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M Venkaiah Naidu elected Vice President

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M Venkaiah Naidu elected Vice President

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ruling NDA’s candidate M Venkaiah Naidu was elected Vice President of India with 516 votes out of 785 votes polled. Opposition’s candidate Gopalkrishna Gandhi got 244 votes.

As Vice President, Naidu also becomes the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, where BJP on Thursday overtook the Congress as the single largest party with 58 seats. The Congress has 57.

The voting began at 10 am Saturday and went on till 5 pm in the evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NDA’s vice presidential candidate Venkaiah Naidu and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister  Yogi Adityanath, who is yet to give up his Lok Sabha membership, were among the first to cast their ballot.

Voting ended with 771 out of 785 votes polled, with a poll percentage of 98.21%. There were 14 MPs absent from voting; 2 from BJP, 2 from INC, 2 from IUML, 4 from TMC, 1 from NCP; 1 from PMK & 2 Independent. BJP MPs Sanwarlal Jat and Vijay Goel could not vote in the Vice-Presidential Election because they are hospitalised, reported PTI.

As per the norms, Members of both Houses of Parliament vote in the vice-presidential election through secret ballot and no whip is allowed. Members of Parliament marked their choice in the election with special pens.

The total strength of the two Houses is 790, but there are two vacancies in the Lok Sabha and one in the Rajya Sabha. BJP MP in Lok Sabha Chhedi Paswan is barred from casting vote following a judicial pronouncement.

While Naidu had the support of the NDA parties along with AIADMK, TRS and YSRCP, Opposition candidate, former Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi was backed by MPs belonging to the Congress, RJD, JD(U), NCP, Left and other smaller parties.

In the 545-member Lok Sabha, the BJP has 281 members. The NDA led by BJP, has 338 members. In the 243-member Rajya Sabha, the BJP is now the single largest party with 58 members, overtaking the Congress which has 57.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Janata Dal (United) which had supported NDA nominee Ramnath Kovind for the post of president, had decided to back opposition nominee Gandhi. The JD(U) broke ties with ‘mahagathbandhan’ and joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form a new government in Bihar, but decided to vote for Gandhi.

The term of the present incumbent Hamid Ansari, who has held the post for two consecutive terms, is coming to an end on 10 August.

All you need to know about India’s 13th Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu

Born July 1, 1949 in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, Venkaiah Naidu lost his mother when he was 18 months old. His father, too, passed away early and he was raised by his maternal uncles. Naidu, showed early signs of his leadership skills by emerging as the students’ union president.

Naidu came to into spotlight for his prominent role in Jai Andhra movement of 1972. In 1974, Naidu joined the protest against the imposition of emergency and became the Andhra Pradesh convenor of Jayaprakash Narayan led Chhatra Sangarsh Samiti. He was also imprisoned during this phase.

He joined the Janata Party in 1977 and subsequently the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1983.  Naidu became the youngest national president of BJP at the age of 52 in 2002.

Naidu was elected to the Lok Sabha twice from the Udaygiri constituency (Nellore) in 1978 and 1983.

In 1998, Naidu was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka and since then he continues to be a member of the Upper house being re-elected thrice (twice from Karnataka and once from Rajasthan).

Naidu held the Rural Development portfolio in Vajpayee government and three ministerial positions in Narendra Modi government including the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

He is one of the foremost admirers of the Prime Minister and has coined the phrase “MODI: Making of Developed India”.

Known for coining witty acronyms, Naidu did so recently with the initials of APJ Abdul Kalam when he said APJAK stands for “Anything is possible with Just Attitude and Karma”. The other acronyms he came up with are –

MODI – Modifier of Developed India

EVM – Every Vote Modi

YOUNG – You Owe U and National Greatness

Congress had recently indicated that Naidu had influenced the Telangana government to exempt daughter Deepa Venkat’s NGO Swarna Bharat Trust from paying charges amounting to more than Rs 2 crore. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also claimed that Telangana government placed the order to buy vehicles from Harsha Toyota, owned by Venkaiah Naidu’s son Harshvardhan Naidu, “in contravention of rules, and without even floating a tender”.

