THE HEADLINES:
- Lok Sabha passes Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Bill 2025; Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says Modi government implemented MGNREGA scheme effectively.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says Indian diaspora has become a living example of co-existence and co-operation; Addresses Indian community at Muscat in Oman on the last leg of his three nation tour.
- India and oman to sign much awaited Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement today.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addresses Air Force Commanders’ Conclave in New Delhi.
- Vehicles in delhi without pollution control certificate not to get fuel in Delhi from today.
- And in Badminton, men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty to play for semifinal in BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China today.
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The Lok Sabha has passed the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Bill 2025. The legislation will replace the twenty-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005. The Bill seeks to establish a rural development framework aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. Under the legislation a statutory guarantee of one hundred and twenty-five days of wage employment will be provided in every financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work.
Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the MGNREGA scheme has been implemented in a proper and effective manner. He said, Under MGNREGA, the UPA government had spent only two lakh 13 thousand crore rupees, while the Narendra Modi government spent over eight lakh 53 thousand crore rupees.
Our correspondent has more details on this bill:-
“The Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Bill represents a major upgrade over MGNREGA, fixing structural weaknesses while enhancing employment, transparency, planning, and accountability. It will strengthen the rural economy through productive asset creation, higher incomes, and better resilience. With stronger social protection, better connectivity, deeper digital access and more diverse rural livelihoods, the new legislation aims to create both employment and durable rural infrastructure through four priority verticals. These are water security through water-related works, Core-rural infrastructure, Livelihood- related infrastructure and Special works to mitigate extreme weather events. This landmark legislation aims to establish a future-ready, convergence driven, saturation-oriented rural development architecture. The legislation also provides for unemployment allowance if employment is not provided within 15 days. With Dipendra, this is Anand Kumar, for Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, diversity in India is a strong base of its culture and for Indians every day brings in new colours, every season becomes a new festival, every tradition comes with a new idea. The Prime Minister was addressing the Indian community and students in Muscat in a programme called Maitri Parv on the second day his visit to Oman today. The Prime Minister said, wherever Indians go and wherever they live, they respect diversity. He said, Indian diaspora has become a living example of co-existence and co-operation.
The programme ‘Maitri Parv’ celebrates the completion of 50 years of the Indian schooling system in Oman. The Prime Minister elaborated Maitri Parv as Maritime heritage, Aspirations, Innovation, Trust and Technology, Respect and Inclusive Growth.
Earlier this morning, the Prime Minister addressed the India-Oman Business Summit in Muscat attended by business leaders from both the countries. He said, the summit will give new direction and momentum to bilateral ties between the two countries.
Addressing the Summit, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said, India and Oman will sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, aimed at deepening trade and economic cooperation.
Later today the Prime Minister will hold meeting with the Sultan of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik at his palace. More from our Correspondent:
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reached at the Exhibition Centre amidst tumultuous welcome given by the Indian community living in Oman. The country is home to around 7 lakh Indians living here. The diaspora belonging to various states and regions of India unitedly welcomed him wearing colorful dresses, singing, dancing, cheering their beloved Prime Minister who is leaving nothing to chance in further cementing the friendly ties with Oman. Love and celebrations were all around in the jam packed hall which was vibrating with happiness to see the Prime Minister. This is Rajesh Bali for Akashvani News from Oman.”
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Department of Atomic Energy Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh today presented the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India – SHANTI Bill, 2025 in the Rajya Sabha. The Lok Sabha passed the bill yesterday with amendments. Our correspondent reports that the SHANTI Bill is aimed at the development of nuclear energy and ionising radiation for nuclear power generation for the welfare of the countrymen.
“The Bill seeks to provide a robust regulatory framework for its safe and secure utilisation. It seeks to constitute the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and the establishment of the Atomic Energy Redressal Advisory Council. The Bill also provides for the liability of the Central Government by setting up a Nuclear Liability Fund in the event of a nuclear incident . The legislation enables the Board to regulate the manufacture, use, export, import, transport, transfer of any radioactive substances and radiation generating equipment. The Advisory Council, constituted under the Bill, will hear appeals against the orders or decisions of the central government or AERB. The Bill further empowers the Central Government to specify measures for the security of radioactive substances and undertake exploration activities for discovery of uranium or thorium. The Bill replaces the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. With Aman, Adarsh for Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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Union Minister of State in Prime Minister Office, (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh today said the government has started an ambitious flagship initiative, National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) to provide cancer treatment in hospitals of every district of the country. Replying during the question hour in Rajya Sabha the Minister said the government plans to set up 372 Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) in district hospitals in the next 3 years.
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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today introduced the Securities Markets Code Bill 2025 in Lok Sabha today. The Bill seeks to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the securities markets. After the introduction of the Bill, Mrs Sitharaman proposed to refer this legislation to the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Finance for further scrutiny. She requested the speaker to take a decision in this regard.
Earlier before the introduction of the Bill, Manish Tiwari of Congress and Arun Nehru of DMK opposed the introduction.
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India’s airport network has expanded significantly from 74 airports in 2014 to 160 airports today under the regional air connectivity scheme, UDAN. The scheme was launched in 2016 to make air travel affordable and accessible, connecting unserved and underserved regions.
Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in Lok Sabha today, Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu said, the government has successfully transformed existing airstrips into operational aviation hubs under the UDAN Scheme.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today asserted that operation Sindoor has demonstrated India’s high-impact, short-duration operational capability. Addressing the Air Force Commanders’ Conclave in New Delhi, the Minister commended the performance of India’s air defence system and other equipment used effectively during Operation Sindoor.
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The Delhi government has enforced the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ rule from today as part of an intensified multi-pronged drive to curb worsening air pollution in the national capital. Under the enforcement plan, Petrol pumps across Delhi have stopped dispensing fuel to vehicles that do not possess valid Pollution under Control (PUC) certificates. PUCC and compliance are being monitored through camera-based systems. The rule is being implemented using automatic number plate recognition cameras.
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Forensic team will reach the site near Eco park, of Newtown area in Kolkata today, where in a major fire incident nearly 200 huts of a slum area have been completely destroyed last night. The team will collect samples from the site. No casualty reported in this incident. Personnel from the fire and emergency services took control of the situation after hours of fighting.
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In Bangladesh, security was heightened across Dhaka’s diplomatic zone on Wednesday after police blocked a march by a group calling itself July Oikya, which had announced plans to proceed to the Indian High Commission in Gulshan. Thousands of protesters gathered near Rampura Bridge around 3:15 PM.
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In badminton, India’s men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will take on Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri of Indonesia this evening as they look to seal a semifinal berth in the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- Lok Sabha passes Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Bill 2025; Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says Modi government implemented MGNREGA scheme effectively.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi says Indian diaspora has become a living example of co-existence and co-operation; Addresses Indian community at Muscat in Oman on the last leg of his three nation tour.
- India and oman to sign much awaited Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement today.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addresses Air Force Commanders’ Conclave in New Delhi.
- Vehicles in delhi without pollution control certificate not to get fuel in Delhi from today.
- And in Badminton, men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty to play for semifinal in BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, China today.
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