Important News - 2025-08-11
11 August 2025
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Elections (1)
State Cooperative Election Authorities Propose EVMs for Transparent Cooperative Society Polls
On August 11, 2025, the Cooperative Election Authority held its first consultative meeting with State Cooperative Election Authorities (SCEA) to establish fair and transparent electoral processes for cooperative societies. Chaired by Devendra Kumar Singh, the meeting included representatives from Odisha, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Maharashtra. Singh reported that since its formation on March 11, 2024, under Section 45 of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 (amended in 2023), the authority has conducted 159 elections and is overseeing 69 more. Discussions centered on standardizing procedures, such as implementing a Code of Conduct for candidates, setting expenditure limits, creating a handbook for Returning Officers, and managing delegate elections. A key proposal from SCEAs was the adoption of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to enhance election integrity and reduce malpractice.
Schemes (4)
Telangana Social Welfare Minister Orders Fine Rice Supply, Action Against Officials After School Inspection
On Monday, Telangana's Social Welfare Minister, Adluri Laxman Kumar, conducted a surprise inspection at the Telangana Social Welfare Residential School/Junior College for girls in Chintakunta, located in Kothapally mandal near Karimnagar. During his visit, the Minister had lunch with the students and received direct feedback regarding the midday meal. Students reported being served coarse rice instead of the mandated fine rice. Expressing strong dissatisfaction with the officials' negligence towards the welfare scheme beneficiaries, the Minister immediately contacted the District Supply Officer (DSO) via phone, ordering the immediate replacement of coarse rice with fine rice. He further instructed higher authorities to take disciplinary action against responsible officials. Additionally, Minister Kumar mandated improvements in kitchen hygiene, installation of an additional RO water plant at the mess, provision of new steel utensils, and construction of a compound wall around the school premises to ensure student safety and well-being.
Telangana Deputy CM Vikramarka Announces ₹1 Lakh Aid for 178 Civil Services Mains Qualifiers
Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, announced the state government's commitment to providing comprehensive support to civil service aspirants during an event organized by Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). He emphasized the government's focus on investing in human resources by nurturing talented youth for societal benefit. Financial assistance of ₹1 lakh each was distributed to 178 candidates who qualified for the Civil Services Mains examination, marking the second consecutive year of the initiative. Vikramarka stated that candidates shortlisted for the interview stage would also receive ₹1 lakh and accommodation facilities in New Delhi. He highlighted the critical role of an efficient bureaucracy in strengthening democracy and improving living standards, citing exemplary officers like S.R. Shankaran, Parthasarathy, and Madhav Rao. The Deputy CM stressed that the success of welfare schemes depends on officials' sincerity in ensuring full outreach to beneficiaries. Last year, 148 candidates received financial aid, with 10 ultimately selected for Civil Services, and the government aims to continue this support to foster dedicated civil servants.
Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Launches ₹233 Crore MTC Buses and Inaugurates Karunanidhi Auditorium
On Monday, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin launched 55 new air-conditioned buses and 80 low-floored buses for the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) at an event in Perumbakkam, near Chennai. Procured under a state initiative costing ₹233 crore, these buses aim to enhance urban public transportation services in the region. During the ceremony, Stalin interacted with passengers to gather feedback on commuter experiences. The event was attended by Minister S.S. Sivasankar, legislators S. Aravind Ramesh and A.M.V. Prabhakara Raja, and senior government officials. In a separate function, Stalin also inaugurated an auditorium on the Government Arts College campus in Perumbakkam, built at a cost of ₹3 crore and named in honor of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. This inauguration included the presence of Minister Govi. Chezhiaan, Rajya Sabha MP P. Wilson, legislators S. Aravind Ramesh and A.M.V. Prabhakara Raja, and senior officials.
Kerala Govt Proposes Super-Speciality Cardiologist Post at Vadakara Hospital Under KIIFB Funding
On August 11, Health Minister Veena George inaugurated a new operation theatre complex at the Government District Hospital in Vadakara, Kerala, featuring an advanced modular operation theatre, a general operation theatre, a minor operation theatre, and a 25-bed ward. During the event, she announced that the state government is actively considering a proposal to establish a super-speciality cardiologist position at the hospital. Minister George emphasized that discussions to create similar super-speciality doctor posts in district hospitals across Kerala are in their final stages, with a Cabinet decision expected imminently. She also highlighted that approximately ₹10,000 crore under the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has been allocated for enhancing government hospital infrastructure, supplementing the plan fund. Attendees included K.K. Rema, MLA, and K.K. Rajaram, District Medical Officer. Concurrently, Youth Congress activists, led by V.P. Dulkhifil, Kozhikode district panchayat member and Youth Congress State general secretary, protested with black flags outside the venue, opposing alleged departmental action against Dr. Harris Chirakkal, Head of Urology at Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, for exposing administrative deficiencies. Police subsequently took the demonstrators into custody.
