News updates: CCEA approves construction of 8 NH projects at investment of Rs 50k cr, says Vaishnaw

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11:02 PM

Harris has enough Democratic delegate votes to be party's nominee, says Democratic chair

Vice President Kamala Harris had secured enough votes from Democratic delegates to officially be the party's nominee for president, Democratic National Committee Chair Jamie Harrison said Friday. The online voting process doesn't end until Monday, but the campaign marked the moment when she crossed the threshold to have the majority of delegates' votes.

10:42 PM

Electronics industry needs to share production data for policy making: Meity

The government has access to import and export data but wants the electronics industry to share production statistics for policy formulation, a Meity official said on Friday. The government has been sharing electronics production data in the country based on estimates of industry bodies, especially the India Electronics and Cellular Association.

10:09 PM

Admin orders officials to attend main Independence Day function in Jammu, Srinagar

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday directed its employees stationed in Jammu city and Srinagar to attend the main Independence Day celebrations as part of their official duty. Independence Day is an important national event and all government employees are duty-bound to participate in commemorating such an important turning point in the nation's history, the general administration department said in an order.

9:55 PM

HP cloudbursts: Rescuers, drones deployed to find 45 missing

Rescuers deployed drones in a massive effort to trace about 45 people still missing in flash floods in three Himachal Pradesh districts as the death toll rose to eight, officials said on Friday. Two bodies were found in Mandi's Rajban village and one from Kullu's Nirmand after three cloudbursts in three districts -- Kullu, Mandi and Shimla -- on Wednesday night triggered the flash floods. Around 300 people stranded around Shrikhand Mahadev in Kullu were safe and about 25 tourists at Malana are being looked after well by the locals, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena said.

9:47 PM

PM lauds nod to road projects as transformative boost to infra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday described his government's approval of eight high-speed road corridor projects as a "transformative boost" to India's infrastructure landscape. The Union Cabinet on Friday approved eight important national High-Speed Road Corridor Projects of length 936 km entailing a total cost of Rs 50,655 crore to improve logistics efficiency and enhance connectivity across the country, according to a statement said.

8:52 PM

CCEA approves construction of 8 NH projects at investment of Rs 50k cr: Vaishnaw

CCEA approves construction of 8 National Highway projects of 935 km at an investment of Rs 50k cr, said Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

8:13 PM

LIC Housing Finance Q1 interest income Rs 6,739 crore

LIC Housing Finance posts Q1 interest income of Rs 6,739 crore, while the company reported net profit of Rs 1,300 crore.

 

7:44 PM

IAF's Chinook, MI17 helicopters join rescue ops in Uttarakhand

The IAF's Chinook and MI17 helicopters on Friday joined the rescue operations in Uttarakhand to evacuate pilgrims still stranded on the rain-ravaged trek route to Kedarnath. The trek route to Kedarnath suffered extensive damage as a result of a cloudburst in Junglechatti near Lincholi on Wednesday night.

7:29 PM

MeT predicts heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh till August 6

The meteorological office here on Friday issued a yellow' alert for heavy rain, thunderstorm and lightning in isolated places in ten out districts of Himachal Pradesh till August 6. It also cautioned of the possibility of landslides and flash floods in vulnerable areas and damage to plantations and standing crops and houses due to strong winds, and waterlogging in low-lying areas.

7:17 PM

DU asks candidates with multiple board results to upload all marksheets for UG admissions

Delhi University (DU) on Friday urged candidates who have appeared in exams from multiple boards to upload all their Class 12 grade mark sheets during counselling for undergraduate programmes. Speaking to ANI, DU Dean of Admissions Haneet Gandhi explained that while only one marksheet will be used to determine minimum eligibility, others may be considered for program-specific criteria.

6:32 PM

Kamala Harris presidential campaign raises record $310 mn in July

Kamala Harris has raised a record $310 million in July, her campaign said on Friday, as the presumptive Democratic Party nominee stepped up her election campaign against her Republican Party rival Donald Trump in the US presidential election. Comparatively, the rival Trump campaign of the Republican Party raised USD 138.7 million in July and has USD 327 million cash on hand.

6:28 PM

Delhi-Mumbai sector being served by 31 pairs of Mail, Express services: Vaishnaw in RS

The Delhi-Mumbai sector is presently being served by 31 pairs of Mail/Express services, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a written statement in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. The minister was responding to BJP MP Babubhai Jesangbhai Desai, who wanted to know whether the government "proposes to run Vande Bharat Express train from Delhi to Mumbai via Bhusaval.

5:34 PM

Private member resolution seeking repeal of NEET, NTA introduced in RS

A private member resolution asking the government to bring a law to remove education from the concurrent list, and repeal NEET and NTA to allow states to conduct medical entrance tests was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on Friday. DMK member from Tamil Nadu M Mohamed Abdulla moved the resolution during the private member business in the afternoon session of the Rajya Sabha amid opposition from the government, contending it would be against the Supreme Court's verdict on the NEET issue. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions.

4:44 PM

Supreme Court rejects petitions seeking SIT probe into electoral bonds scheme

The top court today dismissed petitions demanding a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) under judicial supervision into an alleged scam in electoral financing using electoral bonds (EBs). The Supreme Court dismissed the scheme on February 15.

