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Bihar Increases Compensation for Snake Bite Deaths to ₹10 Lakh

18Feb

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Bihar, State

Bihar Increases Compensation for Snake Bite Deaths to ₹10 Lakh

Patna: In a significant move for public safety, the Bihar government has more than doubled the compensation for deaths caused by snake bites. Previously, the Disaster Management Department provided ₹4 lakh to the families of victims, but the amount has now been increased to ₹10 lakh. The directive was issued by Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr. Prem Kumar after a detailed review. Legislative Question Triggers ReviewThe issue was raised during the 2026 budget session by BJP MLA from Darbhanga, Jivesh Mishra. He questioned whether snakes are considered wild animals under government policy and highlighted the disparity in compensation for snake bite deaths compared to other wildlife-related fatalities. The matter was discussed with the concerned minister, who struggled to provide a cl...

Rajasthan Budget Reply: Diya Kumari Announces Sweeping Benefits from A to Z

18Feb

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Rajasthan, State

Rajasthan Budget Reply: Diya Kumari Announces Sweeping Benefits from A to Z

Jaipur: In response to the budget debate in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Finance Minister Diya Kumari unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at employees, students, and infrastructure development across the state. Her announcements covered a wide range of areas—from insurance benefits for government employees to major educational and infrastructure projects. Employee BenefitsDiya Kumari announced that government employees will now receive insurance coverage up to their retirement date. Currently, state employees’ insurance policies mature on April 1 of the year they retire, leaving them temporarily without coverage. The new policy ensures insurance protection until the actual retirement date. She further stated that employees undergoing training will not be required to return ...

Ghaziabad DM Issues Ultimatum: Salaries to Be Withheld for Poor Performance

18Feb

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State, Uttar Pradesh

Ghaziabad DM Issues Ultimatum: Salaries to Be Withheld for Poor Performance

Ghaziabad: The District Magistrate of Ghaziabad, Ravindra Kumar Mandad, has issued a strict ultimatum to departmental officers, warning that salaries of officials in poorly performing departments may be withheld until targets are met. During a review of the Chief Minister’s dashboard and revenue collection, several departments were found to be performing well below expectations. DM Mandad stated that officers in departments ranked “C” and “D” will have their salaries suspended until they achieve their set goals. Officers absent from the meeting were also asked to provide explanations. Strict Accountability and ActionDM Mandad emphasized that delays in government work and public grievance redressal will not be tolerated. Tehsildars and SDMs were directed to expedite the resolution of ...

Who Is IPS Rajeev Ranjan? The CBI Officer Leading the Investigation into Patna NEET Student’s Death

18Feb

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Bihar, State

Who Is IPS Rajeev Ranjan? The CBI Officer Leading the Investigation into Patna NEET Student’s Death

Patna: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its probe into the tragic death of a NEET student from Patna. From Patna to Jehanabad, the agency is meticulously collecting evidence. Recently, the CBI even seized the mobile phone of the deceased student’s brother during its investigation in Jehanabad. At the helm of this sensitive case is IPS officer Rajeev Ranjan, who, along with his team, is overseeing every aspect of the inquiry and conducting detailed questioning of the victim’s family. 2005 Batch IPS Officer from BiharRajeev Ranjan is a 2005-batch IPS officer of the Sikkim cadre. He currently serves as the Joint Director (IG) of the CBI for Bihar and Jharkhand, operating from the agency’s Ranchi headquarters. Hailing from Manderi village in the Karghar police stati...

Good News from Kuno: African Cheetah ‘Gamini’ Becomes Mother Again, Welcomes Three Cubs

18Feb

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Madhya Pradesh, State

Good News from Kuno: African Cheetah ‘Gamini’ Becomes Mother Again, Welcomes Three Cubs

Shivpuri, February 18, 2026: Wildlife enthusiasts at Kuno National Park have another reason to celebrate. The female cheetah Gamini, brought from South Africa three years ago, has given birth to three healthy cubs, marking her second litter in India. This brings the total number of cheetah cubs born in India to 27, increasing the overall cheetah population in the country to 38. A Landmark for Cheetah Reintroduction in IndiaGamini’s successful birth comes just weeks after Asha, a cheetah imported from Namibia, gave birth to five cubs at the park. Gamini was brought under the ambitious South African-India cheetah project launched in September 2022, aimed at reintroducing the fastest land predator, which had gone extinct in India decades ago. This marks the ninth successful cheetah birth u...

