Month: October 2025

The 150th birth anniversary of the Iron Man and architect of a united India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, will be celebrated on October 31 at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, reflecting the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.”

Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary is celebrated across India as National Unity Day.

Each year, in the presence of the PM, national-level programs are organised at the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue of Sardar. This year, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of national unity, a grand celebration of National Unity Day has been planned, featuring a series of special events. Modelled on the Republic Day Parade held every year on January 26 in New Delhi, a moving parade will be organised this year on October 31 at Ekta Nagar, an official Gujarat CMO press release said.

Chief Secretary Pankaj Joshi and Director General of Police Vikas Sahay presented a detailed outline of the entire plan for this grand celebration. They mentioned that 16 contingents, including BSF, CISF, ITBP, CRPF, SSB, and contingents from Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Assam, Tripura, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and NCC, will participate in the National Unity Day parade. 16 medal-winning valiant soldiers from BSF’s Operation SINDOOR and five Shaurya Chakra awardees from CRPF will also take part in the parade, riding in an open jeep. The parade will be led by nearly 100 members of the Heralding Team, dressed in vibrant uniforms and playing a range of musical instruments. The Parade will also feature 9 band contingents performing patriotic melodies. In addition, four school bands will present special performances, including two from Gujarat that won at the state level and two that earned top honours at the national school band competition.

The Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police said that the programs organised as part of the Unity Parade and National Unity Day celebrations will truly embody the mantra given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Red Fort; ‘Rajya Anek- Rashtra Ek, Samaj Anek – Bharat Ek, Bhasha Anek- Bhaav Ek, Rang Anek- Tiranga Ek’ (Many states, one nation; many communities, one India; many languages, one emotion; and many colours, one Tricolour), making the event even more dignified.

They further stated that, under the initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, special cultural programs showcasing the rich heritage and traditions of various states across the country will also be organised on this occasion. Post performing ‘Pad Pooja’ at the statue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive to attend the parade and various programs. On this occasion, contingents of the Central Security Forces and the Gujarat Police will present a Guard of Honour, marking the grand commencement of the event. The parade will feature 10 thematic tableaux based on the ‘Ekatva’ (Unity) theme, presented by different states and the CRPF, showcasing their unique features and achievements. These tableaux will be presented by NDRF, NSG, Jammu & Kashmir, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Manipur, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand. The Indian Air Force will present a fly-past under ‘Operation Surya Kiran’. There will be a joint rifle drill by women personnel of CRPF and Gujarat Police, a ‘Hell March’ by NSG, a motorcycle daredevil show by Assam Police, a dog show featuring Indian breeds by BSF, a traditional martial art display by women personnel of CISF and ITBP, a band display by SSB, and participation by NCC. The performances will be the major highlights for the audience.

This year, there will be a grand celebration at Ekta Nagar blending Diwali, the New Year, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary into one magnificent event. As part of the Prakash Parv, from October 17 to November 15, visitors can enjoy beautiful lighting and cultural performances every evening from 7 to 11 PM. For this, the route leading to the Valley of Flowers at Ekta Nagar has been divided into 13 theme-based zones. Each zone features roadside illumination displays along with photo and selfie points.

During these 15 days, there will be 45 food stalls, 55 handicraft and handloom stalls, various state pavilions, and cultural exhibitions representing 28 states and 8 Union Territories. This year also marks the 150th birth anniversary of tribal god Bhagwan Birsa Munda, and a special cultural presentation will be organised at Ekta Nagar on Birsa Munda Jayanti to commemorate the occasion. On November 16, a special cycling fun ride will be organised in the presence of eminent dignitaries from the Government of India and the Government of Gujarat, followed by a Cyclothon competition on November 17, held in collaboration with the Sports Department of the Gujarat Government. Around 5,000 cyclists from across the country are expected to participate in this competition.

They further mentioned that preparations for the National Unity Day celebrations, to be held in the inspiring presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have been completed. The Prakash Parv at Ekta Nagar has already become a major attraction, drawing lakhs of visitors during the Diwali festivities. The Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police said that this grand celebration of National Unity Day will strengthen the spirit of patriotism among citizens and will truly embody the message of ‘Nation First.’ (ANI)

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday performed ‘sandhya arghya’ as part of the Chhath Puja celebrations at a ghat in Sonia Vihar and asked “Chhathi Maiya” to bless the people of India.