Ramesh also raised the decade old issue of allotment of land by the then Madhya Pradesh government to KTMT trust of which Naidu was the chairman. The Supreme Court on April 6, 2011 quashed the allotment of 20 acres of land made to KTMT trust.

However, Naidu refuted all the charges calling them politically motivated.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1501940923848{border-top-width: 20px !important;background-color: #a2b1bf !important;}”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Positions held by M Venkaiah Naidu –

  • 1973–74 : President, Students Union, Andhra University
  • 1974 : Convener, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Yuvajana Chatra Sangharsha Samithi, Andhra Pradesh
  • 1977–80 : President, Youth Wings of Janata Party, Andhra Pradesh
  • 1978–85 : Member, Legislative Assembly, Andhra Pradesh (2 terms)
  • 1980–85 : Leader, B.J.P Legislative Party in Andhra Pradesh
  • 1985–88 : General Secretary, Andhra Pradesh State B.J.P.
  • 1988–93 : President, Andhra Pradesh State B.J.P.
  • 1993–September 2000 : National General Secretary, Bharatiya Janata Party
  • Secretary, B.J.P. Parliamentary Board
  • Secretary, B.J.P. Central Election Committee
  • Spokesperson of the B.J.P.
  • Since 1998 : Member, Rajya Sabha from Karnataka (3 terms)
  • 30 September 2000–1 July 2002 : Minister of Rural Development

1 July 2002–5 October 2004 : National President, Bharatiya[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India and Russia vow to walk together against terrorism, reaffirm strategic partnership

PM Modi and President Putin reaffirm India-Russia unity against terrorism, deepen energy and trade cooperation, and discuss peace efforts amid the Ukraine conflict.

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December 5, 2025

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday underlined that India and Russia “walk together in the fight against terrorism,” reinforcing a decades-old strategic partnership that remains steady amid global geopolitical churn. The leaders issued the joint statement following talks at Hyderabad House in Delhi, where they also announced steps to boost trade, economic cooperation, and energy collaboration.

India-Russia stand firm on counter-terror cooperation

PM Modi described President Putin as a “dear friend” and highlighted Moscow’s consistent support to India on counter-terror efforts. Russia had earlier strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, allegedly linked to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, and reiterated solidarity with India’s fight against terrorism in all forms.

The joint remarks emphasized that the bilateral friendship, rooted in trust and mutual respect, has remained resilient for decades despite global challenges.

Focus on energy, trade and use of national currencies

A key highlight of the engagement was Russia reaffirming “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India. PM Modi expressed gratitude for Russia’s commitment, noting energy cooperation as a crucial pillar of the relationship. While he did not specifically mention oil purchases, given ongoing Western pressure, he emphasised cooperation in civil nuclear and clean energy.

The two countries also discussed expanding economic ties, including a possible free trade agreement. President Putin said bilateral trade was being targeted to reach USD 100 billion, and acknowledged progress toward using national currencies for payments — a remark expected to draw global attention.

Putin shares peace plan insights on Ukraine conflict

Putin briefed the Prime Minister on Russia’s perspective for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Ukraine war and appreciated India’s continued role as a “champion of peace.” PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent position on dialogue and diplomacy.

Agreements across jobs, health, shipping and minerals

Officials exchanged multiple agreements covering employment mobility, health, shipping, chemicals and cooperation in critical minerals — further broadening the strategic footprint of the partnership.

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RBI cuts repo rate to 5.25%, paving the way for cheaper loans

The RBI has cut the repo rate to 5.25%, aiming to support growth as inflation softens. The central bank also raised GDP projections and announced liquidity-boosting measures.

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8 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reduced the key repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25% on Thursday, signalling relief for borrowers as banks are expected to offer lower EMIs on home and vehicle loans. Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced the move after the conclusion of the three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

RBI prioritises growth as inflation eases

Malhotra said the decision was unanimous, with the central bank choosing to focus on supporting economic momentum despite concerns over a weak rupee. The repo rate was earlier cut in June from 6% to 5.5% amid easing inflation trends.

