Jobs in Karnataka

India's Ministry of Defence signed two significant deals to greatly enhance its submarine fleet. While one of the deals was signed with France's Naval Group, the larger of the two contracts was signed with Mumbai's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative. The two contracts have a combined value of Rs 2,867 crore. While the contract with France's Naval Group, worth Rs 877 crore, pertains to more advanced torpedo technology, the contract with Mazagon Dock, worth around Rs 1,990 crore, is over DRDO's new indigenous submarine propulsion system. "The Ministry of Defence has signed two contracts, worth approximately Rs 2,867 crore, for the construction of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) Plug for DRDO-AIP system and its integration onboard Indian submarines; and the integration of electronic heavy weight torpedo (EHWT) onboard the Kalvari-class submarines," a ministry statement read. DEAL WITH FRANCE'S NAVAL GROUP The ...

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena's New Year greetings to Chief Minister Atishi , heavy in its criticism of her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal, has drawn a stinging response. In a two-page letter, the Chief Minister, among other things, expressed hope that in the New Year, Mr Saxena would "let go of the baggage of politics" and work towards the welfare of the people of Delhi.  The 10-point "concerns" she raised, hit out at Mr Saxena over his "criticism rather than constructive cooperation", "unnecessary interventions that slowed down critical work" and actions taken to stop the Mahila Samman Yojana and accused his office of becoming a "proxy of the BJP".  The Lieutenant Governor, she alleged, has failed to keep the city safe - "the one job that you are directly responsible for and mandated to do". "While an ex-Member of Parliament has been busy distributing money to lure voters right under your nose from his illegal...

A video going viral on social media has sparked a barrage of criticism towards Indian Railways after passengers sleeping on the platform at Lucknow's Charbagh station were sprayed with cold water, amid the prevailing cold wave conditions. The footage showed the passengers, who usually sleep on the Indian platforms, waiting for the trains, being shrugged off and forced to vacate the space by the railway staffers. The incident, which allegedly transpired last week, showed passengers hastily gathering their belongings, including blankets, as they were forced to leave the platform, which was then cleaned by the railway staff. A section of social media users were left angered by the incident and slammed the railways staff for not showing some sensitivity towards the passengers. "Heart breaks man, so much poverty and disregard everywhere, govt after govt has failed the people while the politicians are padding their accounts in one tax heaven after another," said one social m...

The death of a 35-year-old Dalit man inside a police station in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district triggered protests from his family, who alleged murder. The Congress, on Sunday, also slammed the Mohan Yadav-led BJP government for what they termed "jungle raj" in the state. Mukesh Longre died on Saturday after being called to the Satwas police station here for questioning in a complaint submitted against him by a woman on December 26, Superintendent of Police Puneet Gehlot said. "While inspector Ashish Rajput was reading his statement, Longre made a noose around his neck with a gamcha (towel), tied it to a window grill in the lock-up and began yanking his neck. Police stopped him and rushed him to a hospital where doctors declared him dead," the SP said. "There is no case against him. He was just called to record his statement. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Nandani Uikey is conducting an inquiry into the death. The JMFC visited the spot this morn...

In a significant escalation of the row over the choice of Dr Manmohan Singh's cremation site, senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacked the BJP-ruled government at the Centre and accused it of "insulting" the memory of the two-term Prime Minister and not thinking beyond "politics and narrow-mindedness".  Leading a no-holds-barred counterattack, BJP president JP Nadda said the Congress and Rahul Gandhi were playing "cheap politics" in Mr Singh's name and accused the party of not doing justice to any leader who was not from the Nehru-Gandhi family. Dr Singh, who died at the age of 92 on Thursday, was cremated at the Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi with full state honours on Saturday. A day before the funeral, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and, citing Dr Singh's stature and his contributions to the country, requested that the last rites be conducted in a place where a memo...

