Important News - 2025-05-15
15 May 2025
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Festivals (1)
Miss World 2025 Contestants Experience Pochampally’s Cultural Heritage in Telangana
On a serene Thursday evening, the Telangana Tourism Park in Bhoodan Pochampally became a hub of cultural celebration as it hosted 22 Miss World 2025 contestants from Africa. The event highlighted the rich heritage of Pochampally, known for its iconic Ikat saris. The contestants were welcomed with traditional Pochampally shawls and stoles, symbolizing the region’s cultural significance. They engaged in activities such as learning the Ikat weaving process, observing artisans, and trying their hand at spinning yarn. The evening was enlivened by traditional music from Kinnera and Dappu instruments, with contestants participating in the festivities. A vibrant marketplace showcased Ikat products, attracting enthusiastic buyers. Yadadri Bhongir District Collector Hanumantha Rao and local MLA Kumbam Anil Kumar Reddy emphasized Pochampally’s historical importance, noting its GI tag for Ikat since 2004 and recognition as one of India’s best tourism villages in 2021. The event also featured a ramp walk showcasing Pochampally handlooms. In a parallel cultural visit, 35 Miss World contestants from the Caribbean and Americas visited the Yadagirigutta temple, where a special puja was conducted.
Politics (3)
Indian MPs to Represent Country at Asia Pacific Regional Workshop in Fiji
K. Laxman, Rajya Sabha MP and BJP national OBC Morcha president, along with K.C. Venugopal, PAC chairman and Congress MP, will represent India at the Asia Pacific Regional Workshop in Nadi, Fiji Islands. The event, organized jointly by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association of the UK and the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji, is scheduled from May 19 to 21, 2024. The workshop will focus on the functioning and effectiveness of public accounts committees in various democracies. Mr. Laxman will deliver a keynote address on 'Assessing PAC effectiveness, measuring impact, and enhancing performance.' This participation highlights India's engagement in international parliamentary discussions and its role in promoting democratic governance.
Nara Lokesh’s Three-Day Political Engagement in Anantapur
Nara Lokesh, the Minister for IT and HRD, commenced a three-day visit to Anantapur on Thursday. During his visit, he engaged in a series of public activities and meetings. Upon arrival, he held discussions with TDP party leaders and coordinators from the Guntakal Assembly segment, followed by interactions with the local leadership and cadre. On Friday, he inaugurated the ReNew Wind Energy (Jamb) Pvt Ltd plant in Bethapalli village, Gooty mandal, and later attended the wedding of Kalyandurg MLA Aimineni Surendra Babu’s daughter in Anantapur town. On Saturday, Lokesh participated in the convocation ceremony of JNTU-Anantapur, where Governor Dr. S. Abdul Nazeer was the chief guest. Post the convocation, he left for Hyderabad. Additionally, Anantapur MLA Daggubati Venkateswara Prasad announced Lokesh’s participation in the Tiranga Rally scheduled for the morning.
Andhra Pradesh Teachers Protest Against School Restructuring Program
Teacher organizations in Andhra Pradesh are continuing their protests against the government's proposed school restructuring program, which they argue will negatively impact the education sector. The Andhra Pradesh Teachers’ Federation (APTF) has organized a series of phased protests, including mandal-level protests on May 5, district-level protests on May 9, and a State-level protest on May 14. The teachers oppose the government's decision to categorize schools into nine categories, as outlined in G.O. 21, fearing it will dismantle the public education system and lead to privatization. On May 16 and 17, teachers plan to send messages to the Minister for Human Resource Development, Nara Lokesh, demanding a reversal of the decision. Additionally, from May 18 to 20, they will submit memoranda to elected representatives, including village sarpanches and Members of Parliament, seeking intervention. The APTF leaders have also pointed out that no other state in India has nine categories of schools and have demanded a return to the old system. The Student Federation of India (SFI) has also condemned the decision, urging the government to reconsider its stance.
