Sunday, December 28, 2025

Rekha Gupta inaugurates Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Jan Aushadhi Kendras

Photo: Naveen Bansal

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday inaugurated Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and Jan Aushadhi Kendras to provide basic healthcare facilities to the residents of the national capital.

With this, now Delhi has 33 Ayushman Arogya Mandir and 17 Jan Aushadhi Kendra which the government claims have been set up within 100 days of coming into power.

During the inauguration, Gupta said, “Mohalla Clinics were the greatest model of AAP corruption. There was a huge corruption on the pretext of outsourcing the medical tests.”

Photo: Naveen Bansal

She said, “The central government provided 2400 crore to open Ayushman Arogya mandir five years ago, but the AAP government didn’t let the residents have this facilities.”

She said that a new health revolution has started in Delhi.

“Under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and in accordance with his public welfare thinking, 33 Ayushman Kendras have been inaugurated. This is the embodiment of the service-spiritedness, visionary policies of the Central Government and the commitment and continuous hard work of our entire team, ministers and officers,” she said.

She said that our resolve is to ensure that every Delhiite has access to affordable, accessible and quality healthcare services. This initiative marks the beginning of a strong and reliable era of healthcare security in Delhi.

“Ayushman Arogya Mandir will provide affordable and quality healthcare services to all the employees of the Secretariat,” she said while inaugurating the facility at Delhi Secretariat. 

Respite for parched lands, Southwest Monsoon advances

Photo: Naveen Bansal

Spelling respite for parched lands, the Southwest Monsoon advanced over Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar. The Northern Limit of Monsoon is currently passing through Deesa, Indore, Pachmarhi, Mandla, Ambikapur, Hazaribagh and Supaul.

The IMD said conditions are favourable for its further advance over remaining parts of Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar, some parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and some parts of East Uttar Pradesh over the next two days.

 

After arriving early over the Kerala coast (its earliest onset in 16 years) the Southwest Monsoon hit a pause last week. The stall in the monsoon also hampered sowing in some regions—a major worry for farmers of the agricultural tracts dependent on seasonal rains.

Monsoon rains form a substantial part of India’s annual rainfall, thereby making it critical for India’s overall economy by replenishing reservoirs, groundwater, and two-third of India’s agricultural track.

This year monsoon made an early onset over Kerala on May 24, marking its earliest arrival since 2009 and eight days ahead of the June 1 onset date, reaching Mizoram on the same day, 12 days ahead of its normal schedule. Normally southwest monsoon advances over most parts of NE by June 5.

The rains generally arrive over Delhi by June 27, spread across the entire country by early July and begin retreating from the northwest around mid-September.

Meanwhile, under the influence of two low pressure areas one over Southwest Bangladesh and adjoining Gangetic West Bengal and another over Gujarat region, very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places likely over Gujarat, coastal and south Interior Karnataka, north Konkan, north Kerala, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha. Heavy to very heavy rainfall will also continue over NE during the next five days with extremely heavy falls over Meghalaya on June 18 and 19.

BJP slams Congress for its myopic view on caste census

Photo: Naveen Bansal

Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on Tuesday slammed Congress party for spreading lies about the caste census which has been announced by the central government in India.

Addressing a press conference here, Trivedi said that the Congress party is failing to read what is actually written in the document released by the government.

Slamming the party for its myopic and blurred view he said, “Those who once denied the rights of backward classes by not implementing the Kaka Kalelkar Commission report are now suddenly trying to spread lies – and are failing to read what is actually written. This exposes the nature of their politics.”

He further stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet has decided to conduct a census.

Following this, the press release clearly stated that along with the census, a socio-economic assessment will also be carried out, and that the caste census would be conducted for the first time in the history of independent India.

Taking a dig at Congress, he said that the party could not understand that notification for census is issued by the central government, even after being in power.

“They themselves are giving the example of Telangana state, first of all a survey is being conducted there, not a census…” he added.

“After being in power for such a long time, Congress should at least understand this technical issue that the notification for caste census is done by the central government, the state government cannot conduct caste census, so which state’s notification you are showing?” he questioned.

The statement comes after Congress raises questions about the notification issued by the central government.

It stated, “The census notification omits mention of the caste census. Is PM Modi betraying the nation’s 90 per cent population?”

On June 16, the central government issued a gazette notification for the caste census—a mega exercise which will begin from March 1, 2027.

According to the notification, the census proceedings for snow-bound parts will begin on October 1, 2026.

