October 31, 2026 4:13 pm
Facebook Twitter Youtube

ONLINE AGE

(Online version of the Arunachal Age newspaper)

National

Latest News, National, Popular News, State News

India must remain vigilant on China’s expansionist tendencies: Guv

/

PUNE, SEP 5: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik (Retd) has stressed the need for India to remain vigilant, united and prepared to safeguard its territorial integrity and national interests in view of China’s expansionist tendencies and assertive posturing along disputed borders. The Governor made the remarks while delivering the keynote inaugural address at the PIC-CCAS China Conference 2026 organised jointly by the Pune International Centre (PIC) and the Centre for China Analysis and Strategy (CCAS) in Pune on September 4 and 5. He spoke on China’s strategic trajectory and its implications for India and the wider Indo-Pacific region. Describing China as India’s “civilization neighbour”, Parnaik noted that the two countries share centuries of cultural and historical interactions. At the same time, he cautioned that China’s contemporary strategic outlook continues to exhibit expansionist tendencies, reflected in its territorial claims and assertive posturing along disputed borders. Referring specifically to China’s claims over Arunachal Pradesh and areas in Ladakh, the Governor emphasised that India must remain vigilant and adequately prepared to protect its territorial integrity and national interests. Parnaik also highlighted China’s transformation into a major economic, technological and military power under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. He said China has systematically expanded its influence across Asia, Africa and other regions through infrastructure investments, financial assistance and initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and stressed that countries in the region need to carefully assess the strategic implications of such engagements. Highlighting Arunachal Pradesh’s strategic significance as India’s eastern frontier, the Governor said people living in border areas are vital stakeholders in national security. Their presence, local knowledge, resilience and commitment to the nation contribute significantly to border management and situational awareness. He stressed that empowered and prosperous border communities are among the strongest guardians of the nation’s frontiers. He also highlighted the Government of India’s sustained efforts to strengthen infrastructure and connectivity in border regions through improved road networks, communication systems and development initiatives. Such measures, he said, enhance operational preparedness while improving the quality of life of border residents and reinforcing the nation’s security architecture. The Governor underscored the importance of developing a comprehensive understanding of China’s evolving political, military, economic and technological landscape. He called for greater collaboration among policymakers, scholars, strategic thinkers and security experts to shape effective national policies and ensure that India remains prepared to meet emerging geopolitical challenges. The two-day conference brought together leading scholars, policymakers, strategic analysts and domain experts to deliberate on India-China bilateral relations and border dynamics, military and security developments, emerging trade and economic trends, technological and digital advancements, and the changing geopolitical landscape of Asia. Among the prominent participants were CCAS President Jayadeva Ranade, PIC Vice President Dr Vijay Kelkar, former Ambassador to Bhutan and China and former High Commissioner to Pakistan Gautam Bambawale, and former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande.    

National, REGIONAL

Shah meets Tripura CM, Tipra Motha founder amid BJP-ally differences ahead of village polls

/

NEW DELHI, SEP 4: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday held a meeting with Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma amid differences between the two allies over an electoral understanding for the upcoming Village Committee polls and the regional party’s demand for land rights for indigenous people. BJP’s Northeast coordinator Sambit Patra was also present at the nearly 90-minute meeting at Shah’s residence, sources said. The BJP and Tipra Motha have remained allies in the state government despite repeatedly clashing over tribal issues. Friday’s meeting assumes significance as the two sides have been negotiating a possible seat-sharing arrangement for elections to 587 Village Committees under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), scheduled for September 28. The TTAADC covers around two-thirds of Tripura’s geographical area and is home to a large part of the state’s indigenous population, making hold over tribal politics crucial for both parties. Sources said Debbarma remained firm during the meeting on his demand for protection of land rights of indigenous people and received an assurance from the BJP leadership that the issue would be addressed. There was, however, no immediate official announcement on the contours of any electoral understanding between the two parties. “Met Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah Ji in New Delhi today. During the meeting, Founder of Tipra Motha Party Maharaja Pradyot Manikya Ji and BJP North East Coordinator Sambit Patra Ji were also present,” Saha said in a post on X. “We had a fruitful and constructive discussion on matters of mutual importance and the development and welfare of the people of Tripura,” he said. Debbarma had on Wednesday said Tipra Motha would not enter into an alliance for the Village Committee elections without a written assurance on land rights for indigenous people in the Sixth Schedule areas. The Village Committee elections are being held after a gap of 10 years. The polls, initially due in 2022, were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent legal complications. Founded by Debbarma, the scion of Tripura’s erstwhile royal family, Tipra Motha emerged as a major political force in the state’s tribal belt after sweeping the TTAADC elections in 2021. It won 13 seats in the 60-member assembly in the 2023 elections, emerging as the second-largest party in the House and the principal opposition. It subsequently joined the BJP-led government in March 2024 after signing a tripartite accord with the Centre and the Tripura government aimed at finding an “amicable solution” to issues concerning the state’s indigenous people. The accord covered a range of issues, including land and political rights, economic development, identity, culture and language. Relations between the allies, however, have remained strained, with Tipra Motha repeatedly accusing the Centre and the state government of failing to implement key provisions of the accord. The differences intensified over the past year, with the two sides also trading charges following clashes involving their workers. The parties eventually contested the TTAADC elections earlier this year separately despite continuing to share power in the state government. Tipra Motha won 24 of the 28 elected seats in the tribal council polls, dealing a major setback to the BJP, which has drawn much of its support in the state from Bengali Hindu voters, in the tribal belt. (Source: PTI)        

