The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted bail to a man accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after he spent more than five years in custody. The probe in the case was conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The high court observed that no incriminating material was found against the accused, Jagwinder Singh. It also noted that he has been in custody for over five years, with the end of the trial nowhere in sight.

“The allegation against the appellant was that he had watched a video of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and indoctrinated his cousin Inderjit Singh (the main accused) to support the formation of a separate state of Khalistan and aided/abetted hoisting of the Khalistan flag on the top floor of the DC’s office,” a Bench of Justice Deepak Sibal and Justice Lapita Banerji observed.

 In order to preserve traditional crafts, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday approved Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s scheme to introduce heritage and skill-based livelihoods courses under the skill development department.

The J&K Chief Minister’s Office said on X on Thursday, “J&K Government has approved the 'Chief Minister’s Scheme for Introduction of Heritage Courses' under the Skill Development Department.

“The Scheme will revive 7 traditional Craft Courses across 25 units in Government ITIs/Polytechnics with an intake capacity of 500 students, with stipends for trainees and honorarium for instructors. A step towards preserving heritage and promoting skill-based livelihoods in J&K.”

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate for the Tarn Taran by-election Harmeet Singh Sandhu launded the decisive war being waged by the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann against drugs. He said that due to the AAP government’s firm commitment, the backbone of drug traffickers has now been broken, and the people of Tarn Taran have made up their minds to endorse the drug-free agenda in this by-election.

Referring to the latest data released by the Punjab Police, Harmeet Singh Sandhu said that on the 249th day of the “War Against Drugs”, the police arrested 97 more peddlers and recovered 1.3 kg of heroin and ₹3.5 lakh in drug money. This shows that the Mann government is tightening its grip on drug traffickers every single day. He added that while the previous governments merely talked, the Mann government has in just 249 days arrested 35,377 drug traffickers and sent them behind bars. This record, he said, reflects the AAP government’s unwavering resolve to eradicate drugs from their roots.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Women’s Wing President and MLA Amandeep Kaur Arora said that the AAP government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann not only makes promises but also works on the ground for the welfare of every section of society, including women. Praising the state-level Women’s Health and Employment Camp series launched by the AAP government, she described it as a historic step towards the empowerment of women.

Referring to the Tarn Taran by-election, MLA Arora said that based on the pro-people performance of the AAP government, the people of Tarn Taran have already decided to elect AAP candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu with a huge majority.

Arora informed that through these camps, so far 16 companies have participated, and around 500 girls have registered. The most commendable aspect, she said, is that 295 candidates were shortlisted, and over 72 girls were handed appointment letters on the spot. She stated that this is the AAP government’s “employment model”, which believes in action, not empty talk.

Electoral roll data from the Election Commission of India (ECI) has revealed a substantial 21.8 per cent jump in the number of voters in West Bengal between 2009 and 2017, the highest surge across three defined phases of Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The ECI data indicate that the maximum increase during this phase, which encompassed the final two years of the Left Front government (2009-2011) and the initial six years of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime (2011-2017), was heavily concentrated in districts sharing international borders with Bangladesh.

ECI data showed that between 2002, when the previous SIR was conducted, and 2025, the year of the ongoing SIR, the highest rise in voter numbers in the state occurred during the 2009-2017 period.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Youth leader Parminder Goldy hailed Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for launching a historic project to construct more than 3,100 ultra-modern stadiums across Punjab at a cost of ₹1,194 crore. He said the initiative marks a decisive step in building a Rangla Punjab and empowering the state’s youth to fight against drugs through sports and discipline.

Goldy said the Mann government has shown unmatched determination in waging the “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh” (War Against Drugs) by promoting sports culture, creating thousands of opportunities, and crushing the drug mafia without fear or favour. “Sports are the strongest weapon in this fight. While previous regimes filled Punjab with drugs, the AAP government is filling it with playgrounds and purpose,” he added.

He said each stadium will provide modern facilities for volleyball, football, cricket, kabaddi, and other traditional games, ensuring that every child, from villages to cities, has a healthy outlet for their energy. “When youth play, they stay away from drugs,” Goldy said, adding that sports will also unite communities and restore Punjab’s proud legacy of athletic excellence.

The election campaign of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu received a major boost today in the Tarn Taran by-election when the entire Dharmi Fauji Parivar Welfare Board organization announced its support for AAP. This decision was taken after an important meeting of the organization’s leaders with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, held in the presence of senior AAP leader and Qadian constituency in-charge Advocate Jagroop Singh Sekhwan.

Providing details, Advocate Jagroop Singh Sekhwan said that the meeting with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann was held in a very cordial atmosphere. The meeting was attended by the organization’s patron Savinder Singh Gill and other prominent leaders. Sekhwan said that during the meeting, detailed discussions were held regarding the various issues being faced by the families of 'dharmi fauji' (religious soldiers).

