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NEW DELHI :  The Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 will come into force from July 1, with the Centre on Tuesday stating that all arrangements have been made for its implementation. The Ministry of Rural Development said the Act provides a statutory guarantee of up to 125 days of wage employment to eligible rural households, compared to the 100 days provided under the existing rural employment framework.   The ministry said an interim allocation of Rs 95,692.31 crore has been made to states and Union Territories to ensure a smooth transition, timely wage payments and uninterrupted implementation of works under the new framework. Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the government’s priority was to ensure that “no eligible rural worker remains without work even for a single day”. He said the Centre and states had worked together to complete administrative, financial and technical preparations for the rollout. The government said existing e-KYC-verified job cards will remain valid until the new Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards are issued. The gram panchayats will continue to play a key role in implementation of the scheme, with focus on areas such as natural resource management, water conservation, agriculture and allied activities, rural infrastructure and women’s empowerment, it added. According to the ministry, 29 states and Union Territories have made budgetary provisions for the Act, while 24 states have notified their VB-G RAM G state schemes. The rollout of the new law comes amid criticism from opposition parties and rural employment activists, who have raised concerns over changes in the existing rural employment guarantee framework. They have questioned if the new system could affect the demand-driven nature of employment, the role of states and panchayats, and whether adequate financial resources would be available for implementation. The government has maintained that the new framework will strengthen rural livelihood security, improve asset creation and provide a more comprehensive approach to employment generation. The national launch of the VB-G RAM G Act will be held on July 2 at Mukkavaripalli village in Obulavaripalle mandal of Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati district, according to the ministry. The event will include the distribution of Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Cards and the release of awareness material related to the mission. (Source: PTI)        

NEW DELHI : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday assured the chief ministers of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh of all possible assistance from the Centre for flood relief operations in the two states battered by heavy rain, officials said. Shah dialled Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu to take stock of the situation arising from flash floods and heavy monsoon rains. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), nearly 16,000 people were affected by floods in 69 villages across four revenue circles in Dhemaji. In a social media post, Sarma said he briefed Shah on the relief and rehabilitation measures presently underway. “He has also assured us all possible support and assistance from the Government of India to deal with this situation,” he said. “I thank Hon’ble Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji for his phone call and enquiring about the flood situation in Dhemaji,” he added. Arunachal Pradesh continued to receive torrential rains on Monday, resulting in devastating floods that disrupted road connectivity, damaged infrastructure and claimed lives in around 12 districts across the state. Floods and landslides caused by incessant rainfall were also reported in several other parts of Arunachal Pradesh, where houses were inundated and infrastructure damaged, prompting the local administrations to launch rescue and evacuation operations, they said. Rescue operations involving the Indian Air Force were suspended overnight due to poor visibility but resumed on Monday morning. The India Meteorological Department has forecast more heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning over East Siang and neighbouring districts, including Leparada, Lower Siang, Lower Subansiri and Papum Pare. Authorities have urged people to avoid travelling through landslide-prone and flood-affected areas unless absolutely necessary and to follow official advisories until the weather conditions improve. (Source: PTI)      

NEW DELHI : The government will lift restrictions on the sale of petrol and diesel to commercial and industrial consumers from July 1, easing emergency measures imposed to manage fuel supplies. The move will also end the cap on the diesel quantity that can be sold to a single vehicle in a day at retail fuel stations, reflecting an improvement in the country’s fuel supply situation. In an order dated June 29, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas rescinded its June 12 directive that had capped diesel sales to a single vehicle at 200 litres a day and barred industrial, commercial and institutional consumers from purchasing petrol and diesel from retail fuel stations. The restrictions had been introduced to prevent local fuel shortages amid global supply disruptions. “The temporary measures were considered necessary and expedient in the public interest to maintain supplies of motor spirit (petrol) and high speed diesel…and secure their equitable distribution and availability at fair prices,” the June 29 order said. After a review of the prevailing supply situation of petroleum products in the country, the ministry said it is “satisfied” that it is no longer necessary in the public interest to continue with the June 12 order. “Therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by clause 3 of the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Temporary Regulation of Supply through Retail Outlets) Order, 2026, the Central Government hereby withdraws its Order of even number dated 12th June, 2026 with effect from 1st July, 2026,” it said. The move follows an improvement in crude oil