News updates: One dead after flooding in UPSC coaching centre basement, rescue operations underway

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10:58 PM

One dead after flooding in UPSC coaching centre basement, rescue operations underway

One female student was found dead at a UPSC coaching centre basement in Rajendra Nagar, after a nearby drain burst, triggering the flooding after heavy rains on Saturday. Police, fire services and NDRF are rescuing the remaining students from the building. Delhi Minister Atishi posted on X, "There is news of an accident due to heavy rain in Delhi in the evening  There is news of water filling in the basement of a coaching institute in Rajendra Nagar  Delhi Fire Department and NDRF are on the spot. Delhi Mayor and local MLA are also there. I am taking updates on the incident every minute. A magistrate has been ordered to investigate how this incident happened. Whoever is responsible for this incident will not be spared.

10:32 PM

NITI meet focused on enhancing participative governance, Centre-state collaboration: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting on Saturday focused on enhancing participative governance and seamless collaboration between the Centre and states.

 

Shah said this after attending the meeting held at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

 

"Attended the 9th Governing Council Meeting of the NITI Aayog chaired by PM Shri @narendramodi Ji today. To achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat, the meeting focused on enhancing participative governance and seamless collaboration between the Centre and the states," Shah wrote on 'X'.

 

At the meeting, the prime minister called for setting zero poverty targets starting at village level.

 

Modi emphasised the need to tackle poverty on an individual basis rather than just at a programme level.

10:31 PM

Arunachal Pradesh upgraded from 'performer' to 'frontrunner' in NITI Aayog scorecard: CM Khandu

Arunachal Pradesh has been upgraded from a 'performer' to a 'frontrunner' state as per NITI Aayog's Sustainable Development Goals scorecard for 2023-24, Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced on Saturday.

 

He made the remarks after participating in the Governing Council Meeting of the NITI Aayog here.

 

"Proud to represent Arunachal Pradesh at the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog! Thrilled to share that our state has upgraded from a 'Performer' to a 'Front Runner' State as per NITI Aayog's SDG scorecard for 2023-24," Khandu said on 'X'.

 

He said that following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, he has shared his vision for a 'Viksit Arunachal' and 'Viksit Bharat', outlining his state's potential to contribute to the nation's growth in tourism, agriculture and allied sectors, mines and minerals, green energy and hydropower.

 

"Looking forward to working together to achieve these goals and taking Arunachal Pradesh to new heights," the chief minister said.

 

At the meeting, the Prime Minister called for setting zero poverty targets starting at the village level. Modi emphasised the need to tackle poverty on an individual basis rather than just at a programme level.

9:18 PM

NITI Aayog meet: Shinde seeks central aid for infrastructure projects in Maharashtra, river linking

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday sought central assistance for infrastructure projects in the state to ensure timely completion and interlinking of rivers in the drought-prone Marathwada region.

 

Speaking at a meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council in Delhi, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he cited projects like the Nashik-Pune and Chiplun-Karad rail lines, Thane Metro, Mumbai funnel zone and cluster redevelopment to seek central funds.

 

Shinde also highlighted various welfare schemes initiated by his government for the common man.

 

The CM said several dilapidated buildings in Mumbai and other parts of the state are being redeveloped in clusters. He called the cluster redevelopment work Asia's biggest brownfield project, saying it will enhance the standard of living of citizens.

 

Shinde said state government agencies redeveloping slums and decrepit buildings will construct more than two lakh houses.

 

He said the Konkan coastal road and Konkan greenfield expressway project will become game changers for the development of the region.

9:18 PM

Harris is holding her first fundraiser as the likely Democratic nominee as donors open their wallets

9:18 PM

Centre allotted Rs 13,000 cr in budget for tribal development in Northeast: Sonowal

Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said the Centre has allotted Rs 13,000 crore in the budget for the empowerment of tribal communities of the Northeast.

 

The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways claimed this was a 200 per cent increase since 2014-15.

 

"The provision in this budget for empowerment of tribal communities has increased by nearly 200 per cent with an allocation of Rs 13,000 crore, which will be used for the welfare of the tribal communities," Sonowal said while addressing a press conference here.

 

He said the allocation was made as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has identified the northeastern region as 'Ashtalakshmi' and the "new engine of India's growth".

 

Sonowal said the region stands to benefit from this budget as it aims to empower the region's economic, industrial and agricultural sectors.