“The reference date for the said census shall be 00.00 hours of the 1st day of March, 2027, except for the Union territory of Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand,” the notification read, adding for snow-bound states and union territories, the exercise will begin at 00:00 hours of the 1st day of October, 2026.

The last Census was conducted in 2011.

Israel- Iran conflict: students moved out of Iran

India tells nationals, PIOs to move out if they have means

India on Tuesday issued a fresh advisory urging its nationals and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) residing in Tehran to move out of the city. 

Indian students in Tehran have been moved out of the city for reasons of safety, through arrangements made by the Embassy. Other residents who are self sufficient in terms of transport have also been advised to move out of the city in view of the developing situation, it said

Some Indians have been facilitated to leave Iran through the border with Armenia.

The Embassy remains continuously in touch with the community with a view to extending all feasible assistance. Further advisories may be issued given the fluid situation, it added. 

According to government sources, the first batch of Indian nationals crossed into Armenia in the intervening nights of Monday and Tuesday.

Trump leaves G7 early; Iran wants ceasefire

Amid escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, US President Donald Trump cut short his visit to the G7 summit in Canada. There are reports of Iran sending messages to Washington via Arab intermediaries, expressing desire to end the conflict with Israel and resume nuclear talks with the US, according to reports.

“President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State,” 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X.

Talking to media persons ahead of a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at G-7, Trump said Tehran is seeking to discuss de-escalation and should do so “before it’s too late.”

“I’d say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately before it’s too late,” he was quoted as saying.

“Iran should have signed the ‘deal’ I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” Trump also wrote on his Truth Social media platform.

Karnataka caste survey—BJP accuses Congress of betraying interests of OBCs

Photo: Naveen Bansal

Following the Karnataka government’s decision to junk an earlier caste survey in favour of a fresh count, the BJP has accused the Congress of “always deceiving and betraying” Other Backward Classes. Senior BJP leader Bhupender Yadav also asked for fixing accountability, saying that over Rs 165 crore of public money was spent in carrying out the now-dumped caste survey, speaking with media persons.

Yadav claimed the Congress has a history of betraying the OBC interests, saying that its governments at the Centre ignored the Kaka Kalelkar Commission report on empowering the backward classes and opposed the Mandal Commission recommendations.

According to Yadav, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the decision for a new caste survey was not his government’s but the Congress leadership’s, comparing it to “interference” from Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Council in the UPA government.

The Modi government worked for the socio-economic empowerment of the backward classes with its numerous schemes. It also accorded constitutional status on the National Commission for Backward Classes, he said, adding that the Karnataka government’s decision highlights the internal contradictions of the Congress

Meanwhile, the Karnataka CM has dismissed allegations of being under “pressure from dominant communities,” saying that objections to the earlier survey came from both dominant and deprived communities.

Delhi now has government with purpose: Hardeep Singh Puri

Union Minister Sardar Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said that Delhi now has a government with purpose that is committed to serving its people.

He also thanked Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, under whose leadership the BJP formed a government in the national capital after almost 27 years.

Puri was speaking at an exhibition organized at the party office in the city to commemorate the 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government centered on service, good governance, and welfare of the poor, as well as the completion of 100 days of the Delhi government.

After inaugurating the exhibition, along with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, he said, “The milestones set by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s government will prove to be significant achievements for Delhiites in the coming days.”

“The Modi government has implemented several public welfare schemes, which are widely known. The exhibition reflects all these accomplishments. Despite the current international challenges, elevating India’s economy to the fourth-largest in the world is a remarkable achievement,” he added.

The minister also expressed pleasure over Delhi’s adoption of electric buses and said he hopes that alongside electric vehicles, progress toward hydrogen energy will accelerate.

He appreciated the current government’s focus on cleaning the Yamuna and addressing landfill issues, noting that significant work is being done to reduce pollution, and visible results will be seen soon.

Meanwhile Rekha Gupta remarked that both the 11 years of the Central Government and the 100 days of the Delhi Government reflect the visible work being done by this “double engine” government.

She expressed disappointment that the previous Delhi government did not give due credit to the Centre’s efforts. She noted that Rs 1.25 lakh crore was provided for roadways, and the Centre also supported landfill site projects.

She further said that development in Delhi will now move at double speed. Whether it’s air pollution, water, electricity, the Yamuna, or roads — work is progressing across all sectors.

