Category: India

On Sunday, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar spoke in Delhi about India’s role in the world. He pointed out that India is becoming a country that others look to for help, even if sometimes it seems shy about doing so. He emphasized that India is often the first to offer assistance when countries around the globe are in need. However, he also said that India still has work to do to correct past mistakes and become a nation with a forward-thinking foreign policy.

Dr. Jaishankar mentioned that although India has faced challenges over the years, it is moving past that “defensive” attitude. He noted, “The time of hiding is over for us.” He shared thoughts on how India’s past, especially during colonial times, led to problems in our connections with other countries, which need to be improved. He believes that future global connectivity will be closely tied to India.

According to the minister, there are currently about 17-18 million Indians working abroad. He believes this number will only grow in the coming years, showing the strength and presence of Indians around the world.

Three and a half months after the launch of the National Medical Register (NMR) portal, only about 6,500 doctors have registered, and just 284 have been approved, according to reports. At this slow rate, it could take over 40 years to register all the estimated 12 lakh doctors in India.

The Union Health Minister J P Nadda started the NMR Portal to help register all MBBS doctors who can practice in India. The NMR is special because it uses the doctors’ Aadhaar IDs to confirm their identity. The health ministry said this portal, made together with the National Health Authority (NHA) and the National Medical Commission (NMC), will create a clear and reliable database of doctors.

However, many doctors are having trouble with the registration process. Dr. KV Babu, an eye doctor and RTI activist, expressed his frustration, saying he registered the day after the portal opened. His registration was confirmed by the Kerala State medical council, but for the past 110 days, he’s received confusing questions about his application that delay approval. For example, he was asked about differences in names and told to prove his name matches the one on his Aadhaar card.

A retired doctor from a government college voiced concern about the poor performance of this system, saying, “If they can’t create a database for just 12 lakh doctors, imagine how they will manage for the other 50 lakh healthcare workers who have less regulated training.”

India has started its very first special cargo service to move goods on its rivers. This service will use boats to carry cargo between Kolkata, Patna, and Varanasi on National Waterway 1 (NW 1) and from Kolkata to Pandu in Guwahati on National Waterway 2 (NW 2).

At a ceremony to celebrate this launch, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said this plan aims to make transporting goods easier and reduce traffic on roads and trains. The new Jalvahak scheme will give incentives to businesses for transporting large amounts of goods over long distances through these waterways.

The first boat, named MV Trishul, is carrying 1,500 tonnes of cement from Kolkata to Pandu. Another boat, MV Aai, is transporting 1,000 tonnes of gypsum to Patna, and the third boat, MV Homi Bhaba, has 200 tonnes of coal heading to Varanasi.

This new cargo service not only promises to deliver goods more quickly and on time but also encourages businesses to trust in the ability of India’s waterways to handle transport efficiently. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and Inland & Coastal Shipping Limited (ICSL) are working together on this great initiative!

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the government for answers regarding the cutting down of many trees in Delhi. This issue came up during a hearing about a private builder who allegedly removed thousands of trees in Chajju Ram Bagh, Jindpur, to build a warehouse and a commercial storage space.

On December 9, the NGT Chairperson, Justice Prakash Shrivastava, noted that the north Delhi district magistrate had not submitted his response. The tribunal had earlier asked for important land records and details about the area from the past 20 years to understand the situation better.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) submitted a report stating that forest officials had fined the builder Rs 9 lakh for illegally cutting down 15 trees. However, the tribunal questioned how this fine was decided and what rules were used.

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) also responded, including a document from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change dated July 14, 2020. This document approved the construction project that included cutting down trees. The tribunal emphasized that the number of trees in the area needed to be counted according to the project’s conditions.

As a result, the tribunal decided to involve the Ministry of Environment as an additional party in the case. The NGT is expecting them to explain the tree counting process and any actions taken for the illegal cutting of trees. The next hearing is scheduled for April 1.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary. On the social media platform X, he praised Patel, calling him an inspiration for India’s unity and strength. Modi wrote, “Many salutes to the Iron Man of India. His personality and work will inspire us as we strive for a united and developed India.”

