The West Bengal government will resume the rural employment scheme under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Grameen) Act in all districts of the state, barring Murshidabad and South 24 Parganas, where allegations of irregularities in its implementation are being investigated.
The Punjab Cabinet has approved a series of measures aimed at enhancing public safety through forensic science upgrades and boosting rural incomes with a new farm stay policy.
The Indian government has announced the replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, effective July 1. The new scheme aims to expand guaranteed wage employment and link it more closely with infrastructure development and climate resilience, but faces concerns from opposition parties and labour rights activists.
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is expanding its farm equipment strategy beyond tractors to include a wider range of mechanisation solutions like harvesters, balers, seed drills, and telematics-enabled services, aiming to capitalise on the growing demand for rental services by rural entrepreneurs and address low mechanisation levels in Indian agriculture.
A World Inequality Lab paper reveals significant land inequality in rural India, with the top 10% of households owning 44% of the land, while 46% are landless. The study highlights the impact of historical institutions, social stratification, and agro-ecological conditions on land distribution.
Karnataka is rolling out the first batch of 2,000 indigenously developed AI-ready KEO PCs, priced at Rs 18,999, to rural libraries and educational institutions. This initiative aims to extend artificial intelligence and digital literacy beyond urban centres, supporting students with AI skills, spoken English, and competitive exam preparation, even in areas with limited internet connectivity.
Boat services at Purushottampuri, a pilgrimage site in Beed district, have been suspended after a capsizing incident killed two women. Local residents allege that many private operators run services without proper licences or safety equipment.
A rural-level cricket competition in Shimla's Jubbal subdivision is using sports to raise awareness about drug abuse and environmental protection. The 'Shaan-e-Bushahr' Mandhol Premiere League-4, featuring over 80 teams, encourages participants to plant saplings and monitor their growth, building on previous successful tree-planting initiatives.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced new anti-narcotic campaigns in schools, coinciding with International Day Against Drug Abuse on June 26. The initiative, part of 'Operation Toofaan', aims to make Kerala drug-free, with police actively targeting drug networks and reporting significant seizures and arrests.
Fuel prices have risen by about Rs 7.5 per litre since May 15, as global crude oil prices surged due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia and supply concerns around the Strait of Hormuz.
Pune rural police arrested a gynaecologist and are searching for another doctor in connection with alleged illegal abortions at a Daund hospital. The hospital, a registered MTP centre, reportedly allowed an unauthorised practitioner to conduct procedures, with a gynaecologist signing off. This incident follows the recent busting of an illegal sex determination racket in the same region.
A miscreant, Prafulla Mallik alias Pappu, with 25 criminal cases against him, was injured in a gunfight with police in Bhadrak, Odisha, during a raid on his hideout where he was planning a robbery. Three police personnel also sustained minor injuries in the scuffle.
Police in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, have registered a case against six individuals, including an executive engineer, after government records were discovered being burnt at the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural) central store. The incident came to light during an inspection, leading to the booking of the accused for destruction of government records, damage to public property, and criminal conspiracy.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a fresh chargesheet against retired and serving Jharkhand government engineers and officials in a money-laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the state's rural development department.
Latur police have arrested a woman for allegedly stealing gold ornaments worth Rs 15 lakh and recovered most of the stolen jewellery. In a separate incident, they also successfully rescued three bulls that were stolen from Sarola village, returning them to their owner.
Gujarat's "Operation Delta Hunt" has led to the apprehension of over 600 undocumented Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, across various districts. The state-wide drive, which began on June 3, uses technical surveillance and human intelligence to identify and detain illegal immigrants, with authorities also investigating those who provide them accommodation or employment without verification.
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd has launched the Wagon R, India's first flex-fuel car, capable of running on any blend of ethanol and petrol from E20 to E100, aligning with national energy security and sustainability goals.
A dispute among three friends in Moradabad's Khanpura village escalated into a fatal shooting, leaving one 22-year-old man dead and another seriously injured. Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and are investigating the cause of the altercation.
The Kerala government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe two 'kafir screenshot' cases that caused a political storm during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign in Vadakara constituency. The cases involve alleged communal polarisation and the circulation of fake messages against LDF candidate K K Shailaja, with the new SIT reopening a previously inconclusive investigation.
