Important News - 2025-08-21
21 August 2025
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Politics (4)
Telangana Speaker Begins Anti-Defection Action Against BRS MLAs Following Supreme Court Deadline
In Telangana, Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad has commenced the process of issuing disqualification notices to 10 MLAs from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) who reportedly defected to the Congress party. This action follows a Supreme Court directive on July 25, which mandated the Speaker to decide on defection petitions within three months under the anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule of the Constitution). The Speaker's office, consulting legal experts to navigate constitutional nuances, is sending sealed notices to ensure confidentiality. If the MLAs respond by denying defection and claiming only to have distanced from BRS without joining Congress, the proceedings could enter a legal grey area. To address potential delays, the Speaker may seek an extension from the Supreme Court, avoiding confrontation. The issue emerged after these MLAs met Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who asserted the meetings were for constituency development, though some MLAs were photographed with Congress symbols; they now sit separately in the Assembly.
Kerala HC Upholds Decision in APJAKTU VC's Stalemate Case
The Kerala High Court dismissed an appeal filed by K. Sivaprasad, Vice-Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (APJAKTU), challenging a Single Bench's interim order that denied relief regarding an alleged administrative stalemate. A Division Bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishnan S. ruled against the appeal, noting that the interim relief sought in the writ petition mirrored the main relief, making judicial intervention unnecessary. The VC had contended that political motives led three out of nine Syndicate members to abstain from meetings, causing quorum issues and disrupting university operations. He further highlighted that the state government's non-cooperation stalled budget approval, resulting in unpaid salaries for employees for one month and delayed pension disbursals for two months.
Telangana Sets Time-Bound Disciplinary Process for Govt. Employees Under Civil Service Rules
The Telangana State Government has mandated strict timelines for expediting disciplinary proceedings against government employees, addressing long-standing demands from employee unions. Acting under the Telangana Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1991 and Andhra Pradesh Revised Pension Rules, 1980 (both adapted for Telangana in 2016), the government aims to prevent undue delays that previously allowed accused officers to retire before facing penalties. Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao emphasized avoiding gaps between misconduct occurrence and charge framing. Key deadlines include: a two-week window for document inspection and defence preparation post-inquiry appointment; day-to-day hearings; two weeks each for submission of written arguments and the inquiry report; one week for the disciplinary authority's report review; and 15 days for the accused officer's representation. The disciplinary authority must issue final orders promptly, consulting the vigilance commission if needed.
Amit Shah to Inaugurate BJP State Leadership Meeting on August 22
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold its State leadership meeting on Friday, August 22, at Hotel Renai. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the event at 10 a.m. Attendees include Union Ministers Suresh Gopi and George Kurian, alongside top party leaders. BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar will preside over the meeting, which focuses on organizational strategies and party affairs for the state unit.
Economy (2)
CID DGP Ravi Shankar Ayyanar Urges Banks for Swift Documents to Combat Financial Fraud
The Crime Investigation Department (CID) has appealed to banks and financial institutions for prompt cooperation in providing essential documents, including Know Your Customer (KYC) details, Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs), and CCTV footage, to assist in the investigation of financial fraud cases and economic offences. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the CID emphasized that KYC documents are critical for identifying and verifying suspects and investors, with many such requests currently pending. Additionally, numerous STRs have remained unresolved for years, and CCTV footage, vital for tracing individuals and gathering scientific evidence in fraud cases, is often delayed due to insufficient cooperation from bank officials. At a meeting held on Thursday at the CID Headquarters, CID Director General of Police (DGP) Ravi Shankar Ayyanar highlighted that 136 cases under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988, are pending due to the unavailability of proper documentation. The meeting aimed to address the rising backlog of unresolved bank fraud complaints, which are stalled by the non-submission of documents necessary for First Information Report (FIR) registration. DGP Ayyanar stressed banks' crucial role in supporting law enforcement against financial crimes and urged officials to expedite submissions. EOW officers also promoted the cybercrime helpline (1930) and the national cybercrime reporting portal (cybercrime.gov.in), which enable citizens to report online financial frauds quickly, facilitating immediate action to block fraudulent transactions.
