Bengaluru: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Centre, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, right, and State President BY Vijayendra during a meeting on VB-G RAM G in Bengaluru, Karnataka. (File photo/PTI)

New Delhi: The government has put in the public domain draft rules to implement the Grow India – Employment and Livelihoods Mission (Rural) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAMG), laying down the roadmap for transition to the new rural employment program that will replace MNREGA from July 1 and outlines the institutional, financial, administrative and grievance redressal framework.The draft rules were published in the e-Gazette on Friday by the rural development ministry for wide public consultation for a period of 30 days before finalizing them.The Rural Development Ministry, in a review meeting on Saturday, advised the States/UTs to ensure timely completion of the ongoing works under MNREGA before the commencement of the revised framework. However, it was also emphasized that the operations ongoing till June 30 will be transferred under VB-G RAM G, a fact also emphasized in the transition rules.The rules also state that existing e-KYC-verified MNREGA job cards will remain temporarily valid until the new Rural Employment Guarantee Cards are issued, while new ones can also be opened if ongoing projects are inadequate to meet the labor demand.The ministry has issued 8 notifications of draft rules, covering transitional provisions, national level steering committee, Central Rural Employment Guarantee Council, parameters of standard allocation, expenditure incurred beyond standard allocation, administrative expenditure, grievance redressal and payment of wages and unemployment allowance.The central government will determine the standard allocation of funds for each state, for each financial year, based on a set of “objective parameters”.According to the Ministry, an indicative framework for classifying Gram Panchayats into A/B/C categories has also been shared with the States/UTs to facilitate planning and implementation under the revised framework.At a review meeting on Saturday, Secretary MoRD Rohit Kansal shared that the Labor Budget for the month of June has been approved for all States/UTs based on their estimated demand and a basic approval of Rs 26,971 crore has been released for wage, material, administrative and social audit unit components under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS to ensure seamless flow of funds and continuous implementation of works during the transition.The new law increases the annual employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days. Direct benefit transfers will continue for payment of salaries and unemployment allowance.The draft rules highlight that under the new framework, a Central Rural Employment Guarantee Council will be set up under the chairmanship of the Minister of Rural Development which will set up a central evaluation and monitoring system and advise the Central Government on the implementation of the law.A national level steering committee chaired by the Secretary Rural Development will provide high-level strategic monitoring for effective implementation and recommend decisions related to standard allocation to the states.According to the draft grievance redressal rules, states will set up a technically equipped “timely and multi-level grievance redressal mechanism” from the gram panchayat to the state level.

On Sunday, May 24, Punjab Kings’ social media game backfired after Rajasthan Royals sealed the fourth playoff spot and eliminated the Shreyas Iyer-led side from the playoff race. Rajasthan defeated Mumbai Indians in their final league stage game at the Wankhede Stadium, thereby sealing the final playoff spot in the Indian Premier League.

Punjab Kings, who have faced a lot of criticism in cricket circles for their inflammatory use of social media handles, were later trolled by Rajasthan. Reached playoffs on Sunday.

Rajasthan picked up Punjab’s tweet, ‘Sorry brother, not today!’ And responded with the famous Arjun Kapoor meme. Rajasthan used the viral video clip in which Arjun can be seen stranded outside the door while the rest of the guests enter the house. Rajasthan eliminated Punjab, who were eliminated on the last day of the league stage, with Rajasthan finishing one point ahead of them. IPL table.

Memes harassed the kings of Punjab

But Rajasthan said ‘Sorry brother, not today!’ Why did you decide to answer? Tweet from Punjab?

As it turns out, Punjab’s tweet came in response to Rajasthan Royals’ defeat against Delhi Capitals on May 1. Punjab decided to troll Rajasthan in a match they were not even involved in as Rajasthan had taken the joke at Punjab’s expense after defeating the Shreyas Iyer-led side earlier this season.

Rajasthan had quoted Salman Khan’s viral 2014 tweet on X (formerly Twitter), where the megastar had asked: “Zinta ki team jeet gayi kya?”

MI vs RR: highlight | Achievement:

Rajasthan used that tweet when they posted a video of Donovan Ferreira, who won them the game against PBKS on April 29. Rajasthan captioned the post: Wait for it…”sorry brother, not today!”