 

"We are working towards unlocking the tremendous potential of the Northeast as a hub of natural farming and horticulture," he said.

9:08 PM

Budget lays foundation for India's journey towards 3rd largest economy: Rijiju

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said the "historic" Budget 2024-25 will lay the foundation for making India the third largest economy in the next three to four years.

 

Addressing a press conference in Panaji, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said the capital expenditure allotted under the Union Budget will transform India especially the western belt, including Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka, which will become one of the finest regions in the world.

 

The Budget will transform not only railways, airways and shipping ports but also the infrastructure sector critical to propel the economic growth, he added.

 

"This Budget is hugely historic. It lays the foundation for Vikasit Bharat to make India a fully developed country by 2047. It lays the foundation to make the country the third largest economy in the world in the next 3-4 years," Rijiju said.

 

At 8.2 per cent, India's economy grew fastest when the world was slowing down, thanks to very intelligent and prudent management of the economy and fiscal scenario, he said.

 

"We are managing the fiscal deficit and enhancing the capital expenditure," Rijiju added.

8:45 PM

Rains lash Delhi, waterlogging leads to traffic snarls

Parts of Delhi on Saturday were lashed by rain, and the maximum temperature was recorded at 36.3 degrees Celsius, 1.4 notch above the season's average, according to the India Meteorological Department.

 

The commuters are advised to take alternative routes due to waterlogging and uprooting of trees reproted in some areas across Delhi.

 

The minimum temperature settled at 28.2 degrees Celsius, one notch above the season's average, the IMD said.

 

The weather department has predicted a generally cloudy sky with light rain on Sunday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle around 36 and 29 degrees Celsius.

 

The humidity oscillated between 97 per cent and 72 per cent. Parts of Delhi, including central Delhi and south Delhi, were lashed by rains. Till 5.30 pm, the PUSA observatory recorded 26.5 mm of rainfall.

 

Traffic is affected on Anuvrat Marg in both carriageways due to water logging near Qutub Minar Metro station. Commuters are advised to avoid the stretches and plan their journey accordingly.

8:02 PM

Maldives resume medical evacuations with India-gifted Dornier & helicopters; Prez Muizzu thanks Delhi

The Maldives has resumed using a Dornier aircraft and two helicopters gifted by India for medical evacuations after the two countries reached an understanding over the repatriation of Indian military personnel operating the three aviation platforms in the archipelagic nation, media reports said on Saturday.

 

President Mohamed Muizzu, known for his pro-China stance, has thanked India for enabling the resumption of medical evacuation services with civilian aviation personnel from India.

 

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) told local media that the provision of medical evacuation through the Dornier flight and helicopters has resumed, this time with the civilian crew sent from India, news portal Edition.mv reported.

 

The two medical emergencies were carried out on Friday night, according to a post on X by the MNDF.

 

The Dornier aircraft and the helicopters were earlier operated by Indian military personnel and were stopped soon after President Muizzu took oath last November.

8:01 PM

'Just want to do politics', says Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde on Mamata

On West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's allegation and Opposition's boycott from the Niti Aayog meeting, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said "They do not want development, they do not want the country to progress. They just want to do politics and defame the country's name in foreign countries. The opposition united to defeat PM Modi in the Lok Sabha but the people of the country supported him and became the Prime Minister again..."

8:00 PM

Niti Aayog Meeting: Uttarakhand CM requests to make specific policies for the Himalayan states

In the NITI Aayog, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami requested to make specific policies for the Himalayan states. CM requested to allow the states to approve and implement hydropower projects of less than 25 MW capacity to meet the energy shortage. CM Dhami also requested to implement the proposal of 24% capital subsidy for the construction of small hydropower projects in Himalayan states along with the North-Eastern states. CM also requested to include lift irrigation in the guidelines of 'PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana', according to CMO.

7:58 PM

West Bengal CM spoke her full time, mic was not switched off for her, says FM

Refuting allegations made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that Mamata spoke her full time and her mic was not switched off in between at the NITI Aayog's governing council meeting on Saturday.

 

The controversy erupted when Mamata walked out of the meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and claimed that she was unfairly stopped midway in her speech despite being the sole representative of the opposition.

 

Soon after her claims, the Centre issued a rebuttal saying that her statement was "misleading".

