The Cabinet meeting chaired by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini today approved the amendment to the Policy for Appointment on Contract Basis, for providing compassionate employment to one existing member of the families of Haryana who died in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, whether the death occurred in the State of Haryana or outside.
This decision will give effect to the announcement made by the Chief Minister in the Haryana Assembly on August 25, 2025, which reflects the state government’s commitment to the welfare and rehabilitation of the affected families.
Under this amendment, a new clause has been added to the policy, under which the name of one unanimously selected existing family member of the riot victims will be considered for suitable jobs in the Level-I, Level-II, or Level-III category through Haryana Kaushal Rojgar Nigam (HKRN), depending on the educational qualification and eligibility criteria prescribed by HKRN.
If all the posts in a department are filled, the HKRN eligible person will be accommodated in another department or in their own institute to ensure employment.
This compassionate process provides a systematic mechanism for employment through HKRN, which will ensure fairness, transparency, and dignity to the families who suffered irreparable loss during the 1984 riots.
By another decision, the Haryana Cabinet approved an amendment to the Model Online Transfer Policy, 2025, to bring more transparency and fairness in the transfer process of government employees.
An employee whose spouse is employed as a regular employee in any department or organisation of the Haryana Government, or as a regular employee under any other State Government or the Government of India, and is posted in Haryana, Delhi, or Chandigarh, will be given 5 marks.
Further, the qualifying marks will be given to only one of the two Haryana Government employees, including the couple.
Other municipal bodies across India could take a cue from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML), which have rolled out an inventive approach to curb street littering. Under a new scheme, residents can now earn a Rs 250 reward for filming and sharing clips of people dumping garbage in public places.
Citizens can send these videos of “litter-bugs” through a dedicated WhatsApp number or official social media handles. Once verified, BSWML will issue the cash reward, according to officials.
Not just this, the campaign—reportedly titled “Kasa Surisuva Habba” or the “Garbage Dumping Festival”—takes a novel route to deal with chronic waste disposal issues in the city. Rather than relying solely on fines or warnings, civic workers identify offenders, collect the trash they have dumped, and deliver it right back to their doorsteps. These offenders can also face penalties of up to Rs10,000.
To catch violators, civic marshals use CCTV footage and even sift through discarded waste for clues such as bills or address tags. The campaign initially targeted about 200 homes and is set to expand across the city. In some cases, residents are required to personally take back the trash from civic workers—an exercise designed to instil a sense of accountability and civic pride.
While the initiative is said to have earned praise for this tough, innovative approach, some have voiced concerns over fairness, noting that irregular garbage collection sometimes leaves them with no choice but to dump waste outside. Officials, however, insist that softer awareness campaigns have failed in the past, and that this direct, results-driven strategy may finally bring about a lasting change in public behaviour.
The fate of political parties in Bihar is likely to be determined by the state’s young voters, who make up more than half of around 7.45 crore electorate
Photo: Bihar PIB
The young electorate in Bihar is not just a numerical majority — it represents a generation with distinct aspirations and expectations from politics with priorities beyond traditional caste or regional equations that have dominated the political landscape in the state.
Employment remains their top concern. With limited industrial growth and migration for jobs still widespread, young voters are demanding concrete action on employment generation, skill development, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Affordable education, better infrastructure, and access to technology are also high on their list.
Frustration with corruption and political instability are also the reasons they are seeking accountability, transparency, and leaders who can deliver on promises rather than rely on identity politics. Given their numbers and shifting priorities, Bihar’s youth could indeed be the game changers of the 2025 assembly election.
According to Election Commission data from both phases of the Bihar Assembly Election 2025, about 3.78 crore voters, or nearly 53 per cent, fall within the 20-40 age bracket, making them the most decisive group in the polls. This demographic not only dominates the voter list numerically but also represents a generation with distinct expectations and aspirations.
