India Archives - Page 147 of 319

24 Dec

CAQM Revokes GRAP Stage-IV Curbs in Delhi-NCR as Air Quality Improves

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAQI improvement, CAQM, Delhi pollution, Delhi-NCR air quality, GRAP Stage-IV revoked

New Delhi, December 24, 2025: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Wednesday revoked the stringent restrictions imposed under Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR after a noticeable improvement in air quality, officials said. The curbs had been enforced on December 13 after Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) sharply deteriorated and crossed the 450 mark, placing it in the ‘severe’ category. However, a review by the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP found that air quality improved significantly from Tuesday night due to favourable meteorological conditions, including higher wind speeds. According to officials, Delhi’s average AQI…

24 Dec

Bombay High Court Stays Banks’ Move to Declare Anil Ambani, Reliance Communications as ‘Fraud’

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAnil Ambani, Bombay High Court, fraud declaration, Reliance Communications

Mumbai, December 24, 2025: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday stayed all present and future actions by three public sector banks seeking to declare the accounts of industrialist Anil Ambani and Reliance Communications Ltd as “fraud,” holding that the process violated mandatory norms laid down by the Reserve Bank of India. Justice Milind Jadhav ruled that the lenders had relied on a forensic audit report prepared by external auditor BDO LLP, which could not be acted upon as it was not signed by a duly qualified chartered accountant, a requirement under the RBI’s 2024 Master Directions on fraud. The court…

24 Dec

Cabinet Clears Phase-IV A of Delhi Metro, 13 New Stations to Boost Capital’s Urban Mobility

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDelhi Metro expansion, Delhi Metro Phase-IV A, Union Cabinet approval, urban mobility

New Delhi, December 24, 2025: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved Phase-IV A of the Delhi Metro Rail Project, marking a significant expansion of the capital’s mass rapid transit network and giving a fresh push to sustainable urban mobility in the National Capital Region. The approved phase will add nearly 16 kilometres to the Delhi Metro network over the next three years, with the construction of 13 new stations. Of these, 10 stations will be underground while three will be elevated. The project has been sanctioned at a cost of ₹12,015 crore. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, announcing the decision, said…

24 Dec

India’s LVM3 Rocket Delivers Record-Breaking Commercial Satellite to Orbit

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Technology, TrendingISRO

Sriharikota (Rajeev Sharma): In a major boost to India’s commercial space launch profile, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Tuesday successfully placed the heaviest foreign satellite ever launched from Indian territory into orbit using its LVM3 rocket. The payload, BlueBird Block-2, tipped the scales at around 6,100 kilograms and was carried into Low Earth Orbit during the LVM3-M6 mission. Built by US-based AST SpaceMobile, the satellite is designed to provide direct space-based cellular broadband services to conventional mobile phones, a technology aimed at expanding connectivity beyond traditional ground networks. This mission was undertaken as a fully commercial launch, highlighting…

23 Dec

13 Convicted, Sentenced to Life for Murshidabad Lynching During Waqf Act Protests

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiamob violence, Murshidabad lynching, Waqf Amendment Act protests

Murshidabad (West Bengal), December 23, 2025: A fast-track court in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Tuesday sentenced 13 people to life imprisonment for the lynching of a man and his son during violent protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act earlier this year. Special Public Prosecutor Bivas Chatterjee said the ruling marks the second conviction in a mob lynching case in the country and the first such verdict in West Bengal. The court also directed the state government to pay ₹15 lakh as compensation to the victims’ family. The victims, 72-year-old Haragobinda Das and his 42-year-old son Chandan Das, were attacked…

23 Dec

VHP, Bajrang Dal Protest Near Bangladesh High Commission Over Lynching of Hindu Man

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBajrang Dal, Bangladesh High Commission, lynching in Bangladesh, VHP protest

New Delhi, December 23: Tension prevailed near the heavily guarded Bangladesh High Commission on Tuesday as hundreds of activists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal staged a protest against the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, leading to clashes with police and disruption in the high-security zone. Carrying saffron flags and chanting slogans, the protesters attempted to march towards the High Commission, breaking through multiple layers of barricades. Several barricades were damaged as police struggled to control the crowd amid heightened security arrangements. Anticipating the demonstration, authorities had deployed a strong police and paramilitary presence in…

23 Dec

India Announces $450 Million Aid Package for Sri Lanka After Cyclone Ditwah

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaCyclone Ditwah, India–Sri Lanka relations, S Jaishankar, USD 450 million aid

New Delhi/Colombo, December 23, 2025:India has extended strong support to Sri Lanka in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday announcing a proposed assistance package worth USD 450 million to help the island nation recover from the devastation caused by the storm. Jaishankar, who is visiting Sri Lanka as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special envoy, made the announcement during discussions with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. He said the cyclone struck at a particularly difficult time for Sri Lanka, which was still in the process of rebuilding its economy after the severe financial…

23 Dec

Thick smog engulfs Delhi as air quality turns ‘severe’, AQI soared to 413

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaair pollution, New Delhi

National Times Bureau :- Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded 'hazardous' on Tuesday morning, significantly impairing visibility and affecting residents. The AQI reading soared to 413 at around 8 am.According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), air quality spiked to 'severe' levels in certain areas of the National Capital Region (NCR). Multiple parts of the city continued to witness alarmingly high pollution levels.CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) has invoked all actions under GRAP Stage-IV in Delhi-NCR.Several pollution hotspots included Anand Vihar (466), Chandni Chowk (425), and Ashok Vihar (444), also falling under the 'severe' category across…

23 Dec

US enhances online vetting for H-1B visas; delayed interviews likely to impact Indian techies

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, World News

National Times Bureau :- The United States has announced an expansion of online and social media reviews as part of routine visa screening for all H-1B and H-4 applicants worldwide, regardless of nationality. In a short statement, the US Embassy in India advised applicants to submit their visa applications as early as possible and to be prepared for longer processing times for these categories. "WORLDWIDE ALERT FOR H-1B AND H-4 VISA APPLICANTS. Beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening. This vetting is being conducted…

23 Dec

Border Vigil Intensified Along Eastern Sector Following Developments in Bangladesh

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingBangladesh

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Indian security agencies have tightened surveillance along the eastern border in response to renewed disturbances in Bangladesh, officials said, stressing that the move is preventive in nature. While there has been no major disruption reported along the frontier, forces have been asked to remain prepared for any unforeseen situation. Sources indicated that border formations, particularly in West Bengal, have increased monitoring amid concerns that instability across the border could lead to attempts at illegal crossings or smuggling. The alertness follows reports of an incident earlier this week in Cooch Behar district, where a Border Security Force…