Day: June 12, 2025

New Delhi : India is set to significantly boost its aerial security as the Ministry of Defence prepares to greenlight a major procurement of indigenous Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QR-SAM) systems, expected to cost around ₹30,000 crore. The move comes as part of India’s broader push for self-reliance in defense production and is likely to be approved by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, by the end of this month. Once cleared, the project will receive Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) status, marking a crucial step…

Geneva: India has officially become the world’s most populous country, surpassing China, according to the latest report released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The report estimates India’s population at 1.4639 billion (approximately 1.46 billion) in 2025, making it the global leader in terms of headcount. However, the report titled “State of World Population 2025” (SOWP) highlights a critical demographic shift: India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR)—the average number of children born to a woman—has declined from the replacement level of 2.1 to 1.9. This trend signifies that, in the…

New Delhi: In a significant political development ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled later this year, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced its decision to contest all 243 seats independently, marking a formal split from the INDIA alliance, which it had been part of until now. The announcement was made by Saurabh Bharadwaj, AAP’s Delhi convenor and former minister, during an interaction with the media in the national capital. Bharadwaj emphasized that the party had decided to fight the elections in Bihar alone, citing a lack of trust…

Ayodhya : A heartwarming ten-day Ramayana workshop, organized for underprivileged children at Apna School in the Jayasinghpur ward of Ayodhya, concluded recently with moving performances that showcased the children’s dedication and talent. The event was conducted in collaboration with the International Ramayana and Vedic Research Institute, under the Uttar Pradesh Department of Culture. The workshop began on June 2, with training and direction led by Santosh Kumar, President of Jai Maa Hanswahini Ramlila and Natya Mandal, Kaushambi. Under his guidance, young participants were trained in the traditional art of Ramlila…

Lucknow : In a major move to curb unauthorized bookings and enhance transparency, Indian Railways has introduced significant changes to the Tatkal ticket booking system, which will come into effect in two phases — from July 1 and July 15, 2025. According to Kuldeep Tiwari, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager of Northern Railway’s Lucknow Division, these amendments have been designed to ensure that the benefits of Tatkal bookings reach genuine passengers, rather than being misused by unscrupulous agents or software bots. Key Changes Implemented: From July 15, 2025, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication…

Ranchi : President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to a key amendment bill passed by the Jharkhand government, significantly increasing penalties for smoking or spitting tobacco in public places across the state. With the presidential nod, the fine for such violations has now been raised fivefold — from ₹200 to ₹1,000. The bill, titled the “Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Jharkhand Amendment) Bill, 2021”, was passed by the Jharkhand Assembly in March 2021 during the budget…