Rajeev Sharma, Author at National Times

15 Oct

SC Allows Limited Use of Green Crackers in Delhi-NCR for Diwali, Sets Strict Conditions

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDelhi, Supreme Court

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Supreme Court has made a key relaxation in its earlier stance on firecracker restrictions, granting permission for the use of green firecrackers in Delhi and the surrounding NCR region ahead of Diwali — but only under carefully defined conditions and timeframes. In its order issued this week, the court allowed green crackers to be used during a four-day window from October 18 to October 21. On Diwali day, people will be allowed to burst them only during two time slots — from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM, and again in the evening from 8:00 PM…

15 Oct

EC Gears Up to Tackle Illicit Election Spending in Bihar with Tightened Surveillance

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, TrendingBihar

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): As Bihar prepares to head to the polls on October 6 for Assembly elections and by-elections in eight constituencies, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has launched a major enforcement drive to clamp down on the misuse of money and illegal inducements during the campaign period. The Commission has deployed Expenditure Observers across the state to monitor financial activities and campaign spending by candidates. These observers will meet with surveillance teams and monitor expenditure closely from the moment nominations are filed until the polls conclude. In a bid to prevent electoral malpractice, the Commission has instructed…

15 Oct

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Inspires Calgary with “The Journey Within” – An Evening of Meditation, Wisdom & Growth

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanada, TrendingCalgary, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Calgary(Rajeev Sharma): Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, world-renowned spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation, captivated Calgary audiences with his enlightening event, “The Journey Within, An Evening of Meditation, Wisdom & Growth.” The event, which took place from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, brought together hundreds of individuals seeking peace, mindfulness, and personal growth. Gurudev encouraged attendees to embark on an inner journey, emphasizing that true peace and happiness originate from within. During his address, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar noted, “In a world of Artificial Intelligence, what we truly require is Absolute Intelligence the intelligence of consciousness,…

14 Oct

BLS International Banned from MEA Tenders for Two Years

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBanned, BLS International, MEA

Delhi/ Toronto ( Rajeev Sharma): In a major development, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, has debarred BLS International Services Ltd. from participating in any future tenders or projects for a period of two years.According to official sources, the decision — communicated to the company on October 10, 2025 — follows multiple allegations and complaints from applicants, as well as court cases related to the company’s operations in various visa and passport outsourcing services.However, the MEA clarified that this restriction will apply only to new tenders, and existing contracts and projects currently managed by BLS International will…

14 Oct

Folk Singer Maithili Thakur Joins BJP Ahead of Bihar Assembly Elections

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBihar elections 2025, BJP, Dilip Jaiswal, Folk Singer, Maithili Thakur

Patna, October 14, 2025 — Popular folk singer Maithili Thakur officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, days before the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The 25-year-old singer was welcomed into the party by state BJP president Dilip Jaiswal during a ceremony held in Patna.After joining, Thakur said she would take on any responsibility assigned by the party. Earlier, she had met senior BJP leaders and expressed her desire to contest the assembly elections.Maithili Thakur, a recipient of the prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2021, hails from Benipatti in Madhubani district. Alongside…

14 Oct

India Post to Resume All International Postal Services to US from October 15

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaCBP regulations, India Post, international postal services, US Customs

New Delhi, October 14: The Department of Posts announced that India Post will restart all categories of international postal services to the United States beginning October 15. The decision comes after aligning operations with the latest US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations, which impose a uniform 50% customs duty on postal shipments from India, based on declared consignment value.Postal dispatches to the US were suspended on August 22, 2025, following Executive Order 14324 that introduced new compliance requirements for import duty collection and remittance. India Post clarified that postal consignments, unlike commercial or courier parcels, will not attract any…

14 Oct

Government of India Invites Applications for 83rd Edition of Know India Programme (KIP)

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaGovernment Of India, KIP

New Delhi/ Calgary ( Gurpreet/ Rajeev Sharma): The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, has invited applications for the 83rd edition of the Know India Programme (KIP), an initiative designed to engage and connect Indian diaspora youth with their cultural heritage and contemporary life in India.The programme, scheduled to run from November 10 to November 28, 2025, is open to Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) between the ages of 21 and 35 who demonstrate a keen interest in India and a desire to explore the country's traditions, economy, and advancements. The application deadline is October 19, 2025.Participants will have…

14 Oct

Devotees to Gather for 24-Hour Spiritual Celebration of AKHAND RAMAYAN PATH at ISKCON CALGARY

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsCanadaAkhand Ramayana Path, Calgary, ISKON

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): ISKCON Calgary, under the auspices of the Radha Madhav Cultural Association (RMCA), will host a grand Akhand Ramayan Path, a continuous 24-hour recitation of the sacred epic Shri Ramayan, commencing on Saturday, October 18 at 3:30 PM and concluding on Sunday, October 19 at 4:30 PM. The event will take place at ISKCON temple located at 313 4th Street NE, Calgary, Alberta. This spiritual gathering will provide devotees and community members with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the divine pastimes of Lord Shri Ram, as the entire Ramayan will be recited from Baal Kand (the childhood…

14 Oct

Amritsar-Kabul direct flights to resume soon, says Afghan minister Amir Khan Muttaqi

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAmir Khan Muttaqi, Amritsar, Flights, Kabul

National Times Bureau :- The direct flights between Amritsar and Kabul are all set to resume soon, announced Afghanistan's foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Monday. The announcement came during his interaction with Indian industry leaders at FICCI, New Delhi, which was chaired by Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Singh Sahney, who is also a member of the parliamentary standing committee of commerce and consultative committee of external affairs. The development has sparked hope for revival of economic and cultural ties between the two nations, long marred by geopolitical shifts. According to AAP MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney, it is a historic…

14 Oct

Two Militants Shot Dead as Army Foils Infiltration Bid in North Kashmir’s Kupwara

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingKupwara

Kupwara (Rajeev Sharma): Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir successfully prevented an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district late Monday night, killing two armed militants in a brief but intense encounter, officials confirmed on Tuesday. According to sources, the operation took place in the Machhal sector, a rugged terrain often targeted by infiltrators attempting to cross from Pakistan-occupied territory. The Army said the operation was initiated after receiving credible intelligence inputs from the Jammu and Kashmir Police regarding suspicious movements near the LoC. “Acting on specific information, Army troops and J&K Police launched a joint…