Browsing: India

From free laptops to gold rings, 5 key takeaways in Tamil Nadu budget. CHENNAI: The Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government’s maiden Budget for 2026-27 rolled out several welfare measures across education, healthcare and family support.From student-focused initiatives to benefits for brides, newborns and expectant mothers, here are five announcements that could directly impact households across Tamil Nadu.Vetri laptop scheme gives students a digital boostThe government has allocated Rs 2,000 crore for the Vetri Laptop Scheme, aimed at improving digital access for students. The initiative seeks to equip young learners with laptops to support higher education, skill development and better…

Soumya Ranjan Swain was beaten to death by a mob in Balianta Bhubaneswar: The state crime branch, investigating the mob lynching of railway constable Soumya Ranjan Swain (32) on the city’s outskirts on May 7, filed a chargesheet against 11 accused in the court of the sub‑divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM), here on Wednesday.Nine others arrested earlier by Balianta police have not been named in the chargesheet, with the agency citing lack of evidence against them. The decision has raised question mark on the basis of arrests made by the city police in the immediate aftermath of the incident.Swain was beaten…

COIMBATORE: Associations of micro, small and medium enterprises in Coimbatore have termed the Tamil Nadu govt’s 2026-27 budget “disappointing,” stating that key long-pending demands — especially reductions in electricity fixed and demand charges — were not addressed despite allocations for power infrastructure and MSME financing.The Tamilnadu Association of Cottage and Micro Enterprises said the budget’s power sector allocations, including Rs 4,000 crore for the Coimbatore–Ariyalur 765 kV transmission corridor, Rs 1,543 crore for 178 new substations and Rs 2,000 crore for replacing 40,000 old transformers, were welcome. The association said the absence of an announcement to reduce fixed charges from…

District minister KM Shivalingegowda inspects damaged crops in Hassan on Wednesday Hassan: Newly inducted minister KM Shivalingegowda on Wednesday appealed for nonpartisan cooperation to resolve the district’s various burning issues and take it on the path of progress.During his first visit to the district as minister, he said that today, there is a shadow of severe drought in the state. “A study is being conducted with the aim of sending a report to central govt and securing funds as per NDRF guidelines. In the cabinet meeting, CM instructed everyone to study the drought situation in their respective districts and submit…

Noida: The last stop on the 29.7-km Aqua Line corridor, Depot metro station serves students and residents travelling to nearby universities, corporate parks and residential sectors off the Noida Expressway. But outside the station — soon to be extended to a proposed multi-modal transport hub in Dadri — the lack of shared transport has become a daily ordeal for commuters.With few shared vehicles waiting outside, passengers are often left choosing between a long wait and an inflated fare. Auto-rickshaw drivers, commuters say, routinely charge more for short hops, and even then, a ride can take up to 20 minutes to…

Haryana labour and transport minister Anil Vij in Ambala on Wednesday Ambala: Haryana labour and transport minister Anil Vij on Wednesday took a swipe at AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal over his reported opposition to E-20 petrol, saying the former Delhi chief minister had made opposing everything “a habit”.Responding to a question from reporters, Vij said, “He opposes everything. He would even oppose air and water. It has become a part of his habit.”The remarks came amid the political sparring over the Centre’s push for E-20 fuel, which contains 20% ethanol blended with petrol as part of its cleaner fuel and…

Commuters pass through light drizzle near the Income Tax roundabout in Patna on Wednesday Picture by : Ranjeet KumarPatna Women’s College students use umbrellas to protect themselves from rainin Patna on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)Commuters pass through light drizzle near the Income Tax roundabout in Patna on Wednesday Picture by : Ranjeet KumarPatna Women’s College students use umbrellas to protect themselves from rainin Patna on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)Commuters pass through light drizzle near the Income Tax roundabout in Patna on Wednesday Picture by : Ranjeet Kumar Patna: The India Meteorological Department (IMD), Patna, has issued an orange alert for most parts…

The society said the hospital neither has a permanent haematology department nor a dedicated haematologist Ranchi: Haemophilia patients visiting Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) are allegedly struggling to access life-saving clotting-factor medicines, prompting a patient advocacy group to seek the hospital administration’s urgent intervention.In a letter to Rims director D K Sinha on Wednesday, Haemophilia Society’s Ranchi chapter secretary Santosh Kumar Jaiswal alleged that essential blood proteins such as Factor VIII, Factor IX, Von Willebrand Factor and lab-made blood protein Emicizumab had not been procured despite recommendations from the medicine and paediatrics departments and repeated reminders from patient groups.These…

Heavy rains continue to lash Kerala, causing widespread waterlogging and inundation across many districts THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Heavy rains continued to lash several parts of Kerala on Wednesday, causing widespread waterlogging and inundation of roads.More relief camps were opened and residents of low-lying areas were evacuated, authorities said.The southern districts of Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kottayam continued to bear the brunt of the rain fury, with incessant showers and overcast skies disrupting normal life, news agencyThe elderly, women and children were seen wading through knee-deep water in several inundated areas of these districts.As floodwaters remained in many low-lying areas and several houses continued…

Kolkata: Calcutta High Court on Wednesday dismissed Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee’s plea to travel abroad for his eye treatment, remarking, “India is not lagging in medical science, even Supreme Court judges get treated here.”Following Supreme Court’s order on Monday to hear Banerjee’s application within seven days, the matter was taken up for hearing by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya. The single bench noted that Banerjee had 16 criminal cases against him, including the ‘DJ remark’ case lodged by Bidhannagar police, in defending which Banerjee had sought permission to travel abroad.Justice Bhattacharyya also recommended the formation of a medical board headed by the…