The road transport ministry mandates road agencies to paint speed limits and vehicle logos on pavements every 10 km to guide drivers on expressways and highways. New guidelines coming into force in February 2025 also require larger signs at frequent intervals, highlighting speed limits, exit points, no parking areas, and lane information for safer driving.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met here on Friday and paid glowing tributes to former prime minister Manmohan Singh, saying he was a towering figure in India's political and economic landscape whose contributions transformed the country and earned him respect worldwide. In a condolence resolution passed at the meeting, the CWC mourned the loss of a "true statesman" whose life and work have profoundly shaped the destiny of India. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and Congress general secretaries Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra among others met here at the AICC headquarters for a meeting of the CWC to pay homage to the former prime minister. Dr Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms and a consensus builder in the rough world of politics, died at AIIMS, Delhi, late on Thursday. He was 92. He is survived by his wife and three daughters. "Dr. Singh was a towering figure ...

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh died of age-related medical conditions today, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, where he was admitted, said in a statement. He was 92. "With profound grief, we inform the demise of former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had a sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26 December 2024," AIIMS said. "Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the medical emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8.06 pm. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 pm," AIIMS said. Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister for two terms in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from 2004 to 2014. He had been in poor health for the last few months. The former prime minister is survived by wife Gurcharan Singh and three daughters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a post on X...

When 22-year-old Vinita decided to take a bus from Udaipur instead of boarding a train to reach Jaipur, little did she know that her change in plans to reach the destination early would cost her life. Vinita was one of the three persons who succumbed to critical burn injuries in the hospital today. She was travelling in a bus from Udaipur to Jaipur that was gutted in a fire that broke out after a collision between a truck and an LPG tanker on Jaipur-Ajmer national highway on December 20. She was standing near the gate of the bus, waiting it to stop at 200-feet bypass in Jaipur in a couple of minutes but barely a few meters ahead of the stop, a gush of fire surrounded her, leaving her critically burnt. Five days after battling for life at SMS hospital, she died in the early hours of Wednesday. With three more deaths, the death toll in the incident on Wednesday rose to 18 while 15 are undergoing treatment. "Vinita had gone to Udaipur to take an exam and was to board a train on ...

Mauritius Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade, Dhananjay Ramful, said on Tuesday, that he wanted to visit Ram Temple in Ayodhya after the elections in Mauritius and added that he is impressed by the temple built in Ayodhtya. Speaking to news agency ANI, he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the development in Ayodhya and temple. He said that started his visit from Banaras and visited Kashi Vishwanath Temple there. Speaking about his visit to Ram Temple, Dhananjay Ramful said, "I came here on a private visit. You know, there was the general election in Mauritius and after the general election, I always wanted to come here. It was my wish to come and have the darshan of Lord Ram. So I started my pilgrimage in Banaras. I went to the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir and then I came over here to Ayodhya to get the blessings of Lord Ram." Praising PM Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath for...

The Indian Embassy in Berlin on Monday said it has been in "close contact" with all the seven Indians who were injured in an attack at the Magdeburg Christmas market in Germany last week. "@EOIBerlin has been in close contact with all the seven Indians injured in the attack at the Magdeburg Christmas Market on Dec 20, 2024. Three of the Indians have been discharged, while the remaining are under treatment. Mission is in regular touch with them and actively providing requisite support. Mission is also in touch with their families. @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @diaspora_india @IndianDiplomacy," the Indian Embassy posted on X. Seven Indians were injured in the deadly car-ramming attack in the eastern German city of Magdeburg and the Indian Embassy in Berlin was providing them all possible assistance, PTI reported quoting sources on Saturday night. A 50-year-old man drove his car into the crowd at the Christmas market on Friday evening, leaving at least five pe...