Punjab’s Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema today launched a sharp attack on opposition parties, saying that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is doing politics of development, whereas traditional parties like the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal have nothing to show the people and are therefore resorting to divisive and negative politics.

In a statement, Harpal Singh Cheema said that previous governments always cried that the treasury was empty because their intentions were corrupt. “They themselves were thieves, which is why neither GST collection increased nor tax revenue. The AAP government, in just three years, has collected more revenue than both Congress and Akali governments did in their five-year terms and has spent that money on the people,” said Cheema. He questioned, “If the treasury was really empty, then from where did we provide 56,000 government jobs?”

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab's Tarn Taran By-election candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu launched a scathing attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP and Congress, accusing them of being the real culprits behind Punjab’s drug crisis. Sandhu said that both parties protected drug mafias for years and destroyed the future of Punjab’s youth for their personal political gains.

“Punjab was pushed into darkness by the chacha-bhatija (Captain Amarinder Singh–Bikram Majithia) and jija-sala (Sukhbir Badal–Majithia) regimes,” said Sandhu. “While they ruled the state alternately, they worked hand in glove with drug smugglers. Their politics thrived on the pain of our youth and the tears of thousands of families devastated by addiction.”

Punjab Police on Wednesday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against state Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring for allegedly making casteist remarks against former Union Home Minister late Buta Singh.

The case was filed based on a complaint by Buta Singh's son, Sarabjot Singh Sidhu.

He has been booked under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) of 2023, along with Sections 3 (1)(u) and 3 (1)(v) of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu has lauded the historic preparations made by the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for the state-level events dedicated to the 350th Martyrdom Anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. He said that the AAP government’s arrangements for nearly one crore devotees are a true tribute to the unparalleled sacrifice of Guru Sahib.

In a statement issued here, AAP candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu, citing official figures released by the government, said that the construction of three massive “Tent Cities” to accommodate more than 11,000 devotees daily and the arrangement of vast parking facilities spread over 106 acres along the routes to Sri Anandpur Sahib reflect the foresight and dedication of the Mann government. He added that the provision of 500 e-rickshaws and 100 mini-buses for free transport within the holy city is a highly commendable step that will provide great convenience to elderly persons and children.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu has strongly lauded the roadmap unveiled by CM Mann led Punjab Government to rejuvenate the state’s tourism sector through six mega projects. He said that organizing an investors’ summit by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) and bringing these six projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is a historic and visionary step that will make Punjab the “Tourism Hub" of North India.

In a statement issued here, Harmeet Singh Sandhu said that the previous Akali-BJP and Congress governments ignored Punjab’s rich heritage and tourism potential for decades, causing the state’s economy to fall behind. He said that it is a testament to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s honesty of intent and commitment that the AAP Government has not only identified six key projects but also developed a robust framework to implement them with 100% transparency. Sandhu said that unlike previous governments, where projects were designed to benefit political favorites, the AAP Government has adopted a competitive bidding process and a transparent revenue-sharing model.

An FIR has been registered against Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh on Tuesday for the alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct in Bihar's Mokama.

An official statement, issued by the district magistrate-cum returning officer, Patna, said, "The Patna district administration analysed video footage recorded by the surveillance team. After examination, an FIR has been lodged against Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh under relevant sections of the BNS and the Representation of the People Act."

The campaigning for the first phase of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections will conclude at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

The voting for this phase will be held on November 6 in 121 Assembly constituencies across 18 districts.

On the last day of canvassing, all parties were holding rallies, roadshows and public meetings to woo voters.

Now, candidates have switched to door-to-door outreach to seek direct support.

The Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report relating to the death of two people in a septic tank in Hisar district.

The report said two workers, Somveer and Virender, employed at a hotel in Hansi town, were forced to enter a septic tank without protective gear after the sewer motor malfunctioned.

One worker fell unconscious immediately upon entering the tank, while the other attempted to rescue him but also lost consciousness. Both died, presumably due to exposure to poisonous gases inside the tank. The families of the deceased have accused the hotel management of negligence and coercion, blaming it for the incident.

In a significant political development ahead of the Nuapada bye-election, senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Amar Patnaik on Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), delivering a major setback to the Opposition BJD.

Patnaik formally joined the BJP at an event held here at the state headquarters of the party in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, state BJP President Manmohan Samal, and Odisha BJP Incharge Vijaypal Singh Tomar.

Welcoming Patnaik into the party, CM Majhi said that in the political scenario of Odisha, Patnaik is known as a noted intellectual personality, both in the state as well as in the Parliament.

