Important News - 2025-08-09
09 August 2025
Stay Updated. Stay Ahead!
📂 Categories & Latest Updates
Schemes (5)
Adivasi Women SHGs Launch Mahua-Based Snacks, Tribal Museum Book on World Adivasi Day in Telangana
On the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (World Adivasi Day), nutrient-rich traditional snacks made from Mahua (Ippa) flowers—including laddus and chocolates—were launched in Bhadrachalam town, Bhadradri Kothagudem district. These products were developed by Adivasi women self-help groups (SHGs) from Charla mandal under tribal development initiatives. The event also featured the release of a coffee table book documenting the renovated tribal museum at the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) headquarters in Bhadrachalam. Dignitaries present included Bhadrachalam MLA Tellam Venkat Rao, District Collector Jitesh V. Patil, and ITDA Project Officer B. Rahul, who addressed the gathering. Members of the Bhadradri Seetharama tribal women SHGs were felicitated for their excellence in producing millet-based biscuits, which earned national recognition for the Bhadrachalam Agency. A commemorative rally was held earlier, where participants honored statues of legendary Adivasi leaders at the Ambedkar Centre.
BBMP Leverages e-Khata System to Target Property Tax Evasion Through Sale Deed Verification
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Bengaluru's municipal corporation, clarified that property tax notices are being issued exclusively to flat owners who declared a smaller area in the property tax system than what is documented in their sale deeds. Munish Moudgil, Special Commissioner for Revenue at BBMP, emphasized that citizens must pay property tax based on the precise area specified in their sale deeds, which reflects the actual purchase. This enforcement uses the e-khata system, an electronic governance initiative that automatically compares data with the Kaveri online registration portal to detect discrepancies. To promote transparency and reduce manual intervention, BBMP has introduced an online facility at https://bbmpenyaya.karnataka.gov.in for filing objections or appeals, replacing the older system where local Revenue Inspectors handled processes manually, often causing inefficiencies. Moudgil also confirmed that car parking areas are excluded from taxable flat space and require separate declaration and payment.
Rajasthan's Knowledge Enhancement Programme Sends 100 FPO Farmers Abroad for Agri-Tech Learning
Under the Rajasthan State Government's knowledge enhancement programme, one hundred farmers associated with Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) will visit the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil to gain insights into advanced agricultural technologies and cooperative models. Scheduled in batches between November 2025 and March 2026, these seven-day tours aim to expose participants to innovations in farming practices, such as those improving crop yields, and to study successful agricultural cooperatives that resemble FPOs in structure. The initiative, announced by the Agriculture Department, seeks to enhance crop production in Rajasthan through the adoption of global best practices.
Karnataka Police Mandates Statewide Security Audits for Banks and ATMs Amid Rising Robberies
Following a recent increase in robberies targeting banks, ATM kiosks, cash refilling vehicles, and jewellery shops, Karnataka State Police Director General and Inspector General M.A. Saleem issued a circular last week mandating comprehensive security audits statewide. The directive requires police unit heads to inspect these facilities for vulnerabilities, such as inadequate lighting, non-functional CCTV cameras, insufficient alarm systems, or lack of security guards, and to implement corrective measures. Enhanced security protocols include deploying plainclothes officers in high-footfall commercial areas, intensifying nighttime highway patrols, monitoring habitual offenders, and conducting regular checks on parked vehicles near banks. Additionally, awareness programs on safety measures will be organized for bank officials, jewellers, and commercial establishment owners. This initiative aims to bolster public confidence through increased police visibility and rapid response capabilities, though no penalties for non-compliance were specified.
CM Naidu Launches Patta Distribution Under P4 Programme to Eliminate Poverty in Andhra Pradesh by 2029
On August 9, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh virtually participated in a house patta (land title) distribution event at Bhagat Singh Colony, 54th Division, in SPSR Nellore district. He emphasized that the state government is implementing development and welfare programmes, such as the P4 initiative, in a structured manner to eradicate poverty by 2029. The patta distribution was initiated after Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Ponguru Narayana highlighted the plight of residents living on government land without legal titles, leading to swift Cabinet approval for the scheme. In the first phase, 633 out of 1,430 eligible beneficiaries received pattas, with Narayana assuring that more titles would be issued for uncontested land parcels. Additionally, Naidu announced that 11 government high schools in Nellore will be renovated by the next academic year, and all schools will undergo modernization under the P4 programme, which targets reducing economic inequalities. The event was attended by key officials including Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, State Wakf Board Chairman Abdul Azeez, District Collector O. Anand, Joint Collector K. Karthik, Municipal Commissioner Y.O. Nandan, and NUDA Chairman Kotamreddy Srinivasulu Reddy.
