Month: January 2025

Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor fast unto death marked the third day amid the cold wave in Patna on Saturday.

The chief has been protesting to express his support towards the protesting BPSC students who have been demanding the cancellation of the Bihar Civil Services (BPSC) examination.

The chief alleged that more than half of the BPSC seats were ‘sold’.

“The issue is of bigger corruption charges .. it is that more than half of the seats are sold. The re-examination being held today is for 15,000 students. The protesting 3.50,000 students did not get the opportunity to sit in the exam. It does not matter when you appear in the examination, it does not guarantee you a seat if you studied well… the seat is only given to those who gave the money to the corrupt people,” Kishor said speaking to ANI.

Further, the Jan Suraaj chief said that the post of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was being sold at Rs 1.5 crore and people were openly doing it.

“The post of DSP is being sold out at Rs 1.5 crore, people are openly doing that – the government is not commenting on it… the public’s action on this will definitely be seen after 5 years, like it was seen when Nitish Kumar got a low number of seats during the elections..” Kishor further added.

On January 3, Kishor jad vowed to continue his indefinite fast until the Bihar government met the demands of the protesting BPSC students.

“There is no question of withdrawing my fast, not until the demands of the students are met. We suggested from our end that the CM should meet the students and together they should bring out a solution. If that happens then I have no problem stopping the fast,” he told ANI.

The students are calling for the cancellation of the Integrated Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024, conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on December 13, due to alleged question paper leaks. (ANI)

At lunch on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India on Saturday, opener and right-hand batter Rohit Sharma revealed the reason behind missing out on the last Test of the series in a conversation with host broadcaster Star Sports.

The world of cricket was left in a state of shock when Jasprit Bumrah came out at the time of the toss, confirming Rohit’s absence from the playing XI. At the time of the toss, the stand-in skipper confirmed that Rohit opted out.

“I have stood down from this Test but I am not going anywhere. This is not a retirement or moving away from the format. A guy with a mic, pen or laptop, what they write or say, it doesn’t matter. They cannot decide for us. I took the call to stand down after coming to Sydney. Yes, runs are not coming but there is no guarantee that you won’t be able to score two months down the line or six months down the line. I am mature enough to know what I am doing,” Rohit Sharma told Star Sports as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“The chat that I had with the coach and the selector was simple: my bat is not scoring runs, I am not in form, this is an important match, and we need players who are in form. As it is, the boys are not in great form. So I had this simple thought in my mind: we can’t carry out-of-form players. That’s why I thought I should tell the coach and the selector what’s going on in my mind. They backed my decision. They said you have been playing for so many years, you are the best judge of what you are doing,” he added.

During India’s historic 3-0 home series whitewash against New Zealand, the fiery opener, who has lost his flamboyance, contributed just 91 runs across three Test matches, averaging 15.17.

Even before the series loss against the Kiwis, when India faced Bangladesh, the dynamic opener amassed a mere 42 runs in two Test matches while averaging just 10.50.

In the ongoing BGT series, Rohti has just 31 runs to his name in three matches and five innings in this series at an average of 6.20 and best score of 10.

Rohit’s gesture to step down was appreciated by former players with Suresh Raina saying it exemplified his selflessness.

“Rohit Sharma exemplifies leadership through honesty and selflessness. Despite personal challenges, he prioritizes team success, stepping aside when necessary. His leadership in the current Test series reflects his unwavering dedication to India’s success. A true legend of the game,” Raina posted on X.

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar said in a post on X, “Hats off to Rohit! What a candid chat on Star Sports India. Honesty to the core. “We could not carry too many out of form batters into Sydney, that’s why I opted out.”

Earlier, wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant gave his take on Rohit’s absence at the post-day press cnference. For him, it was an emotional decision but didn’t provide much clarity as he wasn’t a part of those conversations.