Punjab Kings social media controversy

Punjab Kings have been dragged into many controversies this season. His aggressive social media tactics have been repeatedly described as toxic by fans. Many believe that the backlash against Punjab’s conduct online is justified, given the tone they have adopted towards other teams.

Apart from trolling Rajasthan, Punjab also took a soft stance towards Kolkata Knight Riders after the rain-affected match at Eden Gardens. At the time, Punjab were winning consistently and looked set for a comfortable playoff qualification. After the match was cancelled, Punjab’s social media team posted a dancing video, suggesting that they were being ‘generous’ by ‘donating’ a point to the Ajinkya Rahane-led team.

Ironically, that one point came back to haunt Punjab on Sunday, as they finished with 15 points, one point behind Rajasthan Royals’ 16 points in the IPL standings.

And that was perhaps the biggest reminder of this IPL season – in a tough tournament like the IPL, it’s not just the performance on the field that counts, but the conduct off the field too.

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Britain’s anxious young adults are struggling with the demands of the modern workplace, UK government adviser warns

A UK government adviser warned that rising anxiety, depression and reliance on technology are making it harder for young people to keep up with the modern workforce. Alan Milburn is set to show government and businesses that flexible working arrangements and appropriate mental health support can bring long-term economic benefits, especially as the number of economically inactive people aged 16 to 24 continues to rise.Milburn’s interim report on youth inactivity examines the impact of social media, changing work expectations and mental well-being on the growing number of young people out of education and employment, The Guardian reports.Milburn, a former health secretary under former Prime Minister Tony Blair, was tasked last year by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to investigate why almost one million young Britons fall into the category of “NEETs”, those who are not in education, employment or training.In his report, Milburn argues that companies and organizations need to understand how digital culture has changed the younger generation. Smartphones and social media have changed the way young adults communicate, deal with stress and engage in work, she said.“The system is trapping people in work rather than enabling them to work,” Milburn told the Times. “We are in danger of ruining an entire generation.”Milburn also described what he called the “bedroom generation”, whose members spend most of their time online and away from traditional workplace environments.“It’s a bedroom generation. They kind of live in their bedrooms. They’re on all the time; they’re never off. [Social media] Some evidence of functional impairment is emerging, leading to changes in their sleep patterns and concentration levels. This is affecting their ability to work,” he said.He rejected criticism that youth workers lack resilience.He said, “They’re not snowflakes. People say this is a soft generation. I clearly believe that’s not the case. This is an anxious generation.”More than half of Britain’s 946,000 NEETs have never worked before, according to government figures. The data also revealed that almost one-quarter of young people suffer from a long-term illness or disability that prevents them from working. Of those, about 43 percent cited mental health problems as the reason for dropping out of the workforce, compared to 24 percent in 2011.Officials also noted that youth inactivity in the UK is higher than in many comparable countries. Research has shown a link between unemployment in early adulthood and lower wages later in life.Milburn’s report stated: “[Young people] Different, not bad, not lazy, not less intelligent. They have grown up in a digital world that has reshaped the way they communicate, build relationships, and manage stress. They have less experience in workplaces and present with higher levels of anxiety and depression.The report comes as migration to Britain has fallen sharply after reaching a record high in 2022. According to Milburn, businesses can recruit from the large pool of inactive youth if they are provided with proper support and training.Last week, former headteacher and government adviser Peter Hyman said in The Guardian that schools were increasingly pushing vulnerable young people into long-term alienation from employment. He also called for immediate reforms, including restricting access to social media for minors.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday to discuss the situation of demand and supply of electricity.

Lucknow: As summer temperatures rise, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the country’s second highest power consuming state after Maharashtra, highlighting both the scale of demand and the strain on power infrastructure. However, the increase in consumption has also been accompanied by widespread curtailments, particularly due to shutdowns at several thermal power plants, which have disrupted supplies in rural areas across the state.The situation was reviewed in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday.A presentation by Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) revealed that between May 20 and May 22, the state consistently recorded the second highest power demand in the country. On May 22, Uttar Pradesh met a peak demand of 30,476 megawatts (MW), lagging behind Maharashtra’s 31,103 MW but ahead of major states like Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. Officials said the highest demand typically occurs in June, suggesting the power system could face even greater pressure in the coming weeks.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday to discuss the situation of demand and supply of electricity.

