Author: Sarita Jena

In an important decision, the Supreme Court told the Indian government to create a plan for giving free medical treatment to people injured in car accidents during the “golden hour.” This is the first hour after an injury when quick treatment can save lives. The court’s decision was announced by Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, who emphasized the need for fast medical care.

The “golden hour” is defined by the law, and it is a critical time for anyone hurt in a car accident. If they don’t get treated quickly, they may die. The court asked the government to have this plan ready by March 14, 2025. They also want to see the plan by March 21, along with a report about how it will work.

Justice Oka highlighted that when people get hurt in accidents, they might be alone, and financial worries or long procedures shouldn’t delay their treatment. It is important that everyone gets medical help right away since every life is valuable. The law already requires insurance companies to help pay for this urgent treatment, but the government hasn’t put the plan into action since the law has been in place since April 1, 2022.

The government had sent a draft plan with a limit of 1.5 lakh rupees (about $2,000) for treatment but was criticized for not covering all the needs of accident victims. The court told the government to fix these issues in their final plan.

Additionally, there is a fund created under a special section of the law to help with treatment costs. The General Insurance Council (GIC) has a role in managing claims related to accidents and will develop a website to make the process easier for families. The court found out that many claims are pending because of missing documents and has directed the GIC to speed up their work and provide updates by March 14, 2025.

In the upcoming Delhi assembly election in 2025, Ashok Gehlot, the former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is the main rival to the Congress party. Gehlot’s comments created some tension with AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal. Kejriwal responded by saying that Gehlot’s remarks show that Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are working together against AAP.

Gehlot said, “They (AAP) are our competition. They think they are strong since they won two times in Delhi. But things are different now. Congress is running a better campaign, and this time will be different.”

In his reply, Kejriwal pointed out that Gehlot didn’t criticize the BJP and looked like Congress was teaming up with them. He thanked Gehlot for revealing this connection.

Gehlot then addressed Kejriwal directly, stressing that it’s impossible for Congress and BJP to be allies. He said that politics will keep going, but he also mentioned a new health scheme in Rajasthan that helps all families get healthcare.

“Gurdeep Singh Sappal,” a Congress leader, criticized both AAP and BJP for constantly attacking each other while forgetting about Congress, which has ruled for many years.

The Delhi elections will take place on February 5, and the results will be counted on February 8. In 2020, AAP won 62 out of 70 seats in the assembly.

On Wednesday, the Congress party promised free health insurance up to Rs 25 lakh through a new program called Jeevan Raksha Yojana if they win the elections in Delhi. Ashok Gehlot, a senior Congress leader and former chief minister of Rajasthan, said that this plan would help many families by covering big medical expenses, hospital stays, and treatments for serious illnesses. He believes that Congress has a good chance of forming the government in Delhi, which is important for the country’s future.

Gehlot shared that this health scheme shows Congress’s dedication to taking care of the healthcare needs of Delhi residents. Their campaign slogan, “Hogi Har Zarurat Puri, Congress Hai Zaroori,” means that Congress wants to ensure essential services for everyone. He added that Congress has kept the country united and believes in supporting people of all backgrounds.

Gehlot mentioned that this health program was very successful in Rajasthan and will work well in Delhi too. The Jeevan Raksha Yojana will cover all government and private hospitals, so every person in Delhi can get free healthcare.

Delhi Congress chief, Devender Yadav, said that after seeing the success of this scheme in Rajasthan, Delhi also needs this support for proper treatment. He criticized the current Delhi government’s health system, claiming it has worsened over the past 11 years and that poor people rely on Mohalla clinics that lack basic medical care. Yadav assured the people that Congress cares about their health and will take responsibility for it once in power.

Qazi Nizamuddin, in charge of Congress in Delhi, expressed that people trust Congress and believe they will keep their promises. He emphasized that every scheme Congress proposes will be fulfilled.

Recently, Congress also announced another plan called ‘Pyaari Didi Yojana,’ which promises financial help of Rs 2,500 per month to women if they win the elections. The voting for the 70-member Delhi assembly will be on February 5, with results announced on February 8.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh will be one of the few places in the world to build large green hydrogen production facilities. Speaking at a public rally, Modi highlighted that this green hydrogen hub will create numerous job opportunities and help grow a manufacturing base in the state.

He mentioned laying the foundation stone for a Bulk Drug Park in Nakkapalli, which is one of only three such parks being built in India. Modi described urbanization as a great opportunity and said Andhra Pradesh aims to set a new standard for modern urban living. He also laid the foundation stone for the Krishnapatnam Industrial Area, which is a Rs 1,518 crore project that will take place on 2,500 acres of land and is expected to create jobs for 50,000 people.

Additionally, he laid the foundation for a green hydrogen hub in Pudimadaka and a railway zone, with a combined investment of over Rs 2 lakh crore. The green hydrogen hub will be developed in partnership with NTPC Green Energy Ltd and the New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP).

Modi emphasized that Andhra Pradesh has great potential and, when fully developed, can significantly contribute to the country’s growth. The state’s government has set a goal of reaching a $2.5 trillion economy by 2047, under the ‘Swarna Andhra-2047’ initiative. He praised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for his dedication to developing the state and expressed that together they will achieve these ambitious goals.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is making efforts to strengthen security along the India-China border by moving 33 border outposts (BOPs) closer to the edge of the country. The Director General of ITBP, Rahul Rasgotra, announced this during a special parade for the force.

He mentioned that there is a plan to establish 56 border outposts in total, with 33 already moved closer to the border. This change will make it easier for ITBP to patrol the area, as they won’t have to travel long distances anymore. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also approved the formation of seven new battalions, which means around 9,000 more officers will be dedicated to border security.

Currently, the ITBP, which has about 96,222 personnel, manages a 3,488 km stretch of the India-China border. The patrol units often had to travel a long way, sometimes 15 to 40 km away from their BOPs, which took a lot of time. By placing the BOPs closer, they can patrol more effectively.

In the past year, ITBP conducted 6,561 patrols along the border. At the parade, Rasgotra also announced that ITBP plans to support local economies by signing agreements with the governments of Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. These agreements will allow ITBP to buy local products from border villages, helping both the locals and the ITBP to get better supplies. They hope to establish similar agreements in Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim soon.