Tuesday, June 30

State

Nitish Kumar to Take Oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the 10th Time Today; PM Modi, Amit Shah Arrive in Patna
Bihar, Politics, State

Nitish Kumar to Take Oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the 10th Time Today; PM Modi, Amit Shah Arrive in Patna

Patna – Bihar witnesses a historic political moment today as Nitish Kumar is set to take oath as Chief Minister for a record 10th time. The grand ceremony will take place at Patna’s iconic Gandhi Maidan, which has been fully prepared to host top leaders of the NDA alliance. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda reached Patna late Wednesday night, where they were warmly received by party leaders. Oath Ceremony at 11:30 AM Nitish Kumar will take oath at 11:30 AM, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive at Gandhi Maidan by 11:15 AM to attend the ceremony.Though the list of ministers has not been revealed yet, the event is expected to showcase a powerful display of NDA unity following the alliance’s massive victory in Bihar. Top NDA Lea...
CBI Arrests Deputy Chief Engineer of East Central Railway in ₹98 Lakh Bribery Case
Bihar, Politics, State

CBI Arrests Deputy Chief Engineer of East Central Railway in ₹98 Lakh Bribery Case

Hazipur, Bihar – In a major crackdown on corruption, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the Deputy Chief Engineer of the Construction Department of East Central Railway (ECR), along with three others, for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for providing undue benefits to private contractors. During extensive searches, CBI seized over ₹98.81 lakh in cash from various envelopes and packets marked with names and identifiers, indicating payments made by different individuals. Caught Red-Handed While Taking Bribe According to CBI, the Deputy Chief Engineer and Office Superintendent were caught red-handed on 17 November while accepting bribe money. The officials allegedly allowed the use of substandard construction materials in railway projects and facilitated ir...
Close Aide of Lalu Prasad Yadav, Builder Amit Katyal, Arrested in Gurugram for Alleged Money Laundering and Real-Estate Fraud
Politics, PUNJAB AND HARYANA, State

Close Aide of Lalu Prasad Yadav, Builder Amit Katyal, Arrested in Gurugram for Alleged Money Laundering and Real-Estate Fraud

In a major action linked to alleged real-estate fraud, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Amit Katyal, a prominent builder considered close to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family. Katyal was detained under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at the ED’s Gurugram regional office on Monday. A special Gurugram court has since sent him to six-day ED custody. Not the First Time Katyal Has Been Arrested Katyal had earlier been arrested in 2023 in connection with the Railway “Land-for-Jobs” scam, a case that also named Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi, and other family members. He was later granted bail in that matter. What Is the Current Case About? The latest case revolves around alleged fraud linked to the Krish Florence Estate project in Gurugram’s Sector ...
EC Clarifies Rise of 3 Lakh Voters After Final List in Bihar: “All Additions Were Legal and Procedural
Bihar, Politics, State

EC Clarifies Rise of 3 Lakh Voters After Final List in Bihar: “All Additions Were Legal and Procedural

Amid questions surrounding the addition of nearly 3 lakh new voters after the publication of the final electoral roll in Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a detailed clarification. The explanation comes a week after the declaration of results for the Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 and in response to allegations raised by opposition parties regarding “vote manipulation.” Why Did the Voter Count Increase After the Final List? The Election Commission stated that the figure of 7.42 crore voters, mentioned on October 6, was based on data available after the final publication of the electoral roll on September 30—following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). However, the commission highlighted that as per electoral laws, even after the final list is released, eli...
Experience Bihar’s Grand Sonepur Mela: Luxury Swiss Cottages, Delicious Cuisine, and Sightseeing—All for Just ₹3,000
Bihar, State

Experience Bihar’s Grand Sonepur Mela: Luxury Swiss Cottages, Delicious Cuisine, and Sightseeing—All for Just ₹3,000

The world-famous Sonepur Mela 2025—a heritage fair known across Asia—has entered its peak festive phase. Though it began on November 9, the charm, colours and crowds are now at their highest. For travellers from outside Bihar who wish to witness the beauty of this iconic fair at an affordable cost, the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) has introduced special tour and accommodation packages. Luxury Stay at Swiss Cottages Near the Mela BSTDC has set up a dedicated Tourist Village in Saran district, featuring beautifully designed ‘Mini Darbari’ and ‘Rajwadi’ Swiss-style luxury tents. These air-conditioned cottages come with attached bathrooms, 24×7 electricity and water supply, delicious meals, and full security arrangements. Two accommodation categories have been i...
Nalanda Power Race: Who Will Secure a Cabinet Berth in Nitish Kumar’s New Government
Bihar, Politics, State

