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.