEET 2026 exam got cancelled, Pradeep, a 23-year-old student from Gudha Gaudji in Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, hanged himself in the hostel. The cancellation of the medical exam left him “depressed” as he was expecting good marks on his third attempt this year. According to reports, he was preparing for the exam for the past four years, while residing in Sikar.

His family said that he believed he had a strong chance of securing admission to a government medical college this year. However, the news of exam cancellation left him devastated, which made him take this extreme step.

Notably, this is not the first suicide case by a NEET aspirant. Since the paper leak case, there have been multiple cases of suicides across India, raising concerns over the mental health of students who gave NEET exam this year.

Congress leader and Rajasthan MLA Sachin Pilot took to X, voicing out concerns over the suicide cases across the nation. He extended his deepest condolences to the grieving families who have lost their loved ones.

“The suicide of Pradeep, a student from Gudha Gaudji in Jhunjhunu district who was preparing for the NEET exam, is extremely heartbreaking. Similarly, reports of students’ suicides following incidents related to the NEET 2026 paper leak from Goa and Uttar Pradesh are deeply disturbing to the mind,” he wrote.

“The anxiety over the future due to the NEET 2026 paper leak has placed immense pressure on students, and this is directly impacting their mental health. Talented, honest students have toiled tirelessly, only for the exam to be cancelled at the end due to the paper leak,” Pilot added.

NEET Aspirant Dies by Suicide in Delhi
Earlier in the day, a 20-year-old NEET aspirant allegedly died by suicide at her residence in Delhi’s Azadpur area. Reportedly, the girl was preparing for the medical entrance test for the past few years.

No suicide note was found at the spot, and the exact reason behind the woman taking the extreme step is yet to be ascertained.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/rajasthan-neet-aspirant-dies-by-suicide-after-preparing-for-exam-for-4-years-found-hanging-in-hostel-article-154329041

A CCTV video from a Pune residential building has gone viral, showing a dispute near a lift escalating into a violent altercation. After an accidental bump led to a heated exchange, both sides exchanged slaps. The situation escalated further, with the man assaulting the woman, including pushing, hitting, kicking, hair-pulling, & striking her with a bucket.

A CCTV video from a residential building in Pune has gone viral on social media, showing a minor argument between a woman and a young man near a lift escalating into a physical altercation. The video was shared on X on May 15.

According to the video circulating online, the incident began when the young man exited the lift and accidentally bumped into the woman who was standing nearby. What started as a brief verbal exchange intensified within moments, leading to a scuffle in the building premises.

UAE F-16 fighter jets escorted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Air India One as it entered the country’s airspace on Friday. The gesture highlighted the close ties between Delhi and Abu Dhabi.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Air India One entered the UAE airspace on Friday, a special gesture awaited him. Symbolic of the close ties between Delhi and Abu Dhabi, UAE F-16 fighter jets were seen escorting PM Modi’s aircraft. The same F-16 Block 60 ‘Desert Falcon’ fighters, operated by the UAE Air Force, were recently seen in action as they took down drones and projectiles fired by Iran during its conflict with the US and Israel.

UAE, which has been embroiled in the Middle East conflict, was PM Modi’s first stop in his five-nation tour. As PM Modi’s Air India One entered the UAE airspace, two F-16 jets were seen accompanying the aircraft as it landed in Abu Dhabi. At the airport, PM Modi was given a ceremonial welcome before he sat down with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) for a bilateral meeting.

“It is a reflection of the deep strategic partnership, trust, and personal warmth shared between the leadership of India and the UAE,” BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted. The BJP said the gesture underscored the profound global respect and strengthening of ties between the nations.

PM MODI VISITS UAE AMID MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT

PM Modi’s eighth visit to the UAE comes at a time when Abu Dhabi has been in the thick of the ongoing Iran war. The UAE has faced over 2,500 drones and missiles from Iran, most of which have been intercepted.

During his meeting with MBZ, the Prime Minister thanked him for the special gesture and called the UAE his “second home”. In fact, the UAE is home to over 4 million Indians, the largest number among the Gulf countries.

“Your Air Force jets escorted me today. This is an honour to the people of India,” PM Modi said during his brief stopover. The Prime Minister also underlined that the manner in which the UAE was targeted was “unacceptable”.

“India stands shoulder to shoulder with the UAE in every situation,” PM Modi said.

Much of the discussion between the two sides centred on energy cooperation. The prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the global energy chokepoint, by Iran has led to a crucial shortage of oil, LNG and LPG supplies. India, which imports almost 85% of its oil, has faced the brunt of the Middle East conflict.

Despite it being just a brief stopover, India secured big returns from the UAE, including an agreement on supplies of LPG (mainly used as cooking gas). It is significant as India has been reeling from an LPG crunch for about a month now.

Other agreements include a framework for a strategic defence partnership and an investment worth $ 5 billion in Indian infrastructure. Two MoUs were also signed on strategic petroleum reserves and on setting up a ship repair cluster at Vadinar in Gujarat.

The timing of the agreements, especially the one on defence, is crucial. It was just three months ago that MBZ made a three-hour standalone visit to India in January.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-uae-visit-aircraft-escort-f16-fighter-jets-video-2912192-2026-05-15

When India faced a balance-of-payments crisis in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 1991 airlifted nearly 47,000 kg of gold to England to raise a $405-million emergency loan and prevent a sovereign default. The shipment, carried out in secrecy and under tight security, was one of the defining moments that paved the way for India’s economic reforms.

“Secret sale of gold by RBI again. 21,000 kg of metal airlifted to coded destination.”

This was the front-page headline of a leading English daily on July 8, 1991, when Indians and the world discovered that the Government of India had quietly begun sending the country’s gold reserves out of the country. Beneath the headline was an image of trunks being loaded onto a cargo aircraft at Bombay’s Santa Cruz Airport (now Mumbai Airport’s Terminal 1). Just days earlier, on July 4, the first consignment had already left. Two more shipments followed after the news broke. In the summer of 1991, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) “secretly pledged” and airlifted nearly 47 tonnes (or 47,000 kg) of gold to England as the nation stared at a devastating balance-of-payments crisis.

The move by the RBI, under Governor S Venkitaramanan, came after deliberations over several emergency options. It was finally decided to borrow around $405 million by pledging gold to a foreign bank at a time when India had barely enough foreign exchange reserves left to pay for about a week’s worth of imports.

In India, gold is security, pride and sentiment. It’s also a source of anxiety. Some saw the government’s move as a national humiliation as much as an economic crisis. It was a time when India was even forced to sell 20 tonnes of confiscated gold to raise $215 million as it desperately needed foreign exchange (forex).

Discussions on the move started early on when Chandra Shekhar was the prime minister (November 1990-June 1991) and was heading a caretaker government led by the Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya).

These emergency gold-backed measures of the early 1990s helped India avoid a sovereign default on its external payment obligations and stabilised the country long enough for the new government of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao to launch landmark economic reforms amid a major crisis. The Rao government took over on 21 June 1991, weeks before the gold was airlifted by the RBI and moved out of India.

“The initiative to pledge gold was taken by the RBI. It, of course, needed the permission of the government, which was given. It was a bold decision by a government which at that time was only a caretaker government led by Chandra Shekhar. It showed great wisdom and courage. That was the starting point,” journalist Shankkar Aiyar, who broke the news in The Indian Express, wrote in his 2012 book, Accidental India: A History of the Nation’s Passage Through Crisis and Change.

HOW MUCH GOLD DOES INDIA HAVE? MODI’S MESSAGE ON GOLD IS AIMED AT SAVING FOREX

As Aiyar called it a “starting point”, this set the stage for India’s economic liberalisation. India has since witnessed a turnaround in gold reserves. As of March 2026, the RBI held about 880.5 tonnes of gold worth over $115 billion. A majority of the gold is now stored domestically. The RBI repatriated more than 100 tonnes from abroad in recent years, according to reports.

Although gold always trends, it’s a talking point again. PM Narendra Modi has twice urged Indians to avoid or defer non-essential gold purchases for at least one year to reduce pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves and the Indian Rupee. The appeal came amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war in the Middle East. Oil prices have shot up for India and the import bill has increased.

Like now, when India is facing the heat of the Iran war, back in 1991, the Kuwait war hit the economy of the nation, which had just started to roam in an open market.

