Month: July 2024

Sri Lanka’s Upcoming Presidential Election: A Crucial Vote Amid Economic Recovery

Manish Kumar

Date Set for September 21 Sri Lanka is set to hold its next presidential election on September 21, as announced by the Election Commission on Friday. This marks the first election since the 2022 economic crisis that led to widespread unrest and significant political changes in the country. The vote is seen as pivotal in determining the future of economic reforms in the financially troubled nation. Key Candidates and Nominations Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, aged 75, was the first to submit his nomination, along with a non-refundable deposit to the…

Startling Revelations about Puri’s Ratna Bhandar: Missing Valuables and Duplicate Keys

Manish Kumar

Suspicions Raised by Duplicate Keys and Unlocked Chests Justice Biswanath Rath, Chairman of the Puri Srimandir Ratna Bhandar Inspection Committee, made some startling revelations about the Ratna Bhandar during an exclusive interview with OTV on Thursday. Justice Rath narrated his experience inspecting the treasure trove, highlighting significant issues, including the presence of duplicate keys and numerous unlocked cupboards and chests. The Enigma of the Duplicate Keys During OTV’s Khola Katha programme, Justice Rath shared his skepticism about the duplicate keys provided to access the Ratna Bhandar. He noted that the…

Odisha Government presented Ambitious Rs 2.65 trillion Budget for 2024-25

Manish Kumar

On Thursday, the Odisha government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, presented its first budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, amounting to Rs 2.65 trillion. This budget, which is 15% higher than the previous year’s allocation, focuses heavily on agriculture and women empowerment. Major Allocations and Renamed Schemes Chief Minister Majhi, who also oversees the finance portfolio, introduced significant modifications to several existing schemes. The KALIA scheme was rebranded as the ‘CM-KISAN’ program, aligned with the Centre’s PM-KISAN scheme, to provide financial assistance to approximately 10 million…

Phantom Professors Scandal Rocks Anna University: 1 person holds 32 posts, 211 filled 2,500 vacancies

Manish Kumar

Anna University has been shaken by a scandal involving phantom professors filling numerous faculty positions across affiliated engineering colleges. The issue came to light after Arappor Iyakkam, a Chennai-based anti-corruption group, discovered that many faculty positions were held by non-existent professors. The university’s investigation revealed that 211 individuals were recorded as filling approximately 2,500 vacancies, with one person listed in over 30 different positions. University Investigation Vice Chancellor R Velraj confirmed the findings, stating that these 211 individuals were listed as full-time faculty across multiple colleges. “This doesn’t mean they…

PM Modi Commemorates Kargil Vijay Diwas and Launches Strategic Tunnel Project

Manish Kumar

Honoring the Fallen Heroes On July 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Kargil War Memorial to mark the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, a day that celebrates India’s victory over Pakistan in the 1999 Kargil War. Standing before the memorial, PM Modi paid tribute to the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the nation. The Kargil War, which saw fierce battles on the icy heights of Ladakh, culminated in India’s successful ‘Operation Vijay’, a campaign that reclaimed territories infiltrated by Pakistani forces and militants. Launch of…

Rahul Gandhi to Appear Before UP Court Despite 2018 Bail in Defamation Case

Manish Kumar

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to appear before the MP-MLA court in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday for a hearing in a defamation case. Despite being granted bail earlier this year, Gandhi has been summoned by Special Magistrate Shubham Verma to record his statement. According to Congress district president Abhishek Singh Rana, Gandhi will arrive at Lucknow airport at 9 am on Friday before proceeding to Sultanpur. This court appearance is in relation to a defamation case filed by local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijay Mishra on August…

Uttar Pradesh Govt’s Crackdown on Extortion at Bihar Border: Ballia SP Transferred, DSP Suspended

Manish Kumar

The Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a major crackdown on extortion activities targeting truck drivers in the Narhi area along the Bihar border. This move has unveiled the vast scale of the illegal operation, with authorities estimating that approximately 1,000 vehicles cross the border each night, underscoring the extensive reach and impact of the extortion activities. In a decisive response, the Uttar Pradesh government has transferred the Ballia Superintendent of Police (SP) Dev Ranjan Verma and Additional SP Durga Prasad Tiwari, placing them on a waiting list. Deputy SP, Sadar…

KKR Connection Behind Suryakumar Yadav Becoming India’s T20I Captain? Ex-India Star’s Big Take

Manish Kumar

The cricketing world was taken by surprise when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced Suryakumar Yadav as the captain for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka. The decision to prefer Suryakumar over Hardik Pandya, the star all-rounder and vice-captain of the T20 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team, has sparked widespread discussion. Hardik Pandya was widely expected to step into the captaincy role following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from T20I cricket. However, BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar cited Hardik’s consistent injuries and workload management as key factors…

Kargil Vijay Diwas: PM Modi Pays Tribute to 1999 Kargil War Heroes

Manish Kumar

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the heroes of the 1999 Kargil War at the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Ladakh. The solemn ceremony honored the brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Prime Minister Modi laid a wreath at the Kargil War Memorial, also known as the Dras War Memorial, commemorating the valor and dedication of the Indian armed forces during the Kargil conflict. The war, which began in response to the…

UP Government Defends Directive for Eateries on Kanwar Yatra Route in Supreme Court

Manish Kumar

The Uttar Pradesh government has strongly defended its directive requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners. The state government emphasized that this measure was necessary to ensure a peaceful and orderly pilgrimage. In a detailed submission to the Supreme Court, the Uttar Pradesh government explained that the order was issued in response to complaints from Kanwariyas, who reported confusion caused by the names of the shops and eateries. The government clarified that the directive does not impose any ban on the trade or…