Nation – Page 38 – SD NEWS agency

“Sour Grapes”: Piyush Goyal Strongly Rebuts Congress Criticism of India-EU FTA

29Jan

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Nation, Politics

“Sour Grapes”: Piyush Goyal Strongly Rebuts Congress Criticism of India-EU FTA

New Delhi: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has robustly countered allegations made by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh regarding the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Goyal dismissed Ramesh’s claims as a “sour grapes” narrative, asserting that those who failed to deliver while in power are now claiming credit for inaction. Goyal highlighted that the prolonged delay in FTA negotiations between 2013 and 2022 had cost India dearly in terms of jobs, income, and economic growth. He described the agreement as a historic, mutually beneficial deal that opens up substantial opportunities for employment and development in India. What Jairam Ramesh Criticized Ramesh had posted on X that the FTA had been “overhyped,” raising concerns over: ...

Supreme Court Dismisses Petition of Doctor Siblings Seeking Minority Quota; CJI Suryakant Questions Legitimacy of Religion-Based Benefits

29Jan

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Nation

Supreme Court Dismisses Petition of Doctor Siblings Seeking Minority Quota; CJI Suryakant Questions Legitimacy of Religion-Based Benefits

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition by a brother-sister doctor duo from Haryana who attempted to gain admission under the minority quota by converting to Buddhism. The bench, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Suryakant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, has also taken suo motu notice to examine whether a person born to affluent upper-caste parents can claim minority status through religious conversion to avail educational benefits. The Background The siblings, hailing from the wealthy village of Satrod Kalan in Hisar district, cleared the NEET-PG exam and sought admission to a postgraduate medical program in Uttar Pradesh. The institution claimed minority status for the Buddhist community, which the duo challenged in court. Their lawyer argued that the Uttar Pradesh government...

Supreme Court Slams States Over Fake Data on Stray Dogs, Orders Strict Action

29Jan

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Nation

Supreme Court Slams States Over Fake Data on Stray Dogs, Orders Strict Action

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sharply criticized several states for providing misleading information on stray dog management, calling their affidavits “eye-wash” and “full of fabricated figures.” The bench emphasized that compliance with Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules is essential to control stray dog populations and ensure public safety. A three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria reviewed the states’ responses and expressed shock over the figures submitted by Jharkhand, which claimed that nearly 1.9 lakh dogs were vaccinated and sterilized in just two months. The court noted that such a scale of sterilization is impossible given the resources and manpower available. The Supreme Court reiterated its November 7, 2025 directive, w...

UGC Rules Controversy: Government to Await Supreme Court Directions Amid Strong Opposition

29Jan

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Nation

UGC Rules Controversy: Government to Await Supreme Court Directions Amid Strong Opposition

New Delhi: The debate over the University Grants Commission (UGC) rules continues, with several petitions already filed in the Supreme Court. A hearing is expected soon, but the government has indicated it will not rush a decision and will instead wait for the court’s guidance before making any amendments or changes. Following opposition to the new rules, the government stated last Tuesday that the regulations have been implemented under the Supreme Court’s oversight. Officials emphasized that no caste, community, or individual should face injustice under the new framework. Experts suggest that the best course of action for the government is to wait for the Supreme Court’s verdict before taking further steps. Options for the Government Experts say the government has multiple optio...

IAF Releases Republic Day Video Showing ‘Operation Sindoor’; Confirms No Attack on Pakistan’s Nuclear Sites

29Jan

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Nation

IAF Releases Republic Day Video Showing ‘Operation Sindoor’; Confirms No Attack on Pakistan’s Nuclear Sites

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released a visually striking video on Republic Day, featuring various fighter aircraft, including Rafale, Su-30MKI, Jaguar, and Tejas. The video showcases India’s aerial capabilities and reiterates the message that these advanced jets are “guardians of peace.” The video sparked renewed speculation about last year’s Operation Sindoor, with some viewers questioning whether the IAF had struck Pakistan’s nuclear facilities at Kirana Hills in Sargodha. However, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, then Director General of Air Operations, had clarified at the time that India did not attack the Kirana Hills. The IAF has reiterated its stance in response to queries about the new video. Wing Commander Jaydeep Singh, spokesperson for the IAF, told TOI, “We stand by o...

