सिल्क साड़ी पहन Rakul Preet Singh ने ढाया कहर, रॉयल ज्वेलरी और कातिलाना मुस्कान पर फ़िदा हुए फैंस

कुलमिलाकर उनका यह लुक किसी राजकुमारी से कम नहीं लग रहा।

भारत तेजी से बदल रहा है। नई तकनीक, बेहतर सड़कें, डिजिटल सेवाएँ और विकास की अनेक योजनाएँ देश की तस्वीर बदल रही हैं। लेकिन किसी भी विकास की वास्तविक सफलता तभी मानी जाएगी, जब उसका लाभ अंतिम पंक्ति में खड़े व्यक्ति तक भी पहुँचे।

सरकार, निजी क्षेत्र और सामाजिक संस्थाओं—तीनों की अपनी-अपनी महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका है। सरकार नीतियाँ बनाती है, उद्योग रोजगार और आर्थिक गतिविधियों को बढ़ावा देते हैं, जबकि सामाजिक संगठन उन लोगों तक सहायता पहुँचाने का प्रयास करते हैं जिन्हें इसकी सबसे अधिक आवश्यकता होती है।

आज आवश्यकता केवल योजनाएँ बनाने की नहीं, बल्कि उन्हें प्रभावी ढंग से लागू करने की भी है। शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य, रोजगार और सड़क सुरक्षा जैसे क्षेत्रों में निरंतर सुधार देश को और मजबूत बना सकते हैं।

एक जागरूक नागरिक के रूप में हमारा भी दायित्व है कि हम सही जानकारी साझा करें, कानूनों का पालन करें और समाज में सकारात्मक सोच को बढ़ावा दें। विकास तभी स्थायी होगा जब सरकार, उद्योग और समाज मिलकर जिम्मेदारी के साथ आगे बढ़ेंगे।

(यह संपादकीय लेखक के विचार प्रस्तुत करता है।)

At the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Gulveer Singh scripted history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win a medal in the men’s 10,000-metre race after claiming a silver medal. The reigning Asian champion clocked 27:49.78 at the Scotstoun Stadium to finish behind Australia’s Ky Robinson.

Harjinder Kaur also added a silver to India’s medal tally in the women’s 69-kilogramme weightlifting event. The 29-year-old Indian weightlifter finished with a combined lift of 227 kilograms to secure India’s seventh medal from eight weightlifting events in Glasgow. This was Harjinder Kaur’s second successive Commonwealth Games medal, after she won bronze at Birmingham in 2022. With this, India’s total medal count at the Glasgow Games rose to 12, including two gold, seven silver and three bronze medals.

Meanwhile, four Indian boxers have secured guaranteed bronze medals and will aim to convert them into silver or gold when they compete in the semifinals.

Lovlina Borgohain secured India’s first guaranteed medal in the women’s 75-kilogramme event, while Preeti Pawar progressed to the women’s 54-kilogramme semifinals. Priya Ghanghas assured herself of at least a bronze medal by defeating Scotland’s Niamh Mitchell 4-1 in her women’s 60-kilogramme quarterfinal match. Jadumani Singh Mandengbam also stormed into the men’s 55-kilogramme semifinals, extending India’s guaranteed boxing medal tally.

The PoJK is currently engulfed with a wave of protests against the Pakistani authorities since months. Pakistan’s military and authority has been accused of inciting violence by disrupting peaceful protests, carrying out mass arrests and imposing a severe communication blackout by shutting down the internet to cut the region from rest of the world. The unrest in PoJK has spread to Mirpur after the deadly violence in Rawalakot, with several social media accounts alleging that Pakistani security forces opened fire on civilians during fresh protests.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has called for an independent and transparent investigation into reports of the use of lethal force against protesters in PoJK by Pakistani forces while urging Pakistani authorities to restore communication services and allow media and independent observers access to the region.

In a statement, Amnesty International’s Acting Regional Director for South Asia, Isabelle Lassee, reacted to the security forces using lethal force against protesters in Rawalakot during the first day of the regional election. She said the ongoing internet and mobile services blackout was preventing independent verification of the situation on the ground. Amnesty also raised concerns over the ban imposed on the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), stating that tensions surrounding the election had been heightened by the move.

