The Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has passed a confidence motion in the state assembly, reaffirming its majority in the House.

The motion was moved by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The move came amid recent political speculation regarding the stability of the ruling party.

With a strong numerical position in the 117-member assembly, AAP demonstrated that it continues to command the support of a majority of legislators. The outcome of the vote reinforced the party’s dominance in the House.

Addressing the assembly, Mann said the confidence motion was brought to put an end to rumours about any instability within the government. He asserted that the party remains united and committed to governance in the state.

The trust vote was passed with the backing of AAP legislators, underlining internal cohesion despite ongoing political discussions at the broader level.

The result is expected to strengthen the Mann-led government’s position and provide stability as it moves forward with its policy agenda in Punjab.

India has begun testing a new nationwide disaster alert system that sends emergency messages directly to mobile phones, often accompanied by loud beeps or vibrations. The initiative is being implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in coordination with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to improve public safety during emergencies.

The alerts many users are receiving are part of a trial phase, and authorities have clarified that these are test messages that do not require any action.

What is the NDMA alert SMS system

The system is designed to warn citizens about disasters such as earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, lightning strikes, and even man-made emergencies like gas leaks.

It uses a mix of traditional SMS and Cell Broadcast (CB) technology, which allows alerts to be sent to all mobile phones within a specific geographic area simultaneously.

Unlike regular SMS, which are sent individually, cell broadcast messages are delivered instantly to multiple users at once, making them faster and more effective during critical situations.

Why you may hear loud alert sounds

Many users have reported sudden loud alarm-like sounds when receiving these alerts. This happens because the system is designed to override silent mode on phones to ensure the message gets immediate attention.

Such alerts are especially useful during time-sensitive emergencies when quick response can save lives.

Nationwide testing underway

The government is currently conducting pan-India trials of the system before its official rollout. Citizens across different states may receive these messages multiple times during the testing period.

Officials have urged people not to panic and to ignore the alerts during this phase, as they are only meant to check system performance and reach.

How the system will help in real emergencies

Once fully operational, the system will:

• Deliver alerts in multiple Indian languages
• Reach users instantly, even during network congestion
• Target specific geographic areas for precise warnings
• Work alongside existing disaster platforms like the Sachet portal

The goal is to ensure real-time communication during disasters, reducing response time and improving public safety.

Fresh voting will be conducted in 15 polling stations across two assembly constituencies in West Bengal on May 2, following complaints of irregularities during the recent polling phase.

The Election Commission has declared the earlier voting at these booths void and ordered repolling to ensure fairness in the electoral process.

Where repolling will take place

The repoll will be held in the Magrahat Paschim and Diamond Harbour constituencies in South 24 Parganas district. Out of the 15 booths, 11 are located in Magrahat Paschim and 4 in Diamond Harbour.

Polling is scheduled to take place from 7 am to 6 pm.

Why repolling was ordered

The decision comes after complaints related to alleged irregularities, including concerns linked to electronic voting machines (EVMs). Authorities reviewed the situation and decided to nullify the earlier voting in these booths to maintain the integrity of the election.

Background of the election

The repoll follows the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections held on April 29, which covered 142 constituencies. The Election Commission has taken multiple steps during the election process to address complaints and ensure free and fair polling.