While talking to the media, Delhi’s Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that her government has fulfilled the promises made to the residents of Delhi. She said, “Delhi has regained its grandeur after years, and the joy that my brothers and sisters from Purvanchal in lakhs enjoyed while offering Arghya to Lord Surya Narayan on the banks of the Yamuna, the satisfaction on their faces is no less than a blessing for our government. I pray to Chhathi Maiya that her blessings remain upon all the people of India and the residents of Delhi…”

She highlighted the preparation made on the Yamuna ghat for the Chhat puja and added, “Ghats were prepared in thousands, and the entire Yamuna bank was also decorated and adorned… The public will be able to share their experiences much more effectively… I am happy that we have fulfilled the responsibility of our government.”

Earlier, on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on the occasion of Chhath Puja, wishing happiness, prosperity, and success to people across the country.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Heartfelt Chhath Puja evening arghya wishes to all my family members across the country. On this sacred occasion, our tradition of offering arghya to the setting sun is very unique.”

“May there be welfare for all by the grace of Lord Surya, may everyone attain happiness, prosperity, and success in life. This is the wish. Jai Chhathi Maiya!” he added.

Earlier in the day, President Droupadi Murmu extended her greetings to the people on the occasion, wishing everyone happiness and prosperity.

In a post on X, President Murmu said, “On the sacred occasion of the great festival of Chhath Puja, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all my fellow countrymen. This festival is an opportunity to worship Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya and to express gratitude towards Mother Nature. My best wishes are that this festival brings happiness and prosperity into everyone’s lives and inspires us towards environmental conservation.”

The four-day Chhath Mahaparv, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, began on Saturday with the sacred ritual of Nahay-Khay, followed by Kharna on Sunday, and today marks the Sandhya Arghya (evening arghya).

The festival will end with morning arghya on Tuesday.

This year, the festival is being celebrated from October 25 to 28, with rituals including Nahay-Khay on Chaturthi Tithi of Kartik Shukla Paksha, Kharna on Panchami, Chhath Puja on Sashti, and the concluding Usha Arghya on Saptami. (ANI)

Emraan Hashmi broke the silence on the viral reponse to the memorable dialogue and scene based on his film career in the recently released OTT series ‘Ba***ds of Bollywood.”

The Aryan Khan debut directorial ‘Ba**ds of Bollywood has been creating quite a buzz in the entertainment industry for its portrayal of Bollywood in the series.

In one of the viral scenes, actor Raghav Juyal, who plays a die-hard fan of Hashmi, is seen singing Emraan’s popular song ‘Kaho Na Kaho’ and delivering a dialogue that praises the actor’s dominance in Bollywood.

“Akkha Bollywood ek taraf, Emraan Hashmi ek taraf (Whole Bollywood at one side, Emraan Hashmi on another,)” read the dialogue.

Reacting to the overwhelming response from fans, Emraan said he is “happy” that audiences are now associating him with the viral dialogue instead of his former on-screen image.

While addressing the media at the trailer launch event of his upcoming film ‘Haq’, Emraan Hashmi said, “We knew that it (dialogue from Ba***ds of Bollywood) would go viral but never imagined that it would go viral in such a way. Lesson to be learned.”

“I think before this, fans used to either call me by name or they had a different image of mine which starts with S. Won’t say it here. Now, people remember that dialogue when they talk about me. So I have no complaints. I am happy,” said Emraan Hashmi.

The actor was referring to his long-standing “serial kisser” tag.

Emraan Hashmi played the role of an actor and intimacy coach for the film Lakshya and Saheer Bamba in the series.

The series features an ensemble cast, including stars Lakshya, Sahher Bambba, Bobby Deol, Raghav Juyal, Aanya Singh, Manish Chaudhari, Mona Singh, Vijayant Kohli, Manoj Pahwa, Gautami Kapoor, and Rajat Bedi.

The seven-episode series follows Aasmaan Singh (Lakshya), an ambitious newcomer with dreams as big as the silver screen. With his loyal best friend Parvaiz (Raghav Juyal) and manager Sanya (Aanya Singh) by his side, Aasmaan steps into the world of fame. It is currently streaming on Netflix.

As for Emraan Hashmi’s upcoming film ‘Haq’, the movie is based on a true story from the 80s, focusing on the famous Mohd Ahmed Khan vs Shah Bano Begum case.

Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam take over the lead roles as Mohd Ahmed Khan and Shah Bano Begum, respectively, in a fierce legal courtroom drama.

Directed by Suparn S Varma, ‘HAQ’ also features Vartika Singh, Danish Husain, Sheeba Chadha, and Aseem Hattangady in prominent roles.

