In a significant counterinsurgency operation, four Maoists, including two women, were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Abujhmad region of Narayanpur district, Chhattisgarh, on Sunday. A head constable of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Sonu Koram, also lost his life in the fierce gunfight. The operation marks the first major clash between Maoists and security forces in Abujhmad this year, a 4,000 sq. km. un-surveyed terrain spanning Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.The encounter occurred in the Maoist stronghold near the Narayanpur-Dantewada border. Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team of DRG and Special Task Force (STF) personnel from four
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 13km stretch of the Rapid Regional Transit System (RRTS) connecting Sahibabad in Ghaziabad to New Ashok Nagar in East Delhi, enhancing Delhi-Meerut connectivity. Named Namo Bharat, the RRTS trains will operate at a frequency of 15 minutes, offering fares between ₹20 and ₹225. The new segment reduces travel time from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South to under 40 minutes. This launch marks Delhi's first RRTS connectivity and opens a 55km operational corridor. Facilities include accessible ramps, tactile paths, dedicated areas for women, elderly, and Divyaangjans, and panic buttons for emergencies. Additionally, PM Modi
Student enrolment in 40 PM-SHRI schools across five states has witnessed a remarkable surge of 75.8% in just three years, showcasing the impact of the PM Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) initiative. According to data from the Ministry of Education, these schools, spread across Manipur, Tripura, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, and Madhya Pradesh, saw their enrolment rise from 14,258 in 2020-21 to 25,065 in 2023-24.The PM-SHRI scheme, launched in 2022, aims to revamp 14,500 schools nationwide into "exemplar schools" under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. These schools are envisioned to serve as models for academic excellence while mentoring nearby institutions. The
The Union Sports Ministry announced the recipients of the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, honoring exceptional contributions to Indian sports. This year’s awardees include Paris Olympics double medallist shooter Manu Bhaker, world chess champion D Gukesh, men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, and para-athlete Praveen Kumar.Manu Bhaker’s recognition came after significant controversy, as her name was initially excluded from the awards committee's recommendations despite her historic achievement of winning two medals at the Paris Olympics. Bhaker later acknowledged a lapse in filing her nomination, which led to her exclusion. Once rectified, her inclusion in the final list became inevitable,
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has temporarily suspended issuing special passes for devotees trekking to Sabarimala through the forest route. This decision comes amidst a significant surge in pilgrims opting for the forest trail, increasing fivefold compared to earlier arrangements for 5,000 devotees.The special passes, introduced last month, provided exclusive privileges such as a separate queue for darshan and were issued with tags by the Forest Department. However, the influx of forest route pilgrims began causing delays for those using the virtual queue and spot booking systems at Pamba. To prevent extended waiting times for darshan, the TDB has decided
President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar extended heartfelt New Year greetings to citizens, emphasizing unity, aspirations, and constitutional values. President Murmu called on citizens to approach the new year with joy, enthusiasm, and a commitment to advancing the nation on the path of unity and excellence. She highlighted the occasion as a time to renew hopes, dreams, and aspirations, encouraging Indians worldwide to move forward with determination.Vice President Dhankhar, in his message, underscored the importance of rededicating efforts towards realizing the vision of the Constitution makers as the nation steps into the final quarter of its Constitution's centenary.
The Labour Ministry announced that all 36 states and Union territories are on track to complete the harmonization and pre-publication of draft rules under the four labour codes by March 31, 2025. These codes — Code on Wages, Code on Social Security, Code on Industrial Relations, and Code on Occupational Health & Safety — aim to streamline 44 existing labour laws to improve trade, investment, workers’ welfare, and ease of doing business.So far, 31 states and UTs have pre-published their draft rules, setting the stage for the nationwide implementation of these transformative reforms. Six regional meetings between August and October
Dr. Manmohan Singh, India’s 13th prime minister and the first Sikh to hold the office, passed away on Thursday night at AIIMS, New Delhi, at the age of 92. A seasoned economist and statesman, Singh led the Congress-led UPA government from 2004 to 2014, leaving a profound legacy in India’s political and economic history.The Union Home Ministry announced that Singh’s last rites will be conducted with State honours at Delhi’s Nigambodh Ghat on Saturday, December 28, at 11:45am. His mortal remains will be kept at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters from 8:30am for public homage, with the final
D Gukesh, India’s youngest World Chess Champion, is all set for an exciting 2025 after skipping the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championship. Following his historic win over Ding Liren at the World Chess Championship, Gukesh will return to action, taking on the likes of chess legends Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen.He kicks off his 2025 campaign with the Tata Steel Chess Tournament (January 17–February 2) in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, where he came second in the previous edition. Other notable players include Anish Giri, Arjun Erigaisi, and Fabiano Caruana.Gukesh is also confirmed for the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam 2025
