National
33 feet tall, 210 tons in weight... the world's largest Shivalinga is coming, to be installed in the Virat Ramayana Temple.
A major step has been completed for the construction of the Virat Ramayana Temple in East Champaran (Chakia), Bihar. This massive Shivalinga, considered one of the largest in the world, has now departed from Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu for Bihar. This Shivalinga has been under construction for the past 10 years.
Shivalinga is 33 feet high and weighs 210 tons.
The size and weight of the Shivalinga is astonishing.
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Height: 33 feet
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Width: 33 feet
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Weight: 210 metric tons
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Construction cost: Around Rs 3 crore
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Material: A huge granite stone
This Mahashivalingam is being transported to Bihar on a special 96-wheel transporter truck. Transporting such a heavy religious structure by road is a major engineering feat in itself.
Departed after worship
Before the Shivalinga was sent, traditional Vedic rituals were performed in Pattikadu village in Mahabalipuram. Locals became part of this historic moment and bid farewell to the Shivalinga.
A 20-25 day long journey – Darshan will take place in many cities
The Shivalinga's journey to Bihar will take approximately 20–25 days. The travel route is as follows:
Mahabalipuram → Hosur → Hosakote → Devanahalli → Kurnool → Hyderabad → Nizamabad → Adilabad → Nagpur → Seoni → Jabalpur → Maihar → Satna → Rewa → Mirzapur → Ara → Chhapra → Masrakh → Mohammadpur → Kesaria → Chakia (Motihari)
People will be able to see this huge Shivalinga in many cities on the way.
Virat Ramayana Temple – India's new pride
The Virat Ramayan Temple being built in Chakia is special for its grandeur:
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Temple area: 115 acres
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Length: 1080 feet
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Width: 540 feet
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Height of main peak: 270 feet
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Total peaks: 18
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Total temples: 22
Important construction works, including the temple entrance, the Lion Gate, the Ganesha Sthal, the Nandi, and the piling of the sanctum sanctorum, have been completed. The temple construction is being carried out by the Mahavir Mandir Trust.
Target to be established in 2026
According to Vinayak Venkataraman, founder of the construction company, this magnificent Shivalinga will be installed in the temple complex by February 2026. This installation will enhance the temple's architectural and religious grandeur.
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Modi meets Australian PM at G20
New Delhi . Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in South Africa to attend the G20 summit. PM Modi was given a grand welcome. Members of the Indian community met him on this occasion. South Africa's presidency of the G20 is special in many ways. In fact, India assumed the presidency of the G20 in 2023. It was under India's presidency that South Africa became a member of the G20. PM Modi interacted with the Indian community in South Africa. Youth welcomed PM Modi with Ganesha prayers, Shanti Mantras, and other spiritual prayers. A cultural program was also presented, showcasing folk dances from 11 Indian states.
In Johannesburg, PM Modi met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The two leaders discussed cooperation in various sectors, including defense, security, minerals, trade and investment.
CG NEWS: Big decision of State Election Commission, 1 year imprisonment for giving wrong information while filling SIR form.
Raipur. CG NEWS: The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the voter list is underway in Chhattisgarh. Meanwhile, the State Election Commission has issued important instructions. According to these instructions, if a voter provides false information or attaches false documents while filling out the SIR form, they face a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine.
At the same time, the Election Commission has also alerted voters regarding SIR, stating that BLOs do not ask for OTP when filling out forms, nor does any Election Commission employee ask for OTP from any voter over the phone. If asked for personal information, do not share it with anyone. If this happens, you can file a complaint at the police station. There are also demands to extend the deadline for filling out SIR forms.
Duty of 63 thousand BLOs
It should be noted that, on the instructions of the State Election Commissioner, 63,439 BLAs and BLOs are engaged in completing the SIR process. They are distributing and digitizing the forms.
Chhattisgarh State Election Commissioner Yashwant Kumar has mainly warned people to avoid giving wrong information and not to share personal information or OTP with anyone.
His name appears in more than one place on the electoral roll. He submits a count form for more than one place. Thus, he makes a declaration in the count form that is false or that he knows or believes to be false. He is punishable under Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
Demand to extend the last date for filling SIR form
Meanwhile, there are calls to extend the deadline for filing SIR forms. Currently, the form filling process will continue until December 4th. Gautam Bandyopadhyay, state coordinator of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), has requested an extension so that no one is excluded from the voter list.