Gujarat is uniquely positioned to lead India’s agricultural transformation via initiatives such as the Digital Crop Survey, Digital Agri Farm Registry, and the i-Khedut portal, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Monday, as NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub unveiled a groundbreaking road map here to reimagine agriculture utilising frontier technologies.

The road map outlines a strategic vision to harness frontier technologies, including climate resilient seeds, digital twins, precision agriculture, agentic AI, and advanced mechanisation to enhance productivity, sustainability, and incomes across India’s diverse agricultural landscape.

By segmenting farmers into three primary archetypes -- Aspiring, Transitioning, and Advanced -- the road map offers tailored, actionable solutions sensitive to the varied challenges faced by smallholders to commercial cultivators.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday told the Madras High Court that, unlike the annual Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls, the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Tamil Nadu will result in the creation of an entirely new list of eligible voters across the state.

Appearing before the First Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan, ECI standing counsel Niranjan Rajagopalan clarified the distinction between the two exercises.

He explained that the SSR retains the existing electoral list, requiring only those seeking inclusion, deletion, or correction of their names to apply. In contrast, the SIR mandates a complete re-enumeration of every voter, including those already registered

National Conference (NC) President and former J&K Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, on Monday accused Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha, of delaying files concerning public welfare and development.

Talking to reporters here, Dr Abdullah said: "L-G Sinha is sitting on files and stalling our government’s work. He should act as a partner of both the government and the people. If the administration turns into a hurdle rather than a facilitator, how can progress take place? The L-G must realise that he represents the aspirations of the people, not just the bureaucracy."

"Good governance and development depend on close coordination between elected representatives and the administration. Unnecessary delays and bureaucratic stagnation are detrimental to public welfare," he said.

Harjinder Singh Dhami was on Monday re-elected the President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for the fifth time in a row.

Out of 136 votes, Dhami, who is known for his proximity to Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal, secured 117 votes, while his opponent, Mithu Singh Kahneke, received 18 votes. One vote was invalid.

Raghujit Singh Virk was elected as the senior Vice-President, Baldev Singh Kalyan the Junior Vice-President, and Sher Singh Mandwala as the General Secretary.

The SGPC also announced the names of interim committee members, which include Surjit Singh Garhi, Surjit Singh Tugalwala, Surjit Singh Kang, Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar, Diljeet Singh Bhindar, Harjinder Kaur, Baldev Singh Kaimpuri, Major Singh Dhillon, Mangwinder Singh Khaparkhedi, Jungbahadur Singh Rai, and Kahneke.

As the by-election for the Tarn Taran Assembly constituency draws nearer, the election wave in favour of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu continues to gain momentum. The AAP’s election campaign received a major boost when the people of village Panjwar Khurd, expressing confidence in the party’s performance, announced their collective support to ensure Harmeet Sandhu’s victory.

A meeting was held at the house of Sardar Sahib Deep Singh in the village of Panjwar Khurd, where a large number of voters gathered. During the meeting, party leaders shared with the people the policies of the AAP government and discussed developmental works carried out in the constituency.

The villagers present at the meeting praised the pro-people initiatives undertaken by the Aam Aadmi Party in recent times, especially the improvements made in the fields of health, education, and electricity. The people expressed full satisfaction with the work done by the AAP government.

Support for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar among the state’s women voters is seen as a major factor for his government’s earlier electoral successes. Though Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav -- projected as the Opposition Mahagathbandhan’s Chief Ministerial candidate -- has been trying to include schemes aimed at women’s empowerment, he carries a legacy contrary to the cause.

It was the role of his father, Lalu Prasad, in opposing the Women’s Quota Bill in the late 1990s that led to stalling its passage in Parliament. With Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mulayam Singh lending support, and backed by only 37 MPs, he deftly managed leaders in other parties, including the Congress, to craft a way to deter the move.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (L-G), Manoj Sinha, said on Friday that by spreading unnecessary speculations about restoration of statehood in the Union Territory some people are trying to mislead the people of the country.

Addressing a gathering at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here, the L-G added that there has been unnecessary speculation on the issue of statehood restoration to Jammu and Kashmir despite the clarity given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

"The Union Home Minister has already stated: first delimitation, then Assembly elections, and statehood at an appropriate time."

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Friday expressed strong concern in the Legislative Assembly over a social media video allegedly portraying him and Minister Sakina Itoo misleadingly.

The Dy CM said the video, circulated online as a short “reel”, had been deliberately distorted for cheap publicity.

Clarifying the incident, Choudhary told the House that she had tied a Rakhi to him as a mark of respect and brotherhood.

