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Ram Mandir in Ayodhya by next Diwali, says Subramanian Swamy

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Subramanian Swamy

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Swamy, a Rajya Sabha MP from BJP says his organisation Virat Hindustan Sangam will also work towards building a temple dedicated to Sita in Bihar’s Sitamarhi

The Supreme Court may begin hearing a bunch of petitions on the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmbhoomi title suit only on December 5 but it seems that BJP leaders have had a premonition that the verdict, expected to be delivered by a Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, will pave the way for construction of a Ram Mandir at the disputed site.

Weeks after Uttar Pradesh health minister Sidharth Nath Singh quoted an astrologer while asserting that the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be completed by 2019, BJP’s Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy has now claimed that construction of the contentious temple will be completed by Diwali next year.

It is largely expected that the Supreme Court will finish hearing in the petitions filed by various organisations and individuals – including one by Swamy – in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmbhoomi title suit before October 2 next year as Chief Justice Dipak Misra is set to retire then.

Swamy, who has been a huge votary of the Ram Mandir and the BJP’s divisive Hindutva agenda, has also claimed that the Virat Hindustan Sangam (VHS) – an organisation he founded in 2015 – will help build a temple dedicated to Sita – Lord Ram’s wife – in Bihar’s Sitamarhi town. Sitamarhi is believed to be the birthplace of Sita.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the VHS in Patna on Sunday, Swamy also claimed that for the BJP to retain power in 2019, it was “essential” that the party doesn’t lose sight of “the ideology of Hindutva”.

“Construction of the (Ram) temple is likely to begin sooner than later. This week we will be celebrating Diwali and by next Diwali the Ram temple is likely to be ready to receive devotees,” Swamy said at the seminar.

“A Ram temple will be built at Ayodhya and a Sita temple at Sitamarhi. It is impossible to think of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram without his companion Jagat Janani Janaki. The temple will be the best in Asia and a university will be established there (Sitamarhi) in her name to study ancient Indian thought and values,” Swamy claimed.

Swamy’s comments come at a time when the BJP leadership is aggressively working towards reviving its politically polarising narrative of construction of the Ram Temple at the site where the Babri Masjid once stood in Ayodhya before it was razed to the ground by a mob of BJP-RSS karsevaks on December 6, 1992 under the patronage of BJP veterans LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharati.

Recently, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath too had reiterated his party’s decades-old ‘promise’ of constructing a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya while qualifying his comments by stating that the title suit was still pending in the Supreme Court and that his party was hopeful of a favourable verdict.

The Yogi Adityanath government is also planning to erect a 100-meter tall statue of Lord Ram on the banks of the Saryu river in Ayodhya.

The BJP’s return to the plank of constructing a “grand Ram Mandir” in Ayodhya – a poll promise that saw the party gain national prominence in the 1990s following the demolition of the Babri Masjid – perhaps shows that the party is not willing to give up its Hindutva agenda entirely in favour of its oft-quoted plank of development and good governance. That these statements from leaders like Swamy, Adityanath and Sidharth Nath Singh come at a time when the party faces uphill electoral battles in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat are a pointer towards this theory.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

India to build seven high-speed rail corridors, Finance Minister announces

Union Budget 2026-27 unveiled seven high-speed rail corridors and a dedicated east-west freight corridor to boost sustainable transport and economic growth.

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India to build seven high-speed rail corridors, Finance Minister announces

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament on Sunday, announced that India will develop seven high-speed rail corridors connecting key cities across the country.

These corridors, described as ‘growth connectors’, aim to promote environmentally sustainable passenger transport systems. The proposed high-speed rail links will connect:

  • Mumbai and Pune
  • Hyderabad and Pune
  • Hyderabad and Bengaluru
  • Hyderabad and Chennai
  • Chennai and Bengaluru
  • Delhi and Varanasi
  • Varanasi and Siliguri

In addition to passenger rail, Sitharaman announced a dedicated east-west freight corridor connecting Dankuni in the east with Surat in the west. This initiative, along with the operationalisation of 22 new national waterways over the next five years, is intended to enhance multimodal transport and reduce logistics costs.

