Gurpreet Singh, Author at National Times

01 Apr

H.S. Phoolka Set for Political Shift, Expected to Join BJP Today

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingH.S. Phoolka

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Renowned legal expert H.S. Phoolka is poised to step into active politics, with indications that he will join the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday. Sources suggest that the senior Supreme Court advocate is scheduled to visit the party’s office around 12:30 PM, where he is likely to be formally inducted. The development, if confirmed, would mark a notable transition for Phoolka, who has built a reputation through his legal work and public advocacy. His expected entry into the BJP is being closely watched, particularly in the context of Punjab politics, where his influence and standing could…

31 Mar

Ashwini Bhide becomes first woman to lead Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAshwini Bhide, BMC Commissioner, Mumbai infrastructure, women in leadership

Mumbai (Gurpreet Singh): Senior IAS officer Ashwini Bhide has made history as the first woman to be appointed Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, taking charge of India’s wealthiest civic body on Tuesday. Bhide, a seasoned 1995-batch officer, officially succeeded Bhushan Gagrani following his retirement. During a ceremony held at the BMC’s historic headquarters in South Mumbai, she acknowledged the 150-year legacy of the institution, which remains one of the oldest and most significant local self-governing bodies in the country. Upon assuming her new role, Bhide identified the enhancement of public transport safety for women as a top priority for…

31 Mar

MP Raghav Chadha advocates for national paternity leave law to promote balanced caregiving

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiacaregiving law, gender equality, paternity leave, Raghav Chadha

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha has formally called for the introduction of a mandatory paid paternity leave law in India, highlighting the urgent need for a more equitable approach to childcare. Addressing the Rajya Sabha, the Aam Aadmi Party leader argued that the traditional burden of caregiving has historically fallen disproportionately on mothers, often hindering their professional growth and personal well-being. By institutionalizing leave for fathers, Chadha suggests that the state can play a pivotal role in shifting societal norms toward shared parental responsibilities from the very beginning of a child's life. The proposal emphasizes that…

31 Mar

Aviation veteran Willie Walsh appointed as IndiGo CEO following period of operational turmoil

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaairline CEO, aviation leadership, IndiGo, Willie Walsh

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant leadership transition, InterGlobe Aviation Limited has announced the appointment of William "Willie" Walsh as the new Chief Executive Officer of IndiGo. Walsh, a prominent figure in the global aviation industry and current Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), is expected to take charge by August 3, 2026. The move comes just weeks after the sudden resignation of former CEO Pieter Elbers on March 10, following a difficult period for the carrier marked by severe operational disruptions and regulatory scrutiny. The appointment is seen as a strategic effort to stabilize India’s…

31 Mar

Air India Express flight makes emergency landing in Lucknow following cockpit smoke alarm

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAir India Express, aviation safety, emergency landing, flight diversion

Lucknow (Gurpreet Singh): A Delhi-bound Air India Express flight operating from Bagdogra was forced to make an emergency landing at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport on Monday evening. The pilot of flight IX1523 issued a "Mayday" distress call after the crew detected smoke emanating from the avionics bay, the section of the aircraft housing critical electronic systems. The Airbus A320 was diverted to Lucknow immediately following the alert to ensure the safety of those on board. The aircraft landed safely at 5:18 pm after local Air Traffic Control was notified of the technical emergency. A total of 148 individuals, including…

31 Mar

National highways to transition to 100% digital tolling starting April 1

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiadigital payment, FASTag, highway toll, UPI

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced a significant shift in infrastructure policy by mandating the complete removal of cash transactions at all national highway toll plazas. Effective April 1, commuters across the country will be required to settle toll fees exclusively through digital platforms. This transition is designed to eliminate the delays often associated with manual cash handling, moving instead toward a fully automated system that utilizes FASTag and UPI technologies for seamless transit. Government officials emphasized that this move is a cornerstone of a broader national strategy to modernize highway infrastructure and…

31 Mar

AAP youth wing to launch grassroots campaign highlighting four years of Mann government

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP campaign, CM Bhagwant Mann, education reform, Punjab politics, youth employment

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has stepped up its outreach under the ‘Shandaar 4 Saal, Bhagwant Mann De Naal’ campaign, with its youth wing announcing a statewide mobilisation drive to take the Punjab Government’s work directly to people across villages and urban wards. Addressing a press conference, Chairman Punjab Youth Development Board and Acting President of AAP Punjab Youth Wing Parminder Singh Goldy said, “The AAP’s youth wing will actively participate in the ongoing ‘Shandaar 4 Saal, Bhagwant Mann De Naal’ campaign and take the achievements of the Punjab Government to every village and ward across Punjab.”…

31 Mar

Punjab Police response time to match global standards with new emergency fleet

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Emergency Response, Law Enforcement, Punjab Police

Sangrur (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday announced that Punjab will now deliver police assistance within just six minutes, on par with developed regions such as the US and Europe, as he flagged off 508 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) in Sangrur to significantly strengthen on-ground policing across the state. The vehicles, equipped with advanced technology and deployed across all 28 police districts under Dial-112, are set to ensure immediate response to distress calls, marking a major leap in rapid, technology-driven law enforcement. Backed by ₹327.70 crore investment in police vehicles over four years, the Chief Minister…

31 Mar

Amritsar police station blast: Khalistan Liberation Army claims responsibility, letter goes viral

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAmritsar, Punjab News

Gurpreet Singh :- A letter claiming responsibility for a blast at a police station in the Ajnala area of Amritsar is going viral on social media. The letter states that the Khalistan Liberation Army (KLA) carried out a grenade attack on a police station in Ajnala on March 30 and has claimed responsibility for it. However We does not independently verity the purported post. There has been no official confirmation of this claim so far. The police have launched investigation into the matter and are also closely examining the information circulating on social media. Police officials said that all aspects…

30 Mar

Sikkim Establishes District Control Rooms to Regulate LPG Distribution Amid Energy Crisis

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaCrisis, Gas, LPG, Rationing, Sikkim

Gangtok (Gurpreet Singh): The Government of Sikkim has established 24/7 control rooms across all six districts to monitor and regulate the distribution of LPG cylinders, according to a notification issued on Monday, March 30, 2026. Food and Civil Supplies Secretary Devariya Bardhan stated that these measures are a direct response to the ongoing West Asia conflict, which has severely disrupted the global supply of cooking gas. The state-level and district-level control rooms aim to ensure a steady supply, improve coordination between distributors, and provide a dedicated platform for the timely redressal of public grievances. To manage the limited inventory, the…