THE HEADLINES::
- Counting begins for Bihar Assembly Elections amid tight security; Trends are likely to be available by 10 am.
- Counting also begins for by-elections to 8 assembly constituencies spread over seven states.
- Calcutta High Court asks for affidavit from West Bengal Government on Indo-Bangladesh border fencing.
- 44th India International Trade Fair to begin at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today.
- IMD forecasts cold wave conditions in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh for next two days.
- In Men's Cricket, India to face South Africa in 1st Test of two match series at Eden Gardens in Kolkata this morning.
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The Counting of Votes for the Assembly Elections in Bihar is currently underway amid tight security. The counting process started at 8 am, covering all 243 assembly constituencies at 46 different counting centres across the 38 districts of the state.
Early, trends are expected to come after two hours of the beginning of counting.
The polling for Assembly Elections for 243 Constituencies was held in two phases on 6th and 11th November. In this election, Bihar recorded the highest ever polling percentage of 67.13 since 1951. The electoral fortunes of all two thousand 616 including a total of 258 female candidates who are contesting in Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 will also be decided today.
Now we go over live to our correspondent Dharmendra Kumar Rai.
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The counting of votes has also begun for the by-elections to eight assembly constituencies spread over 7 States. These constituencies are Budgam and Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir, Anta in Rajasthan, Ghatsila in Jharkhand, Jubilee Hills in Telangana, Tarn Taran in Punjab, Dampa in Mizoram and Nuapada in Odisha.
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The Calcutta High Court has asked for an affidavit from the Government of West Bengal on the issue of fencing along the Indo - Bangladesh border. A public interest litigation PIL was filed in the court demanding barbed wire fencing in open border areas along the Bangladesh border. India shares approximately 2216 kilometres of border with Bangladesh in West Bengal. In many areas there is no fencing from where infiltration and smuggling have been reported. Additional Solicitor General of the central government Ashok Chakraborty has informed the court that the government of West Bengal is not cooperating with the centre in this issue and not serious about acquiring lands, for the fencing work. The division bench of the acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court Sujoy Pal and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen has demanded an affidavit from the state government within 15 days.
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Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan will inaugurate the 30th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit 2025 in Visakhapatnam, today. The summit will focus on fostering global business partnerships and driving India’s economic growth. The two-day summit is being organized by CII in partnership with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan is scheduled to launch the summit, and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is expected to participate in the Andhra Pradesh Pavilion inauguration and deliver keynote address.
The theme of the Summit is “Partners in Progress - India’s Roadmap to Viksit Bharat 2047.” The summit aims to attract investments in green energy, IT, electronics, automobiles, space, defence, and tourism. The State government is positioning Visakhapatnam as a global trade gateway on India’s eastern coast.
Over 100 foreign delegates are expected to attend the summit. The summit will include round tables, thematic discussions, project launches and foundation laying cerimonies. Agreements are expected to include direct flights between Singapore and Vijayawada, boosting growth and jobs in Andhra Pradesh. Allu Murali, Akashvani News, Visakhapatnam.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tribute to former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary. In a social media post, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the first Prime Minister of the country. Pandit Nehru was born on November 14, 1889 in Allahabad.
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Union Tourism and Culture minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat will inaugurate the 13th edition of the International Tourism Mart, for the North Eastern Region in Gangtok today. Chief Minister of host state Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu and the Tourism ministers of North Eastern states will be present at the program.
The 13th International Tourism Mart will witness wide participation from across the globe, with representatives from 19 countries, including Spain, Thailand, France, Russia, Germany, Vietnam among others. The 4-day event will bring together international tour operators, international influencers, domestic buyers and sellers. The Mart will feature a series of technical sessions, panel discussions, product presentations, and B2B meetings aimed at fostering collaboration between domestic and international tourism stakeholders. It will also highlight Sikkim’s rich natural beauty, cultural diversity, and adventure tourism opportunities, while promoting sustainable and inclusive tourism development.Manas Pratim Sarma For Akashvani News, Sikkim.
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The 44th India International Trade Fair-IITF will begin at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, today. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada will inaugurate the Trade fair. The theme for this year’s fair is- Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat. Our correspondent reports that Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Bihar are the partner states of the International event, while Jharkhand is the focus State.