and fuel supplies from Gulf producers after tensions in the region eased, allowing energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to resume. On June 12, the government had ordered that retail outlets could sell diesel only into a vehicle tank or PESO-approved container, and not more than 200 litres per customer or vehicle per day. Also, industrial, commercial and institutional consumers were no longer allowed to buy petrol or diesel from retail outlets. They must source their fuel from their own consumer pumps. The restrictions, which were put in place for up to 90 days, followed abnormal demand growth, particularly that of diesel, in some pockets after bulk users started buying fuel from petrol pumps due to the pricing difference. While diesel at petrol pumps costs Rs 95.20 a litre in Delhi, bulk sales are priced at Rs 134.50. The differential arose as state-owned oil companies modulated retail prices to insulate common users from the spike in cost that followed the West Asia crisis in late February. While bulk users, such as telecom towers and industries using diesel for power generation and other feedstock needs, are charged market price, the retail pump rates are way lower than the cost. Commercial customers like trucking companies and state road transport buses, too, had been tapping pumps for their needs, resulting in an abnormal rise in demand in some pockets. The government eased the restrictions after crude oil and fuel supplies from Gulf producers improved following a de-escalation of tensions in West Asia, which enabled normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to resume. The ministry, on June 12, issued the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel (Temporary Regulation of Supply through Retail Outlets) Order, 2026, directing fuel retailers and oil marketing companies to curb bulk purchases from retail outlets for periods of up to 90 days at a time. Later, the ministry, in a statement, said it has withdrawn temporary restrictions on the sale and distribution of petrol and diesel from July 1 after reviewing domestic fuel supplies and concluding that emergency measures imposed earlier this month are no longer needed. The curbs were introduced after the West Asia conflict disrupted global energy markets. While the government kept domestic retail fuel prices unchanged despite a sharp rise in international prices, the resulting gap between retail and bulk fuel prices prompted some commercial users to shift purchases to retail outlets. “The measures were aimed at preventing black marketing, hoarding and diversion of diesel while ensuring uninterrupted availability of petrol and diesel to retail consumers,” the statement said. “Following a review of the supply situation of petroleum products in the country, the Government has concluded that the temporary regulatory measures are no longer required in the public interest. Accordingly, the Order dated 12th June, 2026, stands withdrawn with effect from 1st July, 2026.” It said the restrictions ensured adequate nationwide supplies of petrol and diesel during the disruption. Their withdrawal reflects an improvement in the domestic supply situation and the restoration of normal fuel distribution arrangements. The order takes effect from July 1. (Source: PTI)          

NEW DELHI : The threat of drug trafficking from across the Myanmar border into India’s north eastern states and up to the hinterland has “dramatically” escalated due to more than 50 per cent expansion of illicit opium cultivation and production in the neighbouring country, as per a latest report. The document published by the federal anti-drug agency Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for 2025, added this development in Myanmar is an “accelerated” threat as it is the “single most important supply zone” for the global gap left after the “dramatic collapse” of Afghanistan opium. The report said the 1,643-km-long India-Myanmar international border functions as a “major” entry point for methamphetamine and heroin from the Golden Triangle region, “exacerbated” by porous terrain and the Free Movement Regime (FMR), particularly across Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. India is geographically wedged between the Golden Crescent on its northwestern side (Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran) and the Golden Triangle on its northeastern flank (Thailand-Myanmar-Laos). These are the two prolific drug-producing regions of the world. “Despite the 2022 Taliban drug ban, which reduced opium production by 93 per cent from its peak (in Afghanistan), UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) notes that stockpiles remain sufficient to meet demand through 2026. “It would be analytically imprudent, however, to interpret this contraction as a diminishing threat to India,” it said. On the other hand, the report said, Myanmar’s illicit opium production increased by over 50 per cent between 2020-24, with the area under poppy cultivation reaching 45,200 hectares. This makes the India-Myanmar border the “single most important substitute supply zone for the global gap left by Afghanistan collapse.” India’s eastern borders are the “most direct and porous” entry point for this expanding production base, and the consequences are already visible, the report said, pointing to the 140 per cent increase in Amphetamine Type Stimulant (ATS) seizures recorded in India between 2020-2025, culminating in 8.2 tons seized in 2024 alone. “This is the clearest empirical signal of how dramatically the eastern threat has escalated,” it said. The northeastern states of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland are bearing the “sharpest” frontline exposure. The porous border mechanism, including the erstwhile free movement regime along the India-Myanmar border, has created conditions under which the states have transitioned from peripheral transit zones to active staging grounds for distribution into the Indian hinterland, the report said. It went on to say that the second major trafficking corridor enters India through Champhai in Mizoram, which shares close proximity with Myanmar’s Chin state. Drugs are smuggled through unfenced