Home Minister Amit Shah also shared a tribute on X, celebrating Patel as a symbol of unity. He said, “I remember Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his death anniversary. He laid the groundwork for modern India by bringing together over 550 princely states into one nation. His commitment to national unity will always guide those who prioritize the country’s interests.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh joined in by saying, “Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s contributions will never be forgotten. My heartfelt respects to him on this special day. India will always remember his vision and work.”

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the Iron Man of India, was born on October 31, 1875, in Nadiad, Gujarat. He played a vital role in India’s struggle for freedom and helped unify more than 500 princely states after independence. He was also the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India. To honor him, the Indian government declared October 31 as National Unity Day in 2014. This day is celebrated across the country with events like ‘Run for Unity’.

Patel passed away on December 15, 1950, from a heart attack at Birla House in Mumbai. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, posthumously in 1991.

In Bengaluru, a 34-year-old tech worker named Atul Subhash took his own life on December 9. He left behind a long note that said he was mistreated by his wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family. Recently, police arrested Nikita in Gurugram, her mother Nisha Singhania in Allahabad, and her brother Anurag Singhania. They are now in jail while the police investigate.

In his note, Subhash claimed that his wife had filed nine serious cases against him. These included claims of murder, domestic abuse, and financial mistreatment. He mentioned that a judge had asked for a big amount of money, Rs 5 lakh, to “solve” one case. In his note, he insisted that he wanted justice.

Subhash’s father, Pawan Kumar, said his son was very upset about the difficult legal battles he faced. He expressed that his son was suffering inside and felt that corruption was everywhere but wanted to continue fighting for what was right.

The tragic event has also made people talk about how divorce and money disputes can hurt individuals emotionally. Recently, the Supreme Court clarified how alimony should be calculated, considering the living standards and income of both partners. In another case, a banker had to pay Rs 5 crore to his ex-wife for their long fight over money.

Now, Subhash’s family wants their grandson, who is with Nikita, to be returned to them. Pawan Kumar has reached out to Prime Minister Modi and other leaders for help, saying they are worried about the child’s safety and well-being. They are anxious because they don’t know where he is.

The story of Atul Subhash is raising important questions about legal issues that many families face during divorce and custody battles. As the investigation continues, it highlights not just their pain, but the need for better laws to protect families in similar situations.

The Indian tourism industry is set to grow tremendously! According to Julia Simpson, the President of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), it will reach a value of USD 523 billion in the next ten years. Currently, it’s worth about USD 256 billion and gives jobs to 45 million people.

Tourism is important for India, making up around 7% of the country’s economy. In 2019, it was worth USD 211 billion. Despite growing, tourism in India contributes to around 5% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, which is about 250 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide each year. This makes India’s tourism sector the third largest contributor to emissions, after the US and China. However, there’s good news! While tourism is growing, the emissions are not increasing at the same pace. This shows that India is becoming more efficient in travel and tourism.

Julia also expressed the need for sustainable aviation fuel since flying is a big part of tourism. She encourages the Indian government to support the production of this fuel, allowing for more eco-friendly travel.

The travel and tourism sector provides many job opportunities, from engineers and technology experts to those entering the workforce for the first time. About half of all global tourism happens in coastal areas, which are at risk from climate change. To protect these beautiful beaches, cities like Miami invest in reinforcing their coastlines and improving infrastructure for extreme weather.

Visitors want to enjoy India’s natural beauty, not just tall buildings. Therefore, WTTC wants to work with the Indian government to help restore nature along the coast. Julia believes a big step for India is to quickly reduce pollution from road transport. Prime Minister Modi is focused on cleaning up air pollution and moving towards renewable energy. She believes that under his leadership, India will become one of the most advanced developing economies in the world

Bengaluru Police have made important strides in the case of Atul Subhash, a tech worker who sadly took his own life. They arrested his wife, Nikita Singhania, in Gurgoan, Haryana, along with her mother, Nisha Singhania, and brother, Anurag Singhania, who were taken into custody in Prayagraj.

Shivakumar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for White Field Division, stated that all three have been brought to court and are now in judicial custody. The police are continuing to look into what happened before Subhash’s untimely death. This story is still developing.