Sunday, April 12

State

Alwar Becomes India’s First District with Fully Insured Villages Under ‘Sabko Bima Abhiyan-2047’
Rajasthan, State

Alwar Becomes India’s First District with Fully Insured Villages Under ‘Sabko Bima Abhiyan-2047’

Alwar: Rajasthan’s Alwar district has set a national precedent by becoming the first district in India where all eligible residents of 10 villages have received 100% insurance coverage under the government’s ‘Sabko Bima Abhiyan-2047’ initiative. On Tuesday, nine villages in the district were formally declared fully insured, joining Desula, which had already achieved full coverage last year. The initiative is part of the national vision of “Safe India – Insured India,” jointly implemented by the Government of India and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). 1,367 previously uninsured residents now covered A total of 4,861 residents across the nine newly covered villages were assessed, and 1,367 individuals above 10 years of age who previously had no in...
Cold Wave Returns to Rajasthan as Temperatures Dip; Nagaur Records Lowest Reading
State

Cold Wave Returns to Rajasthan as Temperatures Dip; Nagaur Records Lowest Reading

Jaipur: A fresh spell of biting cold has gripped Rajasthan after the withdrawal of a western disturbance, allowing icy northern winds to sweep across the state. The sudden shift has triggered what residents are calling a “second phase” of winter, with temperatures dropping sharply in several districts. Nagaur emerged as the coldest location in the state, recording a minimum temperature of 5.5°C, while parts of the Shekhawati region slipped into single-digit readings. Sharp fall in night temperatures Cities including Jaipur, Sikar and Churu experienced intense cold conditions on Tuesday. Meteorological data shows a drop of up to 4°C in minimum temperatures due to persistent northern winds. Sikar, Pali and Fatehpur also reported lows hovering between 5°C and 6°C. The cold has bee...
Who Is Baljeet Yadav? From Protest Runs to ED Arrest in MLA Fund Case
Rajasthan, State

Who Is Baljeet Yadav? From Protest Runs to ED Arrest in MLA Fund Case

Jaipur: Former Behror MLA Baljeet Yadav, once known for his dramatic anti-corruption protests and youth appeal, has now been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to alleged misuse of MLA development funds worth ₹3.72 crore. The arrest marks a sharp fall for a politician who built his public image around activism and symbolic protests against corruption. A protest figure turned political face Baljeet Yadav first gained statewide attention after winning the 2018 Rajasthan Assembly election as an independent candidate. He cultivated an image of a street-level activist and positioned himself as a voice against corruption and examination paper leaks. In 2022, Yadav staged a high-profile protest in Jaipur’s Central Park by running continuousl...
Nagaur Explosives Network Exposed: Nursing Worker Among Four Arrested After 10-Tonne Seizure
Rajasthan, State

Nagaur Explosives Network Exposed: Nursing Worker Among Four Arrested After 10-Tonne Seizure

Nagaur: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the seizure of 10 tonnes of explosives in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district has uncovered a deeply rooted illegal supply network, including the involvement of a contract nursing worker who allegedly used his hospital job as a cover to run an explosives racket. The explosives were recovered on January 24 in Harsaur, triggering a high-level investigation that has alarmed security agencies. Police have arrested four major suppliers linked to the illegal trade. Nursing worker ran supply chain for two years The most startling revelation, according to investigators, is the role of Devaraj Medtiya, who had surrendered his explosives magazine licence two years ago and is currently employed as a contractual nursing worker at Kuchera Community...
Former Behror MLA Baljeet Yadav Arrested by ED in ₹3.72 Crore MLA Fund Embezzlement Case
Rajasthan, State

Former Behror MLA Baljeet Yadav Arrested by ED in ₹3.72 Crore MLA Fund Embezzlement Case

Jaipur: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested former Behror MLA Baljeet Yadav in connection with an alleged misuse of MLA Local Area Development (LAD) funds and a money laundering investigation involving more than ₹3.72 crore. The arrest was carried out by the ED’s Jaipur regional unit late Tuesday night. According to officials, Yadav was taken into custody near the Shahjahanpur toll plaza on the Delhi–Jaipur highway in Alwar district, close to an NHAI office. He was subsequently brought to the ED office in Jaipur for questioning and formally arrested after preliminary interrogation. Massive searches conducted earlier ED sources revealed that large-scale searches were conducted in January 2025 at properties linked to Yadav. Raids were carried out at eight locations in Jaip...
Fake Milk Racket Busted in Tonk: 80,000 Litres Supplied Daily to Jaipur, Ajmer
Rajasthan, State

