Name: Near Mali quota protest site, man found hanging
Uploaded: 2023-04-25T12:44:42.000+05:30
Duration: T00M32S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: They have been blocking the Jaipur-Agra national highway, seeking 12% reservation.

Thirteen people died and 35 were injured after multiple vehicles, including seven buses, collided and caught fire in dense fog on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, early Tuesday.

Massive fire after multi-vehicle crash on Yamuna Expressway

Thirteen people died and 35 were injured after multiple vehicles, including seven buses, collided and caught fire in dense fog on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, early Tuesday.

Thirteen people died of burns, and 35 sustained injuries when a vehicle pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura early Tuesday sparked a big fire, a police officer said.
At least seven buses and three smaller vehicles collided with each other in the dense fog around 4.30 am, the officer said. The incident occurred under the Baldev Police Station jurisdiction.
"The vehicles collided due to low visibility on the Agra-to-Noida side of the Yamuna Expressway. Some vehicles also caught fire. All injured have been sent to the hospital," Mathura Senior Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar said.
Two of the deceased were identified as 44-year-old Akhilendra Pratap Yadav, a resident of Prayagraj, and 75-year-old Rampal, from Maharajganj district, Baldev Police Station SHO Ranjana Sachan said. All 13 died of burns, she said.
Of the injured, fifteen were admitted to the district hospital, nine each to a community health centre and a private hospital in Baldev, and two to SN Medical College, Agra, Sachan said.
Visuals from the spot revealed charred remains of buses that caught fire. Cranes were called in to remove them from the road.
According to a Mathura Police statement on X, the pile-up at Milestone 127 involved seven buses and three smaller vehicles. "None of the injured are in critical condition," it said.
The passengers were sent to their destinations in government vehicles, the SSP said. Since the road is blocked, diversions have been made, he added.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a post on X in Hindi, expressed his condolences to the kin of the deceased.
"The loss of life in the road accident on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura district is extremely tragic and heartbreaking. My deepest condolences are with the bereaved families," he said.
"I have instructed the district administration officials to ensure proper treatment for the injured. I pray to Lord Ram to grant peace to the departed souls and a speedy recovery to the injured," Adityanath said.
According to a post from his office, Adityanath announced Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.
On Monday, fog led to the deaths of three people, two of them police officers, in two separate road accidents involving multiple vehicles in Haryana's Sonipat and Nuh districts.
In the Nuh pileup, two people, including a CISF Inspector, were killed on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
In Sonipat, a female assistant sub-inspector of police was killed when the car in which she was travelling for work hit a truck that was taking a wrong turn on the highway, police said.

A Delhi court refused to take cognisance of the ED’s money laundering charges against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and others in the National Herald case, citing lack of a predicate offence FIR.

Court Dismisses ED's Money Laundering Charges Against Gandhis

A Delhi court refused to take cognisance of the ED&rsquo;s money laundering charges against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and others in the National Herald case, citing lack of a predicate offence FIR.

A Delhi court on Tuesday refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate's money laundering charge against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and five others in the National Herald case.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne noted the chargesheet filed in the case is based on an investigation into a complaint by a private person and not on an FIR of a predicate offence. Its cognisance is impermissible in law, the judge said.
Reading out the operative part from the order, the judge said the Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing has already lodged an FIR in the case, and hence it will be premature to adjudicate on ED's arguments in the case based on merits.
The ED has accused Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, as well as late party leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, along with Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and a private company, Young Indian, of conspiracy and money laundering.
It has been alleged that they acquired properties worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which publishes the National Herald newspaper.
The investigation agency further alleged that the Gandhis held the majority 76 per cent shares in Young Indian, which "fraudulently" usurped the assets of AJL in exchange for a Rs 90 crore loan.

Following the death of SOG jawan Amjad Pathan in a gunfight with terrorists in Udhampur’s Soan village, security forces including police, army, and CRPF resumed operations to track the militants.

