THE HEADLINES :-
- Enforcement Directorate questions Robert Vadra in money-laundering case linked to land deal in Haryana.
- India's Haj quota increases by nearly 40 thousand from 2014 to 2025.
- Wholesale price index inflation eases to 2.05 per cent in March.
- Stock markets surges by over 2 per cent following temporary tariff relief on electronic goods by US.
- US government freezes 2.3 billion dollar funds to Harvard University after it rejects Trump's demand to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes.
- Second leg of ISSF Shooting World Cup 2025 to begin at Lima in Peru today.
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today questioned Robert Vadra, the husband of senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in connection with its money-laundering probe linked to a land deal in Haryana. The case is related to purchase of a land in Gurugram by Mr. Vadra's company. Earlier, in the morning Mr. Vadra reached ED office in the National Capital to appear before the agency.
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The Enforcement Directorate is also conducting searches at more than 15 locations including the residence of Former Rajasthan Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas and others today. The raids are part of an ongoing investigation into the massive 48 thousand crore rupee investor fraud linked to M/s PACL. As per the sources, FIR has also been registered against the associates of late Nirmal Singh Bhangoo for illegally disposing off the properties of the company and its associate entities. The ED teams reached Khachariyawas's house in Jaipur early this morning for investigation.
Our Jaipur Correspondent reports, as soon as Kachariyawas's supporters got information about the ED action, they reached outside his residence and started raising slogans in his support. The federal probe agency is searching multiple premises in this case at some other locations too.
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India's Haj quota has been increased from 1 lakh 36 thousand in 2014 to 1 lakh 75 thousand in 2025. In a social media post, the Ministry of Minority Affairs said, it is managing the arrangements through Haj Commitee of India for over 1 lakh 22 thousand pilgrims this year under the main quota. The Ministry said, all necessary preparations including flights, transport, Mina camps, accommodation, and services, have been completed as per the Saudi Arabian guidelines. It said, the remaining quota was allotted, as customary, to private tour operators. The Ministry further noted that, in line with updated Saudi regulations, it has consolidated more than 800 operators into 26 Combined Haj Group Operators and distributed the quota to them well in advance.
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Registrations for the 52-day long upcoming annual Amarnath Yatra have started. The Pilgrims can register online via Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board website, jksasb.nic.in. More from our correspondent:
"Registrations can also be done at over 540 authorized bank branches across the country and designated centers such as Panchayat Bhawan, Vaishnavi Dham, and Mahajan Hall. Registration is mandatory for all pilgrims and a Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC), issued by an authorised medical body, is required to confirm fitness for the high-altitude trek. To manage the number of participants, only about 15 thousand yatris will be allowed per day. The registration fee for each pilgrim is 220 rupees. A Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID card is mandatory for all pilgrims. The Yatra will commence on July 3 this year from the Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The Yatra will culminate on August 9 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. With Gulshan Raina, Sanjeev Jasrotia, Akashwani News, Jammu."
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In Jammu and Kashmir, a brief exchange of fire took place between terrorists and security forces in a village in Poonch district last night. Army’s Jammu-based White Knight Corps informed on social media that the contact was established with terrorists during a joint operation with Police at Lasana, Surankote last night. Additional troops have been inducted, and search operations are ongoing to prevent the terrorists from escaping. One Army personnel was injured in the fire fight and was subsequently shifted to a hospital. Further details are awaited.
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The Union Minister of External Affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for various developmental works of over 11.5 crore rupees in Narmada district of Gujarat today. The Minister inaugurated the smart Anganwadi and smart classroom at Lachhras village under MPLADS programme. He also visited Post Office Passport Seva Kendra, at Rajpipla. Talking to the media, Dr Jaishankar said, the vision of a Developed India can be achieved through development at the grassroots level.
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Senior leaders of Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal, RJD today held a meeting in New Delhi and discussed their strategies for the upcoming Assembly Polls in Bihar. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior party leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and others attended the meeting. Talking to media after the meeting, Mr Yadav descibed the meeting as positive, adding that they will hold another meeting on 17th of this month in Patna.
Meanwhile, BJP has taken a dig at RJD and Congress, saying such meetings are going to yield no positive results for the opposition alliance, as people of Bihar have already made up their mind to vote again for the NDA. The election for the 243 member Bihar assembly is scheduled to be held later this year.
