Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday inspected the under-construction Tourist Facility Centre at Kesariya in East Champaran, reviewing the auditorium and various tourist amenities being developed at the site.

He directed officials to expedite the project, noting that the Kesariya Buddhist Stupa attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists, and the new facility will significantly enhance visitor convenience while showcasing Bihar’s Buddhist heritage.

A key highlight of the centre is a 5D theatre with a seating capacity of 48, where visual frames on important Buddhist teachings will be displayed.

J&K Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha, said on Thursday that for long the victims of terrorism were left to struggle in silence as he handed over 41 job appointment letters to next of kin of terror victims.

Appointment letters were also handed over to 22 beneficiaries in Age relaxation cases and 19 wards of J&K Police martyrs under Compassionate Appointment Rules SRO-43 and Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme (RAS).

Earlier, on July 28, 2025, the Lieutenant Governor had handed over the appointment letters to 94 Next of Kin (NoKs) of terror victims from the Jammu division.

A group of students from J&K’s Udhampur district on Thursday called on the President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi.

Army’s Udhampur headquartered northern command said on X, “A group of students from Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir, called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The group visited Rashtrapati Bhavan as part of the National Integration Tour.”

With the deadline for the submission and digitisation of the enumeration forms in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal coming to end at 12 midnight on Thursday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to handover the separate lists of excludable voters to the booth-level agents (BLAs) of all the political parties in the state that are registered with the it.

Sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, said the list will also contain the detailed breakup of the excludable voters, like deceased voters, shifted voters, untraceable voters, duplicate voters, and voters deemed to be found excludable for other reasons.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, to conduct the hearings on the claims and objections in the second stage of the three-stage Special Intensive Revision (SIR) only at the offices of the District Magistrates who are also the District Electoral Officers concerned.

The Commission has directed that such hearings should not be conducted at the block development offices or the panchayat offices under any circumstances, sources in the CEO's office confirmed.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reported significant progress in Phase II of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), with data showing that seven states and Union Territories have achieved 100 per cent distribution, and four recorded complete digitisation of Elector-specific Enumeration Forms (EFs) amongst 12.

The update was shared in the Commission’s daily bulletin released on Wednesday.

Amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal, the digitisation of 99.53 per cent of enumeration forms has been completed, and the number of excludable voters stands at little over 57 lakhs.

The scheduled deadline for completion of the enumeration form digitisation is December 11 evening, after which the draft voters' list will be published on December 16.

According to sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officers (CEO), West Bengal, of the 57 lakh potentially excludable voters, a little over 24 lakh are dead.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab General Secretary Baltej Pannu launched a sharp attack on the Congress party for not answering questions related to the alleged “sale” of the Chief Minister’s chair for ₹500 crore and ₹350 crore in Congress.

Punjab Finance Minister and senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, on Tuesday cornered the Congress party over serious allegations of corruption, suggesting that the party should put up a 'menu board' outside its office. He quipped that this board would inform the public about the fixed rates for obtaining tickets for the post of Chief Minister, Cabinet Minister, Member of Parliament, Member of Legislative Assembly, and other positions including Panchayat elections.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has reported significant progress in Phase II of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), with data showing that most states and Union Territories have achieved near-total distribution and digitisation of Elector-specific Enumeration Forms (EFs).

The update was shared in the Commission’s daily bulletin released on Tuesday.

The enumeration phase for the ongoing revision began on November 4 and will conclude on December 11.

The first phase of Kerala's local body elections witnessed brisk polling across seven districts on Tuesday, with long queues of voters seen at booths from early morning.

Polling began at 7 a.m. after mock polling and will continue till 6 p.m.

By noon, the overall turnout had crossed 47 per cent across the seven districts voting in the first phase, reflecting strong voter participation.

Alba Smeriglio has taken charge as the British Deputy High Commissioner in Chandigarh on Monday.

She represents the UK in the four states of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Alba is a diplomat with a range of experience in roles overseas and in London. Her previous postings include Montserrat, where she served as Head of Programmes and Office, as well as other positions in the Caribbean and in South Asia.

Calling the debate on Vande Mataram an attention-diverting tactic of the government, Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Monday that the national song is a part of the country’s soul and “there can be no debate on it”.

During a special discussion on the song in Lok Sabha, the Congress MP said the “needless” discussion had been called by the ruling party with the dual intention of setting a narrative ahead of the Bengal Assembly elections and levelling new allegations against freedom fighters to divert public attention.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (L-G), Manoj Sinha, said on Monday that all those who suffered in Operation Sindoor as well as floods will get new houses with family health insurance cover and other facilities.

The L-G said that a new chapter will start in the lives of those who have suffered due border shelling in Operation Sindoor and floods.

