Author: TheStateLine

Gandhinagar, Jan 21 (IANS) The Gujarat government has disbursed over Rs 9,466 crore in financial assistance to more than 32 lakh farmers affected by unseasonal and heavy rainfall, Minister Jitu Vaghani said on Wednesday.Vaghani was speaking to the media after a state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.Vaghani said the Cabinet reviewed the progress of the agricultural relief package, under which online bills worth Rs 9,516 crore have been generated for over 3.2 million farmers so far.“As of today, a total of 32.49 lakh farmers have received more than Rs 9,466 crore directly into their bank accounts,” he said.Providing a breakup, the minister said unseasonal rainfall in October 2025 affected crops across 33 districts. Online bills amounting to Rs 8,610 crore were prepa...

Raipur, Jan 21 (IANS) The Chhattisgarh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, on Wednesday cleared several significant proposals aimed at bolstering revenue, education, technology entrepreneurship, and public health infrastructure across the state. In a major administrative move, the Council of Ministers approved the Chhattisgarh Excise Policy for the financial year 2026-27. The policy framework received formal clearance, with the Excise Department authorised to undertake all necessary ancillary and implementation proceedings. Details of the policy, including revenue optimisation measures and regulatory guidelines, are expected to be notified soon following departmental finalisation.A landmark decision in the education sector saw the Cabinet allot approximately 40 acres of land...

Patna, Jan 21 (IANS) Bihar Transport Minister Shrawon Kumar on Wednesday made it clear that the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) does not need leaders like RCP Singh, a former Union Minister.Speaking to the media, Shrawon Kumar said that until recently, RCP Singh had been questioning Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s health and ability to govern.“Until yesterday, he was telling people that Nitish Kumar was ill, unwell, and incapable of working,” Kumar said.He further alleged that leaders of the party RCP Singh later joined had claimed they would quit politics if they managed to win even 25 seats.“They were trying to finish off Nitish Kumar. What need has suddenly arisen for such people today? There is no need for those who, until yesterday, were trying to destroy Nitish Kumar and are now desperate to ...

Kalyan, Jan 21 (IANS) Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut has slammed the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) support to the Shinde faction in Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), terming it “betrayal.”Raut’s statement comes after Shinde faction MP Shrikant Shinde officially announced that the MNS and Shiv Sena (Shinde) would now share power in the corporation. While local MNS leaders have welcomed the alliance, the move has sparked a fierce backlash from the Uddhav Thackeray camp, with MP Sanjay Raut labelling the development "deeply concerning."Speaking to the press, Sanjay Raut maintained a hardline stance against the alliance, emphasising that those who "betrayed" Balasaheb Thackeray and Maharashtra should not be entertained. "Our position is clear and bitter. We ...

Chennai, Jan 21 (IANS) The annual trekking season to the sacred Velliangiri Hills in the Western Ghats will begin on February 1, with devotees and the general public permitted to trek the seven hills until May 31.Authorities expect a significant surge in footfall this year, particularly during the Maha Shivaratri festival, and have put in place additional measures to manage crowds and ensure safety.Velliangiri Hills, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Boluvampatti forest range, is one of the most revered pilgrimage destinations in western Tamil Nadu.Thousands of devotees undertake the arduous 6.5-km trek across steep hills and rocky terrain to reach the seventh hill, where a Lord Shiva shrine is located at an elevation of about 1,850 metres above sea level.As part of the annual prep...

New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS) Heads of 42 election management bodies from around the world participated in a high-level plenary session on Wednesday as part of the ongoing India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026 at Bharat Mandapam.The session served as a key platform for in-depth discussions on the pressing global challenges confronting election administration in the modern era. The proceedings were initiated by Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar, joined by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. Nearly 60 international delegates, including leaders of election management bodies and ambassadors or high commissioners from several countries, engaged actively in the deliberations. The EMB Leaders' Plenary brought toge...

Bhopal, Jan 21 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress MLA Umang Singhar on Wednesday wrote a letter to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), seeking immediate attention over “discrepancies” and “lack of transparency” in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.In his letter, Singhar expressed serious concern over widespread system-generated discrepancies and lack of clarity in the verification process that have emerged after the release of the draft electoral roll under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state.The Congress leader stated that after the publication of the draft electoral roll under the SIR, a large number of voters’ names have been included in the so-called discrepancy lists in almost all districts of the state.The...