“I think, definitely, it was an emotional decision. Because he has been captain for a long time, we see him as a leader of the team, but I think there are some decisions which you are not involved with, and it is a very management call, so I was not part of that conversation so cannot explain anything other than that,” Pant said. (ANI)

Delhi was shrouded in dense fog as a cold wave gripped the city on Saturday morning. As the harsh winter continued many homeless people were seen staying at night shelters.

According to the India Meteorological Department, Delhi recorded 10.2 degrees Celsius at 5.30 am on Saturday. At this time yesterday, the city’s temperature was 9.6 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the air quality in the national capital continued in the ‘very poor’ category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI was recorded at 385 in Delhi today at 6 am. Yesterday at the same time it was 348.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good,’ 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory,’ 101 and 200 ‘moderate,’ 201 and 300 ‘poor,’ 301 and 400 ‘very poor,’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe.’

As the temperature dipped, a night shelter on Lodhi Road was seen with all its beds occupied.

The Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has also set up 235 pagoda tents to provide shelter to homeless people. Night shelters have been set up in several areas of the national capital, including AIIMS, Lodhi Road, and Nizamuddin flyover.

In response to the chilly weather, residents of the capital were seen gathering around bonfires, while others took shelter in night homes as temperatures continued to drop.

Many North Indian states also experienced similar weather on Saturday morning with dense layers of fog and cold waves.

In Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow, the temperature was recorded at 11.4 degrees Celsius at 5.30 am Saturday. Mainpuri city in the state was seen being blanketed with a dense layer of fog.

Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh’s capital Shimla experienced an unusual weather phenomenon on Thursday as the city recorded its highest-ever daytime temperature for January at 21.6°C. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this surpassed the previous record of 21.4°C, noted on January 30, 2006, making it the second-highest January temperature in the region’s history.

Dr. Kuldeep Srivastava, Head of IMD Himachal Pradesh, remarked, “If we look at the past few days, Shimla has seen clear skies, leading to a significant rise in both minimum and maximum temperatures. However, a fresh Western Disturbance is set to approach the region on the night of January 4, bringing heavy snowfall and rainfall across the state from January 5 to January 7.” He said.

According to the IMD, light to moderate rain and snowfall are expected in Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur. Rain and snowfall are expected in the central Himalayan region on January 6. There is a possibility of rain and thundershowers in the plains adjoining Punjab and Haryana on January 6.

Jammu and Kashmir’s capital recorded -0.6 degrees Celsius at 5.30 am on Saturday. (ANI)

Donald Trump will be sentenced on January 10 in a criminal case for which he was convicted for silencing a porn star by paying hush money and falsifying business record, a New York judge ruled on Friday (local time).

The judge also added that Trump will face no legal penalties for his conviction in the case, CNN reported.

Judge Juan Merchan, upholding Trump’s conviction, set the sentencing on January 10, however, he indicated that the case is essentially over.

Trump had appealed to throw out the jury’s verdict because of his reelection in November, CNN reported.

The judge in his ruling said that imposing no penalty would bring “finality” to the case while allowing Trump to continue pursuing an appeal of the conviction.

“A sentence of an unconditional discharge appears to be the most viable solution to ensure finality and allow Defendant to pursue his appellate options,” Merchan wrote.

According to CNN, the judge also said that he would allow Trump to appear at the sentencing virtually, to assuage the president-elect’s concerns about the “mental and physical demands during this transition period.”

“It was a smart move by Judge Merchan to announce in advance that he is going to impose no punishment, and hold the proceeding remotely because that undermines any effort by Trump’s team to argue in federal court that sentencing imposes some major burden,” said CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig said.

Trump was convicted in May of last year on 34 counts of falsifying business records last month in connection with a hush money payment his ex-fixer, Cohen, made to Daniels, a porn actor, ahead of the 2016 election to keep her story of an alleged affair with Trump a secret. Trump has denied the affair and vowed to appeal the guilty verdict.