Latest News, National, Popular News, State News

Mama Natung attends National Summit on Water in New Delhi

/

NEW DELHI, SEP 3: Arunachal Pradesh Home and PHE Minister Mama Natung attended the two-day National Departmental Summit on Water organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi from September 1 to 2. The summit brought together Ministers and senior officials from States and Union Territories to deliberate on water security, drinking water, sanitation and sustainable water management. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the valedictory session and emphasised continuous review and follow-up of the summit’s actionable outcomes. He called for greater Jan Bhagidari in water conservation, wider adoption of water-saving technologies, robust water data governance, use of artificial intelligence (AI) in water management and sustainable planning to address future water challenges. Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil highlighted the need to accelerate the completion of water infrastructure projects, strengthen water conservation as a people’s movement, ensure the sustainability of drinking-water sources and improve the operation and maintenance of rural drinking-water schemes. Natung appreciated the Ministry of Jal Shakti for providing a platform for dialogue and cooperative action between the Centre and States. He reiterated Arunachal Pradesh’s commitment to ensuring safe, sustainable and reliable drinking water facilities, particularly for communities in remote and difficult-to-reach areas. The summit underscored the spirit of Team India and the need for collective efforts to achieve long-term water security across the country.  

Latest News, National, Popular News, State News

31-member parliamentary panel set up to examine FCRA Amendment Bill

/

NEW DELHI, SEP 3: A 31-member joint committee of the two Houses of Parliament was constituted on Thursday to examine the contentious Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, with BJP’s Sanjay Jaiswal named as its chairperson. The panel, which was constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, has 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. It comprises 14 members of BJP and five of Congress. It also has two members each from JD(U), TMC and DMK, and one member each from SP, IUML, Shiv Sena, NCP (SP), NCP and TDP. On August 12, Parliament had sent the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill to a joint committee amid protests by opposition parties, which alleged that the proposed law targeted minorities and NGOs, and demanded its withdrawal. The government rejected the charge and challenged the opposition parties to identify even one provision that discriminated against minorities. While BJP’s Jaiswal is the chairperson, Bhartruhari Mahtab, Tejasvi Surya, Kamlesh Jangde, Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal, Nishikant Dubey, Vishnu Dayal Ram, Ananta Nayak and Arvind Dharmapuri are the members from the ruling party in the Lok Sabha. Congress’ Lok Sabha members who are part of the panel are Anto Antony, Captain Viriato Fernandes, Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed and Kali Charan Munda. Zia Ur Rehman (SP), Kalyan Banerjee (TMC), A Raja (DMK), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (TDP), Naresh Ganpat Mhaske (Shiv Sena), Kaushalendra Kumar (JD-U), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP) and E T Mohammed Basheer (IUML) are other members of the panel from the Rajya Sabha. From the Rajya Sabha, the BJP’s C Sadanandan Master, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Ujjwal Deorao Nikam, Alka Gurjar and Sat Paul Sharma are members of the panel. Praful Patel (NCP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JD-U), Christopher Manickam (Congress), Menaka Guruswamy (TMC) and P Wilson (DMK) are the other members of the panel from the Rajya Sabha. The committee has been asked to submit its report to the Lok Sabha by the last day of the first week of the Winter session of Parliament. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25 and proposes tighter government oversight over non-governmental organisations and foreign funding in the country. It seeks to create a designated authority to manage and dispose of assets if an organisation loses its FCRA licence. Opposition parties have alleged that certain provisions of the Bill could affect legitimate foreign funding for Christian NGOs and minority-run social welfare and educational institutions. The government has maintained that the proposed legislation is not religion-specific and is aimed at regulating foreign contributions. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma had earlier urged the Centre to refer the Bill to a joint committee for detailed examination, while Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had also raised concerns over its provisions with the Centre. (Source: PTI)

