State – Page 26 – SD NEWS agency

Lookout Notice Issued Against Former IAS Officer in ₹900 Crore Jal Jeevan Mission Scam

19Feb

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Rajasthan, State

Lookout Notice Issued Against Former IAS Officer in ₹900 Crore Jal Jeevan Mission Scam

Jaipur: In a major development in the alleged ₹900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scam, investigating agencies have tightened the noose around former IAS officer Subodh Agrawal. A Lookout Notice has been issued against him amid fears that he may attempt to flee abroad. According to official sources, Agrawal’s name surfaced during the ongoing investigation into large-scale financial irregularities and fraudulent billing linked to the Jal Jeevan Mission projects. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is reportedly intensifying its probe, as the case is believed to involve a wide network of officials and contractors. ACB Conducted Search, Former IAS Officer Missing On February 17, the ACB conducted a search operation at Subodh Agrawal’s residence. However, officials were unable to locate ...

IIT Kanpur Research Warns: Major Earthquake Could Cause Severe Damage in Kanpur and Prayagraj

19Feb

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State, Uttar Pradesh

IIT Kanpur Research Warns: Major Earthquake Could Cause Severe Damage in Kanpur and Prayagraj

Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh): A detailed research study conducted by IIT Kanpur has raised serious concerns about earthquake preparedness in Uttar Pradesh. According to the study, if an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 or above strikes the Gangetic plains, the cities of Kanpur and Prayagraj could suffer massive destruction due to a dangerous phenomenon known as soil liquefaction. The warning comes years after the devastating 2015 Nepal earthquake, whose tremors were strongly felt across Uttar Pradesh. Despite that experience, experts believe that the state has still not developed adequate preparedness to handle a major seismic disaster. Liquefaction Identified as the Biggest Threat Explaining the findings, Professor Nihar Ranjan Patra from the Civil Engineering Department of IIT Kanpur said ...

Arshad Madani’s Remark on ‘Ghar Wapsi’ Sparks Controversy, Video Goes Viral

19Feb

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State, Uttar Pradesh

Arshad Madani’s Remark on ‘Ghar Wapsi’ Sparks Controversy, Video Goes Viral

Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh): A political and social controversy has erupted after Maulana Arshad Madani, President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and Principal of Darul Uloom Deoband, made a strong and provocative statement during a public address on the issue of ‘Ghar Wapsi’ (religious reconversion). Speaking at a Unity Conference, Madani reacted sharply to claims allegedly made by certain organisations regarding the reconversion of minorities. In his speech, he referred to statements suggesting that “20 crore Muslims” and “6 crore Christians” would be brought back into Hinduism under the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ campaign. “Seems Like Only They Have Drunk Their Mother’s Milk” During his address, Madani reportedly said that those making such statements appear to believe that only they have the courage...

Solver Gang Busted in Bihar Board Matric Exam 2026, Two ‘Engines’ Caught in Banka

19Feb

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Bihar, State

Solver Gang Busted in Bihar Board Matric Exam 2026, Two ‘Engines’ Caught in Banka

Banka (Bihar): A major case of cheating has surfaced during the ongoing Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Matric Examination 2026, where a solver racket was exposed in Banka district. The incident came to light on the second day of the Class 10 examinations, raising serious concerns over malpractice despite strict vigilance. According to officials, the accused students had arranged ‘engines’—a local term used for impersonators who appear in place of original candidates—to attempt the Mathematics examination. Shockingly, investigators found that this was not an organized gang operation, but rather students themselves had managed to arrange solvers for their benefit. Math Exam Deal Fixed for ₹10,000 During routine checking, invigilators caught two impersonators at different exam...

Microsoft to Invest $50 Billion to Reduce Global AI Inequality, Announces President

19Feb

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Bihar, State

Microsoft to Invest $50 Billion to Reduce Global AI Inequality, Announces President

New Delhi: At the ongoing AI India Impact Summit, major global technology initiatives were unveiled, focusing on expanding artificial intelligence adoption worldwide. Among the key announcements, Microsoft revealed plans to invest $50 billion by the end of the decade to reduce AI inequality between the Global North and Global South. Bridging the Global AI GapMicrosoft President Brad Smith and Chief Responsible AI Officer Natasha Crampton highlighted that AI adoption in the Global South is currently about half the pace of the Global North, and this gap continues to widen. They warned that without timely interventions, AI could exacerbate existing global economic inequalities. Investment Focus AreasThe $50 billion commitment will be directed toward five key areas: Digital infrastru...