Security Operations Intensified in Udhampur After Deadly Encounter

Following the death of SOG jawan Amjad Pathan in a gunfight with terrorists in Udhampur&rsquo;s Soan village, security forces including police, army, and CRPF resumed operations to track the militants.

Security forces searched for terrorists in Udhampur on Tuesday, a day after a policeman was killed in a gunfight there, a police officer said.
During the encounter on Monday, one terrorist was believed to have been injured, while two policemen suffered minor bullet wounds. "The operation has been resumed in the area to track down the holed-up terrorists. The cordon has been further strengthened," the officer told PTI.
A joint team of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of police, along with the army and the CRPF, is on the job with sniffer dogs, the officer said.
On Monday, forces got locked in a gunfight with terrorists in Soan village of the Majalta area in Udhampur. The village was raided by the police on a tip-off about the presence of three terrorists, believed to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit.
The encounter took place in the besieged village around 6 pm and continued for some time, resulting in injuries to one SOG jawan, Amjad Pathan, son of Bashrat Khan. Pathan, a resident of Salva, Mendhar in Poonch district, later succumbed.
"A very small SOG team engaged the terrorists. Combing of the forest has been impeded due to darkness and treacherous terrain," IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti said in a social media post.
Udhampur's Basantgarh lies on the route traditionally used by Pakistani terrorists to enter from the International Border in Kathua and move to Doda and Kishtwar districts in Jammu, and further into the Kashmir Valley. The area has witnessed several encounters and terror incidents in the past.
Pathan's body awaits a post-mortem, and once it has been done, a wreath-laying ceremony will be undertaken in Udhampur, the officer said.

AAP leaders, led by Isudan Gadhvi, will meet Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel to raise farmers’ issues, including abolishing price-cutting practices, MSP procurement, and compensation for crop losses.

AAP delegation to meet Gujarat CM, push 10-point farmers’ charter

AAP leaders, led by Isudan Gadhvi, will meet Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel to raise farmers&rsquo; issues, including abolishing price-cutting practices, MSP procurement, and compensation for crop losses.

An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) delegation will meet Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel today to raise farmers&rsquo; issues and demands, party leaders announced.
Speaking to the media, AAP Gujarat President Isudan Gadhvi said that the BJP government has been consistently doing injustice to farmers, prompting AAP to launch a statewide agitation. &ldquo;Following our protests, the state government was forced to officially abolish the Kadada practice,&rdquo; he said.
Gadhvi highlighted that AAP has organised nine 'Kisan Mahapanchayats' across the state and conducted 'Kisan Nyay Panchayats' in over 8,000 villages spanning North Gujarat, Central Gujarat, and Saurashtra. To press for the party&rsquo;s 10-point charter of farmers&rsquo; demands, a signature campaign was carried out, during which party teams visited villages and talukas to collect endorsements. Over 80,000 farmers signed the petition in support of the 10 demands.
Isudan Gadhvi outlined the 10-point charter as follows:
- The &ldquo;price-cutting practice&rdquo; must be immediately abolished in all APMC markets, and violators should face jail.
- Farmers should not be forced to transport their produce to godowns or factories instead of APMC markets.
- Farmers and sharecroppers affected by unseasonal rains should be compensated ₹50,000 per hectare, with payments within one month, similar to Punjab.
- Dairy farmers should receive the price difference from all dairy unions directly into their bank accounts on time.
- Farmers should be provided 12 hours of free electricity daily.
- Police cases filed against farmers during the Haddad and Sabar Dairy agitations should be withdrawn, and imprisoned farmers released immediately.
- The government should procure all crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP).
- Adequate and timely availability of fertilisers should be ensured.
- Pending payments to sugarcane farmers by sugar mills should be cleared, and closed sugar mills restarted.
- Cotton procurement by the CCI should begin from October 1 instead of December.
Gadhvi said that AAP has sought an appointment with the Chief Minister regarding these demands and that he, along with party MLAs and the delegation, will meet the Chief Minister today at 12 noon to submit a formal representation. He also warned that if the BJP fails to act on these demands, the Aam Aadmi Party will launch a statewide agitation.

