Rules tightened for foreigners extending their stay. india news

Rules tightened for foreigners extending their stay

New Delhi: Foreigners who enter India on a visa valid for 180 days and intend to stay beyond this period will now have to register with the competent authority before the expiry of their visa, instead of the earlier norm that allowed them to register within 14 days of visa expiry, according to reports.The Immigration and Foreigners (Amendment) Rules, notified by the MHA on Monday, also introduce a “only in emergency circumstances” clause for extension of stay for people with visas beyond 180 days, with a stay not exceeding 180 days.Birth notification is exempted from visa rules if one of the parents is an Indian citizenSuch registration petitions must be filed before the expiry of 180 days of stay.Under the amended rule, foreigners seeking extension of their 180-day stay visa will have to register with the Foreigner Registration Officer or Foreigner Regional Registration Officer (FRO/FRRO) before the expiry date. Such registration can be done through a dedicated mobile application or by filing Form-I before the registering officer through the online foreigner registration portal.Owners of premises which have been completely or partially closed for hosting illegal immigrants or criminal foreigners can now file an appeal with the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration in electronic mode, within 30 days of the direction of the civil authority. Earlier this appeal had to be filed with the Central Government.On children born to foreigners, the rule requiring the FRO/FRRO to be informed within 30 days for availing visa services has been removed where one of the parents is an Indian citizen and wishes to retain the Indian citizenship of the child under Section 3 of the Citizenship Act, 1955.Another amendment to Rule 18(6) orders medical institutions to send details of departure of any foreigner to the registering officer as soon as possible, but not more than 24 hours.

Source link

Higher costs for beverage companies fade over summer india news

Higher costs for beverage companies fade summer

MUMBAI: Cans or glass bottles, beer or cold beverages – companies are losing their cool over rising costs rather than keeping their spirits up amid El Nino-induced harsh weather this summer, leading to higher demand. The war has affected companies on two fronts – first, soft drink makers like Coca-Cola that use aluminum cans (for Diet Coke and 300 ml cans are sold more in India) are facing supply disruptions as the bulk of imports of such cans come from West Asia. Even packaged coffee companies, some of which sell smaller 230 ml cans, have the same problem. For example, D2C coffee brand Sleepy Owl is tapping Southeast Asian markets for aluminum cans, but costs have increased by about 15% so far. Moreover, in view of the high demand, procurement of supplies is also taking time. CEO Ajay Thandi said, “Going forward, there will be no option but to pass this increase on to consumers. While the cost of glass bottles is lower for us, logistics is an issue.” He said cans constitute 25-30% of the company’s portfolio.As far as beer makers are concerned, the cost of both aluminum cans and glass bottles has increased, despite nearly 80% of the industry’s supplies being locally sourced. This is because the war affected production at the ground level just as the industry built up inventory, creating a backlog that has yet to be reduced. Vinod Giri, director general of the Brewers Association of India, said manufacturing operations were hit after the LPG shortage – can suppliers have increased prices by 15%, while the cost of glass bottles has increased by 20%. “We have no problem with the supply of cans because we have a global network…we There is an inflation issue, there is a cost issue,” Vivek Gupta, MD and CEO of United Breweries, which makes Heineken and Kingfisher beers, said in a recent earnings call.Some old stocks of 300 ml Diet Coke cans priced at Rs 40 are still available in the market, but distributors expect the new stock to be priced at Rs 10 or more, said Dhairyasheel Patil, president, All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF). Queries sent to Coca-Cola and PepsiCo India did not elicit any response.

Source link

Alarm bells due to closure of airports in Jammu and Kashmir during tourist season. india news

Alarm bells in Jammu and Kashmir due to closure of airports during tourist season

SRINAGAR: The Airport Authority of India plans to suspend operations at the Srinagar airport for 16 days in October for runway maintenance and other repairs, raising concerns among tour operators who fear the shutdown will deal a blow to the industry, which is still reeling from the Pahalgam attack during last year’s Durga Puja holiday season, when large numbers of Bengali tourists visit Jammu and Kashmir.The Air Force, which operates the airfield, has proposed a phased maintenance program between July 1 and September 30, when services will be closed every Monday and Tuesday, culminating in a complete shutdown from October 1-16, an AAI official said. The official said an advisory was issued on the instructions of the Civil Aviation Ministry.The Kashmir Valley traditionally sees a huge influx of tourists from Bengal during October, when most schools and colleges remain closed during the Durga Puja festival.Travel operators and industry stakeholders fear that the shutdown will lead to mass cancellations and huge financial losses to the economy that is still recovering from the impact of Pahalgam. Stakeholders expressed concerns over the timing and appealed to the government and AAI to reconsider the programme.Hotelier Asif Burja said that upgrading the airport is important, but the facility should not be closed completely. “Efforts should be made to minimize the inconvenience,” Burja, who owns properties at tourist destinations in the Valley, told PTI.He said the frequency of flights should be increased to compensate for the losses. He also demanded higher frequency for the newly launched trains.Farooq Kuthu, president of the Travel Agents Association of Kashmir, said tourists are wary of the disruption and cancellations are already happening. “We are already receiving such queries,” he told PTI. We appeal to the government to review it seriously.” His union termed the move as ‘unfortunate’ and ‘inappropriate’.Nasir Shah, president of the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, said that if upgrading of the airport runway was necessary, the runway of Awantipora airport, located about an hour’s drive from Srinagar, should be put into service as an alternative.Hospitality and travel stakeholders said cutting air connectivity during the busy domestic tourism block could devastate the local economy.However, Srinagar airport officials said the program is still in the planning stage. “As soon as the schedule is formally approved, detailed updates will be shared through official channels,” according to a post on the airport’s X handle.The last such maintenance exercise was conducted in 2011. (With inputs from PTI)