Nalanda Power Race: Who Will Secure a Cabinet Berth in Nitish Kumar’s New Government

? As Bihar prepares for the grand swearing-in ceremony of the new NDA government today at Gandhi Maidan, all eyes are on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s home district, Nalanda, where political excitement has reached its peak. With the NDA securing a historic victory, three prominent leaders from the district are fiercely competing for a place in the new cabinet—Shravan Kumar, Dr. Sunil Kumar, and veteran leader Harinarayan Singh. Harinarayan Singh: The Veteran With 10 Straight Wins 79-year-old Harinarayan Singh has once again proved why he is counted among JDU’s most influential figures. Despite his age, he secured his 10th consecutive electoral victory from Harnaut. His supporters argue that his work and long-standing contribution to the party make him a natural choice for minister...
Bihar Elections 2025: Women Voters Shape Key Outcomes Across Seemanchal; NDA and AIMIM Share Top Seats
Bihar, Politics, State

Bihar Elections 2025: Women Voters Shape Key Outcomes Across Seemanchal; NDA and AIMIM Share Top Seats

The results of the Bihar Assembly Election 2025 have revealed a striking pattern linking high female voter turnout with decisive electoral outcomes. According to the latest data released by the Election Commission of India (EC), the five constituencies with the highest women voter turnout were all located in the Seemanchal region. In contrast, Patna district recorded the lowest female participation. Seemanchal Leads with Highest Female Turnout Women outperformed men in voting across the state. The top five seats with more than 88% female voter turnout included: Kochadhaman (AIMIM) Baisi (AIMIM) Amour (AIMIM) Pranpur (BJP) – 88.99% turnout Thakurganj (JDU) – 90.27%, the highest in Bihar Out of these five high-turnout seats, AIMIM won three, while NDA secured two. ...
Ram Temple Flag Rejected by Defence Ministry; Why Is the Indian Army Assisting in the Ceremony
State, Uttar Pradesh

Ram Temple Flag Rejected by Defence Ministry; Why Is the Indian Army Assisting in the Ceremony

Ayodhya: Preparations are underway in Ayodhya for the grand flag-hoisting ceremony on 25 November, during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unfurl the main flag atop the newly constructed Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The sacred flag—known as the Dharmadhwaja or Surya Dhwaja—is central to the event. However, the initial flag prepared for the ceremony has been rejected based on recommendations from the Ministry of Defence. Why Was the Original Flag Rejected? The temple construction committee had originally approved a flag weighing 11 kilograms, designed using parachute fabric capable of withstanding winds up to 60 km/h. But during trial runs, significant issues emerged—primarily related to the weight, including rope tension failures. Following these observations, the Defence M...
Bihar Identifies 2 Lakh Deceased Pensioners Still Receiving Benefits; Government Begins Recovery Process
Bihar, State

Bihar Identifies 2 Lakh Deceased Pensioners Still Receiving Benefits; Government Begins Recovery Process

Patna: In a shocking revelation, the Bihar government has identified nearly two lakh deceased individuals whose bank accounts continued to receive pension payments. The state has now issued strict directives to recover the wrongly disbursed funds and remove all such names from the beneficiary list. Dead Beneficiaries Detected in Old-Age Pension Scheme During a review meeting on Wednesday, Social Welfare Department Secretary Vandana Preyasi directed district officials to conduct immediate physical verification of all beneficiaries under the old-age pension scheme. She emphasized that recovery of funds deposited into the accounts of deceased beneficiaries must be ensured without delay. The discovery came during an assessment of pension, death, and marriage grant schemes. Officials f...
From Mushrooms to Chocolates and Rasgullas: Jhansi’s Praveen Verma Wins Yogi Government Funding for Innovative Startup
State, Uttar Pradesh

From Mushrooms to Chocolates and Rasgullas: Jhansi’s Praveen Verma Wins Yogi Government Funding for Innovative Startup

Jhansi: Turning innovation into inspiration, Praveen Verma from Kochabhanwar in Jhansi has created a new benchmark in agri-entrepreneurship. His mushroom-based food products—ranging from chocolates and biscuits to rasgullas and candies—have not only surprised consumers but also impressed the Uttar Pradesh government, which has now granted funding to his startup. A Decade of Research Turns Into a Unique Business Idea Praveen, who holds an MSc in Agriculture from Bundelkhand University, has been involved in mushroom cultivation, research and training for the past 10 years. He also trained as a Master Trainer in Mushroom Production from Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Bihar. At his 5,000 sq ft mushroom farm near his home, Praveen has trained numerous farmer...