The Delhi Government has approved the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana, aimed at the economic empowerment and social security of women. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta at the Delhi Secretariat yesterday. Under the scheme, eligible women will receive financial assistance of 2,500 rupees every month. A provision of 5,110 crore rupees has been made for the scheme in the 2026-27 Budget.

Speaking to the media in New Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the registration portal for the scheme will open on 1st August. She said women between 21 and 60 years of age, with an annual family income of up to 2.5 lakh rupees, will be eligible to avail of the benefits.

The Chief Minister said the scheme is aimed not only at providing financial assistance but also at promoting education, healthcare, skill development, savings and greater social participation among women. She expressed confidence that the initiative would benefit more than 17 lakh women and help make them self-reliant and empowered.

In Jharkhand, security forces have achieved a major breakthrough in anti-Naxal operations. Top Maoist leader and Politburo member Misir Besra, carrying a bounty of one crore rupees, has been arrested from the Dhanbad-Giridih border.

Regional Committee Member Mehnat alias Mochhu, carrying a reward of 15 lakh rupees, Maoist cadre Gaurav and two villagers were also apprehended during the joint operation.

The operation was carried out by the CoBRA, CRPF and Jharkhand Police based on specific intelligence inputs.

The Lok Sabha will resume discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, today. Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh, moved the Bill for consideration and passing in the House yesterday.

The Bill seeks to amend the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. It incorporates several significant provisions, including stringent penalties such as imprisonment for up to ten years, fines of up to ten crore rupees and seizure of the properties of convicted offenders.

To ensure expeditious disposal of cases, the legislation mandates every State Government and Union Territory Administration to establish Special Fast Track Courts for day-to-day trials. It further provides that investigations into offences must be completed within two months from the date the information is recorded at the police station. Trials must be concluded within three months from the filing of the chargesheet.

Moving the Bill, Dr Jitendra Singh said the new legislation reaffirms the government’s deep commitment to safeguarding the welfare of the students and youth of the country. He said it also reiterates Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve not to allow anyone to compromise the future of the youth. Listing a series of paper leaks that occurred during the Congress and UPA era, Dr Singh said there was no comprehensive law to tackle such cases. He said the Modi Government brought the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to ensure speedy justice.

Participating in the discussion, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accused the government of not being serious about the education sector.

BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj termed the legislation a transformative step and said such legislation is the need of the hour to ensure fair and transparent examinations. She said the examination mafia has become organised and evolved into a cross-state criminal network. Ms Swaraj said the Bill mandates every State and Union Territory to establish Special Fast Track Courts for speedy trials.

Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav expressed concern over paper leaks in various examinations. Mr Yadav said the NEET UG paper was leaked this year despite the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act being made in 2024.

Abhishek Banerjee of AITC, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu of TDP and Dr Shrikant Shinde of Shiv Sena supported the Bill. The TDP MP also called for decentralised question paper-setting committees.

Dayanidhi Maran of DMK asserted that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the core issue, which is not uniform and is against students.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the government of failing to protect the interests of students and weakening the education system. She added that the youth had come out to protest to restore their faith in the education system and seek accountability. She also levelled allegations against newly appointed Education Minister Pralhad Joshi, which led to a heated exchange in the Lok Sabha. Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Kiren Rijiju asked her to authenticate her remarks or apologise to the House.

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said students want a system that protects their future and not politics. He said a fair examination is the only gateway to opportunity for crores of families.

Other members, including NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, Samajwadi Party’s Dimple Yadav, BJP’s Anurag Thakur and Shashank Mani, Congress MP KC Venugopal, S Venkatesan of CPI(M), Gurumoorthy Maddila of YSRCP, RJD’s Abhay Kumar Sinha, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and Harsimrat Kaur Badal of SAD, also participated in the discussion.

The discussion remained inconclusive. Presiding Officer Sandhya Ray adjourned the House to meet at 11 AM today.

