tHE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Sri Guru Bhairavaikya Mandir at Adichunchanagiri mutt in Karnataka; Urges citizens to dedicate themselves to nine priority areas to make Viksit Bharat a reality.
- Samrat Choudhary takes oath as the first BJP Chief Minister of Bihar; JDU leaders Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav to serve as Deputy Chief Ministers.
- True purpose of governance is to empower people and ensure that no one is left behind, says, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan.
- ED conducts searches at premises linked to Aam Aadmi Party MP Ashok Mittal under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.
- Campaigning intensifies for West Bengal and Tamil Nadu assembly polls as top leaders intensify their outreach to voters in both states.
- And, in IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru to take on Lucknow Super Giants in Bengaluru.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged citizens to dedicate themselves sincerely in nine areas of development to make Viksit Bharat a reality. Speaking at the inauguration of Guru Bhairavaikya Mandira in AdiChunchanagiri mutt near Mandya in Karnataka today, the Prime Minister said that the seers and saints who devoted their life for the society had this vision.
The nine areas that the Prime Minister asked the citizens to join hands with include water conservation and management, and also planting of trees under Ek Ped Maa Ke naam programme.
The Prime Minister also called upon them to encourage swadeshi movement by encouraging desi goods and entrepreneurs. He also added that tourism can be encouraged by Indians visiting parts of the country. He also spoke about organic and natural farming by avoiding chemicals and pesticides.
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Senior leader of Bharatiya Janata Party, Samrat Choudhary, has been sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Bihar. The oath of office and secrecy was administered to him by Governor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain at a programme held at Lok Bhavan in Patna.
Mr. Choudhary is the twenty-fourth Chief minister of the state. He is also the first BJP leader to assume the top post in the state.
On the occasion, senior Janata Dal (United) leader and MLA from Sarai Ranjan, Vijay Kumar Choudhary, and MLA from Supaul, Bijendra Prasad Yadav, were also sworn in as ministers. Mr. Choudhary and Mr. Yadav will serve as Deputy Chief Ministers.
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President Droupadi Murmu today said that technological developments should leverage the inequalities between rural and urban health services and should give access to universal quality healthcare. The institutes like AIIMS Nagpur are making efforts in this regard. President Murmu was addressing the second convocation ceremony of All India institute of medical sciences Nagpur today.
Underlining the initiatives taken in the past 10 years by the Central Government to boost the health infrastructure President Murmu informed that 43.5 crore Ayushman cards have been distributed which are ensuring 5 lakh rupees health cover per year to eligible families under Ayushman Bharat -Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Later, the President is also scheduled to address the 78 batch of IRS in the valedictory ceremony of induction training at National academy of Direct taxes-NADT in Nagpur this evening.
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Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan has said that the true purpose of governance is to empower people and ensure that no one is left behind. Addressing the 72nd Founders’ Day of the Indian Institute of Public Administration in New Delhi, Mr Radhakrishnan emphasized that no section of society and no region of the country should be excluded from development. He said that in a Viksit Bharat, Artificial Intelligence will act as a bridge between policy and the people and improve public service delivery.
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Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has assured that there is nothing to worry about the Women Reservation Bill as all provisions have been carefully addressed. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr Rijiju said that every state has been fairly considered, with provisions for an increase in the number of seats. He emphasized that the proposed bill is balanced and it will take care of the aspirations of every community, region, and state.
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India’s first woman President, Pratibha Patil has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing her support for the Women’s Reservation initiative. She said that the enhanced presence of women in Parliament and State Legislatures will enrich legislative debates with diverse perspectives, and lead to a more balanced and empathetic policy outcomes.
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Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting searches at the premises of Aam Aadmi Party MP Ashok Mittal, under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA). Sources at the ED said that the search operations are part of a broader probe into entities associated with the Lovely University Group. The source noted that a total of 10 locations across Jalandhar and Gurgaon are being covered as part of the operation.
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In Tamil Nadu, the stage is being set for the upcoming single-phase polling on the 23rd of this month. Prime Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi will hold a road show at Nagercoil today. Mr Modi will be joined by AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palanisamy and Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Piyush Goyal.
