Page 12 - Uttar Pradesh

UP CM directs officials to take action against fake, shell companies

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday directed officials to take action against shell companies to stop the attempts to misuse the facilities meant for genuine traders. While conducting a high-level review of the State Tax Department, the CM directed officials to ensure transparency in tax collection and adopt a policy of technological efficiency and strict enforcement. "Tax evasion is a national crime that negatively impacts development plans and welfare schemes," he said. Stressing that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a consumer-based tax system, he noted that areas with higher population density are naturally expected to generate more tax revenue. He instructed officials to develop special strategies for zones where tax collection is below average. Adityanath directed that information on suspicious firms registered under Central GST (CGST) be shared with the Centre for cancellation of their registration. For firms under State GST (SGST), he ordered in-de

Maha Kumbh sparked ₹500 cr tax surge in UP, spurred economic growth: Report

The 45-day Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj boosted Uttar Pradesh's economy with ₹500 crore in extra GST and VAT collections, record fuel sales, and a surge in tourism-related sectors across key cities

Second Ram Darbar Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya's Ram temple: Check date, time

Lord Ram, Sita, Hanuman, and Lakshman idols will be placed on a two-foot-high white marble throne in the Ram Darbar, all crafted in Jaipur, Rajasthan

One dead, one injured in UP as mesh collapses at construction site

A labourer was killed and another seriously injured when a heavy iron mesh collapsed during the construction of a bridge here at the Jamuria drain on Ayodhya Road, police said on Wednesday. The local administration has ordered an inquiry into the incident. The incident occurred around 5 pm on Tuesday as a group of seven to eight workers was erecting an iron framework at the construction site of a new bridge replacing old, dilapidated structures on the Lucknow-Ayodhya old highway near Patel Tiraha. The iron mesh lost balance and fell suddenly, trapping two workers underneath. The other workers raised an alarm, and with the help of nearby shopkeepers and passersby, the trapped labourers were pulled out and rushed to the district hospital, said SHO RK Rana. Doctors later declared one of them dead during treatment. He was identified as Ramesh Kumar (35), a resident of Sitapur. The injured worker, Badlu (26), is Kumar's brother-in-law and a resident of Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. The in

UP govt to provide 20% reservation for Agniveers in police department

The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday decided to provide 20 per cent reservation for Agniveers in direct recruitment to several positions in the state police force. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said the move aims to provide meaningful post-service opportunities to Agniveers, who have completed their four-year term under the Agnipath scheme. "This is a significant decision. The reservation will be applicable across categories general, SC, ST, and OBC. If an Agniveer belongs to the SC category, the reservation will apply within SC; if OBC, then within OBC, he explained. He added that special age relaxation of up to three years will also be provided to Agniveers applying for these posts. There are four categories--constable police, constable PAC, mounted police and fireman --in which recruitment will be made. The first batch of recruits under thi

Businesses in UP push for land reforms to meet $ 1 trillion economy goal

According to the Indian Industries Association (IIA), fresh projects worth ₹60K cr across sectors, such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and electronics, are awaiting land allocation in the state

SC upholds cancellation of 125-acre land allotment to Kamla Nehru trust

The court cited lack of due diligence and a failure to uphold public interest in the allocation process

Operation Sindoor proved power of indigenous weapons to world: PM Modi

Modi emphasised the power of indigenous weapons, like Brahmos, used during Operation Sindoor while addressing a rally in Kanpur

UP CM Yogi pays tribute to former PM Charan Singh on his death anniversary

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday paid tribute to former prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh on his death anniversary. He offered floral tributes by garlanding the statue of Chaudhary Charan Singh, revered as the "messiah of farmers", in UP Assembly premises. Reflecting on Charan Singh's contributions, Adityanath said that the nation continues to remember him as a pioneer of land reforms, the architect of the land ceiling law, and an advocate for rural development and farmers' welfare. He added, "It is the good fortune of UP that its people had the guidance and leadership of Chaudhary Sahab for an extended period. As the chief minister of the state, he took several groundbreaking initiatives for land reforms, governance purity, and transparency in rural development, whose impact is still felt across villages and among all sections of the society." He also highlighted Singh's leadership as the prime minister, deputy prime minister, and head of key ministries