"I am thankful to HRDS India which agreed to construct houses for such affected families. I approached the heads of HRDS India with a request for construction of new houses for such families. They agreed to do so."

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in New Delhi on Saturday, delivered a blistering critique of the INDIA bloc, describing it as fractured, indecisive, and incapable of mounting a serious challenge to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

He warned that the alliance, once touted as a united front, is now “on life support,” crippled by infighting and a lack of cohesion. Abdullah argued that the Opposition has squandered opportunities to present itself as a credible alternative, pointing to Bihar as a glaring example of self-sabotage.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday directed that all government buildings, like schools, colleges, hospitals and offices, be equipped with rooftop solar systems to accelerate the state’s transition towards clean and green energy.

The Chief Minister was chairing a high-level review meeting on the Budget announcements of the Power (Energy) sector at the Civil Secretariat here. The Chief Minister reviewed the progress of the PM Suryaghar: Muft Bijli Yojana and instructed officials to expedite rooftop solar installations across households in the state.

He also examined the month-wise achievements under the scheme and emphasised strict monitoring and accountability.

Almost 99 per cent of enumeration forms have been digitised during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal, and the number of excludable voters stands at nearly 55 lakh.

As per the trend of digitisation done till Friday, the total number of voters, whose names are likely to be deleted from the voters' list, is 54,59,541.

The figure was 52,99,663 as on Thursday night, sources in the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, said.

The Punjab Mann government has shown another example of quick public response and action. Villages in Moga district, including Jhandeval and 4 surrounding villages, had shared a video highlighting their water supply problems. In the video, villagers explained they had no proper water system and the old water infrastructure had completely collapsed. As soon as the video came out, MLA Amandeep Kaur Arora from Moga constituency took immediate action and restarted the water system construction work. The project is now being completed properly and local people are praising this initiative.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government has once again proven its strong commitment to the state’s hardworking farmers. This year, when cotton (narma and desi) prices in the market were falling below the Minimum Support Price (MSP), the Mann government quickly stepped in and saved farmers from massive losses.

The High Court of Punjab and Haryana, in collaboration with the Department of Prisons, Punjab, and the Department of Technical Education & Industrial Training, Punjab, is launching a major correctional reform initiative titled “Empowering Lives Behind Bars: Real Change – The New Paradigm of Correctional Justice” on December 6, 2025 at Central Jail, Patiala. The programme will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Mr. Justice Surya Kant, in the presence of Judges of the Supreme Court of India, Judges of the High Court, and senior State officials.

Raising a hard-hitting issue during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha on Friday, Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha from Punjab demanded immediate government intervention to protect millions of delivery boys who he said are “gig workers”.

He also demanded the abolition of the “dangerous” 10-minute delivery model pushed by “quick-commerce platforms.”

Describing delivery executives of Zomato, Swiggy, etc and service partners of Urban Company as the “invisible wheels of the Indian economy”, Chadha said unicorn companies have achieved billion-dollar valuations on the “broken backs and risked lives” of these workers.

Former Chief Minister and president of the ruling National Conference (NC), Dr Farooq Abdullah, said on Friday that the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir was working on the ‘razor’s edge’ as, according to him, all powers are vested in the Lt Governor.

Addressing the media on the 120th birth anniversary of NC founder, late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, at his mausoleum in Hazratbal area of Srinagar city, Dr Abdullah said, “Whatever could be done during the last year after our government came to power has been done despite a sword hanging over our head. All powers lie with the Lt Governor, and we have to walk on the razor’s edge under these circumstances. When we demand statehood, we don’t do it for ourselves. We want it to be restored so that the people benefit here."

With almost 99 per cent of digitisation of enumeration forms collected from the voters by the booth-level officers (BLOs) during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal being already completed, the number of voters enlisted in the current voters’ list found to be suitable for exclusion stands at around 53 lakh.

Till Thursday evening, 98.84 per cent of the duly filled enumeration forms collected from the voters had already been completed, and as per the trend of the digitisation of those forms, the number of voters in the existing voters’ list found eligible for exclusion till that period is 52,99,663.

Senior lawyer and former Mizoram governor Swaraj Kaushal, husband of former Union Minister Late Sushma Swaraj and father of BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, passed away on Thursday. He was 73.

In a social media post, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj paid a tribute to him and said, “Papa Swaraj Kaushal ji, your affection, your discipline, your simplicity, your patriotism, and your boundless patience are the light of my life that will never dim.”

President Droupadi Murmu is expected to share her views on the crucial link between human rights and equitable and dignified access to public services while launching celebrations on Human Rights Day here on December 10, an official said on Thursday.

President Murmu will be the Chief Guest at the Human Rights Day function planned by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) at Bharat Mandapam, the official said.