Made under the banner of Junglee Pictures, the film is produced by Vineet Jain, Vishal Gurnani, Juhi Parekh Mehta, and Harman Baweja.

It will hit theatres on November 7, 2025. (ANI)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday described the upcoming Budgam bye-election as a major political challenge, citing the complex voter distribution and internal political dynamics in the region.

Expressing optimism, Abdullah said he was confident that the people of Budgam would make the “right choice,” emphasising that voters are more concerned with everyday issues such as electricity, roads, water supply, employment, health, education, welfare schemes, and transport.

“We are taking this bye-election as a challenge, and this challenge is multiplied by the complexities of the voter distribution in Budgam. It is also multiplied by some elements of internal politics that are playing out. I am hopeful that the people of Budgam will make the right choice… I am sure that they are concerned with their day-to-day issues such as electricity, roads, water, employment, health, education, welfare schemes, and transport,” CM Abdullah told the media.

National Conference’s Agha Mehmood will be up against PDP candidate Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi in the Budgam bye-election. AAP has also fielded Deeba Khan from the constituency.

Omar Abdullah had won both Ganderbal and Budgam seats comfortably in the 2024 Assembly election against the PDP.

On October 6, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that bye-elections for eight assembly constituencies across seven states and Union Territories will take place on November 11.

The results will be announced on November 14, alongside the Bihar Assembly polls results.

Further, the J-K CM expressed reservations over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, urging the Election Commission not to hasten its implementation nationwide.

He said it was too early to judge whether those conducting the SIR would truly benefit from it and emphasised that any assessment should wait until the Bihar election results are declared.

“There have been some concerns and complaints about the SIR in Bihar. It is not yet clear whether those conducting the SIR will benefit from it. Let the Bihar elections be completed first. Only after that can we assess whether the SIR has truly been beneficial. Only then can we consider implementing it in the rest of the country. Since the results in Bihar have not yet been released, the Election Commission should not rush into this. Doing so might suggest that the Election Commission is sacrificing its independence and acting under pressure from a political party…,” he said.

The Election Commission of India announced today that Phase 2 of SIR (Special Intensive Revision) will be carried out in 12 States and Union Territories.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said, “The voter list of all those states where SIR will be done will be frozen at 12 am tonight. All voters on that list will be given Unique Enumeration Forms by the BLOs. These Enumeration Forms will have all the necessary details from the current voter list. After BLOs start distributing forms to existing electors, all those whose names are on the Enumeration Forms will try to match whether their names were on the 2003 voter list. If yes, they need not submit any additional documents. If not their names, but the names of their parents were on the list, then too they need not submit any additional documents…The voter list of the SIR from 2002 to 2004 will be available to be seen on http://voters.eci.gov.in by anyone, and they can do the matching by themselves.” (ANI)

Cyclone Montha is likely to intensify into a ‘Severe Cyclonic Storm’ (SCS) and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam during the evening and night of October 28, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.

The cyclone is likely to move north-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 28. Continuing to move further north-northwestwards, it is very likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during the evening/night of October 28 as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph, IMD said in a statement.

The meteorological department added that the cyclonic storm over Southwest and adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 17 kmph during past six hours and lay centered at 2:30 pm today, over the westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, about 440 km east of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, 490 km south-southeast of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, 530 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, 710 km south-southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha.

Meanwhile, the Depression over eastcentral Arabian Sea moved northeastwards with a speed of 8 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 2:30 pm today, over about 570 km southwest of Veraval in Gujarat, 650 km west-southwest of Mumbai in Maharashtra, 710 km west-northwest of Panjim, Goa, 850 km northwest of Aminidivi in Lakshadweep and about 920 km west-northwest of Mangalore in Karnataka.

It is likely to move nearly north-northeastwards across the Eastcentral Arabian Sea during the next 48 hours, IMD said.

Earlier today, the duty officer at Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, Jagannath Kumar, said that the meteorological department has predicted thunderstorms over the next five days, with heavy rainfall expected in coastal districts, while conditions are likely to ease after October 29.

He added that fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea for the next five days.

Kumar told ANI, “Yesterday’s deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclone Montha at 23:30 IST. As of today, it lies over the southwest and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal. Its current position is approximately 520 km east of Chennai, 500 km southeast of Kakinada, 600 km southwest of Visakhapatnam, and 750 km from Gopalpur. The cyclone is likely to move northwest and intensify into a severe cyclone by tomorrow morning, 28 October. It is expected to cross Machilipatnam.”