AAP leaders held Assembly workers’ meetings in Becharaji and Visnagar, reviewing organisational strategies and strengthening party presence across Gujarat ahead of upcoming elections.

AAP ramps up grassroots outreach in Gujarat ahead of elections

AAP leaders held Assembly workers&rsquo; meetings in Becharaji and Visnagar, reviewing organisational strategies and strengthening party presence across Gujarat ahead of upcoming elections.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is intensifying its grassroots outreach across Gujarat through initiatives such as 'Kisan Mahapanchayats,' 'Gujarat Jodo Jansabha,' 'Mohalla Sabhas,' Assembly workers&rsquo; meetings, and organisational gatherings in all corners of the state.
As part of this strategy, national and state leaders of AAP attended Assembly workers&rsquo; meetings in the Becharaji and Visnagar constituencies on Thursday. The meetings were conducted under the leadership of AAP State Co-Incharge Gulabsingh Yadav, State Organisation General Secretary Manoj Sorathiya, and North Zone In-charge Rajesh Sharma.
At the Becharaji meeting, senior leaders and office-bearers present included Lok Sabha In-charge Bharat Patel, Becharaji Assembly In-charge Ashok Thakor, and District Youth President Sanjay Thakor. In Visnagar, attendees included Assembly In-charge Uttam Patel, Assembly Co-Incharge Harshad Prajapati, State Organisation Secretary Narendra Prajapati, Taluka In-charge Pravin Thakor, and Visnagar City President Sanjay Patel, alongside other national and state leaders. Local office-bearers and a large number of party workers were present at both gatherings.
During the meetings, AAP State Co-Incharge Gulabsingh Yadav, State Organisation General Secretary Manoj Sorathiya, and North Zone In-charge Rajesh Sharma reviewed ongoing party work in both constituencies. They provided guidance to workers with a focus on the upcoming elections and outlined organisational strategies to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.
&ldquo;The party&rsquo;s expanding footprint in Becharaji and Visnagar, as well as across North Gujarat, clearly indicates that the Aam Aadmi Party is poised to achieve historic results in these Assembly constituencies in the elections to be held in the coming period,&rdquo; the party said.
The meetings underscore AAP&rsquo;s efforts to consolidate its presence in key constituencies and mobilise party workers ahead of future elections in Gujarat.

Delhi’s AQI dropped to 377 on Tuesday morning from 498 a day ago, yet several areas remain in the ‘severe’ category amid smog and cold temperatures.

Delhi's Air Quality Slightly Improves, Yet Smog Persists

Delhi&rsquo;s AQI dropped to 377 on Tuesday morning from 498 a day ago, yet several areas remain in the &lsquo;severe&rsquo; category amid smog and cold temperatures.

The national capital's air quality saw some improvement on Tuesday morning, with an AQI of 377 as against 498 a day ago, even as smog blanketed the city, shivering at 8.3 degrees Celsius during the morning hours, reducing visibility.
The air quality in the city at 9 am was in the 'very poor' category.&nbsp;
Over the past two days, Delhi witnessed worse conditions, with AQI readings crossing 400 at several locations, which falls in the 'severe' category, according to Central Pollution Control Board data.
Even on Tuesday, out of 40 monitoring stations, 11 recorded 'severe' air quality. Jahangirpuri, Mundka and Wazirpur reported the highest readings at 426, as per the CPCB's Sameer app, which provides hourly data for each monitoring station.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.
Several parts of the city were seen covered in smog and fog during the early morning hours, leading to reduced visibility.Delhi's minimum temperature of 8.3 degrees Celsius on Monday is 0.3 notches below normal. The maximum temperature is expected to hover between 23 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius.

AAP staged a protest at AMC’s Danapith office, urging urgent measures as air pollution in Ahmedabad and Gujarat reaches hazardous levels, with AQI above 400 in some areas.

