THE HEADLINES:
- First phase polling to take place tomorrow in 43 assembly constituencies of Jharkhand; By-elections in 33 assembly constituencies of 11 states also to be held tomorrow.
- Home Ministry approves setting up of first all women battalion of CISF.
- DRDO successfully conducts maiden flight test of long range land attack cruise missile.
- External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar launches the website of 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas to be celebrated in January next.
- Public Sector Banks show strong performance in the first half of current fiscal with 11 percent growth.
- In Women’s Asian Hockey Champions Trophy, India registers second consecutive win defeating South Korea 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at Rajgir, Bihar.
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In Jharkhand, elaborate security arrangements have been made for the first phase of the Assembly elections. Forty-three constituencies will go to the polls in this phase tomorrow. Polling will begin at 7 am and continue until 5 pm. However, it will end at 4 pm at 950 sensitive booths spread over 31 constituencies.
“Tight security arrangements have made to ensure free and fair polls. Jawans of central para military forces have been deployed at each booth .The Chief Electoral officer K.Ravi Kumar said a number of steps has been taken to ensure smooth elections.
Security forces conducted flag march in sensitive areas to instill confidence among electorates. Inter- district border has been sealed..A joint operation has been launched in the bordering areas of UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha to check activities of naxals. .Helicopters have been pressed into service to meet any eventuality. With KK Lal, this is Sanjeev Sharma for Akashvani News, Ranchi.”
Over one crore 37 lakh electorates will decide the political fate of 683 candidates including 73 women.
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Preparations also complete for the by-polls in 33 assembly constituencies across 11 states, tomorrow.
These include seven seats in Rajasthan, Six in West Bengal, five seats in Assam, four in Bihar, three seats in Karnataka, and two each in Madhya Pradesh and Sikkim. Besides these, Assembly by-polls will also take place for one seat each in Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Meghalaya.
Voting for by-election to Wayanad parliamentary seat in Kerala will also be held tomorrow.
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Campaigning has intensified for assembly elections in Maharashtra as top leaders of various political parties leave no stone unturned to woo the voters.
Senior BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally in Solapur, Maharashtra today. Mr. Modi alleged that Congress is attempting to undermine the reservation policy and create division between Dalits, tribals, and OBCs by sowing discord among them.
Mr. Modi said that the Mahayuti government is introducing various initiatives, such as the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, with a focus on women’s welfare, as well as working towards farmers’ well-being.
Meanwhile, leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Central government for not caring about the poor, common people, and farmers. Mr. Gandhi was campaigning for the Mahavikas Aghadi and Congress candidates in Gondia district this afternoon. He also mentioned that OBCs constitute 50 percent of the population, but their participation in the overall system is very minuscule.
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In our series of constituency profiles, today we take a look at Sakoli constituency in Bhandara district of Maharashtra from where Congress state President Nana Patole is contesting.
“Sakoli constituency in Bhandara district of eastern Vidarbha is represented by the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee MPCC President Nana Patole. He defeated the BJP candidate Parinay Fuke in 2019 assembly elections. Patole has previously represented this constituency in 2009 as a BJP MLA. He was also a member of parliament in Bhandara parliamentary constituency from 2014 to 2017. In 2017, he resigned from BJP and took up the charge of pradesh Congress committee chairman in 2021. This year BJP has pitted Avinash Brahmankar, who switched from NCP to BJP. So the main competition in Sakoli is between the BJP and Congress candidates. Sakoli has over 3 lakh 28 thousand voters . The key issues here are paddy crop prices, employment and lack of industry. Dhananjay Wankhede, Akashvani News Nagpur.”
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BJP today accused Congress of conspiring with divisive and conservative forces within a particular minority community for the sake of votes in the ensuing Jharkhand and Maharashtra assembly polls.
Briefing media in New Delhi, senior party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged the Congress and I.N.D.I.A. block parties are narrow minded and opposed to the upliftment of minorities. He also said that the main opposition party is aligning with groups opposed to national unity to bolster its poll prospects.
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The Home Ministry has approved the establishment of the first all-women battalion of CISF in a landmark decision aimed at empowering women and enhancing their role in national security. The proposal for the creation of all-women battalions in the Force was initiated following the direction of Home Minister Amit Shah on the occasion of the 53rd CISF Day function.
The CISF Headquarters has started preparations for the early recruitment, training, and selection of a location for the Headquarters of the new battalion. CISF has been a preferred choice for women who wish to serve the nation in the Central Armed Police Force, constituting over seven percent of the force at present.
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In Manipur, security forces have recovered the bodies of two civilians amid ongoing rescue operations to ensure the safety of the remaining six abducted civilians in the Jiribam district. The civilians were abducted by suspected militants.
The Inspector General of Police (Operations), Manipur, Dr. I.K. Muivah, said that the attack by militants on the Borobrekra Police Station and the adjacent CRPF post in Jakuradhor, Jiribam district, yesterday was successfully repelled.
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Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today conducted the maiden flight test of the Long Range Land Attack Cruise Missile from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha, from a mobile articulated launcher. During the test, all sub-systems performed as per expectations and met the primary mission objectives. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO, the Armed Forces, and the industry on the successful maiden flight test. He said it paves the way for future indigenous cruise missile development programmes.
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External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar today launched the website for the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, alongside Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in New Delhi.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be held from 8th to 10th January in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards and preside over the Valedictory Session. The theme of the 2025 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention is “Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat.”
“Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is celebrated on 9th January every year to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India. It was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa, led India’s freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever. In his keynote address at the launch of the website, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said the strength of its diaspora provides the nation with a pillar of support .
Speaking on the occasion, the Odisha Chief Minister informed that around 7000 guests and delegates will attend the PBD Convention next year.
The launch of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas website marks the commencement of online registration for participation in the PBD Convention early next year. The website will also facilitate reservation of accommodation in Odisha and provide detailed information on the Convetion. Suparna Saikia, Akashvani News, Delhi.”
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Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the 66th All India Kalidas Samaroh in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, today. Governor Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadavwere present at the ceremony. Kalidas Alankaran Samman for the year 2022-2023 was presented during the program. A total of eight scholars were honored in four genres.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice President said that the Kalidas Samman is an honor to the culture of India.
This event, which will continue until the 18th November, will feature discussions on the works of Mahakavi Kalidas and many other topics.
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Public Sector Banks (PSBs) have shown strong performance in the First Half of 2024-25 with 11 percent Year on Year growth. The aggregate business stood at over 236 lakh crore rupees.
The finance Ministry said that major banking reforms were undertaken in the last few years. These include Implementation of Enhance Access and Service Excellence, enactment of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and putting in place a robust Governance Framework.
PSBs have also shown significant progress in adopting new age technologies like AI, cloud, and Blockchain and put in place necessary systems and controls to tackle cyber security risks.
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The Public Service Broadcasting Day 2024 was observed today in Akashvani Bhawan. The day celebrates the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi’s first live broadcast in 1947. The day also highlights the vital role of Akashvani in informing, educating, and promoting cultural diversity across the nation. Speaking on the occasion, Prasar Bharti Chairman Navneet Kumar Sehgal highlighted Mahatma Gandhi’s commitment towards the nation. He said that Mahatma Gandhi’s message has inspired everyone to think for the good of all.
Director General of Akashvani Dr Pragya Paliwal Gaur, DG Doordarshan Kanchan Prasad and other senior officers were also present during the event.
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In Asian Women’s Hockey Champions Trophy, India registered second consecutive win defeating South Korea at Rajgir in Bihar.
“India secured a 3-2 win against South Korea in the ongoing Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 at Rajgir in Bihar. In the closely contested match, India’s Sangita Kumari scored one goal, while Deepika Kumari scored two. From the Korean side, Lee Yuri and Captain Cheon Eunbi were the goalscorers. In two other matches of the day, China continued its winning streak by defeating Malaysia 5-2. Thailand, which was badly thrashed by China yesterday, exhibited a disciplined performance today against Japan. Japan and Thailand battled to a 1-1 draw in a tough competition. India will play their next match tomorrow against Thailand at 4:45 PM. with Dharmendra’s report from Patna this is Aprajita Nair Akashwani News.”
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:
- First phase polling to take place tomorrow in 43 assembly constituencies of Jharkhand; By-elections in 33 assembly constituencies of 11 states also to be held tomorrow.
- Home Ministry approves setting up of first all women battalion of CISF.
- DRDO successfully conducts maiden flight test of long range land attack cruise missile.
- External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar launches the website of 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas to be celebrated in January next.
- Public Sector Banks show strong performance in the first half of current fiscal with 11 percent growth.
- In Women’s Asian Hockey Champions Trophy, India registers second consecutive win defeating South Korea 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at Rajgir, Bihar.
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