Modi described gold imports as a significant drain on forex. He also asked citizens to cut fuel consumption, avoid unnecessary foreign travel, and consider work-from-home where possible. Following the appeal, the government hiked gold and silver import duties to curb imports.

India imported around $72 billion worth of gold in 2025-26. That is roughly 178 times the $405 million India raised by pledging gold in 1991.

WHEN INDIA BARRED MAKING OF GOLD ORNAMENTS OVER 14 CARAT

Gold is gold and has been so for centuries. Wars have been fought in India and elsewhere over the precious metal.

In post-Independent India, gold had sensitive economic and political issues. The country imported large quantities of gold (like we still do), draining precious foreign exchange at a time when dollars were scarce. Governments have tried to curb demand through strict controls, bans and taxes.

In 1962, after the war with China worsened forex position, the government introduced the Gold Control Rules. The measures became even stricter under Finance Minister Morarji Desai, who piloted the Gold Control Act in 1968. The moves banned citizens from holding gold bars and coins and restricted jewellers from making ornaments above 14 carats (in 1963). The measures upset India’s traditional gold trade.

In a letter dated April 1, 1963 to PM Jawaharlal Nehru, Desai defended the restrictions, saying, “The free use of 24-carat gold… has had to be prohibited because it is in this form that smuggled gold comes into the country and circulates”.

Desai also argued that the crisis facing goldsmiths was being exaggerated. He assured that “meenakars” and “kundan workers” producing for exports and tourists would receive “suitable quotas of 24-carat gold” under regulated conditions.

The government wanted to stop Indians from buying new and hoarding gold so that the import bill would fall, and foreign exchange could be saved. But the restrictions backfired. Smuggling boomed across India’s coasts. Kerala, Gujarat and Maharashtra became hotspots. By the 1980s, gold smuggling syndicates had become entrenched.

Even as India tried to stop gold imports, Indians continued seeing gold as security during uncertain times.

HOW DID INDIA REACH THE EDGE OF DEFAULT IN 1991?

By 1990-91, India’s economy was collapsing under rising debt. Political instability was severe and foreign exchange shortages were lurking in the sluggish and stagnant economy. The crisis worsened after the January 1991 Gulf War. Oil prices shot up and the flow of remittances from Indians working in the Gulf was disrupted. This was when 750 oil wells burned for nine months and brought black rain over the Himalayas.

By the spring of 1991, barely enough dollars left to pay for about a week’s imports were left in the exchequer. Agencies downgraded India’s credit ratings, foreign lenders lost confidence and the government struggled to raise emergency loans.

In Accidental India, journalist-author Shankkar Aiyar described the atmosphere of panic around the new government of PV Narasimha Rao. With 244 seats, he was leading a minority government. Cabinet Secretary Naresh Chandra handed PM Rao a note detailing “the economic crisis” and another laying out “the blueprint for the revival of the country’s economy”.

“Several steps were being taken to activate the RBI’s gold holdings,” C Rangarajan, who was then the deputy RBI Governor and went on to become full-time governor, wrote in his memoir, Forks in the Road: My Days at RBI. “The first step was to revalue the gold holdings at market price.”

The second step was the government approving a proposal to raise foreign exchange by pledging confiscated gold. The third was the far more sensitive move to pledge the RBI’s own reserves, which led to 46.91 tonnes of gold being airlifted to the United Kingdom in July 1991, Rangarajan detailed in his book.

The RBI and the government believed gold-backed borrowing was the fastest way to prevent India from defaulting on external payments.

HOW WAS INDIA’S GOLD PLEDGE PLANNED?

The operation to transport gold from India to abroad unfolded in two stages.

First, in May 1991, the government arranged a swap deal using 20 tonnes of confiscated gold through the State Bank of India (SBI) and Union Bank of Switzerland. The move raised around $215 million. But that was not enough.

The RBI then proposed using its own reserves. Rangarajan wrote that “the initiative to pledge gold was taken by the RBI” and that the caretaker government led by Chandra Shekhar approved the plan with “wisdom and courage”.

The central bank explored options with major institutions abroad. Under RBI rules, India could borrow only from another “currency authority”, meaning a central bank. Eventually, the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan emerged as possible lenders.

There were practical problems too. Much of the RBI’s gold was stored in forms that did not satisfy London Good Delivery standards. Officials had to sort, weigh, repack and insure the bars under extreme secrecy.

Rangarajan recalled that “packing, insuring and finally sending the gold through the airlines had to be done in a short span of time without attracting much attention”.

HOW WAS RBI’S GOLD SECRETLY AIRLIFTED FROM MUMBAI?

Beginning July 4, 1991, the RBI started flying gold out of Mumbai in four consignments. In total, 46.91 tonnes were airlifted, mainly to the United Kingdom, helping India raise about $405 million. The operation resembled a covert security mission.

Gold was moved in RBI bullion vans from vaults in Mumbai to Santa Cruz Airport under armed convoy protection. One consignment reportedly had to halt briefly after fears of a tyre burst in the escort convoy. The secrecy was so intense that customs authorities needed special authorisation because the shipment declaration rules themselves became a problem, according to Rangarajan’s book, Forks in the Road: My Days at RBI.

“A special authorisation from the finance ministry had to be obtained to send gold without such a declaration,” he wrote.

Then came the moment the operation slipped into public view. On July 8, 1991, The Indian Express carried the headline with the image from Bombay’s Santa Cruz or Sahar Airport. The report by Shankkar Aiyar shocked the country. Aiyar later wrote that the gold pledge “woke people up to the enormity of the crisis”.

“…Crates of gold were being furtively unloaded from the dull-grey vans of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) into the loading bays of a heavy-bellied cargo aircraft,” Shankkar Aiyar wrote in his book.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/history-of-it/story/gold-news-price-today-rbi-1991-pledge-reserves-forex-india-sent-england-financial-default-2911999-2026-05-15

When asked about Mamata Banerjee’s move, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari declined to comment extensively, saying his government was focused on governance.

Senior BJP leader and West Bengal Assembly Protem Speaker Tapas Roy on Thursday termed TMC chief Mamata Banerjee appearing before the Calcutta High Court a “political gimmick”, alleging that she was attempting to remain in the public eye after the party’s electoral defeat.

Roy, reacting to Banerjee’s court appearance over alleged post-poll violence and attacks on TMC offices, said the Trinamool Congress and its supremo had lost credibility among the people.

“Neither TMC nor Banerjee has any credibility. People have rejected both for their arrogance, corruption and nepotism. Now, to stay in the news, Banerjee has reached the court so she can enact a drama. But it won’t yield any results. She wants to be in the news and is doing all the theatrics,” Roy told reporters at the Assembly, according to PTI.

Earlier in the day, Banerjee appeared before the Calcutta High Court and told the bench that police had remained passive during incidents of post-poll violence.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/political-gimmick-to-grab-headlines-bjp-attacks-mamata-banerjee-over-her-appearance-at-calcutta-high-court-4002996

The 30-year old, a resident of Pitampura, said that she had gone to her brother’s house in Sultanpuri on the day of the incident to help him shift houses.

 

“I told them I won’t take any action against you. Please let me go. I have three children waiting for me at home,” the woman who was gangraped by two men on a private bus earlier this week recounted to HT on Thursday.

The accused were identified as Umesh Kumar and Ramendra Kumar, both in their late 30s and originally from Uttar Pradesh. They have been arrested and sent to judicial custody, said police.

The 30-year old, a resident of Pitampura, said that she had gone to her brother’s house in Sultanpuri on the day of the incident to help him shift houses. On the way back home, she had managed to get an e-rickshaw till Saraswati Vihar on the Outer Ring road.

“I was standing at the bus stop when this private bus stopped. I asked a man standing inside about what time it was. He asked me to come inside the bus and speak to him. So, I boarded the bus,” she said.

As soon as she got on, the driver then started the bus.

There were only three people on the bus, including herself. The man who had asked her to board the bus then pushed her to the back of the vehicle and raped her while it was moving.

“When they reached near Nangloi Railway Station, they parked the bus and then the driver also raped me,” she said.

After this, she pleaded to be let go and that her children were waiting for her. “I told them what’s done is done and I will not take any action against them. That’s why they let me go. I then called the police,” she said

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhi-gangrape-victim-says-she-pleaded-with-suspects-to-let-her-go-101778785029927.html

Udhayanidhi Stalin said his remarks on Sanatan were aimed at caste discrimination and social inequality, not religion or temple worship. He said the stand reflected the Dravidian movement’s long-held emphasis on equality and opposition to oppression.

Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday clarified his remarks on “Sanatan,” saying his comments were aimed at caste discrimination and social inequality, and not against religion or temple worship.

Responding to criticism over remarks he made in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Udhayanidhi said his statement posted on X, “Sanatan, which divides people, must certainly be eradicated” had been misunderstood by opponents.

“Saying that Sanatan should be eradicated does not mean that no one should go to temples,” he said in a statement. “It means that everyone should have equal rights — not just in temples, but in society as a whole.”

The DMK leader said he was referring to practices that divide people into upper and lower castes and asserted that such discrimination should be abolished.

“What I meant is that the practice of dividing people into upper and lower castes must be abolished,” he said, while adding that the Dravidian movement had historically grown through opposition and criticism.

“I am not someone who fears such criticism,” Udhayanidhi said. “The Dravidian movement has grown through opposition.”

Invoking Dravidian and social justice icons, he said his views reflected the principles advocated by Periyar EV Ramasamy, BR Ambedkar, CN Annadurai and M Karunanidhi.

“We are not against anyone’s belief in God. But we strongly oppose inequality and oppression,” he added.

Quoting Tamil philosopher-poet Thiruvalluvar, Udhayanidhi concluded with the line “Pirappokkum ella uyirkkum,” meaning all beings are equal by birth, and said that remained the guiding principle of the Dravidian movement.

Days earlier, the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly again advocated for the “eradication of Sanatan” on the floor of the House, triggering reactions from multiple quarters. However, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who was present in the Assembly, did not respond to the remarks.

“Sanathanam, which separated people, should be eradicated,” Udhayanidhi had said on the first day of the Assembly session after the 2026 state elections.

 

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/udhayanidhi-stalin-sanatan-remark-caste-discrimination-not-religion-tamil-nadu-2911966-2026-05-14

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to chair a full Council of Ministers meeting on May 21. The review comes amid intensifying speculation over a Cabinet expansion and reshuffle ahead of the government’s first anniversary.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to chair an important meeting of the Union Council of Ministers on May 21 amid growing speculation over a possible expansion and reshuffle of the Modi 3.0 Cabinet, official sources said on Thursday.

The meeting is expected to be attended by all Union Cabinet ministers, ministers of state with independent charge and ministers of state. Sources said the meeting will review the implementation of various government schemes and programmes, along with the functioning of ministries and departments.

The meeting assumes added political significance as discussions over a possible Cabinet reshuffle have intensified ahead of the first anniversary of the Modi 3.0 government, which was sworn in on June 10, 2024. According to sources, a Cabinet expansion and reshuffle could take place in the second week of June.

The proposed meeting also comes shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strong performance in the recently concluded Assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam, as well as the return of the National Democratic Alliance government in Puducherry.

 

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/modi-union-council-of-ministers-meeting-may-21-cabinet-reshuffle-speculation-2912000-2026-05-15

At Prateek Yadav’s funeral, Akhilesh Yadav comforted his young niece Padmaja with a chocolate. The brief exchange, captured on video, came to symbolise a human moment amid the family’s public grief.

In the midst of sorrow, prayers and final farewells at Prateek Yadav’s funeral on Thursday, a small moment between Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and his five-year-old niece briefly softened the atmosphere of grief, and later touched many online.

Prateek Yadav, the younger son of late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, died on May 13 at the age of 38 following cardiac and lung-related complications, including pulmonary embolism, doctors said.

His funeral at Baikunth Dham drew a large gathering of political leaders, relatives, supporters and well-wishers from across Uttar Pradesh. The sombre ceremony reflected not only the passing of a member of one of the state’s most influential political families, but also the deeply personal loss felt within the Yadav household.

Among those seated under a temporary shed at the crematorium were Akhilesh Yadav, senior Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav, Prateek’s wife Aparna Yadav, and the couple’s daughters, 12-year-old Prathama and five-year-old Padmaja.

As rituals continued, Padmaja, visibly exhausted after the long day, sat quietly beside Akhilesh. At one point, the SP chief handed her a chocolate in an understated attempt to comfort the child amid the emotionally draining ceremony. When the young girl struggled to open the wrapper, she gently turned to him for help. Akhilesh opened it for her and handed it back. The child thanked him softly before taking the chocolate.

For a fleeting moment, the little girl’s face brightened.

Videos capturing the exchange soon spread across social media platforms, where many users described the interaction as heartbreaking yet deeply human, a rare glimpse of tenderness amid public mourning.

The funeral also brought together several members of the extended Yadav family, including Dharmendra Yadav and Akshay Yadav, along with Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and ministers Daya Shankar Singh and Dinesh Pratap Singh.

Though born into a powerful political family, Prateek Yadav had largely remained away from active politics. Friends and acquaintances described him as reserved, courteous and focused on his business interests. He was also known among close circles for his passion for fitness, luxury cars, motorcycles and animals.

In recent days, older videos of Prateek attending family gatherings with Aparna Yadav have resurfaced online, with many social media users recalling his warm interactions with relatives and friends.

Speaking to reporters earlier at King George’s Medical University, Akhilesh Yadav remembered his half-brother as “a very good young man” whom he had known since childhood.

 

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/uttar-pradesh/story/akhilesh-yadav-prateek-yadav-funeral-chocolate-gesture-niece-viral-video-2912002-2026-05-15

The suspects were intercepted by immigration authorities at Chennai international airport while attempting to leave the country after the April 23 polls.

 

Chennai police arrested 10 foreign nationals – four of them women – for allegedly casting illegal votes using fraudulently obtained identity documents in the recently held Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, officials said on Thursday.

According to a press release, the individuals were intercepted by immigration authorities at Chennai international airport while attempting to leave the country after the polls, which were held on April 23.

Investigations revealed that despite holding foreign citizenship and not being Indian citizens, the accused had stayed in various parts of the state to allegedly exercise their franchise illegally, the release said.

Following a complaint by immigration officials to the Greater Chennai Police Commissionerate, cases were registered between May 7 and May 14 by the Central Crime Branch and local police units.

All the accused were produced before a court for further legal proceedings, the statement added.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/tamil-nadu-assembly-elections-police-arrest-foreigners-illegally-casting-votes-april-23-polls-chennai-airport-2912011-2026-05-15

Saubhagya Singh Thakur was served a show-cause notice after travelling to Bhopal in a nearly 50-vehicle convoy to assume charge as Madhya Pradesh Textbook Corporation chairman. The action followed scrutiny over whether the display defied appeals on fuel conservation and official restraint.

A major impact of an India Today report has once again been seen in Madhya Pradesh, with newly appointed Madhya Pradesh Textbook Corporation chairperson Saubhagya Singh Thakur being served a show-cause notice and barred from all official activities until further orders.

The action comes after India Today highlighted how Thakur allegedly ignored Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public appeal for fuel conservation by travelling from Ujjain to Bhopal with a convoy of nearly 50 vehicles to assume charge of his new post.

Following the controversy, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav had earlier issued directions discouraging rallies and public processions linked to assumption of office ceremonies. The matter has now escalated further, with strict restrictions imposed on Thakur for allegedly failing to follow appeals and directives issued in the national interest.

According to the order, Saubhagya Singh Thakur has been prohibited from entering the Madhya Pradesh Textbook Corporation office or premises until further instructions. He has also been barred from using any corporation facility, vehicle, staff or office resources.

 

The restrictions further state that he will not be allowed to participate in or chair any meeting related to the corporation. He has also been prohibited from taking part in any administrative or financial decisions or signing official documents until further orders.

At least 111 people were killed and 72 others injured after powerful storms and heavy rainfall swept through several districts of Uttar Pradesh, causing widespread destruction across the state, officials said on Thursday.

Following the loss of lives in the state, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed all district in-charge ministers to visit and meet families affected by recent storms, lightning and heavy rainfall in the state.

Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party chief, responded positively to the Delhi High Court judge’s decision to transfer the excise policy case, viewing it as a triumph of truth and Gandhian values.

The move is ⁠likely to support global white and raw sugar ‌prices, while allowing rival ​producers Brazil and Thailand to boost shipments to Asian and African buyers.

India has banned the export of sugar till September 30 this year with immediate effect, a move which would help enhance domestic availability and contain prices.

Earlier the exports were under a restricted category, under which a license was required for the outbound shipments.