AAP protests hazardous air pollution in Ahmedabad, demands action

AAP staged a protest at AMC&rsquo;s Danapith office, urging urgent measures as air pollution in Ahmedabad and Gujarat reaches hazardous levels, with AQI above 400 in some areas.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a strong protest on Thursday at the Danapith office of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), calling for immediate action as air pollution across Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, reaches hazardous levels.
The protest was led by AAP State Chief Spokesperson Dr. Karan Barot, Education Cell State President Jeetu Upadhyay, City President Vijay Patel, State Vice-President Gauri Desai, State Spokesperson Himanshu Thakkar, and OBC Cell State President Rakesh Maheriya. Party workers raised loud slogans aimed at &ldquo;waking up&rdquo; the civic authorities and submitted a memorandum demanding urgent measures to curb rising pollution.
In the memorandum, AAP highlighted that pollution in Gujarat&rsquo;s major cities and industrial belts has surged drastically in recent months. &ldquo;Industrial chemical waste, toxic emissions, dumping sites, and multiple other sources are directly impacting the daily lives of residents,&rdquo; the party stated. Citizens are reportedly facing severe breathing issues, discomfort outdoors, and other health complications.
Recent data cited by AAP shows that Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in Ahmedabad and several other districts have escalated from &ldquo;very poor&rdquo; to &ldquo;hazardous,&rdquo; with some parts of Ahmedabad recording AQI above 400 &mdash; an extremely dangerous threshold. The party noted that the worsening air quality is leading to throat irritation, chest pain, burning eyes, respiratory distress, and heightened risk for children, senior citizens, and individuals with pre-existing lung conditions. Severe long-term health issues, including chronic respiratory and organ-related ailments, are expected to rise. Daily life, including outdoor activities, school routines, office commutes, and essential tasks, has been heavily affected.
&ldquo;These numbers are not mere statistics &mdash; they reflect the harsh reality citizens face and the warnings issued by health experts,&rdquo; AAP said in its memorandum.
The party urged AMC authorities to take immediate and strong measures to control pollution, calling the situation a &ldquo;major environmental and public-health emergency.&rdquo; AAP expressed hope that the administration will respond swiftly and implement effective steps to protect citizens and ensure clean air for future generations.

Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed the government for using Hindi words in bill titles, saying it undermines non-Hindi-speaking people and threatens the role of English as an associate official language.

Chidambaram Criticizes Use of Hindi in Bill Titles as Disrespectful

Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed the government for using Hindi words in bill titles, saying it undermines non-Hindi-speaking people and threatens the role of English as an associate official language.

Congress leader P Chidambaram has slammed the "increasing practice" of the government using Hindi words in the titles of the bills and said the change is an "affront" to the non-Hindi-speaking people.
Chidambaram said the non-Hindi-speaking people cannot identify a Bill/Act with titles that are in Hindi words written in English letters, and they cannot pronounce them. "I am opposed to the increasing practice of the government using Hindi words written in English letters in the title of the Bills to be introduced in Parliament," the former Union minister said late Monday night.
Hitherto, the practice was to write the title of the Bill in English words in the English version and in Hindi words in the Hindi version of the Bill, Chidambaram said. "When no one pointed out any difficulty in the 75 year practice, why should government make a change?" he said.
"This change is an affront to non-Hindi speaking people and to States that have an official language other than Hindi," the Congress leader said.
Successive governments have reiterated the promise that English will remain an Associate Official Language, Chidambaram said. "I fear that promise is in danger of being broken," the Congress MP said.

Havildar Zubair Ahmad of the 13 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry died in a landmine blast in Kupwara’s Trehgam area and was declared dead on arrival at the military hospital.

Army Soldier Dies in Landmine Blast in Kupwara District

Havildar Zubair Ahmad of the 13 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry died in a landmine blast in Kupwara&rsquo;s Trehgam area and was declared dead on arrival at the military hospital.

