October 29, 2026 2:49 am
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National

Latest News, National, Popular News, State News

Rahul Gandhi slams Pradhan over NEET ‘leak’, CBSE evaluation row; seeks PM’s apology

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NEW DELHI : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday slammed Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for “failing” students across age groups amid the NEET-UG paper leak row and CBSE evaluation concerns, and sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “destroying” the future of lakhs of children. The leader of opposition in Lok Sabha also attacked Pradhan over the rollout of the CBSE’s three-language policy in schools. Questioning the “silence” of Prime Minister Modi on these issues, Gandhi asked him why he was not sacking Pradhan despite repeated paper leaks during his tenure. “First the NEET paper leak affecting 22 lakh students. Then CBSE Class 12 students receiving unexpectedly low marks from a broken OSM system – many losing their college eligibility. “Now lakhs of CBSE Class 9 students suddenly asked to learn a new language from July 1, with no teachers, no textbooks, and Class 6 books being handed to 14-year-olds as a ‘transitional’ fix,” he said in a post on X. Gandhi alleged that Pradhan has “failed” every single age group of students. “Three exams. Three age groups. One Minister. Dharmendra Pradhan ji has not failed once. He has failed every single age group of India’s students at once. “Every announcement plunges children deeper into uncertainty. Every failure goes unpunished. The Education Ministry has become a department of disasters,” Gandhi said. “Prime Minister Modi ji – can you at least apologise to the lakhs of children whose futures you and your Minister have destroyed?” the former Congress chief asked, using the hashtag ‘#SackPradhan’. In another post earlier, Gandhi said, “NEET 2024: Paper leaked. Exam not cancelled. Minister did not resign. CBI set up an investigation. A committee was formed.” “NEET 2026: Paper leaked. Exam cancelled. Minister still did not resign. CBI is investigating again. Another committee will be formed,” he said. The National Testing Agency cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam (Undergraduate) held on May 3 amid allegations of irregularities. The re-exam has been scheduled for June 21. “Mr Modi, the country is asking you some questions – answer them! Why are paper leaks happening repeatedly? Why are you silent time and again on this ‘Pariksha pe Charcha’? Why aren’t you dismissing the education minister who keeps failing repeatedly?” The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha asked, using the hashtag “#SackPradhan”. ‘Pariksha pe Charcha’ is a programme in which the prime minister interacts with students, parents and teachers. The initiative aims to reshape the examination experience of students by fostering confidence, positivity, and holistic well-being. On Sunday, the Ministry of Education dismissed concerns about On-Screen Marking (OSM) affecting students’ scores in the class 12 exams, saying it is not new for the CBSE and special attention was given to ensure that the marking remained accurate. Also, concerns have been raised over the implementation of the CBSE’s three-language policy for Class 9 by a section of educationists and parents who have questioned the timing of the changes and the preparedness of schools, as the academic session is already well underway. On Saturday, Gandhi demanded that the prime minister should immediately sack Pradhan or take responsibility himself. He had also alleged that the “BJP-RSS nexus” has destroyed India’s education system and said the hard work of 22 lakh NEET aspirants has gone to waste. “The whole country knows that two days before NEET, its question paper was being distributed on WhatsApp. Dharmendra Pradhan ji says he has nothing to do with the matter. The (Parliamentary) Committee had made recommendations but he put it in the dustbin on the pretext that opposition people were on the committee and that it was of no use,” Gandhi said in a video statement. “The truth is that you (government) have damaged the core of India. This is a nexus of the RSS, the BJP and their people that have been installed in universities, vice chancellors and professors, to mint money,” the former Congress president said, adding that all people involved in the alleged paper leak be put in jail. Pradhan on Friday announced that the NEET-UG re-examination would be held on June 21. He said the medical entrance exam would be computer-based from next year onwards in view of irregularities linked to it. (Source: PTI)      

