General news

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked becoming India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister by calling his tenure a "collective yagya" and expressing gratitude to the people. He highlighted the nation's shift towards political stability and rapid development under NDA rule, contrasting it with the "Congress Growth Rate" of the past. Modi emphasized the government's commitment to realizing the dream of a 'Viksit Bharat' for all citizens.

Congress has urged the Election Commission to reinstate Rajya Sabha candidate Meenakshi Natarajan's nomination from Madhya Pradesh, calling its rejection 'egregious' and 'blatantly unlawful'. The party argues that a Telangana court's notice on a private complaint does not constitute a criminal case requiring disclosure. This rejection significantly impacts the Rajya Sabha election dynamics in the state.

Highlighting a critical issue, former power regulator D Radhakrishna has stressed the immediate need for reform in electrical safety regulations, prompted by alarming accidents and fatalities linked to electrocutions across the nation. In his proposal, he calls for third-party certification, regular building inspections, and robust law enforcement, along with the creation of a specialized national overseeing agency.

Ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to France next week for the G7 summit, French ambassador Thierry Mathou tells TOI in an exclusive interview that India’s involvement with the group of the world’s most advanced and industrialised nations has become indispensable. Mathou said India’s participation in a ‘defensive’ mission to secure Strait of Hormuz once the conflict is over would send a powerful signal.