Gautam Bandyopadhyay has written a letter to the Chief Election Officer, stating that paddy procurement is underway in the state. Most people are busy with this process, and are unable to fill out the SIR form. He also requested guidance on some related confusion.
Aadhar Card Lost: Lost your Aadhar Card? Get an e-copy for free from home, follow this easy method…
Aadhar Card Lost: In today's digital age, Aadhar card has become the most important key to our identity. It's needed everywhere, from government work to children's admissions. But if you lose this card or forget its number, there's no need to worry. Now you can retrieve your Aadhar information for free from the comfort of your home.
UIDAI's special facility
Aadhaar cards contain a unique 12-digit number, which is issued only once. Sometimes people forget where they left their cards or lose them. In such cases, UIDAI has provided the "Retrieve Lost or Forgotten UID/EID" feature, which allows you to download e-Aadhaar even without an Aadhaar number.
Follow this method when the mobile number is linked
If your mobile number or email ID is linked to Aadhaar, this process becomes even easier. You just need to visit the UIDAI website and follow a few simple steps:
- First of all open the UIDAI website.
- Go to “My Aadhaar” section and click on 'Retrieve Lost or Forgotten UID/EID'.
- Here enter your name, mobile number or email and date of birth, then enter the captcha.
- Click on “Send OTP” and submit the OTP received on your mobile.
- Within a few seconds, your Aadhaar details will appear on the screen and will also be sent to your mobile.
What to do if the mobile number is not linked?
If your mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar, you will need to visit the nearest Aadhaar enrollment center. There, you will need to provide the 28-digit EID number you received when you applied for Aadhaar. This will be followed by biometric authentication (fingerprint or iris scan). After the completion of this process, your e-Aadhaar will be issued. A fee of up to ₹30 may apply for this service.
Get PVC Aadhaar card at home for ₹50
Lost Aadhaar Card: UIDAI now allows people to order a PVC Aadhaar card from the comfort of their homes. This is a plastic card that is as strong and durable as an ATM card. The fee for this is only ₹50.
New Rent Rules 2025: Good news for tenants! Rental living is now easier, and landlords will no longer be able to act arbitrarily.
National Desk. If you live in a rented home or rent out your property, this news is very important for you. The government has made several significant changes to the rent agreement rules to simplify, standardize, and make the entire tenancy process transparent. These new rules, called the New Home Rent Rules 2025, are based on the Model Tenancy Act (MTA) and the recent Union Budget.
New and important rules for tenants
The new rules aim to reduce disputes between tenants and landlords and resolve them faster.
| Rule | Description |
| Agreement registration is mandatory | It will be mandatory to register all rent agreements within two months of signing them. |
| Penalty | If the agreement is not registered within two months, the landlord may be fined ₹5,000. |
| Security Deposit Limit | Landlords can no longer demand an arbitrary deposit. This amount will be limited to a maximum of two months' rent for residential properties and six months' rent for commercial properties. |
| rent hike rules | Landlords cannot increase rents suddenly. Any rent increase must follow established rules and provide prior notice to tenants. |
| clear way to remove | A landlord cannot evict a tenant suddenly. The eviction process must be clear and properly communicated. |
| Faster resolution of disputes | Special rent courts and tribunals have been created to resolve disputes within 60 days so that cases do not remain pending for long. |
Ram Mandir Dharma Dhwaj: Ram Mandir flag hoisting ceremony begins with Navgraha Pujan, PM Modi will hoist the flag on November 25
Ayodhya Ram Mandir: The Ram Mandir flag hoisting ceremony in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, began on Friday with a religious ritual initiated by scholars from Ayodhya and Kashi in the Yagyashala located in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple complex. In the Yagyashala, the chief host, Dr. Anil Mishra, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, along with his wife, began the five-day ritual of the Ram Mandir flag hoisting ceremony by worshipping the Navagraha.
Worship was done in two shifts.
In connection with the flag hoisting ceremony of Ram Mandir and flag hoisting in other temples, the main host Dr Anil Mishra and other hosts performed worship in two shifts in the Yagyashala of the temple premises with due rituals from Friday. Along with this, the recitation of Ramayana and Manas also started in the Ram Mandir. Newly nominated member of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Krishna Mohan is also a host along with his wife. All the hosts have been performing worship in the temple premises since Thursday.
The sacred water of Saryu was filled in the Kalash and taken to the Ram Mandir.