Source link

After Air India, Indigo will also cut wide body flights. india news

After Air India, Indigo will also cut wide body flights

New Delhi: After Air India, IndiGo will also cut down its wider operations due to expensive jet fuel, longer routes following airspace restrictions and forex volatility. IndiGo will “temporarily cease its flight operations to and from Manchester from August 31, 2026” and return one of the six damp lease (hired along with operating crew) Boeing 787 Dreamliners to Europe’s Norse Atlantic Airways. The budget airline says it will “continue to operate all its remaining long-haul flights as planned.”IndiGo has leased six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from Norse Atlantic in early 2025 to “make strategic inroads to establish the IndiGo brand in the European market, ahead of the launch of services using its own Airbus A350 aircraft.” But it “has become much higher than originally envisioned” due to increased operating costs following the US-Iran war.Abhijit Dasgupta, IndiGo senior vice president (network planning and revenue management, IndiGo) said: “We inducted these wide-body aircraft on a short-term basis to fast-track our connectivity to high potential long-haul destinations like Manchester, and saw a very encouraging demand response. Therefore, it is unfortunate that due to the shortage of airspace with the dramatically increasing costs of flying long haul we have had to temporarily suspend our India – Manchester services. Was forced to take the decision to close. This amputation is temporary in nature.Air India is also making significant cuts to its wider operations for the same reasons. AI and IndiGo are also temporarily reducing domestic flights.

Source link

Siddaramaiah was appointed to the Congress Working Committee a few days after resigning from the post of Chief Minister of Karnataka. india news

Siddaramaiah appointed to Congress Working Committee, days after resigning as Karnataka Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah (file photo)

New Delhi: Congress on Tuesday announced the appointment of former Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah addressed the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the top decision-making body of the party. Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said in a statement, “Hon’ble Congress President has appointed Shri Siddaramaiah as a member of the CWC with immediate effect. The appointment comes just days after Siddaramaiah stepped down as chief minister, marking the end of his record-long tenure of more than eight years across two terms.His appointment as CWC member came on the eve of the swearing-in ceremony of his long-time rival and now former deputy DK Shivakumar, who is set to take oath as the new chief minister.Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were involved in an internal tussle over the post for a long time, often taking veiled digs at each other. Their rivalry stemmed from a reported understanding with the Congress leadership following the party’s victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections in May 2023. Under this alleged arrangement, Shivakumar was said to have been assured the chief ministership for the latter part of the government’s five-year term, while the party had initially chosen veteran leader Siddaramaiah to lead the government.The tussle escalated after Siddaramaiah continued to reach the first 2.5-year mark in November 2025.Last week, the Congress leadership finally resolved the matter, deciding to honor its “commitment” to Shivakumar, who also serves as the party’s Karnataka unit president.Siddaramaiah had reportedly refused to seek a Rajya Sabha seat and instead opted to remain active in state politics.

Source link

‘Tender investigator’: Rahul Gandhi meets 17-year-old student who exposed CBSE-OSM discrepancies india news

'Tender investigator': Rahul Gandhi meets 17-year-old student who exposed CBSE-OSM discrepancies
(Photo shared by Rahul Gandhi on X)

congress leader Rahul Gandhi Jharkhand student on Tuesday met Sarthak Siddhant, who had recently presented his findings before a parliamentary panel on alleged irregularities in CBSE’s online marking system. Sharing pictures of the meeting on social media, Gandhi praised the student and wrote, “Sarthak, stay firm on your principles. #TenderInvestigator”.The meeting took place hours after Siddhant, who appeared for the CBSE Class 12 exams this year, briefed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports about alleged anomalies in the tender process used to select vendors for the board’s on-screen marking (OSM) system.Siddhant presented a seven-page document before the committee headed by Congress MP Digvijay Singh, in which he highlighted irregularities in the vendor selection process and raised several questions for CBSE officials. His presentation was made in the presence of CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh, School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar and other senior officials of the Education Ministry.The parliamentary panel had summoned CBSE and Education Ministry officials amid growing concerns over the OSM system, which has been the center of complaints from students about technical glitches, assessment discrepancies and difficulties during the post-result verification process.During the meeting, members also raised questions on the board’s preparedness before starting online marking, including concerns over system testing and teacher training. Some MPs reportedly demanded accountability for the problems faced by students and suggested measures such as compensation through grace marks or faster evaluation.CBSE officials told the committee that the technical issues affecting the system have been fixed and students will have time till June 6 to apply for revaluation of their answer sheets. The Board also submitted a report outlining its position on the controversy.After the meeting, Digvijay Singh said that the focus of the committee is to address the concerns of the students. Asked whether he was satisfied with CBSE’s responses, he replied, “It is for the committee to decide.”

