Author: Team Admin

New Delhi: The Centre has defended its ethanol blending programme, stating that petrol prices in Delhi could have climbed to ₹125 per litre if ethanol had not been blended with petrol during a period of sharp global crude oil price increases. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the use of E20 fuel, which contains 20 per cent ethanol, helped keep retail fuel prices significantly lower despite international market volatility. The ministry said that when global crude oil prices touched 135 US dollars per barrel, domestic consumers paid ₹94.77 per litre for petrol because ethanol, sourced within India…

New Delhi: India’s crude oil imports from Russia climbed to a record 2.8 million barrels per day (mbd) in July, accounting for more than half of the country’s total crude purchases during the month. The increase comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in West Asia and concerns over the security of key global shipping routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz. According to the latest figures, Russia remained India’s largest crude supplier, continuing a trend that began after New Delhi started purchasing discounted Russian oil following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. The July imports matched record levels and reinforced…

New Delhi: Heavy rainfall continued to batter Kerala, pushing the flood situation into a critical phase as the death toll rose to 11 and more than 7,600 people were evacuated to relief camps across the state. Widespread flooding and severe waterlogging have disrupted normal life in both urban and rural areas, with rescue teams remaining on alert in the worst affected districts. According to the state government, 7,674 people have been moved to 273 relief camps, where authorities are providing food, drinking water and medical assistance. Measures have also been put in place to prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases…

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan, calling for a united national effort to protect young people from substance abuse and help them realise their full potential. Addressing the launch through video conferencing, the Prime Minister said drug addiction diverts youth from their dreams and poses a serious challenge to the nation’s future. Describing India’s young population as the “Amrit Peedhi,” Modi said the country’s progress depends on the aspirations, energy and talent of its youth. He stressed that safeguarding them from addiction is essential to building a developed…

Team Goemkarponn BICHOLIM: Former Deputy Chief Minister Babu Kavlekar on Monday alleged that the issue of granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Dhangar community has not been raised even once in the Goa Legislative Assembly over the past four-and-a-half years. Addressing a Dhangar community convention organised by the Bicholim Taluka Dhangar Samajonnati Mandal at Kasarpal, Kavlekar expressed disappointment over what he described as the continued neglect of the community’s long-pending demand. He said the community had believed its demand for ST status was nearing a resolution, but was taken aback when the Centre sent the proposal back to the…

New Delhi: India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, has defended New Delhi’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, stating that Pakistan had effectively undermined the agreement’s founding principles long before India suspended it. In an opinion article published in a US magazine, Kwatra said the 1960 treaty was built on the values of goodwill and friendship, but Pakistan gradually weakened those foundations through its actions over several decades. He argued that India’s decision to keep the treaty in abeyance merely acknowledged a reality created by Pakistan’s conduct over the years. Kwatra said the treaty…

New Delhi: Delhi Police is investigating what it describes as a potentially coordinated online campaign linked to the recent student protests at Jantar Mantar. The inquiry has expanded beyond social media activity to include financial transactions, digital marketing networks and the role of overseas online accounts in amplifying protest related content. According to the investigation, police are examining around 180 influencer and YouTuber accounts, nearly three private digital marketing companies and more than 400 social media handles that investigators allege have links to Pakistan. Authorities are assessing whether these accounts worked in a coordinated manner to amplify selected content and…