News updates: All govt programs on Fri cancelled, 7-day mourning in honour of Dr Manmohan Singh

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11:44 PM

Dr Manmohan Singh’s last rites to be conducted with full state honours: GoI sources

All Government programs scheduled tomorrow are to be cancelled. National mourning of 7 days to be declared. Cabinet is to meet tomorrow at 11 am. Dr Manmohan Singh’s last rites to be conducted with full state honours: GoI sources

10:48 PM

Rising from humble origins, Manmohan Singh rose to become a respected economist: PM Modi

"India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr Manmohan Singh," says PM Modi.

10:46 PM

Ex-PM Manmohan Singh, architect of India's economic reforms, dies at 92

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, the architect of India's economic reforms, died here on Thursday night. He was 92.

Singh's death was announced by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, where he was admitted in the Emergency ward around 8.30 PM in a critical condition. An Aiims bulletin said "he was treated for age related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home" on December 26. "Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to medical emergency at Aiims Delhi at 8.06 pm. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9.51 pm," said the bulletin.

8:47 PM

Former Prime Minister #ManmohanSingh admitted to emergency dept of Aiims Delhi

8:29 PM

Congress to launch nationwide public outreach campaign 'Sanvidhan Bachao Rashtriya Padayatra'

Congress to launch nationwide public outreach campaign 'Sanvidhan Bachao Rashtriya Padayatra' from villages, townships in relay form

8:25 PM

Mahatma Gandhi's legacy under threat from those in power in Delhi, says Sonia Gandhi

Asserting that Mahatma Gandhi has been and will continue to be the fundamental source of inspiration, Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chief Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said his legacy is under threat from those in power in Delhi and the ideologies and institutions that have nurtured them. In her message read out at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting here, Sonia Gandhi lashed out at the Modi government and the RSS, and called for fighting the forces which she claimed had created a toxic atmosphere that led to Mahatma Gandhi's assassination.

5:12 PM

Economy to grow at around 6.5% in FY25, says FinMin

India's economy is expected to grow at around 6.5 per cent in real terms in financial year 2025, according to the government's monthly economic report for November published on Thursday.

4:58 PM

Massive fire breaks out at Bangladesh Secretariat, official documents damaged

A massive fire broke out at a major building of the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka on Thursday, damaging official documents that prompted authorities to form a high-powered investigation committee amid suspicions that it could be an act of sabotage.

 

The fire broke out in Building 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat and it was brought under control after nearly six hours of firefighting efforts.

 

 

A massive fire broke out at a major building of the Bangladesh Secretariat in Dhaka on Thursday, damaging official documents that prompted authorities to form a high-powered investigation committee amid suspicions that it could be an act of sabotage.

 

The fire broke out in Building 7 of the Bangladesh Secretariat and it was brought under control after nearly six hours of firefighting efforts.

4:56 PM

DU set to introduce PhD in Hindu Studies from new academic session

Delhi University is planing to introduce a PhD programme in Hindu Studies form the 2025-26 academic session. The Governing Body of the Centre for Hindu Studies has recommended that the PhD programme be introduced in 2025-26. The programme was earlier intended to begin in the current academic session but was postponed.

4:43 PM

Shutdown in J-K against ropeway project enters second day, protestors launch hunger strike

A shutdown in Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage in Jammu and Kashmir, against a proposed ropeway project entered its second day on Thursday, with the protesters sitting on a hunger strike to press for the release of those detained by police the day before. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti has called for a 72-hour shutdown, which commenced on Wednesday.

4:19 PM

Heated sleeper coaches, tight security: 5 new trains from Delhi to Kashmir

Nearly 30 years after the project was first sanctioned, Indian Railways is set to introduce five new trains that will connect the Kashmir region with the rest of the country. The trains will be furnished with sleeper AC coaches, along with heating systems to ensure passenger comfort. Read here for more details.

4:10 PM

In major judgement, SC rules banks can charge over 30% interest on credit card dues

Setting aside a sixteen-year-old judgement, the Supreme Court has ruled that banks can now charge over 30 per cent on credit card dues from customers. The court said the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission ruling was  contrary to the legislative intent of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

3:55 PM

RBI sets up panel to look into ethical use of AI

The Reserve Bank on Thursday announced the setting up of an eight-member committee to develop a framework for responsible and ethical enablement of artificial intelligence (FREE-AI) in the financial sector. The panel will also review regulatory and supervisory approaches on AI with focus on the financial sector globally.

3:51 PM

BSP chief Mayawati accuses Congress of disrespecting Ambedkar, supporting capitalists

Bahujan Samaj Party Supremo Mayawati on Thursday hit out at the Congress party, accusing it of disrespecting Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and his followers while promoting the interests of capitalists. In a post on X, Mayawati criticised political parties for relying on the financial support of capitalists and big businesses, and adopting a "pro-rich" and "anti-poor and anti-farmer" stance.

3:42 PM

Uddhav begins exercise to review position of Sena (UBT) in Mumbai

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday started a three-day exercise to assess his party's position in Mumbai, where civic polls are likely to be held next year, one of his close aides said. After the split in the Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena in 2022, the recently concluded assembly elections were seen as a litmus test for Uddhav's party, which is a constituent of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

3:33 PM

Socialist leader and ex-MP minister Savita Bajpai passes away

Former Madhya Pradesh minister Savita Bajpai died at a hospital on Thursday after a prolonged illness.  She had served as a minister in the state three times. Bajpai came into prominence after winning the assembly polls from the state's Sehore seat in 1977 during the Janata Party rule.