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The BJP has urged the West Bengal Governor Dr C V Ananda Bose to intervene into the Murshidabad violence issue over Waqf (Amendment) Act. A petition in this regard was also filed at the Supreme Court by Shashank Sekher Jha, requesting for a court monitored investigation incident by Special Investigation Team.
Meanwhile, the ADG (Eastern Command) BSF, Ravi Gandhi visited Samsherganj of Murshidabad yesterday and held a review meeting with the State DGP Rajeev Kumar and ADG, South Bengal Supratim Sarkar. The ADG said, BSF and police would jointly work to maintain peace and order in the violence affected areas.
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Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that the Waqf Amendment Act is part of the Central government policy to protect the rights of the people and to prevent anyone illegally grabbing the land of any citizen of the country. Speaking to the media in Kochi , Rijiju said that the land in Munambam will not be allowed to be declared as Waqf land unilaterally and the rights of every citizen will be protected.
The Minister further said that the opposition is misleading the people and the Waqf Amendment Act is not targeting any community and many Muslim organizations have come forward in support of the law.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Congress is doing vote bank politics over the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act. He accused the Congress of crushing the spirit of the Constitution to stay in the power and treating SC, ST, OBC communities as second-class citizens.
The Prime Minister said this while addressing a gathering in Yamunanagar, Haryana yesterday after launching several development projects on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.
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India’s wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation eased to 2.05 per cent in March 2025. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said this in the data released today. The WPI inflation was at 2.38 per cent in February this year. The annual inflation rate for Primary Articles in the WPI declined to 0.76 per cent in March, down from 2.81 per cent in the previous month. The data showed that the annual rate of inflation based on WPI food index decreased to 4.66 per cent during last month, from 5.94 per cent in the previous month.
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Indian stock markets opened with over 2 per cent jump today taking cues from global optimism following US government indicating possible tariff relief. The markets maintained the upward rally in the afternoon trade also with BSE Sensex and Nifty, both trading over 2.1 per cent with realty, auto, and financial services sectors trading in high. The 30-share BSE Sensex surged 1,650 points to 76,807 and the NSE Nifty50 climbed 506 points to 23,334, when reports last came in.
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Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will attend the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers Meeting in Brazil on Thursday. The ministry said in a statement that the meeting will focus on the theme of promoting inclusive and sustainable agriculture through cooperation, innovation, and equitable trade among BRICS nations.
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The US government has frozen the funding of 2.3 billion Dollars to Harvard University after the institution rejected Trump administration's demand to dismantle its diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes. The development came after the US Education Department sent a letter on Friday with a list of demands to fight antisemitism on campus, including changes to governance, hiring practices, and admission procedures. In response, Harvard President Alan Garber accused the administration of overreach and asserted that no government should dictate what private universities can teach.
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Akashvani Hyderabad Kendra is celebrating its diamond jubilee today. The Deccan Radio of the Nizam in erstwhile Hyderabad state had come into the possession of Indian Government on the same day in 1950 and came into Akashvani fold in later days. Director General, Akashvani and News Services Division, will be virtually unveiling the Diamond Jubilee pylon on the premises of Akashvani Hyderabad.
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The second leg of the ISSF Shooting World Cup 2025 will begin today at Lima in Peru. A 42-member Indian contingent will compete across the three disciplines, Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun. Today, Indian shooters Saurabh Chaudhary, Ravinder Singh, Varun Tomar, Amit Sharma and Aakash Bhardwaj will be in action in the Men’s 10 meter air pistol event from 10:15 PM IST.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heatwave conditions over Rajasthan during the next 4-5 days. Talking exclusively to Akashvani News, Scientist at IMD, Dr Naresh Kumar said that Madhya Pradesh is also expected to witness heatwave conditions during the next 3 days. He added that Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana may also witness similar conditions on Thursday and Friday.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :-
- Enforcement Directorate questions Robert Vadra in money-laundering case linked to land deal in Haryana.
- India's Haj quota increases by nearly 40 thousand from 2014 to 2025.
- Wholesale price index inflation eases to 2.05 per cent in March.
- Stock markets surges by over 2 per cent following temporary tariff relief on electronic goods by US.
- US government freezes 2.3 billion dollar funds to Harvard University after it rejects Trump's demand to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes.
- Second leg of ISSF Shooting World Cup 2025 to begin at Lima in Peru today.
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