“She is like my sister. The gesture was purely out of affection and respect, but some people have twisted it for social media sensation,” he said. He condemned the act, calling it “shameful and unethical”, and appealed for strict action against those responsible for creating and sharing the video.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) is reviewing a proposal to form a joint supervisory committee for each of the 294 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal to monitor the progress of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state.

The principal point in the proposal mooted by some political parties is that the Assembly constituency-wise joint supervisory committees will have representation from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, as well as from them.

An insider from the CEO’s office said the argument in favour of this proposal is to ensure transparency in the SIR exercise, given that some political parties have begun raising grievances about its outcome.

J&K Education Minister, Sakina Itoo, said on Thursday that the government is committed to strengthening the fundamental education system.

Sakina Itoo addressed the Orientation Program for capacity building of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) AAYAS (helpers) at J&K State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT), Bemina.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Sakeena emphasised the government’s unwavering commitment to nurturing young minds through inclusive, child-centred, and play-based learning.

She added that this orientation programme is a significant step towards strengthening the foundation of quality education in Jammu and Kashmir.

Kerala Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar on Thursday called for full public cooperation with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list, even as AICC general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi criticised the exercise, alleging that it could open the door for manipulation of electoral rolls.

Inaugurating the SIR process at Raj Bhavan, Governor Arlekar urged officials to ensure that every eligible person in the State is included in the revised list.

“All eligible persons should get the chance to vote. The revised electoral roll should be total, besides being more accurate and inclusive,” he said.

J&K government told the legislative assembly on Thursday that colonies for economically weaker sections of the society are being developed across various districts to ease the housing problem.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has initiated several housing projects under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) to address the growing problem of urban congestion.

The Housing and Urban Development Department informed the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

Replying to a starred question (No. 198) raised by senior NC MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar, the government said that new housing colonies for the economically weaker sections (EWS) are being developed across various districts of the Union Territory.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Thursday terminated two government employees from service under Article 311 for their involvement in terror-related activities, reaffirming the administration’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism.

An official statement said that the terminated employees include Ghulam Hussain, a teacher in the Education Department. He has been accused of acting as an Over Ground Worker (OGW) for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), maintaining links with terrorists and facilitating recruitment and funding in Reasi district.

The other person, whose services have been terminated is Majid Iqbal Dar, a teacher and former Lab Assistant, allegedly engaged in narco-terrorism, radicalisation of youth, and terror financing through drug money, with connections to IED plots in Rajouri and continued subversive activities even during detention.

In an attempt to make things convenient for voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, has opened multiple channels to update the voters about the booth-level officers for the respective areas.

The CEO’s office has decided to widely publicize the details of the BLOs for the respective areas, along with their mobile numbers, so that in case of any inconvenience faced, the voters would be able to directly contact the BLO concerned and get the issues addressed.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has strengthened its citizen engagement and grievance redressal mechanism by activating the National Voter Helpline and introducing a new facility ‘Book-a-Call' with BLO - to help voters resolve election-related queries promptly and transparently, the ECI said on Wednesday.

According to the ECI, citizens can now reach out through the National Contact Centre (NCC) by dialling the toll-free number 1800-11-1950, operational every day from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Calls will be handled by trained executives who will assist voters with electoral information, registration issues, and other election-related services.

The Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly is set to convene its winter session from Monday, December 1, following an official notification issued by Governor Mangubhai Patel under Article 174(1) of the Constitution.

The session, marking the seventh sitting of the 16th Assembly, will span four days of legislative activity. According to the calendar released by the Assembly Secretariat on Wednesday, the sittings are scheduled for December 1, 2, 4, and 5, with December 3 marked as a recess. Each day will begin with the Question Hour, followed by government business.

On Friday, December 5, the Assembly will also take up private members’ business in the final two and a half hours of the sitting.

Haryana is rapidly transforming into a hub of entrepreneurship, innovation, and industrial growth with Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, through a series of reform-driven measures, is spearheading this transformation that promises to redefine the state's economic landscape.

The Cluster Plug and Play Scheme is revolutionising how industries start and scale in the state.

Entrepreneurs no longer need to wait for years to get land, utilities, or approvals.

Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will arrive in her constituency on Thursday for a two-day visit that will see her attend a series of public events across Wayanad and Malappuram districts.

Last year, around this time, the Congress leader had filed her nomination papers following the resignation of her brother and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, who chose to retain the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat.

Priyanka Gandhi recorded a decisive victory in the November 2024 Wayanad by-election, securing over four lakh votes.

Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor has come under scrutiny after reports alleged that his name appears on the electoral rolls of both Bihar and West Bengal.

The revelation has sparked a fresh political storm in Bihar ahead of the crucial Assembly elections.

According to a notice issued by the Returning Officer of the 209-Karhgar Assembly constituency in Sasaram, the matter came to light following a report published in the Indian Express on October 28.