Politics (1)
CRII Seminar in Hyderabad Demands Repeal of 1950 Order Amid Rising Religious Freedom Concerns
A national seminar titled 'Religious Freedom in India: Reality or Dream?' was organized by the Civil Rights Initiative Internationale (CRII) at the Centenary Baptist Church in Hyderabad. Prominent speakers, including former IPS officer K. Babu Rao (CRII national president), advocates Tehmina Arora and Franklin Thomas Caesar from Delhi, and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Minnie Mathew, expressed concerns over increasing violence against Christians and the misuse of laws targeting the community. They highlighted specific incidents, such as the case of Adivasi pastor Subhash Bhagel, whose burial rights were denied, leading to a Supreme Court appeal, and events in Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh where prayer gatherings were wrongfully booked under anti-conversion laws. The seminar emphasized the need to repeal the 1950 Presidential Order, which denies religious freedom to Dalit Christians and Muslims, and called for upholding constitutional rights. Additionally, K. Babu Rao released a book titled 'Swechha Nunchi Cherasala Loki' by journalist Suresh Pulugujju during the event.
Elections (1)
Kamal Nath Demands Machine-Readable Electoral Rolls Citing Systematic Discrepancies in Madhya Pradesh
On August 9, 2025, senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath reinforced the demand for machine-readable electoral rolls by citing unresolved discrepancies in the state's voter lists from 2018. He highlighted issues such as duplicate entries across assembly constituencies, where the same person appeared in multiple booths; photographically similar entries with identical images in different locations; fictitious names untraceable on the ground; deceased or relocated voters; unrecognizable photographs; and abnormally high voter counts at single or invalid addresses. The Election Commission (EC) acknowledged these anomalies in a court affidavit, confirming the deletion of 24 lakh suspicious electors, including 9,664 intra-assembly and 8,278 inter-assembly duplicate entries, along with corrective actions for 2,37,234 suspicious photographs. However, the EC refused to provide machine-readable PDFs, citing privacy concerns, and referenced a 2019 Supreme Court ruling (Kamal Nath vs ECI) that rejected the demand. Kamal Nath's statement, made in response to an EC fact-check, asserted that the issues have worsened, indicating a systematic pattern of manipulation, and accused the EC of backtracking on its affidavit commitments to cleanse the rolls, as supported by recent findings from Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
Heritage (1)
Shivamogga District Launches ₹120 Crore Heritage Tourism Plan with World Tourism Day Competitions
The Shivamogga district administration in Karnataka has unveiled plans to enhance tourism by attracting visitors to both prominent and lesser-known heritage and scenic destinations. Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegade announced during a press conference that, ahead of World Tourism Day on September 22, stakeholder meetings will be held to develop strategies for promoting sites like Jog Falls in Sagar. A ₹120 crore proposal has been prepared to upgrade basic amenities at tourist spots, with funding assured by District Minister Madhu Bangarappa. On September 22, a dedicated website featuring information on tourist destinations will be launched, supplemented by informational boards and hoardings. Shivamogga Zilla Panchayat CEO N. Hemanth added that competitions in videography, photography, reels, logo design, and tagline creation will be organized, with online registration open from August 11 to 20 and prizes awarded in each category to boost awareness. Assistant Director of Tourism Dharmappa and other officials are overseeing these initiatives.
Festivals (1)
Bishop Moore College Celebrates Diamond Jubilee with Global Alumni Reunion and Cultural Programmes
Bishop Moore College in Mavelikara, Kerala, organised a global alumni reunion titled 'Rigama-25' on Saturday as part of its diamond jubilee (60th anniversary) celebrations. The event, coordinated by the Mavelikara Bishop Moore College Alumni Association, was inaugurated by Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, Vice-Chairperson of Mata Amritanandamayi Math and an alumnus of the college. Dignitaries who addressed the gathering included Bishop Malayil Sabu Koshy Cherian (Manager of Bishop Moore College and Bishop of CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese), Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cherian, filmmaker Kamal, MLAs M.S. Arunkumar and Pramod Narayanan, College Principal Ranjith Mathew Abraham, and global meet chairperson K.G. Mukundan. Post-inauguration activities featured 'Mitra Sathram' sessions with former teachers in classrooms and cultural programmes called 'Kalikkootam' at the auditorium. The afternoon events included a 'Rangapooja' ritual by students, followed by a group dance by teachers, dances by Anjana P., Gatha Murali, and Ayona Ann Sebastian, a Kathakali performance by Meenakshi V. Nair, and a monodrama 'Kanakku Naarapilla' by Alex Vallikunnam. The day concluded with the 'Rigama Sarigama' musical concert showcasing notable alumni from various periods.
Miscellaneous (1)
QPMPA Organizes Memorial for Dr. C. Thankappan with Short Film Screening
The Qualified Private Medical Practitioners’ Association (QPMPA), the state-level organization representing private sector doctors, held a memorial meeting to honor the late Dr. C. Thankappan. The event was inaugurated by Dr. R.V. Asokan, former national president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), who praised Dr. Thankappan for his compassionate patient care, ensuring comfort during clinical treatments. QPMPA State Vice-President Devin Prabhakar delivered the memorial address, highlighting Dr. Thankappan's dedicated service, leadership, and contributions to the medical field. Several leaders from both IMA and QPMPA spoke at the gathering, which also featured the screening of a short film on Dr. Thankappan's life, produced by QPMPA.
Comments
Post a Comment