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ITANAGAR : Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday extended warm greetings to the people of Sikkim on its Statehood Day, describing the Himalayan state as a symbol of peace, harmony and sustainable development. “Warm greetings to the people of Sikkim on the joyous occasion of its Statehood Day,” Khandu said in a post on X. The chief minister said Sikkim is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and warm-hearted people and stands as a shining example of peace, harmony, and sustainable progress. Khandu also lauded Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, saying that under his “dynamic leadership”, the state continues to witness “remarkable development while proudly preserving its traditions and identity”. “May Sikkim continue to prosper and scale greater heights in the years ahead,” the chief minister added. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein also conveyed his greetings to the people of Sikkim on the occasion. “Warm greetings to the people of Sikkim on the occasion of its Statehood Day,” Mein said in a social media post. Highlighting the progress made by the Himalayan state, Mein said that under the leadership of Tamang, Sikkim “continues to make remarkable strides while preserving its unique cultural identity, natural beauty and spirit of harmony”. Sikkim observes its Statehood Day on May 16 to commemorate its merger with the Indian Union in 1975, when the former Himalayan kingdom officially became the 22nd state of India through the 36th Constitutional Amendment. (Source: PTI)    

NEW DELHI : Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday underscored the urgency of adopting science-based agricultural practices, citing the increasingly visible impact of climate change on farming across India and globally. At a meeting convened to review the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) proposals of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Chouhan directed officials to fast-track the preparation of state-specific agricultural roadmaps aligned with the agro-climatic conditions of each state, in consultation with respective state governments. Officials informed the Minister that the exercise is already underway, with Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Rajasthan among the states that have formally requested such roadmaps, which are expected to be finalised shortly, an official statement said. Chouhan, expressing satisfaction with ICAR’s action plan, urged officials to accelerate implementation with the aim of meeting targets ahead of schedule. ICAR Director General and Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Dr M. L. Jat, briefed the Minister on the council’s programmes and activities, as well as its future strategy to maximise benefits for farmers and Indian agriculture broadly. The Minister reiterated that agriculture remains the primary livelihood for a large share of the population and a bedrock of the Indian economy. He called for all efforts to be directed at making farming more productive, cost-efficient and financially rewarding for cultivators. Chouhan also stressed the need for wide-scale promotion of integrated farming, urging that farmers be encouraged to adopt the model practically, saying it would boost incomes while advancing sustainable agricultural practices. (Source: PTI)      

GUWAHATI :  Following the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) announcement, seven Northeastern states have begun preparations for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, officials said on Saturday. The ECI on Thursday (May 14) announced the launch of the SIR of electoral rolls in a phased manner across 16 states and three Union Territories. The poll panel stated that the Phase-III schedule of the SIR would be a major nationwide exercise aimed at enhancing the accuracy, inclusiveness, and transparency of voter lists. The 16 states include seven of the eight Northeastern states — Mizoram, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Tripura. Assam already completed the Special Revision (not SIR) exercise, and the ECI on February 10, 2026, published the final electoral rolls covering all 126 Assembly constituencies in the state. In Shillong, Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr B.D.R. Tiwari said that the state is fully prepared for the forthcoming SIR of electoral rolls as announced by the ECI. Tiwari stated that the Election Commission has included Meghalaya in the third phase of the SIR exercise, and the qualifying date for the revision has been fixed as October 1, 2026. He informed that preparatory activities, including training programmes and printing of enumeration forms, would be carried out from June 20 to June 29, 2026. The house-to-house survey by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) would take place from June 30 to July 29, 2026, covering all polling stations across the state. Polling station-wise consolidation work would also be completed by July 29. According to the CEO, the draft electoral roll in Meghalaya would be published on August 5, 2026, after which the period for filing claims and objections would continue till September 4, 2026. The final electoral roll would be published on October 7, 2026, following completion of the revision exercise. Highlighting the preparedness of the state machinery, Tiwari said that all necessary arrangements and advance planning measures had already been initiated in accordance with the ECI guidelines to ensure smooth conduct of the Special Intensive Revision across Meghalaya. He further informed that meetings and consultations had already been held with political parties in the state, during which the procedures and modalities of the Special Intensive Revision were explained in detail. Queries and concerns raised by representatives of various political parties were also addressed during the discussions. Political parties have been requested to appoint Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from their respective parties to facilitate the smooth implementation of the exercise at the grassroots level. The CEO noted that BLAs play a crucial role in assisting Booth Level Officers during the revision process at each polling station. Reiterating the Election Commission’s commitment to maintaining free, fair, and transparent electoral processes, the official said that the Special Intensive Revision exercise would be conducted in a transparent manner with the objective of ensuring accurate, inclusive, and error-free electoral rolls in the state. Officials in other Northeastern states also said that they are fully prepared to conduct the SIR exercise in a transparent and participatory manner. Election authorities have appealed to all political parties to appoint Booth Level Agents for every polling booth to ensure complete participation of political parties and smooth implementation of the revision process. The schedule for publication of the final electoral rolls varies across the Northeastern states. According to election officials, the final electoral rolls would be published on September 6, 2026, in Mizoram, Sikkim, and Manipur; on September 22 in Arunachal Pradesh; on October 7 in Meghalaya; on November 22 in Nagaland; and on November 23, 2026, in Tripura. (Source: IANS)        

