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Big Stories Today: Petrol, diesel prices to be cut by Rs 5, 10 from tomorrow, WHO okays Covaxin, Pakistan refuses airspace for Srinagar-Sharjah flights

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4 years ago

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Central government on Wednesday announced the reduction of excise duty on petrol and diesel. from tomorrow onwards the prices of petrol and diesel will be reduced by Rs 5 and 10, respevtively.

Afghanistan win toss, opt to field first against India in Abu Dhabi


In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 between India and Afghanistan, Afghanistan win toss and opt to field first. 

The India vs Afghanistan T20 WC 2021 match is taking place at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi from 7.30 pm IST. Its a must-win game for team India, who are yet to win their first match in the tournament. Afghanistan has registered two wins so far. India, to keep their hopes alive of reaching the semi-finals, will have to register a win against Afghanistan tonight.

PM Modi to spend Diwali with Army jawans in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri

Sticking to the tradition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the border outposts area of Nowshera sector in Jammu & Kashmir’s Rajouri.

WHO approves Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for emergency use

Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin has got WHO approval on Wednesday as the technical advisory team has recommended the India-made vaccine for emergency use listing for 18 years and above. This marks a major victory for India’s journey in vaccination against Covid-19.

Centre releases Rs 17,000 crores GST compensation to states

The Central Government has released GST Compensation of Rs. 17,000 crore to States today.

The total amount of compensation released to the States/UTs so far including the aforesaid amount during the year 2021-22 is Rs. 60,000 crore.

Delhi’s air quality turns very poor day ahead of Diwali

The air quality in Delhi deteriorated as it entered the very poor category for the first time this season. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city was reported 316 on Wednesday afternoon.

Delhi’s neighbouring cities — Faridabad (310), Ghaziabad (334) and Noida (316) — also recorded very poor air quality. Before this, the highest AQI of the season recorded in Delhi was 298 in the poor category on October 17.

Sensex ends Samvat 2077 on weak note, slips 257 points to settle below 60,000

The benchmark indices on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange (NSE) ended the last day of Samvat 2077 year on a negative note, slipping over a quarter per cent on Wednesday weighed by weakness in banking and automobile stocks amid a negative trend in global markets ahead of the policy outcome of the US Federal Reserve.

Pakistan’s Babar Azam becomes No. 1 batsman in ICC T20 rankings

Pakistan captain Babar Azam’s two successive half-centuries in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 have helped him overtake England’s Dawid Malan and grab the top position for batters in the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings.

Delhi High Court restrains heads of nine institutes of Jawaharlal Nehru University from taking major decisions

The Delhi High Court has restrained the heads of nine JNU centres from taking any major decisions and said that their appointment by the university’s Vice-Chancellor was prima facie without any authority.

High court stated that the Vice-Chancellor is not vested with the power to appoint Chairpersons of Centres or Special Centres as the JNU statute confers the power of appointment on the Executive Council.

Delhi’s air quality a day before Diwali best in 5 years, says Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai

Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday that the air quality in the national capital a day before Diwali is the best in 5 years.
Earlier he said, Delhi Police and sub-divisional magistrates have been asked by the Delhi Government to keep a round-the-clock vigil to prevent the sale, purchase, and bursting of firecrackers on Diwali, with a special focus on border areas.

Pakistan refuses use of its airspace for Srinagar-Sharjah flights

Pakistan has once again declined the use of its airspace for flights from Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar to Sharjah.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the move very unfortunate and tweeted: “Pakistan did the same thing with the Air India Express flight from Srinagar to Dubai in 2009-2010. I had hoped that Go First being permitted to overfly Pak airspace was indicative of a thaw in relations, but alas, that wasn’t to be.”

Tamil Nadu government declares holiday for schools in 15 districts

Tamil Nadu government has declared a holiday for schools in 20 districts on Wednesday to avoid accidents caused by water stagnation amid the prediction of heavy rainfall by the Indian Meteorological Department.

Schools in Chengalpet, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Ranipet, Trichy, Ariyalur, Namakkal Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Vellore, and Karur will be closed today.

PM Modi holds meeting with districts having low Covid vaccination coverage

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a review meeting with district magistrates of over 40 districts having low Covid-19 vaccination coverage.
The meeting, being held via video conferencing, includes districts with less than 50 per cent coverage of the first dose and low coverage of the second dose of vaccine.

Delhi CM Kejriwal urges people to follow Covid-19 protocols ahead of Diwali

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal extended his greetings for Diwali to all the citizens of Delhi, and on this occasion announced a new web portal to take local business globally.

Kejriwal said that last year, the Covid-19 virus spread rapidly during the festival season, and asked people to be extra cautious this year.

Delhi Police arrest 2 with heroin worth Rs 18 crore

Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested two drug smugglers with 6 kg of heroin worth Rs 18 crores from Delhi.
Delhi Police had launched a special anti-drug enforcement drive under Operation Spider. The two accused–Asim and Varun–were arrested in this operation after the officials received information related to a drug mafia.

The police said that the accused had found a new way to produce drugs. Drug plants were set up in the house itself. These drugs were then supplied all over India, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Punjab.

Tripura police file five criminal cases against 71 persons for alleged fake and provocative posts on vandalism of a mosque

The Tripura Police on Wednesday morning registered five criminal cases against 71 people for allegedly posting provocative and fake posts on social media.

Tripura Police in a Facebook post Appealed to people to stay away from spreading fake news and rumours, the police have also warned that strict action would be taken against those trying to create hatred in the society.