Economy (1)
Unemployment Rate at 5.1% in April 2025: PLFS Data Highlights Urban-Rural Disparities
The first monthly bulletin of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), released by the Union Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation on April 2025, revealed that the unemployment rate (UR) in India for individuals aged 15 and above stood at 5.1% under the current weekly status (CWS). The male unemployment rate was slightly higher at 5.2%, compared to 5.0% for females. Rural areas reported a lower UR of 4.5%, while urban areas saw a higher rate of 6.5%. Notably, the urban unemployment rate for females aged 15 to 29 was significantly high at 23.7%. The revamped PLFS methodology now includes employment data from rural areas, providing a more comprehensive view of the labor market. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for individuals aged 15 and above was 55.6%, with rural areas at 58.0% and urban areas at 50.7%. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR) for the same age group was 52.8% nationally, with rural areas at 55.4% and urban areas at 47.4%. Labour economist Sridhar Kundu highlighted the importance of the revamped PLFS in tracking employment trends but pointed out gaps in data related to wage rates and government schemes like MGNREGA.
Schemes (2)
Kerala Approves ₹3,716 Crore IURWTS Project to Rejuvenate Kochi Canals and Combat Waterlogging
The Kerala State Government has granted in-principle approval for the implementation of the Integrated Urban Regeneration and Water Transport System (IURWTS), a project funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). This initiative aims to rejuvenate six major canals in Kochi—Edappally, Perandoor, Chilavannoor, Thevara, Market, and Konthuruthy—to address the city's persistent waterlogging issues. Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) is the special purpose vehicle overseeing the project, which has seen its budget revised from ₹1,528.27 crore to ₹3,716.10 crore based on updated proposals. The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has provided wildlife clearance for the project, with the condition that the sub-canal passing through the Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary be cleaned during implementation. The project also includes significant allocations for canal-oriented development, sewage treatment plants, land acquisition, and sanitation. Mayor M. Anilkumar emphasized that the project will not only resolve waterlogging and mosquito-related problems but also enhance Kochi's infrastructure, industrial growth, and tourism potential.
Knowledge Kerala Project Launches Facilitation Centres in Ernakulam for Skill Development and Job Placement
The 'Knowledge Kerala' project is set to establish facilitation centres and job stations across panchayats and municipalities in Ernakulam to provide job opportunities and skill development programmes for the youth. These centres will act as a support system for job seekers, offering training and skill enhancement programmes, particularly targeting final-year students in higher educational institutions to improve their chances of campus placements. The initiative is being implemented by the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council, which has formed a district-level council in Ernakulam to oversee the project. The council will create a three-tier system of resource persons, including key, district, and local resource persons, to ensure effective implementation. Additionally, job seekers will be encouraged to register on a digital workforce management platform developed under the project. The government aims to assist approximately one lakh job aspirants through this initiative, leveraging the presence of industries and commercial units in the district.
Elections (1)
G. Sudhakaran Retracts Allegation of Postal Ballot Tampering in 1989 Lok Sabha Elections
G. Sudhakaran, a senior leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and former Minister, retracted his earlier statement regarding the alleged tampering of postal ballots in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections. Initially, during a public meeting on Wednesday, Sudhakaran claimed that postal ballots were manipulated in favor of the CPI(M) candidate in the Alappuzha constituency. However, on Thursday, he clarified that no such tampering had occurred, attributing his earlier comments to a 'bit of imagination.' He emphasized that he had never engaged in or facilitated bogus voting and had communicated this to election officials. The Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala, Rathan U. Kelkar, ordered an investigation into the matter, with the Alappuzha South police also directed to look into the allegations. The CPI(M) district secretary, R. Nazar, denied the claims, stating he was unaware of the circumstances under which Sudhakaran made the statement. The 1989 elections saw Vakkom Purushothaman of the Congress party defeating CPI(M)'s Devadas by over 25,000 votes.
Miscellaneous (4)
93-Year-Old Retired Doctor Successfully Undergoes Complex Heart Surgery at SIMS Hospital
A 93-year-old retired gynaecologist, E.C. Sreevalsan, recently underwent a successful coronary bypass surgery and pacemaker implantation at SIMS Hospital in Vadapalani. Dr. Sreevalsan, a former faculty member at Madras Medical College, had experienced severe chest pain four months prior, leading to the discovery of four blockages in his heart. The surgery was performed by Dr. V.V. Bashi, Senior Consultant and Director of the Institute of Cardiac and Advanced Aortic Diseases at SIMS Hospital. Dr. Bashi opted for an off-pump coronary artery bypass procedure, which avoids the use of a heart-lung machine to expedite recovery in elderly patients. Post-surgery, a pacemaker was implanted to address the patient's slow heart rhythm. Dr. Sreevalsan spent three days in the intensive care unit and was discharged a week later. His overall good health and informed decision-making contributed to the success of the procedure. Dr. Bashi highlighted the rarity of performing such complex surgeries on patients over 90 years old and credited the hospital's multidisciplinary expertise and precise planning for the positive outcome. Dr. Sreevalsan expressed gratitude for the seamless care and renewed faith in modern medicine.
