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NEW DELHI: With demand for imported coking coal—an essential input for the steel industry—continuing to rise despite large domestic reserves, the govt on Thursday notified coking coal as a “critical and strategic mineral” to accelerate exploration and mining activities, including those involving deep-seated deposits.The decision was made on the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on…

NEW DELHI: Comptroller and Auditor General K Sanjay Murthy on Thursday raised his concern on excessive regulatory burdens that impede the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and slow down industrial growth.“MSMEs-related reforms need to cut across multiple departments and levels of government — Centre, state, and local bodies,” Murthy said, and added…

The National Centre for Seismology confirmed via an X post that a tremor a measuring 3.0 was felt in Virudhunagar district at 9.06 pm. VIRUDHUNAGAR: Mild tremors were felt in Srivilliputhur, Sivakasi, Sattur and Kovilpatti areas of Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu on Thursday night. The National Centre for Seismology confirmed via an X post…

GUWAHATI: Opposition Congress on Wednesday held a protest in Assam’s Kamrup district against alleged “vote theft” through the Special Revision (SR).The protest was organised in front of the office of the Boko–Chaygaon Sub-Divisional Commissioner against actions of BJP workers who allegedly entered the office at night and interfered with the deletion and inclusion of names…

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Economic Survey 2025–26 offers a comprehensive picture of India’s growth journey, calling it a snapshot of the country’s “Reform Express”.Sharing a post on X, the prime minister said, “The Economic Survey tabled today presents a comprehensive picture of India’s Reform Express, reflecting steady progress in…

NEW DELHI: Actor-politician Vijay’s father SA Chandrasekhar has appealed to the Congress to forge an electoral alliance with his son’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly election, claiming it could help the grand old party regain its “old glory” in the state. The state Congress, however, has rejected this informal offer.Chandrasekhar…

NEW DELHI: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday announced government’s decision to provide an additional financial assistance of up to Rs 2 lakh to the women beneficiaries under the “Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rojgar” scheme.In a social media post on X, Nitish said that the amount selected beneficiaries in phases, “provided that the amount previously…

NEW DELHI: Expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam (OPS) on Thursday publicly declared that he was “ready” for reunification with Edappadi K Palaniswami’’s (EPS) AIADMK faction ahead of Tamil Nadu‘s 2026 assembly polls.At a press meet in Madurai, OPS threw a pointed challenge at both EPS and AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, asking whether they were…

Kerala finance minister K N Balagopal on Thursday presented a people-focused budget for 2026–27, announcing major allocations for social security, employee welfare and development projects, as the state heads towards the upcoming Assembly elections.Presenting the sixth budget of the second Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in the Legislative Assembly, Balagopal announced a Rs 14,500 crore boost aimed…

PTI photo NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the University Grant Commission’s (UGC) new set of rules aimed at promoting equality in higher education institutions (HEI) amid nationwide protests over the legislation’s controversial definition of discrimination.A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to the Centre and the…