State

Odisha has launched a Unified Health Insurance Scheme, merging the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat and the state’s Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana, to provide Rs 5 lakh annual health coverage to 1.03 crore families. The scheme introduces special benefits for senior citizens and expands access to over 29,000 hospitals nationwide, backed by a Rs 27,019 crore budget over five years.

At least 47 people have died in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh due to lightning strikes, hailstorms, and heavy rainfall over the past two days. Bihar reported 25 deaths, mostly in Nalanda, while 22 were killed across 15 districts in Uttar Pradesh. Authorities have issued alerts and announced ₹4 lakh ex gratia for each victim’s family as weather conditions remain severe.

The BJP dominated the Haryana municipal elections, winning mayoral posts in major cities like Ambala, Gurugram, Hisar, and Faridabad, with the exception of Manesar, where an independent candidate emerged victorious. The Congress faced a major setback, failing to make significant gains despite hopes of a comeback following their 2024 assembly defeat. BJP's Praveen Joshi set a record with a 3.16 lakh vote victory in Faridabad, while in Rohtak, BJP's Ram Avtar Valmiki defeated Congress’s Suraj Mal Kiloi by a substantial margin. The results underscore BJP's growing influence in Haryana's political landscape.

RJD leader Rabri Devi has intensified her attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of consuming 'bhaang' before attending the state assembly and disrespecting women, including herself. She called for his resignation, criticizing his lack of independent decision-making and alleged influence from party members and BJP leaders. Rabri Devi’s son, Tejaswi Yadav, also demanded Kumar’s resignation, questioning his ability to govern. The exchange follows a series of contentious remarks between the two parties, with Nitish Kumar accusing RJD of dynastic politics and Rabri Devi reminding him of their past political achievements. With Bihar's assembly elections approaching, tensions between the ruling JD(U) and the opposition RJD continue to escalate.

In a major step toward women’s empowerment, the Madhya Pradesh government has raised the reservation quota for women in state government recruitments to 35%. This decision, approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, aims to enhance gender equality in public sector jobs. Additionally, the cabinet approved other key initiatives, including the construction of a new 660-megawatt thermal power plant and the establishment of 254 new fertilizer sales centres. The state also highlighted its success in attracting investment, with proposals totaling Rs 31,000 crore expected to generate 28,000 new jobs. These developments are part of the broader "Invest Madhya Pradesh-Global Investors Summit-2025" initiative, aiming to position the state as a leading investment destination.