and porous border stretches and routed towards Silchar in Assam’s Barak valley through Aizawl and adjoining road networks. Thereafter, the contraband moves towards Meghalaya and further reaches Guwahati, from where it is “distributed” across mainland India. The report quoted the UNODC World Drug Report 2025 to say that Myanmar produced 995 tonnes of opium in 2024, which was 50 per cent higher than in 2020. The NCB report also mentioned that the “most consequential” result of the collapse of the Afghan opium supply was that it has been “redistributed” and “diversified” and this drug was flowing eastward into India. “The broader implication is that India’s western exposure is shifting from being a high volume heroin transit problem to a more complex, multi-substance, tech-enabled smuggling problem,” it said. The report also alleged the use of Internet-based communication platforms for drugs trafficking, especially Telegram. “Encrypted messaging platforms such as Telegram, WhatsApp and Signal have emerged as significant channels for drug distribution globally, including in India,” it claimed. Unlike darknet markets that require specialised access, these platforms are widely accessible via smartphones, lowering entry barriers and enabling broader reach, the report said. “Among these, Telegram has become a prominent platform for drug advertising with public channels offering product listings, pricing and delivery details to large subscriber bases,” the report charged. Telegram was recently banned in the country during the re-NEET exam. Talking about its internal issues, the report said the NCB was facing a “critical” shortage of manpower in its legal wing as only one post was occupied out of the 38 sanctioned as of December, 2025. Similarly, all seven sanctioned posts of technical and cyber cadre were unfilled, highlighting a “significant gap” in NCB’s digital enforcement capabilities, as per the report. (Source: PTI)        

NEW DELHI : The NCERT on Wednesday warned students, parents and teachers against pirated and unauthorised versions of its textbooks, saying a fake Class 9 social science book is being circulated on social media and messaging platforms. In a statement on X, the The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) said it has come to notice that pirated and unauthorised copies of certain its textbooks are being circulated in both print and digital formats, in some cases even prior to their official publication and release by the Council.  “It has further been observed that a fake and unofficial copy of the Social Science book of Class Ninth Part 1, ‘Understanding Society: India & Beyond’ is being circulated on social media channels, websites, and messaging groups that claim to offer NCERT textbooks and allied materials and are circulating such spurious and unauthorized content,” the NCERT said. These channels have “no association with or authorisation from the NCERT”, the Council said. The NCERT said textbooks are published, printed and released only through its official channels and no textbook is authorised for circulation in any form prior to its official release. “The contents being circulated through such unofficial sources may be inaccurate, incomplete, tampered with or entirely fabricated, and must not be relied upon by students, teachers, parents or the general public,” it said. Advising stakeholders to procure books only through official sources, the NCERT said digital copies of its textbooks are made available free of cost on its official website and the ePathshala portal, besides authorised vendors for printed copies. The Council also urged people not to subscribe to, share or rely on unofficial or unverified social media channels, links or applications claiming to provide NCERT books or pre-release materials. The NCERT said unauthorised printing, reproduction, distribution and digital circulation of its copyrighted material is illegal and punishable under the Copyright Act, 1957, and other applicable laws. It added that it is taking “appropriate measures, including legal action”, against those involved in piracy and circulation of fake material. (Source: PTI)  

PUNE : Activist Anna Hazare has threatened to launch an indefinite hunger strike from July 5 at Ralegan Siddhi village in Ahilyanagar district if the Maharashtra government does not immediately withdraw the “illegal” amendments made to the Right to Information Rules. In a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Hazare said the Maharashtra Right to Information Rules, 2026, would “blunt the edge” of the RTI Act and keep citizens away from information. He claimed the amendments made on June 12 violate the spirit of the RTI Act, 2005, and undermine transparency. Hazare objected to the hike in fees, saying no rational explanation or financial analysis was provided. “RTI is not a revenue-generating law. If fees are raised after 20 years, penalties on officers who deny information should also be increased,” he wrote. He opposed making ID proof mandatory, arguing that Section 6(2) of the RTI Act does not require applicants to disclose personal details or reasons for seeking information. Such a condition endangers whistleblowers and activists, he added. The anti-corruption activist also criticised the “one subject, one application” rule, calling it unnecessary and burdensome, and said the provision to summarily close repeat applications would block access to complete or updated information. Other objections included asking applicants for the purpose of seeking information, dismissal of appeals if the applicant remains absent, automatic closure of cases on an applicant’s death, and barring legal assistance during hearings before the Information Commission. Hazare said the rules shift the burden onto citizens instead of fixing systemic failures. He noted that Section 4 of the RTI Act, which mandates proactive disclosure by public authorities, remains poorly implemented, forcing citizens to file applications. “Making the process more technical, costly and administration-centric will reduce transparency,” he said, adding that the amendments were brought without public consultation. Hazare, who led several agitations for RTI in Maharashtra since 1998 and undertook fasts in Mumbai, Ralegan Siddhi and Alandi, said he would not back down. “If the June 12 amendments are not revoked immediately, I will begin my fast on July 5 at Yadav Baba Temple, Ralegan Siddhi, even if it costs my life,” the letter stated. He urged the state to withdraw the rules and strengthen proactive disclosure instead of imposing new restrictions on applicants. (Source: PTI)            