Heritage (1)
Andhra Pradesh Government and ASI Partner to Conserve Sri Kurmam Temple Heritage
In Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, MLA Gondu Shankar announced on Monday that the Andhra Pradesh State Government, in partnership with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), is undertaking measures to conserve the architecture, sculptures, and mural paintings of the historic Sri Kurmanatheswara Swamy temple in Gara Mandal. He emphasized that preserving cultural and traditional heritage is a shared responsibility, as it forms essential wealth for future generations. Shankar praised the contributions of writers and archaeological experts in restoring the temple's damaged sculptures, inscriptions, and mural paintings, which depict scenes from Lord Krishna's childhood. The temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his Kurma (tortoise) incarnation, is set to attract more pilgrims following infrastructure improvements such as upgraded roads and cottages. Additionally, he urged devotees visiting the nearby Arasavilli Sri Suryanarayana Swamy temple, located just 10 km away, to include Sri Kurmam temple in their visits.
Economy (1)
ZS Expands Hyderabad GCC Operations with New 50,000 sq ft Office
Global management consulting firm ZS inaugurated a 50,000 square feet office in Hyderabad on Monday to accommodate 550-600 employees. This expansion aims to enhance the company's Global Capability Centre (GCC) offerings, providing scalable solutions like GCC-as-a-service models and embedded expertise. Hyderabad's emergence as a major GCC hub—driven by its talent pool and technology ecosystem in healthcare and life sciences—was highlighted. Regional managing principal Mohit Sood emphasized that ZS supports GCCs in transitioning from execution hubs to innovation centers, ensuring long-term enterprise impact.
Politics (1)
Centre's Support for J&K L-G Nomination Powers Draws Political Criticism
On August 11, 2025, major political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, including the ruling National Conference (NC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), strongly condemned the central government's stance supporting the Lieutenant Governor's authority to nominate five members to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly without consulting the elected government. NC leader and MLA Tanvir Sadiq emphasized that this undermines parliamentary democracy and violates the constitutional principle of 'aid and advice'. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti criticized the move as a subversion of democratic norms in the conflict-affected region, urging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to challenge it. CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami highlighted that the power, derived from the amended Section 15 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, exacerbates issues like unfair delimitation, which allocated disproportionate seats, risking fair representation. The Union Home Ministry defended the nominations as outside the elected government's purview, raising concerns about potential influence on assembly outcomes.
Miscellaneous (2)
Narayana Health Launches Health Awareness Murals on Bengaluru Yellow Line Metro Pillars
In Bengaluru, Narayana Health has introduced a public health initiative by converting pillars along the newly inaugurated Yellow Line metro corridor into vibrant murals featuring preventive healthcare messages. These artworks emphasize key health themes such as hygiene, nutrition, vaccination, and mental well-being, aiming to integrate health education into the daily routines of commuters. The project transforms ordinary infrastructure into engaging visual reminders, reflecting Narayana Health's effort to promote community health awareness in urban spaces.
Kerala Child Rights Commission Orders ₹10 Lakh Compensation for Medical Negligence Death
The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed the Mar Thoma Medical Mission Centre in Ranni, Pathanamthitta district, to pay ₹10 lakh as financial assistance to the parents of five-year-old Aaron V. Varghese, who died in February 2022 due to alleged medical negligence. Aaron, a Class I student at Government MTLP School in Pathanamthitta, sustained injuries from a fall during school play and was taken to the hospital for treatment. Acting on petitions from the Socialist Janata Dal district unit office-bearers, the commission, led by member N. Sunanda, also ordered the Pathanamthitta District Police Chief to register a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the hospital authorities and doctors. The commission's investigation identified multiple lapses, including the administration of anesthesia without proper tests, alteration of post-mortem findings, deliberate delays in chemical examinations, an unjustified surgical procedure, and the involvement of an unregistered orthopedic doctor from outside Kerala. These failures were deemed a violation of child rights and denial of adequate medical care, prompting the compensation directive.
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