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New Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS) Just five days ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, the BJP on Saturday claimed that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would secure a massive mandate from the people of the state.Speaking to IANS, BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Bihar has witnessed major development in infrastructure, technology, and housing for the poor over the past two to three years. In the upcoming Assembly elections, the people will give the NDA a massive mandate. Opposition parties are watching their plans fail, leaving them anxious, frustrated, and seeking external support.”Bihar MLA Jaydrath Prasad said, “The people of Bihar have already made up their minds. This time, under the slogan ‘Modi gove...

Srinagar, Nov 1 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha, on Saturday, advised youth that their journey of knowledge and peace must never stop despite hurdles and hardships.Addressing a seminar in Kashmir University on the centenary celebrations to remember writer, thinker, Bollywood script writer and poet, Rahi Masoom Raza, the L-G said it is the youth who will shape the unity, progress and the vision of the country in the future.The International Seminar titled, "Rahi ki Virasat" is dedicated to the vision of Rahi Masoom Raza.Addressing the seminar, L-G sinha said that he is pleased that this seminar has been organised to bring the thoughts and legacy of Rahi Masoom Raza to life, much like the sacred flow from Gangotri to the earth."Rahi's centenary year will begi...

Kolkata, Nov 1 (IANS) The threat of another flood looms large in north Bengal, following incessant rain for the last two days due to the after-effects of Cyclone Montha, causing the water level of the rivers to start to rise above the danger level, triggering panic among the people of a fresh flood and landslides in the hill districts.According to reports, the under-construction dam on the Shisamara River was breached by the water from Bhutan, flooding various areas of Shalkumar 1 and Shalkumar 2 gram panchayats. About 200 people have left their homes in the area and have taken shelter in the local Lalturam High School. The local gram panchayat has made arrangements for their accommodation and food.Subhash Roy, head of Shalkumar 1 Gram Panchayat, told media persons: "The dam on the Shisama...

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 1 (IANS) Kerala is set to get its third Vande Bharat Express, offering the much-needed relief to passengers enduring the long and often uncomfortable journey between Kochi and Bengaluru.The Southern Railway has finalised the schedule for the new semi-high-speed service, marking another milestone in Kerala’s rail connectivity.As per the released schedule, the Kochi–Bengaluru Vande Bharat will depart Ernakulam at 2.20 p.m. and reach Bengaluru City by 11 p.m.On the return leg, it will leave Bengaluru at 5.10 a.m. and arrive in Ernakulam at 1.50 p.m.The official start date is expected to be announced shortly, with indications that the service will commence this month itself.The train will have scheduled halts at Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palakkad, and Thrissur...

New Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS) Despite rate rationalisation, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rose 4.6 per cent (year-on-year) in the festive month of October at about Rs 1.96 lakh crore, the official data showed on Saturday.October also made it the 10th consecutive month that revenues remained above the Rs 1.8 lakh crore mark.According to the government data, the GST collections went up 9 per cent to about Rs 13.89 lakh crore in the April-October period of FY26 -- against Rs 12.74 lakh crore in the same period last fiscal (FY25).The data further showed that after deducting refunds, the government's net tax collections stood at Rs 1.69 lakh crore, 0.6 per cent more last month than in October 2024.The month of October saw robust consumer demand after the September 22 rate cuts towards ...

New Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS) Raj Kumar Arora, a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), assumed the charge of Financial Advisor, Defence Services, on Saturday, an official said. In a related development, Vishvajit Sahay, a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), assumed charge as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), said the official in a statement.Arora, the new Financial Advisor, Defence Services, has vast experience in the areas of defence acquisition, financial policy, accounting, audit, budgeting and personnel management.Prior to his present appointment, he was serving as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA). He has earlier held several important positions in the Government of India, including Additional Secreta...

Jammu, Nov 1 (IANS) The Northern Railway has allotted multipurpose stalls to six railway stations in Jammu and Kashmir to enhance non-fare revenue and improve facilities for the passengers, Railway officials said on Saturday. "A Second Luggage Rake (SLR) is also being made operational. The multipurpose stalls have been allotted at Banihal, Anantnag, Srinagar, Sangaldan, Budgam and Baramulla railway stations for a period of five years, and are expected to generate a total revenue of Rs 79.43 lakh for the Indian Railways," officials added."The stalls will offer a range of passenger essentials, including medicines, books, newspapers, cosmetics, toys, and daily-use items."This is the first time in the Jammu Division that multipurpose stalls have been allotted through e-auction. The process ens...

Mumbai, Nov 1 (IANS) Fintech founder Mohit Gang has accused hospitality chain OYO Rooms of attempting a "daylight heist" as retail investors are being scammed through a postal ballot that would issue bonus Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares.In a post on X, Gang said that OYO's postal ballot on October 27 proposed three measures: increasing authorised capital, issuing bonus CCPS, and granting sweat equity.He claimed that a scam lay behind the second measure of issuing bonus CCPS, as the three-day response window was intended to lead retail shareholders to overlook the notice, resulting in them receiving lower-value Class A CCPS that convert one-for-one into equity.In contrast, insiders, promoters and institutional investors opting for Class B could benefit from more favourable conve...

Kolkata, Nov 1 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) about the purported incidents of two block development officers (BDOs) in West Burdwan district of West Bengal allowing the local Trinamool Congress leadership to use their office infrastructure for attending the party's virtual organisational meeting on Friday, which was chaired by the party's General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.The CPI-M Politburo member and the party's West Bengal Secretary, Mohammed Salim, had written a letter to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), requesting the latter to investigate the matter and accordingly, take appropriate legal actions against the BDOs concerned.Along with his complaint, Salim had also attached supporting evidence to s...