THE HEADLINES:-
- Government notifies Online Gaming Rules 2026; norms to be effective from 1st of next month.
- All arrangements in place for voting for single phase assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and first phase in West Bengal tomorrow.
- Supreme Court questions the alleged interference of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the Enforcement Directorate’s probe.
- Solidarity from International Community pours in as India observes one year of Pahalgam terror attack.
- IMD issues orange alert for heat wave in Gangetic West Bengal tomorrow.
- young Indian shooters clinch 3 silver and one bronze medal at ISSF Junior World Cup in Cairo.
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The government has notified Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules 2026 today, which will come into force from the 1st of next month. The objective of the rules is to regulate online gaming and protect citizens, safeguard the financial system, enable coordinated enforcement, and uphold user rights. More from our correspondent:
“The aim of the rules is to provide a clear, transparent and time-bound mechanism to determine whether an online game is an online money game or a permissible online social game or e-sport. It also prescribes mandatory user safety features, grievance redressal and transparency obligations for online game service providers. The rules will lay down the procedure for inquiry and imposition of civil penalties. Under the rules, an Online Gaming Authority of India has been established as a unified, digital-first regulator for the sector. The authority will comprise 6 members in which Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will be Chairperson briefing media about the rules today, Secretary of Ministry of Electronics and IT, S Krishnan said that the framework introduces an optional determination process to classify games
The rules will safeguard citizens from the growing menace of online money games. Saklen Akhtar for Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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All arrangements are in place for single-phase polling in Tamil Nadu and for the first phase of voting in West Bengal for assembly elections tomorrow.
In Tamil Nadu, polling will be held for all the 234-Assembly constituencies. Over five crore 73 lakh voters will exercise their franchise in 75 thousand 64 polling stations established across the state. More from our correspondent:
In Chennai, 199 vulnerable locations and 918 vulnerable polling stations have been identified alongwith four critical locations and seven critical polling Stations. Additional CAPF units from Telangana and Karnataka have also been mobilised. A total of 491 mobile patrol teams have been deployed to collect EVMs from 21 distribution centres and transport them to polling stations. The teams will be responsible for the machines until they are returned after polling and secured in strongrooms at designated centres. In this election the count of first time voters are 14 lakh and fresh entrants are also in the fray in a total of 4023 contestants for 234 constituencies. Joy, Akashvani News, Chennai.
In West Bengal, a total of 152 Assembly constituencies across 16 districts will go to polls in the first phase of Assembly elections tomorrow. A report:
The Election Commission of India has made all preparations for a peaceful voting. Total 2407 coys of CAPF have been deployed in the first phase and webcasting will made in all the polling stations. Commission has made it clear that Booth jamming source jamming will not be tolerated and all the miscreants will be severely punished. In a precautionary measures suspected persons have been detained and surveillance has been tightened in border areas. Quick Response Team QRTs has been deployed. Assured Minimum Facilities and voter assistance will be provided at all the polling stations. Mobile phone deposit facility for voters will be provided outside the entrance of the polling station. Kalyan Laha, Akashvani News, Kolkata.
We now bring another report on some more aspects of polling in the state tomorrow.
A total of 44,376 polling stations have been set up, including nearly 3,000 auxiliary booths. Of these, over 5,600 will be managed entirely by women, while two booths in Balurghat and Asansol North will be operated by specially-abled staff.In this phase, 1,478 candidates are contesting, including 167 women. By area, Siliguri is the smallest constituency, while Kalimpong is the largest. By voter count, Samserganj in Murshidabad is the smallest, and Daspur in West Midnapore the largest. Sandipon Dasgupta and Avirup Bhattacharya RNU Kolkata.”
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Campaigning for the second phase of assembly elections is in full swing in the West Bengal. Senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah addressed rallies today in Dum Dum, Habra, and Saptagram.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath campaigned in Kolkata’s Jorasanko, Nadia’s Chakdaha, and Howrah’s Udaynarayanpur. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also held rallies in Kalna and Bongaon.
Trinamool Congress leader and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee campaigned in Amdanga and Haripal. Later, she led a march from Shankar Math in Ramrajatala to the statue of Swami Vivekananda in Beleghata.
The CPI (M), Congress and other parties are also intensifying their campaigns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a rally tomorrow in Krishnanagar, Nadia, in support of BJP candidates.
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Election Commission has reported seizures exceeding one thousand crore rupees in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal amid Assembly elections and bye-elections. The Commission said, since the activation of the Election Seizure Management System in February this year, West Bengal recorded seizures worth over 472 crore rupees, including cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and freebies, while Tamil Nadu reported seizures of over 599 crore rupees.