 

Sitharaman, who was present in the meeting, in a post on X said, "She (Mamata) spoke her full time. The screen in front of our tables kept showing the time. A few other CMs spoke beyond their allotted time. On their own request, extra time was allowed without any fuss. Mikes were not switched off, not for anybody, particularly, not for CM, WB. Mamata ji has chosen to spread falsehood. I was happy she attended.

7:44 PM

Goyal refutes Oppn charge, says many schemes in Union budget for Maharashtra

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said there are many schemes for which allocations have been made for Maharashtra in the 2024-25 Union budget, including those related to infrastructure.

 

He was responding to criticism from opposition parties that Maharashtra had got a raw deal in the budget tabled in Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 23. Addressing a press conference, Goyal, who is Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai North, said the budget is for a developed India and is inclusive, impactful and innovative. "I want to assure people of Mumbai and Maharashtra that there are many schemes under which allocations have been made for the state in the budget," the Union Commerce minister said. Asserting that schemes related to individual states are not elaborated in every budget, Goyal said, "The budget is in continuation. Many schemes are in the budget that benefit different states." 

7:35 PM

Not national issue: Hardeep Singh Puri on Mamata Banerjee's allegation at NITI Aayog meeting

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Saturday played down West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's allegation that her mike was turned off when she was speaking at the NITI Aayog meeting in Delhi, stating that it was "not a national issue."

 

Puri was speaking at a press conference here on the Union Budget, organised by the Gujarat BJP.

 

Banerjee walked out of the NITI Aayog meeting claiming that her mike was muted five minutes after she started speaking. She claimed that other chief ministers were allowed to speak much longer.

 

"I was not inside, and don't know how much time was given (for her to speak)," the Union minister told reporters when asked about the row.

 

"But it is also said in Parliament that the mike has been turned off. It so happens that the mike is turned on when speaking. I do not know much about it. I have no idea how long she spoke. But I am certain that this is not a national issue, whether you spoke for 15 minutes or 18 minutes," he said.

6:57 PM

In the NITI Aayog meeting, I spoke for exactly 7 minutes and 30 seconds: Assam CM

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma tweets "In the NITI Aayog meeting, I spoke for exactly 7 minutes and 30 seconds, exceeding the allotted time of 7 minutes."

6:54 PM

If states do not participate in governing council meeting, it is their loss: NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam

6:53 PM

PM Modi wants districts to become drivers of growth, says NITI Aayog CEO

After the NITI Aayog meeting, CEO BVR Subrahmanyam said, "PM calls for setting up target of zero poverty starting from villages."

6:44 PM

NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam on Mamata Banerjee

“The Chief Minister of West Bengal was present. She has made a request to be given a turn before lunchtime. Normally we would have gone alphabetically. The Raksha Mantri called her in, just before Gujarat, so she made her statement. Every CM is allotted seven minutes. She said that ‘I would have liked to speak for more time but I’ll speak no more’.”

6:27 PM

CEO Subramanyam dismisses Mamata Banerjee's claims of not allowing her to speak

NITI Aayog CEO Subramanyam said that West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee requested to speak early before lunch and "it was accepted". The CM claimed that she was unfairly stopped midway in her speech, despite being the sole representative of the opposition.

6:24 PM

CMs of 10 states and UTs did not attend the governing council meeting, says NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam

After the NITI Aayog meeting, CEO BVR Subrahmanyam says, "...We had 10 absentees and 26 participants. We had absentees from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Puducherry. The chief minister of West Bengal was present. The chief minister of West Bengal had made a request to be given a turn before lunchtime. I'm just putting facts on the ground, no interpretations. It was a very clear request from their side because normally we would have gone alphabetically. So it begins with Andhra Pradesh, then Arunachal Pradesh...We actually adjusted and the Defence Minister actually called her in just before Gujarat. So she made her statement. Every chief minister is allotted seven minutes and there's just a clock on top of the screen which tells you the time that is remaining. So it goes from seven to six to five to four to three. At the end of that, it shows zero. Zero.Nothing else. Nothing else has happened other than that...Then she said look, I would have liked to speak for more time, but I'll not speak anymore. That was it. There was nothing more. We all heard. She made her points and we respectfully heard and noted points, which will be reflected in a minute...Just to mention the fact the chief secretary continued to attend and he was in the room even after she left because she had to catch a flight to Calcutta..."

