Browsing: India

Srinagar, Jul 15: The persistent decline in Haj applications in Jammu and Kashmir has been attributed to the rising cost of the pilgrimage, with officials stating that only 2,600 aspirants have applied for Haj-2027 so far despite just six days remaining before the July 20 deadline.Executive Officer, J&K Haj Committee, Dr Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, told Rising Kashmir that the number of applications has witnessed a steady decline since 2023, when over 12,000 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir performed Haj. “Only around 2,600 applications have been received so far, with six days still left. We have been witnessing a significant decline…

NEW DELHI: Electors in the national capital have got an extra 10 days to submit their enumeration forms for the ongoing SIR, with Election Commission on Wednesday releasing a revised schedule for Delhi. SIR timelines were also revised for Punjab, Telangana and Karnataka.House-to-house visits by BLOs in Delhi, which started on June 30, will now continue till August 8, instead of July 29 as originally scheduled. The date of publication of the draft electoral roll has been extended to August 17 from August 5.Claims and objections against the draft roll may be filed between August 17 and September 16, and…

Based on the RTI findings, Kirit Somaiya has alleged that the corrections in the birth certificates were carried out illegally and has demanded that the BMC register an police complaint to investigate the matter and identify those responsible Mumbai: The M-East ward office in Govandi accounted for 3,132 birth certificate corrections that were made without supporting documents or applications, according to an RTI reply from the BMC received by former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya.The RTI response has also revealed that across the city, 19,753 birth certificates were issued without any supporting documents, while a total 86,020 birth record corrections were…

New Delhi: Days after it cancelled the bail plea of a school staffer accused of raping a minor, Delhi High Court Wednesday cancelled the bail granted to a woman teacher in the same case.Noting that Pocso cases warrant “utmost caution”, the court asked her to surrender in three days, in connection with the alleged rape of a three-year-old girl by a staff member inside a private school in west Delhi’s Janakpuri. Last month, HC had set aside the bail granted to the main accused, the school caretaker.Justice Saurabh Banerjee Wednesday observed that while considering bail in such cases, “essential surrounding…

Bengaluru: The Indian government, through a $600 million (about Rs 5,781 crore) climate fund jointly backed with Japan, is investing another Rs 200 crore in Ather Energy. The fund first backed the electric scooter maker in 2024, ahead of its stock market listing the following year.The India-Japan Fund will participate in a Rs 1,200 crore preferential allotment approved by Ather’s board on Wednesday. Hero MotoCorp, Ather’s largest shareholder, will invest Rs 960 crore, while founders Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain will invest Rs 20 crore each.The India-Japan Fund is a partnership between the Government of India and the Japan Bank…

Hyderabad: The Telangana high court on Wednesday dismissed two writ petitions filed by M/s B Sundar Rao Hotels at Abids and M/s Sundar Taj Mahal Hotels, Secunderabad, Hyderabad, and imposed exemplary fines of ₹10 lakh in each case.Observing that the petitioners had suppressed material facts and approached the court with unclean hands, Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka directed that the amounts be paid to the Telangana State Legal Services Authority.The petitioners had approached the court challenging Cross Subsidy Surcharge (CSS) demand notices issued by the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company (TGSPDCL).B Sundar Rao Hotels, which operates the Taj Mahal Hotel at…

Passenger vehicle exports were led by utility vehicles, underscoring the global shift towards SUVs Chennai: Despite mounting geopolitical tensions, India’s automobile exporters delivered a surprisingly strong performance in Q1 of this fiscal. Nearly 2 million vehicles were shipped overseas, with two-wheelers, passenger vehicles and three-wheelers driving growth. Total exports rose 34% year-on-year to 1.96 million units, according to SIAM data.This strong growth has been achieved despite the conflict in West Asia—a crucial market for Indian vehicle makers—which disrupted shipping schedules and raised freight costs.“Diversified export markets and robust demand helped offset the disruption,” according to industry representatives.Passenger vehicle exports were…

Ahmedabad: A truck driver was killed and another injured after their vehicles collided on the Sarkhej-Dholka Road near Bakrol village on Wednesday morning. The accident occurred around 7.30am when an Eicher truck loaded with bricks collided with another truck. The impact crushed the cabin of the Eicher truck, trapping the driver inside. He died before rescue teams could reach him.After being alerted, fire crew and rural police rushed to the spot. Firefighters had to cut open the mangled front portion of the Eicher truck to retrieve the driver’s body. The driver of the other truck suffered injuries in the accident…

Prayagraj: In a major initiative to promote health awareness among school children, all Basic Education Council schools and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) across Uttar Pradesh will be provided with the ‘My Health World’ book from July.Developed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under its Eat Right India campaign, the book aims to inculcate healthy lifestyle practices, nutrition awareness and better understanding of physical and mental well-being among students.The book, available in both Hindi and English, has been designed as a supplementary learning resource and is not part of the regular curriculum. It will be used…

CM Mohan Charan Majhi at the launch Puri: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday unveiled a new online donation platform for Jagannath Temple, branded as ‘Digital Hundi – Samarpan’.Rolling out the e-hundi (donation) initiative at the temple office on the eve of Rath Yatra, Majhi described it as “a secure, transparent bridge connecting devotees across India and abroad with the Lord’s shrine”.Developed by Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC), the platform has been integrated with the temple’s official portal and allows devotees to contribute safely from home. “Every rupee offered through this system will go towards the temple’s development and…