“Wind speeds may gust up to 110 km/h. Thunderstorms are forecast over the next five days, with heavy rainfall expected in coastal districts. Conditions are likely to ease after October 29. Fishermen are strongly advised not to venture into the sea for the next five days due to bad weather conditions,” he added.

Boats remained anchored at Visakhapatnam fishing harbour today as heavy rainfall lashed the city amid high tidal waves as Cyclone Montha gained in strength.

Boats in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, also remained anchored at the dock.

Dark clouds were observed over Puducherry due to the storm brewing over the Bay of Bengal.

The East Coast Railway has cancelled several trains for passenger safety. (ANI)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will conduct the second phase of Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls across 12 States and Union Territories, with the final voter list to be published on February 7, 2026, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, CEC Kumar said the exercise will cover Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

According to the Election Commission, printing and training will take place from October 28 to November 3, followed by an Enumeration Phase from November to December 4. The Draft Electoral Rolls will be published on December 9, followed by a claims and objection period from December 9 to January 8, 2026. The Notice Phase (for hearing and verification) will take place between December 9 and January 31, 202, with publication of Final Electoral Rolls on February 7, 2026.

“The second phase of SIR (Special Intensive Revision) is about to be carried out in 12 States and UTs,” the CEC said.

Following the Supreme Court’s directions, the ECI has included Aadhaar in the list of 12 indicative documents, as per its September 9 order relating to the SIR in Bihar.

Explaining the position on Aadhaar, CEC Kumar said, “As far as the Aadhaar Card is concerned, the Supreme Court has said that Aadhaar is to be used as per the Aadhaar Act. Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act says that Aadhaar will not be the proof of domicile or citizenship. The Supreme Court has given several rulings that Aadhaar is not proof of date of birth. Keeping this in mind, the Aadhaar authority issued its notification and even today, if you download a new Aadhaar today, the Card mentions that it is neither a proof of date of birth nor domicile or citizenship. Aadhaar Card is proof of identity and can be used for e-signing too.”

He added that the voter lists in these 12 States and UTs will be frozen from midnight. “The voter list of all those states where SIR will be done will be frozen at 12 am tonight. All voters on that list will be given Unique Enumeration Forms by the BLOs. These Enumeration Forms will have all the necessary details from the current voter list. After BLOs start distributing forms to existing electors, all those whose names are on the Enumeration Forms will try to match whether their names were on the 2003 voter list. If yes, they need not submit any additional documents,” he said.

“If not their names, but the names of their parents were on the list, then too they need not submit any additional documents. The voter list of the SIR from 2002 to 2004 will be available to be seen on http://voters.eci.gov.in by anyone, and they can do the matching by themselves,” the CEC added.

Drawing from experience in Bihar, the ECI has also decided that the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will visit households up to three times for the matching and linking of forms. “If the elector is not available or there is a delay in matching and linking, the BLOs will visit the houses a total of three times. Electors can also fill out the forms online. If their names, or their father’s or mother’s names, were not available on the 2003 list, the ERO will determine eligibility based on the indicative documents,” Kumar said.

He added that State Chief Electoral Officers will hold meetings with political parties and brief them on the SIR process, and Booth Level Agents of political parties can collect 50 signed enumeration forms and submit their certification to the BLOs.

To avoid overcrowding, the Election Commission has decided that no polling booth will have more than 1,200 electors, and new polling stations will be created in high-rise buildings, gated colonies, and slum clusters.

“Not more than 1200 electors will be on a polling booth to avoid crowding. We will rationalise 1200 polling stations and open new stations in high-rise buildings, gated colonies or in slum clusters,” the CEC said, adding that after ERO’s decision, which means after publishing the final list, any voter or any resident in a constituency can still appeal to DMs, and can also file their second appeal with the State’s CEO within 15 days.

CEC Kumar listed migration, voters registered at more than one place, names not deleted after death, or a foreign national’s name being included in the voter list as factors that led the Election Commission to decide on a phase-wise nationwide SIR.

“Migration, voters registered at more than one place, names not deleted after death, or a foreign national’s name being included in the voter list. These are four factors that led the Election Commission to decide on a phase-wise nationwide SIR. “The SIR is aimed to include every eligible voter in the electoral roll and to remove the ineligible ones,” he said.

