Private sector employees have reason to cheer. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has issued a clarification regarding the Employee Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme, resolving confusion around “continuous service.” EPFO has confirmed that if an employee leaves one job and joins another, weekends, national holidays, or government holidays in between will not be counted as a break in service. This means that during death claim settlements, such gaps will still be considered as continuous service, ensuring families receive their rightful insurance. Earlier, many claims were rejected due to this misunderstanding. Why This MattersIn several cases, short breaks between jobs—like weekends or holidays—were wrongly counted as service gaps, leading to claim rejections or r...

Delhi-NCR residents may easily spot the popular Korean cigarette brand ESSE at local paan and cigarette shops—from Connaught Place in New Delhi to Film City in Noida. However, these cigarettes are not legally sold in India. They are either smuggled or counterfeit, bypassing legal channels. Following complaints from the Korean company, authorities have launched a nationwide crackdown on counterfeit ESSE cigarettes. On Thursday, 18 December, 14 wholesale distributors in Delhi-NCR were raided, and millions of cigarettes were seized. High Court Orders RaidsThe raids were conducted under the directions of the Delhi High Court, with the Korean company KT&G and its Indian partner S.S. Rana & Co. collaborating with enforcement authorities. All products bearing counterfeit ESSE tradem...

Dr. Regi George and Dr. Lalitha Regi began their journey in 1993 in the remote village of Sittilingi Valley, Tamil Nadu, a region almost entirely devoid of healthcare facilities. Starting from a small hut, the couple trained local women as nurses and health workers, addressing urgent medical needs in the community. Infant mortality at that time stood at a staggering 150 per 1,000 births. Over the years, their modest initiative transformed into a 35-bed modern hospital, recording zero maternal deaths in the last two decades. However, the doctors quickly realized that the root causes of illness extended beyond hospital walls—poverty, debt, malnutrition, and rural migration were major contributors. Organic Farming and the Birth of SOFAIn 2003, seeking to address these deeper issues, the...

Dalal Street witnessed a soft session on Thursday, with both key indices ending in the red. The BSE Sensex fell 77.84 points to close at 84,481.81, while the NSE Nifty remained largely flat, dropping just 3 points to 25,815.55. Market Movement:The local stock market marked the fourth consecutive day of losses, driven by uncertainties surrounding trade agreements with the U.S. and a subdued global market trend. During the session, the Sensex oscillated between a high of 84,780.19 and a low of 84,238.43, reflecting intraday volatility of 541.76 points. Among Sensex constituents, Sun Pharma, Tata Steel, Power Grid, Asian Paints, NTPC, and Bharti Airtel recorded losses. On the other hand, TCS, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, Adani Ports, Axis Bank, and HCL Tech ended the day with gains. Stock...