Health ministry building two 50-bed hospitals for Amarnath Yatra pilgrims

For this year’s Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre is taking steps to ensure healthcare facilities for the pilgrims, including setting up of two 50-bed hospitals at Baltal and Chandwari halts on the way to the cave shrine. The Amarnath Yatra has commenced on Thursday and will conclude on August 11.

The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) is setting these hospitals up using funds from the Union Ministry of Health.

“State governments have been informed about the required arrangements along with medical preparation, including services of specialist doctors, as well as General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) to supplement the efforts of the Jammu & Kashmir government, particularly by those states from where large numbers of pilgrims arrive,” the health ministry informed.

Health professionals, including doctors and paramedics, from 11 states and union territories will be deployed in batches for attending medical emergencies.

Read more

June monsoon rains 8% below average, says weather department

India received 8% lower rainfall than average in June because of scanty rainfall in the central parts of the country, the state-run weather office said on Thursday.

Cotton, soybean and sugar cane growing states in central India received as much as 54% lower rainfall than normal in June, according to data compiled by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The monsoon - which accounts for nearly 70% of India's annual rainfall and is the lifeblood of its $2.7 trillion agriculture-dependent economy - arrived on the coast of southern Kerala state on May 29, two days ahead of usual. Its progress later stalled for over a week.

Read more

ISRO successfully launches PSLV-C53 with three Singapore satellites onboard

In its second successful mission within a week, ISRO launched three foreign satellites in precise orbit from the spaceport here on Thursday.

PSLV-C53 is the second dedicated commercial mission of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO. It had on June 23 launched GSAT-24 in its first "demand-driven" communication satellite mission post space sector reforms, leasing the entire capacity on board to Direct-to-Home (DTH) service provider Tata Play.

On Thursday, the four-stage, 44.4 metre tall PSLV-C53 that blasted off from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre and placed the three Singapore satellites--DS-EO, NeuSAR and SCOOB-1 in intended orbit.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath confirmed that the mission achieved its intended objective, saying the rocket placed the three customer satellites "in the precise orbit of 570 km with a 10 degree inclination" and congratulated NSIL for accomplishing "yet another major mission this month itself," the earlier one being the GSAT launch last week.

"With today's mission, all these three satellites are placed in the right orbit," he said.

Mission Director SR Biju described the launch as "wonderful."

Earlier, the launch vehicle lifted off at 6.02 PM at the end of the 25-hour countdown.

Read more

Udaipur beheading: Centre asks NIA to take over the case, probe in'tl links

The Central government has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the murder case of a tailor in Udaipur. The incident has sparked tension and outrage in Rajasthan. After the 'brutal' murder of the tailor, Kanhaiya Lal, in Udaipur on Tuesday, which was captured on camera, the Rajasthan government has imposed Section 144 of CrpC in all districts for one month. It has shut down the internet in the entire state for 24 hours.

The Union home ministry spokesperson said on Twitter, "MHA has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the investigation of the brutal murder of Shri Kanhaiya Lal Teli committed at Udaipur, Rajasthan yesterday."

"The involvement of any organisation and international links will be thoroughly investigated," the MHA said.

The Congress-led state government had earlier constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Anti Terror Squad's (ATS) Prafulla Kumar to probe the matter.

"We are probing if there was any terror angle involved in the incident," Kumar had said.

Police are on high alert in every district of Rajasthan.

Read more

GST council meeting takes no decision on extending compensation to states

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s two-day meeting concluded on Wednesday without any decision on extending compensation to states – for revenue loss on account of the regime’s implementation five years ago – beyond June 30. This was despite at least two dozen states raising the issue.

The Council, however, took significant measures to simplify the structure of GST by revising rates on some goods and services and removing exemptions on several mass-consumption packaged items with effect from July 18.

It deferred the proposal to tax online gaming at flat 28 per cent, on a par with gambling, and asked a group of ministers (GoM) to re-examine the matter by July 15. The Council will meet again in the first week of August, in Madurai, to take a decision on this.