“The export policy of Sugar (Raw Sugar, White Sugar and Refined Sugar)… is amended from ‘Restricted’ to ‘Prohibited’ with immediate effect till September 30, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification dated May 13.

This order, however, does not apply to sugar being exported to the European Union and the US under the CXL and Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) arrangement, respectively.

The arrangements allow exporters to ship specified quantities of sugar to these destinations at significantly reduced or zero customs duties.

The DGFT’s order is also not applicable to the shipments under the advance authorisation scheme, government-to-government exports and consignments already in the physical export pipeline.

For the 2025-26 sugar marketing year (October to September), the Food Ministry initially allowed 15 lakh tonnes in exports, then opened an additional 5,00,000-tonnes pool, of which only 87,587 tonnes were approved.

So, nearly 16 lakh tonnes of sugar export were allowed.

The food ministry and sugar mills were expecting 7.5-8 lakh tonnes of shipments in the entire 2025-26 marketing year.

India’s sugar production rose 7.32 per cent to 27.52 million tonnes till April in the 2025-26 marketing season, driven by higher output in Maharashtra and Karnataka, according to industry body ISMA.

ISMA projected total production for the 2025-26 marketing season at 29.3 million tonnes after ethanol diversion, up from 26.12 million tonnes recorded in 2024-25.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/india-bans-sugar-exports-until-september-2026-to-cool-local-prices-4002160#google_vignette

Air India said it would assist affected passengers with rebooking on alternative flights, free date changes or full refunds.

Air India will cancel around 400 international flights per month between June and August, cutting or suspending services across North America, Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia as elevated jet fuel prices due to the West Asia conflict and airspace restrictions squeeze the commercial viability of long-haul operations.

The announcement comes days after the Federation of Indian Airlines—representing Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet—wrote to the government on April 26 warning that the industry was under “extreme stress” and on the “verge of stopping operations” over rising aviation turbine fuel costs.

Air India said it would assist affected passengers with rebooking on alternative flights, free date changes or full refunds.

Major cuts are to flights to North American cities. Delhi-Chicago flights have been suspended. Delhi-San Francisco has been cut from 10 weekly flights to seven until the end of August. Delhi-Toronto has been halved from 10 to five weekly flights until July, returning to daily service in August. Delhi-Vancouver has been reduced from seven to five weekly flights.

Mumbai-Newark increases from three weekly flights to daily service. Delhi-JFK remains at seven weekly flights. Delhi-Newark and Mumbai-JFK have been suspended.

For European destinations, Delhi-Paris has been halved from 14 weekly flights to seven. Delhi-Copenhagen, Delhi-Vienna, Delhi-Zurich and Delhi-Rome have each been cut by one weekly flight, from four to three. Delhi-Milan has been reduced from five to four weekly flights.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/air-india-cuts-around-400-international-flights-across-europe-north-america-and-asia-till-august-us-iran-war-101778726232526.html

The fresh order formally revokes the earlier directive that had required strict adherence to uniforms without religious symbols, a move that had sparked a political flashpoint centred on the wearing of the hijab.

The Karnataka government has withdrawn its February 2022 order on school uniforms and issued new guidelines that permit students to wear a limited range of traditional and religion-based symbols alongside prescribed uniforms in government, aided and private schools and pre-university colleges.

The fresh order formally revokes the earlier directive that had required strict adherence to uniforms without religious symbols, a move that had sparked a political flashpoint centred on the wearing of the hijab.

“Permissible traditional and faith-based symbols may include items commonly worn by students such as turban, Janeu, Shivadhara, Rudraksha, hijab or similar forms. However, such items shall not affect discipline, safety or identification of students,” the order stated.

Under the new rules, institutions must continue to enforce the prescribed uniforms set by their authorities. Students are now allowed to wear items such as the turban or peta, sacred thread, shivadara, rudraksha beads, and the headscarf or hijab, provided these symbols complement the uniform and do not compromise discipline, safety, the identification of students, or the overall purpose of the uniform policy.

The government has stated explicitly that no student shall be denied entry to classrooms, examinations or any academic activities solely for wearing these permitted symbols with the uniform. At the same time, no student can be compelled either to wear or to remove such symbols.

Dress codes prescribed for national and state-level examinations will continue to apply during those specific events. Officials have directed that the implementation of the order must be uniform, secular, neutral and non-discriminatory, in accordance with constitutional principles of equality, dignity, fraternity, scientific temper and the right to education.

School and college authorities have been instructed not to harass or discriminate against students on these grounds and to ensure that no child is denied access to education while upholding institutional discipline. Any existing circulars, resolutions or institutional rules that contradict the new order are to be treated as invalid.

The government framed the revision under the powers granted by Sections 7 and 133(2) of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983, which allow it to regulate educational institutions and issue directions for proper administration, discipline and public order.

In its reasoning, the government described educational institutions not only as centres of academic instruction but as constitutional spaces where students are expected to imbibe values including scientific temper, equality, fraternity, dignity, mutual respect, secularism, discipline and social harmony.

“Many incidents here and there have happened. Last year also in my education department and this time on April 24, a child was asked to remove the sacred thread. The child was really disappointed and hurt. The parents and associations were hurt. Even the Chief Minister and Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao asked me to take action. These things are common. Might be an earring or any accessory. These things shouldn’t come in between education and future. They are religious practices,” said Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa.

BJP MLA Bharat Shetty slammed the latest order saying, “It is an attempt to divert from their failures” and that “Hindi students must also be allowed to wear saffron shawls.”

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If the Karnataka State Government permits hijab in educational institutions, then Hindu students should also be allowed to wear saffron shawls. This was the demand raised by students in Karnataka when the hijab controversy first erupted.

Though the High Court had banned hijab in…

— Girish Bharadwaj (@Girishvhp) May 13, 2026

“If the Karnataka State Government permits hijab in educational institutions, then Hindu students should also be allowed to wear saffron shawls. This was the demand raised by students in Karnataka when the hijab controversy first erupted. Though the High Court had banned hijab in educational institutions, holding that it is not an essential religious practice in Islam, and the matter is currently pending before the apex court, the Siddaramaiah Government is determined to revive the controversy, leading to law and order issues,” said Girish Bharadwaj, advocate and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/karnataka-hijab-karnataka-revokes-2022-order-allows-hijab-sacred-thread-in-schools-11490857

 

Unidentified gunmen ambushed two vehicles carrying Thadou Baptist Association members in Kangpokpi, killing three church leaders and injuring four others. The attack drew condemnation, rival allegations and shutdown calls, deepening tensions in Manipur.

At least three church leaders were killed and four others injured after unidentified armed assailants ambushed two vehicles carrying members of the Thadou Baptist Association (TBA) in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Wednesday, triggering widespread condemnation and fresh tensions in the violence-hit state.

The attack took place between Kotzim and Kotlen villages along the Kangpokpi–Churachandpur corridor road when the victims were returning from Churachandpur after attending a TBA conference, officials and community organisations said.

According to initial reports, former General Secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention, V. Sitlhou, along with pastors Kaigoulun Lhouvum and Paogoulen Sitlhou, were killed in the ambush.

Officials said eight persons travelling in two separate vehicles came under heavy attack. Four sustained injuries, while one escaped unhurt.

The injured were identified as SM Haopu, Hekai Simte, Kaigoulun, Paothang Paogou and driver Goumang. Three of the injured were later shifted to Shija Hospital in Imphal for treatment.

Several Kuki organisations alleged that the attack was carried out by cadres suspected to be associated with the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) and valley-based insurgent groups. The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) demanded immediate action against those responsible and sought ex gratia compensation, rehabilitation, and long-term support for the bereaved families.

The Kuki Zo Council (KZC) also strongly condemned the incident, stating that targeting church leaders reflected “cruelty and inhumanity” and demonstrated disregard for religious and Christian values.

Meanwhile, the Zeliangrong United Front denied involvement in the ambush. In a statement issued by its secretary for information and publicity, Louis Gangmei, the outfit condemned the killings and described the incident as an “inhumane and cowardly act”.

The organisation further claimed that there was no faction called “ZUF-Kamson” and accused operatives of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) of using the ZUF name to mislead the public and spread ethnic animosity.

The United Naga Council also condemned the attack. However, it alleged that around 20 Nagas from Konsakhul village were later held hostage by villagers from Leilon Vaiphei, purportedly in response to the incident.