Former Finance Minister P.Chidambaram today blamed the BJP for the special session of Parliament. DMK youth wing leader and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin is campaigning at Ottapidaram. NTK leader Seeman is campaigning at Alangudi. TVK leader Actor Vijay is campaigning in Chennai this evening.
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In West Bengal, Campaigning has gained momentum. Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah today addressed a public meeting virtually in support of party candidates at the Labong ground in Darjeeling from Malda. Addressing the crowd he assured the Gorkha issue in Bengal would be solved within the constitutional framework and false cases against the people of Gorkha community would be withdrawn after BJP comes to power in the state.
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Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed the people of West Bengal virtually on the occasion of Bengali new year 1433. She urged the people to vote in the upcoming Assembly election to preserve the culture and religion harmony in the state. Mamata Banerjee alleged that BJP has curtailed the right to vote of the people of West Bengal through the SIR.
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In West Bengal 152 assembly constituencies will go for poll on 23rd. In our series on constituency profiles, today we take a look at Goalpokhar assembly Constituency in Uttar Dinajpur district. More from our Correspondent:-
“Goalpokhar assembly constituency under the Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal will go for poll on 23rd April under the first phase of election. Total 11 candidates including 2 independents are fighting for the seat. The seat at present is held by Md. Ghulam Rabbani of Trinamool Congress. He is three times MLA of this seat. Nearly two lakh voters are there in this constituency. BJP has fielded Sarajit Biswas and Trinamool Congress has fielded Ghulam Rabbani again. Left Front supported All India Forward Block candidate is Zamaluddin. Congress’s candidate is Masood Md. Naseem Ahsen. The main contending parties are Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party. During campaigning BJP is raising the issues of corruption and infiltration against the present government while Trinamool Congress is referring to the alleged deletion of names under the influence of BJP as part of the SIR in Bengal to gain political mileage. BJP is also assuring the people to introduce Uniform Civil Code and start various welfare schemes and formation of the seventh Pay Commission for the state government employees while Trinamool Congress is stressing on the continuation of the existing state government welfare schemes. Kalyan Laha Akashvani News Kolkata.”
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India’s wholesale price index based inflation (WPI) surged to 3.88 per cent in March this year on an annual basis, up from 2.13 per cent in February. On a month-on-month basis, the WPI rose to 1.64 per cent as compared with 0.38 per cent in February, pointing to a build-up in input cost pressures.
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The Jammu and Kashmir Haj Committee has announced that Haj pilgrimage flights for 2026 from the Srinagar Embarkation Point will commence from April 18. The first three flights scheduled for April 18.
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In IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Lucknow Super Giants in Bengaluru this evening. The match will begin at 7:30 PM.
Yesterday, Chennai Super Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs in Chennai.
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India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heat wave conditions at places over Madhya Maharashtra, North Interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema and Telangana till tomorrow. IMD said that hot and humid weather is expected to prevail over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Coastal Karnataka, Gangetic West Bengal, Gujarat, Kerala, Mahe, Konkan, Goa, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during the next two to three days.
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Benchmark domestic equity indices were trading one and a half per cent higher in afternoon session supported by positive global cues. The Sensex jumped 1 thousand 177 points to 78 thousand 25, while the Nifty rose 362 points to 24 thousand 205 when reports last came in. Broad- based buying was seen across sectors, with Services, Industrials and IT stocks leading the rally.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Sri Guru Bhairavaikya Mandir at Adichunchanagiri mutt in Karnataka; Urges citizens to dedicate themselves to nine priority areas to make Viksit Bharat a reality.
- Samrat Choudhary takes oath as the first BJP Chief Minister of Bihar; JDU leaders Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav to serve as Deputy Chief Ministers.
- True purpose of governance is to empower people and ensure that no one is left behind, says, Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan.
- ED conducts searches at premises linked to Aam Aadmi Party MP Ashok Mittal under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.
- Campaigning intensifies for West Bengal and Tamil Nadu assembly polls as top leaders intensify their outreach to voters in both states.
- And, in IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru to take on Lucknow Super Giants in Bengaluru.
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