Big Stories Today: Gayatri Prajapati gets life imprisonment in minor gangrape case, Army agrees to grant permanent commission to eligible women after SC warning
The Central government on Friday agreed to grant permanent commission (PC) to 11 women Army officers Maoist, Amit Shah, Congress Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook, Anil Deshmukh, Bahrain, Bharat Biotech, Covaxin, Covid-19, IGP Kashmir, Kangana Ranaut, Lancet, Nawab Malik, Ashok Gehlot, Sonia Gandhi
Former UP minister Gayatri Prajapati, 2 accomplices sentenced to life imprisonment in Chitrakoot minor gangrape case
Former Uttar Pradesh Minister in the previous Samajwadi Party government, Gayatri Prajapati on Friday was sentenced to life imprisonment in a Chitrakoot gangrape case. Along with Gayatri Prajapati, accomplices Ashish Shukla and Ashok Tiwari were also sentenced to life terms. He and his two accomplices have also been fined Rs 2 lakh. The former UP Minister, who was a key figure in the previous Akhilesh Yadav government, was convicted by a special court of lawmakers on Wednesday for raping a woman. The special court in Lucknow had two days back pronounced Prajapati guilty in the gang rape case, and had also convicted his two associates.
Indian Army agrees to grant permanent commission to eligible women after Supreme Court warning
The Central government on Friday agreed to grant permanent commission (PC) to 11 women Army officers who meet the eligibility criteria after the Supreme Court threatened to initiate contempt proceedings.
The Centre, which was initially reluctant, conveyed its acquiescence to a Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud to grant PC to the officers within 10 days.
NIA files chargesheet against 7 Naxals in Dummugudem Maoist case of Telangana
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed the chargesheet against seven Naxals and conspirators in the Dummugudem Maoist case of Telangana. Top members of banned CPI (Maoist) hatched a criminal conspiracy along with overground workers to wage war against the government by carrying out attack on security personnel, said NIA
Maoist leader Prashant Bose alias Kishan Da, carrying Rs 1 crore reward, arrested by Jharkhand Police
Top Maoist leader Prashant Bose alias Kishan Da, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, has been arrested in Jharkhand along with his wife Sheela Marandi, a senior police officer said on Friday.
80% single dose and 39% double doses of Covid-19 covered, informs Health Ministry
Health workers will knock at every door, check, inspire and motivate under Har Ghar Dastak, says Manohar Agnani, Additional Secretary, Union Health Ministry during an online interactive session on the ongoing Har Ghar Dastak campaign. He said: “80 percent of the single-dose and 39 percent of the double doses of Covid-19 covered. He said: “Every individual has a role, we’ve requested NGOs too. By November 30 we should reach our goal. We have 3 vaccines Covaxin, Covishield and SputnikV.”
Amit Shah reaches Varanasi to check BJP poll preparedness
Ahead of the state assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached Varanasi on Friday. During the two-day visit, Shah will attend Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan in Varanasi. He will also hold meetings with BJP office-bearers including state chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya.
Congress writes to Mark Zuckerberg alleging Facebook of spreading hate, demands internal inquiry
The Congress on Friday has written to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg claiming Facebook is spreading hate and demanded an internal inquiry.
It is not the first time that Congress has written to the social media giant. In earlier letters to Zuckerberg, the Congress raised issues of bias with many Facebook executives asked to set up a high-level inquiry into the Facebook India leadership team and submit a report to Facebook Inc. within a reasonable period of time. A Wall Street Journal report in August 2020 had said Facebook India’s leadership had supported the ruling BJP and violated the company’s own hate-speech rules. Following the story, the executive responsible had resigned in October 2020.
Rupee gains 7 paise to close at 74.45 against U.S. dollar
The rupee strengthened by 7 paise to close at 74.45 (provisional) against the US dollar on Friday, as a firm trend in domestic equities boosted investor sentiments. Besides, lower crude prices in the international market also supported the local unit, forex dealers said.
Bahrain approves emergency use of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin
Bahrain’s National Health Regulatory Authority has approved the emergency use of India’s indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin, said the Indian Embassy in Bahrain on Friday.
Covaxin recently received emergency use approval from the World Health Organization (WHO) for people aged 18 and above. Earlier on November 10, Hong Kong and Vietnam also joined the list of countries that approved the jab.
AAP announces first list of candidates for 2022 Punjab Assembly polls
The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday released the first list of 10 candidates for the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls. This is the second such announcement by a political party in the state. Earlier on Sunday last, the BJP announced that it will contest all 117 seats in the Punjab Assembly elections 2022.
Anil Deshmukh sent to Enforcement Directorate custody till November 15 in money laundering case
Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has been sent to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till November 15 in the money laundering case. Deshmukh’s judicial custody ended on Friday. In its arguments seeking custody, the ED said that they needed to question the former Maharashtra Home Minister for at least two more days.READ STORY
After meeting Sonia Gandhi, Sachin Pilot says those who worked for party should be given the respect they deserve
Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot met Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence on Friday. After the meeting, Pilot said those who have worked for the party should be given the respect they deserve.