In protest against the killings, the Kuki Students’ Organisation and the Zomi Students’ Federation announced an indefinite shutdown in Churachandpur district with immediate effect. Thadou organisations also imposed an indefinite shutdown along National Highway-2, the crucial Imphal–Dimapur highway.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, accompanied by Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam and other legislators, visited the injured at Shija Hospital.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/three-church-leaders-killed-four-injured-in-ambush-in-manipurs-kangpokpi-district-2911396-2026-05-14

 

The Election Commission-led SIR exercise has now expanded beyond polls to plugging holes in direct benefit transfers. West Bengal and Bihar, two BJP-led states, will be using SIR data to identify duplicate, deceased and ineligible beneficiaries to plug leakages in welfare delivery systems.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an Election Commission-led exercise to clean up voter lists by removing dead, duplicate or ineligible names, has now expanded beyond polls, and into plugging of leakages in welfare schemes in West Bengal and Bihar.

Days after the BJP formed its first government in West Bengal under CM Suvendu Adhikari, the administration signalled that those whose names were deleted during the SIR process would not be eligible for several government welfare schemes. Similar measures are underway in Bihar, where the BJP-led NDA government has begun removing beneficiaries from ration lists after SIR deletions.

Simultaneously, Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary said people whose names were deleted from the state’s electoral rolls would not be entitled to government benefits, including ration and welfare schemes, according to a report in The Indian Express.

By linking the databases of welfare schemes with the revised electoral rolls, the SIR exercise is now the basis of the two state governments’ identification of duplicate, deceased and allegedly ineligible beneficiaries to plug leakages in welfare delivery systems.

The Election Commission’s SIR was launched ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections in Bihar and 2026 West Bengal Vidhan Sabha polls to purify electoral rolls and remove allegedly ineligible names. While the SIR removed around 65 lakh names in Bihar, around 91 lakh names were deleted in West Bengal. Out of the 91 lakh removed in West Bengal, over 27 lakh people remained on the list of “logical discrepancies”, and could not vote in the Assembly polls on April 23 and 29.

While the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) model reduced leakages in welfare delivery by cutting out middlemen and ghost beneficiaries, major gaps still remain in the system. Problems like incomplete Aadhaar-bank linkage, fake and duplicate beneficiaries, diversion of funds and inclusion-exclusion errors.

The states seem to be trying to plug the leakages now through the SIR-verified database.

Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram called the moves by Bengal and Bihar “outrageous”.

Adding that the moves raised serious questions, Chidambaram said, “Is citizenship the basis for inclusion in the electoral roll, or, is inclusion in the electoral roll the basis of citizenship? The Supreme Court should ponder the question”.

NO WELFARE SCHEMES FOR NAMES REMOVED IN SIR IN BENGAL

After taking charge on May 10, the BJP government of Bengal made it clear that people deleted from the voter list during the SIR, including those whose appeals are pending before the tribunals, would not “for the time being” receive the benefits of its schemes like, Annapurna Bhandar scheme, a BJP manifesto scheme aimed to replace the Trinamool Congress’ Lakshmir Bhandar, reported The Telegraph.

“We will introduce the Annapurna Bhandar for women from June 1. Women will receive Rs 3,000 a month. But those still being verified by the tribunals will not be included in the list of beneficiaries for the time being,” West Bengal’s Minister for Women and Child Welfare and Social Welfare, Agnimitra Paul, was quoted as saying by the Kolkata-based newspaper.

“We will do an analysis before June 1. Those whose names have been struck off, if they are receiving then they are not supposed to. Someone who is dead is not supposed to get it. Someone who is not a citizen of this country, they are not supposed to get it. So we will do this analysis. Those whose names have been struck off, how many of them have been getting Lakshmir Bhandar, their names will be removed,” Paul told reporters.

“If any of them later get back onto the electoral rolls, she will be included in the list of beneficiaries,” a senior official told The Telegraph.

West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari had on Tuesday said that no existing welfare scheme would be discontinued.

“All social programmes of the government, which may have been started 30 years or 10 years back, will continue. However, all such schemes will now function through a transparent process. No deceased person, illegal infiltrator, or non-Indian individual will be allowed to avail benefits meant for citizens of the state,” Adhikari was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

The SIR exercise in Bengal became controversial in minority-heavy and migrant-dominated regions, where the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress alleged that it was aimed at voter suppression.

BANK PASSBOOKS TO BE CANCELLED, NO RATION SCHEME FOR SIR-DELETED NAMES: BIHAR CM

Like the one in West Bengal, a similar process is underway in Bihar under the NDA government led by CM Samrat Choudhary.

The Bihar government has stated that individuals deleted during SIR will not be eligible for welfare benefits and ration schemes, reported The Indian Express on Wednesday.

“People whose names have been deleted from the Bihar electoral roll will not be entitled to any government benefits, including ration and other welfare schemes,” Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary told the newspaper. “Bank passbooks of those deleted would also be cancelled in due course of time,” he added.

Elaborating the impact on Bihar’s ration card-holders, Bihar Food and Consumer Protection Minister Ashok Choudhary said, “The names of about five lakh people have been deleted from among ration-card holders post-SIR in the state,” reported The Indian Express.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sir-voter-roll-deletions-names-sir-west-bengal-suvendu-agnimitra-samrat-choudhary-bihar-welfare-schemes-2911265-2026-05-14

The NEET-UG 2026 exam, held on May 3 for admissions to undergraduate medical courses, was cancelled on Tuesday amid allegations of paper leak. The cancellation has left over 22 lakh medical aspirants and their families in uncertainty.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested five people in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case. Four of the accused were produced before a magistrate in Jaipur before being taken to New Delhi on a one-day transit remand.

The CBI arrested Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal and Dinesh Biwal from Jaipur, Yash Yadav from Gurugram and Shubham Khairnar from Nashik. Several other suspects are being questioned in various cities and may be arrested later, officials said.

Khairnar, who was arrested on May 12, is being brought to New Delhi for further questioning after a Mumbai magistrate court granted the agency a two-day transit remand.

The NEET-UG 2026 exam, held on May 3 for admissions to undergraduate medical courses, was cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday amid allegations of a paper leak. The cancellation has left over 22 lakh medical aspirants and their families in uncertainty.

WHAT THE CBI PROBE HAS FOUND

The CBI investigation has uncovered a chain of alleged links involving multiple individuals and transactions across states.

Mangilal Biwal and Dinesh Biwal are brothers, while Vikas Biwal is Dinesh’s son, who was preparing for NEET in Sikar, officials said.

Investigators allege that Dinesh, who is purportedly linked with the BJP, purchased the question paper on April 26-27 for around Rs 30 lakh. The claim is currently under verification.

The paper was allegedly procured for Vikas and was later circulated and sold in soft-copy form to other aspirants in Sikar. The probe has also revealed that four members of the same family have cleared NEET in previous years.

Separately, Khairnar is said to have received the paper from Pune, which he then passed on to Yadav, sources said.

The CBI has seized a number of digital devices, including mobile phones and laptops, from the suspects. These will be sent for forensic examination to trace the messaging applications on which the paper was allegedly circulated.

CBI TAKES OVER FROM SOG

A CBI team arrived at the SOG office late Tuesday evening to take charge of the investigation.

According to Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group, which initiated the probe, the origins of a guess paper containing questions similar to those in the exam were traced to a student from Sikar district pursuing MBBS in Kerala. The student shared it with friends and a hostel owner in Sikar.

The hostel owner distributed the paper among students at the hostel, saying it could be helpful. He later tipped off local police, informing them that a question bank had been distributed among many students.

PROBE WIDENS

Acting on inputs, joint teams from Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Alwar, Jaipur City, Jaipur Rural and the SOG questioned more than 150 candidates along with their friends and parents on Wednesday.

In Maharashtra, police in Latur district questioned six persons, including coaching class staff.

Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sameersinh Salve said the questioning followed a complaint by a parent who alleged that 42 questions in a mock test conducted by a private coaching institute in Latur were identical to those that appeared in the NEET exam.

‘THEY ARE INNOCENT’

Family members of the arrested accused maintained their innocence. Dinesh’s mother, Prabhu Devi, said her sons had been falsely implicated and that she had contacted the local MLA after they were taken by police.

“My sons are innocent. They have been falsely implicated. I called the MLA and asked him to see why he was taken,” she said. Dinesh’s wife Rajni also denied her husband’s involvement, saying she had been in Sikar with her son for NEET preparations.