India and Kuwait signed four Memorandum of Understandings in the areas of defence, sports and cultural cooperation during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Gulf nation, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Sunday. MEA Secretary CPV and OIA, Arun Kumar Chatterjee during a special briefing today, said the MoUs are expected to deepen the multifaceted bilateral relationship as well as open avenues for newer areas of cooperation. "Following the delegation level talks today, four bilateral documents were signed during the visit. The first one is a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation, the second one is a Cultural Exchange program for the years 2025-2029, the third is an executive program on cooperation in the field of sports for the period 2025- 2028. We also had Kuwait joining as a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)," he said. "We are pretty confident that this historic visit of the Prime Minister will open up a new chapter in ...

Delhi's air quality plummeted to 'severe' on Sunday, with an AQI of 409, following Saturday's 'very poor' rating. The city experienced foggy conditions and fluctuating humidity. Temperatures reached a maximum of 24.1°C and a minimum of 7.3°C. Cloudy skies and light rain are forecast for Monday, with temperatures expected between 7°C and 20°C.

A 12-year-old student of a private school allegedly sent a bomb threat e-mail to the institution in an attempt to shift to online classes, police said on Saturday. An FIR was registered at the Cyber Crime (South) police station and the student was identified, they said. According to a Gurugram police spokesperson, on December 18, a complaint was received from the authorized person of Shriram Millennium school, sector 65 regarding the school receiving a bomb threat on their email. Investigations traced the e-mail to be of a 12-year-old boy, Station House Officer Naveen Kumar said. During interrogation the boy revealed that he is a student of the same school and he had sent the e-mail with the intention of prompting the school to switch to online classes, the SHO said. "He said that he had mistakenly sent the mail without understanding the gravity of his actions. The student is cooperating with the investigation and a probe is underway", the spokesperson said. (Except for...

India for the very first time is flying biological experiments into space using a homegrown rocket. The next launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) will see not one, but three biological experiments with living cells being rocketed into space. Keeping living things alive in the hostile near vacuum of space is a hugely challenging task. India will fly living biological material from plants such as spinach, cowpea, and gut bacteria - three different experiments are being planned to be flown onboard the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-4 (POEM-4). Keeping any organism alive in space is a challenge as all life support systems have to be provided in a small sealed box. The results of the experiments also have to be gathered remotely. This is on the fourth stage of the PSLV which the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) makes available to academics to conduct experiments in the real space environment. "In a first such venture, ISRO is flying live biological experime...

A six-storey building collapsed in Mohali district in Punjab on Saturday evening, trapping five people under the debris, officials said. Rescue operations are ongoing, and one person has been rescued and taken to the hospital. "Operation is underway. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police and fire teams are at the spot. The reason behind this mishap will be investigated," Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Pareek told the media. Authorities estimate five people may be trapped under the rubble. A National Disaster Response Team (NDRF) team has reached the spot. The fire brigade is also participating in the operation. Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, Anandpur Sahib MP Malwinder Singh Kang and Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh reached the spot to oversee the rescue operation. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in a post on X said, "Sad news has been received that a multi-storey building near Sohana in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar (Mohali) has collapsed....

Indian businessman Dr Ravi Pillai has been awarded Bahrain's prestigious national honour, the Medal of Efficiency, in recognition of his significant contributions to the progress and development of the kingdom, making him the only foreign national to receive the title. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of Bahrain, awarded the prestigious national honour to Mr Pillai, chairman of RP Group, on December 16. “This esteemed award reflects His Majesty's deep appreciation for Dr Pillai's outstanding contributions to the Kingdom, particularly in the fields of refinery operations, local community development, and the strengthening of Bahrain's global position,” the Royal Order said. “We appreciate Dr Ravi Pillai for his exceptional service and contributions to the Kingdom, and we are honored to present him with this distinguished award as a sign of our deep gratitude,” the king said in the royal proclamation. With a turnover of USD 12 billion, his business is the large...