PM virtually inaugurates projects in Sikkim, unveils Atal statue

Modi unveiled the statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udyan in Sangkhola, Gangtok District, honouring the legacy of the former Prime Minister

SC to hear plea against certain Jamia Nagar demolition notices next week

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear next week a plea against proposed demolitions of certain alleged illegal properties at Jamia Nagar in the national capital. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih initially asked the lawyer to approach the Delhi High Court against the notices for demolition issued by the civic authorities. Go to the high court, the CJI said. There was an order of this court that a 15-day prior notice was needed, the lawyer said. But here a notice pasted and it says we should evict. Notice pasted on May 26, the lawyer said, adding that there has been no hearing. If this can be heard then we may have some recourse, he said. The bench then agreed to list the plea for hearing next week. Recently, authorities have issued demolition notices to several houses in the Jamia Nagar area of Delhi's Okhla, citing encroachment on land belonging to the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department. The notices, dated May 22 and pasted o

Sharpshooter of Lawrence Bishnoi gang killed in police encounter in UP

A joint team of Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF) and Delhi Police gunned down a sharpshooter of the notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang in an encounter in the Hapur Kotwali area, officials said on Thursday. The deceased has been identified as Naveen Kumar, who was wanted in multiple cases, including for murder and under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), a senior police officer said. ADGP (STF) Amitabh Yash said in a statement that on Wednesday night, a joint team of STF's Noida unit and Delhi Police's Special Cell engaged in a gunfight with criminals in the Hapur Kotwali area, in which Kumar was seriously injured. Kumar was taken to a local hospital, where doctors declared him dead, the officer said. A resident of Loni in Ghaziabad district, Kumar was an active sharpshooter of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, who worked closely with gang member Hashim Baba, the ADGP said. As many as 20 cases, including for murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, robbery a

Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Bank posts net profit of Rs 100 crore in 2025

The Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Bank on Wednesday reported a net profit of Rs 100 crore in 2025, on the back of increased lending activity and improved management practices. The total business stood at Rs 41,234 crore, reflecting its growing role in the rural economy, according to a statement. "The bank's net profit, which stood at Rs 32.82 crore in 2017, has now crossed Rs 100 crore -- registering a threefold increase. "This remarkable growth highlights not only increased lending activity but also the impact of improved management practices and enhanced transparency," it added. In 2017, the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Bank disbursed loans worth Rs 9,190 crore. By 2025, this figure has surged to Rs 23,061 crore under the Yogi government'?a testament to its effectiveness in economically empowering farmers and small entrepreneurs across the state. The crop loan disbursements have also doubled to Rs 11,516 crore. Additionally, 13 new branches of cooperative banks have been established,

PM Modi to launch development projects worth over ₹70K cr across 4 states

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh on May 29 and 30, during which he will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple projects

Adityanath asks officials to be sensitive while resolving public issues

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday directed officials to resolve public problems sensitively and promptly, assuring that his government's priority remains to serve the people of the state in a transparent matter. Meeting around 250 people who came for the Janata Darshan at the Gorakhnath temple, Adityanath listened to their problems and assured everyone they would get justice, the government said in a statement. Referring the applications to the concerned officials, the Chief Minister directed the officers to adopt sensitivity while addressing the queries. He also called for strict action against those who illegally occupy land, especially by displacing the weak, saying that they should not be spared under any circumstances. Many people also made requests for financial aid pertaining to medical treatments, to which Adityanath assured them that the government will provide necessary assistance. Handing over their applications to the officers, the chief minister

