Health

Over 2,300 H1N1 Cases Among 3,000 Influenza Infections ; CM Calls For Emergency Meeting

NEW DELHI, Aug 25: Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh on Tuesday said that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has called for an emergency review meeting amid a rise in influenza cases in the national capital. Asserting that the situation was under control with adequate doctors and medicines, Singh said Delhi has reported around 3,000 influenza…

Over 2,300 H1N1 Cases Among 3,000 Influenza Infections ; CM Calls For Emergency Meeting
Health National
Govt Restricts Fixed Dose Combinations Containing 2 Chemical Compounds For Young Children
Health

Govt Restricts Fixed Dose Combinations Containing 2 Chemical Compounds For Young Children

NEW DELHI, Aug 22: In a significant step to safeguard the health and safety of young children, the Government has imposed restrictions on the manufacture, sale and distribution of all fixed dose combinations containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride, mandating a clear warning that these medicines shall not be used in children below four years…

Enrolment In Govt Schools Fell By Nearly 86 Lakh Between 2023-24 And 2025-26: MoE Report

New Delhi, Jul 7: Enrolment in government schools fell by nearly 86 lakh between 2023-24 and 2025-26 while private unaided recognised schools added more than 88 lakh students during the same period, according to the UDISE 2025-26 report released by the Ministry of Education. UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus) is the Centre’s…

Enrolment In Govt Schools Fell By Nearly 86 Lakh Between 2023-24 And 2025-26: MoE Report
Health National
Jaishankar Meets Chinese VP; Says Normalisation Of Ties Can Produce Mutually Beneficial Outcomes
Health International National

Jaishankar Meets Chinese VP; Says Normalisation Of Ties Can Produce Mutually Beneficial Outcomes

Beijing, Jul 14: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday conveyed to Chinese Vice President Han Zheng that continued normalisation of India-China ties can produce mutually beneficial outcomes and an open exchange of views between the two sides is “very important” considering the “complex” global scenario. The external affairs minister held talks with Zheng shortly…

Parliament passes bills for OBC quota in local bodies in J&K, expand list of Scheduled Tribes

NEW DELHI: On Friday, the Rajya Sabha approved three bills concerning Jammu and Kashmir. One of the bills, which aims to align local body regulations in the Union territory with the Constitution, grants reservation to other backward classes. The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were approved by the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha has approved the three legislation. Nityanand Rai, the minister of state for home, responded to the discussion surrounding the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda responded to the bill pertaining to the Scheduled Tribes Order, and Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar addressed the debate on the Scheduled Castes Order bill. According to Munda, the three legislation introduced following the repeal of Article 370 were intended to provide the people of Jammu and Kashmir with justice. He said that "political reservation for the first time" would be granted to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The goal of the Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies rules (Amendment) Bill, 2024 is to align the Union territory's local body rules with the requirements of the Constitution and grant reservation to Other Backward Classes in panchayats and municipalities within the state.The Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act of 2000, the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act of 2000, and the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act of 1989 are all intended to be amended. According to officials, the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act's provisions regarding the state election commissioner "are at variance" with the Constitution. As a synonym for Chura, Bhangi, Balmiki, and Mehtar, they asserted that the Jammu and Kashmir administration has suggested adding the Valmiki community to the list of Scheduled Castes of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir at serial number 5. The "Valmiki" addition to the Schedule of the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order, 1956 is proposed by the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The officials stated that the "Pahari Ethnic Group," "Koli," "Paddari Tribe," and "Gadda Brahmin" populations have all petitioned to be added to the list of Scheduled Tribes by the Jammu and Kashmir administration. The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 suggests making changes to the 1989 Scheduled Tribes Order in the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir. [caption id="attachment_10606" align="alignnone" width="300"] Parliament passes bills for OBC quota in local bodies in J&K, expand list of Scheduled Tribes[/caption]…

India has nearly 97 crore voters now, says EC

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission announced on Friday that there will be nearly 97 crore Indian voters who can cast ballots in the Lok Sabha elections this year. Additionally, it stated that the voter list now includes nearly two crore youthful voters, or those between the ages of 18 and 29. Since the previous Lok Sabha elections in 2019, there has been a 6% rise in the number of registered voters. "The largest electorate in the world 96.88 crore are registered to vote for the forthcoming General Elections in India," claimed the Election Commission. According to the poll panel, the gender ratio grew from 940 in 2023 to 948 in 2024. An official noted that the Commission has placed a specific focus on the integrity and health of the electoral roll in addition to disclosures and openness in the roll updating process. At a news conference in Pune, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had described the different activities associated with updating the electoral records and the involvement of political parties at each step. [caption id="attachment_10586" align="alignnone" width="300"] India has nearly 97 crore voters now, says EC[/caption]  

Avalanche hits J&K’s Sonamarg

SRINAGAR, Feb 8: According to officials, a large avalanche struck the Sonamarg area on the Srinagar-Leh Highway on Thursday. According to them, no fatalities have been reported as of yet. According to the officials, the avalanche happened close to the Sonamarg workshop used for building the Zojila tunnel. Nevertheless, the incident did not result in any documented damage. In response to significant snowfall that occurred during the first week of February, the authorities have issued an avalanche warning for the upper regions of the Kashmir valley. It is recommended that people stay away from avalanche-prone areas for the next 24 hours. [caption id="attachment_10526" align="alignnone" width="300"] Avalanche hits J&K's Sonamarg[/caption]  

