Full utilization of defense budget under capital item in financial year 2025-26. india news
The original appropriation for capital expenditure in the financial year was Rs 1.8 lakh crore, which was increased by the Finance Ministry in view of the pace of expenditure achieved by the Defense Ministry during the first two quarters and the increasing need of the forces for modernization and other purposes after Operation Sindoor, a release from the ministry said.A significant portion of the expenditure was on the acquisition of aircraft and aero engines, followed by the acquisition of ground systems, electronic warfare equipment, weapons, shipbuilding, aviation stores and projectiles. It also included proposals for the acquisition of multi-role combat aircraft, medium altitude long-range remotely piloted aircraft for the Indian Air Force, mine counter measurement ships and quick reaction surface-to-air missile systems for the Navy and Nag missile system Mark-II for the Army.In the financial year 2025-26, 109 proposals worth Rs 6.81 lakh crore were approved by the Defense Ministry, while in the financial year 2024-25, 56 proposals worth Rs 1.76 lakh crore were approved. Also, capital purchase contracts for a total of 503 proposals worth Rs 2.28 lakh crore were signed by the ministry in FY 2025-26.With an increase of 22%, the Budget has allocated Rs 2.19 lakh crore under the capital head for FY 2026-27.
West Bengal Assembly elections: Judicial officers to decide on 60 lakh Bengal claims by April 7, 47.3L completed, says SC | india news
A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said the CJ of the Calcutta High Court has informed that out of 60,06,675 objections to deletion of names from the voter list, judicial authorities – 500 from Bengal and 200 each from Odisha and Jharkhand – have decided on 47,30,000 till Wednesday morning.“The Calcutta High Court CJ has informed us that a decision on the pending objections is likely to be taken by April 7. Keeping in mind the above date, post these matters (for further hearing) on April 6,” the bench said.
To appeal against the decisions of judicial officers who were tasked with election registration by the Supreme Court using its extraordinary powers under Article 142, after the state government expressed serious doubts about the fairness of the process followed by EC officials, the SC had directed the constitution of election tribunals – 19 have been notified by the EC – comprising former HC CJs and former HC judges.The bench said that the appellate tribunals, before deciding the appeals filed before them, will have the discretion to go through the entire record including the reasons given by the judicial officers while deciding the objections and inform the parties about these reasons.
Tribunals free to develop their own procedures: Supreme Court
Tribunals are free to develop their own procedures in accordance with the principles of natural justice, and are requested to decide appeals after affording the parties a reasonable opportunity of being heard.” It says that persons wishing to file an appeal before the tribunal will be informed of the reasons given by the judicial authorities for rejecting their claims.Senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee objected to the EC giving one-day training to former CJs and judges before they begin work in tribunals from Thursday. He asked, “Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies. They should function independently. Why training?” “They are former CJs and HC judges. Obviously, they will act independently. The training is to handle computers and soft copies of documents. Do not raise useless objections,” the CJI said.EC counsel and senior advocate DS Naidu said this is not training but only orientation.Justice Bagchi said, “He has wide experience in deciding cases. You should not be worried about the EC influencing the judges.” Advocate Kapil Sibal said, “We should have the freedom to approach the HC CJ when we have any complaint.” The bench said, “Obviously, you have the right to approach the Calcutta HC CJ. But do not go in a group or delegation. If you send a political delegation, we will ask the CJ not to entertain such delegations. Mr. Banerjee, or the Advocate General, can go and meet. Where is the need for political workers to meet the Chief Justice?Justice Bagchi said, “As per our knowledge and information the problem is that not only HC CJs but also district judges are represented by political unions or associations. We do not want judicial officers to be harassed in this manner.”
Punjab BJP blast: Punjab: Suspect seen throwing grenade-like object outside BJP office before the blast. india news
Man gets 10 years rigorous imprisonment for raping a deaf-mute woman. india news
Judge Pradeep K Sandhu on Tuesday also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on convict Abdul Qayyum.The prosecution said Qayyum raped the woman multiple times and threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the attack. However, the matter came to light when she became pregnant, following which her family filed a police complaint.The victim identified the culprit during the identification parade in the presence of the magistrate.