National, REGIONAL

Panel probing Manipur violence gets 6-month extension to submit report

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NEW DELHI : The Centre has given another six-month extension, till November 20, to a Commission of Inquiry to submit its report on the probe into the 2023 Manipur violence that claimed more than 260 lives, a government notification said. The three-member panel, now headed by former Supreme Court judge Balbir Singh Chauhan, was formed on June 4, 2023, in the aftermath of the ethnic violence that broke out in the northeastern state in May that year. It was initially headed by former Gauhati High Court chief justice Ajai Lamba, who resigned with effect from February 28. Justice Chauhan took charge on March 1. According to the notification published in the gazette on Thursday, the commission shall submit its report to the Centre “as soon as possible but not later than the 20th November, 2026”. The panel is probing the sequence of events and facts relating to the ethnic violence that broke out in the state on May 3, 2023, after a “Tribal Solidarity March” was organised in the hill districts. The protest was held against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The ensuing violence claimed more than 260 lives. The violence was preceded by earlier tensions over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, leading to a series of smaller agitations. The Centre constituted the commission on the recommendation of the Manipur government, citing the necessity of an inquiry into a matter of public importance. The scope of the inquiry includes ascertaining whether there were any lapses or dereliction of duty on the part of any of the authorities or individuals responsible. The commission is also assessing the adequacy of the administrative measures taken to prevent and deal with the violence and riots. It is looking into the complaints or allegations submitted by any individual or association. It has been given extensions a number of times to submit its report since then — on September 13, 2024, December 3, 2024, May 20, 2025, and December 16, 2025 — making the latest order a fifth one. In its last extension, the Union home ministry had given the commission time till May 20 to submit its report. According to the June 4, 2023, notification of the home ministry, large-scale violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023, claiming the lives of many residents of the state, besides injuring several others. People’s houses and properties were burnt down as a result of the arson, rendering many of them homeless, the notification had said. (Source: PTI)    

National, REGIONAL

2 NE women assaulted, molested outside Nehru Place hotel in Delhi

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NEW DELHI, Two women from the Northeast (NE) were allegedly molested, assaulted and subjected to racist remarks by a group of men outside a club in southeast Delhi’s Nehru Place area, with police saying four people have been identified in the case and raids are underway to arrest them. The incident took place around 6.30 am on May 10 near a tea stall outside the hotel, police said. According to the police, a PCR call regarding women in distress was received at the Kalkaji police station at around 7 am, following which local police teams rushed to the spot and found the two women there. “Preliminary enquiry revealed that the women were allegedly subjected to derogatory remarks and abuses by a group of men, which later escalated into a physical altercation,” a senior police officer said. The women alleged that they were having tea outside the hotel when two men started catcalling them. Soon, several others allegedly joined in, leading to an argument that later turned violent. “One of the complainants alleged that she was molested during the incident and that her clothes were torn. The women also alleged that racist remarks were passed against them by the accused,” the officer said. One of the women also alleged that she was attacked with a bamboo stick while they were attempting to leave the spot. The accused also allegedly blocked their path and threatened them with consequences if they disclosed the incident. “Both women were rushed to AIIMS for medical examination after police reached the scene. A case has been registered at the Kalkaji police station under Sections 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 74 (assault of criminal force to against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 78 (stalking) and 3(5) (common intentions) of the BNS on May 10 and investigation was taken up immediately,” the officer said. The women informed the police that they would be able to identify the accused if produced before them. As part of the probe, CCTV footage from nearby areas was scanned, and several witnesses and passersby present during the incident were identified and questioned. During the investigation, eight individuals, including witnesses and passersby, were rounded up and questioned, following which four main accused involved in the incident were identified, police said. Multiple police teams have been formed, and raids are underway at locations linked to the accused to apprehend them. No arrests have been made so far, police said. (Source: PTI)        