An Army soldier died in a landmine blast in the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said in Srinagar on Tuesday.
Havildar Zubair Ahmad of the Army's 13 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry was injured in a land mine blast at Putaha Khan Gali in the Trehgam area of the border district on Monday, they said.
Officials said the injured soldier was rushed to a military hospital at Drugmulla but was declared dead on arrival.&nbsp;

President Droupadi Murmu paid homage to Indian soldiers on Vijay Diwas, recalling the 1971 war victory over Pakistan and highlighting the Army’s indigenisation and self-reliance initiatives.

President Murmu Honors 1971 War Heroes on Vijay Diwas

President Droupadi Murmu paid homage to Indian soldiers on Vijay Diwas, recalling the 1971 war victory over Pakistan and highlighting the Army&rsquo;s indigenisation and self-reliance initiatives.

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday paid homage to soldiers who helped the country secure victory over Pakistan in the 1971 War.
In a post on X, she said that the Indian Army's 'Empowerment through Indigenisation' initiative reflects a commitment to being prepared for future challenges.&nbsp;
"In Operation Sindoor, the army demonstrated self-reliance, strategic resolve, and the effective use of modern warfare techniques, which serves as an inspiration for the entire nation," Murmu said in the post in Hindi.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
विजय दिवस के अवसर पर मैं भारत माता के वीर सपूतों को सादर नमन करती हूं। उनके साहस, पराक्रम और मातृभूमि के लिए अनन्य निष्ठा ने राष्ट्र को सदा गौरवान्वित किया है। उनकी वीरता और राष्ट्रप्रेम देशवासियों को प्रेरित करते रहेंगे। भारतीय सेना की 'स्वदेशीकरण से सशक्तिकरण' की पहल भविष्य की&hellip;
&mdash; President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn/status/2000754723746668765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Vijay Diwas marks the Pakistan military's surrender to Indian forces. The historic victory led to the liberation of Bangladesh.&nbsp;
"On the occasion of Vijay Diwas, I pay my humble respects to the brave sons of Mother India. Their courage, valour, and unparalleled devotion to the motherland have always filled the nation with pride. Their heroism and patriotism will continue to inspire the people of the country," the President said.&nbsp;

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They have been blocking the Jaipur-Agra national highway, seeking 12% reservation.

Near Mali quota protest site, man found hanging

They have been blocking the Jaipur-Agra national highway, seeking 12% reservation.

Amid a protest in Rajasthan by the Mali community for a separate quota, a man was found hanging from a tree near the demonstration site.
Mohan Singh was found hanging on the morning of April 25, 2023 - the fifth consecutive day of the Mali community's protest.
They have been blocking the Jaipur-Agra national highway, seeking 12% reservation. The Malis also want a separate Luv Kush Welfare Board and hostel facilities for children.
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot belongs to the Mali community.
&nbsp;

The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, was introduced in Lok Sabha to raise FDI in the insurance sector to 100%, amid strong opposition protests.

Govt introduces bill in Lok Sabha to hike FDI in insurance sector to 100 per cent

The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, was introduced in Lok Sabha to raise FDI in the insurance sector to 100%, amid strong opposition protests.