Visuals have emerged giving a bird's-eye view of the devastation wrought by the collision between a truck, gas tanker and several other vehicles in Rajasthan. At least 12 people were killed and 40 injured, 28 of whom are critical.  The video shows charred hunks of metal left behind of what were once functioning vehicles. Several fire engines can be seen and the footage makes it clear that a large section of the road - approximately 300 metres - was affected, as were areas in the immediate vicinity. Bulldozers can also be seen trying to clear the wreckage so that the road can be used for traffic again.  A CNG tanker parked near a petrol pump had caught fire after a truck collided with it and several other vehicles at Ajmer Road in Jaipur on Friday morning. The CNG tanker sprung a leak after the collision and an explosion followed. The fire spread quickly to other vehicles, including cars and a bus, leaving people with no time to react.  Witnesses told NDTV that passenge...

Striking a combative note, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that during the recent state elections, the BJP-led alliance demolished the fake narrative spread by the Opposition in the Lok Sabha poll campaign. Replying to a debate in the legislative assembly on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his joint address to both Houses of the state legislature, he asked the Opposition to introspect and accept the people's mandate it got in the assembly elections instead of blaming the EVMs. He was a modern-day "Abhimanyu" who knew how to break the "chakravyuh", Fadnavis said, invoking the Mahabharata imagery. He also assured that all the ongoing schemes of the government, including the flagship Ladki Bahin scheme for financial aid to women, will continue. The winter session of the state legislature is underway in Nagpur following the BJP-led Mahayuti's massive victory in the November 20 assembly elections. Lashing out at the Opp...

Two Congress leaders died due to "police action" during protests in Guwahati and Lucknow on Wednesday, the party has claimed. Police in both cities, however, said the deaths did not occur because of their actions and no injury marks were found on the two leaders' bodies. The exact reason for the deaths, they added, will be clear after the post-mortem is conducted. Congress MP and Leader of Opposition In Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi condemned the deaths, saying "democracy and Constitution have been murdered again in BJP-ruled Assam and Uttar Pradesh".  In a post on X, Mr Gandhi said the death of the Congress leaders in Guwahati and Lucknow "due to police excesses is very sad and condemnable". "The lions of Congress will continue to fight for truth and the Constitution," he said.  The incidents took place in the two cities as the Congress held a nationwide protest over several issues, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on BR Am...

India and China agreed on six points to resolve the border issue as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. Both sides agreed on the need to maintain peace and a commitment to continue seeking a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable package solution to the boundary issue. The consensus points also include cross-border tourism including in areas like Tibet and cross-border river cooperation and Nathu La border trade and resumption of Mansarovar Yatra. This was the first Special-Representative level meet since the flare-up of incidents at the border.  The meeting follows the bilateral between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit held in Kazan last month. It was the first significant breakthough amid the chill that had set in following the clashes in Ladakh's Galwan -- the worst in decades. Today's meet was meant to oversee the management of peace at the border and explore a "fair, reasonabl...

The Meghalaya government has alerted the Centre over the recent sighting of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) near the border with Bangladesh. This comes after the Turkey-made Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicles were spotted near the border. Prestone Tynsong, Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, has said the Centre and state government are closely monitoring the situation, adding that the Border Security Force and the Indian Air Force have been alerted and New Delhi is keeping a close watch. "We are keeping the Centre informed on this and they are also taking serious note of this...Centre also must take it up with the government of Bangladesh," Mr Tynsong said. Meghalaya shares a 443 km border with neighbouring Bangladesh. However, the UAVs were recently spotted close to Sohra and Shella in the East Khasi Hills district, about 200 meters south of the zero line on the international border. The Indian security agencies, including the Air Force, have intensified surveillance...

The winter session of the Madhya Pradesh Assembly began today with a dramatic show of opposition by the Congress. Inside the House, outside on the streets, and on tractors, Congress leaders attempted to corner the state government over issues affecting farmers, women, and youth. The protest began with Congress MLAs attempting to enter the assembly carrying empty sacks of fertilizer, symbolizing the shortage of fertilizers faced by farmers.  But they were stopped by the security personnel and were forced to leave them at the gate before proceeding. Inside the House, the Congress tried to raise farmers' issues but, failing to gain traction, walked out in protest. "The issues of farmers and the people will be raised from the road to the House," declared Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar. Outside, Congress leaders staged a tractor rally, attempting to march to the assembly from Shivaji Square, but here too, they were foiled by the police. Thousands of Congress workers h...