केंद्र सरकार ने अनुसूचित जाति (एससी) समुदायों के सामाजिक-आर्थिक सशक्तिकरण के लिए संचालित प्रधानमंत्री अनुसूचित जाति अभ्युदय योजना (पीएम-अजय) को वर्ष 2026-27 से 2030-31 तक बढ़े हुए वित्तीय परिव्यय के साथ जारी रखने का प्रस्ताव रखा है। सरकार का कहना है कि योजना के तहत अब तक अवसंरचना विकास, शिक्षा, आजीविका और बुनियादी सुविधाओं तक पहुंच में उल्लेखनीय सुधार देखने को मिला है। सामाजिक न्याय एवं अधिकारिता राज्य मंत्री रामदास अठावले ने लोकसभा में एक लिखित उत्तर में यह जानकारी दी।

2021-22 से अब तक 4,276.62 करोड़ रुपए जारी

मंत्री ने बताया कि वर्ष 2021-22 में शुरू की गई पीएम-अजय योजना को तीन प्रमुख घटकों—आदर्श ग्राम, सहायता अनुदान और छात्रावास—के माध्यम से लागू किया जा रहा है। वर्ष 2025-26 तक इस योजना के तहत 30 राज्यों और केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों को 4,276.62 करोड़ रुपए जारी किए गए हैं। वहीं, राज्यों और केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों ने 3,185.072 करोड़ रुपए के उपयोग की जानकारी दी है। केवल वर्ष 2025-26 में ही 1,100.09 करोड़ रुपए जारी किए गए हैं।

नीति आयोग ने बताया प्रभावी

सामाजिक न्याय एवं अधिकारिता मंत्रालय ने बताया कि विकास निगरानी एवं मूल्यांकन कार्यालय (DMEO), नीति आयोग के स्वतंत्र मूल्यांकन में पीएम-अजय योजना को प्रभावी पाया गया है। रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, योजना ने अनुसूचित जाति बहुल क्षेत्रों में अवसंरचना, बिजली, बैंकिंग सुविधाओं, स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं, शिक्षा और आजीविका के अवसरों तक पहुंच बेहतर बनाने में महत्वपूर्ण योगदान दिया है।

3,112 गांवों की हुई पहचान

मंत्रालय के अनुसार, ‘आदर्श ग्राम’ घटक के तहत वर्ष 2018-19 से अब तक 3,112 गांवों की पहचान की गई है। इनमें से 3,111 गांव तमिलनाडु में हैं, जहां मॉडल गांव विकसित करने के लिए नागरिक सुविधाओं और सार्वजनिक सेवाओं को मजबूत किया गया है।

योजना का दायरा होगा और व्यापक

सरकार ने वर्ष 2026-27 से 2030-31 तक पीएम-अजय योजना को बढ़े हुए वित्तीय परिव्यय के साथ जारी रखने का प्रस्ताव रखा है। इसका उद्देश्य योजना का दायरा बढ़ाना, अवसंरचना विकास में तेजी लाना, स्थायी आजीविका के अवसर सृजित करना और अनुसूचित जाति के विद्यार्थियों के लिए शैक्षणिक सहायता को और मजबूत करना है।

सामाजिक न्याय के प्रति प्रतिबद्धता

सरकार ने कहा कि पीएम-अजय के माध्यम से अनुसूचित जाति समुदायों के सामाजिक और आर्थिक सशक्तिकरण को आगे बढ़ाने, समावेशी विकास सुनिश्चित करने तथा विकास का लाभ प्रत्येक पात्र परिवार तक पहुंचाने के लिए वह प्रतिबद्ध है। (इनपुट: पीआईबी)

India’s First Commercial Freight Train Reaches Nepal Carrying Canola

India’s first-ever direct commercial container freight train has reached Nepal, marking a new chapter in rail-based cross-border freight movement. The Railway Ministry said that the train, comprising 40 wagons carrying a consignment of canola, completed its journey under the revised India-Nepal Rail Transit Protocol.  The successful operation enables direct rail movement of containerised cargo from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar without transshipment at the border. The new arrangement is expected to reduce transit time, logistics costs and cargo handling while improving the efficiency, reliability and competitiveness of cross-border trade between the two neighbouring countries. 

The Ministry said that the direct freight service is also expected to provide a significant boost to the movement of import and export cargo by offering a faster, more economical and environmentally sustainable mode of transportation. It added that by reducing multiple handling points and improving supply chain efficiency, the initiative will benefit exporters, importers, logistics operators and industries engaged in cross-border trade.