A bill seeking to raise FDI in the insurance sector to 100 per cent was on Tuesday introduced in the Lok Sabha amid strong protest from the Opposition.
The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025, seeks to amend Insurance Act, 1938, Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956, and Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999, as per the bill circulated to members of Parliament.
Introducing the bill, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the common people's insurance has always been the focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government has provided insurance to the marginal sections of the society even during the Covid pandemic.
Sitharaman said objections of some of the Opposition members could be part of the debate and she was ready to answer all their questions during the debate on the proposed legislation.
Opposing the introduction of the bill, RSP member N K Premachandran said the nomenclature of the bill has nothing to do with its contents. He also opposed the proposal to allow 100 per cent FDI in the insurance sector.
DMK member T Sumathy too strongly opposed 100 per cent FDI in the sector.
TMC member Saugata Roy said the name of the bill looks like the slogans of the ruling coalition and such names should not be part of any bill. He said allowing 100 per cent FDI will be a backward step in the insurance sector.
According to the draft bill, the amendment will raise Foreign Direct Investment limit in the insurance sector from 74 per cent to 100 per cent.
Though the bill proposes to hike FDI in the sector, one of the top officials &mdash; Chairman, Managing Director, or CEO &mdash; must be an Indian citizen. It also paves the way for the merger of a non-insurance company with an insurance company.
The bill received the Union Cabinet's nod on Friday, paving the way for its introduction in Parliament.
The bill further aims to accelerate the growth and development of the insurance sector and to ensure better protection of policyholders, as per the statement of objects and reasons.
It provides for the establishment of the Policyholders' Education and Protection Fund to protect policyholders' interests.
It would also improve the ease of doing business for insurance companies, intermediaries, and other stakeholders, bring transparency to regulation-making, and enhance regulatory oversight over the sector.
With regard to the term of office of the Chairperson and other whole-time members, the bill provides for a five-year term or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. At present, the upper age limit for whole-time members is 62 years, while for the Chairman it is 65 years.
Sitharaman, in this year's Budget speech, proposed to raise FDI limit to 100 per cent from the existing 74 per cent in the insurance sector as part of new-generation financial sector reforms. So far, the insurance sector has attracted Rs 82,000 crore through FDI.
The amendments to the LIC Act propose empowering its board to take operational decisions, such as branch expansion and recruitment.
The proposed amendment primarily focuses on promoting policyholders' interests, enhancing their financial security, and facilitating the entry of additional players into the insurance market, thereby driving economic growth and employment generation.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan introduced the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, replacing MGNREGA and aiming to provide 125 days of guaranteed rural employment.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan moves to introduce VB-G RAM G Bill on rural employment in Lok Sabha

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan introduced the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, replacing MGNREGA and aiming to provide 125 days of guaranteed rural employment.

The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, that seeks to replace the existing rural employment law MGNREGA, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday amid strong objections by the opposition to the "removal" of Mahatma Gandhi's name from it.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while introducing the bill, said the government not only believes in Mahatma Gandhi but also follows his principles. "The (Narendra) Modi govt has done more for rural development than previous governments," he said.
Opposition members strongly opposed the proposed legislation at the introduction stage and pressed for sending the bill to a parliamentary panel for greater scrutiny. The MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi of the Congress, strongly objected to the "removal" of Mahatma Gandhi's name.
The opposition members also came to the Well of the House, holding up photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, expressing their disapproval of the "removal" of the name of the Father of the Nation.
According to a copy of the Bill, it will provide a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work.
Within six months from the date of commencement of the VB-G RAM G Act, states will have to make a scheme consistent with the provisions of the new law.
In a statement, the Rural Development Ministry said the proposed legislation will establish a modern statutory framework aligned with the goal of 'Viksit Bharat 2047'.
It said the Bill aims to create both employment and durable rural infrastructure through four priority verticals -- water security through water-related works, core rural infrastructure, livelihood-related infrastructure, and special works to mitigate extreme weather events.
All assets created are aggregated into the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack, ensuring a unified, coordinated national development strategy, the statement said.
The ministry termed it a "major upgrade" over MGNREGA, fixing structural weaknesses while enhancing employment, transparency, planning, and accountability.

Low visibility due to fog disrupted flight operations at Delhi airport on Tuesday, forcing multiple airlines, including IndiGo, to cancel several departures and arrivals.

Low visibility disrupts flight operations at Delhi airport, 126 flights cancelled

Low visibility due to fog disrupted flight operations at Delhi airport on Tuesday, forcing multiple airlines, including IndiGo, to cancel several departures and arrivals.