On the issue of compensation cess, while the Centre had agreed in principle to extend it until March 2026, many states (including some ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party) had sought an extension of the regime for a few more years, or changes in the revenue-sharing formula to meet the shortfall.

Read more

Rebel Shiv Sena MLAs arrive in Goa from Guwahati, check into hotel

The rebel Maharashtra Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde on Wednesday evening checked into a five-star hotel at Dona Paula near Panaji after arriving in the coastal state from Guwahati where they were camping for the last eight days.

The MLAs arrived by a chartered flight at Dabolim airport at 9.45 pm, and left for the hotel, 30 km from the Airport. While media-persons were waiting at the departure point of the Airport, two buses ferrying the MLAs left through other exit which is usually used for cargo.

The MLAs were taken to the hotel with a state police team escorting the two buses all along the way. There was also a strong police presence outside the hotel. Mediapersons were not allowed to enter the hotel. Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant visited the hotel around 10.45 pm.

The political developments in Maharashtra, set off by Sena leader Eknath Shinde's rebellion, culminated on Wednesday evening with chief minister Uddhav Thackeray resigning ahead of a floor test in the Assembly.

Read more

Mumbai building collapse: Two dead, 12 injured, rescue in progress

Two persons were killed and 12 others injured after a four-storey building collapsed in Mumbai, a fire brigade official said on Tuesday.

A wing of the residential building, located in Kurla's Naik Nagar Society, collapsed around midnight, the official said.

The injured people were shifted to civic hospitals in Ghatkopar and Sion.

Two men, aged 28 and 30, among those brought to the Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, was declared dead on arrival, a civic official said.

A woman, who was trapped under the debris, was rescued by a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Rescuers cheered when the woman was brought out alive from the rubble.

Fire brigade personnel were searching for more survivors, the official said.

Earlier, locals informed the fire brigade personnel that around 20-22 people were trapped under the debris, when they reached the spot after receiving a call about the incident, the official said, adding that the numbers may vary.

Around a dozen fire engines were deployed at the spot, besides two rescue vans and other fire brigade equipment, the official said.

Read more

Justice Satish Chandra Sharma take oath as Chief Justice of Delhi HC

Justice Satish Chandra Sharma on Tuesday took oath as Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.

The oath was administered by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena during a ceremony at the Raj Niwas.

The Telangana High Court Chief Justice, Sharma has been transferred to the Delhi High Court following the notification of the Central government.

"In exercise of the power conferred by clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to transfer Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, Chief Justice, Telangana High Court, as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and to direct him to assume charge of the office of the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court," read the notification dated June 19.

Justice Vipin Sanghi, who was the Acting Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court before the appointment of Sharma, was transferred as the Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court.

Sharma was born on November 30, 1961, in hopal. He graduated as the topper of the LL.B. degree in 1984 with three gold medals from Hari Singh Gour University, Sagar.

At the age of 42 in 2003, Justice Sharma was designated as a Senior Advocate by the High Court of Madhya Pradesh.

He became the Madhya PradeshHigh Court judge in 2008.

Read more

Agnipath scheme: Recruitment for Agniveers in Indian Navy starts July 1

The registration for the first batch of soldiers under the Agnipath scheme -- a new short-term recruitment plan that recruits Agniveers in the armed forces -- for the Indian Navy will start on July 1, Friday. Agniveers who wish to apply for the posts of Agniveer SSR and Agniveer MR will be able to register for the same from Friday on the official website of the Indian Navy, at joinindiannavy.gov.in.

The Indian Navy will release a detailed notification for the recruitment process of Agniveers under the Agnipath scheme on July 9, 2022. The application window will remain open from July 15 to July 30, 2022. The Navy is expected to conduct the online exams for recruitment of Agniveers in October this year. The medicals and joining will commence on November 21, 2022.

The Navy is hiring under the Agnipath scheme for two posts: Agniveer SSR and Agniveer MR.