National, REGIONAL

NESt Fest to showcase Northeast’s culture, youth talent in Delhi on September 4-5

/

NEW DELHI, SEP 2: The ninth edition of the North East Students’ Festival (NESt Fest) will be held here on September 4 and 5, showcasing the region’s diverse culture, student talent, music, handicrafts, cuisine and youth voices. Organised by NGO My Home India, the free-for-all festival at Talkatora Indoor Stadium is themed “The Sound of India’s Yuva Shakti”. The festival will open on September 4 with an inaugural ceremony, a cultural parade representing the Northeast, inauguration of a government pavilion, folk music and dance performances, and an exhibition of Janajatiya handicrafts and cuisine. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and Odisha Governor K Hari Babu are among those expected at the inaugural ceremony. “My Home India was built on one idea — that the distance between Delhi and the North East should never be a distance of understanding. Twenty one years on, this festival is where that idea comes alive every year. “When leadership from different regions shares the same stage for our students, that is the India we set out to build,” said Sunil Deodhar, founder of My Home India and senior BJP leader. The second day of the festival will feature a “Vande Mataram”-themed inter-college cultural competition, a regional attire fashion show, a youth pledge ceremony and the valedictory session. Artists scheduled to perform include Sourabhee Debbarma, Dikshu Sarma, Danube Kangjam, Lunia Tadu, Aj Maisnam, Moko Koza, Chorun Mugli, Siampuii Ralte and Lily Sawian. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Mizoram Governor V K Singh are scheduled to participate on the second day. Other invited guests include Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Sambhaji Shinde. The festival will also host an Assam flood relief help desk to facilitate assistance to people affected by the recent floods and coordinate support initiatives. (Source: PTI)    

Latest News, National, Popular News, State News

Pema YK Loyi appointed chairperson of women in FADA

/

NEW DELHI, SEP 1: Pema YK Loyi, Managing Director of Iconic Automobiles, has been appointed Chairperson of Women in FADA (WIF), the women’s wing of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), at the association’s 63rd Annual General Meeting held in New Delhi on Monday. Founded in 1964, FADA is the apex national body representing India’s automobile retail industry and represents more than 15,000 automobile dealerships across the country. Loyi’s appointment marks a significant milestone as she becomes the first woman from Eastern and North-Eastern India to head Women in FADA. An entrepreneur and automotive retail leader from Arunachal Pradesh, she has built Iconic Automobiles into a prominent dealership network in the Northeast. The company is an authorised dealer of Mahindra & Mahindra passenger and commercial vehicles in Arunachal Pradesh, with multiple showrooms and workshop service centres across the state. Under her leadership, Iconic Automobiles’ facility in Itanagar was recognised as India’s first all-women-run Mahindra showroom, reflecting her efforts to create greater opportunities for women and encourage their participation in the traditionally male-dominated automobile sector. Loyi has also been an active advocate for women’s participation in the automobile industry. At the 13th FADA Auto Summit 2025, she was among the prominent women leaders invited to speak at the session “Women in FADA – Driven by Courage”, where she shared her experiences and views on women’s participation and leadership in automotive retail. Her appointment comes after several recognitions for her entrepreneurial and professional contributions. In August 2026, she received the ‘Woman Transforming Auto Retail (East)’ Award at the 9th ETAuto Retail Forum 2026 in New Delhi. In 2025, Bank of Baroda also recognised her as a leading woman entrepreneur from the North-Eastern Region during its 118th Founders’ Day. Speaking on her new responsibility, Loyi said she would focus on strengthening women’s participation across the automobile dealership ecosystem and creating greater opportunities for women to take up leadership and entrepreneurial roles in the sector. From starting her journey as a young entrepreneur in Arunachal Pradesh to assuming a national leadership role in India’s automobile dealer community, Loyi’s rise highlights the growing presence of women entrepreneurs and the North-East in India’s automotive retail sector.    