Within this broad age group, the distribution is further divided—around 2.13 crore voters are aged 30-40, while 1.65 crore are between 20 and 29 years old. First-time voters aged 18-19 are around approximately 15 lakh. Although they represent just about two percent of the electorate, in closely contested constituencies, even a few hundred here and there can make the change.
With over half of Bihar’s electorate under 40, youth participation could ultimately decide the outcome of the 2025 assembly elections. Their numerical strength, combined with specific and pressing aspirations, makes them a formidable force that cannot be ignored. It remains to be seen which side they will support—the game is on.
Afghanistan lies in one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions
File Photo
At least 20 people were killed and about 320 injured after a powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan early Monday morning, shaking the city of Mazar-e Sharif. The disaster hit just months after another series of quakes and aftershocks claimed more than 2,200 lives across the country.
Afghanistan lies in one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions because it sits near the collision zone of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Indian plate continuously pushes northward into the Eurasian plate, building up immense pressure underground. When this stress is suddenly released, it causes strong and often deadly earthquakes.
Since 1990, Afghanistan has recorded over 350 quakes above magnitude 5, with an average annual death toll of around 560 and damages exceeding $80 million. The eastern and northeastern regions, including Kabul, face the highest risk, where quakes can also trigger destructive landslides that endanger both mountain villages and crowded urban areas.
Past disasters include the 1998 quakes that killed thousands, the 2022 quake that left around 1,000 dead, and a series of tremors in 2023 that flattened entire communities. Experts continue to urge the construction of earthquake-resistant buildings and the retrofitting of older structures to limit future losses.
Earthquakes occur when stress builds up along active faults. The rocks on either side of a fault cannot slide smoothly due to friction, causing pressure to accumulate. When the stress surpasses the strength of the rocks, the fault ruptures, releasing energy as seismic waves that make the ground shake. Large earthquakes are often followed by smaller aftershocks, which decrease in size and frequency over time, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
The NDA’s manifesto release for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections on Friday was a notably brief event, lasting less than a minute, according to rivals and media reports
Held in the presence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, BJP national president JP Nadda, and other senior NDA leaders, the event drew widespread attention. However, Nitish Kumar did not address the gathering; instead, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary presented the manifesto highlights. These included promises of over one crore jobs, financial support for women, investments in agriculture, and industrial development.
The event’s unusually short and subdued nature fueled criticism and speculation from opposition leaders.Congress leaders accused the NDA of evading media questions on its two-decade governance record. Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot described the “26-second” press event as a “dangerous sign for democracy,” questioning why Nitish Kumar was not allowed to speak and calling it disrespectful to Bihar and its people. Congress representatives argued that the NDA lacked confidence in its manifesto and feared public scrutiny.
Observers suggest that the apparent “sidelining” of Nitish Kumar may be driven by political calculations, including concerns about his health and strategic considerations for the NDA campaign
Adding to the uncertainty, BJP leaders such as Amit Shah have indicated that the final decision on the chief ministerial candidate will be taken by elected MLAs after the polls, raising questions about Nitish Kumar’s continued leadership if the NDA retains power
Although some argue that this reflects the BJP’s stronger influence within the alliance, the reality remains that Nitish Kumar’s prominence appears diminished compared to earlier years. Though later, Nitish Kumar released a separate video message, appealing to voters to support the NDA for Bihar’s development, highlighting the state’s progress in law and order as well as efforts toward governance inclusive of all communities, reaffirming his government’s achievements since 2005, the manifesto’ episode reflected the complex coalition dynamics vis-a-vis the chief minister.
Apparently, the NDA leaders also wanted to avoid any narrative that could be exploited by the opposition Mahagathbandhan. Politics, ultimately, is also about managing perceptions.
rime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid glowing tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 150th birth anniversary, accusing the Congress leadership of betraying Patel’s vision by preventing the complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India. Addressing the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations near the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Modi said the Iron Man of India had sought to unite the entire nation under one flag and Constitution, but was stopped by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
“Sardar Patel wanted to unite the entire Kashmir, just as he did with other princely states. But Nehru ji stopped his wish from being fulfilled,” Modi said. “Kashmir was divided, given a separate Constitution and a separate flag — and the nation suffered for decades because of Congress’ mistake.”
