News updates: CAQM revokes stage III of Grap in Delhi-NCR; stages I & II still in effect

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6:57 PM

"Appointments under Congress made without transparency": Assam CM slams Rahul Gandhi

Assam Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma on Monday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his reservations against the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the selection committee that recommends the appointment of Election Commissioners, saying that it was "ironic," pointing out that such appointments under the Congress government were made without transparency.

 

"Rahul Gandhi's call for a transparent selection of Election Commissioners involving the Chief Justice of India is ironic, given that during Congress rule, appointments were made solely by the ruling government without any transparency," Sarma posted on X (formerly Twitter).

 

The Assam CM further labelled Rahul Gandhi's concern as "hypocritical", saying that Congress was preaching transparency after years of opaque governance. Sarma questioned the failure of Congress to implement these reforms during their tenure.

6:50 PM

CAQM revokes Stage III of Grap in Delhi-NCR: Stages I & II still in effect

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revokes Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) across Delhi-NCR with immediate effect. Measures under stages I and II will remain in force to manage pollution levels.

6:50 PM

Youth employment is a priority, we've been creating jobs for a decade, unlike UPA government, says FM

"People must question us if we forget to allocate money to states across India, to say that we only allocate money to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, like many said last year, is wrong. Please read the Budget document and see if we have not given the funds to other states," says Sitharaman.

2:22 PM

Maha Kumbh: Saints and seers warn against 'political misuse' of Sanatan Dharma

Saints and seers gathered at the Triveni Sangam for the 'Amrit Snan' on the occasion of Basant Panchami on Monday cautioned political leaders against misusing Sanatan Dharma and spreading rumours for political gain, and praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over arrangements at the Maha Kumbh.

 

2:14 PM

Disease-free India key to realising 'Viksit Bharat' goal, says activist who met PM recently

Achieving a 'Bimari Mukt Bharat' or disease-free India is important for realising the goal of 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, feels social activist and entrepreneur Dr Swapna Verma, who is spearheading a project to deliver tech-enabled diagnostic services at the doorsteps of rural and tribal communities.

 

2:01 PM

183 gun licences cancelled in Maharashtra's Beed

Authorities in Maharashtra's Beed, which has come into focus following the murder of a sarpanch, have cancelled 183 gun licences in the district over the last one month, an official said. Eight persons have surrendered their licences voluntarily, while the police have also recommended to the administration to cancel 127 more weapon licences in the district, he said.

1:21 PM

SC dismisses plea alleging misuse of women-centric laws

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea challenging certain provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act and alleging misuse of women-centric laws. "You can go and raise all these grounds in Parliament," a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K Vinod Chandran told the counsel appearing for the petitioner. The petitioner's counsel said they were seeking to challenge certain provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, including sections 2 and 3.

12:56 PM

Noisy protests in Lok Sabha over stampede in Maha Kumbh

When the House met for the first time after the President's address to the joint sitting and presentation of the 2025-26 budget, the opposition MPs led by Congress were on their feet and demanded a discussion on the recent tragedy in Maha Kumbh. Soon the opposition members stormed the well of the House resorting to noisy protests and sloganeering.

12:50 PM

Thane court acquits woman accused of killing 5-month-old son

A court here has acquitted a woman accused of murdering her five-month-old son by drowning him in a water drum in 2021, noting there was no material to infer that she committed the crime. Principal District and Sessions Judge, Thane, S B Agrawal, in the order on January 20, pronounced the 36-year-old woman as not guilty, giving her the benefit of doubt.

12:37 PM

Labourer deaths: Bengal govt announces compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for next of kin

The West Bengal government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for the next of kin of the three labourers who died after falling into a drain while manually cleaning a manhole at Kolkata Leather Complex. Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim on Sunday said that although the exact cause of the deaths could only be ascertained after the completion of inquiry, it was suspected that the fatalities were due to inhaling of toxic gases in the drain.

11:53 AM

India to play crucial role in global AI revolution: Chandrababu Naidu

India is set to play a crucial role in artificial intelligence (AI) and green energy sectors, emerging as a major driver of global economic growth, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said. Speaking at a press conference just before the 16th Finance Commission meeting here, Naidu said there was significant global interest in India's development trajectory at the World Economic Forum held in Davos.

11:41 AM

Bill in Lok Sabha to establish Institute of Rural Management Anand in Gujarat as an University

According to the list of business, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is to introduce a bill in Lok Sabha on Monday to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand as a university to be known as the "Tribhuvan" Sahkari University and to declare the same as an institution of national importance to impart technical and management education and training in the cooperative sector.