RBI leaves repo rate unchanged for sixth straight occassions

MUMBAI: At its February review meeting, the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee unanimously agreed to maintain the status quo, with the policy repo rate remaining at 6.5% for the sixth consecutive meeting. The interest rate at which the RBI loans money to other banks is known as the repo rate. Following a three-day review meeting, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das discussed the policy statement on Friday morning. He cited stable growth dynamics and moderate inflation as justifications for keeping the monetary stance as it is. According to Das, growth is holding up better than anticipated and inflation is getting closer to the target. While retail inflation in India is over the desired 4 percent scenario, it is still within the RBI's comfortable range of 2 to 6 percent.December had a 5.69 percent figure. According to Das, the MPC also resolved, with a majority of five out of six members, to continue concentrating on the removal of accommodation in order to guarantee that inflation gradually approaches the objective while promoting growth. In the July-September quarter of the current fiscal year 2023–24, the Indian economy increased by 7.6%, continuing to be the fastest-growing major economy. India's GDP increased by 7.8% during the April–June quarter. The RBI's bi-monthly monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting got underway on Tuesday and will last for three days. During a financial year, the RBI normally has six biweekly meetings when it discusses a range of macroeconomic indicators, interest rates, the money supply, and the outlook for inflation. The central bank may have reacted to a significant drop in inflation and the possibility of more reduction by lowering the main interest rate. Many nations, including developed ones, have been concerned about inflation, but India has generally done a pretty good job of controlling its inflation trend. With the exception of the most recent pauses, the RBI has increased the repo rate to 6.5% from May 2022 by a total of 250 basis points in an effort to combat inflation. One tool of monetary policy that usually serves to reduce demand in the economy and lower the inflation rate is raising interest rates. [caption id="attachment_10499" align="alignnone" width="300"] RBI leaves repo rate unchanged for sixth straight occassions[/caption]  

Congress to bring ‘Black Paper’ on Modi govt’s ten years in response to Centre’s ‘White Paper’

NEW DELHI: As per sources, the Congress party is anticipated to present a 'Black Paper' in response to the 'White Paper' that the national government is expected to present during the current Parliamentary budget session. The sources state that the Congress' "Black Paper" will focus on the 10 years of central administration led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The sources further stated that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is probably going to present the "Black Paper." A 'White Paper' comparing the economic performance of the 10 years of the Congress-led UPA government with the 10 years of the BJP-led NDA government was first announced by the federal government in the union budget that was presented on February 1. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said during the introduction of the interim budget 2024–25 in Parliament that the economy has been firmly placed on a high sustainable growth path and that the Modi government, which took office in 2014, surmounted the crises of those years. A White Paper "to look at where we were then till 2014 and where we are now, the only purpose was to draw lessons from the mismanagement of those years" will be placed on the House table, she announced. President Droupadi Murmu gave an address to the joint sitting of the two Houses on January 31, which marked the beginning of the budget session. The final Parliament session before the Lok Sabha elections, which are anticipated to take place in April or May of this year, was scheduled to end on February 9. [caption id="attachment_10493" align="alignnone" width="300"] Congress to bring 'Black Paper' on Modi govt's ten years in response to Centre's 'White Paper'[/caption]  

DC Jammu prohibits news portals from sharing posts having potential to disturb peace, harmony

JAMMU: On Wednesday, the district's social media news sites were asked by the Jammu authorities to desist from publishing any content that would jeopardise public calm, communal harmony, or tranquilly. The Deputy Commissioner Jammu stated in an order that the disinformation being shared on social media platforms by people posting and sharing offensive, discriminatory, and provocative messages has given rise to the appearance that there is a serious risk of a breach of peace and order and disturbance of public tranquilly, which could pose a serious risk to people's lives and property. He stated that any disturbance of public peace and order and any breach of law and order that could put lives in severe danger should be avoided.According to him, it is preferable that any disturbance of public peace and order that poses a serious risk to people's lives or property be stopped right away. He continued by saying that there is enough evidence to move forward under Section 144 of The Code of Criminal Procedure and to forbid anyone operating in Jammu on social media platforms or portals from publishing or disseminating any content that could jeopardise public peace, communal harmony, or tranquilly. "The order shall come into force with immediate effect and any violation of this order shall invite punitive action under section 188 of Indian Penal Code, 1860," he stated. [caption id="attachment_10475" align="alignnone" width="300"] DC Jammu prohibits news portals from sharing posts having potential to disturb peace, harmony[/caption]        

SIA Raids Sarjan Barkati’s Home In Shopian

SRINAGAR, Feb 7: According to sources, the State Investigation Agency raided the home of preacher Sarjan Barkati in the Shopian area of south Kashmir. According to an official, the raid at Sarjan Barkati's house in Reban village was carried out by SIA detectives with help from the local police and CRPF. The raid is ongoing, he said, and further information would be released later.   [caption id="attachment_10452" align="alignnone" width="300"] SIA Raids Sarjan Barkati’s Home In Shopian[/caption]