Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

06 Oct

Fire at Jaipur’s SMS Hospital Claims Six Lives, Families Demand Accountability

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingJaipur, Rajasthan

Jaipur (Rajeev Sharma): A late-night fire at the renowned Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur turned tragic on Sunday, as six patients lost their lives in the Neuro ICU of the trauma wing. The blaze, believed to have started due to an electrical fault, has triggered outrage and grief, with families alleging that early warnings were disregarded by hospital authorities. The fire is said to have broken out in a storage section adjacent to the ICU, quickly filling the critical care unit with smoke. Hospital staff managed to evacuate some patients, but six individuals—already in fragile condition—could not be…

05 Oct

Uttarakhand CM Dhami Pays Tribute to Martyrs, Announces Welfare Initiatives

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAnnounces Welfare Initiatives, Uttarakhand CM Dhami Pays Tribute to Martyrs

Lansdowne, Uttarakhand, October 5, 2025: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday participated in the Shaheed Samman Diwas in Lansdowne, Pauri Garhwal, honoring the bravery and supreme sacrifice of martyrs.During the event, CM Dhami presented copper plates and ceremonial robes to the families of martyrs and inspected the Army band, extending his greetings to the personnel. He paid homage at the statue of Amar Shaheed Gabbar Singh Negi, stating that the nation’s safety today is due to the courage of soldiers like him.The Chief Minister also lit lamps before copper urns containing sacred soil collected from the courtyards of martyrs…

05 Oct

Jaishankar Stresses Need for India-US Trade Understanding Amid Tariff Disputes

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, IndiaEU FTA, free trade agreements, India-US trade, S. Jaishankar, Tariffs, UK FTA

New Delhi, October 5, 2025: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday emphasized the importance of reaching a trade understanding with the United States, highlighting that it is not only the world’s largest market but also a crucial step as many other countries already maintain such arrangements.Speaking at the Kautilya Economic Forum in New Delhi, Jaishankar acknowledged ongoing challenges in trade negotiations with the US, noting unresolved issues including tariffs on Indian goods and crude oil imports from Russia. “There are problems, there are issues. These need to be negotiated, discussed, and resolved,” he said, stressing that negotiations must respect…

05 Oct

Bihar Assembly Polls to Be Held Before November 22, EC Prepares for Smooth Voting

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, PoliticsBihar Assembly elections 2025, Election Commission, Gyanesh Kumar

Patna, October 5, 2025: The Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar, on Sunday confirmed that Bihar Assembly elections will be conducted before November 22, when the current assembly’s term expires. The state has 243 constituencies, including two reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs) and 38 for Scheduled Castes (SCs).Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Kumar highlighted that the Election Commission (EC) has trained booth-level officers for the first time to ensure seamless polling. He also noted that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, launched on June 24, 2025, was completed on schedule.“The voters of Bihar should celebrate…

05 Oct

India, EU Begin Final Push for Free Trade Agreement in Brussels

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBrussels talks, Free Trade Agreement, India-EU FTA, Maros Sefcovic, Piyush Goyal

New Delhi, October 5, 2025: Senior negotiators from India and the European Union (EU) will begin the 14th round of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks in Brussels on Monday. The week-long discussions, scheduled from October 6 to 10, aim to bridge the remaining gaps and expedite the signing of the long-awaited trade pact, officials confirmed.Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has voiced optimism about the deal, saying it would mark a significant boost to bilateral trade and investment. Goyal is also set to meet EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic later this month in South Africa to review progress, as both…

05 Oct

Union Health Ministry to Review Cough Syrup Use and Drug Quality in Meeting with States

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDrug, Health Ministry, Syrup

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): In an effort to enhance the safety and regulation of pharmaceutical products, the Union Health Secretary is scheduled to lead a virtual meeting with top health officials from all States and Union Territories, according to sources within the Health Ministry. The high-level conference will include participation from Principal Secretaries, Health Secretaries, and State Drug Controllers. Discussions will focus on two main areas of concern: the appropriate use of cough syrups and the broader issue of maintaining stringent quality standards in drug production. This initiative follows international scrutiny over incidents involving contaminated syrups, particularly those affecting children…

05 Oct

Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage Halted Temporarily Amid Weather Concerns

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingVaishno Devi

Katra (Rajeev Sharma): The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has announced a brief suspension of the Vaishno Devi Yatra following a weather advisory issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The pilgrimage will remain on hold from October 5 to October 7, with plans to resume on October 8, 2025. The official update, shared via the Shrine Board’s social media handle, cites safety concerns due to anticipated rough weather conditions in the Trikuta Hills region, where the revered shrine is located. The forecast includes heavy rainfall and potential landslides, which could endanger the safety of pilgrims trekking the steep…

04 Oct

CM Dhami Approves ₹986 Crore for Statewide Development Projects Across Infrastructure, Connectivity, and Governance

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiainfrastructure projects, Panchayati Raj funding, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand development

Dehradun, October 4, 2025: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has approved financial sanctions totaling ₹986 crore for diverse development initiatives spanning urban infrastructure, rural empowerment, transportation, flood protection, and heritage restoration. The funding, drawn from both state and centrally sponsored schemes, aims to accelerate Uttarakhand’s growth trajectory while strengthening grassroots governance.Administrative Infrastructure Upgrades in Key DistrictsMajor allocations include the construction of a non-residential building in Barakot tehsil (Champawat), new residential quarters in Officers’ Colony (Haridwar), a meeting hall at the tehsil office (Pauri Garhwal), and a new office complex with a workshop and storeroom at Lohaghat Bus Station (Champawat).…

04 Oct

Keir Starmer to Visit India for First Time as UK Prime Minister, Focus on Trade and Strategic Ties

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndia-UK CETA, Keir Starmer India visit, Narendra Modi, Vision 2035

New Delhi, October 4, 2025: United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer will undertake his first official visit to India from October 8 to 9 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday.During the visit, both leaders will meet in Mumbai on October 9 to review progress under the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, guided by Vision 2035 — a decade-long roadmap for cooperation in trade, technology, defence, climate, health, and education.The two prime ministers will also engage with top business and industry leaders to discuss new opportunities arising from the recently signed…

04 Oct

Shubman Gill Named India’s New ODI Captain for Australia Tour, Replacing Rohit Sharma

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsSportsBCCI, Indian cricket, ODI captain, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill

Mumbai, Oct 4, 2025: In a significant leadership change, opener Shubman Gill has been appointed as captain of the Indian ODI team for the upcoming tour of Australia, replacing Rohit Sharma at the helm. The decision marks a generational shift in Indian cricket while retaining senior players for balance and mentorship.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the 15-member ODI squad on Saturday, featuring seasoned campaigners Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli alongside emerging talents. Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as vice-captain for the three-match ODI series.Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for workload management, while left-handed…