Latest News, National, Popular News, State News

Tai Tagak attends parliamentary panel’s water resources study visit

/

OOTY, AUG 31: Rajya Sabha MP Tai Tagak is participating in the Study Visit Programme of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka from August 29 under the chairmanship of Rajiv Pratap Rudy. A 21-member team comprising MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is visiting project areas and holding discussions with representatives of various water resource and allied agencies, including the Water Resources Department (WRD), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Forest and Environment departments, Central Water Commission (CWC), WAPCOS/NPCC, district administration, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police. The programme focuses on dam management, water conservation, flood management, river basin management, groundwater management, biodiversity and disaster management. The first day of the Tamil Nadu leg of the programme was held at Gem Park in Ooty on Monday, where the committee interacted with state representatives on a range of water resource issues. Discussions covered the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)–Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) and PMKSY–Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP)–Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) schemes in Tamil Nadu, including the use of SCADA systems for equitable water distribution and sustainable resource management. The committee also reviewed the institutional role, operational performance, technical consultancy framework and project execution mechanisms of WAPCOS/NPCC in planning, designing, implementing and monitoring water infrastructure and allied projects in the state. Other key areas of review included the status of groundwater resources, depletion and contamination, water security and flood management strategies, particularly in the Nilgiris, and the sustainability of water resources amid climate change, variations in rainfall and temperature, population growth and increasing tourist influx. Representatives of the WRD Tamil Nadu, WAPCOS/NPCC, NDRF and SDRF made presentations before the committee. The committee also undertook local visits to the Charmraj Tea Estate and factory and a strawberry garden in Ooty. The study visit will continue on Tuesday.

Latest News, National, Popular News, State News

PM Modi calls for drug-free youth, stronger India in monthly ‘Mann ki baat’

/

NEW DELHI, AUG 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appealed to citizens to join hands to free India from the menace of drug abuse, and build a stronger future for the youth. Sign in for a more personalized Business Standard experience and never miss the stories that matter. In his monthly radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Modi noted that the ‘Drug-Free Youth for a Developed India’ campaign is gaining momentum across the entire country. “Its goal is crystal clear – drug-free youth, drug-free India. Let us come together to build a drug-free India and a stronger future for our youth,” he said. The Drug-Free India through the ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’ (NMBA) is a flagship initiative of the government launched on August 15, 2020 under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR). The campaign seeks to prevent substance abuse through awareness generation, community participation, treatment, rehabilitation, aftercare and social reintegration while fostering a nationwide movement against drug abuse. Referring to the PM SVANidhi Yojana, a welfare scheme for street vendors, the prime minister said the scheme is helping lakhs of women street vendors expand their businesses, increase their incomes and build a better future for their families. He said millions of mothers and sisters are gaining new strength through the ‘PM SVANidhi Scheme’ and this aspect of ‘women’s empowerment’ does not receive as much discussion as it should. “Nearly 46 percent of the beneficiaries of the ‘PM SVANidhi Scheme’ are women. That means around 35 lakh women across the country are connecting with this scheme to advance their businesses,” he said. Launched in June 2020, the PM SVANidhi scheme was formulated to assist street vendors to overcome the adverse effects of financial constraints and to restart their lost businesses during the Covid pandemic. Since the inception of the scheme, it has proved to be more than financial support for street vendors and has given them a sense of identity and formal recognition for their contribution to the economy. Initially launched till December 31, 2024, the scheme has been extended till March 31, 2030. The prime minister is currently on a state visit to Uzbekistan and the radio broadcast is usually recorded a few days in advance and played on the last Sunday of every month. (Source: PTI)    