Latest News, National, Popular News, State News

Need of hour is to use petro products with restraint: PM Modi

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HYDERABAD, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the need of the hour, in the wake of the West Asia crisis, is to use petro products with restraint. Speaking at an event here where he virtually laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth around Rs 9,400 crore in Telangana, Modi said that the imported petro products should be used only as per need, as it will not only save foreign exchange but also reduce the adverse impact of war. Observing that, over the past few years, India has reached a spot among the top countries in the world in terms of solar power, he said, unprecedented work has been done in ethanol blending in petrol. First, the government is focused on 100 per cent LPG coverage, and now, it is focused on the supply of piped gas economically. The government is also promoting a CNG-based system. Due to all these efforts, India is dealing with the major energy crisis in the world, he said. “But, today, the need of the hour is also to use petrol, gas, diesel and such things with great restraint. We have to use imported petro products only as per need. This will not only save foreign exchange but reduce the adverse impact of war,” he said. Referring to CM Revanth Reddy’s comments that there should not be politics in development endeavour, Modi said he would also not talk politics. Assuring Centre’s support to Telangana, he asked Reddy to join him in the development journey. “I would tell Revanth ji. I am ready to give you as much as the Centre gave to Gujarat during 10 years rule. But, as per my information, I will tell you. The moment I do that, what you are getting would become half. You will not be able to reach where you want to reach. That’s why, it is better you join with me,” he said. Noting that it is not wrong to have different party governments in a democracy, he stressed that the development of states is as important as the country’s development. Country’s development is not possible without the development of states, he stressed, calling for collective efforts to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. He also said the country is implementing reforms at speed, and is also building modern infrastructure. He said he would like to assure every family in Telangana that the Centre will continue to work “with greater speed to realise your dreams”. Modi said, over the last 11 years, the National Highway network in Telangana has doubled. Taking a jab at the previous UPA government, he said, before 2014, the railway budget used to be less than Rs 1,000 crore for undivided Andhra Pradesh. However, the railway budget today only for Telangana is Rs 5,500 crore, he said. “Are you listening Revanth ji? During the undivided AP, the railway budget was less than Rs 1,000 crore. I am not talking about undivided AP today, Telangana’s railway budget alone is Rs 5,500 crore,” he said. About Rs 50,000 crore worth of railway projects are going on in Telangana, he said. Earlier, in his address, CM Revanth Reddy said the Centre should support the state’s development initiatives, including expansion of metro rail network, Future City project and Musi rejuvenation. He sought two hours from Modi to review the development proposals of Telangana. The state government has announced the Telangana Rising 2047 vision in line with the Centre’s Viksit Bharat 2047 goal, he said. The Telangana government aims to make the state a USD three trillion economy by 2047, Reddy said. During the event, Modi virtually laid the foundation stone and inaugurated development projects worth around Rs 9,400 crore in Telangana at the HICC here. Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and several other leaders attended the event at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC). Modi laid the foundation for projects, including the four-laning of National Highway-167 from Gudebellur to Mahabubnagar on the Hyderabad-Panaji Economic Corridor and Zaheerabad Industrial Area in Sangareddy district. He inaugurated various sections of Kazipet-Vijayawada multi-tracking project of railways, Greenfield POL (Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants) Terminal in Hyderabad, Kazipet Rail Under Rail Bypass and PM MITRA Park at Warangal (Kakatiya Mega Textile Park). Developed at an estimated cost of around Rs 1,700 crore, the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park is India’s first fully functional PM MITRA Park and operationalises the Centre’s 5F vision – Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign. (Source: PTI)      

Latest News, National, Popular News, State News

Flood crisis management teams should be constituted in every state: Shah

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NEW DELHI At a high-level meeting on Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said flood crisis management teams (FCMTs) should be constituted and activated in every state. At the meeting, Shah reviewed the country’s preparedness to deal with potential floods and heatwaves and underlined that efforts should be made to achieve zero-casualty disaster management. Shah said at least 60 lakes should be included in the plan to develop an early-warning system for 30 high-risk lakes in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim with the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) support, according to a government statement. Shah also said there should be an integrated system for flood forecasting at both the central and state levels. FCMTs should be constituted and activated in every state, the home minister said. He asked the NDMA to conduct a study to assess how many states are following the ministry’s directives and the NDMA guidelines for dealing with forest fires, heatwaves and floods. Shah said efforts must be made to implement the vision of zero-casualty disaster management. Emphasising that greater possibilities for water conservation and improvement in groundwater levels should be explored through water-storage and check-dam projects, he said the objective should be to conserve water by constructing check dams on rivers, while also minimising the impact of heatwaves. Shah said the CAMPA Fund should be utilised to make efforts aimed at maintaining environmental balance. He said a master plan should be prepared to address the changes in weather patterns caused by climate change and the growing disaster-related challenges arising from those. Shah also said weather forecasts and warnings should be disseminated widely and effectively. Efforts should be made to further improve the assessment of the upcoming monsoon by studying casualties during the season, the accuracy of forecasts and the damage caused to the agriculture sector, he added. The meeting was attended by Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, the Union home secretary, secretaries and senior officials of various ministries, members and heads of departments of the NDMA. (Source: PTI)    