 

3:04 PM

Congress putting up banners with 'distorted' map of India, alleges BJP

The BJP claimed on Thursday that the Congress, ahead of the CWC meeting in Karnataka's Belagavi, put up welcome banners with a distorted map of India, and asked the party whether it is following a "signal" from anti-India forces like US-based billionaire investor George Soros. The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) charge came after its Karnataka unit posted on X pictures of a banner and a welcome flex allegedly put up by the Congress in Karnataka.

 

2:41 PM

BJP posts Anna University sex assault accused's photo with Udhayanidhi Stalin, DMK denies charge

The BJP has claimed that Gnanasekaran, the accused arrested for the sexual assault of a 19-year-old Anna University student in Chennai,  is a DMK functionary, an accusation which DMK leaders have denied. The accused was arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police for entering the university campus, and sexually assaulting the survivor.

 

2:35 PM

Fire breaks out at Greater Noida hospital

A major fire broke out at a private hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Greater Noida on Thursday. Rescue operations were launched to control the situation.

2:18 PM

Delhi HC seeks Patanjali stand on Dabur's plea over disparaging ad

The Delhi High Court has sought Patanjali Ayurved's stand on a lawsuit by Dabur over advertisements allegedly disparaging its product Chyawanprash. On December 24, Justice Mini Pushkarna issued summons on the lawsuit to the defendants -- Patanjali Ayurved and Patanjali Foods Ltd -- for a reply in the matter.

2:03 PM

Congress Working Committee to discuss political developments in the country: K C Venugopal

AICC general secretary organisation K C Venugopal on Thursday said the extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting will discuss the current political developments in the country and the BJP's alleged attack on the Constitution and its architect B R Ambedkar.

1:53 PM

Consumer protection body fines Vajirao & Reddy, StudyIQ, Edge for misleading UPSC exam claims

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed penalties totaling Rs 15 lakh on three coaching institutes for making misleading advertisements about their success rates in civil services examinations, the government said on Thursday.

Vajirao & Reddy Institute and StudyIQ IAS were each fined Rs 700,000, while Edge IAS was penalised Rs 100,000 for deceptive claims regarding their results in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examinations of 2022 and 2023, an official statement said.

1:31 PM

News update: Will ask INDIA bloc allies to remove Congress if no action taken against Maken, says AAP

"Ajay Maken has crossed all limits by calling Arvind Kejriwal anti-national. Despite campaigning for the Congress in past elections, Kejriwal now faces an FIR, while the Congress had never filed a single FIR against any BJP leader," AAP leader Sanjay Singh said.

1:22 PM

Engineering student sexually assualted in Chennai: All we know

A second-year engineering student of Chennai's Anna University was allegedly raped on campus on the evening of 23 December, by the accused, Gnanasekaran, a 37-year-old with a criminal history. Read here for more details.

1:11 PM

PM Modi to distribute 5.8 million property cards under Panchayati Raj

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hand over 5.8 million property cards to their owners in over 50,000 villages across 12 states. The virtual event will take place on Friday, December 27, according to officials from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. This comes after four years when PM Modi first launched the Svamitva scheme to digitize property records in rural India.

12:56 PM

No compromise on public safety: Telangana CM Revanth Reddy's message to Telegu film industry actors

 Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy issued a stern message to Telegu film industry actors in a meeting amid a controversy over Pushpa 2 stampede case in which a woman was killed and her son was injured, emphasising that there would be no compromise on public safety.

12:51 PM

AIADMK attempts protest over 'sexual assault' on university student, leaders detained

Tamil Nadu's main opposition AIADMK on Thursday attempted to stage a protest here over the alleged sexual assault on a girl student of the Anna University here, condemning the DMK government, and senior party leaders were detained by police. BJP senior leader and former governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and others from the saffron party too were prevented by police from holding a demonstration.

12:44 PM

Maharashtra CM's remarks a result of frustration: Congress leader

Congress leader Ripun Bora on Thursday stated  that the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's statement on the party distorting speeches to tarnish the reputation of national leaders was said out of frustration. "What Maharashtra CM has said is due to frustration because of the growing popularity of Congress party. All ranks of the BJP are frustrated. The history recognizes the contribution of the Gandhi family. Can the BJP cite any BJP leader who sacrificed their life for the country? Congress party has always been giving due respect to Babasaheb Ambedkar," Congress leader Ripun Bora said.

12:33 PM

Death count rises to 19 as man succumbs to burns in Rajasthan tanker fire case

The death count in a tanker-fire incident in Rajasthan has gone up to 19 with another man succumbing to his severe burn injuries at the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) hospital here on Thursday. SMS hospital superintendent Dr Sushil Bhati informed that one more death was recorded on Thursday, taking the total number of fatalities in the horrific incident to 19.

12:13 PM

Telugu filmmakers meet Telangana CM Revanth Reddy amid 'Pushpa-2' row