Special facilities including elaborate security arrangements have been made for the convenience of visitors to the fair. The first five days of the fair are reserved for the business category. And, the fair will open to the general public on the 19th of this month. The ticket rate of the fair has been fixed at 500 rupees during business days, while, in the normal days, ticket rates are 80 rupees for adults and 40 rupees for children. On holidays and weekend, ticket rate are 150 rupees for adults and 60 rupees for children. Entry to the fair is free for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Visitors can purchase tickets through the official website of ITPO and selected 55 Delhi Metro stations, and through the Delhi Metro's 'Saarthi' app. The fair's timing is from 10 am to 7:30 pm, however, visitors can enter the trade fair only until 5:30 pm. With Rahisuddin Rihan, Aman Yadav Akashvani News, Delhi
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As India celebrates 150 years of Vande Mataram, the nation echoes with pride and nostalgia. The song that once stirred freedom now unites hearts again, reminding us that Vande Mataram is not just a melody but the nation’s enduring spirit. Today our correspondent brings a report on year long celebrations of the iconic song.
A commemorative stamp and coin have also been released, along with exhibitions and films tracing the journey of Vande Mataram from Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s pen to the heart of a nation. Throughout the year, special programmes and musical tributes will be broadcast on various platforms. A global music festival, tree plantation drives under Vande Mataram: Salute to Mother Earth, patriotic murals on highways, and cultural evenings at Indian Missions and Posts worldwide will carry forward the message of unity and pride. Short films on Bankim Chandra’s life and Vande Mataram’s role in the freedom struggle will inspire the youth, bringing together the nation in a shared spirit of patriotism. These celebrations reaffirm the timeless relevance of Vande Mataram, a song that not only inspired the nation's freedom movement but continues to shape its national identity. With Shivang and Saumya, this is Valsa Williams for Akashvani News.
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India Meteorological Department has forecast cold wave conditions over Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh for the next two days. The Met Department has also predicted shallow to moderate fog conditions over Northeast India and Uttar Pradesh during the next two to three days. The weather agency said that thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely to prevail over Kerala and Mahe today.
Meanwhile, the air quality in Delhi-NCR continues to be in the severe category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the average Air Quality Index of the region was recorded at 401 as of 7 this morning.
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Moving on to sports,
In cricket, India and South Africa will clash in the first test of the two match series at Eden Gardens this morning. The match will begin at 9:30 AM Indian Time. With crucial World Test Championship 2025-27 points on the line, India aims to strengthen its push for a top-two finish and a spot in the 2027 WTC final at the Lord’s. India sits third in the WTC standings after a 2-2 draw in England and a 2-0 sweep of the West Indies.
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In Chess, Indian Grandmasters Arjun Erigaisi and P Harikrishna have advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of FIDE World Cup 2025 after defeating their opponents in the fourth-round tiebreaker at resort Rio in Panaji, Goa. Arjun Erigaisi defeated Peter Leko of Hungary 3-1 in the first set of the tiebreaker while P Harikrishna drew the first and then won the second for an overall 2.5-1.5 victory against Swede Nils Grandelius.
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TODAY'S NEWSPAPERS HEADLINE,
- The investigation into the car blast at Red Fort on 10th November continues to be covered on the front pages of newspapers. "Red Fort blast probe unearths pan-India plot to hit key sites; 16 detained, gadgets seized in raids at 16 J&K locations", writes The Asian Age. "Punishment will echo: says Amit Shah", is a front-page headline in The Pioneer. "US hails measured probe, offers help", says The Tribune.
- "Verdict today, fingers crossed in Bihar as parties trade barbs", is a top headline in The Indian Express.
- "City air hazardous, SC judge asks lawyers to appear in virtual mode", reports The Times of India.
- And finally, telecom connectivity could become ubiquitous even in the remotest corners of the country as the Department of Telecommunications is likely to ask TRAI for suggestions on direct-to-device services, writes The Economic Times.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN,
- Counting begins for Bihar Assembly Elections amid tight security; Trends are likely to be available by 10 am.
- Counting also begins for by - elections to 8 assembly constituencies spread over seven states.
- Calcutta High Court asks for affidavit from West Bengal Government on Indo-Bangladesh border fencing.
- 44th India International Trade Fair to begin at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today.
- IMD forecasts cold wave conditions in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh for next two days.
- In Men's Cricket, India to face South Africa in 1st Test of two match series at Eden Gardens in Kolkata this morning.
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