Rahul Gandhi Meets Kanimozhi in Delhi; No Final Decision on Tamil Nadu Assembly Seat Sharing

29Jan

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Nation

Rahul Gandhi Meets Kanimozhi in Delhi; No Final Decision on Tamil Nadu Assembly Seat Sharing

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met DMK parliamentary leader Kanimozhi in Delhi on Wednesday to discuss key issues related to the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. However, the meeting did not result in any final agreement on alliance arrangements or seat-sharing between the two parties. Sources indicate that the leaders discussed political and organizational matters that still need resolution. No concrete talks took place regarding the distribution of assembly seats, nor was there any discussion on the number of seats that Congress would be allocated. Rahul Gandhi reportedly told Kanimozhi that a team appointed by the Congress president would handle detailed seat-sharing discussions. Meanwhile, the DMK has not indicated any willingness to significantly increase the num...

Jaishankar Likely to Visit US Next Week; Could Pave Way for Modi-Trump Meeting

29Jan

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Nation

Jaishankar Likely to Visit US Next Week; Could Pave Way for Modi-Trump Meeting

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to visit the United States next week to attend the Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting, a high-level forum focused on securing the global supply chain of essential minerals. The visit could also help ease recent tensions in India-US relations and potentially set the stage for a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President Donald Trump. The ministerial meeting, hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington D.C., will bring together partner countries to discuss cooperation in critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. These minerals are vital for electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and defense systems. The summit comes at a time when trade negotiations between Indi...

Supreme Court Flags “New Fraud” in Medical Admissions via Religious Conversion

29Jan

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Nation

Supreme Court Flags “New Fraud” in Medical Admissions via Religious Conversion

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken a strong stand against attempts to manipulate the medical admissions system through fraudulent religious conversions. Two upper-caste candidates reportedly adopted Buddhism to seek admission under the minority quota in postgraduate medical courses, prompting the court to describe the move as an infringement on the rights of genuine minority candidates. The case came up on Tuesday when the petitioners approached the court claiming they had converted to Buddhism and produced certificates issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO). However, when questioned about their caste, the candidates revealed they were Jats. The court observed, “You belong to the upper-caste category. How can you then be considered a minority?” The Supreme Court expressed con...

Mallikarjun Kharge Demands Probe into Ajit Pawar’s Plane Crash

28Jan

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Nation

Mallikarjun Kharge Demands Probe into Ajit Pawar’s Plane Crash

New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and has called for a thorough investigation into the incident. Ajit Pawar, along with four other individuals, died in the crash near Baramati in Pune district on Wednesday morning. Investigation Needed into the Cause of the CrashWhen asked about the need for an inquiry, Kharge told reporters at the Parliament premises, “An investigation must be conducted because such an accident has occurred. Leaders and corporate officials frequently travel by air. This was a small aircraft—why this happened needs to be thoroughly examined.” Earlier, Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also...

“Our Children’s Minds Will Not Be Sold”: Andhra Pradesh and Goa Consider Social Media Ban for Minors Following France-Australia Model

28Jan

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Nation

“Our Children’s Minds Will Not Be Sold”: Andhra Pradesh and Goa Consider Social Media Ban for Minors Following France-Australia Model

New Delhi / Paris: In a move that could reshape digital safety for children, Andhra Pradesh and Goa are reportedly preparing to introduce restrictions on social media use for minors. The initiative follows similar steps taken internationally, with France recently banning social media for children under 15 and Australia being the first country to impose a nationwide ban on platforms for those under 16. France Leads the WayFrance’s new legislation, approved by the National Assembly with a 130-21 vote, will come into effect from the next academic session in September. The law also imposes restrictions on mobile phone use within high schools. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that the measure is guided by scientific recommendations and reflects overwhelming public demand. He state...