One of the accused, while being taken to Delhi, alleged that influential people were being shielded. “Bade logon ko bachaya jata aur aam aadmi ko pareshan kiya jata hai (Big people are protected, while ordinary people are harassed),” he said.

POLITICS OVER ALLEGED BJP LINK

The arrests triggered a political blame game, with the Congress and the TMC claiming some of those arrested were associated with the BJP. Several social media accounts shared photographs purportedly showing Dinesh with BJP leaders and ministers from Rajasthan.

However, BJP state vice president Mukesh Dadhich denied that Dinesh held any post in the party.

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal held a press conference urging students to demand accountability, citing paper leak incidents since 2014 and alleging that several such incidents had occurred in BJP-ruled states.

He also urged Gen Z to wake up and fight against injustice and the misrule of the Centre. “If Gen Z can oust governments in Bangladesh and Nepal, can’t they send our corrupt (BJP) leaders to jail?” he asked.

Congress workers staged demonstrations across several states, burning effigies of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the paper leak.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/neet-ug-2026-paper-leak-case-cbi-arrests-five-nta-cancels-exam-bjp-opposition-2911374-2026-05-14

A crucial meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) is scheduled for 1pm, where the name of the new Chief Minister will be formally proposed and ratified

The emphatic victory of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the 2026 Kerala assembly elections, where it secured a commanding 102 seats, has been momentarily eclipsed by a week-long leadership vacuum. As of Thursday, the stalemate that has gripped the state since the results were declared on May 4 is finally expected to break. With the state currently functioning under a caretaker setup, the Congress “high command” in New Delhi has transitioned from deliberation to decision-making, aiming to resolve the high-stakes tug-of-war between two political titans.

The May 13 Turning Point: Consultations Conclude

Wednesday served as the penultimate chapter in this political drama. Following days of factional manoeuvring, the Congress leadership held a series of exhaustive meetings in the national capital. The primary task was to reconcile the competing claims of AICC General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal, outgoing Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan, and veteran leader Ramesh Chennithala.

By Wednesday evening, AICC General Secretary Jairam Ramesh confirmed that the consultation process was officially complete. This announcement came amid mounting pressure from the UDF’s second-largest constituent, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). The IUML leadership has been vocal about its frustration, demanding an immediate end to the “prolonged uncertainty” that they fear could dampen the public enthusiasm generated by the 102-seat mandate. Meanwhile, the physical transition of power was underscored by outgoing Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who officially vacated the Cliff House residence, having served in a caretaker capacity for over a week.

The May 14 Agenda: Formalising the Verdict

Thursday, May 14, is the designated “D-Day”. The theatre of action shifts from the corridors of New Delhi back to the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. A crucial meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) is scheduled for 1pm, where the name of the new Chief Minister will be formally proposed and ratified.

AICC observers Ajay Maken and Mukul Wasnik, who have been overseeing the “secret ballot” and one-on-one feedback sessions with the 63 Congress MLAs, are expected to present the high command’s choice. While the race remains exceptionally tight, the decision involves a complex set of variables. VD Satheesan is widely perceived as the popular choice amongst the public and the youth wing for his aggressive parliamentary performance over the last five years. Conversely, reports suggest that KC Venugopal maintains the backing of a significant majority of the newly elected MLAs, bolstered by his proximity to the party’s central leadership.

The government is not cutting expenditure. There is no plan to slash subsidies. Welfare spending is not being rolled back.

For weeks now, there has been a quiet conversation unfolding inside the government. It is the kind that happens behind closed doors in review meetings, economic briefings, and strategic discussions where officials look not just at India’s growth story, but at what could potentially slow it down.

And somewhere in the middle of those conversations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun making an unusual appeal — one that many initially misunderstood.

When PM Modi asks ministers to avoid unnecessary foreign travel, when he urges people to conserve fuel, when he says families should think twice before buying gold, or when he suggests Indians holiday within the country instead of flying abroad, it is not a coded signal of economic distress. Nor is it an indication that the government is preparing for austerity in the traditional sense.

In fact, people familiar with the discussions say exactly the opposite is true.

The government is not cutting expenditure. There is no plan to slash subsidies. Welfare spending is not being rolled back. Capital expenditure — the big-ticket spending on highways, railways, airports, defence infrastructure and public projects — remains one of the pillars of the Modi government’s economic strategy. Officials point out that public investment continues at historically high levels because Delhi believes infrastructure spending creates jobs, stimulates demand and keeps the economic cycle moving.

This is not a government preparing citizens for a recession. This is a government trying to protect momentum. That distinction matters.

India today occupies a rare position in the global economy. At a time when many large economies are battling stagnation, weak consumption or geopolitical uncertainty, India continues to project itself as the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Inside government circles, there is enormous sensitivity about preserving that image and the economic confidence that comes with it.

What worries policymakers is not domestic consumption. In fact, the government wants Indians to spend. Consumption drives growth. Markets need buyers. Factories need demand. Services need customers. Officials privately admit that strong consumer activity is essential if India wants to maintain growth rates that distinguish it from the rest of the world.

But there is another side to the story.

India still depends heavily on imports for some of its biggest needs. Crude oil remains the most obvious vulnerability. Gold imports continue to put pressure on the economy every festive season and wedding cycle. Foreign holidays mean an outflow of valuable foreign exchange. Every barrel of imported fuel, every spike in gold demand, every surge in overseas spending adds pressure on India’s current account deficit.

 

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-is-not-asking-you-not-to-spend-but-spend-wisely-inside-story-ws-l-10089970.html

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Sarma said the measures were aimed at reducing avoidable expenditure and promoting fuel conservation in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal for austerity and energy efficiency.

The Assam government on Wednesday rolled out a six-month austerity programme, announcing a series of expenditure-cutting measures ranging from a freeze on new vehicle purchases to restrictions on foreign travel by ministers and officials.

The decisions were taken at the first Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after the formation of the new government.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Sarma said the measures were aimed at reducing avoidable expenditure and promoting fuel conservation in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal for austerity and energy efficiency.

“One of the major decisions is that the Assam government will not purchase any new vehicles for the next six months,” Sarma said.

He added that even newly inducted ministers would continue using existing government vehicles during this period.

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In the first #AssamCabinet meeting of NDA 3.0 Govt, we approved a host of important decisions

✅A comprehensive 6 month Austerity plan of the Govt
✅UCC to be tabled in Assam Assembly
✅Constitution of Task Force for 2 lakh Govt jobs
✅A museum for Bhupen Hazarika in Guwahati pic.twitter.com/wgjFig9uLB

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 13, 2026

“The newly elected ministers will not get any new vehicles for six months. Existing vehicles will continue to be used,” he said.

In another major decision, the government imposed a temporary ban on foreign travel by ministers, officers and government employees for the next six months.

“From tomorrow onwards, no government minister, employee or officer will be able to travel abroad, even at their own expense, for the next six months, except in medical emergency cases,” the Chief Minister said.

According to the new guidelines, any official foreign visit during the austerity period will require prior approval from the Chief Minister’s Office.

Officials have also been advised to attend international meetings, conferences and seminars virtually from Guwahati instead of travelling overseas.

The state Cabinet further decided to reduce the size of convoys attached to ministers and senior government officials, including vehicles linked to the Raj Bhavan.

“Including the Governor’s convoy, all ministerial and official convoys will be downsized for at least six months,” Sarma said.

The government has also directed departments to cut fuel expenditure by 20 per cent compared to the previous financial year.

As part of the austerity measures, departments have been instructed not to procure foreign-made products during the six-month period.

“For the next six months, the Assam government will not purchase international or foreign products, whether mobile phones or any other items,” Sarma said.

Physical seminars, workshops and conferences organised by government departments have also been suspended for the next six months. Departments will instead conduct meetings and training programmes virtually to reduce expenditure.

At the same time, the government announced plans to gradually replace old vehicles with electric vehicles as part of a larger energy conservation strategy.

Officials said vehicles older than 15 to 20 years would be phased out in stages and departments may hire electric vehicles instead of purchasing new ones.

The austerity measures come shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for reduced fuel consumption and greater economic discipline in view of the ongoing crisis in West Asia and concerns over rising global energy costs.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/assam-cracks-down-on-govt-spending-with-six-month-austerity-drive-after-pm-modis-call

 

SOG officials said the investigation has mapped a network of at least 24 persons across Maharashtra, Kerala, Haryana, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand.

