A 70-year-old farmer from Haryana, Subash Chand, has officially ended his 44-year marriage to Santosh Kumari after an 18-year legal battle. The divorce, finalized with a Rs 3.1 crore alimony settlement, saw Chand sell agricultural land, crops, and provide gold and silver ornaments worth Rs 40 lakh to meet the terms. The Punjab and Haryana High Court mediated the agreement, ensuring that Kumari and their children would have no further claims on Chand's assets after his death. The marriage, which began in 1980, had been strained for years before their separation in 2006.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah delivered a strong rebuttal in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks on Veer Savarkar. Shah defended Savarkar's legacy, stating that the title "Veer" was given to him by the Indian people, not any political party. He condemned the Congress for attempting to undermine Savarkar’s contributions, particularly his sacrifices during the freedom struggle, highlighting that no one else in India’s history endured two life sentences like Savarkar. Shah also referenced former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s praise for Savarkar’s courage and resistance to British rule, urging the Congress to reconsider its stance.
A persistent cold wave is sweeping through northern and eastern India, with temperatures plunging further in states like Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 5.9°C, while neighboring states Punjab and Haryana are experiencing intense cold, with Faridkot in Punjab seeing 0°C. Rajasthan is facing severe cold, with Karauli recording the lowest night temperature at 1.3°C. In Kashmir, temperatures in some areas dropped to sub-zero levels, with Konibal recording -8.5°C. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast dense fog and a rise in minimum temperatures over the next few days in East India.
"Congress has treated the Constitution as the private fiefdom of one family. For 55 years, they amended the Constitution 77 times, often to suit their political agenda. The BJP, in contrast, governed for 16 years and made 22 amendments, always with the nation's welfare in mind. Congress never worked for the backward classes or for the benefit of Muslim women; instead, they focused on vote bank politics. The Kaka Kalelkar Commission's recommendations on OBC reservations were ignored for decades. The Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi was a dark chapter in our democracy, with lakhs of people jailed and the media censored. Today, India is the fifth-largest economy, a testament to the resilience of our democracy and Constitution."
Starting in 2025, the National Testing Agency (NTA) will focus exclusively on conducting entrance exams for higher education institutions, such as NEET and JEE, while discontinuing its role in recruitment exams. This shift follows recommendations from a high-level panel and aims to improve transparency and efficiency in the examination process. Recruitment exams previously managed by the NTA will be transferred to other agencies. The Ministry of Education is expected to announce further details on the transition plan soon.
In response to Mukesh Khanna's repeated criticism of her for failing to answer a question about the Ramayana on Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) in 2019, Sonakshi Sinha posted a lengthy note on Instagram, addressing the issue. She wrote, "Yes, I may have blanked out that day, a human tendency, but that doesn’t define me." She also called on Khanna to stop bringing up the incident for the sake of publicity, stating, "Please stop bringing up the same incident time and again to stay relevant at the expense of me and my family."Her father, Shatrughan Sinha, also defended her, questioning Khanna's qualifications to speak on matters of the Ramayana and Hinduism. "What qualifies him to be an expert on the Ramayana?" he asked. He emphasized that not answering the question about the Ramayana didn’t make his daughter any less of a Hindu, and expressed pride in her achievements.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) plans to issue notices to over 20 MPs who were absent during the voting on the 'One Nation, One Election' bill in the Lok Sabha. Despite a three-line whip from the party, these MPs did not attend the session on December 17, when the bill was introduced. The bill was passed with 269 votes in favor, while the opposition parties, including Congress and Trinamool Congress, voted against it. The voting took place in two rounds, with the second round held via paper slips after opposition protests. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal defended the bill, assuring that it would not undermine the powers of the states.
As 2024 comes to an end, Google’s 'Year in Search' revealed the top travel destinations most Googled by Indians. Leading the list was Azerbaijan, with its mix of futuristic skylines and ancient culture, followed by the ever-popular Bali, known for its temples and natural beauty. Manali took third place, offering picturesque landscapes and adventure in Himachal Pradesh. Kazakhstan, with its stunning flora and visa-free travel policy, surprised many, while Jaipur remained a favorite for its cultural heritage. Other notable mentions include Georgia, Malaysia, Ayodhya, Kashmir, and South Goa, each drawing Indian travelers for their unique experiences.
The Narendra Modi-led government is set to introduce two key bills in Parliament on Tuesday aimed at enabling 'One Nation, One Election.' The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to synchronize elections for the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and possibly local bodies, while the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 will amend several existing laws to align with the new election framework. The government aims to streamline the electoral process, reduce disruptions caused by the Model Code of Conduct, and lower the logistical burden on administrative machinery. These bills are a response to recommendations by a high-level committee chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, and are expected to reshape the country's electoral landscape significantly.
The Special Representatives of India and China on border issues will meet in Beijing on December 18 to discuss restoring bilateral ties following the October 21 agreement to disengage troops in eastern Ladakh. The talks, which will be led by India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and China's Wang Yi, mark the 23rd round of discussions under the China-India Boundary Question mechanism. This meeting comes after a five-year gap, with the previous one held in 2019. The talks are expected to pave the way for normalizing relations between the two countries, which have been strained since the 2020 military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Bhopal is experiencing a severe cold wave, with temperatures dropping to a chilling 3.8°C on Friday night, a dip of 4°C. The India Meteorological Department has issued a cold wave warning for the city, anticipating worsening conditions. The intense cold is expected to impact residents and agriculture, with frost and cold day conditions forecasted across several districts, including Vidisha, Raisen, and Sehore. The cold wave, fueled by icy winds from northern India, is expected to last until December 17, with temperatures staying below normal for the coming days.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has reimposed Stage 4 restrictions in Delhi-NCR due to a significant rise in air pollution levels. These measures include a ban on all construction and demolition activities and restrictions on the entry of non-essential trucks into the capital. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) breached the 400 mark, worsened by calm winds and an inversion layer. The government has also directed schools to conduct classes in a hybrid mode for students from classes VI to IX and XI. Meanwhile, the national capital continues to experience cold wave conditions with temperatures dropping to 4.5°C.