The Centre has notified draft rules for the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, outlining the framework for the new rural employment programme replacing MGNREGA. The draft rules are open for public feedback until June 21, 2026.
A notorious criminal, Prafulla Mallik alias Pappu, was injured in a gunfight with police in Odisha's Bhadrak district during a raid on his hideout. Pappu, who has around 25 criminal cases against him, opened fire on the police team before being shot in the leg.
India's total automobile retail sales recorded a significant 9.55 per cent year-on-year growth in May, reaching an all-time high of 25,31,067 units, driven by strong performances in three-wheelers, passenger vehicles, and tractors, despite prevailing heatwave conditions and fuel price pressures.
A 45-year-old Station House Officer (SHO) of Mala police station, Rajesh R, was found hanging in his official quarters in Thrissur, Kerala. An investigation has been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding his death, with police examining for a suicide note and recording statements from colleagues and family.
Legendary filmmaker Bharathiraja has passed away at 84, leaving an indelible mark on Tamil cinema with masterpieces like 16 Vayathinile, Oru Kaidhiyin Diary and Karuththamma, among others.
The Delhi Parents Association (DPA) has criticised the CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system for Class 12 answer sheet evaluation, alleging it was rushed, lacked adequate preparation and training for teachers, and led to discrepancies in results. DPA president Aprajita Gautam claimed the trial run was too short and feedback from teachers was insufficient.
A 20-year-old woman in Telangana's Jagtial district died by suicide, allegedly due to persistent harassment from a man who wanted to marry her. Police have registered a case of abetment to suicide and are investigating the matter.
Cash remains dominant for many transactions despite continued expansion in digital payments across the country.
Two individuals, including an Indian national from Bihar, have been arrested in Nepal's Madhes province on drug trafficking charges after police seized 17.40 grams of brown sugar from them during a security check.
A 73-year-old man in Odisha's Jajpur district attempted self-immolation during a public grievance hearing, citing unaddressed appeals for an approach road to his house.
A Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) in Nagpur, Sajan Shaligramji Shende, who had previously filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) about corruption within the RTO, has himself been arrested in a bribery case. Shende was allegedly involved in illegally collecting money at the Khursapar RTO border checkpost. The ACB acted on a complaint from a truck owner regarding a Rs 500 bribe, leading to the arrest of Shende and another individual, Praveen Baburao Gaidhane, and the recovery of Rs 47,000 in cash. Both are booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The daughter of an Indian-origin high school teacher based in Melbourne, who went missing in Amritsar last month, has appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for help in tracing her father.
Four migrant workers from West Bengal were arrested in Perumbavoor, Kerala, with 34 kg of ganja as part of 'Operation Toofan'. The accused allegedly smuggled the contraband from Odisha and sold it in Kerala, making significant profits.
A self-styled godman, Shaji alias "KGF Swami", has been arrested in Thrissur, Kerala, for allegedly cheating people by promising to supply gold at discounted rates. Police seized fake gold and multiple identity cards from his residence, and he is suspected of involvement in other fraud cases.
The IMD is predicting close to a 60% probability of deficient rainfall, which means there is a strong possibility that the monsoon this year will be poor.
Punjab Police have formed teams to arrest Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia and others for allegedly creating a disturbance at Majitha police station and attempting to free a detainee. Police are conducting searches, while the Akali Dal claims political vendetta.
Nagpur police seized 7.5 kilograms of mephedrone worth 2.25 crore from a rented flat in Uppalwadi, leading to the arrest of an alleged member of an interstate peddling network.
Few leaders since Independence have been able to establish such a direct connection with the electorate or shape the national conversation to the extent that Narendra Modi has done over the past decade, points out former Union minister Dr Karan Singh.
In a shocking incident from Meerut, a mother has been arrested after confessing to the murder of her seven-month-old son, initially attempting to disguise the crime as a natural death amidst escalating marital discord.
The daughter of Sunil Sharma, an Indian-origin teacher based in Melbourne who disappeared in Amritsar last month, has appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for assistance. Police have identified Sharma's brother, who is wanted in a narcotics case, as the prime suspect.
Ten days after the expansion of the BJP government's cabinet in West Bengal, key portfolios have been allocated, with senior leader Tapas Roy taking charge of industries and journalist-turned-politician Swapan Dasgupta appointed finance minister.
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