70% of WHO vaccines sourced from India; 14% of generics imported by the US come from India”

As much as 70% of WHO’s total vaccines are sourced from India and 14% of generics imported by the US also come from India, the Centre today said, highlighting the strides made in the direction, Minister of State for Health & Family Anupriya Patel today said. 

“India continues to be a leading supplier of vaccines. As much as 70% of WHO’s total vaccines are sourced from India,” Patel said in her keynote address at the inaugural session of the Second Policymakers’ Forum organised by Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC).

 “During the COVID-19 pandemic, India started the Vaccine Maitri initiative and supplied vaccines to more than 100 friendly countries,  depicting its deep sense of responsibility towards global health and intention of helping friendly countries in times of distress.”

“India continues to be a leader in drug manufacturing, especially when it comes to generic medicines. 14% of generics imported by the US come from India while India also has the maximum number of US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) recognised drug manufacturing plants,” she said

“Seventy percent of our generics are exported to the highly regulated markets and our pharmacopeial regulations are regularly visited to meet the global benchmarks,” she added

Aimed at promoting the recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia and collaboration in India’s flagship affordable medicines initiative—the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), the Forum is being organised by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in association with the Ministry of External Affairs. 

An international delegation of policymakers and drug regulators from 24 countries is also participating in the forum. During the four-day program (June 16–19), delegates will engage in technical sessions focused on pharmacopeial standards, India’s regulatory landscape, and successful public health schemes, according to officials.

In addition, site visits to IPC’s state-of-the-art laboratories in Ghaziabad, a Jan Aushadhi Kendra in Agra, as well as leading pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing and R&D facilities in Ahmedabad, have been arranged to provide delegates with first-hand exposure to India’s robust scientific and regulatory systems, they added.

G7: World leaders meet amid geopolitical uncertainties, global economic instability

Will there be any Modi-Trump moments; Trump has claimed credit for ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which India publicly denied

The G7 meeting of the world’s wealthiest countries in Canada comes amid several global crises—geopolitical, economic instability and challenges like climate change, energy security and hurdles in ensuring smooth supply chains. 

In those terms Canada’s invitation to India is both strategically and symbolically significant. It is a proof of India’s geopolitical and economic relevance amid the advanced economies of the world, say analysts.

Trying to diversify Canadian trade away from the US, Carney said it made sense for the G7 to invite India—counted among the world’s top five economies and a key part of trading supply chains across the world.

“In the times of conflict, flux and instability, the G7 Summit is an opportunity to consider the sources for sustainable finance and transition as climate threats compound the on-going complexities. India is among the fastest growing economies in the world and remains central to the global climate transition, both in terms of its emissions trajectory and its role as a key player in clean energy technologies,” say analysts

This is the first time Prime Minister Narendra Modi may come face-to-face with US President Donald Trump, who has claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan using trade negotiations. India has publicly denied Trump’s role in the de-escalation.

This year’s meeting also takes place against the backdrop of aggressive trade tariffs set by Trump and his calling Canada the 51st state of the US.

This is the first major international gathering hosted by Carney as the Canadian PM who is hosting leaders of Italy, US, France, Germany, UK and Japan with priorities focused on building stronger economies, strengthening peace and security, including harnessing the power of AI and fortifying critical mineral supply chains, according to reports.

Leaders of Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and South Korea are also expected to attend.

DPCC chief visits door-to-door ahead of mega job fair

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav paid a door-to-door visit in the Shardhanand Colony to register unemployed youth ahead of the Mega Youth Fair.

The congress has announced to hold a job fair at Talkatora Stadium to mark Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on June 19. This mega job fair is expected to provide employment opportunities to the youth in over 100 reputed companies.

“Congress has been playing an important role in providing employment to the unemployed as the party in power, BJP, has totally neglected the unemployed youth,” Yadav said.

He said that all the 258 Block Congress Committees are contacting the unemployed, educated youth in their blocks by putting up camps which has been getting tremendous response from the youth, who have to fill up forms so that this information can be directly forwarded to the recruiting companies.

“The mega job fair, jointly organized by Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee and Indian Youth Congress, will prove to be a milestone in the lives of the poor unemployed youth,” he added.

Yadav said that in the Delhi Assembly elections, Delhi Congress had promised to provide the first job of educated unemployed youth under the Youth Udaan Yojana. He said that Delhi Congress has been taking the initiative to provide the first job to the unemployed youth of Delhi through the Mega Job Fair.

He also said that the district and block Congress committees have been working tirelessly to fulfill an important responsibility by reaching out to the educated unemployed youth for registration.

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