That verdict marked a historic moment as Trump became the first president in US history to be convicted of a felony. (ANI)

In a move towards enhancing pension services, EPFO completed the full-scale rollout of the new Centralized Pension Payments System (CPPS) under the Employees’ Pension Scheme 1995 in December 2024.

About Rs 1,570 crore pension was disbursed to more than 68 lakh pensioners pertaining to all 122 pension disbursing regional offices of EPFO for December 2024.

The first pilot of the Centralized Pension Payment System (CPPS) was successfully completed in October 2024 in Karnal, Jammu and Srinagar Regional Offices with the pension disbursement of about Rs 11 crore to more than 49,000 EPS Pensioners.

The second pilot was taken up in November 2024 in 24 Regional Offices in which around Rs. 213 crores pension was disbursed to more than 9.3 lakh pensioners.

Announcing the rollout, Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, “The full-scale implementation of the Centralized Pension Payments System (CPPS) across all Regional Offices of EPFO is a historic milestone.”

“This transformative initiative empowers pensioners to access their pension seamlessly from any bank, any branch, anywhere in the country. It eliminates the need for physical verification visits and simplifies the pension disbursement process. CPPS is a testament to our commitment to modernizing EPFO services and ensuring convenience, transparency, and efficiency for our pensioners. With this rollout, we are setting a new benchmark in pension service delivery, aligning with the vision of a tech-enabled and member-centric EPFO.”

The CPPS is a paradigm shift from the existing pension disbursement system that is decentralized, with each Zonal/Regional Office of EPFO maintaining separate agreements with only 3-4 banks.

In CPPS, not only the pensioner will be able to take a pension from any bank, but also, there will also be no need for pensioners to visit the bank for any verification at the time of commencement of pension and the pension shall be immediately credited upon release.

The CPPS system from January 2025 onwards would also ensure disbursement of pensions throughout India without any need for transfer of Pension Payment Orders (PPO) from one office to another even when the Pensioner moves from one location to another or changes his bank or branch. This would be a great relief to pensioners who move to their hometown after retirement.

The government said EPFO is continuously working towards improving services for EPS pensioners and the new CPPS system is a major reform in this direction. (ANI)

India’s electric mobility space is “absolutely ready to fly” and there is no need for newer incentives or subsidies, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said Friday, after a meeting with officials from various ministries and stakeholders of the Indian EV ecosystem.

During the meeting, Piyush Goyal deliberated on EV adoption, expansion, and technology advancements, along with challenges and suggestions related to battery charging and swapping stations.

GST on electric vehicles has been reduced from 12 per cent to 5 per cent; GST on chargers/ charging stations for electric vehicles has been reduced from 18 per cent to 5 per cent, as an enabler for increased EV adoption in India.

He also reiterated government’s commitment to addressing these concerns and fostering swift adoption of EVs in India.

“After the interaction I can say that the electric mobility today is absolutely ready to fly. They do not need newer incentives or subsidies. The existing subsidies are available for some more time and will help them give that appropriate kick-start to the EV ecosystem. It’s a good economic case to move from ICE engine to electric engine,” Piyush Goyal told reporters.

He also encouraged commercial establishments, office complexes, to have electric charging equipment.

“We want that awareness to be created. I’ve suggested to them that, as an industry body, collectively, they should run a campaign both to make people aware of the benefits of electric mobility for sustainability and the pollution problems that cities face,” the minister told reporters.

During the meeting, safety standards were also discussed.

“The area we focused was on safety standards. The BIS has already notified it for three-wheelers and four-wheeler. Now they have to notify it for two-wheelers. They have already released the draft standard,” the Minister said.

The Minister asked all the auto companies to come back with their comments by Monday latest. The battery swapping companies have also been advised to come back with their comments, so that also can be notified.

On battery swapping, the minister was of the view it should be left to the consumer.

“It’s a choice of the consumer. Smart consumers will make smart choices,” he added.