Before the Navgraha Pujan in the Ram Mandir Yagyashala, the Kalash Yatra started with great ceremony from Tulsi Ghat on the banks of Saryu yesterday. Women dressed in yellow filled the sacred water of Saryu in the Kalash and reached the Ram Mandir. In the Kalash Yatra, the youth were walking ahead carrying the symbol of the Ram Mandir flag and Dr. Anil Mishra, the main host of the Ram Mandir flag hoisting ceremony and a member of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, was walking ahead with the Kalash on his head.
PM Modi will hoist the flag.
In the flag hoisting ceremony, a program of worship and religious rituals has been organized by Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra from today till 25th November. In which the host along with his wife has been invited. All the host are staying at the designated place outside the temple premises as per the plan of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil this flag by pressing the button in the Abhijeet Muhurta between 12 noon to 12:30 pm.
The year 2025 could end in a terrible outcome, with this alarming prediction causing widespread panic and heightened public tension.
Nostradamus's prediction for 2025: The predictions of Nostradamus, one of the world's most renowned prophets, have been a topic of discussion for centuries. His prophecies, written nearly 460 years ago, have proven accurate regarding many major historical events, such as nuclear attacks, the 9/11 attacks, and the deaths of Hitler and Princess Diana. Now, some of his predictions point to major threats to India and the end of 2025.
The most terrifying prediction about India
Nostradamus had indicated that India would become a powerful country and Indian politics would influence the world but one prediction is extremely scary:
War on two fronts: The prediction says that India may be attacked jointly by its neighbouring countries China and Pakistan.
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Start of war: It was also reported that China would start this war and this incident could lead to the Third World War.
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Battlefield: Nostradamus also indicated that a major battle could take place at the mouth of the river Ganges.
Big warnings for 2025 and beyond
Nostradamus's predictions point to several global crises before the end of 2025:
1. Another new pandemic hits
Nostradamus predicted that a time would come when the entire army would be exhausted during a long war and there would be no money left for the soldiers. He further wrote:
"It looks like the end of one war will be the start of another war, the start of another pandemic."
2. A ball of fire (meteorite) will come from the universe
Another terrifying prophecy suggests a major threat looms over the world from space:
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Asteroid collision: According to Nostradamus, besides the coming war, there's another reason we shouldn't make New Year's plans. He hinted that Earth will collide with an asteroid that will end all life.
3. Major changes in the world
According to Britannica, Nostradamus also indicated other important events around 2025:
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Conflict in England: A major conflict may begin in England.
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Aquatic Leader: The rise of an Aquatic Leader to power is indicated.
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End of a long war: He also predicted the end of a long war, which would be immediately followed by another crisi
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Bihar Election 2025: Out of more than 2 lakh postal ballots in Bihar elections, around 24,000 were rejected.
Bihar Election 2025: Election Commission data shows that nearly 24,000 of the over 200,000 postal ballots were rejected during the counting of votes for the Bihar Assembly elections. Of the 50.2 million votes cast, including EVMs and postal ballots, 49.3 million were found valid, while 93.4 million were invalid.
According to the poll panel, 23,918 of the 20.1 million postal votes cast were rejected. The EC stated that the total valid votes cast—49.3 million—were arrived at after removing NOTA votes. Furthermore, the poll authority asserted that its count was "100 percent accurate." In a social media post, the EC stated that over 17.7 million postal votes were ignored in a "viral claim" alleging a "fake mismatch." The poll body said that once postal votes are included, "the numbers match perfectly."
The percentage of rejected postal votes out of the total postal votes was 11.87 percent. Of these, 9.10 lakh None of the Above (NOTA) votes, which include votes cast on EVMs and sent through postal ballots, amount to 1.81 percent. Senior citizens (above 85 years of age), persons with disabilities flagged in the electoral roll database, and those working in essential services are eligible for postal ballots. The overall voter turnout in the two-phase elections held earlier this month was 67.25 percent. This is the highest voter turnout ever in the state, where women voters outnumbered men at nearly 91,000 polling stations.
A 14-year-old tribal girl was raped by her neighbour in Jharkhand's Latehar.
Latehar News: A 14-year-old tribal girl was allegedly raped by her neighbour in Jharkhand's Latehar district, police said on Friday. The alleged incident occurred on Wednesday in Ladhup Panchayat, under the Chandwa police station area, but came to light only after the victim, along with her parents, filed a complaint during the day.