Maharashtra Government Abolishes 5% Muslim Reservation in Jobs and Education

18Feb

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Maharashtra, State

Maharashtra Government Abolishes 5% Muslim Reservation in Jobs and Education

Mumbai, February 18, 2026: The Maharashtra government has revoked the 5% reservation previously granted to certain Muslim communities in government jobs and educational institutions. The decision was issued late Tuesday night by the Social Justice Department through an official government resolution (GR). Background and ImplementationThe 5% reservation had been provided to socially and educationally backward sections (SEBC) of the Muslim community for admissions in government and aided educational institutions, as well as recruitment in government and semi-government jobs. The decision to withdraw the quota aligns with court rulings and the legal position of policies dating back to 2014. The Muslim community constitutes approximately 11.5% of Maharashtra’s population. Earlier studies...

Sambhal Community Panchayat Issues Wedding Guidelines: Fines, DJ Ban to Curb Extravagance

18Feb

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State, Uttar Pradesh

Sambhal Community Panchayat Issues Wedding Guidelines: Fines, DJ Ban to Curb Extravagance

Sambhal, February 18, 2026: In a bid to curb extravagance in weddings, the Kidwai community of the Muslim society in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, convened a panchayat and issued six strict directives for marriages in the community. Key Directives Only one wedding feast per marriage is allowed. The bride and groom are not to share mobile numbers before the wedding. The wedding procession (baraat) must arrive between 3 PM and 4 PM; any delay will attract a ₹5,000 fine per hour on the groom’s side. DJ music and bhangra performances are banned at wedding venues. Items gifted by the bride’s side should not be displayed or showcased. Enforcement and PurposeThe panchayat has warned that violations of these rules will result in penalties decided by community elders. The move aims...

MP Government Takes ₹5,600 Crore Loan Just 24 Hours Before Budget, Total Debt Rises to ₹4.90 Lakh Crore

18Feb

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Madhya Pradesh, State

MP Government Takes ₹5,600 Crore Loan Just 24 Hours Before Budget, Total Debt Rises to ₹4.90 Lakh Crore

Bhopal, February 18, 2026: On the eve of presenting the Madhya Pradesh Budget 2026, the state government raised a fresh loan of ₹5,600 crore, pushing the total state debt to ₹4.90 lakh crore, exceeding the 2025-26 budget size of ₹4.21 lakh crore. Despite the rising debt, the state’s economic survey projects a growth rate of 8.04%, indicating underlying economic strength. Economic Survey and Debt OverviewDeputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda presented the state’s economic survey in the Assembly on Tuesday, highlighting that the government’s borrowing in any year has not exceeded limits set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The report notes that the debt-to-GSDP ratio declined from 39.5% in 2004-05 to 27.99% in 2023-24, though it may rise to 31.30% in 2025-26. The survey also projects a d...

UP Government Launches Women AI Mission to Train 1 Crore Women in AI and Data Analytics by 2047

18Feb

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State, Uttar Pradesh

UP Government Launches Women AI Mission to Train 1 Crore Women in AI and Data Analytics by 2047

Lucknow, February 18, 2026: The Uttar Pradesh government is set to launch the Women AI Mission under its “Developed UP @2047” campaign, aiming to train over 1 crore women in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Analytics by 2047. The initiative seeks to increase women’s participation in the workforce and promote both self-employment and employment opportunities in the technology sector. AI Training and PPP ModelThe training program will leverage digital platforms and the existing AI lab network across the state. In collaboration with leading global companies like Google, Meta, and OpenAI, women will receive practical training under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The IT and Electronics Department will formalize agreements with multiple companies for this purpose. Additionally...

Excise Department Constable Critically Injured in Celebration Firing During Tilkotsav; Two Constables Suspended

18Feb

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State, Uttar Pradesh

Excise Department Constable Critically Injured in Celebration Firing During Tilkotsav; Two Constables Suspended

Sultanpur, February 18, 2026: A constable of the Uttar Pradesh Excise Department was critically injured during celebratory firing at a Tilkotsav event in Karamajitpur village under Motigarpur police jurisdiction in Sultanpur. The bullet, reportedly fired accidentally by a fellow constable, struck him in the waist. Incident DetailsThe injured officer, Vineet Mishra (36), a resident of Malhipur, Chanda police station area, was attending the event at the Tilkotsav of Ankur Shukla, another Excise Department constable posted in Lucknow. Fellow constable Surendra Yadav, from Umarpur, Baghra, Pratapgarh, who had come from Raebareli, was firing in celebration when the accident occurred. Immediately after the incident, colleagues rushed Vineet Mishra to Sultanpur Medical College. However, due...