Source link

Amid the OSM controversy, senior IAS officer Lokhande Prashant Sitaram was appointed the new Chairman of CBSE. india news

Senior IAS officer Lokhande Prashant Sitaram appointed new CBSE chairman amid OSM controversy

New Delhi: The government on Tuesday appointed senior IAS officer Lokhande Prashant Sitaram as the new chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education.CBSE) amid a major controversy over the board’s new on-screen marking (OSM) system.he will succeed Rahul SinghWho was transferred a few hours ago along with the then CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta.According to an official notification, Singh will now be posted as Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.(This is a developing story)

Source link

Sonam Wangchuk will join CJP’s protest demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation on June 6. india news

Sonam Wangchuk to join CJP's protest on June 6 to demand Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

New Delhi: Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Tuesday announced that the worker Sonam Wangchuk Will participate in its protest on June 6. The protest on Saturday is part of the CJP’s campaign demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister. Dharmendra Pradhan.“Prominent educationist and Ramon Magsaysay Award winner @wangchuk66 will join the peaceful protest on June 6 demanding the resignation of the Education Minister,” the party wrote on Twitter.Wangchuk also confirmed his participation onWangchuk had earlier indicated his support for the CJP, calling himself an ‘honorary cockroach’.He said, “I have been asked from many quarters to speak on this. Some people are saying that I should also become its member.” Wangchuk said in May, “I feel that I am not eligible – I am neither unemployed nor lazy. Sadly, I am not a member. But I consider myself an honorary cockroach.”

CJP founder will return on June 6

A day earlier, Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijit Dubke had announced that he would return to Delhi on June 6 to launch a peaceful protest demanding Pradhan’s resignation over alleged exam-related failures. In a video shared on social media, Dipke urged students and supporters to join him at the airport before going to Sansad Marg police station to seek permission to protest at Jantar Mantar. He cited controversies involving NEET, CBSE, CUET and SSCGD to argue that millions of students have been affected by systemic shortcomings and accountability is needed. Emphasizing that the campaign would remain non-violent, Diepke said it would adhere to constitutional and democratic principles, despite his family’s concerns about possible legal action upon his return.

Source link

‘Had a fruitful conversation’: BJP president Nitin Nabin hosts Nepal ruling party chief Rabi Lamichhane | india news

'Had meaningful talks': BJP president Nitin Nabin hosts Nepal's ruling party chief Rabi Lamichhane
Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) of Nepal President Rabi Lamichhane met BJP National President Nitin Nabin during his visit to BJP headquarters as part of ‘Know BJP’ initiative in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI photo/Sumit)

New Delhi: Nepal’s ruling Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chief Rabi Lamichhane met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Nabin On Tuesday. Although pre-scheduled, Lamichhane’s visit comes amid the ongoing controversy over recent comments by Nepalese Prime Minister and RSP leader Balendra Shah on the border dispute between India and Nepal.Read this also Nepal PM Balendra Shah’s ‘encroaching’ remarks on India spark controversy: What is the border dispute about?Upon reaching the BJP headquarters in the capital, the RSP delegation, including its senior leaders, was given a grand welcome.Sharing a video and photos from the meeting, Nabeen posted onHe said, “It also highlighted how development and public welfare are at the center of our governance model under the leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji.”According to BJP external affairs department head Vijay Chauthaiwale, Nabeen stressed that such talks help “strengthen democratic dialogue and deepen party-to-party engagement” between the two parties.Chauthaiwale said Nabeen shared insights about the BJP’s journey, ideology, organizational structure and people-centric approach to political engagement.The RSP delegation is visiting India at the invitation of Nabin. Its members reached New Delhi on Monday.(With PTI inputs)

Source link

CBSE debacle: Center transfers chairman, secretary; Panel to scrutinize procurement of OSM services india news

CBSE debacle: Center transfers chairman, secretary; Panel to examine procurement of OSM services

New Delhi: Coming into action, the government on Tuesday directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)CBSE) Two top officials amid controversy over the board’s new on-screen marking (OSM) system.CBSE chairman Rahul Singh and secretary Himanshu Gupta have been transferred, while a committee has been formed to probe the purchase of the OSM facility.(This is a developing story)

Source link