The Prime Minister noted that Patel’s efforts to integrate over 550 princely states after Independence laid the foundation for “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.” He added that Patel placed national sovereignty above all else, but successive governments failed to uphold that same commitment. “Every action which weakens the unity of the nation must be avoided by every citizen,” Modi said, calling unity the central message of Ekta Diwas.
Criticizing past Congress governments, Modi said their “weak policies” had led to decades of turmoil in Kashmir, challenges in the Northeast, and the spread of Naxal-Maoist violence. “Instead of following Patel’s policies, those governments chose a spineless approach,” he remarked.
Highlighting his government’s achievements, Modi said that since 2014, India had witnessed a renewed resolve inspired by Patel. “Today, Kashmir has broken free from the shackles of Article 370 and is fully integrated into the mainstream,” he declared. He added that the world had seen India’s decisiveness through operations like Sindoor, proving that “this is the India of Sardar Patel, which will never compromise on its security and honour.”
The Prime Minister said his government’s firm policies had “broken the backbone of Naxal-Maoist terrorism,” reducing the number of affected districts from 125 to just 11.
Earlier, Modi reviewed the National Unity Day parade, featuring contingents led entirely by women officers from the police and paramilitary forces. The parade also showcased tableaux from ten states and organizations, highlighting the theme of “Unity in Diversity.”
Reiterating his call for unity and service to the nation, Modi said, “Devotion to Maa Bharti is the highest form of worship. There is no greater joy than dedicating oneself to the service of the nation.”
On Thursday, Trump announced a cut in tariff rates on Chinese goods to 47 percent after a meeting with President Xi Jinping, signalling a possible resolution to the ongoing tariff trade war between India and the U.S.
Photo: courtesy White House website
India has secured a six-month extension of the U.S. sanctions waiver for operating Iran’s Chabahar Port, offering much-needed relief amid tensions under the Donald Trump administration. The extension, effective from October 29, follows weeks of uncertainty after Washington threatened to revoke the seven-year-old exemption.
The exemption is critical for India’s strategic outreach. Chabahar serves as the only direct sea link between India and Afghanistan and provides access to Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. It is also a vital component of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) — a 7,200-km trade network connecting India with Iran, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. The project is seen as India’s counterweight to China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the China-built Gwadar Port in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
For now, the extension keeps India’s strategic and economic investments at Chabahar secure. But it remains a temporary relief. The six-month window offers breathing space, not certainty with U.S. policy on Iran still unpredictable
India confirmed on Thursday that it had secured the waiver, effective from October 29, after weeks of uncertainty triggered by U.S. threats to revoke the seven-year-old exemption. “We have been granted exemption for a six-month period on the American sanctions applicable on Chabahar,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
The U.S. had planned to revoke the waiver granted in 2018 under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act, which recognized Chabahar’s role in aiding Afghanistan’s development. The Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” policy on Tehran aimed to scrap such concessions, warning that entities operating through Chabahar could face sanctions after September 29.
New Delhi’s diplomatic outreach led to urgent consultations, securing first a temporary reprieve and now a formal extension. The move prevents disruption to India’s 10-year operational deal, signed in May 2024, between Indian Ports Global Limited and Iran’s Port and Maritime Organisation. Under the agreement, India committed $120 million for port infrastructure upgrades and a $250 million credit line to Tehran.