A third-year BAMS student from Nashik who allegedly bought the NEET-UG 2026 question paper for ₹10 lakh and sold it onward to a person in Gurugram for ₹15 lakh — both transactions conducted by courier — is at the centre of a paper leak investigation that has now been handed to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), police officers in Rajasthan and Maharashtra said.

Nashik police detained Shubham Khairnar, who is from Nashik and studying in Bhopal, on Tuesday. The CBI, which took over the investigation from the Rajasthan Special Operations Group the same day, is expected to take Khairnar’s custody for further interrogation. His questioning, a senior Nashik police officer said, is expected to establish the identities of those from whom he received the paper and to whom he forwarded it — and how the financial transactions were routed.

Investigators believe the question paper, after reaching Gurugram, was used to prepare a handwritten guess paper of 410 questions with answers, camouflaging 120 questions drawn from the original NEET paper — which tests biology and chemistry among other subjects, with 150 questions from those two alone — within a larger question bank. “We believe the actual paper leaked was used to prepare a guess paper,” a senior SOG official said, describing the network as well-organised and nationwide, involving paper solvers and impersonators.

The guess paper was then sold to employees at paying guest hostels catering to NEET students and to coaching centres. Most students received it on May 2 — the night before the May 3 examination, an official said, asking not to be named.

Courier transfer, then ‘Private Mafia’ WhatsApp group

The Gurugram contact is among 24 people detained by Rajasthan police during the investigation. The paper’s circulation in Rajasthan’s coaching belt has been mapped in some detail. Rakesh Kumar Mandawariya, a counsellor at a coaching centre in Sikar, was detained in Dehradun on May 9. He allegedly paid ₹5 lakh for the guess paper and sold it to a Churu-based student studying medicine in Kerala. She passed it to her father, who runs a hostel in Sikar, and he circulated it among his residents and also passed it to a coaching centre in the city, one of the investigators said.

The paper also entered a paid WhatsApp group called ‘Private Mafia’, through which it was sold at membership fees ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹30,000, with many members forwarding it free to contacts at other coaching centres and hostels. SOG officials said the investigation has mapped a network of at least 24 persons across Maharashtra, Kerala, Haryana, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand.

The probe was triggered four days after the exam, when students and coaching centre staff approached the NTA with complaints. NTA wrote to Rajasthan DGP Rajeev Sharma on May 7, tracing the 410-question guess paper. The SOG launched its investigation immediately after.

Sikar, where approximately 30,000 students sat the exam across 102 centres, is now the investigation’s primary focus.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/courier-coaching-belt-and-private-mafia-tracing-the-leaked-neet-ug-2026-paper-from-nashik-to-gurugram-101778633351075.html

Matin Patel came into the spotlight after Nida Khan, an accused in the Nashik TCS sexual harassment and religion conversion case, was arrested from a house belonging to him

The Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad) Municipal Corporation began demolitions at properties belonging to AIMIM corporator Matin Patel on Wednesday, a day after a local court refused his petition seeking more time to respond to allegations that the buildings were illegal constructions.

Patel came into the spotlight after Nida Khan, an accused in the Nashik TCS sexual harassment and religion conversion case, was arrested from a house belonging to him. The property in question is also reportedly on the list of buildings facing bulldozer action over alleged illegal status.

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#WATCH | Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar: The Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Municipal Corporation initiates the demolition of properties belonging to AIMIM Corporator Matin Patel. pic.twitter.com/U5XKnuYXHX

— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2026

The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar civic body had on May 9 issued a notice to Matin Patel over “illegal” constructions in the city. The notice came a day after Patel was booked for allegedly harbouring Nida Khan.

The civic body had served a notice to the corporator asking him to produce the permission documents concerning a 600-square-foot house owned by him at Kausar Park in the Naregaon area. This was the house where Nida Khan allegedly stayed before her arrest.

Calling the construction illegal, the corporation’s encroachment department had sought clarification from Patel within 72 hours.

Earlier this month, Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat had alleged that Matin Patel, a 35-year-old first-time AIMIM corporator, was “pressured” by AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel to harbour Nida Khan in one of his properties.

Shirsat, a Shiv Sena leader who is also the guardian minister of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), said he had written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding that those who had provided shelter to Khan and her family members should also come under the SIT scanner.

Weeks after she went into hiding, Khan, an accused in a case related to alleged religious conversion and sexual harassment of some women colleagues at a TCS unit in Nashik, was apprehended from a house in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

“Nida Khan first went to Mumbra, and later, Imtiaz Jaleel met her in Nashik, following which he made a statement supporting her. She came to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and stayed here for over a month, and the house she stayed in belongs to an AIMIM corporator,” Shirsat had alleged.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nashik police is probing nine cases of molestation and harassment at the IT major’s Nashik unit.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cities/pune/nashik-tcs-case-aurangabad-properties-of-aimim-corporator-who-sheltered-nida-khan-demolished-ws-l-10087983.html

 

Rahul Gandhi expressed his dissent regarding the selection of the next CBI director, citing insufficient time and lack of access to crucial candidate information.

After the meeting to select the next CBI director, Rahul Gandhi registered dissent. Gandhi claimed that 69 names were presented during the meeting in one hour. In his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Leader of Opposition (LoP), alleged that the CBI was bein misused by the Centre and even claimed hat the government made “mockery” of the selection process by denying complete information of candidates to him.

“Your government has repeatedly misused the CBI, intended to be India’s premier investigative agency, to target political opponents, journalists, and critics. It is to prevent such institutional capture that the Leader of Opposition is included in the Selection Committee. Regrettably, you have continued to deny me any meaningful role in the process.,” Gandhi said.

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I have written to the Prime Minister recording my dissent from the CBI Director selection process.

I cannot abdicate my constitutional duty by participating in a biased exercise.

The Leader of Opposition is not a rubber stamp. pic.twitter.com/WfSt5gGPPR

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 12, 2026

“Despite repeated written requests, I was not provided with the self-appraisal reports or 360-degree reports of the eligible candidates. Instead, I was expected to examine the appraisal records of sixty-nine candidates for the first time during the Committee meeting. The 360-degree reports were denied to me outright. A detailed review of these records is crucial to assess each candidate’s history and performance. This deliberate denial of information, without any legal basis, makes a mockery of the selection process and ensures that only your pre-decided candidate is selected,” the LoP added.

He further alleged that the the selection process to appoint the CBI director has been reduced to mere “formality. ““The Leader of Opposition is not a rubber stamp,” he added.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/i-was-not-provided-with-self-appraisal-reports-rahul-gandhi-registers-dissent-in-cbi-director-selection-process-article-154303927

 

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday ordered ministers and officials to cut convoy vehicles by 50% and push two work-from-home days weekly, citing global uncertainties and PM Narendra Modi’s fuel-saving appeal. The state also proposed a weekly “No Vehicle Day”, virtual government meetings and wider use of Metro services, EVs, PNG and rooftop solar systems.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced a series of austerity and energy-saving measures, directing ministers and officials to reduce the number of vehicles in their convoys by 50 percent and encouraging wider adoption of work-from-home practices across the state.

The directions were issued during a high-level meeting convened in view of global uncertainties and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for fuel conservation and energy efficiency.

The Chief Minister urged citizens to adopt fuel-saving habits and avoid unnecessary consumption. He also appealed to people to refrain from non-essential gold purchases and reduce dependence on imported goods.

As part of the measures, ministers, MPs, MLAs and other public representatives have been advised to use public transport at least once a week. The government also proposed observing one “No Vehicle Day” every week to promote fuel conservation and reduce traffic congestion.

Yogi Adityanath stressed the need to promote work-from-home culture in industrial establishments, startups and offices employing large workforces. The state government plans to issue an advisory recommending two days of work from home every week in suitable sectors.

The Chief Minister also directed that 50 percent of internal meetings in the state secretariat and directorates be conducted virtually. Government seminars, workshops and conferences, particularly in the education sector, will also be encouraged through online platforms.

To reduce fuel use during peak hours, the government is considering staggered office timings in different batches. The Chief Minister asked departments to promote greater use of Metro rail services, PNG, public transport and UPSRTC buses. He also encouraged cycling, carpooling and the use of electric vehicles.

Calling for power conservation, the Chief Minister appealed to citizens and commercial establishments to avoid unnecessary electricity consumption. Decorative lighting at private establishments and commercial complexes should be minimised after 10 pm, he said.

