Thursday, March 12
NDA allies in Bihar have voiced strong support for the Election Commission's special intensive revision of electoral rolls, dismissing opposition claims of disenfranchisement. Leaders like Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi assert the exercise is routine and necessary to eliminate bogus voter registrations. They accuse the opposition of undermining constitutional institutions and fear losing the upcoming state election.
Defence ministry has approved acquisition projects worth over Rs 1 lakh crore. The approvals include indigenous construction of mine countermeasure vessels, procurement of quick-reaction surface-to-air missile systems, and intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition & reconnaissance planes. Other projects include semi-submersible autonomous vessels, armored recovery vehicles, and electronic warfare systems to boost India's defense capabilities.
Maharashtra is set to mandate pre-marital thalassemia testing to combat the genetic blood disorder affecting thousands. The state is expanding its eradication campaign and establishing treatment centers statewide. Meanwhile, the Assembly is investigating alleged irregularities in the public health department's purchase of cancer diagnostic vans, with concerns raised about inflated prices and malfunctioning equipment, prompting an inquiry report.
Samik Bhattacharya is the new Bharatiya Janata Party chief in West Bengal. The Rajya Sabha MP's nomination was unanimous. He succeeds Sukanta Majumdar. Bhattacharya has a long history with the BJP and RSS. He previously won a Basirhat assembly bypoll. Party leaders praise his ability to unite different factions. His calm demeanor and experience are expected to benefit the party.
Shrishti Raghuvanshi and a news anchor are facing legal trouble after allegedly making defamatory statements against the Kamakhya Temple during a television interview. Guwahati Police have issued summons, citing concerns that the remarks hurt religious sentiments and disturbed public peace.
Shankracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati questioned the alignment of the word 'secular' with the Indian Constitution. He supported the RSS's call to reconsider 'socialist' and 'secular' in the Preamble. Dattatreya Hosabale had recently criticised the addition of these words during the Emergency. Rahul Gandhi hit back at the RSS, accusing them of wanting to replace the Constitution with the Manusmriti.
Ahead of his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama declared that the institution of the Dalai Lama would persist, with the Gaden Phodrang Trust holding sole authority to recognize his future reincarnation, dismissing China's claims. He clarified that the next Dalai Lama could be of any gender and need not be from Tibet.
The Supreme Court has ruled that insurance companies are not liable to compensate families of drivers who die due to their own reckless actions. This decision came as Justices P S Narasimha and R Mahadevan dismissed a claim by the family of N S Ravisha, who died in a car accident caused by his rash driving.
The Quad nations—India, US, Japan, and Australia—have launched a critical minerals initiative to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China, addressing concerns about economic coercion and price manipulation. Foreign ministers from the Quad also voiced concerns over China's actions in the East and South China Seas, opposing any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo.
The Dalai Lama's succession plan, excluding China, has sparked controversy, with Beijing insisting on adherence to Chinese laws and historical conventions. This contentious issue could strain improving India-China relations, especially with Beijing likely to appoint its own successor.