ITANAGAR :  The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 16 states and three Union Territories, with Arunachal Pradesh included under Phase-III of the nationwide exercise. According to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Arunachal Pradesh, the revision schedule has been aligned with the ongoing Census house-listing exercise to ensure effective utilisation of the common field machinery. The ECI stated that with the implementation of Phase-III, the SIR process would cover almost the entire country, except Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The schedule for the remaining State and Union Territories will be announced later after considering completion of Census activities and prevailing weather conditions in snow-bound and upper-reach areas. As part of the exercise, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will undertake house-to-house visits across Arunachal Pradesh to verify and update electoral details. Political parties have also been requested to appoint Booth Level Agents (BLAs) at every polling station to ensure transparency and active participation in the revision process. Across the country, more than 3.94 lakh BLOs and 3.42 lakh BLAs will be engaged in the Phase-III enumeration exercise covering nearly 36.73 crore electors. In Arunachal Pradesh, 2,288 BLOs and 3,131 BLAs will be involved in the verification process for 8,87,607 electors as on May 12, 2026. The timeline for the exercise in the state includes preparation, training and printing activities from June 5 to June 14, followed by house-to-house verification from June 15 to July 14. The draft electoral roll will be published on July 21, while the final electoral roll is scheduled for publication on September 22, 2026. The CEO appealed to eligible voters, political parties and other stakeholders to extend full cooperation for the successful completion of the Special Intensive Revision process.    

ITANAGAR : Emphasising the urgent need to protect Arunachal Pradesh’s rich ecological heritage amid rapid development, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Friday called for balancing progress with environmental stewardship. In a message on social media on the occasion of National Endangered Species Day, Mein highlighted the deep connection between endangered species, forest ecosystems, and the traditional way of life of indigenous communities in the state. “Arunachal Pradesh is not just a land of mountains and rivers; it is among India’s greatest strongholds of wildlife and biodiversity,” he said in a post on X. Mein also pointed out to several rare and threatened species found in the northeastern state. “On National Endangered Species Day, we are reminded that the survival of species like the Mishmi takin, red panda, snow leopard, hoolock gibbon, and hornbills is deeply connected to the future of our forests, rivers, and indigenous way of life,” he said. The deputy chief minister stressed that environmental protection must remain a priority even as the state continues on the path of infrastructure and economic development. “As development progresses, the responsibility to protect this fragile ecological wealth becomes even more important,” Mein said. “Conservation in Arunachal Pradesh is not only about saving wildlife, but it is also about preserving a living heritage that defines our identity and our relationship with nature,” he said. Calling for collective responsibility, Mein urged citizens and stakeholders to work towards a sustainable future where growth does not come at the cost of nature. “Let us continue working towards a future where development and environmental stewardship go hand in hand,” he added. (Source: PTI)