UP's project for revamping govt schools highlighted at NDA CMs' conclave

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday highlighted the achievements of the state's flagship 'Project Alankaar' for revamping government schools at the NDA Chief Ministers' conclave in Delhi, an official statement said. The initiative received widespread appreciation at the conclave chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many of the chief ministers expressed interest in replicating it in their states, the statement said. Launched on October 1, 2021, Project Alankaar aims to transform infrastructure and learning environments in 2,441 government secondary schools across Uttar Pradesh by achieving 100 per cent compliance with 35 infrastructure and facility benchmarks. The project has equipped schools with modern amenities such as new classrooms, science labs, libraries, computer labs and smart classrooms, creating an inclusive and conducive learning environment, the statement said. Funding for Project Alankaar comes from the state government, Samagra Shiksha Abhiya

UP sees over 13,000 road accidents, nearly 7,700 deaths in 2025 so far

Uttar Pradesh recorded more than 13,000 road accidents and nearly 7,700 deaths between January 1 and May 20 this year, with a new state-level analysis highlighting that afternoons and evenings remain the most dangerous periods for road users. The findings are part of a time-based analytical report compiled by the Uttar Pradesh Road Safety and Awareness Cell, which used data sourced from iRAD (Integrated Road Accidents Database), eDAR (e-Detailed Accident Record), and the state's own road safety dashboard. In 2024, Uttar Pradesh saw 46,052 road accidents, which led to 24,118 fatalities and 34,665 people getting injured. In comparison, 2023 had 44,534 accidents, with 23,652 deaths, and 31,098 injuries reported, according to official figures. The latest analysis reveals that more than 60 per cent of all accidents occurred during the afternoon (12 pm to 6 pm) and evening (6 pm to 9 pm) hours. The afternoon emerged as the deadliest, recording 4,352 accidents and 2,238 fatalities, accord

Hybrid vehicles complementing growth of EVs in India: HSBC report

Hybrid vehicles have complemented the growth of electric vehicle sales in India rather than competing with the latter, according to a report by HSBC Global Research. Reiterating that the Indian automotive landscape will remain a multi-powertrain industry over the medium to long term, HSBC Global Research said hybrids, CNGs, and biofuels are practical medium- to long-term solutions, while the country moves towards eventual electrification. "We think Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (SHEVs) and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) are not cannibalising each other but, rather, are attracting different sets of customers," the report said. In states where incentives are offered for SHEVs, BEV sales have also seen strong growth, it added. "In FY25, the growth in EV sales was similar to the growth in SHEV sales, despite incentives being offered on SHEVs by Uttar Pradesh, the largest PV-selling state in India. This trend suggests that SHEV adoption is having a positive effect on BEV sales," the

Kharge-Rahul turned Congress into laughing stock: UP Deputy CM Maurya

Targeting Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Friday said the "boring and tiresome duo" has turned the grand old party into a "laughing stock". In a post on X, Maurya said, "The boring and tiresome duo of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the party's 'permanent' president Rahul Gandhi has turned the ageing party into a laughing stock. "There is a huge difference between this duo, who have little understanding of international affairs, and the leaders in their party who understand worldly matters." Maurya also said that while some Congress leaders who understand economic and foreign affairs are positive about the Modi government on Operation Sindoor, the Kharge-Gandhi duo has "donned the cloak of extreme negativity". "Ever since the success of Operation Sindoor, the duo went into mourning and turned bitter because the Indian Army entered and attacked Pakistan with ..

UP mango farmers warned of pest risk after rain, hailstorm hit state

The recent rainfall, hailstorm and gusty winds are likely to cause pest infestation in mango crops across parts of Uttar Pradesh, and farmers have been advised to take timely action, a top research body official said on Thursday. Uttar Pradesh contributes one-third to the country's total mango production of 24 million tonne. Dashehari, Langra, Chuasa, and Amrapali are key mango varieties grown in the state. According to T Damodaran, Director of ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, while the overall mango yield may not be impacted in Uttar Pradesh, some pockets of mango-growing regions may see pest attacks due to humid weather conditions following the rainfall and hailstorm. "Fruit flies and thrips in mango crops can increase post rains due to humid conditions and moisture in the soil, which are favourable for these pests' development and activity," he said, adding that farmers need to manage these pests after rainfall. Damodaran explained that if timely control of t