National News

No retirement rule at 75 in BJP;PM Modi’s tenure decided by people, not Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut: Maharashtra BJP President Chandrasekhar Bawankule

1Apr

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No retirement rule at 75 in BJP;PM Modi’s tenure decided by people, not Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut: Maharashtra BJP President Chandrasekhar Bawankule

Mumbai, April 01, 2025.Maharashtra BJP President Chandrasekhar Bawankule dismissed claims of a retirement rule at 75 within the party on Tuesday, stating that the people of India will determine Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure.His remarks were in response to a statement by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, which the BJP called a "political stunt."Bawankule clarified that the BJP has no such rule requiring leaders to retire at 75, nor has any such decision been made. “There is no restriction in the Indian Constitution either,” he added, citing former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee (79), Morarji Desai (83), and Manmohan Singh (81) who served beyond this age.Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also backed Modi, saying, “PM Modi will continue leading the c...

WhatsApp bans over 9.7 million accounts in India during February 2025

1Apr

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WhatsApp bans over 9.7 million accounts in India during February 2025

New Delhi, April 01, 2025.WhatsApp on Tuesday said it banned more than 9.7 million accounts in India during February 2025, 1.4 million of which were proactively banned prior to any user reports.Releasing its monthly safety report, the Meta-owned messaging app also shared tips on using the platform responsibly. It listed out ways to do so, including respecting boundaries, avoiding spamming with bulk and auto messages, and using broadcast lists responsibly."According to the report for the month of February 2025, WhatsApp banned over 9.7 million accounts in India for violating its Terms of Service. More than 1.4 million of these accounts were proactively banned prior to any user reports," WhatsApp said.

Toll rates on national, state highways go up in Rajasthan

1Apr

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Feature, National News, Rajasthan Election

Toll rates on national, state highways go up in Rajasthan

Jaipur, April 01, 2025.Toll rates for all classes of vehicles on national and state highways in Rajasthan will increase by Rs 5 to 25 from April 1, increasing the burden on commuters.Along with the toll on Jaipur-Kishangarh Highway, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has increased rates at the Manoharpur, Shahpura and Daulatpura toll booths on the Jaipur-Delhi Highway; two toll booths on the Ring Road; one on the Ajmer-Delhi Bypass; the Manoharpur and Shahjahanpur booths on the Jaipur-Delhi Old Highway; and on routes to Reengus and Phagi-Malpura."Under the new revisions, at Shahjahanpur toll, cars will be charged Rs 200 instead of Rs 190, light commercial vehicles Rs 320 instead of Rs 310, and buses/trucks Rs 670 instead of Rs 645. At the Manoharpur toll on the sam...

Nidhi Tewari, IFS Officer From PM Modi’s Constituency, His New Private Secretary

1Apr

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Nidhi Tewari, IFS Officer From PM Modi’s Constituency, His New Private Secretary

New Delhi, April 01, 2025.Nidhi Tewari, a 2014-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service, will take over as the next private secretary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She is currently serving as the Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office or PMO. Her new role is set at Level 12 of the pay matrix and will be co-terminus with her current position or until further orders are issued, read the note from the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), which announced her appointment today today. "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Ms Nidhi Tewari, IFS (2014), currently serving as Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, in Level 12 of the pay matrix with immediate effect, on a co-term...

PF auto-settlement limit raised to ₹5 lakh

31Mar

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PF auto-settlement limit raised to ₹5 lakh

New Delhi, March 31,2025.In a major move to enhance the ease of living for its 7.5 crore members, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has decided to increase the auto settlement limit for advance claims from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh, ANI reported on Monday.Labour and Employment Secretary Sumita Dawra approved the proposal during the 113th Executive Committee (EC) meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) held in Srinagar on March 28. The decision now awaits final approval from the CBT, according to the report.Once approved, EPFO members will be able to withdraw up to ₹5 lakh through the Auto Settlement of Advance Claims (ASAC) system, which was introduced in April 2020 for illness-related withdrawals.

400 essential medicines become expensive from April 1, 2025

31Mar

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400 essential medicines become expensive from April 1, 2025

New Delhi, March 31, 2025.Starting April 1, the prices of nearly 400 essential medicines, including those used for treating infections, diabetes, and heart diseases, will increase by 1.74%. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) announced the routine price adjustment, which is done annually to align with the market.The price revision is based on the Wholesale Pricing Index (WPI) of the previous year. The NPPA’s office memorandum stated that the WPI increased by 1.74% in 2024 compared to 2023, allowing manufacturers to adjust the maximum retail price of scheduled formulations without prior government approval.