 

11:28 AM

Congress MP Surjewala moves notice of motion to discuss 'disrespect' towards Constitution, Ambedkar

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala moved a notice of motion to discuss the "growing instances of disrespect" towards the Constitution and Dr BR Ambedkar across the country. In a notice to the General Secretary of the Rajya Sabha, Surjewala urged the suspension of the other scheduled businesses listed for today to discuss the specific issue he mentioned.

11:10 AM

Mahakumbh: Flower petals showered on devotees at Triveni Sangam

Flower petals were showered at Akharas and devotees at Triveni Sangam as they take part in 'Amrit Snan' on the occasion of Basant Panchami. The last 'Amrit Snan' of Maha Kumbh 2025 is taking place today on the occasion of Basant Panchami.

10:34 AM

Thane man ends life due to harassment over loan recovery; 1 held

A 38-year-old man in Maharashtra's Thane district committed suicide after allegedly being harassed over repayment of a loan of Rs 1.8 lakh, following which police have arrested one person, an official said. The police have registered a case against three persons in connection with the incident which took place last month. The deceased, Amin Shaikh, had taken a loan of Rs 1.80 lakh from the accused.

10:26 AM

Godhra train carnage case: Absconding life convict nabbed in Pune

A 55-year-old life convict in Godhra train carnage case of 2002, who had jumped parole and absconded, has been arrested in Maharashtra's Pune district in a theft case, police said. The Pune rural police on January 22 arrested Salim Jarda, who was among the 31 persons sentenced to life imprisonment in the Godhra train carnage case, they said. Jarda stepped out of a prison in Gujarat on a seven-day parole on September 17, 2024 and later absconded.

10:12 AM

Special Bhasma Aarti performed at Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain on Basant Panchami

Devotees thronged Mahakaleshwar temple located in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district to offer prayers to Baba Mahakal (Lord Shiva) to mark the occasion of Basant Panchami today. A special Bhasma Aarti and dhoop-deep Aarti was performed and Baba Mahakal was decorated in the form of Goddess Saraswati during the Bhasma Aarti on the occasion.

10:02 AM

"Won't last until 2028": Union Minister Kumaraswamy predicts Congress' future in Karnataka

Union Minister of Heavy Industries and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has made a bold prediction, stating that the Congress-led government in Karnataka "won't last until 2028." Kumaraswamy pointed to increasing dissatisfaction among Congress MLAs as a key factor in the government's instability. Speaking to the press, he said, "This government (Congress Govt in Karnataka) won't last until 2028. There is a growing dissatisfaction among the Congress MLAs. We don't know when it will explode, but let's wait and watch."

9:53 AM

Congress MP Manickam moves adjournment motion over Rs 1,056 crore MGNREGS dues

Congress Member of Parliament Manickam Tagore on Monday submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha, seeking an urgent discussion on the non-release of outstanding wages. He alleged that the government has "failed to release" dues amounting to Rs 1,056 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in Tamil Nadu.

9:37 AM

JMM passes resolution rejecting CAA, UCC, NRC in Jharkhand

The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha passed a 50-point resolution which included the rejection of Citizenship Amendment Act, Uniform Civil Code and National Register of Citizens in the state. The resolution was passed during the party's 46th foundation day, which was celebrated at Gandhi Maidan in Dumka on Sunday night.

 

9:25 AM

Indian-American musician and entrepreneur Chandrika Tandon wins Grammy

Indian-American vocalist and entrepreneur Chandrika Tandon has won the Grammy award for the album 'Triveni' in the Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Album category. The 67th edition of the biggest musical awards night, organised by the Recording Academy, was held on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Tandon, also a global business leader and the older sister of former CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi, won the award along with her collaborators South African flautist Wouter Kellerman and Japanese cellist Eru Matsumoto.

9:11 AM

Mahakumbh: Sadhus across Akhadas take holy dip at Triveni Sangam

Sadhus from different Akhadas took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam to offer prayers to Maa Saraswati on the occasion of Basant Panchami. A massive influx of devotees was witnessed at Prayagraj Junction as the city prepared to host the sacred Amrit Snan on February 3, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami.

9:00 AM

UN condemns strikes on civilians in Sudan

In a statement issued on Sunday, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami condemned the strike on the Sabreen market and attacks on several residential neighbourhoods in Omdurman, Khartoum State in which she said that over 60 people have been killed and more than 150 are reported injured.