Photo: courtesy White House website
The waiver comes as India is facing U.S. scrutiny for continuing oil imports from Russia. When asked if New Delhi would seek another waiver on that front, Jaiswal said the government was still evaluating its options. He also avoided commenting on whether India might respond to U.S. tariff hikes after Washington recently classified India as its highest-tariffed partner following President Trump’s decision to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the opposition RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar, calling it an “unnatural merger” driven by a “lust for power.” Addressing rallies in Muzaffarpur and Chhapra, he likened the two parties to “oil and water — in the same glass, but can never truly mix,” claiming their workers were already clashing on the ground, exposing the fragility of the tie-up.
Taking aim at opposition leaders Tejashwi Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, Modi branded them “royal scions out on bail,” asking voters if they would again permit “these families to plunder Bihar.” Reviving the BJP’s old “jungle raj” charge, Modi said the opposition’s campaign language — filled with references to knives and guns — reflected its violent past. In contrast, he cited Bihar’s growing aspirations, saying today’s youth “buy bikes, not weapons.”
Political attacks, while dramatic, may not be decisive. Their impact on voter behaviour is complex and context-driven. “Bihar’s electorate has seen many cycles of alliances and betrayals, making it less swayed by rhetoric alone. Modi’s invocation of “jungle raj” seeks to rekindle memories of lawlessness and corruption — themes that still resonate with older voters — but the younger generation often prioritises development, education, and employment over political jibes,” analysts say.
Apparently, sustained negativity risks alienating undecided voters who want civility and solutions, not insults. In Bihar’s layered political landscape, where caste loyalties, governance records, and regional equations often outweigh speeches, verbal attacks can energise supporters but rarely convert the fence-sitters.
Negative politics can draw headlines, but history shows it often backfires when it crosses the line into arrogance or personal attack. In Indian politics, several elections have demonstrated this pattern. For example, the BJP’s 2004 “India Shining” campaign, built around mocking the Congress’s governance record, was seen as out of touch with rural distress, helping Congress return to power. In 2015, the BJP’s relentless attacks on Arvind Kejriwal as an “anarchist” turned him into a symbol of resistance against political bullying, resulting in AAP’s historic sweep in Delhi. Similarly, in Bihar’s 2020 polls, the RJD’s “double engine failure” jibe at the Modi-Nitish duo came across as disrespectful to Nitish Kumar, blunting Tejashwi Yadav’s otherwise strong development message.
Trump recently also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him “the nicest looking guy” and “tough as hell.”
US President Donald Trump announced that he will lower the tariff rates on Chinese imports to 47 percent following a high-level meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Speaking to reporters after the discussion, Trump said the decision was a step toward easing trade tensions between the two largest economies while addressing a growing global concern over synthetic drug smuggling.
The existing tariff rate of 57 percent had been part of Trump’s broader trade policy aimed at encouraging fairer trade practices and stricter enforcement against illegal exports. Prior to the talks, Trump had threatened to impose a 100 percent tariff hike, which would have sharply escalated the trade dispute, but after what he described as productive negotiations, he said such a move was no longer necessary.
Trump emphasized that the tariff reduction should be seen as a sign of goodwill and a reward for China’s cooperation on curbing fentanyl production and exports. However, he also warned that future trade adjustments would depend on how seriously China continues to enforce its pledges. Analysts believe this decision could help calm global markets and restore investor confidence, as trade disputes between the U.S. and China have often led to volatility and uncertainty.
The move also has implications for India’s economic prospects. Easing tensions between Washington and Beijing may bring greater stability to global trade, benefiting emerging markets like India. A more stable trading environment can lift export demand and encourage foreign investment in Indian industries. However, the tariff reduction may also reduce some of the momentum India gained during the U.S.–China trade war, when several companies shifted manufacturing away from China to countries like India and Vietnam to avoid high tariffs.
At the same time, the recent happenings also indicated an end to the ongoing trade tariff war between India and the US. During a recent event, Trump praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him “the nicest looking guy” and “tough as hell.” He highlighted Modi’s strong leadership and close ties with Washington while linking his comments to the progress of ongoing U.S.–India trade discussions.