Nearly a dozen students fainted after thick fumes engulfed a coaching institute in Jaipur on Sunday evening. According to the police, the cause of the smoke that enveloped Utkarsh Coaching Centre, in Gopalpur, could not be immediately ascertained. A possible gas leak, toxic fumes from a gutter or smoke billowing from the kitchen of a house adjacent to the coaching facility are among the possible causes that are being investigated, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Yogesh Srivastav said. There were 350 students inside the coaching centre at the time of the incident.  Some of them fainted as the windows and doors of the premises were shut, leading to suffocation, ACP Srivastav said. Five students were taken to Somani Hospital while two were admitted in Metro Mass Hospital. The students are out of danger.  

The Assam Rifles alone destroyed 354 acres of illicit poppy cultivation this year, primarily in three Manipur districts -- Ukhrul, Churachandpur and Chandel. A defence spokesman said that through meticulously planned joint operations, the force successfully identified and destroyed 354 acres of illicit poppy cultivation, primarily in the districts of Ukhrul, Churachandpur, and Chandel. The Assam Rifles continued its determination to fight against the menace of poppy cultivation along the India-Myanmar border, he said. The spokesman said that by eliminating poppy fields and striking at the roots of narco-trade, Assam Rifles has reaffirmed its commitment towards ensuring stability and security in Manipur and beyond. According to the defence official, the battle against poppy cultivation has been a consistent priority for the paramilitary force, as reflected in its sustained efforts over the years. In 2020 the force identified a staggering 8,057 acres of poppy fields, of which 1,695 a...

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday said his government is working hard to ensure rights, respect and ownership of land for the indigenous people in the state. Speaking at the inaugural function of the Manipur Indigenous People Cultural Exchange Festival in Chadong village in Kamjong district, Mr Singh called for "constitutional protection" for the indigenous people. "Now it is a critical period for indigenous people who have been living since time immemorial. Our land was safeguarded by spear and swords in the history of more than 2000 years and guns arrived only after the British came," he said. Mr Singh said he initiated the "Go to Hills" campaign to strengthen shared cultural and historical legacy. "Understanding the indigenous communities is the need of the hour...Many people do not want to acknowledge the demographic changes caused by events happening outside the state. We have been struggling to save the indigenous communities wh...

Food delivery aggregator Zomato on Thursday said the GST department in Thane has imposed a tax demand of Rs 803.4 crore, including interest and penalty. The demand order has been received in respect of non-payment of GST on delivery charges with interest and penalty thereon, Zomato said in a regulatory filing. The company said it will file an appeal before the appropriate authority as it believes it has a strong case. "... Company has received an order on 12 December 2024 ... for the period 29 October 2019 to 31 March 2022 passed by Joint Commissioner of CGST & Central Excise, Thane Commissionerate, Maharashtra, confirming demand of GST of Rs 401,70,14,706 with interest as applicable and penalty of Rs 401,70,14,706," Zomato stated. "We believe that we have a strong case on merits, which is backed by opinions from our external legal and tax advisors. The company will be filing an appeal against the order before the appropriate authority," it added. (Except f...

A local court in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly sentenced a 22-year-old person, who faked his sexual identity, to 20 years imprisonment for raping a minor girl, a police officer said on Tuesday. Superintendent of Police (City) Bareilly Manush Pareek said initially the accused had claimed to be a female transgender, but a medical examination conducted at the SGPGI Lucknow, as per court orders, revealed the accused as biologically male. The incident occurred in the Mirganj area in August last year. Farin Kinar allegedly lured the survivor on the pretext of watching TV and committed the crime. He also allegedly threatened to harm her if she disclosed the incident, the officer said. "Hearing the case on Monday, Special Judge POCSO Court-3 Umashankar Khar found Farin guilty. The court considered the medical examination report and witness statements. Farin was sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 12,000," the officer said. The court ordered that the...