Delhi Chief Minister provided Covid ex-gratia amount of Rs 1 crore each to the families of six deceased government employees. india news
New Delhi: Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday handed over checks of Rs 1 crore each as financial assistance to the families of six Delhi government employees who lost their lives in the line of duty during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gupta said that this is not a mere government formality, but a heartfelt expression of gratitude, sympathy and respect. He said, “At a time when the world was surrounded by fear and uncertainty, these brave individuals placed duty above everything else and continued to serve the people without caring for their lives.”While interacting with the families, Gupta assured that the Delhi government will stand with them like an extended family and provide all possible assistance, a statement from the CMO said.The six families belonged to deceased employees of MCD, DTC, Delhi Jal Board, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, NDMC and Maulana Azad Medical College. Expressing regret over the delay in distribution of aid by the previous government in Delhi, the Chief Minister said that no compensation can compensate for the loss suffered by the families. The beneficiaries also include the families of late Delhi Traffic Police assistant sub-inspector Radhey Shyam and a deceased child in Dwarka, the statement said.
Pondicherry University forced to postpone exams due to LPG shortage, students directed to vacate hostels by May 1 Puducherry News
Puducherry: Pondicherry University has decided to postpone the examinations from 6th May to 21st April and has directed the students to vacate the hostel by 1st May due to shortage of LPG, due to which the students are quite disappointed.In a circular, university registrar R Gunasekaran announced the revised academic calendar for the academic year 2025-26, in which the number of working days was reduced from 90 to 79 “for administrative reasons”. Summer vacations for all undergraduate/postgraduate students will begin from May 1. Deans of schools, heads of departments and heads of centers have been asked to direct students to vacate the hostels by May 1.The Students’ Federation of India, Pondicherry University unit (SFI PU) condemned the university’s arbitrary decision of preponing the examinations and directing students to vacate the hostels. In a statement, the student forum demanded the immediate withdrawal of the university’s decision and reinstatement of the original programme. The statement said the university administration should prioritize the academic well-being of students over administrative convenience and ensure that no student is penalized for circumstances beyond their control.It said that instead of burdening students by shortening the academic calendar, the university should find alternative arrangements to resolve the LPG issue. SFI PU said, “Immediate steps should be taken to ensure uninterrupted functioning of the campus, including sourcing of alternative fuel provisions. Failure to do so will not only disrupt academics but will also seriously impact student attendance, especially those who depend on campus facilities for their daily sustenance.” “While the BJP led NDA government has been denying any LPG crisis and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi It is publicly claimed that there is no shortage of LPG, but the ground reality tells a different story. It is extremely worrying that a central university has taken such extreme steps. This exposes both the ‘administrative failure’ and the ‘hollowness’ of the central government’s claim.
Maharashtra: 8 women workers killed in collision between truck and tempo on Samruddhi Highway in Jalna India News
Eight women workers were killed when a truck and the tempo in which they were standing collided on the Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway in Maharashtra’s Jalna district. Police said the accident took place on Samruddhi Highway in Jalna when the workers, who were waiting in the side lane to get out after work, were hit from behind by a truck changing lanes.Jalna Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar Bansal said, “Seven people died in this tragic incident. Six or seven others suffered serious injuries… The police have taken the truck driver responsible for the accident into custody. The police have registered a case of culpable homicide against him and are taking further legal action including his arrest.” Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis He described the accident as “extremely tragic” and expressed his condolences to the victims and their families. “The death of 8 people in the accident on Samruddhi Highway in Jalna is extremely saddening. I express my condolences to the victims. Our thoughts are with the families. The injured are being treated, and the local administration is coordinating. The District Collector and Superintendent of Police are at the spot. Pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. An assistance of Rs 5 lakh will be given to the families of the deceased,” Fadnavis said through a post on X.
PM chairs CCS meeting on Middle East conflict, orders immediate steps to secure supplies and curb price risks. india news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a special meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, directing ministries to take immediate steps to safeguard essential supplies and protect civilians.“The Prime Minister has directed that all efforts should be made to protect civilians from the impact of this conflict,” the government statement said as the high-level panel assessed measures in energy, fertiliser, agriculture, logistics and MSMEs.The meeting reviewed actions to ensure availability of petroleum products, especially LPG and LNG, with diversification of supply sources. LPG prices for domestic consumers have been kept unchanged, while anti-diversion enforcement is being strengthened to prevent hoarding and black marketing.“Supply diversification, fuel duty reduction and power sector measures for LPG and LNG were reviewed to ensure sustainability of essential supplies,” the government said.The Prime Minister also assessed the power situation, highlighting steps taken by officials such as additional coal supply to thermal plants and easing of norms for gas-based power generation.“Adequate coal reserves exist which will adequately meet power needs in the coming months,” the release said.On fertilizers, the government said it is maintaining urea production and coordinating with foreign suppliers for DAP and NPKS to ensure adequate availability during the Kharif and Rabi seasons. States have been asked to take strict action against hoarding and diversion through monitoring and enforcement.The CCS also reviewed the price trends of essential commodities, with a control room being set up for real-time coordination with states and Union Territories under the Essential Commodities Act.“Steps are being taken to ensure stable prices of essential commodities and take strict action against hoarding and black marketing,” the release said.The Prime Minister stressed the importance of clear communication amid the emerging crisis.“The Prime Minister underlines the need for timely and smooth flow of authentic information to the public to prevent the spread of misinformation and rumours,” it said.The meeting also discussed global efforts to secure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz and broader initiatives to stabilize supply chains.Officials said coordination is being increased at the central, state and district levels, with the Prime Minister directing all departments to take “every possible measure to ameliorate the problems of citizens and areas affected by the current global situation”.
