Bypolls To Four Assembly Seats In Bihar On Wednesday

As per the ECI, approx 5.73 lakh voters are women while 19 are of the third gender.
 

The shocking event took place on Wednesday along the national highway near Jalgaon's Dadawadi area.

As of Thursday morning, the AQI in several areas of Delhi breached the 400 mark, which falls under the "severe" category. 

A new study published in The Lancet reveals that India has the highest global number of adults living with untreated diabetes.The study found over 212 million adults in India had diabetes in 2022, with treatment rates remaining low.Researchers emphasize the urgent need to address this growing health concern in India and other low- and middle-income countries.

Developing nations need trillions in annual climate funding by 2030, according to a UN report released at COP28. The report estimates that these countries will require between $1.1 trillion and $2.4 trillion annually to meet their mitigation targets. This figure highlights the financial chasm between developed and developing nations in tackling climate change.

An oncologist at Chennai's Kalaignar Centenary Super-Specialty Hospital, Dr Balaji Jaganathan, was seriously injured in a knife attack by a patient's relative dissatisfied with the treatment his mother received. The attack sparked protests by medical professionals demanding better security measures. The assailant was apprehended, and authorities promised swift action and increased security at medical facilities.

A horrifying incident in Manipur's Jiribam district has left the community reeling after a 31-year-old mother of three was found dead in her burned home. An autopsy revealed signs of brutal torture, including burns and a nail embedded in her leg, suggesting she was alive during the attack. While sexual assault is suspected, the extent of her burns prevented confirmation.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released a study revealing significant returns on investment for India's space program. The report highlights that for every rupee spent, the program generates Rs 2.5, contributing substantially to the nation's GDP and creating millions of jobs.

Jharkhand witnessed a 64.8% voter turnout in the first phase of assembly elections, exceeding the 2019 figure. Tribal areas showed strong support for the ruling JMM, while urban centers like Ranchi and Jamshedpur saw lower participation. Despite Maoist boycott calls, voters turned out in large numbers, even in areas once affected by extremism.

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has declared instant demolitions of accused individuals' homes as unconstitutional. The court emphasized the right to shelter and due process, condemning the arbitrary use of bulldozers. The justices criticized authorities for selectively targeting properties based on criminal accusations, terming it as 'anarchy' and 'collective punishment'.

The Supreme Court has permitted the Enforcement Directorate to auction two properties owned by Nowhera Shaik, managing director of Heera Gold Exim Private Limited, to compensate investors allegedly defrauded in a Ponzi scheme. Shaik has also been directed to provide details of her unencumbered assets for potential auction.

The Calcutta High Court, while refusing to impose a gag order on a former BJP leader, emphasized that freedom of expression doesn't permit abuse or incite violence. The court, hearing the leader's anticipatory bail plea, acknowledged her right to free speech but expressed disapproval of her social media post, terming it as containing "unwarranted insinuations" against a religious community.

The Chhattisgarh High Court dismissed three FIRs against IPS officer G P Singh. The court found the FIRs, which included charges of sedition, extortion, and disproportionate assets, to be baseless. The court determined that the FIRs lacked evidence and appeared to be intended for harassment. Singh, an ADGP at the time of the FIRs, was cleared of all charges.

The Himachal Pradesh High Court deemed the appointment of six Congress MLAs as chief parliamentary secretaries unconstitutional.The court declared the appointments void and ordered the immediate withdrawal of all privileges and facilities, stating the appointments were outside the legislative authority of the state assembly.

In Uttar Pradesh, authorities demolished multiple homes following a gunfight, dacoity, and Muharram clashes, leaving families homeless and struggling.Victims recount the trauma of losing their homes and possessions, with some forced to leave their town and children's educations disrupted. They question the justice of being punished for the alleged crimes of family members.

The Supreme Court of India has laid down a strict procedure for authorities to follow before demolishing illegal structures.A 15-day notice period, a personal hearing, and a final order with a 15-day appeal period are mandatory.Demolitions must be videographed, and violations could lead to contempt proceedings and personal liability for damages.

A parliamentary panel met to discuss the "creamy layer" issue for OBC reservations. The panel raised concerns about the delay in revising the income ceiling for OBC reservations. The current ceiling of Rs 8 lakh was set in 2017 and is due for revision. The panel urged the government to expedite the revision process.

Supporters of the Shiv Sena and the Shiv Sena (UBT) clashed violently outside Matoshree Club in Mumbai on Tuesday night.The clash, which lasted for an hour, was sparked by allegations of money distribution inside the club. Both sides have filed FIRs against each other, accusing the other of assault, molestation, and intimidation.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned in Santhal Pargana for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Jharkhand assembly elections.Modi urged voters to support the BJP to protect their land, livelihoods, and daughters. He accused the Congress party of opposing reservation policies and encouraging demographic changes in Jharkhand that threaten tribal communities.

A vintage Rolls-Royce car, once owned by the Maharani of Baroda, is at the center of a dowry dispute. The car was ordered by Jawaharlal Nehru. The dispute involves the daughter of a Gwalior royal family and a man from a family running an educational institution. The marriage ended shortly after the ceremony.

During a meeting with Saudi Arabian counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed support for a swift ceasefire in Gaza. While condemning terrorism and hostage-taking, Jaishankar stressed the importance of international humanitarian law in responding to the crisis and highlighted India's commitment to a two-state solution for the Palestinian issue.

The Delhi High Court has overturned the Indian government's decision to revoke the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card of a US-based professor accused of "anti-India activities." The court deemed the cancellation notice lacking specific evidence and ordered authorities to issue a new notice with clear grounds for cancellation, ensuring a fair opportunity for the professor to respond.

Despite facing immense personal tragedies, children at Hyderabad's Touch Foundation orphanage are overcoming adversity through entrepreneurship. Fourteen-year-old R Poojitha, who started her flower bouquet business 'RMP Flowers', and S Yashaswi, founder of 'RDY Framers Company' specializing in handcrafted photo frames, are just two examples of their resilience.

The Supreme Court instructed the Ajit Pawar-led NCP to refrain from using Sharad Pawar's images in their Maharashtra election campaign. The court urged the faction to establish its own identity and avoid capitalizing on Sharad Pawar's reputation.The bench also questioned the impact of social media posts on rural voters and highlighted the faction's obligation to adhere to election regulations.

Following a surge of violence in Manipur, including 13 fatalities since November 7, the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has deployed 2,500 additional paramilitary personnel to the state. This increases the total central armed police forces deployment to 29,000, bolstering the existing security presence of the Army and Assam Rifles.

Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) apprehended Bhat Navidul Ali, a postgraduate student from Kulgam, for allegedly using social media to promote extremist ideologies and incite anti-government sentiment. CIK claims Ali was influenced by online entities, promoting terrorism in the region and was on the verge of joining militant groups.

While speaking at an election rally in Maharashtra, Amit Shah made it clear that Article 370 won’t be restored under any circumstances.

The latest US visa bulletin brought mixed news for Indian nationals seeking employment-based green cards. While EB-1 remains unchanged, EB-2 and EB-3 categories saw slight advancements. However, significant backlogs persist, particularly for those from India. The bulletin also provides crucial information on family-sponsored green card categories and their respective priority dates.

The Congress has 133 MLAs in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, whereas the BJP and its ally JD(S) have 65 and 18 MLAs respectively.