Category: India

On December 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will start a new program called the ‘Bima Sakhi Yojana’ in Panipat. This program is all about helping women learn about money and insurance. It is created by the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) to empower women aged 18 to 70 who have finished Class X.

Under this program, the women will get special training and a monthly stipend for the first three years. After completing their training, they can work as LIC agents. If they do well, they might even qualify for higher roles, like Development Officer in LIC.

During the ceremony, the Prime Minister will give appointment certificates to the women who will become Bima Sakhis.

Additionally, PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for a big new campus of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University in Karnal. This campus will include one College of Horticulture and six research stations, all covering 495 acres and costing over Rs 700 crore. The University will focus on teaching students about different types of fruits and vegetables and will carry out important research to improve gardening techniques.

Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand): Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, announced on Saturday that the state is getting ready for the winter Char Dham Yatra. He believes this will greatly benefit the state.

“Starting this winter, we are introducing a new pilgrimage plan,” he told the news agency ANI. CM Dhami added that he will spend time in Rudraprayag to meet local people and thank them for their support. “I want to connect with everyone and show my gratitude,” he said.

The winter pilgrimage is special because it allows visitors to explore even when the main Char Dham sites—Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath—are closed due to heavy snowfall. CM Dhami said this new opportunity will enhance tourism, as travel to these holy places usually lasts five to six months, and there are many other beautiful spots for tourists to enjoy year-round.

He assured that the government is dedicated to making sure that everyone has a smooth journey. “We want all visitors to enjoy our beautiful weather here throughout the year,” he added.

CM Dhami also expressed his gratitude to Baba Kedarnath, saying that the recent victories of BJP candidates in the elections show the people’s trust in them. He believes this election was about supporting the Kedarnath area and fighting against those who spread false information.

In winter, while the regular Char Dham shrines close, pilgrims can still visit alternative locations like Ukhimath, Pandukeshwar, Kharsali, and Mukhwa, according to the tourism department.

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala): The Kerala High Court is not happy with how the state government is handling money for disasters. They were discussing a serious landslide in Wayanad and asked the government to explain how much money is in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The state told the court there is Rs 677 crores left in the fund.

The court wanted to know if there is a yearly report on how this money is spent. They questioned why the government is asking for money if they can’t provide exact numbers. The judges were frustrated and asked, “Who are you trying to fool? You don’t even know how much of the Rs 677 crores can be used for urgent needs!”

The court warned the state not to play blame games, which make the people of Kerala look bad, especially those in Wayanad. When asking the central government for help, the state must give clear and accurate numbers.

The judges also pointed out that the government isn’t sure if the Rs 677 crores is really available. The lawyer for the state said that even without disasters, they need around Rs 700 crores each year for the SDRF to cover other expenses. They also said they need more money for recovery efforts.

The court ordered the government to prepare a detailed report but the state asked for more time. The next court hearing is set for December 12.

On Saturday, the US government rejected claims from India’s ruling party, the BJP, which suggested that some US organizations were trying to create chaos in India. The BJP accused foreign groups of targeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and businessman Gautam Adani. A spokesperson from the US embassy said these claims were disappointing and emphasized that the US supports media freedom around the world.

The BJP pointed to recent attacks by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who used information from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) to criticize the Adani Group, claiming it was too close to the government.

The US embassy official explained that the US works with independent groups to help journalists improve their skills, but this does not affect what those groups write about. OCCRP, which is based in Amsterdam, focuses on stories about crime and corruption.

The BJP also mentioned a French report claiming that OCCRP is funded by the US State Department and influential figures like George Soros. However, the US insists that a free press is vital for democracy, helping people discuss important issues and hold leaders accountable.

Last month, Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar, and others faced charges in the US for allegedly paying over $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials. This money was supposedly for winning solar energy contracts that could earn more than $2 billion in profit. After these accusations, the Congress party called for a serious investigation and accused the government of protecting Adani. In response, the Adani Group labeled the charges as false.

A tragic incident happened in Govindpuri, South Delhi, where an 18-year-old scrap shop worker named Sudheer was allegedly killed by his neighbors during a dispute over a shared toilet. The fight began late Friday night between two families living in the same building.

The trouble started when Bhikam Singh’s youngest son used the common toilet without flushing it properly. Sudheer complained about this, which led to a heated argument. In the chaos, Bhikam Singh, his wife Meena, and their three sons attacked Sudheer and his two friends with a kitchen knife and other objects.

Sudheer suffered serious injuries and later died because of them. His brother, Prem, is still in the hospital, while their friend Sagar has been treated and sent home.

After the fight, Bhikam’s family told the police they were being attacked, but witnesses say it was Sudheer and his friends who were in danger. This incident raises serious concerns about safety in the area, especially after another recent shooting involving a police officer. Sudheer had only moved into the neighborhood 45 days earlier from Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, where he paid a rent of ₹3,000 and lived with his brother, who drives an e-rickshaw.

Several Indian-Americans are planning peaceful rallies in Washington D.C. and Chicago to protest against the violence faced by Hindus in Bangladesh. The first rally, called “Genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh,” will take place near the White House on Monday, December 9. The second rally, titled “Stop the Genocide: Save Hindu Lives in Bangladesh,” will be held in Chicago on Sunday, December 8.

Organizers say that what is happening in Bangladesh is not just a local issue; it is a serious humanitarian crisis that the whole world needs to pay attention to. They believe that genocide, which is the deliberate killing of a group of people, is a crime against humanity. They are urging the international community to step in, protect the people, and stop further harm.

Recently, there has been a shocking increase in violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. Utsav Chakrabarti, who leads HinduAction, is asking the current U.S. administration to do everything possible to help protect Hindus from radical groups in Bangladesh. Reports say that since the government change in Bangladesh on August 5, the Hindu community has suffered more than 200 attacks across about 50 districts.

Over 120 Income Tax officials are searching many places in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These searches started on December 4 because they think some local business owners might have done something wrong when filing their tax returns. The tax team from Kolkata is checking different offices in areas like Church Road, Phoenix Bay, Marine Hills, Aberdeen Bazaar, and Dilanipur in Port Blair.

They are also searching places on Babu Lane and Junglighat, as well as on MG Road and Gurdwara Lane. The officials say this is a well-planned operation, and they promise to share what they find soon. They are mainly looking into possible mistakes with tax returns and issues related to GST.

When the tax team arrived at Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair on December 4, they made sure to inform airport staff to stop any business owners whose offices were being searched from leaving the island.

The government has reported that, over the past three years, they’ve received 73 complaints about inappropriate and rude advertisements on private TV channels. L Murugan, the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, shared this information in the Rajya Sabha. He explained that there’s a three-step system in place to deal with these complaints.

This system includes:
1. Self-regulation by TV broadcasters – They manage their own content.
2. Self-regulation by groups created by broadcasters – These groups help ensure standards are met.
3. Oversight from the central government – The government checks if everything is okay.

When advertisements break the rules, the government takes actions like issuing warnings, asking for apologies, and even taking ads off-air.

In another response, Murugan mentioned that streaming platforms (OTT) must follow specific rules in the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. These rules are meant to keep content safe and appropriate. They require OTT platforms to sort their content into five age-based categories and to make sure they don’t show anything illegal. The guidelines also remind them to consider the time and culture of the content they’re sharing. Additionally, the rules encourage platforms to keep kids safe by restricting content that isn’t suitable for them