‘One Nation, One Election’ in 2024? Law panel hints at major electoral change

The main idea is that polls for Lok Sabha and all state assemblies across India will be held simultaneously. PM Modi has been a strong proponent of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ since coming to power in 2014. He has been citing the financial burden caused by the continuous election cycle and an obstacle to development work during polls. Kovind also voiced his support for the concept of simultaneous elections after becoming President in 2017. Pros Reduction in the cost of conducting elections  Easing the burden on administrative and security…

Anti-drone system to be deployed along the international border says Home Minister Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said anti-drone systems will be deployed along the international border to strengthen security.  Smuggling of arms, ammunition, and narcotics from across the international border to Punjab Jammu and Kashmir has been a major problem confronting the border guarding forces.  The home minister said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has been successful in cracking down on narcotics and terrorism.  He asked all the member states and UTs to pay special attention to collective priority issues such as cooperative movement…

Tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians rush to flee Nagorno-Karabakh

28,000 Armenians have left Karabakh  Roads choked out of the enclave  Death toll from fuel depot fire rises  US urges Azerbaijan to allow in observers and aid  Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two wars over the enclave in 30 years.   Azerbaijan gained back swathes of territory in and around Nagorno-Karabakh in a six-week conflict in 2020.  Tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians rushed to flee the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh for Armenia after a lightning military operation by Azerbaijan that has recast the contours of the post-Soviet South Caucasus. So…

Edtech major BYJU’S to lay off up to 3,500 employees this fiscal as it looks to consolidate teams

Edtech major BYJU’s may lay off up to 3,500 employees during the current fiscal as it looks to consolidate teams and enhance regional focus.  According to the sources, the company had ‘over-hired’ people during the Covid pandemic due to a sudden jump in online education but the demand has now receded.  Around 1,000 people were already serving notice periods, and another 1,000 have not completed their performance improvement parameters.  Assessment is still underway. About 3,000-3,500 may be impacted due to the whole exercise,” a source.  With this, the total number…

ISKCON biggest cheat’: Maneka Gandhi alleges organization sells cows to butchers; temple authority responds

BJP’s Maneka Gandhi says ‘ISKCON biggest cheat, sells cows to butchers’  BJP’s Maneka Gandhi has accused ISKCON, alleging that they establish cow shelters to receive government benefits but sell their cows to butchers.   In A video, widely shared on the internet, the former Union Minister and an animal rights activist is heard saying, “ISKCON establishes gaushalas and earns unlimited benefits for the same from the government, in the form of huge lands.”  “ISKCON is selling all its cows to the butchers and no one else does this more than…

EAM S Jaishankar on Canada’s allegations: “This is not govt of India’s policy, open to specific, relevant info”

In the wake of Canada’s allegations about India’s “potential” involvement in the killing of a Khalistani separatist on its soil, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that New Delhi conveyed to Ottawa that it is not the government of India’s policy and it is open to looking at “specific” and “relevant” information in the case. Jaishankar made the comments in a conversation at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Tuesday after addressing the UN General Assembly session. “Yes, I do have a comment. I’ll share with…

PM hands out 51,000 job letters, says govt employees have huge role in making India third-largest economy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday distributed appointment letters to nearly 51,000 newly-inducted employees in various government departments under the Rozgar Mela initiative.  ‘The country has resolved to become a developed India by 2047. In the next few years, we are going to be the third-largest economy. In this period, every government employee is going to play a huge role,’ said PM Modi.  “Our policies are based on a New Mindset, Content Monitoring, Mission Mode Implementation, and Mass Participation. In nine years, the government has implemented policies on a mission…

NIA conducting search operations against Khalistani terrorists at 51 locations across the country

·       In a major crackdown, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is conducting search operations against Khalistani terrorists and their associates across the country. ·       The search operation is underway at locations belonging to suspects associated with Khalistani terrorists, supporters, and related banned organizations. ·       The searches are being carried out in more than 50 places including- Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and surrounding areas of Delhi. ·       The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had also issued details of 43 individuals associated with the terror gangster network having links to Canada. ·       NIA had earlier confiscated…

India demands $150 mln in taxes from Tiger Global-backed gaming firm Dream11

India’s tax department has demanded around $150 million from Tiger Global-backed gaming company Dream11 for underpaying taxes during 2017-2019.  Dream11 and Indian tax authorities are in a dispute over what tax rates should be paid by such gaming platforms, which have become hugely popular for the fantasy cricket games they offer.  Indian tax inspectors are “alleging that the service” provided by Dream11 “is that of betting/gambling/wagering”, court papers stated.  But Dream11 argued its gaming platform is a “game of skill” and attracts a lower tax rate which should be levied…

Jewlery worth at least ₹25 crore was stolen from a store in New Delhi; Jewel thieves bore a hole in the shop’s wall

Ornaments worth nearly ₹20-25 crores were stolen from Umrao Singh Jewellery shop in Jangpura’s Bhogal locality.  The thieves reached the strong room that has the lockers of the jewellery shop by creating a hole in the wall near it,” said the DCP, southeast Delhi.  The thieves decamped with all the gold and diamond ornaments leaving behind just the ones made of silver.  The owner, and later the police, found that the security and alarm systems in the shop had been disabled and did not trigger any alarm when the intruders…