Page 10 - Uttar Pradesh

Nearly half of posts in UP Pollution Control Board vacant, shows RTI reply

Almost half the sanctioned posts in the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) are lying vacant, raising concerns over the functioning of the state's pollution watchdog. According to information furnished by the UPPCB in response to an RTI query, the board has a sanctioned strength of 732 posts as of August 1, 2025. Of these, 355 -- nearly 49 per cent -- are vacant. While the sanctioned staff strength spans across Group A, B, C and D, the board informed that requisitions have been sent to the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission for filling 115 vacant Group C posts, with the process still underway. The query with the UPPCB was filed by Noida-based environment and social activist Amit Gupta under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. On recruitment, the UPPCB said that between July 2024 and July 2025, it had issued appointment orders to 42 selected junior engineers, though only 28 have formally joined. During the same period, 41 employees, including sta

Uttar Pradesh govt bets big on AI, data centres to boost jobs and IT parks

The Yogi government will invest over ₹10,700 crore to develop India's first 'AI City' in Lucknow

UP not mafia-free, smaller mafias have merged into a mega-mafia: Akhilesh

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday accused the BJP-led state government of corruption, citing the recent arrest of a Kanpur lawyer for running an extortion racket. In an X post in Hindi, Yadav said there is a "triangle of BJP corruption" in Uttar Pradesh -- "the corrupt BJP government involved in fake encounters, corrupt officials amassing black money and shielded by the BJP, and a corrupt lawyer covering up their misdeeds." Targeting the Yogi Adityanath government's anti-mafia campaign, Yadav wrote, "The corrupt individuals who earned crores of rupees were never spotted by drones or binoculars, the matter came to light only when their own extortion racket was exposed. Let's see whether the bulldozers move on their own against encroachments by this BJP-backed land mafia after my post, or some bigger extortionist will hush up the matter by collecting money from everyone." He further said, "Where are those who claimed that Uttar Pradesh has become mafia-free? The truth

CM Adityanath inaugurates Torrent Group's green hydrogen plant in UP

Ahmedabad-based Torrent Group's green hydrogen plant in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh was on Sunday inaugurated by state chief minister Yogi Adityanath. The project, jointly developed by Torrent Group entities Torrent Power and Torrent Gas, will have an annual production capacity of 72,000 tonnes per annum, the group said in a statement. "The Green Hydrogen produced at the plant will be blended with natural gas in Torrent Gas' City Gas Distribution infrastructure in Gorakhpur, maintaining its concentration up to 2 per cent," it said. The green hydrogen blended with natural gas will be further supplied to domestic households, CNG stations and industries in the region through the already laid network of natural gas pipelines. "Torrent's green hydrogen plant in Gorakhpur is the first Green Hydrogen plant in Uttar Pradesh and is also the largest Green Hydrogen and Natural Gas blending project in the City Gas Distribution sector in the country," the statement said. Torrent Gas has licence

BrahMos made in Lucknow proves the power of 'swadeshi' tech: CM Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said BrahMos missiles and drones, used in Operation Sindoor and made in Lucknow under the country's 'Made in India' initiative proves the power of 'swadeshi' technology on a global scale. The chief minister greeted citizens on the occasion of 79th Independence Day and unfurled the national flag at the UP Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow. While addressing a gathering outside the UP Legislative Assembly, Adityanath hailed the success of Operation Sindoor. "Recently, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, through Operation Sindoor, the country has seen the successful implementation of Bharat's 'saamarth' (strength) and 'shakti' (power)," Yogi Adityanath said. Operation Sindoor was launched 100 days ago by the Indian armed forces to destroy multiple terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam attack. "On this occasion, I salute all those brave jawans, who despite .