Despite meeting high demand levels, the state has struggled to ensure consistent supply. The power generation capacity was adversely affected by curtailments ranging from 2,638 MW to 4,529 MW per day between May 15 and May 22, the report said. The most severe disruption occurred on 20 May, when the outage affected 4,529 MW of power, causing a power outage of about six hours and 48 minutes in rural areas. Even on May 22, supply to rural consumers was disrupted for about four hours.UPPCL attributed the crisis primarily to the closure of 11 major thermal power stations during May. Many major units remained inactive for extended periods.The Ghatampur thermal power station with a capacity of 660 MW was closed for 18 days, while the Lalitpur plant of the same capacity was closed for 11 days. JSW-owned KSK Mahanadi plant (1,000 MW) was unavailable for 10 days. Other affected units include Obra B (200 MW) for about 9.5 days, Anpara D (500 MW), Obra C (660 MW) for eight days, Anpara TPS (201 MW) and Jawaharpur TPS (660 MW) for shorter periods. These prolonged outages significantly reduced the availability of electricity at times of peak demand.Reacting to the situation, Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Consumers Council president and Central Advisory Committee member Avadhesh Kumar Verma welcomed the Chief Minister’s intervention but accused power corporation officials of negligence in thermal plant maintenance, coal management and system expansion. He demanded immediate restoration of all closed units along with a concrete long-term plan to strengthen the power infrastructure of the state.Verma alleged that the state’s transmission and generation capacity has not expanded in proportion to the growing demand and claimed that there is now a mismatch of more than 20 million kilowatts between demand and available system capacity. He also expressed concern over the shortage of manpower due to retrenchment of contractual employees in the power sector.The report further details how the combination of rising temperatures and plant outages has increased the strain on the electricity network.To manage the shortage, officials informed the Chief Minister that Uttar Pradesh has entered into power banking arrangements with 12 states and agencies. Under these agreements, the state has secured 4,663 million units (MU) of power assistance, of which Karnataka’s contribution is 805 MU, Jammu and Kashmir’s 762 MU and Tamil Nadu’s 725 MU.However, officials said such support has declined compared to last summer, with many states opting to sell power on power exchanges to take advantage of higher demand and prices. To bridge the immediate gap, the state is also pursuing short-term procurement and direct negotiations with other sectors to arrange additional 700 to 1,000 MW during peak hours.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged broadcaster TNT Sports to make next weekend’s UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain free-to-air for viewers across Britain.In a letter addressed to TNT Sports executives, Starmer said he was “saddened” that football fans in the UK will need a paid subscription to watch a Champions League final for the first time in more than three decades.“I firmly believe that the final of this competition should be free to watch, whether Arsenal make it or not,” Starmer wrote.

‘It’s bigger than Arsenal’

Starmer, a long-time Arsenal supporter, said the issue goes beyond club loyalty and is about keeping key sporting moments accessible to all.“It’s all about the teams’ supporters coming together in living rooms and pubs in every corner of the country to watch Europe’s most elite players compete,” he said.The Prime Minister said that “hard working people should not have to worry about spending money for a subscription to watch a match of such importance”.Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest next Saturday, which will be the London club’s first appearance in the final in 20 years.

TNT defends sports subscription model

TNT Sports responded by saying that fans can access all three UEFA club competition finals through a £4.99 monthly subscription to HBO Max, Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platform.The broadcaster described the offer as “exceptional value”, noting that it included not only the Champions League final but also the Europa League and Conference League finals.This season marked the first time that all three European club finals were held entirely behind a paywall in the UK.

End of a long free-to-air tradition

The Champions League Final has been available free-to-air in the UK every year since the competition’s modern format began in 1992.ITV has broadcast the final for free since 1993, while BT Sport later continued this practice by streaming the match free online after acquiring the rights in 2015.However, after BT Sport was rebranded as TNT Sports under Warner Bros. Discovery, viewers were required to register through Discovery+ and now HBO Max, which no longer offers the free viewing option.

No plans yet for ‘Crown Jewels’ status

The UK government currently has no plans to classify the Champions League final as a protected “crown jewels” sporting event, a move that would legally require free-to-air coverage.From the 2027–28 season, TNT Sports will lose its European football rights package. Paramount+ will broadcast the Champions League, while Sky Sports will handle coverage of the Europa League and Conference League.

