Category: India

On Wednesday afternoon, a terrible accident happened between a Navy speedboat and a passenger ferry called Neel Kamal. The crash occurred about 8.25 kilometers from the Gateway of India, as the Navy boat was testing its engine. Sadly, thirteen people lost their lives, including a Navy officer and two naval workers. The ferry had over 100 passengers, many of whom were visiting the city for the first time.

The ferry had set off at 3:15 PM, and the crash took place around 3:55 PM. After the accident, rescue operations began quickly. A nearby pilot vessel from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority managed to save 56 passengers. Other boats, including the Navy and Coast Guard, joined the effort, leading to a total of 98 rescues. Most passengers were taken to hospitals, while ten bodies were sent to a hospital in Navi Mumbai.

The Navy released a statement saying that their speedboat lost control because of engine trouble. They promised to investigate if the engines were of poor quality. Both the Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, and the Indian Navy ordered separate investigations into the accident.

Shortly after the incident, police registered a case against the driver of the Navy boat. The FIR was based on complaints from one of the ferry passengers and a relative who recorded the crash. Currently, four rescued people are in critical condition at different hospitals.

CM Fadnavis said that a new engine was put into the Navy speedboat right before the test. He announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh (about $6,600) for the families of those who died and assured a thorough investigation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced a financial aid package of ₹2 lakh for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.

There is a disagreement about how many people were on the ferry. The owner of Neel Kamal claims that there were about 80 passengers and that the boat had enough life jackets. However, some survivors said the boat was very crowded, with over 100 people and that there were not enough life jackets for everyone.

An officer from the local police said that the boat was overcrowded and lacked enough safety equipment. The Maharashtra Maritime Board is investigating the exact number of passengers on the ferry.

A shocking ferry accident occurred in Mumbai when a speedboat crashed into a passenger ferry. Sadly, 13 people lost their lives, and more than 80 people were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported that the Neelkamal ferry was carrying 85 passengers, including the crew, to the famous Elephanta Caves. The ferry started its trip at around 3:15 PM.

The accident happened when an Indian Navy boat lost control during engine tests in Mumbai Harbour. This caused it to hit the passenger ferry, which then capsized.

The Elephanta Island is located about 11 km east of the Gateway of India in Mumbai.

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard are actively searching for missing persons and have deployed many boats and helicopters for the rescue operations. Local police, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, and fishermen from the area are also helping.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis promised to share more information about the accident in the state legislature soon.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives in the accident and said that injured people from both boats are getting urgent medical care. “My heartfelt condolences to the families affected. The search and rescue operation is ongoing,” he stated.

The Elephanta Caves are an important UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for their ancient rock-cut sculptures dating back to between the 5th and 7th centuries CE. They are a significant part of Indian heritage for both Hindus and Buddhists.

In 2024, America held an important election, and former President Donald Trump won, making him the 47th President. The election had a lot of excitement, with Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris as the main candidates. Throughout the year, people talked a lot about India and its influence on the election. There are around 2.6 million Indian-Americans eligible to vote, and many of them live in key states that Trump won, showing how much the Indian community matters in U.S. politics.

This year, many Indian-Americans changed their voting habits, moving from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. They made headlines and were highlighted in both political parties. Here’s a look at some key Indian-American figures who made a splash in the election:

Kamala Harris: Known worldwide, Harris made history as the first woman Vice President and the first person of Indian descent in such a high role. Her mother was an Indian-American scientist, and she often talked about her during her campaign. Harris lost her presidential bid on November 4, 2024, but increased India’s presence in U.S. politics.

Tulsi Gabbard: Although not of Indian descent, Gabbard identifies as a Hindu. She is a long-time Congresswoman who made headlines when she left the Democratic Party to support Trump. Recently, Trump selected her as the Director of National Intelligence.

Vivek Ramaswamy: A biotech entrepreneur with roots in Kerala, Ramaswamy ran against Trump in the Republican primaries. He’s known for challenging government rules and is now co-leading a new project aimed at reducing government bureaucracy.

Usha Vance: Usha is set to become the first Indian-origin Second Lady of the United States. She introduced her husband, JD Vance, at the Republican National Convention. Usha has a background as a lawyer and has supported her husband’s political journey.

Kash Patel: Born in New York to Indian immigrants, Patel has been named the Director of the FBI. He is known for wanting to reform the FBI and make it more effective, which has made him both popular and controversial.

Jay Bhattacharya: A health expert from Kolkata, Bhattacharya has been appointed as the Director of the National Institutes of Health. He is known for his views on COVID-19 restrictions and will manage a large budget for medical research.

Harmeet Kaur Dhillon: A lawyer, Dhillon has been nominated as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. She is known for her work on election integrity and supporting Trump’s legal efforts in the past.

As we wrap up the year, it’s clear that Indian-Americans have played significant roles in shaping U.S. politics, and their influence continues to grow.

New Delhi: The Indian government has taken action against coaching centers that trick people with false ads. They issued 45 notices and fined 19 coaching centers a total of ₹61.6 lakhs. This was shared by B.L. Verma, the Minister of State for consumer affairs, during a discussion in the Lok Sabha.

On November 13, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) announced new rules called “Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements in the Coaching Sector, 2024.” These rules aim to stop coaching centers from making false promises about their success rates, rankings, and admissions. For example, they cannot claim that every student will get into their desired college.

The guidelines also say that coaching centers need to get written permission before they use a student’s name, picture, or testimonials in their ads. Furthermore, they must tell students whether they paid for the courses themselves or if someone else sponsored their education.

Coaching centers now need to link up with the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) to help students complain about misleading ads and unfair practices. Verma noted that the NCH has helped resolve issues for students preparing for competitive exams like UPSC Civil Services, JEE, and NEET, resulting in refunds totaling ₹1.15 crore.

The government is acting quickly because of fierce competition for engineering and medical school spots and the exaggerated claims made in ads, which sometimes lead to serious stress and even tragic outcomes for students. Recently, a coaching center, Sriram’s IAS, was fined ₹3 lakhs for making false claims in their advertisements.

The rise of coaching centers has caused many concerns. This is especially true in Kota, Rajasthan, where many students come to study. Many feel overwhelmed as they prepare for their exams, often living far away from their families.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to visit Kuwait on December 21 and 22, 2024. This is a big deal because it’s the first time in 43 years that an Indian Prime Minister will visit Kuwait, as mentioned by the Ministry of External Affairs.

During his visit, PM Modi will talk with Kuwait’s leaders and connect with the Indian community living there. India and Kuwait have a strong friendship that goes way back, based on history, trade, and the many people-to-people connections. India is one of Kuwait’s top trading partners, and the Indian community is the largest group of foreigners in Kuwait.

This visit is a great chance to make the bond between India and Kuwait even stronger. Recently, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya visited India and met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The Ministry of External Affairs welcomed him warmly, saying this visit would boost the relationship between the two countries.

India and Kuwait also signed an agreement to create a Joint Commission for Cooperation, which will help both countries work together more effectively.

Umar Khalid, a former student leader from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), has been given a temporary release from jail. A court in Karkardooma allowed him to attend his cousin’s wedding. Khalid can spend seven days outside of prison for this special family occasion. More updates will follow soon!