Low visibility conditions disrupted flight operations at Delhi airport on Tuesday, leading to widespread cancellations, a Delhi International Airport Ltd official said.&nbsp;
So far, 49 departures and 77 arrivals have been cancelled due to poor visibility, he added. At the same time, crisis-hit IndiGo said it cancelled 110 flights across its network due to disruptions caused by bad weather at Delhi airport.&nbsp;
"Due to low visibility, 49 departures and 77 arrivals have been cancelled so far at Delhi airport," the official said.
As winter sets in, early mornings across northern India can bring fog that may occasionally slow down flight movements, IndiGo said in a post on X.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Travel Advisory As winter sets in, early mornings across Northern India can bring fog that may occasionally slow down flight movements. We wanted to share this gentle heads-up in advance, so you can plan with ease and check your flight status before heading to the airport&hellip;
&mdash; IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiGo6E/status/2000696087745847515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The airline also said it cancelled 110 flights on Tuesday due to disruptions caused by bad weather at the Delhi airport.&nbsp;
"Our teams are well prepared and closely monitoring weather conditions", IndiGo said, adding that wherever possible, "we are making thoughtful adjustments on the ground to reduce inconvenience and ensure any waiting time is as comfortable as possible".&nbsp;

Ahead of West Bengal assembly elections, the Election Commission published the list of over 58 lakh deleted voters from the 2026 draft electoral rolls, citing absenteeism, duplicates, or deaths.

EC Removes 58 Lakh Voters from West Bengal Draft Electoral Rolls

Ahead of West Bengal assembly elections, the Election Commission published the list of over 58 lakh deleted voters from the 2026 draft electoral rolls, citing absenteeism, duplicates, or deaths.

The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday published West Bengal's draft electoral rolls following SIR, with officials indicating that the names of more than 58 lakh voters have been deleted on various grounds, including death, migration and non-submission of enumeration forms.
After these deletions, the state's draft electoral rolls are expected to carry the names of 7,08,16,631 voters, 58,20,898 fewer than 7,66,37,529, which was the electorate before SIR, according to official data.
With assembly elections likely to be held in the state early next year, the draft rolls, along with a detailed, booth-wise list of deleted voters and reasons for deletion, have been made available on the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal website, the Election Commission's voter portal and the ECINET application.
A senior commission official said that the hearing process for affected voters would begin in about a week's time.
The gap between the publication of the draft rolls and the commencement of hearing will be on account of printing of hearing notices, serving those to the electors concerned and creating digital backup for the same on the EC database, the official said.
The publication comes after weeks of political anxiety and public uncertainty over the fate of voters during the SIR exercise, which began on November 4 and ended on December 11.
According to the commission, the list of deleted voters includes names that figured in the January 2025 electoral rolls but do not appear in the draft rolls post SIR.
The deletion list is accessible through a separate portal, enabling voters to check whether their own or family members' names have been removed and under which category.
Commission sources said the deletions primarily stem from what were termed "uncollectable SIR enumeration forms", which exceeded 58 lakh.
These cases involved voters who were found to be deceased, permanently shifted from their registered addresses, untraceable, or recorded as duplicate voters in more than one constituency.
A detailed breakup released by the CEO's office last week showed that 24,16,852 voters were marked as dead, 19,88,076 were found to have permanently shifted, and 12,20,038 were listed as missing or untraceable at their registered addresses.
Another 1.38 lakh voters were identified as having duplicate entries, while 1,83,328 names were flagged as so-called 'ghost' voters. In addition, more than 57,000 names were deleted under other complications detected during enumeration.
In all, 58,20,898 names were excluded from the draft rolls. After these deletions, the draft electoral roll is expected to carry the names of 7,08,16,631 voters across the state, according to official data.
The Election Commission stressed that deletion from the draft roll does not mark the end of the road for affected voters.
"Aggrieved persons can submit their claims in Form 6 along with the Declaration Form and supporting documents after publication of the draft roll during the period fixed for receiving claims and objections, from December 16, 2025, to January 15, 2026," an EC official said.
Special Roll Observer for West Bengal, former bureaucrat Subrata Gupta, sought to allay public fears, saying voters whose names do not figure in the draft list should not panic.
He noted that around 30 lakh voters whose details could not be matched with the 2002 electoral rolls would be called for hearings, where they would get an opportunity to produce documents and establish eligibility before a final decision is taken.
The draft rolls had begun appearing on the Booth Level Officer (BLO) application a day before their formal publication, a move that had already sparked intense political debate.
After Tuesday's release, the commission advised all voters to verify their names through online portals or offline by visiting their local BLOs.
Hard copies of the draft rolls will be available with BLOs at the booth level, and they have been asked to remain present at booths as far as possible on the day of publication.
Soft copies of the rolls will also be provided to representatives of the state's eight recognised political parties.
The publication of the draft rolls has sharpened political fault lines in the state.
Just after the release of draft rolls, the ruling TMC alleged a "joint conspiracy" by the BJP and the Election Commission, claiming that the prospect of "hearings for nearly two crore voters" amounted to an attempt to intimidate citizens and question their citizenship.
A senior TMC leader said every voter's rights would be protected and warned against what it described as a "coordinated effort to create fear".
The BJP dismissed the allegations, with Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, mocking the charge and remarking, "This is just the beginning. Breakfast has just begun. There will be lunch, tea and then dinner."
While he refrained from giving fresh numbers on deletions, Adhikari said he would speak after the final rolls are published on February 14, as per the commission's schedule.
The SIR process has also been accompanied by allegations of "SIR-related panic" following reports of deaths in parts of the state.
According to TMC, till now, 40 ordinary citizens, including four BLOs, have died due to SIR panic, including suicides.
The BJP has dismissed the claims of SIR-linked citizen deaths as "politically motivated", insisting that the ruling party was trying to "cash in on human tragedies".

