The INDIA bloc on Tuesday released its manifesto for the Bihar assembly polls, promising, among other things, a government job to one member of every household, restoration of old pension scheme and 200 units of free power.

The 32-page-long ‘Bihar ka Tejashwi Pran’ (Tejashwi’s resolve) was released at a crowded press conference where the 35-year-old RJD leader was joined by alliance partners.

The INDIA bloc manifesto for the Bihar polls has 25 major points assuring practical solutions, Yadav said at the manifesto release.

“A new law guaranteeing employment would be introduced within 20 days of the INDIA bloc forming the government in Bihar,” he said.

An employment guarantee scheme will be implemented across Bihar within 20 months of the INDIA bloc government formation, he added.

All contractual workers in the Bihar government departments will be made permanent. Also, all ‘Jeevika Didis’ will be made permanent and given a monthly salary of Rs 30,000, the manifesto said.

The manifesto also promised IT parks, SEZs, dairy and agro-based industries, an education city and five new expressways in the state.

“People of Bihar want a crime-free and scam-free regime… they will teach a lesson to NDA in the polls,” Yadav said.

People want a government that would provide ‘padhai’ (better education), ‘dawai’ (better health facilities), ‘kamai’ (employment) and ‘sichai’ (better irrigation facilities), he said.

“The NDA has no vision for Bihar… they have not released the manifesto for the polls so far… BJP leaders and corrupt officials have made Chief Minister Nitish Kumar a puppet… The BJP is using Nitish Kumar to further its interest… Union Home Minister Amit Shah has already made it clear that Nitish will not be the CM face,” he alleged.

“The Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act has completely failed. If the INDIA bloc is voted to power, we will remove the ban on toddy (tari),” Yadav said.

“The INDIA bloc manifesto is the roadmap for the development of Bihar. It is a resolution to make the state number one,” he added.

A banner was put at the manifesto release venue featuring the photographs of all prominent INDIA bloc leaders.

A press conference of the INDIA bloc leaders held in Patna on October 23 triggered a controversy as the banner featured only the photograph of Tejashwi Yadav and no other leader of the alliance.

All prominent leaders of the INDIA bloc were present at the release of the manifesto. While senior Congress leader Pawan Khera represented his party, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, VIP party chief Mukesh Sahni and other INDIA bloc leaders were also present.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will join the INDIA bloc campaign for the Bihar polls on Wednesday, said Khera and Yadav.

—PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday exhorted global investors to take bets on the Indian shipping sector, pointing out that this is the “right time” for such a move.

The Prime Minister also met a select chief executives of global majors, including DP World and APM, at a specially convened meeting on the sidelines of the India Maritime Week 2025 held here.

“For all of you hailing from different countries, this is the right time to work in the Indian shipping sector and also expand (your presence),” Modi said during a public address before the closed-door meeting with CEOs.

Modi listed several targets being chased by India in the maritime sector over the next few years, and underlined the importance of the global community in the same.

“You all are an important partner who will help us achieve all our aims. We welcome your ideas, innovations and investments,” Modi said.

He said that India allows 100 per cent foreign direct investment in the shipping and ports sector, and also provides incentives under the “Make In India, and Make For The World” vision.

Addressing an audience, including leaders of various companies, the Prime Minister affirmed India’s commitment to strengthening the supply chain resilience at a global level.

He also said that India is engaged in creating world-class mega ports, and cited the work undertaken on the Vadhavan Port to the north of the financial capital, which entered the top-10 firms in the world on the first day.

The government is also looking to grow the capacity at 12 major ports by four times and increase India’s share in containerised cargo at the global level.

Later, Modi held a meeting with top CEOs of shipping sector companies from across the world.

As per people in the know, he met AP Moller-Maersk Chairman Robert Maersk Uggla, DP World Group Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Mediterranean Shipping Company Chief Executive Soren Toft, Adani Ports and SEZ Managing Director Karan Adani and French company CMA-CGM’s Senior Vice President Ludovic Renou.

The participation from over 85 countries in the IMW sends a strong message, Modi said, noting the presence of CEOs of major shipping giants, startups, policymakers, and innovators at the event.

The Prime Minister also thanked Port of Singapore (PSA) for the nearly Rs 8,000 crore investment in the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority’s fourth terminal, pointing out that this is also the largest FDI in the port sector in India.

Modi said more than 150 new initiatives have been launched under the ‘Maritime India Vision’, resulting in nearly doubling the capacity of major ports, a substantial reduction in turnaround time, and a new momentum in cruise tourism.

—PTI

Elon Musk-led satellite internet company Starlink is set to conduct a crucial two-day demonstration in Mumbai on October 30 and 31 to showcase compliance with India’s security and technical requirements for satellite broadband services.

Starlink’s India entry moves a step closer

According to sources, the demonstration — to be held before law enforcement agencies — will use provisional spectrum allocated to Starlink. The step marks a major milestone toward securing final approvals for commercial satellite broadband operations in India.

The company’s presentation will focus on meeting the standards under Global Mobile Personal Communication by Satellite (GMPCS) authorization. Once cleared, Starlink will join the list of operators offering high-speed satellite internet across India.

Expanding satellite broadband ecosystem

More than 10 satellite operators have entered the Indian market so far, with 100 per cent FDI permitted in the private sector. Alongside Starlink, Reliance Jio-SES JV and Bharti-backed Eutelsat OneWeb have also received clearances to operate.

Starlink, currently the world’s largest satellite communication operator with a constellation of 7,578 satellites, is expected to play a key role in expanding broadband access to remote and underserved regions.

Boost to India’s satcom ambitions

The government has emphasized that all data and user traffic generated by Starlink in India will be stored domestically and not mirrored to servers abroad. This move aligns with India’s push for stronger data sovereignty and cyber security measures.

The rapid development of direct-to-cell communication services — allowing signals to be transmitted directly from satellites to mobile phones — has given a significant boost to India’s emerging satcom sector. With limited internet penetration in many rural and remote areas, satellite-based internet is expected to complement existing terrestrial networks.