Lost free limits in ChatGPT, get ‘Plus’ for Ghibli-style images

31Mar

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Lost free limits in ChatGPT, get ‘Plus’ for Ghibli-style images

New Delhi, March 31, 2025.The Studio Ghibli AI trend has taken the internet by storm, and you’ve likely come across it or even tried it yourself. OpenAI’s newest and most advanced ChatGPT model includes an image generator, which has quickly gained massive popularity since its recent launch. While OpenAI has made it free to use, there’s a catch—you can only generate up to three animated images.This limitation can be frustrating because once you create one, the curiosity and excitement to make more kick in. But with free access capped at three images, many users find themselves wanting more. If you want unlimited animated images, you’ll need to upgrade because the feature is available through ChatGPT Plus, Team, Pro, and select other subscription tiers.

PM extends greetings on Rajasthan Day

31Mar

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PM extends greetings on Rajasthan Day

New Delhi, March 2025.The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi extended warm wishes to the people of Rajasthan on the occasion of Rajasthan Day today.He expressed hope that the state will continue to thrive and make invaluable contributions to India’s journey toward excellence.

DA Hike: Cabinet approves 2% raise in dearness allowance for central govt employees

30Mar

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DA Hike: Cabinet approves 2% raise in dearness allowance for central govt employees

New Delhi, March 30, 2025.he Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday, March 28, approved the release of an additional instalment of dearness allowance (DA) to central government employees and dearness relief (DR) to pensioners with effect from January 1, 2025. The move will likely benefit 1.15 crore central government employees and pensioners."The Cabinet has approved the release of an additional instalment of DA to central government employees and DR to pensioners with effect from January 1, representing an increase of two per cent over the existing rate of 53 per cent of the basic pay/pension, to compensate against price rise, said Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Information and Broadcasting after the meeting.

ISRO achieves a major milestone, successfully tests Semicryogenic Engine

29Mar

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ISRO achieves a major milestone, successfully tests Semicryogenic Engine

New Delhi, March 29, 2025.India’s space exploration ambitions took a significant leap forward as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the first major hot test of its 200T thrust semi-cryogenic engine. This landmark achievement enhances India’s rocket capabilities and paves the way for future advanced space missions.The test was carried out at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. This new semi-cryogenic engine, powered by a combination of Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Kerosene, offers a massive thrust of 2000 kN. It is designed to replace the existing L110 liquid stage of the LVM3 rocket, significantly increasing its payload capacity from four tonnes to five tonnes in geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).Unlike conventional liqu...

17 Naxals killed in encounter near Chhattisgarh’s Sukma-Dantewada border

29Mar

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17 Naxals killed in encounter near Chhattisgarh’s Sukma-Dantewada border

Chhattisgarh, March 29, 2025.A fierce encounter between security forces and Naxalites erupted on Saturday morning along the Sukma-Dantewada border in Chhattisgarh. 500-600 personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and CRPF launched the operation in Upampalli, under the Keralapal police station area, killing 17 Naxalites.Among those killed was Jagdish alias Budhra, a Special Zonal Committee Member (SZCM) of the Naxalite organization. Budhra was a wanted extremist with a bounty of ₹25 lakh and was involved in the 2013 Jheeram Valley massacre, where several top Congress leaders, including Mahendra Karma, were killed.According to DIG Kamlochan Kashyap, security forces recovered automatic weapons like INSAS and SLR rifles from the site. He added that several high-ranking Naxal...

Naturopathy Stake Holders across the Country demanded inclusion of Yoga Naturopathy in the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) Act and National AYUSH Mission (NAM)

28Mar

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Naturopathy Stake Holders across the Country demanded inclusion of Yoga Naturopathy in the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) Act and National AYUSH Mission (NAM)

New Delhi, March 2025.A special meeting was organized by Surya Foundation, the country's prestigious Naturopathy Organization Surya Foundation and International Naturopathy Organization (INO) on 27 March 2025 at Deputy Chairman Hall, Constitution Club of India, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Union Minister of State for AYUSH (I/C and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Shri Prataprao Jadhav ji, with Naturopathy - Yoga Experts, Stakeholders and Members of Parliament on the inclusion of Yoga Naturopathy in the National Commission for Indian Medical System (NCISM) Act-2020 and National AYUSH Mission (NAM) along with the early registration process to be startedby Govt. of India for Naturopathy doctors.On this occasion, Hon’ble AYUSH Minister Shri Prat...

Rupee rises 25 paise to close at 85.49 against US dollar

28Mar

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Rupee rises 25 paise to close at 85.49 against US dollar

New Delhi, March 28, 2025.The rupee appreciated 25 paise to close at 85.49 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday, logging the best monthly gain in over six years, supported by a resurgence of foreign fund inflows.In March this year the local unit appreciated 2.17 per cent, the maximum since November 2018 when the local unit had registered a gain of over 5 per cent.In the current financial year the rupee has depreciated more than 2 per cent. On April 2, 2024 it was quoted at 83.42 against the US dollar.

BRICS CCI WE and Nippon Paint India Announce Winners of Global Women Leadership Program 2024-25

28Mar

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BRICS CCI WE and Nippon Paint India Announce Winners of Global Women Leadership Program 2024-25

New Delhi, March 2025.BRICS CCI WE, the Women Empowerment Vertical of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BRICS CCI), in association with Nippon Paint India, felicitated the winners of the BRICS CCI WE Global Women Leadership Programme 2024-25 at its second convocation. The convocation celebrated outstanding women leaders driving change across industries and underscored the commitment to fostering gender equality in leadership roles.Mahadi Mosia, an entrepreneur, HR leader, and social impact advocate, emerged as the winner for her groundbreaking work with LiftUp Learning—an AI-powered academic support platform designed for underprivileged students. By offering personalized AI tutoring, offline learning, and multilingual support, Mahadi is transforming access to education an...

Sprite’s Joke in a Bottle Drops the Beat with the Sound of Comedy

27Mar

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Feature, Food and Beverages, National News

Sprite’s Joke in a Bottle Drops the Beat with the Sound of Comedy

New Delhi, March 2025.Sprite, the iconic lemon and lime-flavored beverage, is back with ‘Joke in a Bottle’ (JIAB) and this time, it’s bringing the sound of comedy with it! This season, the campaign takes a leap by blending playful melodies, quirky beats, and surprise twists to create an all-new, laugh-out-loud experience.Comedy has emerged as a major passion point for young adults, with social media and meme culture leading the way in shaping the next generation of humor in India. Sprite's teen forward and meme-centric comedy campaign is now entering its third season, equipped with a comprehensive strategy to deliver localized, pincode-specific humor to consumers across the country.The season is expanding horizons from just jokes to multiple formats of comedy sprawling across m...

Court refuses interim bail to Sambhal mosque president

27Mar

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Court refuses interim bail to Sambhal mosque president

Sambal, March 27, 2025.A local court on Thursday rejected the interim bail plea of Shahi Jama Masjid president Zafar Ali and posted his regular plea on April 2, officials said.Additional district judge II Nirbhay Narayan Rai heard the interim bail plea and dismissed it, said additional district government counsel Hariom Prakash Saini.Saini said during the hearing, Ali's lawyer argued for interim bail, but the prosecution opposed it, citing serious charges against him, including assembling a mob, inciting violence, damaging public property, and fabricating facts. Based on these arguments, the court denied interim bail while listing the permanent bail plea for hearing on April 2, he added.

Axis Max Life’s Immersive 3D & Mixed Reality Out-of-Home Campaign Drives ‘Double Bharosa’ Message Across India

27Mar

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Axis Max Life’s Immersive 3D & Mixed Reality Out-of-Home Campaign Drives ‘Double Bharosa’ Message Across India

New Delhi, March 27, 2025.Axis Max Life Insurance Ltd., formerly known as Max Life Insurance Company Ltd. (“Axis Max Life”/ “Company”), has redefined Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising with an immersive 3D anamorphic display at Garuda Mall, Bangalore. This high-impact visual experience brought the concept of ‘Double Bharosa’ to life, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to trust and protection in a way that captivated audiences. Building on the excitement of this innovation, Axis Max Life extended the campaign across 200+ sites in 20 cities, integrating cutting-edge technology with high-engagement activations. In Mumbai, the brand took over the streets with ten branded double-decker buses, ensuring strong visibility and recall. Additionally, Axis Max Life also introduced a ...

US tariffs on India start April 02, 2025.

27Mar

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Business News, Feature, National News

US tariffs on India start April 02, 2025.