10,000 EV charging stations in the next three years, says OIL chairperson SM Vaidya

Oil India Limited chairperson SM Vaidya said that 10,000 electric vehicles charging stations will be set up in next three years.
2000 electric vehicle charging stations will be established in the next 12 months and another 8000 in the next two years to achieve target of 10,000 EV charging stations in the next three years, h3e said.

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Amit Shah counters delimitation concerns, says southern states to gain Lok Sabha seats

Amit Shah assures Parliament that southern states will gain Lok Sabha seats after delimitation, countering opposition criticism during the women’s reservation debate.

Published

8 hours ago

on

April 16, 2026

By

Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday addressed concerns over the proposed delimitation exercise, asserting in the Lok Sabha that southern states will not lose representation but instead see an increase in their number of seats.

His remarks came during a heated debate linked to the implementation of women’s reservation, where opposition parties have raised fears that population-based delimitation could reduce the political weight of southern states.

Shah rejected these claims, calling them misleading, and said the proposed framework ensures fairness while expanding the overall strength of the Lok Sabha.

Seat count to rise with expansion of Lok Sabha

The government has indicated that the total number of Lok Sabha seats could increase significantly as part of the delimitation process. In this expanded House, the combined representation of southern states is expected to rise from 129 seats at present to around 195 seats.

Shah emphasised that no state will lose seats in absolute terms, and the exercise is designed to reflect population changes while maintaining balance across regions.

State-wise projections shared in Parliament

During his address, Shah also provided indicative figures for individual southern states, suggesting notable increases in representation. According to the projections:

  • Tamil Nadu could see its seats rise substantially
  • Kerala, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh are also expected to gain additional seats
  • Karnataka’s representation may increase as well

These figures were presented to counter the argument that delimitation would disproportionately favour northern states.

Political debate intensifies over linkage with women’s quota

The delimitation exercise has been closely linked to the rollout of women’s reservation, which proposes one-third seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies.

Opposition leaders have questioned this linkage, arguing that tying reservation to delimitation could delay its implementation and raise federal concerns. Some leaders have also warned that the move could impact national unity if apprehensions among states are not addressed.

The government, however, maintains that the reforms are necessary to ensure equitable representation and to align the electoral system with demographic realities.

Centre dismisses ‘false narrative’ on southern states

Shah reiterated that concerns about southern states losing influence are unfounded. He said the delimitation process will increase representation across regions and described the criticism as a “false narrative” aimed at creating confusion.

The issue is expected to remain a key flashpoint as Parliament continues discussions on the women’s reservation framework and related legislative changes.

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PM Modi assures no discrimination in women’s quota, delimitation debate intensifies in Parliament

PM Narendra Modi has assured that women’s reservation will be implemented without discrimination, amid a heated debate over delimitation in Parliament.

Published

15 hours ago

on

April 16, 2026

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PM modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that there will be no discrimination in the implementation of women’s reservation, as Parliament witnessed a sharp debate over the proposed linkage between the quota and delimitation exercise.

During the ongoing special session, the government reiterated its commitment to ensuring fair representation while addressing concerns raised by opposition parties regarding the timing and structure of the legislation.

The proposed framework aims to reserve 33 percent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. However, its implementation is tied to a fresh delimitation exercise, which is expected after the next census.

Opposition questions timing and intent

Opposition leaders have raised concerns that linking the women’s quota to delimitation could delay its implementation. They argue that the process of redrawing constituencies may push the actual rollout further into the future.

The issue has triggered a broader political confrontation, with multiple parties questioning whether the move could alter representation across states.

Some critics have also alleged that the delimitation exercise could disproportionately benefit certain regions based on population, a charge the government has rejected.

Government reiterates commitment to fair implementation

Responding to these concerns, the Centre has maintained that the reforms are necessary to ensure accurate and updated representation based on population data.

Leaders from the ruling side have repeatedly emphasized that the process will be carried out transparently and without bias. The assurance that there will be “no discrimination” is aimed at addressing fears among states and opposition parties.

The debate marks a key moment in Parliament, with both sides engaging in intense exchanges over one of the most significant electoral reforms in recent years.

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Give all tickets to Muslim women, Amit Shah says, attacking Akhilesh Yadav on sub-quota demand

A sharp exchange between Amit Shah and Akhilesh Yadav in Parliament over sub-quota for Muslim women highlights key divisions on women’s reservation implementation.

Published

17 hours ago

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April 16, 2026

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A heated exchange broke out in Parliament during discussions on the women’s reservation framework, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav locking horns over the demand for a sub-quota for Muslim women.

The debate unfolded as the government pushed forward key legislative measures to implement 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Akhilesh Yadav argued that the proposed reservation must ensure representation for women from marginalised communities, including Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Muslim women. He said that without such provisions, large sections could remain excluded from political participation.

He also questioned the timing of the bill, alleging that the Centre was avoiding a caste census. According to him, a census would lead to renewed demands for caste-based reservations, which the government is reluctant to address.

Government rejects religion-based quota

Responding to the demand, Amit Shah made it clear that reservation based on religion is not permitted under the Constitution.

He stated that any proposal to provide quota to Muslims on religious grounds would be unconstitutional, firmly rejecting the idea of a separate sub-quota for Muslim women within the broader reservation framework.

The government has maintained that the existing framework already includes provisions for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) women within the overall reservation structure.

Wider political divide over implementation

The issue of sub-categorisation within the women’s quota has emerged as a major flashpoint, even as most opposition parties broadly support the idea of women’s reservation.

Samajwadi Party leaders reiterated that their support for the bill depends on inclusion of OBC and minority women, while the government continues to defend its constitutional position.

The debate is part of a broader discussion during the special Parliament session, where multiple bills linked to delimitation and implementation of the women’s quota are being taken up.

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