Earlier, the ECI held a two-day Conference of CEOs on SIR preparedness on October 22-23 at the India International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi, following Gyanesh Kumar’s announcement of a nationwide SIR on October 6. (ANI)

Actor R Madhavan has shared the first look teaser of his upcoming biopic ‘GDN,’ in which he plays the role of inventor Gopalaswamy Doraiswamy Naidu, aka “Edison of India.”

The actor took to Instagram on Sunday night to post the teaser, giving fans a glimpse of his powerful transformation. The short clip shows Madhavan in a shadowy workshop, working with welding tools. His face is covered with a mask before he slowly lifts it, revealing Naidu’s aged features and signature look, complete with round spectacles.

Along with the teaser, the actor wrote a caption that read, “The spirit of G.D.NAIDU is now officially unveiled. A story of unmatched vision, towering ambition, and unwavering resolve. We proudly present the First Look Teaser of G.D.N.”

Take a look

The film is directed by Krishnakumar Ramakumar and produced by Varghese Moolan Pictures in collaboration with Tricolour Films. The production team includes Aravind Kamalanathan as the cinematographer and creative producer, and Muralidaran as the executive producer.

‘GDN’ is backed by Varghese Moolan and Vijay Moolan from Varghese Moolan Pictures, and R. Madhavan and Sarita Madhavan from Tricolour Films.

Meanwhile, Madhavan is also set to appear with Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet Singh in ‘De De Pyaar De 2’. The film also stars Ajay Devgn, R. Madhavan, and Meezaan Jaaved Jaaferi. The story of the film is penned by Luv Ranjan. ‘De De Pyaar De 2’ is directed by Anshul Sharma and is set to release in theatres on November 14.

The actor was recently seen in ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’, which also starred Fatima Sana Shaikh. The film starred Madhavan as Shrirenu, a reserved Sanskrit teacher, while Fatima played Madhu, a spirited French instructor. (ANI)

Hrithik Roshan treated fans on Monday by sharing pictures with legendary action star Jackie Chan.

Taking to Instagram, Hrithik posted a snap of himself posing alongside Chan, describing the meeting as a tribute to the actor’s legacy in action cinema. He wrote, “Fancy meeting you here sir Jackie Chan. My broken bones look up to your broken bones. Forever and always.”

In the pictures, Hrithik looked effortlessly stylish in an all-white ensemble, a crisp T-shirt paired with a white denim jacket, matching pants and a hat.

The ‘Rush Hour’ star sported a relaxed black shirt and pants with a hat. The actor flashed his signature smile for the camera as he posed with Hrithik Roshan.

While sharing the photo, Hrithik Roshan paid tribute to Jackie Chan’s rich legacy in action films, calling the actor an inspiration to him when it comes to performing stunts and action sequences in movies.

This is not the first time that Hrithik Roshan has met action star Jackie Chan. They previously posed together in 2019 during the China premiere of Hrithik’s film Kaabil. At that time, Hrithik had called the meeting “a revelation at so many levels. Incredible experience. Inspired.”

“Meeting Jackie Chan was a revelation at so many levels. Incredible experience. Inspired,” Hrithik wrote on Instagram.

On the work front, Hrithik recently announced his debut as a producer in the OTT space. He is teaming up with Prime Video for a thriller series set in Mumbai, titled ‘Storm’.

‘Storm’ boasts a cast led by Parvathy Thiruvothu, Alaya F, Srishti Shrivastava, Rama Sharma and Saba Azad. With production scheduled to begin soon, Storm is a high-stakes thriller drama set against the backdrop of Mumbai.

The actor was last seen in the film ‘War 2’ alongside Jr NTR in the lead role. (ANI)

Amid rising global uncertainty and recent security challenges, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday stressed the need for indigenisation and self-reliance in defence manufacturing, urging the private sector to play a greater role in strengthening India’s defence ecosystem.

Considering Operation Sindoor, which followed the Pahalgam terror attack and created a warlike situation, Singh cautioned about growing instability in global peace and law and order.

“After the recent Pahalgam attack, the way we carried out Operation Sindoor, the situation afterwards was such that war seemed to be knocking at our doors. However, our armed forces are fully prepared to defend our borders under any circumstances,” the Defence Minister said while addressing the Annual Session 2025 and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) Champion Awards.

Highlighting India’s evolving defence capability, Singh said, “Keeping that uncertainty in mind, we must take our steps carefully after analysing every domain. The changes that the defence sector and modern warfare are going through today can be tackled only through indigenisation.”

The Defence Minister lauded the success of indigenous platforms during Operation Sindoor, mentioning the Akash missile system, BrahMos, and the AkashTeer Air Defence Control System, which he said had strengthened India’s reputation globally.