Battery swapping is an alternative to charging the electric vehicle which involves exchanging discharged batteries for charged ones. (ANI)

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held a meeting with Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel and emphasised the strong bilateral ties between India and the Maldives.

Jaishankar during his opening remarks noted key developments such as the signing of a framework to facilitate local currency use for cross-border transactions and increased collaboration across various sectors.

Jaishankar said, “Let me welcome you and your delegation to India on your first official visit. I extend my greetings for the new year, and I must say you are my first official visitor, diplomatic visitor for this year, so you are doubly welcome. I think we have some important developments to report, positive developments to report, and certainly there is much more that we need to do. I see that the framework to promote the use of local currencies for cross-border transactions has been signed.”

Jaishankar further reaffirmed India’s commitment to the Maldives, and described the country as a “concrete expression” of India’s Neighborhood First policy.

“We have increased our engagements in various sectors. I do want to say that India has always stood by Maldives. For us, you are a very concrete expression of our neighbourhood’s first policy,” Jaishankar said.

He added, “We have also facilitated the export of essential commodities to Maldives that has been very much a tradition in our relationship. So we certainly hope that our relationship has helped you to navigate through these difficult times…”

Notably, Khaleel arrived in Delhi on Thursday on a three-day official visit to India. This is his first official visit to India.

In October 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Mohamed Muizzu held extensive bilateral talks, aiming to forge a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership.

Both leaders had acknowledged the shared challenges in the Indian Ocean Region. They committed to enhancing maritime and security cooperation, with India pledging to provide expertise, boost capabilities, and engage in joint measures to help the Maldives address both traditional and non-traditional maritime threats.

These include piracy, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, and terrorism within their Exclusive Economic Zone.

Both nations also agreed that India would support the timely completion of the Maldives National Defence Force’s (MNDF) ‘Ekatha’ harbour project at Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF). (ANI)

Gangapuri Maharaj who has not taken a bath for 32 years has become the centre of attraction in Maha Kumbh Mela, Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj. Gangapuri Maharaj is also know as Chhotu Baba is from Assam’s Kamakhya Peeth.

“This is Milan Mela. Soul to soul should be connected and that’s why I’m here,” Baba told ANI on Friday.

The 57-year-old has become the centre of attraction in Maha Kumbh Mela due to his height, which is three feet.

“I am 3 feet 8 inches. I am 57 years old. I am very happy to come here. You people are also here I am happy in that also,” he added.

Gangapuri Maharaj has not bathed for the last 32 years and said, “I do not take a bath because I have a wish which has not been fulfilled in the last 32 years. I will not take a bath in the Ganga.”

The Maha Kumbh is being celebrated after 12 years and a huge turnout of devotees is expected in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 26. To prevent mishaps, the district administration has been taking important steps to ensure the safety of the devotees, especially for crowd management and avoiding fire incidents.

This time, for Maha Kumbh, the administration has opted for technological tools along with the deployment of personnel to ensure the safety of the devotees. Chauhan informed that the administration has increased the manpower and has deployed Quick Response Vehicles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) that can run on any kind of terrain, firefighting robots and fire mist bikes.

The administration was also bringing in firefighting boats, which will be ready to be deployed in a week, Chauhan said, adding that the boats will use water from the river to douse the blaze.

Meanwhile, taking a digital leap, the Prayagraj division of North Central Railway has launched an innovative initiative to simplify the ticketing process through modern technology.

During the Maha Kumbh, dedicated railway personnel from the Commercial Department will be deployed at Prayagraj Junction and other key locations. These personnel will be easily identifiable by their green jackets, which will feature a QR code printed on the back.

Pilgrims can simply scan this QR code using their mobile phones to download the UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System) mobile app. This app allows travellers to book unreserved tickets without standing in long queues.

