The Indian government has identified 111 districts as 'most vulnerable' to crop damage due to a 43 per cent monsoon deficit, driven by El Nino, which threatens kharif sowing. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that weak monsoon conditions are expected to persist until July 2, prompting contingency plans and recommendations for alternative, less water-intensive crops.
The Indian Air Force conducted a day-and-night exercise on the Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, activating an emergency-landing facility with fighter jets, helicopters, and transport aircraft to demonstrate operational readiness and validate standard operating procedures.
Summer, no matter how hot, cannot slow down life in India. The season's rhythms must go on. There is great beauty to an Indian summer and these 10 pics tell that story...
Nitin Tyagi is a young farmer in Budhagaon village of Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh. A few years ago, Tyagi left his fairly lucrative job in the medical industry and shifted base to his ancestral village to look after his land and property. He opened a small shop selling farm inputs in the village and also started taking a greater interest in agricultural matters which had so far been looked after by his father and uncles. Tyagi and his brothers primarily grow sugarcane, potato and wheat on nearly 10 acres of land with sugarcane taking up most of his time and effort. Being one of the most important and lucrative cash crops of the region, sugarcane is directly linked to the fate of millions of farmers in west UP and with it, the electoral fortunes of political parties seeking their votes in the coming assembly polls.
Days after an altercation with a Bharatiya Janata Party block chief, IAS officer Rinku Singh Rahee, posted as sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Jalaun tehsil, has been transferred with immediate effect.
Residents and pilgrims in Ayodhya are anxiously awaiting the outcome of a Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust meeting, convened amidst serious allegations of embezzlement of temple donations. The controversy has led to a subdued public mood, concerns among devotees about the security of their offerings, and calls for strict action against those responsible, including "big people" behind the alleged scam. Security has been heightened as an SIT investigates and arrests have been made.
A court in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, has sentenced seven people to life imprisonment for the murder of a man in 2020, related to a long-standing feud.
Two men, including one impersonating a judicial officer with forged documents, have been arrested in New Delhi with a firearm and live ammunition. The accused, Surya Agarwal and Nikhil Yadav, were apprehended during a security check by the Parliament Street police station.
Under the lens over serious lapses in the donation management system at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Govind Dev Giri, has said that all audit reports were "safe" and that he had no role in the daily donation collection process at the temple.
A 27-year-old panchayat assistant was found dead inside a panchayat building in Vaideha village, Uttar Pradesh. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.
A woman and her nephew died of electrocution while drawing water from a hand pump outside their house in Shahjahanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, after a short circuit caused electric current to pass through the pump.
A controversy has erupted in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, regarding the reinstallation of statues of Kakori Action martyrs. Questions are being raised about whether the statues are new or repaired old ones after they were allegedly demolished. The incident has led to political accusations, protests, and police investigation.
Properties worth approximately Rs 110 crore belonging to Zila Panchayat member Devendra Singh, which were attached in connection with a Gangster Act case, are being released following a Supreme Court order quashing the proceedings against him.
The Allahabad High Court has expressed strong displeasure over the delay in the release of funds to NGO-run juvenile homes operating under the Mission Vatsalya scheme, warning of action if a solution is not presented by May 29.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has accused the BJP government of mistreating his party workers in Ghazipur, following allegations of sexual assault and murder of a 17-year-old girl. Yadav also criticised the police investigation and announced financial assistance to the victim's family.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has demanded a CBI inquiry into the murder of a girl in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, alleging that the state has become unsafe for women under the BJP government. He visited the victim's family, offered financial assistance, and criticised the state administration for failing to protect her despite her repeated appeals to the police.
If TVK MLAs and ministers are perceived as clean, or demonstrably cleaner than their predecessors, the credibility dividend will be enormous. The voter will feel rewarded, points out Ramesh Menon.
Twin brothers, Ram and Shyam, known for robbery and chain-snatching, were injured in a police encounter in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. A police constable was also injured. The brothers, who have over 24 cases against them, confessed to recent snatching incidents, and stolen jewellery was recovered.
A doctor and hospital staff were allegedly assaulted and medical equipment vandalised at the district hospital in Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh, leading to the registration of an FIR.
Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda has called for a special session of the Haryana Assembly to address the state's deteriorating law and order situation. Citing central government and NCRB reports, Hooda highlighted Haryana's unsafe status, high organised crime rates, and alarming statistics on rapes, murders, and suicides, alleging the BJP government's negligence.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that crores of rupees from donations made to the Ram Temple are missing, calling the situation "extremely sensitive" and "highly embarrassing." He has urged the court to take suo motu cognisance, while a member of the temple trust has suggested an inquiry if doubts persist.
Uttar Pradesh Police have dismantled an inter-state cyber fraud racket, arresting 19 individuals involved in duping people under the guise of government welfare schemes.
An FIR has been registered against a village head and two village development officers in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, for alleged embezzlement of over Rs 15.5 lakh in development funds following a complaint and subsequent probe.
An NIA court has sentenced three men for their involvement in an Al-Qaeda-linked terror conspiracy to carry out attacks in Uttar Pradesh. The convicts received jail terms ranging from 5 years to life imprisonment.
A boat capsized in the Yamuna River in Vrindavan, India, carrying tourists primarily from Punjab, resulting in multiple fatalities, injuries, and missing persons. The incident occurred during a devotional trip to Mathura, turning a pilgrimage into a tragedy for families from Ludhiana and Jagraon.
An FIR has been registered following a devastating fire in an Aliganj building in Lucknow that killed 15 people. The complaint alleges severe negligence, including the absence of adequate fire safety measures, emergency exits, and proper ventilation for smoke, in the commercial establishment. Four individuals, including the building owner and operators of businesses within, have been arrested as investigations continue.
A 21-year-old man was arrested in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly impersonating a senior Indian Army brigadier. The operation, a joint effort by the Station Headquarters and ex-servicemen, also led to the apprehension of his associates who were posing as NSG commandos.
"We are going to contest assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh," All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi said.
India's peak power demand reached an all-time high of 257.37 GW on Monday, driven by increased use of cooling appliances during an intense heatwave, according to power ministry data. The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast continued heatwave conditions in northwest and central India.
A man in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for killing his two daughters after they allegedly stole a mobile phone.
A man has been arrested in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly using a forged letter in the name of a central government organisation to obtain a police escort.
Despite claims from Congress general secretary Bhupesh Baghel that there are no objections to Amrinder Singh Raja Warring's continuation as Punjab unit president, a significant faction of leaders, including Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi, are actively pushing for his replacement, citing the need for an 'uncompromised' leader.
Indian liquor brands are increasingly focusing on Hindi heartland states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana as the next major growth engine for premiumisation, driven by expanding luxury portfolios, craft spirit launches, and upgraded retail experiences, as state governments embrace reforms.
The Gujarat High Court has upheld the death sentences for 38 Indian Mujahideen operatives and life imprisonment for 11 others involved in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts, which killed 56 people. The court also directed the state government to pay significant compensation to victims' families and those grievously injured.
The Supreme Court has stated it will not make structural changes to religious practices at the Bankey Bihari temple in Vrindavan, hearing a petition challenging administrative decisions affecting traditions.
A court in Uttar Pradesh sentenced Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan to two years in jail for making objectionable remarks against government officials during the 2019 Lok Sabha poll campaign.
A 23-year-old man, Deepak Jaiswal, was allegedly beaten to death in Thane over mobile phone theft and bullying. Police have arrested two main accused, Ajay Devkilal Giri and Shiva Sanjay Goswami, and detained 13 other suspects who were attempting to flee the state on the Gorakhpur Express. A murder case has been registered, and investigations are ongoing to determine the roles of all detained individuals.
Uttar Pradesh has topped the list of states in recovery of fake Indian currency with a face value of over Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million) by different government agencies during the year 2009.
'But two things worked against them: People kept coming forward, and -- crucially -- these were not outsiders.'
Below-par growth and a serious governance gap have ensured that on almost all social indicators UP trails and, by the state government's admission, matches levels of sub-Saharan Africa. Be it infant mortality, literacy or the sex ratio, UP is far behind others, notes Mayank Mishra.