6:23 PM

Delhi court remands 40 accused in trans-national cyber crime case to judicial custody

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Saturday remanded 40 accused in trans-national cyber crime case to judicial custody till August 9, 2024.

 

The bail applications moved by various accused persons were dismissed by the court.

6:22 PM

Telecom connectivity in all villages in next 12 months: Scindia

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia said that 100 per cent coverage of villages in terms of telecom connectivity in the country is targeted in the next 12 months. Scindia, the Union minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), said special funds have been sanctioned by the Cabinet for the purpose and he has himself been monitoring the progress of work every week.

6:22 PM

Vice President Kamala Harris officially declares candidature for US presidential elections

Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday officially signed her forms, declaring her candidacy for the post of President of the US and voiced confidence that she would win the high-stakes election on November 5. Harris launched her presidential campaign last Sunday, hours after President Joe Biden, 81, withdrew from the race for a second term. She is, however, yet to be officially declared as the presidential candidate by the Democrats.

6:20 PM

BJP meeting underway at the party headquarters under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.

 

 

5:51 PM

Treatment of West Bengal CM at NITI Aayog meet unacceptable: Cong

The Congress on Saturday said the treatment meted out to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a NITI Aayog meeting here was "unacceptable".

 

The opposition party's scathing criticism of the government think tank came after Banerjee walked out of the 9th Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog, claiming she was unfairly stopped midway through her speech.

 

The government rejected Banerjee's charges, saying the time allotted to her for speaking at the meeting was over.

 

The Congress alleged the Niti Aayog has functioned as a "drumbeater" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was chairing the meeting, since it was set up 10 years ago.

 

The meeting was boycotted by Congress party chief ministers over alleged discrimination against non-NDA-ruled states in the Union Budget.

5:51 PM

Activist Medha Patkar moves sessions court challenging conviction in defamation case

Social activist Medha Patkar has moved sessions court to challenge the judgement in a defamation case registered against her based on a complaint lodged by VK Saksena, the lieutenant governor of Delhi.

 

Patkar was sentenced to five months in jail and a fine of Rs 10 lakh was also imposed.

 

She was granted one month's bail to challenge the trial court judgement. The Court of Vishal Singh will hear her appeal on Monday.

 

On July 1, Delhi's Saket Court sentenced Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar to five months of simple imprisonment.

 

The court also directed her to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to complainant VK Saksena.

 

On July 1, while pronouncing the order, the court said that considering her age, ailment and duration, it was not a severe punishment.

 

The court said that her prayer for release on the condition of probation of good conduct was rejected.

4:57 PM

Israeli airstrike hits Gaza school

An Israeli airstrike has hit a school in central Gaza, killing at least 30, Palestinian health officials say, reports AP

4:41 PM

Gujarat to set up GRIT think-tank on lines of NITI Aayog: CM Patel

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Saturday made a pitch for setting up a Gujarat State Institution for Transformation (GRIT) on the lines of the NITI Aayog, which serves as a public policy think-tank for the central government.
 

Speaking at the governing council meeting here of the NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by chief ministers of various states, Patel also said that Gujarat was committed to realising the prime minister's vision of making India a developed nation by 2047.

4:40 PM

NITI Aayog meet: Chhattisgarh CM Sai pitches for promoting natural dispensaries, AI

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday pitched for promoting skill-based education, natural dispensaries and artificial intelligence in his state, as he committed his state's full support in achieving the goal of making India a developed country by 2047.
 

Speaking here at the Governing Council meeting of the Niti Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sai listed various priorities and efforts being made for Chhattisgarh's development with an emphasis on education, human resource development, health and technological advancement.
 

He said Chhattisgarh will play a pivotal role in "Developed India by 2047".

4:30 PM

UBT Sena's Sanjay Raut backs INDIA bloc CM's decision to not attend NITI Aayog meet

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut backed the INDIA alliance chief ministers' decision to not attend the NITI Aayog meeting. He alleges that the government and NITI Ayog treat impartially to the non-NDA states.

 

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, "CMs of the India bloc will not go to NITI Aayog meeting. It is almost decided. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin had earlier said he would not go, Arvind Kejriwal is in jail, Telangana CM; and there are other CMs who do not want to go because NITI Aayog is not keeping pace with the country's development, You must have seen this in this year's budget and NITI Aayog's work."

 

He further accused NITI Aayog of not maintaining fairness in the development of the country.

 

"This has been witnessed in the budget as well," he added.