“These initiatives will strengthen freight movement and support sustainable cargo transportation,” the Finance Minister said.

The Budget also emphasizes infrastructure development in cities with populations over five lakh (Tier II and Tier III), which have emerged as key growth centres. Sitharaman further proposed a public capital expenditure of Rs 12.2 lakh crore for the financial year 2026-27.

She outlined that the Union Budget is guided by three core responsibilities—accelerating economic growth, fulfilling aspirations, and ensuring equitable access to resources for families, communities, and regions.

Describing the plans as part of a broader reform agenda, she added, “The ‘Reform Express’ is on its way.”

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India announces Rs 40,000 crore boost for semiconductor sector in Union Budget 2026

Union Budget 2026 unveils a Rs 40,000 crore allocation for semiconductor production and research under India Semiconductor Mission 2.0.

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union budget 2026

Presenting her ninth consecutive Union Budget today, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a Rs 40,000 crore allocation for the semiconductor industry under the newly launched India Semiconductor Mission 2.0. The move aims to build on the momentum of the first semiconductor mission initiated in January 2022.

Sitharaman highlighted that the mission will focus on industry-led research and training centres, as well as the production of equipment and materials for full-stack Indian intellectual property (IP).

“Semiconductor Mission 2.0 will focus on producing equipment and materials designed for full-stack Indian IP,” she said.

The Finance Minister also emphasised that the Budget follows a path of reforms over rhetoric, aiming to position India on the trajectory toward becoming a Viksit Bharat.

Earlier this month, Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that India is on track to begin commercial semiconductor chip production in 2026, in line with the timeline of the original semiconductor mission. Pilot production has already started at three plants in 2025, with four plants expected to begin operations this year.

Analysts note that India, as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, is expected to continue prioritising defence, infrastructure, capital expenditure, power, and affordable housing in fiscal year 2026–27.

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Union Budget 2026 live updates: Nirmala Sitharaman Raises Capex to ₹12.2 Lakh Cr, West Bengal Gets Major Allocation

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament today. Follow this space for live updates, key announcements, and policy insights.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives to present Union Budget 2026

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will shortly present the Union Budget 2026 in the Lok Sabha, marking her ninth consecutive Budget. The annual financial statement is expected to outline the government’s policy priorities, reform agenda and spending plans for the coming year. Stay tuned for live updates, key announcements and immediate reactions as the Budget speech unfolds.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled her ninth Union Budget today, beginning her speech at 11 am.

Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present her ninth Union Budget today, with the finance minister scheduled to begin her speech at 11 am.

Budget 2026 live updates: Presenting the Union Budget for 2026–27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the occasion coincided with Magh Purnima and the birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas. She noted that over the past 12 years, India’s economic journey has been defined by stability, fiscal discipline, sustained growth and moderate inflation.

The budgeted fiscal deficit for fiscal 2026 is estimated at 4.4 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP)

Planned capital expenditure this fiscal year Rs 11.2 lakh crore

Rare earth corrdiors in Odisha and Kerala

Hi-tech tool rooms to be set up by PSUs

Construction equipment scheme to be launched

Container manufacturing scheme for Rs 10,000 crore over 5 years

Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund

Semi-conductor mission to get Rs 40,000 crore

Rs 12.2 lakh crores for infrastructure development

Dedicated RITES to repurpose land of Central PSUs

20 new waterways over next 5 years to be connected

7 high-speed corridors on rail

High-level committee on banking for next phase of Viksit Bharat

Capital expenditure hike of to ₹12.2 lakh crore in Budget 2026, with West Bengal receiving a significant share of allocations.

Mahatma Gandhi Gram Swaraj Initiative aimed at boosting the khadi, handloom, and handicrafts sectors.

High-speed rail corridors: Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi, Varanasi-Siliguri, Pune-Hyderabad

Five university campuses to be established near industrial corridors

Lakpati Didi program expanded in Budget 2026 to reach more beneficiaries across India.

Fiscal deficit for FY26 revised to 4.4%; Budget Estimate for FY27 set at 4.3%.

TCS on overseas tour packages cut to 2% to ease travel costs

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