Stampede at Shivneri Fort in Pune Leaves 20 Injured on Shivaji Jayanti

19Feb

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Maharashtra, State

Stampede at Shivneri Fort in Pune Leaves 20 Injured on Shivaji Jayanti

Pune: A stampede broke out at Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in Pune on Wednesday night, injuring several people including women and young children. All the injured were immediately admitted to the government hospital in Junnar. Officials have alleged that inadequate police arrangements for managing the crowd contributed to the chaos. Sudden Surge of Devotees Triggers Panic Thousands of devotees had gathered at the fort on Shivaji Jayanti, carrying Shiv Jyot lamps and saffron flags. The sudden surge of people caused congestion at key entry and exit points, including the Haathi Darwaza and under Ambar Khana at Ganesh Darwaza. As people struggled to move, some climbed the fort’s damaged structures and hid in cracks to escape the crowd, which led to panic ...

Lucknow High Court Orders Legal Action to Ban Dangerous “Chinese Manjha”

19Feb

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State, Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow High Court Orders Legal Action to Ban Dangerous “Chinese Manjha”

Lucknow: The Lucknow Bench of the High Court has issued a stern directive to the Uttar Pradesh government, emphasizing that government orders alone are insufficient to curb the sale and use of hazardous Chinese-manufactured kite strings (manjha). The court has called for the creation of a specific law to regulate these strings, warning that continued negligence may compel authorities to pay compensation to victims. Court Observations Hearing a public interest petition filed by local advocate Motilal Yadav, a bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice A.K. Chaudhary highlighted the urgent need for strict regulations on the manufacture, sale, and use of lead-coated and nylon manjha. The bench noted that government orders have largely failed in effective implementation and that a pe...

Allahabad High Court Reduces Maintenance Amount, Urges Balance Between Husband’s Capacity and Family Needs

19Feb

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State, Uttar Pradesh

Allahabad High Court Reduces Maintenance Amount, Urges Balance Between Husband’s Capacity and Family Needs

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has emphasized that maintenance (alimony) should neither burden the husband excessively nor leave the wife and children in hardship. In a recent judgment, the court reduced a monthly maintenance order from ₹16,000 to ₹8,000. Case Details The order came on a criminal revision petition filed by the husband, Anil Kumar, challenging a previous ruling by the Family Court in Fatehpur. The Family Court, on 22 April 2025, had ordered Kumar to pay ₹10,000 per month to his wife and ₹6,000 to his son under Section 125 of the CrPC, based on an estimated income of ₹32,000 per month. Kumar’s lawyer argued that the maintenance of ₹16,000 represented nearly 50% of his income, an unreasonably high burden. Justice Madan Pal Singh, hearing the case, noted that gen...

Chhattisgarh to Keep Liquor Shops Open on Holi and Muharram, Sparks Opposition

19Feb

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Chhattisgarh, State

Chhattisgarh to Keep Liquor Shops Open on Holi and Muharram, Sparks Opposition

Raipur, Chhattisgarh: The Chhattisgarh government has announced changes to the state’s excise policy, reducing the number of annual dry days from seven to three and allowing liquor shops to remain open during festivals like Holi and Muharram. The decision has sparked criticism from opposition parties and social organizations. Under the previous policy, liquor shops were closed on major religious and national occasions, and the entire state observed a dry day. The government’s move to open shops during these occasions marks a significant departure from tradition, prompting debates about morality, social values, and revenue generation. Government’s Rationale Officials argue that the policy aims to balance regulation with challenges of enforcement and public demand. Liquor shops will...

Bihar Rajya Sabha Elections 2026: Fifth Seat Could Depend on Owaisi’s Party

19Feb

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Bihar, State

Bihar Rajya Sabha Elections 2026: Fifth Seat Could Depend on Owaisi’s Party

Patna: With the Election Commission announcing the schedule for elections to five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar, political maneuvering has intensified. The ruling NDA has begun strong lobbying for tickets, while opposition RJD faces a tough task in securing even one seat. Currently, of the five seats up for election, three are held by the NDA and two by RJD. NDA is widely expected to retain four seats, but the fifth seat could be contested fiercely depending on the arithmetic of votes in the Assembly. According to the EC notification, nomination filing will begin on 26 February, with voting scheduled for 16 March. NDA Stronghold: Two Seats Secure for JD(U) Of the five seats, two belong to Janata Dal (United), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The incumbents, Ramnath Thakur, son o...