Human Rights Day is marked worldwide on December 10 each year, commemorating the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The day highlights the enduring significance of the landmark document, which set out a universal commitment to safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all individuals across the globe.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday reported significant progress in Phase II of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with 99.87 per cent of Enumeration Forms (EFs) already distributed across 12 states and Union Territories.

According to the ECI's daily bulletin, the nationwide EF distribution has reflected strong field mobilisation by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and participation from Booth Level Agents (BLAs).

During the ongoing enumeration phase, which runs from November 4 to December 11 (earlier the last date was December 4) -- a total of 50.90crore EFs have already been distributed out of the eligible 50.97 crore electors.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday launched a pole-mounted mist spray system for dust and pollution control in the ITO area in the central parts of the Capital, an official said.

She said that at ITO, nearly 35 poles have been equipped with mist sprayers.

"The government is preparing to install mist sprayers on 305 poles at nine hotspots where pollution is a very serious problem,” said CM Gupta, referring to the constitution of a panel to tackle the city's pollution.

Around 50 lakh names in West Bengal have been identified for exclusion in the voters’ list as per the latest trend available during the digitisation of the enumeration forms in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that started from November 4.

The same figure was a little over 46 lakh as per the trend of digitisation completed till Tuesday evening, and by Wednesday night, it reached nearly 50 lakh. This means that a total of around four lakh names have been included in the list of names eligible for exclusion from the voters' list within 24 hours.

The Election Commission of India has identified three polling booths in West Bengal which do not have a single “self” voter. A voter in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the ECI is considered a “self” if he or she has his or her name in the voters’ list for 2002, the base year for the ongoing revision exercise.

In these three booths, 100 per cent of the voters are “progeny” voters, sources in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, have said.

A voter is considered a “progeny” voter if his or her parents’ names appear on the voters’ list for 2002.

Considering it a near-impossible scenario, the ECI has directed a fresh review of the situation in all three booths.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday that the UT cabinet in its meeting has made recommendations for rationalisation of the reservation policy in government jobs and professional institutions.

Speaking to the media after he chaired a cabinet meeting here, Omar Abdullah said, “There were 22 items on the cabinet agenda today, including the construction of a new Kashmir house in Dwarika (Delhi), promotions of chief engineers in the R&B department and the steps to be taken to revive the cooperative societies in J&K”.

The celebrations and exuberance in the BJP camp over a thumping poll victory in 7 out of 12 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday, got marred by allegations of electoral fraud, levelled by the rival Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The AAP’s Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that his party’s candidate Seema Goyal was first declared as the ‘winner’ on the Election Commission (EC) portal but then the results were “reversed” during recounting, making the BJP nominee victorious.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday that society must reaffirm its commitment to removing barriers, promoting equal opportunities to make the society accessible to everyone, including persons with disabilities.

L-G Manoj Sinha said on the social media platform X, "On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, let us reaffirm our commitment to remove barriers, promote equal opportunities and contribute to an inclusive, accessible society, ensuring dignity and full participation for everyone, in our journey towards a Viksit Bharat."

The message by Manoj Sinha comes on a day the World is observing the International Day for Persons with Disabilities.

Trinamool Congress will start mobilising public opinion from Wednesday against the proposal from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to set up new polling booths within private housing complexes having multiple high-rise towers.

West Bengal Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor Firhad Hakim will hold a meeting with the officer bearers of various housing complex associations in and around Kolkata in the second half of Wednesday.

Sources in the Trinamool Congress said that first Hakim will listen to the opinions expressed by the office bearers on the ECI's proposal for setting up new polling booths within private housing complexes, which have multiple high-rise towers.

Over 46 lakh names in West Bengal have already been identified for exclusion in the voters’ list as per the latest trend available during the digitisation of the enumeration forms in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that started from November 4.

The total number of names found eligible for exclusion from the voters' list currently stands at 46.30 lakh, and this is as per the trend of the digitisation of the enumeration forms completed till Tuesday evening.

The same figure was 43.50 lakh as per the trend of digitisation completed till Monday evening. This means that a total of 2.70 lakh names have been included in the list of names eligible for exclusion from the voters' list within 24 hours.

To tackle Punjab’s drug crisis, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced a game-changing strategy. The government will no longer limit its fight against drugs to police stations and courts but will send trained warriors into every village and neighborhood. Through India's first-ever ‘Leadership in Mental Health Fellowship,’ Punjab will prepare 35 young professionals dedicated to rescuing people from addiction and raising awareness in society. Developed in collaboration with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, this program—called the Yudh Nashe Virudh (War Against Drugs) campaign—is set to be the biggest weapon in the fight against substance abuse. This is not just a training program but a revolutionary step towards a drug-free Punjab.