National

Failure of your leadership: Rijiju targets Rahul Gandhi over Cong’s electoral strategy

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NEW DELHI, MAY 6: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday criticised Rahul Gandhi and Congress, saying that the party’s recent electoral outcomes reflected a failure of leadership. In a post on X, Rijiju said: “Rahul Gandhi Ji, this is the reason, so why blame others!! It’s the failure of your leadership. Respect Muslims & don’t treat Muslims as mere Vote Bank.” His remarks came amid ongoing political debate following recent Assembly election outcomes, particularly in Assam. In a detailed post on X, Rijiju cited electoral data to argue that Congress’ victories were disproportionately concentrated among Muslim candidates. Referring to Assam, he wrote, “18 out of 19 MLAs that Congress has won in Assam are Muslims. 18 of the 20 Muslims fielded by Congress have won. Only 1 out of the other 79 non-Muslims fielded by Congress has won.” He extended his analysis to other states, stating, “Kerala has elected 35 Muslim MLAs in an assembly of 140 and 30 are from Congress led UDF alliance. 8 Congress MLAs are Muslims and all 22 of Ally Indian Union Muslim League MLAs are Muslims.” Further, he added, “Congress won 2 seats in West Bengal and both of them are Muslims from Muslim majority seats. In Tamil Nadu, Congress nominated 2 Muslims out of which 1 has won.” Summing up his argument, Rijiju said, “It is clear that the only community that is assured of victory on a Congress ticket are the Muslims. Don’t be against Muslims but, do not become a Muslim League Party which is divisive!” The minister also shared a video of Badruddin Ajmal of the All India United Democratic Front, who said, “Congress has become Muslim League, I am sad for it.” Ajmal himself won the Binnakandi Assembly seat, defeating a range of Independent and regional party candidates. Earlier on Tuesday, Rijiju slammed Gandhi for questioning the West Bengal and Assam election results. “Please learn to respect the mandate of the People. The more you attack the Constitutional Authorities, the more you’ll lose your own remaining credibility as a leader. Do criticise the Govt. Policies, attack us but please respect the Constitution of India,” Rijiju said. The political exchange comes after the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance registered a sweeping victory in the Assam Assembly elections. The alliance secured 102 out of 126 seats, marking a third consecutive term in power. The BJP alone won 82 seats, well above the majority mark, while allies Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People’s Front secured 10 seats each. (Source: IANS)

National

Step-by-step guide to check your name in the electoral roll of 2002/2005 SIR

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With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections just months away in 2026, it’s time for every voter to do one simple but crucial thing, that is check whether your name or your relative’s name is on the Tamil Nadu voter list. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has kicked off a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls across Tamil Nadu and several other states. The goal? To ensure every eligible citizen is correctly listed and ready to vote when the state goes to polls next year. Last month, the ECI told the Madras High Court that the revision exercise would begin in Tamil Nadu as part of a nationwide effort to clean up and update voter lists. The Commission has already consulted Chief Electoral Officers across the country to keep the process smooth. Story continues below this ad This SIR exercise is not just limited to Tamil Nadu; it’s also being carried out in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. So, if you’re unsure whether your name or that of your parents or relatives is still on the list, don’t worry. You can easily check it online in just a few steps. Tamil Nadu voter list: Here is the step-by-step guide to check your name in Tamil Nadu voter list:  Visit the Official Website. Go to the Tamil Nadu Election Commission’s official website: https://www.elections.tn.gov.in/Electoral_Services.aspx Click on “Special Intensive Revision – 2002/2005”. Now, click on the option that says “Search your name in electoral roll.” You’ll see three options to search: Search by EPIC number (Elector’s Photo Identity Card) Search by Details Search by Mobile number Tamil Nadu voter id download: Option 1. To search by EPIC Number: This is the fastest and the most accurate method if you already have your voter ID card. Enter your EPIC number (as printed on your voter ID). Select Tamil Nadu from the state dropdown list. Type the Captcha code shown on the screen. Click on “Search.” Your voter details should appear on the screen instantly. Tamil Nadu election: Option 2. Search by Personal Details If you don’t have your EPIC number handy, you can still find your name using your personal details.