Chandwa police station in-charge Randhir Kumar said, "A case has been registered under the POCSO Act and the girl was sent for a medical examination. The accused is absconding and a search operation has been launched to nab him." Kumar said the accused lured the girl to a secluded spot and raped her there.
A police officer said, "We are investigating the allegations. The girl has no external injuries." Latehar Superintendent of Police Kumar Gaurav said the accused is an adult and is between 18 and 20 years old.
Division of departments: Division of departments in Nitish cabinet, know which minister got which department
Bihar. Division of departments: Following the formation of the government in Bihar, the division of departments has been released. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sworn in 24 ministers, of whom the portfolios of 18 have been finalized. The biggest change this time is that Nitish Kumar has not retained the Home Department for himself but has handed it over to Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary.
Here's who got which department:


Responsibility for removing stray animals fixed, Supreme Court gives these instructions
The Supreme Court, which issued its orders suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report, has now clearly defined the responsibility for their implementation. The removal of cows and other stray animals from the streets will now be the responsibility of the relevant authorities. Additionally, in a separate case, it has been decided that any dead animal must be removed and disposed of scientifically within 48 hours.
After hearing a case related to stray dogs, the Supreme Court directed that all stray cattle and other animals be removed from national highways, state highways, and expressways. Following this, the Urban Administration and Development Department has sent orders to all municipal commissioners, chief municipal officers, municipalities, and town councils across the state.
A joint campaign will be conducted
The department stated that the municipal commissioner, municipal officials, the Road and Transport Department, and NHAI will conduct a joint campaign. This campaign will identify areas where stray animals are most commonly seen and remove them and place them in designated shelters. These animals will be provided with food, water, and veterinary care at the shelters.
Disposal of dead animals is mandatory within 48 hours.
Following Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai's directives at the Collector-SP conference held in Raipur last month, the department has directed all urban bodies to identify suitable sites for scientific disposal of dead cattle and other animals. According to the directives, disposal must be completed within 48 hours while adhering to environmental standards and biosecurity regulations.
Clear guidelines for bodies
The ministry's circular states that every municipal authority should immediately identify a location for safe disposal of dead animals. This location should be located at a sufficient distance from human habitation and meet all environmental and biosecurity standards. According to the Public Service Guarantee Act of 2011, animal disposal services must be provided within 48 hours.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train: The country's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train will run on the tracks from December! Passengers will get these 11 new amenities...
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train: A major update has emerged regarding the Vande Bharat Sleeper Train. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav stated that the necessary retrofitting of the country's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train is in its final stages. Technical deficiencies discovered after the train's testing are being rectified. The Railway Minister clarified, "We don't believe in shortcuts. Making travel comfortable and safe is our priority." He confirmed that the train will be operational for passengers in December 2025.
Defects were revealed in the trial run
During testing, some problems were discovered with the bogies and seats. These are being rectified to make the train safer and more efficient. Following the trials, the following changes are being made to the train:
- The emergency alarm button is being removed from behind the upper berth and installed in an accessible location.
- The AC duct is being shifted to a better position.
- Special cables and arc fault detection devices are being installed to prevent fire.
- Fire-resistant cables are being used for CCTV.
- Third-party safety testing is being carried out in accordance with European safety standards EN 45545 and EN 15227.
The launch of the train has been postponed several times.
The Vande Bharat sleeper train was originally scheduled to launch in October, but was postponed due to deficiencies discovered during testing. Now, the Railway Ministry has confirmed that the train will hit the tracks in December.
BEML is building 10 Vande Bharat sleeper trains. According to officials, the first train was a prototype, so it underwent extensive testing on every parameter. Based on suggestions, improvements are being made to further upgrade the train.
Speed and design features
The train is designed for speeds of 160 km/h. Trials were successfully conducted at speeds of 180 km/h. The Railways states that there will be no compromise on safety and comfort. Once the train is launched, long-distance travel will be more comfortable, safe, and equipped with modern amenities than ever before.
Facilities available in Vande Bharat Sleeper Train
- Fully air-conditioned coaches
- All coaches will be air-conditioned to ensure comfortable long distance/night travel.
- Different coach classes
There will be 3 types of classes in the train:
- AC 3-Tier (11 coaches)
- AC 2-Tier (4 coaches)
- AC First Class (1 कोच)
- Comfortable berths
- Wide bunk beds that provide ample space for sleeping.
- Reading lights and USB charging ports on each berth.
- Ergonomic ladder for climbing to the upper berth.
