THE HEADLINES :-
- Centre announces caste enumeration to be part of next census; Leaders across party lines welcome the decision.
- Government approves new highway from Shillong to Silchar; Also approves hike in sugarcane FRP to 355 Rupees per quintal.
- Indian Army's DGMO speaks with his Pakistani counterpart; Warns against unprovoked firing along LOC.
- Stage is all set for India's first World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit, WAVES in Mumbai; Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Mega Event tomorrow.
- In IPL Cricket, Punjab Kings elect to field against Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai.
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The Government today decided to include the caste enumeration as part of the next census. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a decision in this regard. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed about the cabinet decision at a media briefing today.
Taking on opposition Congress, Mr Vaishnaw said, the move demonstrates that the Narendra Modi government is committed to the values and interests of the society and country, like in the past when it had introduced ten per cent reservation for the economically weaker sections without causing stress in any section of the society.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a new highway from Shillong to Silchar at a cost of 22 thousand 864 crore rupees. Mr Vaishnaw informed that the length of the highway will be over 166 kilometers and it will improve connectivity to Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and the Barak valley region of Assam.
The CCEA also approved fair and remunerative price of sugarcane for sugar season 2025-26 at 355 rupees per quintal for farmers. Mr. Vaishaw added that that decision will benefit five crore sugarcane farmers:
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Union Home Minister Amit Shah has decribed the decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census as a message of strong commitment towards social equality and rights of every section. In a social media post, Mr Shah said, the decision will empower all economically and socially backward classes, promote inclusion and pave new paths for the progress of the deprived.
BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda has said, the decision is extremely important for bringing the economically, socially and educationally backward castes into the mainstream and restoring the dignity to the people who have been deprived of their rights for a long time. Reacting on the decison, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, in a social media post, said the announcement of caste census is a right step which the Congress party has been demanding from day one.
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while briefing the media in New Delhi said, his party completely support it but they want a timeline to know by when this will happen.
Lok Janshakti (Ram Vilas) leader and Union Minister Chirag Paswan said, it is a huge and historic decision. Talking to media in New Delhi, Mr Paswan said, the Prime Minister has fulfilled a demand that was pending for a long time.
Telugu Desam Party Chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said, the decision reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s deep commitment to inclusive governance.
Communist Party of India CPI general seceretary D Raja said, his party has consistently demanded a caste census.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told media in Bhopal that the caste census will be conducted with complete transparency.
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Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has welcomed the Centre's decision to conduct the Caste Census in the country. Mr. Kumar said, it is a positive initiative. He said by caste enumeration it will exactly establish the number of various classes and the outcome of Caste Census will help in formulation of development plans and their upliftment.
RJD leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said the Centre’s decision is a victory of his party's demand.
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The Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army has spoken to the Pakistani DGMO and warned against any unprovoked violations by the Pak Army along the Line of Control. According to defence sources, the two DGMOs talked through the established military hotline yesterday. The Indian official flagged the matter of unprovoked ceasefire violations by Pakistan.
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External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar today spoke to his Kuwaiti counterpart Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya. He thanked him for Kuwait’s solidarity and support in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Dr Jaishankar also spoke to Foreign Minister of Denmark Lars Lokke Rasmussen. The External Affairs Minister appreciated his support and solidarity over the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
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Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma today took over as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Udhampur-based Northern Army Command. Lieutenant General Sharma has replaced Lieutenant General MV Suchendra Kumar after his 15 month tenure in office. With a career spanning three decades, Lieutenant General Sharma has held key appointments, including Director General Military Operations, Military Secretary Branch.
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The stage is all set for India's first World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit, WAVES 2025 to begin in Mumbai tomorrow. The mega event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Jio World Convention Centre. The four-day summit with the tagline Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries is poised to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation. The summit will integrate films, OTT, gaming, comics, digital media, Artificial Intelligence, broadcasting, and emerging tech, making it a comprehensive showcase of India's media and entertainment prowess. Our correspondent reports that Prime Minister Modi will also visit the Creatosphere and interact with creators, selected from the 32 Create in India Challenges.
"The four-day WAVES summit is going to bring together creators, industry leaders, startup entrepreneurs and policymakers from across the world. The summit will witness participation from over 90 countries, with more than ten thousand delegates. During the summit, India will host the Global Media Dialogue, for the first time, with ministerial participation from 25 countries, marking a milestone in the country’s engagement with the global media and entertainment landscape. The event aims to unlock a 50 billion dollars market by 2029, expanding India’s footprint in the global entertainment economy. The Summit will also feature the WAVES Bazaar, a global e-marketplace with over six thousand buyers, over five thousand sellers, and two thousand projects. It aims to connect buyers and sellers locally and globally, ensuring wide-reaching networking and business opportunities. Prarthna, Akashwani News Mumbai."
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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has dismantled the cybercrime networks of online child sexual exploitation with international linkages. CBI took the action under operation Hawk, which has been launched on the basis of inputs received from USA. CBI in its statement informed that the International Operations Division of the CBI, registered a case against two accused based in Delhi and Mangalore under Indian Laws.
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Indian Navy's frontline Guided Missile Destroyer, INS Kochi has reached Male in Maldives. The Ministry of Defence today said in a statement that INS Kochi, along with the Maldivian Coast Guard Ship (CGS) Huravee, arrived in Malé yesterday following the completion of a Normal Refit of CGS Huravee at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, which was carried out from December 2024 to April 2025. The Ministry said, INS Kochi’s visit highlights the strong maritime links between India and the Maldives.
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In Bangladesh, the High Court today granted bail to former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in a sedition case. Mr Chinmoy Das is a spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. Das was arrested on sedition charges on November 25, from Dhaka Airport. He has been in jail since 26 November last year.
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The U.S. economy shrank at a 0.3 percent annual rate in the first quarter of 2025, marking the first contraction in three years. The decline was driven by a surge in imports, up 41 percent, as businesses rushed to buy foreign goods ahead of new tariffs from President Donald Trump’s trade policies. The spike in imports slashed 5 percentage points from GDP growth.
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Vietnam today celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of the war with the United States. Celebrations included a grand military parade in the southern Vietnamese city of Saigon. The war, which started in 1954, ended on April 30, 1975, when communist-run North Vietnam seized Saigon, the capital of the U.S.-backed South Vietnam.
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In IPL Cricket, Chennai Super Kings were at 164 for the loss of 4 wickets in 17 over against Punjab Kings at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai, when reports last came in. Earlier, Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to bowl first.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :-
- Centre announces caste enumeration to be part of next census; Leaders across party lines welcome the decision.
- Government approves new highway from Shillong to Silchar; Also approves hike in sugarcane FRP to 355 Rupees per quintal.
- Indian Army's DGMO speaks with his Pakistani counterpart; Warns against unprovoked firing along LOC.
- Stage is all set for India's first World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit, WAVES in Mumbai; Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Mega Event tomorrow.
- In IPL Cricket, Punjab Kings elect to field against Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai.