Morning News -

THE HEADLINES:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch multiple development projects worth over 26 thousand crore rupees from Bikaner in Rajasthan today.
Prime Minister to also inaugurate 103 Amrit Bharat Stations across the nation and flag-off Bikaner-Mumbai express train.
India’s global campaign begins to expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
Maharashtra notifies aggregator policy for app-based cab services.
In Sports, Shooter Kanak wins India’s first gold medal at Junior World Cup in Germany.
In IPL cricket, Mumbai Indians qualify for playoffs, beating Delhi Capitals by 59 runs at Wankhede Stadium.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bikaner in Rajasthan today from where he will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over 26 thousand crore rupees. The Projects include Railways, Roadways, Power, Water and New and Renewable Energy sectors. During his visit, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate 103 redeveloped Amrit Stations in 86 districts across 18 States and Union Territories. After reaching Deshnoke, Mr. Modi will first visit Karni Mata temple for darshan. After that, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the redeveloped Deshnoke Amrit Station under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and also flag-off Bikaner-Mumbai express train. The Prime Minister will also address a public function in Palana of Bikaner.

Deshnoke Station in Rajasthan is included among the eight stations which are to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister. The other seven Amrit Stations in the State are Bundi, Mandalgarh, Gogamedi, Govindgarh, Mandawar-Mahuwa Road, Fatehpur Shekhawati and Rajgarh.

Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that over 1300 railway stations have been identified for redevelopment under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Interacting with media persons during his visit to the redeveloped Deshnoke Amrit Station at Bikaner yesterday, the Union Minister said that Deshnoke Station has been developed incorporating local cultural heritage and architecture of the area.

Our correspondent reports that one of the significant features of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is that the designs of the redeveloped station buildings are inspired by local culture, heritage and architecture. More from our correspondent:

All these Stations have been developed at a cost of over eleven hundred crore rupees under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Out of these Amrit Stations, 19 are located in Uttar Pradesh, 18 in Gujarat, 15 in Maharashtra, 9 in Tamil Nadu, Six in Madhya Pradesh and five each in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka.The redeveloped Amrit stations across India integrate modern infrastructure with cultural heritage, passenger-centric amenities including those for Divyangjan and sustainable practices to enhance the travel experience. Under the scheme, the goal is to make stations cleaner, more comfortable, and easier to use. Anand Kumar for Akashvani News, Bikaner.

The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate power and Solar projects at various places in Rajasthan. A report;

The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of Churu-Sadulpur rail line electrification work and will dedicate Five rail line electrification work to the nation. He will lay the foundation stone for construction of 3 Vehicle Underpasses, widening and strengthening of National highways. Mr. Modi will also dedicate 7 roadways projects in Rajasthan. The roadways projects, worth over 4850 crore rupees, extended up to the Indo-Pak border, enhancing accessibility for security forces and strengthening India’s defence infrastructure. Furthering the vision of electrifying for all and green and clean energy, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate power and Solar projects at various places. Mr. Modi will also lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate 25 important state government projects to enhance infrastructure, connectivity, power supply, health services, and water availability in the state. After Operation Sindoor, this visit of the Prime Minister to the border district is important in many ways. On one hand, this visit shows the Prime Minister’s resolve to develop infrastructure in the border districts, and at the same time, it will also provide support to the people living in the districts adjoining the Indo-Pak border. with Jitendra Dwivedi’s report, from Bikaner, chirag jha, akashvani news, delhi

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate 103 Amrit Stations across the country today. Of these, 19 stations are located in various parts of Uttar Pradesh and are fully prepared to offer modern facilities aimed at improving the travel experience for passengers. More from our correspondent:

Nineteen railway stations across Uttar Pradesh, including Bijnor, Saharanpur Junction, Goverdhan, Fatehabad, Govindpuri, Izzatnagar, Bareilly City, and Balrampur, have been upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and are set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. The comprehensive upgrades are aimed at significantly enhancing passenger convenience and overall travel experience. Bijnor railway station is among those that have undergone a notable transformation. The newly renovated station now features air-conditioned waiting halls, elevators, spacious parking areas, covered waiting zones, purified drinking water facilities, modern and cleaner restrooms, advanced fire safety systems, and inclusive infrastructure such as ramps and toilets for divyangjan. The new station building has been thoughtfully designed to blend modern architectural elements with the rich cultural and historical heritage of the region. Saklen Akhtar for Akashvani News, Bijnor.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually launch six newly developed Amrit railway stations in Madhya Pradesh under the Amrit Bharat Station Yojana. More from our Bhopal Correspondent:

The six upgraded stations in Madhya Pradesh are Katni South, Shridham, Narmadapuram, Shajapur, Seoni, and Orchha. These stations have been developed at a cost of more than 86 crores rupees keeping in mind the practical requirements as well as the regional cultural features. The passenger friendly facilities developed at these stations include special entrances, better lighting, newly constructed platforms, luxurious waiting rooms, ticketing services, electronic displays and hygiene facilities. WITH Sanjeev Sharma BHOPAL, AISHWARYA RAI NIGAM Akashvani News, DELHI.

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Mr. Modi will be virtually inaugurating three railway stations across Telangana, including an all-women-operated railway station in Begumpet this morning.

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India has launched its aggressive global campaign to further expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Two all party delegations left for nine nation tour yesterday. An all-party delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha left for five nation tour of Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and Singapore as part of India’s diplomatic outreach on Operation Sindoor. Another delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde also embarked on a visit to the UAE, Liberia, Congo and Sierra Leone to affirm New Delhi’s resolve on combating terrorism in all its forms. The delegations will carry India’s strong message of zero tolerance against terrorism and apprise about Operation Sindoor.

Today, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will brief the delegations.

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Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has said that India is fully justified in taking self-defensive action against terrorist targets in Pakistan, following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. Speaking to a private news channel yesterday, Bolton stressed that Pakistan must take responsibility for controlling terrorist activities within its borders, warning that failure to do so could lead to serious consequences.

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As we celebrate the success of Operation Sindoor, the Nation salutes the valour of the Indian soldiers. As a tribute to the Armed Forces, Akashvani News is presenting a special series. Today we remember Param Vir Chakra awardee Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal who gave supreme sacrifice during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.

Born in 1950 in Pune, Maharashtra, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was commissioned into the Poona Horse regiment in June 1971. At the age of just 21 years, he displayed unmatched courage during the Indo-Pak war of 1971. On December 16, 1971, the enemy launched a counter attack targeting Jarpal in Shakargarh Sector, under the cover of a smoke screen. As the Indians were heavily outnumbered, a fellow commander from ‘B’ Squadron, requested reinforcement. Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was positioned close by with his troops in two tanks and he answered the call for reinforcement. On the way, his troops came under fire from enemy strong points. He fiercely attacked the points, over ran defences and captured many enemy soldiers. During the attack, the Commander of his Second tank was killed leaving him alone. But he continued the attack on the enemy strongholds single handedly until all enemy positions were overwhelmed. Then racing to B Squadron position, he destroyed one enemy tank. During the enemy’s second attack which was followed by a fierce tank battle, ten enemy tanks were destroyed and of these, four were destroyed by Khetarpal alone. His tank was shot and burst into flames but he continued to destroy the enemy tanks. His tank got hit again and he made the supreme sacrifice while denying the enemy their intended breakthrough. For most conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy, 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra in 1972. The Nation Salutes Him. ANUPAM MISHRA, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.

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External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met Denmark’s Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Morten Bodskov in Copenhagen yesterday. They discussed deepening existing areas of cooperation and exploring new possibilities.

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The Maharashtra government has notified its long-awaited aggregator policy for app-based cab services such as Ola and Uber.

The policy introduces rules for fares, driver training, EV adoption, as well as financial penalties for cancellations.

A Government Resolution issued on Tuesday and approved by the state cabinet outlines a regulatory framework aimed at ensuring fair practices and a smoother experience for riders and drivers alike.

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In the world of sports, Shooter Kanak secured India’s first gold medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup, Mumbai Indians clinched the final playoff berth in IPL 2025, and Akanksha Salunkhe has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Irish Open squash. More in this report:

At the ongoing International Shooting Sport Federation Junior World Cup in Germany, Kanak delivered a stellar performance to win gold in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol event. Kanak, the silver medalist at the Junior World Championship in Lima last year, scored 239 points to edge out Moldova’s Anna Dulce, a two-time Olympian and reigning European Champion by 1.7 points. Moving on to IPL T20 cricket, Mumbai Indians booked the final spot in the playoffs with a commanding 59-run win over Delhi Capitals in Mumbai last night. After being asked to bat first, Mumbai posted a solid 180 for 5 in their 20 overs. In reply, Delhi’s batting lineup crumbled under pressure and was bowled out for just 121 runs in 18.2 overs. Today, Gujarat Titans will face Lucknow Super Giants in Ahmedabad at 7:30 PM. And in squash, India’s Akanksha Salunkhe moved into the quarterfinals of the Irish Open, continuing her strong run in the tournament. She will take on Madeleine Hylland of Norway tonight. VISHNU PS, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.

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TODAY’S NEWSPAPERS,

Most newspapers have covered on the front-page the news of the killing of 27 Maoists including top Maoist leader Nambala Keshav, in one of the most significant offensives against Maoist insurgents in decades.
“3000 Agniveers passed trial by fire during Operation Sindoor”, writes Hindustan Times. “From threat to punishment, message to Pak loud and clear”, notes The Tribune.
Writer, activist and lawyer Banu Mushtaq’s short story collection “Heart Lamp” has become the first Kannada title to win the coveted International Booker Prize in London, notes The Pioneer.
And finally, news that is going to be music to the ears of wildlife enthusiasts. Under the headline, “Roar of the Asiatic lion reverberates in Gujarat”, The Hindu reports that the population of the big cat has jumped to 891, rising 32.2% in the last 5 years.

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to launch multiple development projects worth over 26 thousand crore rupees from Bikaner in Rajasthan today.
Prime Minister to also inaugurate 103 Amrit Bharat Stations across the nation and flag-off Bikaner-Mumbai express train.
India’s global campaign begins to expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
Maharashtra notifies aggregator policy for app-based cab services.
In Sports, Shooter Kanak wins India’s first gold medal at Junior World Cup in Germany.
In IPL cricket, Mumbai Indians qualify for playoffs, beating Delhi Capitals by 59 runs at Wankhede Stadium.

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