The government also announced measures to boost domestic tourism and local industries. Yogi Adityanath asked citizens and wedding planners to prioritise destinations within India and promote heritage, eco-tourism and rural tourism sites in Uttar Pradesh for destination weddings and travel.

He directed the tourism department to coordinate with hotels, airlines, tour operators and travel agents to strengthen domestic tourism campaigns. Museums and monuments may also be opened free of cost for a limited period to encourage tourism.

The Chief Minister further emphasised promotion of locally made products, ODOP and GI-tagged items during festivals, weddings and official gifting. He urged citizens to support local artisans, self-help groups and entrepreneurs.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/yogi-govt-orders-50-cut-in-official-convoys-advocates-for-work-from-home-and-public-transport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered a 50% cut in his convoy size and increased use of EVs as part of an austerity and fuel-saving drive amid the economic fallout of the Iran war, sources told India Today TV.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered a 50 per cent reduction in the size of his convoy and called for greater use of electric vehicles as part of a wider austerity and fuel-saving drive amid economic stress linked to the Iran war, sources told India Today TV on Wednesday.

According to sources, the Special Protection Group (SPG) has been instructed to cut down the number of vehicles in the Prime Minister’s convoy, while ensuring that mandatory security protocols are not compromised. The SPG has already begun implementing the directions.

Sources also said PM Modi has asked for a greater use of electric vehicles in the convoy, while making it clear that no new vehicles should be purchased for the transition.

The move came days after PM Modi appealed to citizens to adopt austerity measures, including avoiding gold purchases for a year, postponing non-essential foreign travel and reducing fuel consumption, as India braces for the economic fallout of rising global oil prices.

Leading from the front on austerity measures, PM Modi has significantly reduced the size of his convoy during recent visits to states including Gujarat and Assam. The scaled-down convoys were seen in Vadodara and Guwahati soon after the Prime Minister’s austerity appeal at a rally in Hyderabad.

Sources said the reduction in vehicles was carried out while fully maintaining mandatory security requirements under SPG protocol.

The austerity drive is now being mirrored across governments and ministries. Several central ministries are said to be exploring fuel-saving measures. Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, have also directed reductions in their official convoys, per sources.

Union Minister CR Patil has also decided to stop using an escort vehicle as part of the effort, they further said.

PM MODI’S AUSTERITY CALL

Addressing a Telangana BJP rally in Hyderabad on Sunday, PM Modi urged people to adopt austerity measures to help the country tackle the economic impact of the Iran war and conserve foreign exchange reserves.

The Prime Minister called for reduced consumption of petrol and diesel, greater use of Metro rail services, carpooling, electric vehicles and railway parcel services, while also encouraging work-from-home practices wherever possible.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-modi-orders-50-cut-in-convoy-size-pushes-for-more-ev-use-as-part-of-austerity-push-sources-2910851-2026-05-13

The CBI has revisited Chandranath Rath’s murder spot as it probes an alleged contract killing. Investigators are examining interstate links, forged vehicles and the source of more than Rs 1 crore allegedly spent on the operation.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) suspects West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s aide Chandranath Rath’s murder was a meticulously planned contract killing involving interstate operatives, forged vehicles and over Rs 1 crore spent on weapons, logistics and sharpshooters.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of CBI, accompanied by forensic experts, on Tuesday revisited the murder spot of Rath in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district as investigators intensified efforts to crack what they suspect was a meticulously planned contract killing involving more than Rs 1 crore, police sources said.

Rath was shot dead inside his SUV on a public road in Madhyamgram on May 6, just two days after the declaration of the West Bengal Assembly election results. Investigators suspect the murder involved interstate criminal operatives, forged vehicle identities and substantial financial backing.

The CBI team, led by DIG Pankaj Kumar Singh, spent several hours at the crime scene examining the sequence of events and reviewing evidence collected earlier, PTI reported.

A three-member team from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory collected fresh blood samples and other forensic material from the area to aid the probe. The locality remained under heavy police barricading through Tuesday, with residents and commuters passing through multiple security checks.

‘MORE THAN Rs 1 CRORE SPENT ON OPERATION’

Investigators now believe the killing was executed with extensive planning and logistics support.

According to police sources, the alleged “supari” operation may have cost more than Rs 1 crore, with money allegedly spent on weapons, reconnaissance, vehicles and hired shooters.

“One of the two firearms used in the murder is suspected to be worth over Rs 10 lakh in the illegal market,” a police officer said.

Officials said the cost of hiring sharpshooters, conducting surveillance on Rath’s movements and arranging multiple vehicles for escape pointed towards a highly coordinated conspiracy.

“Who invested such a huge amount of money and why remain the biggest questions before investigators at this stage,” a senior officer associated with the probe said.

CBI TAKES OVER PROBE FROM BENGAL POLICE

The CBI formally took over the investigation from the West Bengal Police on Monday following a request from the state government and subsequently registered an FIR in the case.

Officials said the central agency has formed a multidisciplinary SIT to conduct a comprehensive and time-bound investigation.

“All possible angles, including interstate criminal links and conspiracy, are being examined. The CBI’s special investigation team will now focus on unravelling the larger conspiracy behind the murder,” a senior official said.

The agency is currently analysing ballistic evidence and other forensic material recovered from the scene.

HOW THE KILLING UNFOLDED

Speculation has intensified over a possible Modi cabinet reshuffle and a new BJP national team under Nitin Navin. The twin exercises are being seen as part of a wider strategy ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

Amid mounting speculation over a possible reshuffle and expansion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Council of Ministers, attention has also shifted to an impending organisational overhaul in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under party president Nitin Navin. With the Modi government approaching key political milestones later this month and in June, discussions within political circles have intensified over a broader recalibration of both the government and the party structure.

The twin exercises — a possible cabinet reshuffle at the Centre and the formation of a new BJP national team — are being viewed as part of a coordinated political strategy ahead of crucial electoral battles, including the 2027 Assembly elections in seven states. Party insiders indicated that consultations on the new organisational setup are in the final stages, while speculation continues over fresh inductions and changes in ministerial responsibilities in the Union government.

CABINET RESHUFFLE SPECULATION GATHERS PACE

Political observers point to past precedents under Modi’s leadership to suggest that a cabinet reshuffle may not be far away. During his first term, the Prime Minister carried out the first expansion of his cabinet in November 2014, roughly six months after assuming office. This was followed by major reshuffles in July 2016 and September 2017, during which several ministers were promoted or reassigned.

In the second term, a significant cabinet expansion took place in July 2021, while ministerial portfolios were reshuffled again in May 2023.

Against this backdrop, party insiders believe the completion of two years of the Modi government’s third term could provide the occasion for another recalibration of the Council of Ministers.

On May 26, the Modi-led government at the Centre will complete 12 years in office, while June 9 will mark two years of the Prime Minister’s third consecutive term.

At present, the Union Council of Ministers has 72 members, while constitutionally it can accommodate up to 81. This has fuelled speculation that new faces may be inducted and the responsibilities of some existing ministers may be altered.

Sources said the BJP leadership is also factoring in the 2027 Assembly elections while weighing possible changes. Regional representation and social balancing are expected to play a key role in any cabinet exercise, with the party keen to strengthen its electoral positioning in poll-bound states.

FOCUS ON YOUNGER LEADERSHIP IN BJP ORGANISATION

Within the BJP organisation, discussions over a new national team under Nitin Navin have also intensified. Since taking over as party president on January 20, Navin has reportedly been engaged in reshaping the organisational structure and holding consultations on key appointments.

Party sources indicated that deliberations over the new team are in the final stages and an announcement could be made soon.

According to sources, the BJP may give greater prominence to younger leaders in the revamped structure, particularly those below the age of 50. However, the leadership is also expected to retain experienced figures in crucial organisational roles to maintain internal balance.

There is also speculation that several new faces could be appointed at the level of BJP national general secretaries as part of a broader effort to bring leaders from different states to the national stage and groom a new generation of leadership.

Women leaders, too, are likely to receive greater representation in the new organisational setup, sources said.

RSS CONSULTATIONS AND LONG-TERM STRATEGY

Sources within the party indicated that extensive consultations were held between the BJP leadership and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) before Nitin Navin’s appointment as party chief earlier this year. Similar deliberations are believed to have taken place over the composition of his organisational team.

The RSS is understood to be backing leaders and functionaries seen as ideologically committed and active at the grassroots level.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/modi-government-reshuffle-buzz-grows-as-bjps-organisational-overhaul-gathers-pace-2910820-2026-05-13