The Congress claimed the Modi government’s “politically motivated prosecution” stands exposed after a Delhi court refused to take cognisance of the ED’s National Herald money laundering case against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

Court Dismisses ED Charges Against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in National Herald Case

The Congress claimed the Modi government&rsquo;s &ldquo;politically motivated prosecution&rdquo; stands exposed after a Delhi court refused to take cognisance of the ED&rsquo;s National Herald money laundering case against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress on Tuesday claimed the "illegality" of the Narendra Modi government and its "politically motivated prosecution stands fully exposed" after a court here refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate's National Herald money laundering case against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and others.
In a statement, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said the ED's proceedings against Congress leadership -- Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi -- in the case have been found to be "completely illegal and mala fide" by the court.
"The mala fide and illegality of the Modi government stands fully exposed. The court has ruled that the ED case is without jurisdiction; it has no FIR, without which there is no case. This politically motivated prosecution by the Modi government over the last decade of the principal opposition party stands exposed before the people of India," she said.
"No case of money laundering, no proceeds of crime and no movement of property; all baseless charges that have been a part of a political witch hunt, propaganda, reputation assassination and campaign which stands defeated today," Shrinate said.
She said the Congress party and its leadership are committed to fighting for the truth and for the rights of every Indian. "We cannot, and will not ever be intimidated, because we fight for the truth," she added.
Party general secretary K C Venugopal said, "Through this judgment, the court has exposed the illegal and mala fide political targeting by the Narendra Modi government."
"From day one, the opposition, especially Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, has been targeted without any legal basis or wrongdoing. This judgment clearly vindicates our stand," he added.
Refusing to take cognisance of the federal probe agency's money laundering charge against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and five others in the National Herald case, the court noted that the chargesheet filed is based on a probe into a complaint by a private person and not on an FIR of a predicate offence.
Its cognisance is impermissible in law, the judge said.
Reading out the operative part from the order, the judge said the Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing has already lodged an FIR in the case, and hence it will be premature to adjudicate on ED's arguments in the case based on merits.
The ED has accused Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, as well as late party leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, along with Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and a private company, Young Indian, of conspiracy and money laundering.
It has been alleged that they acquired properties worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which publishes the National Herald newspaper.
The investigation agency further alleged that the Gandhis held the majority 76 per cent shares in Young Indian, which "fraudulently" usurped the assets of AJL in exchange for a Rs 90 crore loan.

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