New Delhi: Several members of the exclusive Delhi Gymkhana Club have launched a signature campaign to move court against the Centre’s order directing the institute to vacate its premises in Lutyens’ Delhi by June 5.The members plan to file a petition on Monday challenging the government’s decision to take back the sprawling 27.3-acre property located at 2, Safdarjung Road, next to the Prime Minister’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg.Brigadier Harinder Pal Bedi (retd), a long-time member of the club, said the members had gathered on Sunday to sign an authorization letter for legal proceedings. “Many club members have signed the petition, and more are expected to sign it by tonight. Clubs have been an important part of our lives for decades, and this order has come as a shock to many of us,” Bedi was quoted as saying by PTI.Delhi Gymkhana received the notice on May 22 from the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The order sought “re-entry and restoration” of the land occupied by the club, citing considerations of public purpose and national interest, including the need to strengthen defense and governance infrastructure in the highly sensitive area of ​​the national capital.The Center said the land parcel, spread over 27.3 acres, was required for “urgent institutional needs, governance infrastructure and public-interest projects”, integrated with the surrounding government land. Invoking clause 4 of the Permanent Lease Deed, the Government ordered that the entire property, including buildings, lawns, structures and fittings, would vest in the President of India through L&DO after taking possession on 5 June.Amid the growing controversy, the club has written to the Center requesting that there be “no disorder” in its functioning and operations. In a letter addressed to L&DO on May 23, the club urged officials not to take any disruptive action until there is clarity on issues such as transfer and possibility of alternative land allotment.The club said the move could impact around 14,000 members and users, in addition to more than 500 employees associated with the organisation. It also stated that discussions were already underway with the government regarding increasing the lease rent and a writ petition challenging the revised lease rent was pending before the Delhi High Court.According to the communication, the club is currently being managed by a general committee appointed by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs following the order of the National Company Law Tribunal in 2022 until an elected body takes over.The club also highlighted the improvement in its finances in recent years, saying that the projected financial results for 2023-24 showed a profit of Rs 925.10 lakh, compared to a loss of Rs 1,239.26 lakh in 2021-22.General PK Sehgal (retd), associated with the club since 1972, said the members have unanimously decided to challenge the order.“Many former Presidents of India, senior military officers, politicians and bureaucrats have been members of Delhi Gymkhana over the years. It is one of the most prestigious clubs in Delhi, and the sudden decision to withdraw it has raised concerns among members about its future and where the club will be shifted,” he said.Established as the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club on July 3, 1913, the institution originally served British administrators and military officers during the colonial period. After independence in 1947, the word “Imperial” was dropped from its name, while most of the existing structures date back to the 1930s.

‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ star Brandon Wayne is taking after his grandfather John WayneFollowing in the footsteps of his ‘Star Wars’ character. Speaking about The Mandalorian and his latest stint with Grogu, the actor explained how he used his grandfather’s work as inspiration and how he came to play the Mandalorian.

Brendan Wayne on working on ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’

Wayne plays the Mandalorian in the film pedro pascal Whenever his helmet comes off he plays the character. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the actor revealed that he had to make sure that he was completely present in the moment whenever he was in the armor on the set. He shared that “peace” is one of the greatest things he has learned as an actor.He added, “For me, that journey, I always struggled with that because my grandfather was extraordinary in being present and broadcasting anything [was happening around him]. John Ford liked to say to him, ‘The less I give you, Duke, the better the movie will be.’ It seems like a little bit, but if you can be there it’s even more important, it’s as powerful as anything.”Wayne also shared that he brought his grandfather’s calm and collected personality to the character, which helped him control his actions and adjust to the role. He said, “When he was directing me, the calmer I became, the more I became like my grandfather, the more I became like the samurai he studied. Every movement has a meaning; you don’t waste them. And with samurai, every movement is a killing movement.“He further revealed that he wanted the Mandalorian to remain calm and present even when the cameras were not rolling. He said that he would often reach the set early, work out, wear costumes and spend time hanging out on the set.“I wanted him to be comfortable like my grandfather, Clint EastwoodOr Yul Brynner In Westworld. I wanted it to be as spontaneous as possible, so that every movement mattered,” he said.According to Box Office Mojo, ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ has grossed approximately US$33 million domestically in the US.