Pilot said he spoke about the political situation in the state, and said that if there was any change required, it should be done. Pilot met Sonia Gandhi a day after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Delhi government slaps Rs 5 lakh fine on NBCC for flouting anti-dust norms
The Delhi government on Friday imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the National Building Construction Corporation Ltd (NBCC) for flouting anti-dust norms at its construction site in Karkardooma, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told the media. Earlier in October, the Delhi government issued a show-cause notice to the NBCC for not following the 14-point anti-dust guidelines at its World Health Organization (WHO) building redevelopment site in the capital.
133 terrorists including many top commanders neutralised in Jammu and Kashmir so far in 2021, says IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar
Kashmir Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar on Friday said 133 terrorists including many top commanders have been neutralised this year. He said: “Two terrorists including Shiraz Molvi and Yawar Bhat have been neutralised.” Shiraz was active since 2016 and was involved in several civilian killings. One other terrorist killed in the Srinagar encounter has been identified as Aamir Riyaz, he added.
Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik asks Centre to take back Kangana Ranaut’s Padma Shri, arrest her
Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik has launched a scathing attack on Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut for her controversial remarks on the country’s Independence and demanded that the Padma Shri award conferred on her should be revoked. The Nationalist Congress Party leader said the actor seemed to be speaking untruths.
Covaxin’s efficacy pegged at 77.8%, says Lancet study
In a study published in The Lancet, Covaxin, the coronavirus vaccine developed by ICMR and Bharat Biotech, was found to have a 77.8 percent efficacy rate against symptomatic Covid-19. The study also found it to be 65.2 percent effective against the more dangerous Delta variant of the coronavirus in its preliminary analysis, but said further investigations are necessary to confirm it.
Two explosion incidents reported within a span of around two hours near key defence-linked locations in Punjab have raised serious security concerns and triggered political reactions.
The first incident took place near the Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters in Jalandhar, where a blast involving a delivery scooter was reported in a populated area. The proximity of the explosion to a sensitive security installation immediately drew the attention of authorities.
Shortly after, another blast was reported near a military-linked area in Amritsar, further heightening concerns over security preparedness in the border state. Police and security agencies responded swiftly, deploying bomb disposal squads and forensic teams at both locations.
Officials confirmed that no casualties were reported in either incident. However, the back-to-back nature of the explosions caused panic in nearby areas and prompted authorities to place the state on high alert.
Political leaders reacted strongly, questioning the handling of security and pointing to possible lapses. They urged authorities to take preventive steps to avoid such incidents in the future.
Punjab, being a strategically important border state, remains sensitive to such developments. Investigations are currently underway to determine the cause of the explosions and whether there are any links between the two incidents.
Security has been tightened around key installations, with agencies assessing whether the blasts were isolated events or part of a broader threat.
In a significant administrative development following the West Bengal Assembly election results, several retired bureaucrats appointed during the tenure of Mamata Banerjee have reportedly been barred from entering state government offices.
The decision comes at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party is preparing to form its first government in the state after securing a decisive mandate. The move is seen as part of the transition process as the outgoing administration makes way for the incoming regime.
Officials indicated that the restrictions apply specifically to retired personnel who had been given contractual or advisory roles under the previous government. These individuals have now been asked not to access offices or handle official work.
The development follows a broader directive issued by the state administration to ensure that no official documents or records are removed, damaged, or tampered with during the transition period. Authorities have emphasised strict accountability, placing responsibility on departmental heads to safeguard files and maintain proper records.
The political backdrop to this move is the sweeping victory of the BJP in the 2026 West Bengal elections, marking a major shift in the state’s political landscape after years of Trinamool Congress rule.
With the new government expected to take charge soon, administrative reshuffling and tightening of access to government infrastructure are being viewed as measures to ensure a smooth and transparent handover of power.
Actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for congratulating him on his party’s strong performance in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections 2026.
Vijay, who leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), acknowledged the wishes shared by both leaders following the party’s impressive electoral debut, which has significantly altered the political landscape of Tamil Nadu.
Responding to the Prime Minister on social media platform X, Vijay said that his party’s focus would remain on public welfare and development. He emphasised that governance should rise above political differences and aim at improving the lives of the people.
“The well-being of our people remains our only goal… we shall focus on the state’s progress and welfare,” he said, while also expressing hope for support from the Union government in achieving these objectives.
The TVK has emerged as a major political force in the state, breaking the long-standing dominance of traditional parties and marking a major shift in Tamil Nadu’s political dynamics.
According to early developments, the party has staked claim to form the government and may seek additional support if required to prove its majority in the assembly.
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