Three Arrested in Counterfeit Educational Certificate Racket, 15 Fake Documents Seized
The Commissioner’s Task Force, West Zone Team, in collaboration with Masab Tank police, has successfully dismantled a counterfeit educational certificate racket, leading to the arrest of three individuals. The accused, identified as Shaibaz Khan, Mohammed Abdul Ismail, and Kadari Ramesh, were involved in supplying fraudulent certificates to dropouts and job seekers in exchange for money. During the operation, 15 fake educational certificates were seized, including degrees in B.Sc, M.Sc, and B.Com from Monad University, semester-wise memos from Glocal University, and a sample consolidated certificate from Vignan. The investigation revealed that Shaibaz Khan was initially arrested with counterfeit certificates from Glocal University, leading to the subsequent arrest of Mohammed Abdul Ismail and Kadari Ramesh. Ramesh confessed to facilitating the racket by connecting clients with agents and disclosed that the certificates were sourced from an individual named Sagar based in Delhi, who operates a large-scale network across various regions. The network charged higher fees for urgent requests, and transactions were conducted through online money transfers. A case has been registered with the Masab Tank Police, and further investigations are ongoing.
FIR Filed in Identity Theft Case Involving Commerce and Industries Commissioner
The Central Division Cyber Crime police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against an unidentified individual for impersonating the Commissioner of the Department of Commerce and Industries. The accused allegedly attempted to extort money from the department's staff by using the commissioner's name and photograph on a fake WhatsApp account. The incident was reported by a clerical staff member, and the accused has been charged under Section 66(c) of the IT Act, which pertains to identity theft. The police are currently investigating the case using call record details. This is the second such incident handled by the central cybercrime police. Earlier, on March 14, Deepak Doreyawar, Principal Director of the State Audit and Accounts Department, filed a similar complaint after his WhatsApp number was hacked and used to deceive his juniors into transferring money. The accused had used Doreyawar's contact list to message his staff, leading to unauthorized money transfers.
City Police Arrest Lawyer Accused of Assaulting Junior Colleague in Thiruvananthapuram
The City police arrested advocate Beyline Das, who has been accused of assaulting his junior woman colleague J.B. Shyamili, at his office in Vanchiyoor last week. A plainclothes squad took Mr. Das into custody from a location near Station Kadavu in the Puthenvelikara police station, near Thumpa, late Thursday. The police will record his detailed statement and produce him before the Judicial First Class Magistrate court on Friday. Mr. Das’s arrest came hours after he moved to the Principal District Sessions Court, Thiruvananthapuram, seeking anticipatory bail. The court posted the bail plea for hearing on Friday. Mr. Das faced charges of assault and use of criminal force against a woman, voluntarily causing hurt and outraging the woman’s modesty under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, 2023. Ms. Shyamili displayed the severe facial injuries she sustained in the alleged assault in front of television cameras on Tuesday, causing a huge public outcry. A Thiruvananthapuram Bar Association office-bearer came under severe criticism from the legal fraternity and civil society for allegedly preventing the police from arresting Mr. Das from the latter’s office in Vanchiyoor on the same day of the incident. Ms. Shyamili alleged that the lawyer had maltreated her earlier for frivolous official reasons, even when she was pregnant. Public support surged for the young lawyer, with Law Minister P. Rajeeve and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Thiruvananthapuram district secretary V. Joy, MLA, calling on her to express the government’s support and solidarity. Mr. Rajeeve called for the constitution of Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) in district courts. He said the person who prevented the police from arresting Mr. Das would face prosecution. He sought the legal community’s support for Ms. Shyamili. On Wednesday, the Bar Council of Kerala barred Mr. Das from appearing before any court, tribunal or judicial forum, pending investigation and disciplinary proceedings. A general body meeting of the Thiruvananthapuram Bar Association on Thursday declared support for Ms. Shyamili. Earlier on Wednesday, the association had suspended Mr. Das’s membership. Meanwhile, a political row erupted between the Congress and the CPI(M) over Mr. Das’s party affiliations. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan said that Mr. Das had contested the 2015 local body elections on a CPI(M) ticket. The CPI(M) clarified that Mr. Das left the CPI(M) to join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and later the Congress.
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