- sanitary facilities
- There will be multiple toilets per coach and one toilet exclusively for differently-abled passengers.
- Bio-vacuum (touch-free) toilets, which are better in terms of hygiene.
- Hot water shower facility will also be available in AC First Class coaches.
- Safety and braking systems
- Kavach Indigenous train collision-avoidance system, which reduces the chances of collisions.
- Crash-proof design anti-climber, semi-permanent couplers.
- Fire Safety: Compliant with European fire-safety standards such as EN-45545 HL3.
- Fire detection system, smoke alarm.
- Centralized coach monitoring system, which will monitor the AC and power systems.
- Comfort and connectivity
- Sensor-based (automated) lighting that saves energy and improves ambiance.
- Digital information display panels, which provide passengers with information about stations, timings, etc.
- Public announcement (PA) system and voice communication (in case of emergency) can be done.
- USB charging port on every berth.
- Onboard Wi-Fi, which will provide internet facility.
- Pantry and food
- The train will have a modular pantry car to provide delicious food and fresh snacks to the passengers.
- Fixed and foldable snack tables for a comfortable dining experience.
- Facilities for special travellers
- Special berths and WC for disabled passengers.
- Dedicated facilities for driver and staff also like air conditioned loco pilot cabs and toilets for them.
- Pollution-control and energy efficiency
- Regenerative braking system, which returns energy to the system when braking.
- Air quality monitoring system designed to maintain oxygen levels.
- Other safety-technical features
- CCTV cameras to enhance security inside the train.
- Emergency Talk-Back Unit: Passengers and Train Manager/Loco Pilot can talk in case of emergency.
- Wide internal gangways that are completely sealed to prevent dust from entering.
- High-Speed
- The design speed of the train is up to 180 km/h.
- The service speed will be around 160 km/h.
Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar CM for the 10th time; 26 MLAs become ministers
Nitish Kumar Swearing-in: Making history, Nitish Kumar has taken the oath of office as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the 10th time. He took the oath of office at the historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were present on the occasion. Nitish Kumar has been the Chief Minister of Bihar continuously since 2005.
Complete list of 26 ministers –
- Samrat Chaudhary
- Vijay Kumar Sinha
- Vijay Kumar Chaudhary
- Bijendra Prasad Yadav
- Shravan Kumar
- Mangal Pandey
- Dr Dilip Jaiswal
- Ashok Choudhary
- Lacey Singh
- Madan Sahni
- Nitin Naveen
- Ramkripal Yadav
- Santosh Kumar Suman
- Sunil Kumar
- Md. Jama Khan
- Sanjay Singh Tiger
- Arun Shankar Prasad
- Surendra Mehta
- Narayan Prasad
- Rama Nishad
- Lakhendra Kumar Roshan
- Shreyasi Singh
- Dr. Pramod Kumar
- Sanjay Kumar
- Sanjay Kumar Singh
- Deepak Prakash
Another major blow to the film industry: Famous singer Human Sagar passes away, mother makes serious allegations against manager
New Delhi: Renowned Odia music singer Human Sagar passed away at the young age of 34. The tragic news broke on Monday evening, sending shockwaves across the film and entertainment industry. His melodies, which touched millions of hearts, are now forever silent. Fans and music lovers are paying tribute and sharing memorable memories on social media.
According to doctors, Human Sagar, who was hospitalized due to health complications,
died due to multi-organ dysfunction syndrome. He was brought to AIIMS, Bhubaneswar in critical condition on November 14. Medical examination revealed that several of his vital organs had stopped functioning. Doctors said he was suffering from serious problems like acute-on-chronic liver failure, bilateral pneumonia, and dilated cardiomyopathy. Despite his treatment, he breathed his last on Monday evening.
Human Sagar's mother, Shefali, has leveled serious allegations
against his manager and event organizers, alleging that he was forced to perform on stage despite his poor health. She said this was extremely risky for his health.
Human Sagar, who gave a new identity to Odishan music,
began his career with the title track of the film Ishq Tu Hi Tu. Subsequently, hundreds of his songs, including those on the albums Nishwasa, Bekhudi, Tuma Otha Tale, and Chehra, became superhits. His voice, with its depth of pain and emotion, made him a household name in Odisha. His passing has left a deep void in the hearts of music lovers.
Former President Kovind will attend the sixth convocation of Atal Bihari Vajpayee University.