Officials from both countries have confirmed that discussions are progressing rapidly, and an interim agreement focusing on goods and tariff adjustments could be signed in the near future. Though details are still being negotiated, the potential deal is expected to set lower tariff baselines for key sectors and open new opportunities for bilateral trade. While no final announcement has been made yet, both governments appear optimistic about a breakthrough.
“Jumla culture enters science,” says Coalition for a GM-Free India, accuses ICAR and Agriculture Ministry of “rigging results to promote an unsafe technology in the form of genome-edited rice varieties”
Photo: Coalition for a GM-Free India activists address media
The Coalition for a GM-Free India on Thursday accused India’s premier agricultural research body Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Union Agriculture Ministry of “fabricating” trial data to promote what it called “unsafe and underperforming” genome-edited rice varieties. Citing ICAR’s own All India Coordinated Research Project on Rice reports for 2023 and 2024, the Coalition alleged that results for two genome-edited rice lines — Pusa DST-1 and DRR Dhan 100 (Kamala) — were manipulated to manufacture success stories that the data itself does not support.
“As has become the habit with biotech lobbies in the country, seen earlier with Bt brinjal and GM mustard, science is yet again being compromised to push some genome-edited varieties as miracle seeds for India, while there is no testing or data to support the hype.
“Such compromised science brings a bad name to India’s scientific establishment and causes serious erosion of the credibility of ICAR and other institutes,” the Coalition said addressing media persons on Thursday
“This is not just bad science — it’s scientific fraud,” its members claimed, adding : “Such compromised research not only misleads farmers and citizens but also drags down the credibility of India’s public science institutions.”
The controversy stems from Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s announcement in May declaring the two genome-edited rice varieties as “global firsts.” ICAR claimed that Pusa DST-1 was tolerant to saline soils and that Kamala yielded 17% more, matured 20 days earlier and used nitrogen efficiently — claims now being challenged as “scientifically baseless”. The Coalition is accusing the ICAR and the Agriculture Ministry of committing “scientific fraud” in the country’s genome-edited rice programmes to promote “unsafe and underperforming rice varieties”
According to Coalition’s Kavitha Kuruganti, ICAR’s own 2023 data, Pusa DST-1 showed no recorded testing for drought or salinity tolerance due to “limited seed quantity.” Trial results actually showed a –4.8% yield compared to its parent, MTU-1010, and underperformance in 12 of 20 sites. In 2024, the line showed no yield advantage in salinity trials, and only a marginal 1.6% gain in alkaline soils. Yet, ICAR’s report summary claimed a “30% higher yield” — cherry-picking eight locations out of one zone. The same report, she said, even admitted that “no yield superiority was observed under coastal salinity.”
Likewise for DRR Dhan 100 ‘Kamala’, which ICAR projected as “miracle” rice, the Coalition’s analysis found it underperformed in eight of 19 sites in 2023 and had no consistent yield edge across zones. “Doing bad science in agriculture, that too from the public sector, has a direct bearing on millions of farmers. “This becomes a matter of fundamental human rights. How can the jumla culture be allowed to enter the scientific arena?” questioned Kavitha.
Independent researcher Soumik Banerjee added, “If genome editing is truly precise and safe, there should be no hesitation in putting all data in the public domain and following full regulatory oversight, as done for GMOs.”
The Coalition demanded an independent review of ICAR’s trial data and methodology, an immediate withdrawal of promotional claims, and a moratorium on genome-edited crop releases until credible biosafety rules and oversight mechanisms are in place. “This is junk science dressed up as innovation,” the Coalition said. “Hundreds of crores in public funds are being wasted on technologies that neither work nor serve farmers.”
“As has become the habit with biotech lobbies, science is being compromised to push risky genome-edited crops as miracle seeds for India,” the Coalition said. “Such compromised science erodes the credibility of ICAR and damages public trust in Indian research.”