4:39 PM

New record of over 7.28 cr income-tax returns filed: Tax department

Income tax returns (ITRs) touched a new record of over 7.28 crore, 7.5 per cent higher compared to previous fiscal, by the July 31 deadline, the income tax department stated today

4:33 PM

NCW blames AAP govt for death of inmates at Delhi shelter home

NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma today blamed the AAP government for the death of 14 inmates of the Asha Kiran shelter home in northwest Delhi's Rohini, demanding responsibility from Delhi Minister Atishi in the matter. Asha Kiran is a Delhi government-run facility for "mentally challenged" and comes under its Social Welfare department. The department is currently without a head following the resignation of Raaj Kumar Anand.

4:31 PM

UPSC aspirants' deaths: Students' protest enters sixth day, many seen studying at site

UPSC aspirants protesting the Rajinder Nagar coaching centre deaths continued their agitation for the sixth day on Friday, with many seen studying at the protest site. "We will continue our protest but studies are also important for us. So those sitting at the protest site have brought their study material here," Goutam, a civil services aspirant, said.

4:28 PM

NCLAT orders halt on Byju's insolvency proceedings

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) today gave the nod to the settlement arrived between Byju Raveendran and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and ordered a halt on insolvency proceedings against the embattled education startup.

3:59 PM

Unable to fathom how 3 UPSC aspirants got drowned: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court asked why MCD officials didn't inform commissioner about the non-functioning storm water drains in Rajinder Nagar.

3:43 PM

Jailed former Pak PM Imran Khan's party vows to form ‘grand opposition alliance' against ruling PML-N govt

Jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has approved the formation of a "grand opposition alliance" by expanding the existing platform, Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan, to act as a powerful anti-government movement, a senior party leader has said.

3:29 PM

Delhi court to pass order on Tytler in anti-Sikh riots case on Aug 16

A Delhi court is likely to pass on August 16 its order on whether to frame charges against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in a case related to the alleged killing of three persons in front of Pul Bangash gurudwara here during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The order, which was scheduled for Friday, was adjourned since special CBI judge Rakesh Siyal was on leave.

3:23 PM

Puducherry CM announces resumption of free rice distribution to ration card-holders

Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy on Friday announced that the territorial government would resume distribution of rice free of cost to ration card-holders from the current financial year. Rangasamy, who holds the Finance portfolio, made the announcement in the Assembly while presenting the budget for 2024-2025.

2:57 PM

Will quit politics if veracity of reports about my 'disguised' Delhi visits is proven: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the ruling NCP, on Friday said he would quit politics if the veracity of the reports about him visiting New Delhi in disguise to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah before his party forged an alliance with the BJP, was proven. But if the reports are found to be wrong, those who made these allegations against him should quit politics, he challenged the leaders from the opposition parties.

2:55 PM

Atishi orders probe into deaths of 14 inmates of Asha Kiran shelter home in Delhi's Rohini

Delhi minister Atishi on Friday directed the Revenue Department to initiate a magisterial inquiry into the deaths of 14 inmates of the Asha Kiran shelter home in northwest Delhi's Rohini and submit a report within 48 hours. Asha Kiran is a Delhi government-run facility for "mentally challenged" and comes under its Social Welfare Department. 

2:03 PM

Uttarakhand rains: 14 dead due to heavy rains, Kedarnath Yatra suspended

As many as 14 people have lost their lives and 10 others have been injured due to severe overnight rains that caused flooding and a house collapse in Uttarakhand, according to officials on Thursday. Read here for more details.

1:44 PM

3,029 transgender persons included under AB-PMJAY since Aug 2022: Centre

A total of 3,029 verified transgender persons have been included under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) since August 2022, Union Health Minister J P Nadda told the Lok Sabha on Friday. Nadda said an MoU has been signed between the National Health Authority and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to extend the benefits of the national health insurance scheme to transgender persons.

1:31 PM

Air India suspends flights to Tel Aviv until Aug 8

Air India has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv effective immediately until August 8 amid escalation of Israel-Hamas war.

1:10 PM

Drain deaths in east Delhi: High Court to hear plea on Aug 5

The Delhi High Court on Friday said it would hear on August 5 a plea seeking action against the contractor and officials of DDA for their alleged negligence leading to the death of a woman and her three-year-old son after falling into a waterlogged drain here on July 31. 

1:09 PM

IAF's Chinook, MI17 helicopters join rescue operations in Uttarakhand

The IAF's Chinook and MI17 helicopters on Friday joined the rescue operations in Uttarakhand to evacuate over 500 pilgrims stranded on the rain-ravaged trek route to Kedarnath, with 10 of them being airlifted in the first round.

12:48 PM

MCD to set up four libraries in name of UPSC aspirants who died last month

Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi has proposed that four libraries be established here in the name of the civil services aspirants who died last month, according an official.

On July 27, three UPSC aspirants drowned in the library in the basement of a coaching centre in the Old Rajinder Nagar area, while, a week earlier, another student in Mukherjee Nagar died after he touched an iron gate that was in contact with an open wire.