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The Election Commission has issued notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for violating the Model Code of Conduct for the use of derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr Kharge had made these remarks during a press conference in Chennai. The poll body has asked Mr Kharge to submit his reply within 24 hours.
A BJP delegation comprising senior leaders Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju, Arjun Ram Meghwal and Arun Singh met the Commission today over the alleged remarks by Mr Kharge and demanded the commission to take strict action.
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The Supreme Court today made strong observations over the alleged interference by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation in Kolkata. The Court warned that democracy would be in peril if a sitting Chief Minister intervenes in an ongoing investigation. A bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and N V Anjaria said the issue cannot be treated merely as a dispute between the Centre and a state, but as an act by an individual holding constitutional office.
The court was hearing a plea by the Enforcement Directorate alleging interference by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and state authorities during an investigation of an office of political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC) in connection with money-laundering probe.
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Meanwhile, the BJP has demanded the resignation of TMC leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following the Supreme Court’s observations against her. Briefing reporters in New Delhi today, BJP Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia raised the issue of deteriorating law and order situation during TMC rule.
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The nation paid tributes to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack on its first anniversary today. Last year on this day, 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. The dastardly act shook the nation and drew condemnation from governments and leaders across the world.
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers paid tributes to the victims and reaffirmed India’s resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms.
Diplomatic missions and foreign envoys also remembered the victims and expressed solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism.
Australia’s High Commissioner to India Philip Green said on social media, they join their Indian friends and colleagues to remember the innocent lives lost in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. He said, Australia stands against terrorism in all its forms.
The EU said it stands with the people of India in remembering the 26 victims. The EU has reiterated its strong condemnation of terrorism in all forms.
The British High Commission in India condemned terrorism in all its forms and reiterated the United Kingdom’s commitment to peace and security through international cooperation. The French Embassy in India in a social media post, expressed solidarity with India and reaffirmed its resolve in the global fight against terrorism.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also paid tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
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The Government today said that uninterrupted supply of oil and gas is being ensured in the country. Addressing the Inter-Ministerial briefing in New Delhi on the West Asia conflict, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Sujata Sharma said supply of domestic LPG is normal and over 45 lakh bookings were registered yesterday and around 51 lakh domestic LPG cylinders were delivered.
Joint Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, DPIIT Nidhi Kesarwani said, under the compressed and natural gas and biogas, the process of giving license to dispensing stations has been expedited.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India has always been in favour of peace and welcomes all initiatives that lead to peace and stability in the West Asia.
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In Gujarat, 6 people were killed in a road accident after a pickup van overturned in Valsad district today. Ten others were injured and shifted to the Kaprada CHC Centre for treatment. Around 28 people were travelling in the pickup van to attend a family function. The accident occurred when the driver lost control of the vehicle near Virkshetra in Kaprada taluka.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed condolence at the loss of lives. Mr Modi said, his thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief.
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Air China officially resumed direct flights between Beijing and Delhi yesterday. Spokesperson of Chinese Embassy in India, Yu Jing shared this in a social media post, saying that the skies are connected once again. She called this a strong and confident start to the resumed route.
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The Atal Pension Yojana (APY) has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing total gross enrollments of nine crore subscribers till yesterday. The Ministry of Finance said, gross enrollments during the last financial year have crossed over one crore thirty five lakh subscribers, marking the highest-ever enrollments recorded in a single financial year since the inception of the scheme.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heat wave conditions over Gangetic West Bengal for tomorrow. The Met Department forecast heat wave conditions tomorrow over Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Hot and humid weather is also expected over coastal areas in southern states.
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In the ISSF Junior Shooting World Cup Indian shooters won three silver medals and one bronze medal at Cairo in Egypt today. In the Men’s 25-meter pistol event, Raj Chandra won a silver medal, while Abhinav Deshwal secured a bronze medal. In the Women’s category, Sejal Kamble bagged a silver medal. Meanwhile, in the Men’s 50-meter rifle prone event, Rohit Kanyan also won a silver medal.
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In IPL Cricket, Rajasthan Royals were 132 for 6 in 18.3 overs against Lucknow Super Giants at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, when reports last came in. Lucknow Super Giants won the toss and opted to bowl. Sun Risers Hyderabad defeated Delhi Capitals by 47 runs in Hyderabad last night.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN: –
- Government notifies Online Gaming Rules 2026; norms to be effective from 1st of next month.
- All arrangements in place for voting for single phase assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and first phase in West Bengal tomorrow.
- Supreme Court questions the alleged interference of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the Enforcement Directorate’s probe.
- Solidarity from International Community pours in as India observes one year of Pahalgam terror attack.
- IMD issues orange alert for heat wave in Gangetic West Bengal tomorrow.
- Young Indian shooters clinch 3 silver and one bronze medal at ISSF Junior World Cup in Cairo.
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