Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has announced a 50 per cent reduction in the number of vehicles in his official convoy, aligning with the state government’s newly announced austerity measures and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for economic restraint and fuel conservation. The decision comes a day after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed government departments and officials across the state to adopt austerity measures aimed at reducing fuel consumption and encouraging more efficient use of public resources. Convoy Reduction Ordered in “National Interest” In a statement issued in…

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Domestic equity markets ended sharply lower on Tuesday as investor sentiment weakened amid rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia and concerns over the broader economic outlook. The benchmark BSE Sensex dropped 1,456.04 points, or 1.92 per cent, to close at 74,559.24. The NSE Nifty50 also declined 436.30 points, or 1.83 per cent, ending the session at 23,379.55. The latest fall marks the fourth consecutive session of losses for Indian equities. Over the past four trading days, the Sensex has fallen by nearly 3,500 points, while the Nifty has lost close…

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The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a fresh push to strengthen skill development and vocational training, with a focus on emerging technologies, industry partnerships and employment-oriented education. The announcement was made during a “Samvad” dialogue programme organised by the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) in Gorakhpur on May 12. The event brought together government officials, industry representatives, private Industrial Training Institute (ITI) operators and training providers to discuss ways to align skill training with future job markets and industrial demand. Focus on Employment-Oriented Skill Training Speaking at the programme,…

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Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Monday expressed concern over the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination following reports of a question paper leak, describing the development as a major setback for students and the credibility of India’s examination system. In a statement issued after the controversy surfaced, Patnaik said repeated allegations of paper leaks in national-level examinations were eroding public trust and increasing uncertainty among students preparing for competitive tests. Patnaik Calls Cancellation a “Blow to Trust” The former Odisha Chief Minister said the…

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A family wedding celebration in Bengaluru turned into an emotional musical evening when retired Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) scientist Prakash Hadagali showcased his singing talent during a pre-wedding Mehendi ceremony held for Neha Hadagali, daughter of Suresh Hadagali and Indira Priyadarshini. The gathering, attended by close relatives and family friends from Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka, was held in a private setting and gradually evolved into an informal musical event featuring multiple members of the Hadagali family. Family Celebration Becomes Musical Evening The Mehendi function saw several relatives…

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The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday submitted a memorandum to the Odisha Chief Electoral Officer, alleging procedural irregularities in the recently conducted Rajya Sabha elections in the state. A delegation of senior BJD leaders met election officials in Bhubaneswar and sought immediate intervention by the Election Commission over what the party described as violations of established polling procedures. Allegation Over Issuance of Second Ballot Papers According to the BJD, two BJP legislators were allegedly issued second ballot papers during voting in the Rajya Sabha election held on April 28.…

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The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday said the Left Democratic Front’s defeat in the recent Kerala Assembly elections was a collective failure of the party leadership and not the responsibility of any one individual. The statement came after a two-day meeting of the CPM Politburo in New Delhi, where senior leaders discussed the party’s electoral performance and future organisational strategy. CPM Leadership Responds to Criticism Addressing the media after the meeting, M. A. Baby said the party would conduct a detailed review of the election outcome and initiate corrective measures…

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Harish Dwivedi on Monday said Assam has undergone significant development since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state in 2016, attributing the changes to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister-elect Himanta Biswa Sarma. Speaking to reporters in Guwahati ahead of Sarma’s swearing-in ceremony, Dwivedi said the BJP-led government had focused on infrastructure expansion, healthcare, education, welfare initiatives for women and employment opportunities for youth. BJP Highlights Development Agenda in Assam Dwivedi stated that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) received a strong electoral mandate because of what he…

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Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari on Monday said the Congress remains the only political party capable of mounting a nationwide challenge to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), amid ongoing discussions around opposition unity following recent assembly election outcomes. Speaking to reporters in Mathura after visiting the Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan, Tiwari commented on the political developments in several states, including West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Tiwari Links TMC Defeat to Lack of Alliance Referring to the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, Tiwari said the situation may have been different for…

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