The RBI now projects Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation at 2% for FY2025-26, significantly softer than earlier estimates. For the first quarter of FY2026-27, inflation is expected at 3.9%, lower than the previous projection. The governor noted that rising precious metal prices may contribute to the headline CPI, but overall risks to inflation remain balanced.

GDP outlook strengthened

In a strong upward revision, the central bank increased the GDP forecast for the current financial year to 7.3%, previously estimated at 6.8%. Growth for the October–December quarter has also been revised to 6.7%.

The last quarter registered a six-quarter high expansion of 8.2%, reflecting resilient demand and steady credit flow.

“The growth-inflation balance continues to offer policy space,” Malhotra said, reiterating that the RBI’s stance remains neutral.

Other key decisions

Alongside the repo rate cut, the RBI announced adjustments to key policy corridors:

  • Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 5%
  • Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): 5.5%

To improve liquidity and strengthen monetary transmission, the RBI will conduct forex swaps and purchase ₹1 lakh crore worth of government bonds through Open Market Operations (OMO).

RBI reviews a challenging year

Reflecting on 2025, Malhotra said the year delivered strong growth and moderate inflation even as global trade and geopolitical uncertainties persisted. He added that bank credit and retail lending remained healthy, providing support to the economy.

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India News

IndiGo flight chaos deepens as over 500 services cancelled, passengers stranded for hours

Over 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled nationwide, leaving passengers stranded without food, clarity or their luggage as airports struggled to manage the disruption.

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9 hours ago

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December 5, 2025

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IndiGo flight

India’s largest airline continued to face massive operational breakdowns, triggering frustration among travellers at major airports across the country. From piles of unattended suitcases to passengers waiting over 12 hours without food or clarity, the disruption stretched into its fourth consecutive day.

Long delays, no communication leave passengers anguished

Several travellers at Delhi airport described the situation as “mental torture”, as thousands of unclaimed suitcases lay scattered across the terminal. Many slept on the floor, while others expressed anger over the lack of communication from airline staff.

One flier said he had been waiting for over 12 hours without any explanation: “Every time they say one-hour or two-hour delays. We were going to a wedding but don’t even have our luggage.”

A passenger in Hyderabad recounted a similar ordeal, saying the flight was delayed indefinitely with no food, water, or updates from the airline. At the airport, some travellers blocked an Air India flight in protest over the lack of arrangements.

Goa and Chennai airports also witnessed tense moments. Videos from Goa showed fliers shouting at IndiGo staff as police attempted to calm the situation. At Chennai, CISF denied entry to IndiGo passengers due to heavy congestion.

Major metro airports impacted; cascading cancellations nationwide

Flight cancellations and delays were reported across multiple airports:

  • Over 200 flights were cancelled in Delhi
  • More than 100 each in Mumbai and Bengaluru
  • Around 90 in Hyderabad
  • Dozens more in Pune, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai and Bhopal

Pune airport stated that parking bay congestion worsened the situation, as several IndiGo aircraft remained grounded due to lack of crew. Other airlines continued operations without disruption.

Airport authorities said they had mobilised additional manpower for crowd control and passenger support.

IndiGo admits planning lapses, says more cancellations expected

The airline acknowledged a “misjudgment” in assessing crew requirements under revised night-duty norms, which it said created planning gaps. Winter weather and airport congestion further aggravated the crisis.

IndiGo informed the aviation ministry and DGCA that some regulatory changes—such as the shift in night-duty timings and a cap on night landings—have been rolled back temporarily to stabilise operations.

The airline warned that cancellations may continue for another two to three days, and from December 8, schedules will be trimmed to prevent further disruption.

In a message to employees, CEO Pieter Elbers said restoring punctuality would not be an “easy target”.

Airline issues apology amid nationwide frustration

In a late-night statement, IndiGo apologised to customers and industry partners, acknowledging the widespread inconvenience caused by the disruptions. The airline said all teams were working with authorities to bring operations back to normal.

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