Important News - 2025-06-11
11 June 2025
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Festivals (1)
J&K L-G Manoj Sinha Performs 'Pratham Puja' for Amarnath Yatra 2025
On June 11, 2025, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha performed the 'Pratham Puja' at the Amarnath shrine in Pahalgam, south Kashmir, marking the ceremonial beginning of the annual Amarnath Yatra. The pilgrimage, which starts on July 3 and concludes on August 9, is expected to attract a large number of devotees. Sinha emphasized the collaborative efforts of the J&K administration, Amarnath Shrine Board, Army, Border Roads Organisation, Central armed police forces, and J&K police to ensure a safe and hassle-free pilgrimage. He also reviewed medical and healthcare arrangements at the Baltal Base Camp Hospital in Ganderbal district, directing officials to ensure adequate medical staff, equipment, and round-the-clock healthcare services for pilgrims. The yatra will proceed from two routes: Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district.
Schemes (3)
Lottery Draw Scheduled for Allocation of 28 Bar Licences in Hyderabad and Rural Districts
The Prohibition and Excise Department has announced a lottery draw on June 13 to allocate 28 bar licences, including 24 within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits and four in rural districts. A total of 3,520 applications were received for the GHMC-area bars, while 148 applications were submitted for rural locations. The lottery for GHMC bars will be held at The Address Conventions and Exhibition Centre in Narsingi, Gandipet, with applicants required to arrive by 9 am with their entry passes and valid identification. Mobile phones will not be allowed inside the venue, and entry will be regulated based on token numbers issued to applicants. Similar lotteries will be conducted in rural districts under the supervision of district collectors. The initiative is part of the department's efforts to revive closed bars across these regions.
Hyderabad Metro Phase-II Seeks Approval from Parliamentary Standing Committee
During the Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting on Housing and Urban Affairs in New Delhi, Bhongir MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy urged for the immediate approval of Hyderabad Metro Phase-II. He emphasized that Hyderabad Metro Phase-I, sanctioned in 2010, is currently the second-largest Metro network in India after Delhi, covering 69 km across three corridors. Phase-II proposes five corridors spanning 76.4 km at an estimated cost of ₹24,269 crore. The MP highlighted the funding pattern, with the Government of India contributing ₹4,230 crore, the Telangana Government ₹7,313 crore, and the remaining ₹11,693 crore to be raised through debt. Reddy also noted that the Government of India has approved Metro projects in 20 cities between 2012 and 2024, including Chennai Metro Phase-II (₹63,240 crore) and Bengaluru Metro Phase-III (₹15,611 crore), and stressed that Hyderabad deserves similar support.
SSKM Hospital and Narcotics Control Bureau Launch Student-Focused Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign in West Bengal
The Psychiatric Social Work Department of Kolkata’s SSKM Hospital, in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Bureau, has launched a statewide anti-drug abuse campaign targeting students in West Bengal. The campaign initially focused on prisons and sensitizing police and government officials, starting on April 17, 2023. The second phase, which began on June 5, 2023, at Newtown School in Kolkata, aims to educate teachers, principals, students, and parents about the dangers of drug abuse. A sensitization workshop for Principals of Kendriya Vidyalayas from West Bengal and Sikkim will be held on June 12, 2023, in Mandarmoni. Additionally, the Narcotics Control Bureau (Kolkata zone) will observe July 12-26, 2023, as a fortnight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Studies cited by Mayank Kumar, Assistant Professor leading the campaign, reveal that over 50% of students in West Bengal have experimented with drugs, with peer influence being a significant factor. The campaign emphasizes the need for emotional support and mental health awareness among students to combat substance abuse.
Politics (3)
Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot Reconcile at Rajesh Pilot’s 25th Death Anniversary
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot signaled a truce with his former deputy Sachin Pilot during the 25th death anniversary of Rajesh Pilot, Sachin’s father and a former Union Minister, on June 11, 2025. The event, held in Dausa, Rajasthan, included tributes and an exhibition showcasing Rajesh Pilot’s life and legacy. Gehlot emphasized that he and Pilot were never distant, stating, “When were we ever far apart? We were never distant. Love and affection remain and will continue to remain.” The event also served as a platform for the Congress party to display internal unity, with leaders like AICC Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Pradesh Congress Committee chief Govind Singh Dotasra in attendance. Rajesh Pilot, who died in a road accident on June 11, 2000, was remembered as a leader who united people and served the nation through the Congress party. The reconciliation between Gehlot and Pilot brings relief to the Congress, which has faced internal leadership tensions since the 2018 Assembly elections.
BJP Blames KCR for Kaleshwaram Project’s Design Flaws and Financial Burden
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused former Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) of being solely responsible for the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, which they claim is the world’s biggest engineering blunder. BJP’s Chevella MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy alleged that the ₹1.2 lakh crore project was constructed with basic design flaws, including the use of barrages as dams, leading to the weakening of foundations and collapse of piers. Reddy also stated that the project was built without proper analysis of geology, hydrology, weather science, engineering, or economic viability. Despite the project being non-functional, Telangana produced a record 2.80 crore tonnes of rice this year. Reddy attributed this to central subsidies, with farmers receiving up to ₹91,000 annually in direct benefits, surpassing subsidies in BJP-ruled states. He further criticized the financial burden on Telangana due to the project’s debt, claiming it has left the state financially strained despite increased paddy production.
