India Archives - National Times

14 Apr

After Noida Clashes, UP Government Revises Labour Pay Scales Across Categories

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingNoida

Noida (Rajeev Sharma): A day after large-scale protests by factory workers shook parts of Noida, the Uttar Pradesh government has rolled out a fresh minimum wage structure aimed at addressing long-standing concerns over low pay. The revised rates, approved late Monday night, will be implemented retrospectively from April 1, officials said. The move follows unrest in Gautam Buddha Nagar, where demonstrations over wages and working conditions turned disruptive in several industrial zones. Pay Increase Across Key Industrial Districts According to the new notification, unskilled workers in Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad will now receive ₹13,690 per month, marking a significant…

13 Apr

India Likely to Receive Below-Normal Monsoon in 2026, Says IMD

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiabelow normal rainfall, IMD forecast, India monsoon, Indian Ocean Dipole, La Nina El Nino India

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— India is likely to receive below-normal rainfall during the 2026 southwest monsoon season, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday, raising concerns for agriculture and water resources.Addressing a press conference, M Ravichandran said the country is expected to receive rainfall at 92 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), placing it in the “below normal” category. He was accompanied by IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.The monsoon, which typically spans from June to September, is considered normal when rainfall ranges between 96 per cent and 104 per cent of the LPA, pegged at 87 cm based…

13 Apr

Supreme Court Declines Plea on Voter List Deletions Ahead of Bengal Polls, Calls It ‘Premature’

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaelectoral roll deletion India, Supreme Court, Surya Kant CJI, voter list case, West Bengal elections 2026

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— The Supreme Court of India on Monday refused to entertain a petition challenging the deletion of names from electoral rolls in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, terming the plea “premature” while underscoring the importance of the right to vote in a democracy.A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed the petitioners to approach appellate tribunals set up to handle such disputes. The petition, filed by Quaraisha Yeasmin and 12 others, alleged wrongful deletion of their names during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.With Assembly…

13 Apr

Bihar horror: Canteen guard arrested for sexually assaulting, killing five-year-old boy

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaArrested, Bihar Horror, Canteen, Guard, Murder, Sexual Assault

Gurpreet Singh :- In a horrifying incident, Bihar police have arrested a canteen guard for sexully assaulting and killing a five-year-old boy in Jehanabad district, days after the child was found with his throat slit, officials said on Sunday. The incident took place a private school hostel on April 6. The child was initially taken to a local hospital by family members and later referred to Patna, where doctors declared him dead. Senior police officer Aprajit Lohan said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate the case because of its seriousness. During the initial probe, hostel operator…

13 Apr

Chandigarh bomb threat: Email warns of blast at Passport office, other places; police launch probe

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, PunjabBomb Threat, Chandigarh

Gurpreet Singh :- Panic gripped Chandigarh on Monday after officials linked to the Ministry of External Affairs received a threatening email warning of multiple bomb blasts across the city, including the Regional Passport Office (RPO). According to initial information, the email claimed that as many as 14 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) had been planted at various locations and could detonate around 1:15 pm. The message also contained disturbing and communal language, alleging that a specific religious community would be targeted. The threatening email was reportedly sent early Monday morning from an unidentified ID and included official email addresses associated with…

13 Apr

Dalal Street Opens Deep in Red as Crude Rally and Geopolitical Tensions Shake Investor Confidence

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, India, TrendingDalal Street

Mumbai (Rajeev Sharma): Indian stock markets started the week on a weak note, with benchmark indices witnessing a steep decline in early trade on Monday, driven by surging oil prices and escalating global uncertainties. The BSE Sensex slipped sharply at the opening bell, losing over 1,600 points, while the Nifty 50 dropped around 400 points, reflecting a broad-based sell-off across sectors. The fall follows a spike in international crude oil prices, with Brent crossing the $100-mark after diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran failed to yield any breakthrough. Concerns over a potential disruption in oil supply intensified after…

13 Apr

Mumbai Prepares for State Funeral as Asha Bhosle’s Final Journey Set for Shivaji Park

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsEntertainment, India, TrendingAsha Bhosle

Mumbai (Rajeev Sharma): The city of Mumbai is gearing up to pay its last respects to legendary singer Asha Bhosle, whose final rites will be conducted with full state honours at Shivaji Park on Monday afternoon. The revered artist passed away on Sunday at the age of 92, leaving behind an unparalleled musical legacy. Her mortal remains were brought to her residence in Lower Parel, where family members, close associates, and admirers gathered to mourn the loss. The public will be allowed to pay their respects from 11 am before the cremation ceremony scheduled for 4 pm. Maharashtra Chief Minister…

12 Apr

India rejects China’s “fictitious” renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, World NewsArunachal, Border, China, MEA, Renaming, Sovereignty

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): India on Sunday, April 12, 2026, issued a sharp rebuttal to China’s latest attempt to rename several locations within Arunachal Pradesh. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) characterized the move as a "mischievous" attempt to manufacture baseless narratives, asserting that such actions cannot alter the "undeniable reality" of India's territorial sovereignty. New Delhi reiterated its firm stance that Arunachal Pradesh remains an integral and inalienable part of the country, regardless of unilateral administrative lists released by Beijing. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that assigning fictitious names to Indian territories only serves to inject negativity…

12 Apr

Supreme Court to hear West Bengal electoral roll and Malda judicial crisis cases

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaElectoral Rolls, Malda incident, Supreme Court, West Bengal elections

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a series of critical petitions on Monday, April 13, 2026, regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi will address challenges to the Election Commission’s decision to freeze the voters' list ahead of the state assembly elections scheduled for April 23 and April 29. The poll panel finalized the rolls on April 9, effectively preventing any further additions for those whose names were deleted during the intensive revision process. Central…

12 Apr

Amarnath Yatra 2026 schedule announced; registration to begin on April 15

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaBaltal, Manoj Sinha, marnath Yatra, Pahalgam, Registration

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Jammu and Kashmir administration has officially announced the dates for the annual Amarnath Yatra 2026, with the pilgrimage set to commence on July 3 and conclude on August 28. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha confirmed on Sunday that the 57-day yatra will begin with the first batch of pilgrims departing from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu. The traditional "Pratham Pujan," marking the spiritual beginning of the journey, is scheduled for June 19 to coincide with Jyeshtha Purnima. Prospective pilgrims between the ages of 13 and 70 are eligible to undertake the trek via either the…