New Delhi, march 27, 2025.With the US set to roll out reciprocal tariffs on April 2, there’s growing concern about what this means for India. Adding to the uncertainty, US President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, announced a 25% tariff on imported cars, effective April 2. The White House projects this move will generate an additional $100 billion in revenue while boosting US manufacturing.In a research note on Wednesday, Emkay Global estimates that a country-level 10% tariff could shave off about $6 billion from India’s exports (0.16% of GDP), and if tariffs jump to 25%, losses could soar to $31 billion. Instead of targeting specific sectors, it notes these tariffs will likely apply at the country level, making it harder to dodge their impact.While India is among the more vulnerab...

29.2 crore people used drugs globally in 2022

27Mar

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Feature, Health News, National News

29.2 crore people used drugs globally in 2022

New Delhi, March 27, 2025.Drug or substance abuse has become a common menace worldwide. It has became a serious concern to look into, adversely affecting the physical and socio-economic well-being of the country.As per the latest The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report 2024, there is a concerning rise in global drug use. The number of people using drugs reached 29.2 crore in 2022, a 20 percent increase over the past decade.If talk about India then approximately 10 crore people in India are affected by various narcotics, according to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, 6.25 crore people use alcohol, 8.75 crore use cannabis, 0.2 crore use opiates and many uses hypnotics.17 per c...

UPI services restored, down for 2.5 hours across India

27Mar

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UPI services restored, down for 2.5 hours across India

New Delhi, March 27, 2025.Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was down for about two and a half hours in the country. Apart from this, the services of more than 10 banks were also affected. The reason for this technical glitch has not been revealed.According to Downdetector, users faced problems in making payments through UPI between 7 and 9:30 pm on Wednesday evening. During this time, the maximum number of 23,000 complaints were registered. Users were also unable to transfer funds and login access.National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) said, 'Users have faced temporary technical problems, due to which UPI was partially interrupted. Now these problems have been resolved. The system has become stable

Kotak Private’s Top of the Pyramid Report unveils shifting trends among India’sUltra-HNIs

27Mar

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Fashion & Lifestyle, Feature, National News

Kotak Private’s Top of the Pyramid Report unveils shifting trends among India’sUltra-HNIs

Mumbai, March 2025. Kotak Private Banking*, a division of Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (”Bank"), has launched the latest edition of its highly anticipated ‘Top of the Pyramid (TOP) Report’. This edition celebrates the 20th anniversary of Kotak Private Banking, providing holistic financial solutions to India’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals (Ultra-HNIs).The latest Kotak Private TOP report offers deep insights into the spending and investment patterns as well as economic indicators of India’s Ultra-HNIs. It sheds light on their lifestyle choices, motivations, and aspirations. Beyond wealth creation, the report uncovers a deeper, more meaningful journey these individuals pursue—one that brings purpose and fulfilment to their lives.As a long-standing partner of Ultra-HNIs ...

Easy way to withdraw PF money: Up to Rs 1 lakh can be withdrawn through ATM-UPI, new facility will start from June 2025

26Mar

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Easy way to withdraw PF money: Up to Rs 1 lakh can be withdrawn through ATM-UPI, new facility will start from June 2025

New Delhi, March 26, 2025.The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to introduce UPI for processing claims, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce transaction time, labour and employment secretary Sumita Dawra said on Tuesday.The Labour and Employment ministry has approved the recommendation of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which operates retail payments and settlement systems in India.Sumita Dawra, in an interview with the news agency ANI, said that EPFO members will soon be able to withdraw their provident fund through UPI and ATMs by the end of May or June this year."By May-end or June, members will experience a transformative change in accessing their provident funds. They will be able to view their PF account balance directly on UPI...

CBI raids top political and police officials in Raipur

26Mar

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CBI raids top political and police officials in Raipur

Raipur, March 26, 2025.The CBI has raided the house of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Bhilai MLA Devendra Yadav and IPS Abhishek Pallav, including two constables, Nakul and Sahdev. The team has raided in the Mahadev Satta App case.According to the information, more than 10 teams of CBI left Raipur in the early hours of March 26. One team reached Bhupesh Baghel's house in Raipur.After this, the rest of the teams reached Bhupesh Baghel's house in Bhilai Three Padum Nagar, MLA Devendra Yadav's bungalow in Sector 5, IPS Abhishek Pallav's bungalow in Sector 9 and the house of constables Nakul and Sahdev, who ran Mahadev Satta during his time, in Nehru Nagar.This entire action of the CBI is regarding the operation of the Mahadev Satta App and the money transac...