Fake Milk Racket Busted in Tonk: 80,000 Litres Supplied Daily to Jaipur, Ajmer

Tonk / Jaipur: A shocking food adulteration racket supplying nearly 80,000 litres of fake milk daily to Jaipur, Ajmer and Tonk has been exposed after police raided an illegal factory operating in Tonk district. Authorities say the operation posed a serious public health threat, with dangerous chemicals including caustic soda being mixed into the milk to extend shelf life. The late-night raid was carried out by the District Special Team (DST) in Diggi town near Bagar Ki Dhani on Deshma Road. During the operation, police seized around 5,500 litres of adulterated milk, five pickup vehicles loaded with milk cans, and a tanker ready for distribution. Large stock of chemicals recovered Investigators recovered huge quantities of materials used to manufacture synthetic milk, including: ...
20-Year-Old Man Stabbed to Death in West Delhi; Minor Suspect on the Run
DELHI (national capital territory), State

20-Year-Old Man Stabbed to Death in West Delhi; Minor Suspect on the Run

New Delhi, Feb 4: A 20-year-old man was stabbed to death following a dispute in West Delhi’s Tilak Vihar area, police said on Tuesday. The victim, identified as Shivam, was attacked Monday night near his residence in the 80 Gaj Colony and later declared dead at a hospital. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Sharad Bhaskar, police received information about the incident around 9:30 pm. A team rushed to the spot and learned that Shivam had been repeatedly stabbed during a fight. He was taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in Hari Nagar, where doctors declared him dead. Police said the alleged attacker is a minor who lives in the neighborhood and is currently absconding. The weapon used in the crime has been recovered, and forensic teams examined the scene. Investigators...
Protests Erupt at JNU After Suspension of Five PhD Scholars Over Library Vandalism Case
DELHI (national capital territory), State

Protests Erupt at JNU After Suspension of Five PhD Scholars Over Library Vandalism Case

New Delhi, Feb 4: Protests have intensified at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) after the administration suspended five PhD scholars, including all four office-bearers of the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU), over allegations of vandalism and disruption on campus. The university said the disciplinary action relates to an incident on November 21 involving alleged damage to facial-recognition access gates installed at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Central Library, along with violence and obstruction of academic and administrative functioning. The students’ union has denied the allegations. On February 2, the JNU administration rusticated JNUSU president Aditi Mishra, vice-president K. Gopika, general secretary Sunil Yadav, joint secretary Danish Ali, and former JNUSU president Nitish Kumar for two ...
Delhi Jal Board Spends Less Than 60% of ₹9,000 Crore Budget; Funds Likely to Be Cut Next Fiscal
DELHI (national capital territory), State

Delhi Jal Board Spends Less Than 60% of ₹9,000 Crore Budget; Funds Likely to Be Cut Next Fiscal

New Delhi, Feb 4: The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has spent less than 60 percent of its ₹9,000 crore allocation for the 2025–26 financial year even after 10 months, raising the possibility of a budget cut in the coming fiscal year. According to officials, the revised expenditure is estimated at only 50–55 percent of the total allocation, meaning a substantial portion of the funds may have to be surrendered. The underutilization has prompted concerns over delays in key water and sewer infrastructure projects. Senior DJB officials said the budget included ₹250 crore for replacing old sewer lines, another ₹250 crore for upgrading supply lines from water treatment plants, and ₹50 crore for repairs to a branch of the Munak Canal. A major ₹200 crore project to lay a pipeline from Haryana to Delh...
Clean Air Funding Cut in Budget; Experts Warn of Worsening Pollution Crisis in Delhi-NCR
DELHI (national capital territory), State

Clean Air Funding Cut in Budget; Experts Warn of Worsening Pollution Crisis in Delhi-NCR

New Delhi, Feb 4: The Union Budget has drawn sharp criticism from environmental experts after allocating less funding for pollution control than last year, raising concerns about the worsening air quality crisis in Delhi-NCR. Specialists say the budget fails to give adequate priority to air pollution, despite it being one of the region’s most pressing public health emergencies. They argue that no strong, dedicated provision addressing air quality is visible, calling it a major policy lapse. For 2026–27, the allocation for Pollution Control Boards and the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) has been fixed at ₹1,091 crore — ₹209 crore lower than the revised estimate of ₹1,300 crore for 2025–26. Climate activists have reacted strongly to the cut, noting that not only has the allocati...