K. Kavitha Meets KCR Ahead of His Appearance Before Justice P.C. Ghose Commission
On Wednesday, BRS MLC and Telangana Jagruthi president K. Kavitha met her father, former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), at his farmhouse in Erravelli, Siddipet. This meeting was significant as it marked their first interaction since the leak of a controversial letter addressed to KCR. Accompanied by her husband Anil Kumar, Kavitha visited the farmhouse to express solidarity with KCR, who was preparing to appear before the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission in Hyderabad. KCR, along with senior BRS leaders including Harish Rao, Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, Vaddiraju Ravichandra, and Vemula Prashanth Reddy, traveled to Hyderabad in a convoy. During the visit, KCR’s childhood friend and party leader Jahangir tied the traditional ‘Imam-e-Zaman’ (arm band) on KCR’s right hand, a practice he follows on important occasions. Meanwhile, Palla Rajeshwar Reddy suffered a leg injury after a fall at the farmhouse and was subsequently admitted to a corporate hospital.
World Affairs (1)
UN Ocean Conference Addresses Kerala Shipping Disasters and Maritime Pollution
The third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), held in Nice, France, addressed the environmental impact of two recent shipping disasters off the Kerala coast. Kumar Sahayaraju of the Thiruvananthapuram-based organisation Friends of Marine Life (FML) highlighted the severe pollution caused by the accidents involving the Liberia-flagged MSC Elsa 3, which sank off Kochi in May, and the Singapore-flagged M.V. Wan Hai 503, which caught fire off Beypore in June. Sahayaraju emphasized the inadequacy of current maritime laws in handling such disasters and called for stricter international regulations. He urged that accountability be enforced on producers of hazardous materials and shipping companies, and that tracking devices for hazardous cargo be made mandatory. The FML also appealed for urgent global action to protect marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
Miscellaneous (4)
Karnataka High Court to Decide on Legality of RCB Executives' Arrest in Stampede Case on June 12
The Karnataka High Court is set to announce its verdict on June 12 regarding the legality of the arrest of executives from Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd. (RCSPL) and DNA Networks Pvt. Ltd. The arrests were made in connection with a stampede that occurred outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during the celebration of RCB’s victory in the IPL-2025 tournament on June 4. The stampede resulted in the death of 11 people. The petitioners, including Nikhil Sosale, Sunil Mathew, Kiran Kumar, and Shamant N.P. Mavinakere, have challenged the legality of their arrest, arguing that they did not have permission to organize the event. State Advocate-General Shashi Kiran Shetty defended the arrests, stating that the police followed all legal procedures and that the event was held without proper permission. The court’s decision will determine whether the arrests were lawful.
Singer Mangli and Others Booked After Unauthorized Birthday Party Raid in Chevella
Telugu folk singer Mangli, along with three others, was booked by the Cyberabad police on Tuesday night following a raid on her birthday party at Tripura Resort in Chevella. The event, attended by around 25 guests, including several individuals associated with the film industry, was held without the necessary permissions from the Excise Department. The police charged Sivarama Krishna (AGM of Tripura Resorts), M. Satyavathi (Mangli), Dune Megharaj, and K. Damodhar Reddy with violations of the Excise Act, Loudspeakers Rule, and NDPS Act. A substantial quantity of liquor was found at the venue, but no narcotic substances were recovered. However, nine attendees, including four women and five men, were tested for drug consumption, with K. Damodhar Reddy testing positive for ganja. The resort manager and DJ operator were also booked for conducting the event without proper approvals and violating police regulations. The investigation is ongoing to identify the supplier of the ganja.
Hyderabad Announces Night-Time Traffic Diversions for Lakdikapul Drain Construction
The Hyderabad Traffic Police has announced a month-long night-time traffic diversion at Lakdikapul Junction due to stormwater drain construction work. The project, initiated by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), aims to resolve persistent waterlogging issues in the area. The construction will take place from June 11, exclusively between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., and may extend depending on site conditions. The affected stretch spans 180 metres, from the Intelligence Office to Dwaraka Hotel, passing Lucky Restaurant and Venkateshwara Hotel (Old PS Saifabad Junction). Traffic diversions will be enforced near Dwaraka Hotel during the construction period. Vehicles traveling from Nirankari to Iqbal Minar will be redirected to Ravindra Bharati, while traffic from Ravindra Bharati to Old PS Saifabad will be diverted at Iqbal Minar towards Secretariat Junction. Private travel buses are advised to avoid Dwaraka Hotel junction after 11 p.m. to prevent congestion. Commuters are encouraged to plan their routes, follow diversion signs, and stay updated via @HYDP on Twitter or the Hyderabad Traffic Police Facebook page. For emergencies, the traffic helpline 9010203626 will be operational. The public is urged to cooperate with traffic authorities during this period.
MoU Signed for Doppler Weather Radar Installation in Wayanad
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Wednesday for the installation of a Doppler Weather Radar at Pazhassiraja College in Pulpally, Wayanad. The signing ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Bathery Diocese Vicar General Father Sebastian Keepally, Neetha Gopal, Head of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, and Shekhar L. Kuriakose, Member Secretary of the State Disaster Management Authority. This project, a long-standing demand of Kerala since 2010, will see the IMD installing an X-band radar developed by Bharat Electronics Limited, Bengaluru. The radar, capable of monitoring weather over a 100 km radius, will also benefit neighboring states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Additionally, Pazhassiraja College plans to introduce courses in disaster mitigation in collaboration with the State Disaster Management Authority and the IMD.
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