UP Assembly's first-ever 24-hour debate on 'Vision 2047' in the works

On the Banke Bihari Temple, Yadav said, 'Many priests in Vrindavan protested against this. We are not aware of the govt's intention behind this, but we will act according to the information we get'

UP CM orders heightened security, sanitisation in zoos over bird flu threat

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday ordered enhanced security across all zoos, bird sanctuaries, national parks, wetlands and cow shelters in the state amid the potential danger of bird flu in Uttar Pradesh. The CM ordered regular sanitisation of zoo premises, emphasising immediate implementation of measures as per central and state guidelines, according to an official statement. The sanitisation measures also include blow-torching, if required, along with mandatory health checks for all animals and birds. He said food should be given only after thorough diet inspections of the animals, and staff duties in enclosures must be assigned based on risk levels to ensure full safety compliance. Adityanath directed that zoo staff be trained on detecting and stopping the spread of bird flu, scientifically known as avian influenza, and be equipped with PPE kits and safety gear. He also called for monitoring of all poultry farms in UP as per standards, with tight control over the ...

UP court orders FIR against Union MoS, four others in land dispute case

A court in Uttar Pradesh's Gonda district has directed the police to register an FIR against Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, his representative Rajesh Singh, and three others in connection with an alleged land dispute case. According to officials, the order was issued on Monday by Special Judge of the MP-MLA Court (Civil Judge, Senior Division) Apeksha Singh, who instructed Mankapur police station to lodge an FIR against Kirti Vardhan Singh, Rajesh Singh, Pinku Singh, Sahdev Yadav and Kanti Singh. The complainant, Ajay Singh, a resident of Bhitoura in the Mankapur area, had moved the court under Section 173(4) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, seeking registration of a case against the accused. Ajay Singh has alleged that land registered in the name of his wife Manisha Singh was fraudulently transferred again by influencing and luring the original seller, Bittan Devi, to execute a backdated sale deed in favour of Mithlesh Rastogi and

Bus collides head-on with truck in UP's Jaunpur; 5 dead, 15 injured

Five people, including a minor girl, died and 15 others got injured when a roadways bus collided head-on with a truck in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur, police said on Wednesday. The incident occurred at around 10.30 pm on Tuesday near Guraeni petrol pump in Khetasarai police station area, they said. The roadways bus coming from Jaunpur and the truck from Shahganj rammed into each other, killing a two-year-old girl, two women and two men, Superintendent of Police Dr Kaustubh said. According to police, the accident was caused due to the negligence of the bus driver, who swerved to the right and hit the truck. Devi Prasad (32) and Ratan Lal (60), Gehna Devi (59) from Pawai in Azamgarh district died in the road crash, the police said, adding that efforts are on to identify the remaining two deceased. Upon receiving information, police and administrative officials rushed to the spot and sent the injured to private and district hospitals, they said. Three of the 15 injured are in critical ..

Uttar Pradesh govt allocates ₹6,000 crore for greenfield townships

While some projects are likely to be launched next month, the remaining township projects would start in October around Diwali

CM Adityanath attends all-party meeting ahead of UP monsoon session

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday attended all-party meeting chaired by Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana ahead of the Monsoon Session beginning from Monday. Besides Adityanath, Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna, Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey (Samajwadi Party), Minister Sanjay Nishad, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) leader Om Prakash Rajbhar, Congress MLA Aradhana Mishra, BSP MLA Umashankar Singh, and independent MLA Kunwar Raghuraj Pratap Singh Raja Bhaiya' were present in the meeting. Several issues, including running the House smoothly and agenda to be taken up, were discussed during the meeting, a senior official said. Earlier, Chief Minister Adityanath inaugurated the newly constructed dome at the entrance of the Vidhan Bhavan and the Assembly hall. He also inaugurated the renovated Assembly hall number 15 and a VVIP canteen.