Also Read: IAF receives 56,960 applications under Agnipath scheme in three days

To apply for Agniveer SSR vacancies, candidates should be Class 12th pass out from a board recognised by the Ministry of Education with Mathematics, Physics, and either Chemistry, Biology or Computer Science as their subject.

SSR candidates would be deployed on aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers and frigates, replenishment ships, and other technical submarines and aircraft of the Indian Navy.

For Agniveer MR, candidates must be class 10 pass out from a Ministry of Education recognised board. Under Agniveer MR, candidates would be recruited as chefs, stewards and hygienists.

In addition, all Agniveers would be given firearms training and allotted other duties for the "efficient running of the organisation".

Read more

Twitter blocks over 80 posts and accounts in India after Union govt orders

Twitter India has blocked over 80 links, including tweets and some accounts, after receiving legal notices from the central government sent through 2021. These include accounts belonging to the Pakistani government. Others also have content related to farmers' protests and a report from an American non-profit that said India's internet freedom was declining.

These accounts, notified by the Centre, were geo-blocked by Twitter over the weekend, an action the social media giant classifies as "Country Withheld". Geo-block means restricting access to accounts or posts in a particular geography. The accounts or posts are not entirely removed from the social media site and can be accessed by those outside India.

Twitter restricted accounts include Kisan Ekta Morcha and Tractor2Twitter, which were active during the nationwide farmers' protests and had more than 500,000 followers. Last year, Kisan Ekta Morcha posted a hashtag on Twitter that accused the Centre of plotting to kill protesting farmers.

Also Read: India single largest source of govt requests for account info: Twitter

The social media giant also took down five tweets by American non-profit Freedom House, which posted its 2020 report on Freedom on The Net and said India had the most internet shutdowns.

Read more

ED summons Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate summoned Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in a money laundering case for questioning on Tuesday, official sources said on Monday.

Raut has been asked to appear before the ED investigators at its regional office in Mumbai at 11 am, said an official privy to the development.

The summon has been issued in connection with the re-development of Mumbai's Patra Chawl.

In April this year, the ED had also attached immovable properties worth Rs 11.15 crore, including a flat at Dadar, held by Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha and eight land parcels at Kihim near Alibag, jointly held by the latter with Swapna Patkar, in connection with the redevelopment scam. Swapna is the wife of Sujit Patkar, a close associate of the Sena leader.

The federal agency said its investigation revealed that around Rs 100 crore was transferred from the real estate company, HDIL, to the account of Pravin Raut, who in turn diverted part of these funds to various accounts of his close associates, family members, and business entities.

Read more

'Jugjugg Jeeyo' earns Rs 36.93 cr at box office in opening weekend

Comedy drama "Jugjugg Jeeyo" has minted Rs 36.93 crore in three days, the makers said on Monday.

Directed by Raj Mehta and backed by Dharma Productions, the star-studded family entertainer released theatrically on June 24.

The official Twitter handle of the production banner shared the first weekend box office figures of "Jugjugg Jeeyo" in a poster.

The film earned Rs 9.28 crore on day one, Rs 12.55 crore on day two, and followed it up with Rs 15.10 crore on day three, bringing up the opening week numbers to a total of Rs 36.93.

"Pyaar aapka satrang da! It's blessings galore at the box-office, thank you for all the love! #JugJuggJeeyo," the tweet from Dharma Productions read.

Billed as progressive take on modern-day relationships, "Jugjugg Jeeyo" follows a family on the cusp of two divorces.

It stars Varun Dhawan, Anil Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Neetu Kapoor, Maniesh Paul and Prajakta Koli.

Read more

Kumbh 2025 to be grander than previous one, says Yogi Adityanath govt

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is gearing up to make the Kumbh Mela in 2025 more majestic and grand than the one held in 2019.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to complete the arrangements well before time, especially in view of the fact that general elections will keep the state administration busy in 2024.

The state government expects a high footfall of pilgrims in Kumbh in 2025.

In 2019, over 24 crore devotees from across the world had attended Ardh Kumbh and the number is likely to double in 2025.