Census 2027 begins: President Murmu, PM Modi among leaders who completed self-census. india news
New Delhi: According to the President’s Office, President Draupadi Murmu participated in the self-enumeration initiative for Census 2027 at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.Murmu entered his household details on the official portal in the presence of Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan and other senior officials, the office said in a post on Twitter.Vice President CP Radhakrishnan also completed the self-enumeration form for Census 2027 online at the Vice President’s residence on Wednesday, according to an official statement.The Vice President urged residents to participate in the self-enumeration process and submit their household details online through the official web portal during the period notified by their respective states and union territories.Prime Minister Narendra Modi With the start of the first phase of Census 2027 on Wednesday, they also completed their self-enumeration.Union Home Minister Amit Shah It also said on Wednesday that they have filled the self-enumeration form for their residence in Delhi as part of the ‘Housing Enumeration’ process marking the beginning of the first phase of Census 2027.He said that this exercise will play an important role in accelerating India’s development journey and will help in ensuring that the benefits of government schemes reach every citizen effectively.The 15-day window for self-counting in New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment areas began on Wednesday. Self-counting for Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) areas will take place from May 1 to May 15.The door-to-door house listing campaign will run in two 30-day windows, from April 16 to May 15 in areas under NDMC and Delhi Cantonment, and from May 16 to June 15 in areas under MCD, as mentioned in the census programme.Census 2027 is being conducted in two phases, the first phase is known as House Listing and Housing Census and the second phase is called Population Census.
‘Be careful while filing nomination’: Mamata accuses Election Commission of bias, targets BJP. india news
Trinamool Congress chairman Mamata Banerjee alleged on Wednesday that recently appointed officials by the Election Commission were tasked with rejecting nomination papers of his party’s candidates, and urged them to be cautious while filing nominations.Speaking at three election rallies in the state, Banerjee also alleged that BJP Misusing central agencies and bringing in people from outside for political gains.“Everything has been changed; it is a new setup here. Newly appointed officials by the Election Commission have been tasked with rejecting your nominations; so be cautious while filing your nominations. Take lawyers with you while filing nominations,” Banerjee said at the rally in Nanoor in Birbhum district, according to PTI.The West Bengal Chief Minister also appealed to voters, especially women, not to support the BJP.He said, “They (BJP) are anti-women, hence her name is being removed from the SIR citing logical inconsistency.” Mamata Banerjee alleged that ahead of the elections, the BJP was asking for bank account details of poor people and warned them not to share such information, claiming that it could lead to misuse of their money.The TMC chief alleged that the BJP was trying to bring in people from outside to influence voting in Bengal and said, “The people of Delhi will not be able to capture Bengal as long as I am here.”Chief Minister also welcomed Supreme CourtSIR’s comments stated that she was “happy” with them.Referring to the amendment in the voter list, Banerjee said her government has approached the Supreme Court and has so far succeeded in restoring about 22 lakh names, while about 18 lakh names are yet to be restored.He said those whose names have been removed will have to appeal before the tribunal and the government will bear the related expenses.Earlier in the day, the top court said the appellate tribunal will hear appeals filed by persons whose names have been excluded from the voter lists, as well as appeals challenging alleged incorrect names by election officials.At the rally in Nanoor, where party leader Anubrata Mandal was absent, Banerjee alleged that Nobel laureate Amartya Sen’s land in Shantiniketan was being snatched away, prompting her to intervene. He also urged people to defeat BJP in the elections so that they do not have to stand in queues in future.Later, addressing another rally in Burwan, the Chief Minister alleged large-scale deletion of voters’ names in several constituencies. He claimed that around 30,000 names have been removed in Dinhata and around 40,000 names in his own constituency Bhabanipur.However, Banerjee insisted that these developments would not help the BJP win the elections and asked people to consider her as its candidate in all 294 assembly constituencies.