Latest News, National, Popular News, State News

‘One nation, one time’: Govt notifies rules to make IST common time reference

/

NEW DELHI, AUG 30: The Department of Consumer Affairs has notified the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026, paving the way for Indian Standard Time (IST) to become the common time reference for legal, administrative, commercial and other official purposes across the country, it was announced. The rules were notified on August 27 and will come into force 180 days after their publication in the Official Gazette. The transition period is intended to give government departments, businesses, institutions and other organisations time to make the necessary changes to their systems and processes. The move comes amid growing dependence on accurate and synchronised time across technology-driven systems. Banking and digital payments, telecommunications, railways, power networks, computer systems and government records increasingly rely on precise timestamps, making consistency in timekeeping critical for their smooth operation. Under the new framework, the common IST reference is expected to improve the accuracy of timestamps for banking and digital payment transactions, support coordination across transport systems such as railways and airports, and strengthen the reliability of telecommunications and internet networks. Accurate and synchronised time will also be important for power systems, government and legal records, as well as emergency and other time-sensitive services. The framework is part of the government’s broader ‘One Nation, One Time’ initiative aimed at establishing a secure and uniform time-distribution system across India. The government is developing infrastructure to disseminate accurate Indian Standard Time through Indian institutions and Legal Metrology laboratories. The rules also provide for the use of NavIC, India’s satellite navigation system, along with other approved Indian timing sources for secure and reliable time dissemination. At present, several systems rely on foreign satellite-based sources for timing. The development of an indigenous time-dissemination infrastructure is expected to provide an additional source for critical systems and reduce reliance on external timing infrastructure. As part of the initiative, a White Rabbit Technology-based Indian Standard Time Dissemination Demonstration Network was commissioned at the Regional Reference Standard Laboratory in Bengaluru in July 2026. The system has demonstrated the dissemination of IST for sectors including banking, telecommunications, power, transportation and digital governance. The government has also demonstrated secure dissemination of Indian Standard Time between RRSL Bengaluru and NSE Chennai, in collaboration with CSIR-NPL, ISRO, SEBI, NSE, BSNL and other stakeholders. The 180-day transition period will allow stakeholders to assess their existing systems, carry out technical modifications and prepare for compliance before the rules take effect. (Source: IANS)  

National, State News

Suitcase murder case: Couple nabbed in Manipur after pan-India hunt

/

CHENNAI/IMPHAL, AUG 30: Police have arrested two persons, suspected to be the prime suspects behind the murder of a 38-year-old woman, whose dismembered body was found in a suitcase onboard the Tamil Nadu Express train in Agra earlier this month. Manik Uddin Laskar (22), a native of Assam’s Cachar district, and his wife Bhagabati Majhi (21) from Kendujhar district in Odisha were apprehended from Kashimpur in Manipur’s Jiribam following a multi-state hunt, police sources in Chennai said on Sunday. The duo were nabbed by a joint team of Manipur and Tamil Nadu Police, officials in Imphal said. “The arrested persons are being handed over to the SHO of Guduvanchery Police Station,” a Manipur Police official said. The crime came to light on August 5, when passengers onboard the Tamil Nadu Express noticed an unbearable smell from an abandoned red suitcase in an unreserved compartment after the train pulled into Agra station. Government Railway Police officials inspected the luggage and discovered the headless, dismembered remains of an unidentified woman. Subsequent investigation and forensic analysis identified the victim as Hayathun Nisha (38), a native of Odisha who lived in Guduvanchery and worked in a private firm. During the investigation, police analysed hours of CCTV footage from Chennai Central railway station, eventually spotting a man and a woman lugging the heavy red suitcase through the station premises. Tracing their movements back to the suburbs of Chennai, police located a rented house on Mosque Street in Guduvanchery. A search of the premises revealed more horrific details, as officers recovered additional dismembered body parts stored inside a large cooking vessel. While the case was initially registered as a missing woman’s report at the Guduvanchery police station, authorities promptly altered the charges to murder following the findings. Police swiftly identified the suspects as Laskar and Majhi, who had gone into hiding shortly after disposing of the body. Special police teams launched a pan-India search operation to trace the accused. On August 29, officers tracked the fugitive couple to Kashimpur in the Jiribam district of Manipur. The duo will be produced before a local magistrate in Manipur, and the Guduvanchery police will bring them to Tambaram on a transit warrant, police sources said. The motive for the gruesome murder would be known only after they are interrogated, they added. (Source: PTI)