NEW DELHI : The NEET-UG re-exam was held at centres across the country and overseas on Sunday amid tight security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the examination. The examination was conducted across 5,440 centres in 551 cities in India and 14 centres abroad by the NTA after the cancellation of the earlier May 3 exam amid an ongoing probe into the question paper leak. Over 22 lakh students were to appear in the retest. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reviewed arrangements for the smooth conduct of the NEET-UG re-examination at the NTA headquarters in Delhi’s Okhla. “NTA apprises the Minister of the logistical and technical arrangements put in place for the efficient and transparent conduct of the examination,” the Ministry of Education said. The examination was scheduled from 2.00 PM to 5.15 PM. Candidates with disabilities (PwD/PwBD) eligible for compensatory time will be allowed to write the examination till 6.20 pm. In Kolkata, an injured candidate was allowed a separate room at the examination centre, along with medical support and a standby ambulance. The candidate, Shrishti Dubey, suffered severe injuries in a road accident on June 14 and sought assistance from the authorities to make special arrangements. Pradhan personally spoke to the aspirant’s parents, who conveyed their gratitude for the assistance provided by the NTA and the authorities. However, some aspirants and their families flagged commuting difficulties in reaching the examination centres. In Bhopal, two students were denied entry to the centre after arriving late. Amir Qadri, uncle of one of the aspirants, said, “I have come here with my nephew for his examination. While on our way to the examination centre, we met with an accident and got a bit late, since my nephew received first aid. Now that we have reached here, we are being denied entry. The authorities are saying the exam has already begun and that it won’t be possible to permit us entry.” Heavy rains lashed Kolkata and its adjoining areas, triggering severe waterlogging in several parts of the city and disrupting traffic movement. The showers brought respite from humid conditions but caused difficulties for commuters, including NEET aspirants travelling to examination centres for the re-test. In Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking arranged special bus services for students appearing in the re-examination amid the ongoing strike by its employees. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, nearly 180 bus trips were planned during the day, with 60 buses deployed on 24 routes to facilitate travel to 63 examination centres across the city. In Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delayed his travel to his residence after arriving at IGI airport from Kolkata, to ensure NEET re-exam candidates did not face inconvenience due to traffic restrictions. Sources said after arriving at the IGI airport around 1 PM, Modi chose to wait at the airport instead of immediately leaving for his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. Meanwhile, nearly 79,400 aspirants appeared for the re-examination at 211 centres across Gujarat, which was held amid extensive security arrangements. State police deployed drones and additional personnel at the centres to ensure the smooth and fair conduct of the examination. In some states, including the national capital, free drinking water and refreshments were also arranged for parents and guardians waiting outside examination centres, officials said. A candidate, Kishan, before entering the examination centre in Delhi to take the retest, said security arrangements were tighter this time than during the earlier test. “Security is tighter this time than last time. A lot has happened over the past month. I have revised as much as I could, and now, I just want to write the exam. I only hope the exam is conducted fairly,” he told PTI Videos. “Everyone who took that exam was under immense pressure, especially the students who were on the verge of qualifying,” he added. Another NEET-UG candidate, Sonia, also noted that security was tighter this time. “If such security arrangements had been in place the last time, the chances of a paper leak would have been lower, and students would not have had to face so much trouble,” she said before taking the retest. According to a media report, a NEET aspirant wearing a burqa alleged that she was denied entry to an examination centre in Rajasthan’s Ajmer. The candidate, Kulsum Bano, claimed she had appeared for the earlier exam wearing the same attire. “I have come from Beawar to take the NEET exam. When I took the exam on May 3, I was in the same attire then as I am now, wearing a burqa and a dupatta. Initially, they said I would have to remove the dupatta to enter; then they insisted I had to remove the burqa as well,” she said before the exam started. “If the NTA has permitted us, these people cannot stop us… If I am to take the exam and they don’t allow me in this attire, then I simply won’t take it,” she said. “The exam doesn’t matter to me; what matters is my ‘burqa’ and my identity,” she asserted. The NTA later clarified that the aspirant was allowed entry to the centre. The examination was conducted in English and 12 Indian languages. According to NTA, more than 95,000 examination rooms were equipped with CCTV surveillance. A total of 1,38,560 CCTV cameras were installed, with feeds monitored virtually at the national, state and ministry levels, officials said. To secure the examination against electronic malpractice, 51,311 jammers have been deployed. Ahead of the retest, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had urged candidates to appear for it fearlessly and free of anxiety. (Source: PTI)