An inordinate delay in the execution of a death sentence has a dehumanising effect on the accused, the Supreme Court observed on Monday as it upheld a Bombay High Court order commuting the death penalty of two convicts in the 2007 Pune BPO employee gangrape and murder case to life term for 35 years. Dismissing the appeal filed by the Maharashtra government challenging the Bombay High Court judgement, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Augustine George Masih said keeping a convict sentenced to death in suspense while considering his mercy petitions by the governor or the president for an inordinately long time is certainly agony for him/her. "The only conclusion in this case is that the delay is unexplained and inordinate. Therefore, it is impossible to find fault with the view taken by the high court that there was a violation of the rights of the convicts guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. "Therefore, the commutation of the de...

Senior RJD leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday said he has no objection to any senior leader of the INDIA bloc, including TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, leading the coalition, but stressed that the decision must be reached through consensus. Tejashwi Yadav, who is the leader of the opposition in Bihar assembly, told reporters at the city airport, "INDIA bloc hasn't thought on this matter and there has to be a discussion involving all stakeholders." "We have no issue with Mamata Banerjee leading the bloc, but keeping in mind there are so many senior politicians in the the anti-BJP coalition, there's a need to sit together and take a collective decision on choosing a leader," he said. Asked if RJD, as a key member of the INDIA bloc, is open to the idea of the West Bengal Chief Minister taking over the reins, Tejashwi Yadav, the son of RJD patriarch and veteran politician Lalu Prasad Yadav, responded, "We have not yet colle...

Parts of Delhi-NCR experienced rainfall on Sunday evening, with the weather department predicting more rain in isolated areas of the city. Some areas of West Delhi, Outer North Delhi and Gurugram received rain. In its latest forecast, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said light rain is very likely to occur at isolated places in Delhi, including Rajouri Garden, Patel Nagar, Buddha Jayanti Park, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Najafgarh, Delhi Cantonment and parts of the National Capital Region (NCR). A Western Disturbance is roughly situated along 70°E, to the north of latitude 30°N, with an induced cyclonic circulation lying over north Rajasthan and its neighbourhood. Light rainfall in Delhi-NCR is likely under the influence of these systems, the weather department has said. "One or two spells of very light to light rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, are likely over Delhi-NCR during the next 12 hours," it has said. The department has also forecast moderate to dense...

She was watching a video on Sambhal violence in Uttar Pradesh, where protests sparked by a survey into whether a centuries-old mosque was built on a Hindu temple had killed four people - when her husband asked her not to and then, as she claims, divorced her by uttering the word 'talaq' three times. She had praised the police action. " Koi wajah hi toh nahi thi. Bina wajah ke talaq diya hai (There was no reason at all. He divorced me without a reason)," said Nida, who uses a single name. The word 'talaq' means divorce in Arabic. The controversial practice of 'triple talaq' that allows Muslim men to divorce their wives instantly by saying 'talaq' thrice was banned by the Supreme Court in 2017. The top court called it "unconstitutional". In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government also approved a bill outlawing the centuries-old right of a Muslim man to instantly divorce his wife. Nida, a native of Moradabad, has filed a p...

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Friday claimed he was not invited for the oath taking ceremony of new Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, but said he expects his "friend" to work for the overall development of the state. Mr Patole listed his own expectations from the BJP-led government and these included announcement of a loan waiver for farmers. Chief Minister Fadnavis and his two deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar took oath on Thursday at a grand ceremony in Mumbai, ushering in the Mahayuti 2.0 government. Mr Patole, speaking with reporters in Nagpur, maintained he did not get any invitation about the oath ceremony otherwise he would have attended the event. "However, my friend has become the chief minister and good wishes to him," he said. Both Mr Patole, a former BJP MP, and Mr Fadnavis hail from the Vidarbha region of eastern Maharashtra. Notably, no major leader from the opposition, including Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, NCP...