Ten pilgrims returning from the Maha Kumbh were killed in two separate road accidents in Uttar Pradesh on Friday. Eight were crushed under a truck in Ghazipur and two died after a car crash in Sitapur. Several others were injured, and UP’s chief minister expressed condolences and called for optimal treatment for the injured.
The Supreme Court has agreed with a PIL petitioner that VIP darshan facilities at temples and religious places should be eliminated to ensure equal access for all devotees. Despite acknowledging the issue, the court stated it couldn’t direct states to create a standard procedure under Article 32 of the Constitution, leaving policy decisions to the states.
PM Modi sought special blessings from Goddess Lakshmi for the middle class and poor during the Budget session. This gesture, emphasized by President Murmu, hints at potential tax reliefs and increased welfare measures to fulfill the aspirations and boost the consumption of the middle class.
Kerala’s government has reduced funding for 27 out of 49 tribal welfare schemes amid a financial crisis, impacting housing, education, and self-employment programs for 1.5 lakh tribal families. Numerous significant initiatives have been either scrapped or had their budgets slashed, raising concerns about social justice and equity.
Following the tragic fire incident that claimed 27 lives, Rajkot Municipal Corporation has proposed a fire tax in its 2024-25 budget to fund major improvements in firefighting infrastructure. The budget outlines plans for seven new fire stations and the acquisition of 51 firefighting vehicles and equipment.
A former Assam Rifles soldier, Lalneisung, was arrested by Maharashtra Police SIT for his involvement in a tiger poaching network. He facilitated deals between poachers and buyers of tiger parts. Lalneisung was tracked through his online transactions with poaching kingpin Ajit Rajgond, who was also arrested recently.
India’s tiger territory increased by 30% between 2006 and 2018, as per a study. This growth occurred in regions populated by around 60 million people, challenging assumptions of incompatibility between tigers and humans. The research highlights the importance of protected core areas and identifies expansion potential in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Jharkhand.
Sixty-two-year-old Dinesh Nandwana, chairman emeritus of Vakrangee, died on Friday during an ED raid at his Andheri (East) home. The police await postmortem results to ascertain the cause of death. An accidental death report has been registered, and no complaints of ill treatment were made by the family amidst ongoing investigations.
The government has amended Aadhaar authentication rules, extending their use to public and private sectors in services like e-commerce and healthcare. The new rules aim to simplify access to services and ensure secure transactions, with requests for authentication examined by UIDAI and approved by MeitY.
The Karnataka government has authorized the ‘right to die with dignity’ for terminally ill patients with no hope of recovery, following a Supreme Court ruling. The decision mandates primary and secondary medical boards to oversee such cases, ensuring compliance with guidelines. This does not constitute euthanasia and applies only to non-responsive patients on life support.