“The success of Operation Sindoor goes not only to our soldiers but also to all those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes–our industry warriors who contributed through innovation, design, and manufacturing,” the Defence Minister said.

Singh underscored that self-reliance is not merely a government slogan but a modern expression of India’s ancient tradition.

“There was a time when every village in India was an industry in itself. We were called the ‘Golden Bird’ because we met our needs on our own soil. By prioritising indigenisation in manufacturing and high technology, we are modernising that same tradition,” he added.

Calling the defence sector the foundation of national sovereignty, Singh noted that safeguarding it is a shared responsibility of the government, citizens, organisations, and industries–especially in the wake of Operation Sindoor.

He highlighted the government’s efforts to create a level playing field and incentivise domestic defence production, noting that India’s defence output has risen from Rs 46,425 crore in 2014 to over Rs 1.5 lakh crore today. “Of this, more than Rs 33,000 crore comes from the private sector. Defence exports have also grown from less than Rs 1,000 crore a decade ago to a record Rs 23,500 crore,” Singh said.

Expressing confidence in the private sector’s capabilities, Singh set an ambitious target: “Currently, the private sector’s contribution to domestic defence manufacturing stands at about 25 per cent. Our goal should be to increase it to at least 50 per cent within the next three years. With your capability and flexibility, I am confident this is achievable.” (ANI)

In a landmark announcement, the “Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Shetra Trust” announced on Monday through an official post on ‘X’ that all construction work related to Ayodhya’s Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Temple has been completed,

The construction includes the main temple premises and six other temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, Suryadev, Goddess Bhagwati, Goddess Annapurna, and the Sheshavatar temple.

“It is with great joy that we inform all devotees of Lord Rama that all work related to the temple construction has been completed. This includes the main temple and the six temples within the boundary wall–Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, Suryadev, Goddess Bhagwati, Goddess Annapurna, and the Sheshavatar temple, all of which have been fully constructed. The flagpoles and kalash (pinnacles) have also been installed on these temples,” the Ram Temple trust wrote on ‘X’.

Seven mandapas, namely those of Maharishi Valmiki, Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, Maharishi Agastya, Nishadraj, Shabari, and Rishi’s wife Ahilya, have also been fully constructed, along with the completion of Maharshi Tulsi Das temple.

“In addition, the seven mandapas, namely those of Maharishi Valmiki, Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, Maharishi Agastya, Nishadraj, Shabari, and Rishi’s wife Ahilya, have also been fully constructed. The Saint Tulsidas temple has also been completed, and the statues of Jatayu and the squirrel have been installed,” the ‘X’ post added.

All facilities and arrangements for devotees are now operational. The stone laying for roads and flooring is being executed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T), while GMR is managing *landscaping, greenery, and the creation of a 10-acre Panchavati.

“All tasks directly related to the convenience and arrangements for devotees have been fully completed. As per the map, the work of laying stones on roads and flooring is being carried out by L&T, and the work of land beautification, greenery, and landscaping, including the construction of Panchavati over 10 acres, is being rapidly undertaken by GMR,” the post said.

Only a few ancillary projects remain under construction, including the 3.5-kilometre boundary wall, the trust office, the guest house, and the auditorium.

“The only ongoing works are those not directly related to the public, such as the 3.5-kilometer-long boundary wall, the trust office, guest house, auditorium, and so forth,” the post said.

This development comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flag hoisting ceremony at the top of Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Temple on November 25,

According to Shree Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Shetra Trust chairman Nripendra Mishra, a list of 6000-8000 invitees has been prepared for the religious event, and they will represent various sections.

“Now that the construction of the temple is complete, ‘Ram Parivar’ is ‘virajman’ on the first floor of the temple. An arti of the ‘Ram Parivar’ will be performed on that day when the PM will hoist the ‘Dhwaj’ atop the Ram temple. The Nyas is organising this programme, with Champat Rai as the incharge. A list of 6000-8000 invitees has been prepared for this programme,” Nripendra Mishra told ANI.

“The ceremony of hoisting the ‘pataka’ over the ‘shikar’ of the Ram temple is a kind of a religious announcement to the devotees of Lord Ram that the temple in all its description, including the outer security wall -‘parkota’ is complete in all respects. It calls every devotee to visit the temple and offer prayers,” he added.

PM Modi had performed ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ at Ram Temple on August 5, 2020, and ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony was held on January 22, 2024. (ANI)