Bilaspur. Atal Bihari Vajpayee University will hold its sixth convocation on December 4th, with former President Ram Nath Kovind as the chief guest. The university administration has begun preparations for the ceremony, and this year, a total of 62 gold medals will be awarded. These medals will be awarded to students who have secured first place in their respective subjects. Additionally, 551 students ranked from second to tenth will receive certificates from the stage.
Six gold medals will be awarded in diploma-level courses, while a total of 619 degrees will be awarded, including 63 PhD degrees. Atal University's merit list once again showcases the outstanding performance of female students. Female students have become gold medalists in 40 out of 51 departments. Furthermore, a total of 350 female students are included in the top 10 across 53 departments.
ED raids Al Falah University, linked persons in Delhi Red Fort blast case
Officials at the site after Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducts a raid at the Delhi office of Al Falah University in Okhla as part of an investigation into a terror module linked to Faridabad and the recent blast near the Red Fort, on November 18, 2025. | Photo Credit: PTI
New Dew : The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday November 18, 2025 launched searches against the Al Falah University of Faridabad and its promoters and linked persons as part of its investigation related to the Red Fort area terrorist blast case, sources said.
Teams of the federal probe agency have been searching multiple locations in the Delhi-NCR since early morning, sources said.
It is understood that the ED is taking action under the anti-money laundering law following cognisance of the first information reports filed by the NIA and the Delhi Police in the case. The agency is investigating finances and purported terror financing links in the matter.
Sources said the searches began around 5 am, and the trustees of the University are also being raided.
Till now, the NIA has arrested two persons, allegedly close aides of “suicide bomber” Dr Umar Nabi.
The Al Falah varsity is located in the Dhouj area of Faridabad district in Haryana near Delhi, and it is a medical college-cum-hospital.
India Signs First Ever LPG Import Deal with US
The quantity contracted is close to 10 per cent of India’s annual LPG imports and marks the first such structured US LPG contract for the Indian market. (File Image)
The move is seen as an attempt to narrow India’s trade surplus with the US – a sticking point for President Donald Trump, who has slapped a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods entering America
New Delhi: In a major step towards strengthening the country’s energy security, India on Monday, for the first time, opened up the US market on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as Union minister for petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri announced that state-owned oil companies have signed a one-year agreement to import cooking gas or LPG from the United States from 2026. The aim of the government is to diversify India’s LPG sourcing and to provide secure affordable supplies of LPG to the people of the country.
The move of the government comes amid the US President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods entering America. “Indian PSU oil companies have successfully concluded a one-year structured contract to import around 2.2 million tonnes of LPG from the US Gulf Coast for the contract year 2026,” an official statement said.
India has already offered to raise energy imports from the US as part of the bilateral trade deal that has been under discussions for the past couple of months. New Delhi buys about 8 percent of its crude oil – the raw material for making petrol and diesel – from the US. In the first half of 2025, India imported about 271,000 barrels per day (bpd) of US crude, up 51 per cent from 180,000 bpd in H1 2024.
The minister also mentioned that teams from PSU oil firms such as Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) recently travelled to the US for discussions with leading American producers, which have now been successfully completed.
It is also learnt that India is either self-sufficient or has surplus production in most fuels like petrol, diesel and jet fuel, it imports about 65 per cent of its LPG consumption of 31 million tonnes. In 2024, about 90 per cent of the 20.4 million tonnes of LPG imports came from UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. It is, however, expected that Indian oil marketing companies (OMCs) like IOC, BPCL and HPCL will import about 48 very-large gas carriers of LPG in 2026 where the supplies will be made by super majors Chevron, Phillips and TotalEnergies Trading SA.
Earlier in the day oil minister Puri took to X to announce the LPG deal. “A historic first! One of the largest and the world’s fastest growing LPG markets opens up to the United States. In our endeavour to provide secure affordable supplies of LPG to the people of India, we have been diversifying our LPG sourcing,” he said.
“In a significant development, Indian PSU oil companies have successfully concluded a 1 year deal for imports of around 2.2 MTPA LPG, close to 10 percent of our annual imports – for the contract year 2026, to be sourced from the US Gulf Coast – the first structured contract of US LPG for the Indian market,” the minister said.
“Poor Ujjwala consumers, who make up for a third of all LPG users in the country, are receiving cooking gas cylinders at just Rs 500-550 while the actual cost was over Rs 1,100. The government incurred the cost of over Rs 40,000 crore last year in order to ensure our mothers and sisters did not feel the burden of rising international LPG prices,” he added.