"Besides, we are expecting a strong tourist flow from Prayagraj to Kashi this time since the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor is a major attraction for pilgrims. We will provide world class facilities to devotees and pilgrims," said an official spokesperson.

Yogi Adityanath will be attending a high-level meeting regarding Kumbh 2025 preparations in Prayagraj next month.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya, who is also reviewing preparations, said, "We anticipate footfall to double. Devotees will throng Prayagraj to take holy dip and to get a glimpse of the rich Indian culture, tradition, and spirituality on the banks of the Ganga.

"The state government has started its planning and preparations for the forthcoming Kumbh and aims to complete all the development projects before the Kumbh."

Read more

ED questions actress Jacqueline Fernandez in conman Chandrashekhar case

Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez on Monday reached the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) headquarters here for questioning in connection with her alleged links with conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

Jacqueline and another Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi have already recorded their statement as witness in the case.

In December last year, the ED filed the first charge sheet in this matter before the court of Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh.

In February 2022, the ED filed a supplementary charge sheet against one Pinky Irani, an alleged aide of Chandrashekhar who introduced him to Jacqueline.

It has been alleged that Pinky Irani used to choose costly gifts for Jacquelinez and later used to drop it at her house after the payments were made by Chandrashekhar.

Chandrashekhar had spent around Rs 20 crore on different models and Bollywood celebrities.

A few had refused to take gifts from him.

Read more

In view of deficient June rains, BMC announces 10% water cut in Mumbai

In view of inadequate rainfall in the catchment areas of lakes supplying water to Mumbai, the civic body on Friday announced a 10 per cent water cut starting from June 27.

In a release, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said besides the city and its suburbs, the 10 per cent cut will also be enforced in areas falling under neighbouring Thane and Bhiwandi municipal corporations and some villages till water stock improves in the lakes. Highlighting that the June rainfall has been about 70 per cent less than the average showers recorded during the month in the previous year, the BMC appealed to citizens to use water judiciously. A senior civic official told PTI that due to insufficient rainfall in the catchment areas of lakes supplying water to the city, the existing stock in them has dropped below 10 per cent. Seven lakes, located in Mumbai, Thane and Nashik districts, provide 3,800 MLD (million litres per day) water to the financial capital. "Upper Vaitarna lake (in Nashik district) has zero useful water stock," the official said.

Read more

Sports University to give degrees to help players get jobs: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the upcoming Delhi Sports University will provide degrees to sportspersons to help them get jobs if they want to work.

He said the Delhi government has eliminated three difficulties faced by sportspersons lack of facilities, lack of monetary support and political intervention in selection processes.

"At the Delhi Sports University, players will be provided degrees in their respective sports such as BA in Kabbadi, BA in Wrestling and BA in Cricket among others. This will help them get jobs in case they want to work," Kejriwal said at a ceremony to provide financial assistance to sportspersons here.

"Through the Mission Excellence scheme, sportspersons are being given financial assistance. We have improved sports facilities and there is no political interference in selection of players for the schemes here," he said.

Sixty players were given financial assistance of Rs 9.5 crore on Friday under the Mission Excellence scheme.

Read more

Flood situation in Assam remains critical as Silchar under water

The flood situation in Assam was critical on Friday with with 45.34 lakh people reeling under the deluge, officials said.

The Brahmaputra and Barak rivers along with their tributaries are in spate, even as floodwaters started receding from a few areas, they said.

The toll rose to 108 with seven deaths reported in the last 24 hours, they added.

The situation in Silchar, considered 'Gateway to Barak Valley', is alarming with most areas still under water, a district official said.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said that it has further expedited rescue and relief operations with additional resources deployed in the severely affected districts, especially Cachar where Silchar is located.

Eight NDRF teams with 207 personnel were brought in from Itanagar and Bhubaneswar, while an Army team with 120 members was sent in from Dimapur along with nine boats for the operations in Silchar, officials said.

Additionally, two CRPF and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were airlifted to Cachar, they added.

The state government has started a helpline -- 0361-2237219, 9401044617 and 1079 -- for the situation in the district.

Read more