In the throes of a financial crisis, the state's ruling Congress government has little to be triumphant about as Assembly elections approach next year, points out Aditi Phadnis.
The Himachal Pradesh government is set to implement stringent measures, including mandatory drug testing for government jobs and 'bulldozer action' against drug smugglers, to combat the growing menace of 'chitta' (adulterated heroin) in the state.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has assured the Vidhan Sabha that discrepancies in electricity bills following smart meter installations will be addressed. The government also plans to amend regulations to curb excessive fees charged by private schools.
Sanjay Gupta, a 1988-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the chief secretary of Himachal Pradesh amidst allegations of corruption, sparking controversy and criticism from opposition parties.
A pension fraud has been uncovered in Himachal Pradesh, where over 40 individuals were falsely declared as 'elderly' in official records to receive old-age pensions.
The Himachal Pradesh Police have successfully shifted their Directorate of Communication & Technical Services office from Shimla to Hamirpur to decongest the capital city and improve operational efficiency.
The campaign for elections to 51 urban local bodies, including four municipal corporations in Himachal Pradesh, concluded on Friday, with key issues including infrastructure, tourism, and fuel prices taking centre stage.
A suspect has been arrested after the partially burnt body of a woman was discovered in a forest near a police camp in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmour district.
Himachal Pradesh is experiencing a significant increase in cyber fraud cases, with hundreds of cases registered and substantial financial losses reported. The state government is taking measures to combat this rise, including establishing cyber help desks and providing specialised training to officers.
The Himachal Pradesh government has ordered a fresh inquiry into the Chester Hill land case in Solan, following opposition allegations of a 'benami' land deal and violations of land laws. This decision comes after the withdrawal of a previous order that had questioned the initial inquiry's legality.
Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur accuses the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of corruption and political patronage, citing illegal tree felling and financial irregularities.
A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has revealed over 40,000 cases of illicit mining activities in Himachal Pradesh between 2018-19 and 2022-23, highlighting systemic failures in planning, monitoring, and revenue collection.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reports over 1,500 missing persons cases in Himachal Pradesh over the past three years, with Solan district reporting the highest number of cases. The government also addresses healthcare scheme liabilities and illegal tree felling.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reports 66 drug overdose deaths in the state over three years, along with details of NDPS Act cases, government prevention efforts, and rehabilitation initiatives.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reports 66 drug overdose deaths in Himachal Pradesh over three years, with 6,246 cases registered under the NDPS Act. The state government is implementing measures to combat drug abuse, including confiscating assets, launching awareness campaigns, and establishing rehabilitation centres.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu congratulated the State Cooperative Bank on successfully migrating its core banking system to the 'Finacle 10.2.25' platform. This upgrade aims to provide faster, more transparent, and secure financial services, enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency across its 262 branches.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has assured strict action in the 2022 police recruitment paper leak case, following a CBI recommendation for penalties against police officers.
The southwest monsoon has advanced across northern Indian states, leading to widespread rainfall, waterlogging, road blockages, and rain-related deaths, particularly in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. The Centre is monitoring the situation, especially concerning potential drought conditions in some areas due to the El Nino effect.
A police constable in Himachal Pradesh was allegedly assaulted in a road rage incident in Paonta, Sirmaur district. The accused, identified as Farman from Saharanpur, has been arrested, and a case registered under the BNS. The incident has sparked political criticism regarding the state's law and order situation.
The BJP has secured victories in the Mandi, Dharamshala, and Solan municipal corporation elections in Himachal Pradesh, dealing a blow to the Congress party, which managed to retain control only in Palampur.
The Himachal Pradesh government has ordered a fresh probe into alleged irregularities in the Chester Hills housing project following pressure from the BJP, who claim the government initially tried to suppress the case.
A 15-year-old boy in Himachal Pradesh allegedly committed suicide after failing to clear a paper in his Class 10 board examinations. The boy was found hanging at his residence after the results were declared.
Monsoon hit the state on June 20 and has since then cost it Rs 5,000 crore in damages.
The BJP launched an all-out and aggressive personalised campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, but voters went by local rather than national issues.
An inquiry has been ordered against a government school teacher in Cheog village, Shimla, following allegations of slapping a 2.5-year-old boy. The inquiry was prompted by a written complaint from the child's father.
The death toll from the Wayanad landslide has increased to six after three more bodies were recovered. The deceased include migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Bihar. Search operations are ongoing for two missing individuals, while several injured remain hospitalised.
NITI Aayog's inaugural Investment Friendliness Index, scoring 36 states and Union Territories on 84 indicators across eight pillars, revealed that no state or UT reached a score of 60 out of 100, indicating significant room for improvement in attracting investment.
Himachal Pradesh DGP Ashok Tiwari has recommended a detailed examination and action against the SDM of Solan for alleged misuse of official position, conflict of interest, and possible involvement in benami transactions related to land deals.
The World Health Organization has requested information from the Indian government regarding the alleged supply of spurious oxytocin injections linked to the deaths of five women in Kota hospitals. This comes after regulatory action, including the cancellation of manufacturing licenses for Jackson Laboratories units, following joint inspections by drug control bodies. The government is investigating the matter, emphasising a zero-tolerance approach to quality violations.
Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut has publicly endorsed Isha Koppikar's 'andhbhakt' declaration, asserting that such devotion is rooted in love for the country.
Indian companies LTM and Mastek announced new international partnerships for cloud, AI, and digital transformation. Jio BlackRock AMC launched a new hybrid fund. NMIMS partnered with Coursera for AI-enabled learning, and MakeMyTrip Foundation rebuilt a flood-damaged school in Manali.
The Supreme Court has sought responses from the Centre and several states on a plea demanding a comprehensive national Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the safe and orderly conduct of the annual Kanwar Yatra, including inter-state coordination and effective traffic management.
Indian security forces have successfully dismantled the ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network, arresting over 200 operatives across 14 states and preventing planned subversive attacks ahead of Independence Day.
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly witnessed a heated debate over the rising drug problem, with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu accusing the BJP of politicising the issue. The opposition alleges police involvement in drug trafficking.
Opposition leaders have questioned how caste responses will be recorded without state-wise pre-prepared lists.
Former chief secretary Vinit Chowdhary has criticised Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu over his handling of graft allegations in the Chester Hill housing project.
Lack of women in Karnataka's new council of ministers has put the spotlight once again on women's under-representation in politics and policy.
In addition to caste details, the Census will, for the first time, collect personal information such as the total number of bank accounts held by individuals, along with their mobile number, Aadhaar number, voter ID number, passport number and driving licence status, according to the 40 questions notified by the Registrar General of India on Friday.
Following alleged thefts at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and other incidents, prominent temples across India, including Baba Balak Nath Temple in Himachal Pradesh and Ambaji temple in Gujarat, are implementing stringent new rules for counting offerings. These measures include mandatory pocketless clothing for staff, extensive CCTV surveillance, metal detector frisking, and promoting digital payments to ensure transparency, honesty, and accountability in donation management.
The central government has revamped the Khelo India Scheme's funding pattern, allocating a Rs 565 crore component for states to co-share the cost of future sports infrastructure development projects over a five-year plan. This new model, part of a Rs 29,054 crore outlay, aims to increase state ownership and participation in sports development, significantly expanding the scheme's reach and athlete base.
