DELHI (national capital territory)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the nationwide commemoration marking 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, on Friday. To honor this historic occasion, the Prime Minister released a commemorative postal stamp and coin, and also launched the official “Vande Mataram” website. The year-long celebration will run from November 7, 2025, to November 7, 2026, paying tribute to the timeless composition by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, whose words “Vande Mataram” became the soul of India’s freedom movement. A Symbol of National Pride and Unity The national song Vande Mataram has long been a symbol of India’s unity, pride, and devotion to the motherland. It inspired generations of freedom fighters and continues to igni...

** New Delhi: India’s top leadership is set to make significant diplomatic moves in Africa this month. In a rare alignment of schedules, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are both heading to African nations—an indication of India’s growing strategic and economic engagement with the continent often referred to as the heart of the Global South. President Murmu will undertake state visits to Angola and Botswana from November 8 to 13, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian head of state to these two nations. Soon after, Prime Minister Modi is expected to travel to South Africa later in November to attend the G20 Summit, with possible bilateral engagements with other African nations on the sidelines. Strengthening India–Africa Partnership Angola, rich in o...

New Delhi: The lives of hundreds of children and young patients across India suffering from rare diseases are in grave danger due to halted medical treatments. Parents and patient advocacy groups have made a joint appeal to the Prime Minister and Chief Justice of India (CJI), urging immediate intervention. Funding Shortage Halts Critical Treatment Families highlight that one-time funding of ₹50 lakh per patient under the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD-2021) has been exhausted for many, causing treatment to stop. In the past two years alone, approximately 60 children have died, while over 55 patients are still waiting for treatment. Court Orders Ignored, Health Ministry Appeals Last year, on October 4, the High Court directed the creation of a national fund of ₹974 cror...

New Delhi: In a major breakthrough, the Delhi Crime Branch has re-arrested Nitesh Dahiya, a fugitive wanted in a murder and POCSO case, from Sonipat. Dahiya faces charges of kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder of a minor girl, and had been on the run since being granted bail last year. Fugitive Since Bail The case dates back to 2017, when Nitesh Dahiya and his associates were accused of abducting and killing a man who was in love with his friend’s sister. While initially arrested, Dahiya went absconding after securing bail in November of the previous year. Police Hunt and Raids Crime Branch officials revealed that multiple raids were conducted at potential hideouts over the past year. On 4 November, police received credible information about Dahiya’s presence in Sonipat. Act...

**New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) elections are witnessing a tense contest as vote counting progresses. Voting for the university’s student union was held on November 4, and early trends indicate a tight race between the Left alliance and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Left Alliance Leading on Three Posts, ABVP Ahead on General Secretary As per the latest counting trends, the Left parties—comprising SFI, AISA, and DSF—are leading in three out of four key posts: President, Vice-President, and Joint Secretary. ABVP, however, is showing a strong performance on the General Secretary post, with its candidate Rajeshwar Kant Dubey maintaining a slender lead over the Left candidate Sunil Yadav. President: Left alliance candidate Aditi Mi...