The main bathing rituals, known as the Shahi Snan (royal baths), will take place on January 14 (Makar Sankranti), January 29 (Mauni Amavasya), and February 3 (Basant Panchami). (ANI)

From Ratan Tata to Manmohan Singh, last year India bid farewell to many eminent dignitaries who played key roles in shaping the nation’s journey across various spheres.

Welcoming the new year, megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Friday took a moment off his schedule to remember such “heroes”.

Big B shared a powerful image titled “Our heroes in heaven”. The illustration featured the doodles of Ratan Tata, Shyam Benegal, Zakir Hussain and Manmohan Singh together. It was accompanied by a profound caption: “A Parsi, a Muslim, a Sikh, and a Hindu passed away in 2024, and the whole nation mourned and remembered them only as Indians!”

Sharing the picture, Big B wrote, “.. the picture says it all.”

Through his post, Amitabh Bachchan highlighted India’s unity in diversity. It also garnered loads of comments and likes from netizens.

“How thoughtful,” a social media user wrote.

“One nation , One religion ~ Humanity,” another one commented.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh breathed his last on 26th December 2024. Singh’s political career spanned several decades, with notable positions including Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, during which he spearheaded economic reforms that transformed India’s economy. He served as the 13th Prime Minister of India from 2004 to 2014, succeeding Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His tenure is particularly remembered for his steady leadership during economic crises and his contributions to modernising India’s economy. After his second term, Singh retired from public life, having led India through a period of unprecedented growth and international recognition. He was succeeded by Narendra Modi in 2014 after the Congress-led UPA lost the general elections.

Speaking of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, his final adieu came on December 15. Zakir Hussain, son of the legendary tabla player Alla Rakha, blended traditions with global influences to create masterpieces that transcend language and culture. He left for his heavenly abode on December 15 but the rhythms produced by him on his tabla will always stay alive in the hearts and minds of his fans.

Filmmaker Shyam Benegal passed away on December 23 at the age of 90. The legendary director Shyam Benegal who is known for films such as ‘Ankur’, ‘Mandi’, ‘Nishant’ and ‘Junoon’ was cremated with full state honours and a three-gun salute. Born on December 14, 1934, in a Konkani-speaking Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family in Hyderabad, Benegal collaborated extensively with actors from FTII and NSD, including Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, and Amrish Puri. His films left an indelible impact on audiences, addressing relevant socio-political themes with remarkable depth.

Industrialist-philanthropist Ratan Tata Ratan Tata passed away on October 9 at the age of 86. He was the Chairman of Ratan Tata Trust and Dorabji Tata Trust, two of the largest private-sector-promoted philanthropic trusts in India. He was honoured with the country’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2008. (ANI)

The title track of Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor’s film ‘Loveyapa’ has been unveiled.

The song shows a fun chemistry shared between Junaid and Khushi in the age of social media. Nakash Aziz and Madhubanti Bagchi have lent their vocals to the track. https://www.youtube.com/embed/5JOvMP7PMow

Sharing the song, Zee Music Company on their YouTube channel wrote, “Babu Shona karte-karte ho gaya dimag ka Bhajiyapa? Well, this is the beginning of Loveyapa! #LoveyapaHogaya song out now.”

The upcoming rom-com will be released on February 7, 2025. Advait Chandan, who helmed ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’, has come on board to direct the project. The film is produced by Phantom Studios and AGS Entertainment. As per the makers, Loveyapa is a “tangled tale of love and its complications with a mix of fun and laughter, shaping up to be a cinematic treat.”

Junaid made his acting debut with Netflix’s film ‘Maharaj’, which also features Jaideep Ahlawat and Sharvari. Directed by Siddharth P Malhotra and produced by Aditya Chopra under YRF Entertainment, the film delves into pre-independent India, revolving around the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862.

Khushi, daughter of late Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor, also made her acting debut with Netflix. She starred in Zoya Akhtar’s directorial ‘The Archies’, which also marked the debut of Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan’s daughter Suhana and Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson Agastya. The film hit the OTT platform last year. (ANI)