UP govt's new policy aims to boost leather manufacturing, exports

Under the India-UK FTA, the current tariffs of up to 17 per cent on Indian leather and footwear products, will be reduced to 0 per cent gradually in 5 years

Head of Sambhal's Jama Masjid Management booked for violating orders

A case has been registered against the chairman of the Shahi Jama Masjid Management Committee and several others for allegedly taking out a celebratory procession in Sambhal following his release from jail, police said here on Wednesday. An FIR was lodged at the Sambhal Kotwali police station on Tuesday on a complaint from Sub-Inspector Ashish Tomar against Zafar Ali, the chairman of the Shahi Jama Masjid Management Committee, along with Sarfaraz, Tahir, Haider and 50 to 60 unidentified people for allegedly violating prohibitory orders, a police statement said. Ali was in jail in connection with the violence that occurred during the survey of the Jama Masjid in this Uttar Pradesh district last year. He was released from the Moradabad jail on August 1, the police statement said. Following Ali's release, a 40-km roadshow was taken out from Moradabad to Sambhal. Several events to welcome him, including flower showers on the convoy, were held along the route. Police took suo-motu ...

UPTAC Counselling 2025 Round 2 Allotment released; Check status and more

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) has announced the UPTAC counselling 2025 round 2 allotment result at uptac.admissions.nic.in. Candidates confirmed their seats by August 7, 2025

UP says Banke Bihari Temple ordinance for better administration

The Uttar Pradesh government informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that its objective for enacting an ordinance for Banke Bihari Temple trust was aimed at better administration of the religious place at Vrindavan in Mathura. On August 4, the top court said it would keep in abeyance its May 15 nod to the ambitious scheme to develop the Shri Banke Bihari Temple Corridor at Vrindavan in Mathura for the benefit of devotees as key stakeholders were not heard. Appearing before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj said the 2025 ordinance had nothing to do with the pending litigation of ownership of the temple administration. "Let me clarify at the outset that the ordinance has nothing to do with the pending writ petition. There was a PIL filed for better administration of the temple before the high court and directions were passed," Nataraj said. He said the ordinance was issued for better administration of the temple which witnesses

Mukhtar Ansari's son Umar Ansari arrested in Lucknow on forgery charges

Umar Ansari, son of late gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly submitting forged documents in court in a bid to recover his father's seized properties. According to a statement issued by the Superintendent of Police, Ghazipur, the properties were seized under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters Act. A petition was filed in the court seeking the release of the properties belonging to the jailed gangster who had died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Banda in March this year. It is alleged that Umar Ansari intended to secure illegal gains and submitted forged documents reportedly bearing the fake signatures of his mother, Afshan Ansari, in the court, the statement said. Afshan Ansari is currently absconding and carries a reward of Rs 50,000 on her head. "Upon learning of the fraudulent activity, a case was registered against Umar Ansari at the Mohammadabad police station, with charges filed under various sections of the

11 killed after vehicle plunges into UP's Gonda canal, CM expresses grief

Uttar Pardesh Chief Minister YogiAdityanath taken cognisance of the accident in Gonda and expressed condolences to the bereaved families

Brahmos will be manufactured in Lucknow: PM Modi hails indigenous weapons

Addressing a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, PM Modi commended India's air defence system, which countered Pakistani drones and missiles during the military operation

PM Modi launches development projects worth ₹2,200 crore in Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 52 development projects worth approximately Rs 2,183.45 crore. In a major move to support farmers, the Prime Minister also released the 20th instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, transferring Rs 20,500 crore to the bank accounts of over 9.70 crore eligible farmers across the country. Additionally, he distributed assistive devices such as wheelchairs, tricycles, and visual aids to people with disabilities and senior citizens during a special programme held at Banauli village in the Sevapuri block. "Hum Kaashi ke har parivar-jan ke pranaam karat hai (I extend my respectful greetings to every family of Varanasi)", said the prime minister in the local dialect, drawing massive cheers from the crowd as he opened his address. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, both his deputiesKeshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathakalong with sever

UP unveils AI push, to train 1 mn people monthly with Google, Microsoft

State to invest ₹10,700 crore in AI City project