Bengaluru Rural MP Seeks Customs Duty Exemption on Imported Cancer Treatment Drugs and Equipment
Dr. C.N. Manjunath, the Member of Parliament from Bengaluru Rural constituency and a practicing cardiologist, recently met with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi on Wednesday. During the meeting, he formally requested an exemption from customs duty on all imported immunotherapy drugs and radiotherapy equipment, which are essential components of advanced cancer treatment. Dr. Manjunath highlighted that these imported medical supplies incur high costs, ranging from ₹20 lakh to ₹50 lakh per patient per treatment cycle, making them unaffordable for many. He noted that while the Government of India currently exempts customs duty on chemotherapy drugs, immunotherapy and radiotherapy equipment lack similar relief, disproportionately affecting economically weaker sections. Citing cancer as a growing public health crisis in India due to lifestyle changes and food adulteration, he argued that this exemption would significantly improve treatment accessibility. The Finance Minister responded positively to the proposal, which aims to reduce financial burdens on patients.
Schemes (3)
Parliamentary Committee Urges Expansion of DPCO to Cover More Cancer Drugs for Affordability
The 163rd report by the Committee on Petitions, submitted to Parliament recently, revealed that many cancer drugs are not covered by the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO) of 2013, leading to unaffordable prices and limited access for patients. While the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2022 increased the number of regulated anti-cancer drugs from 40 in 2011 to 63 in 2022, numerous oncology medications remain outside statutory price caps. The committee recommended urgent government action to expand the DPCO's scope, conduct regular market assessments to monitor drug prices and availability, and enhance the quality monitoring of generic medicines, which often lack World Health Organization Good Manufacturing Practices certification. It also called for boosting domestic research infrastructure, prioritizing value-based drug approvals, streamlining regulatory pathways, and improving collaboration between the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and private institutions for clinical trials through platforms like the India Cancer Research Consortium. Additionally, the report stressed the need for annual performance reports from such platforms and mechanisms to track patient outcomes and treatment cost-effectiveness for evidence-based policymaking.
Kochi Police Intensify 'Udayam' Initiative to Combat Drug Menace with Community Expansion
The Kochi City Police are intensifying their 'Udayam' initiative, launched approximately six weeks ago, to address the growing drug menace with a specific focus on schoolchildren. Since its inception, over 100 awareness programs have been conducted in various schools across the city. In a strategic meeting held on August 20 at the Police District Headquarters Training hall, officials including District Police Chief Putta Vimaladitya and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order and Traffic) Aswathy Jiji outlined plans to expand Udayam's reach. The expansion will involve parents, teachers, and community members through sessions organized via Residents Associations and Parents and Teachers Associations, facilitated by a panel of over 50 trained counsellors. These sessions, which include activity-based learning and competitions, aim to educate on the ill-effects of drug abuse. Additionally, Udayam will serve as a unified platform to coordinate multiple departments and agencies, enhancing synergy in combating drug abuse. A critical aspect is strengthening the reporting mechanism to tackle under-reporting by ensuring anonymity and support, addressing concerns about stigmatization that hinder reporting. Future efforts will incorporate peer mentoring and online campaigns to foster a comprehensive community approach.
Telangana's Aarogyasri Hospitals Threaten Service Suspension from August 31 Over Unpaid Dues
The Telangana Aarogyasri Network Hospitals Association (TANHA) has announced that it will suspend services under the Telangana state government's Aarogyasri Health Scheme starting from August 31, 2025 midnight. This decision stems from eight unresolved issues, including delayed payments of dues, which were previously highlighted during a 10-day boycott in January 2025 that ended after discussions with Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narsimha. TANHA President Vaddiraju Rakesh detailed the demands: redrafting the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Aarogyasri Healthcare Trust, revising treatment packages, ensuring regular payment disbursements, setting up a grievance redressal mechanism, stopping unilateral circulars, separating the scheme from the Employee/Journalists Health Scheme, prioritizing payments to hospitals, and ceasing unwarranted deductions. Despite repeated appeals, these issues remain unaddressed, prompting TANHA to request an immediate meeting with the Trust CEO, Health Minister, and Chief Minister for resolution.
Miscellaneous (1)
Three MBA Students Drown in Pond Mishap at Annamayya District
On August 21, 2025, a tragic drowning incident occurred in the Balarajupalle Cheyyeru area of Rajampet mandal, Annamayya district, Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the deaths of three MBA students from Annamacharya University. The students were part of an eight-member group visiting a local water pond for recreational purposes. Unaware of hidden deep pits, four students ventured into the pond; while one was rescued by peers, three—identified as Dileep Manikumar (22) of unknown origin, Kothuru Chandrasekhara Reddy from Vontimetta, and P. Keshav (22) from Porumamilla—drowned. Police, revenue officials, and fire services personnel promptly conducted rescue operations, recovered the bodies, and shifted them to Rajampet Government Hospital. Authorities have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the incident.
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