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Thu, 26 December 2024
Ex-PM Manmohan Singh admitted to Delhi AIIMS
Timeline Refresh
20:52 Ex-PM Manmohan Singh admitted to Delhi AIIMS
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was admitted to AIIMS Delhi on Thursday evening after his health deteriorated, sources said.
The 92-year-old Singh was brought to the emergency department of the hospital, they said.
The reason for his hospitalisation was not immediately known. -- PTI
20:21 Annamalai vows to not wear sandals till DMK regime is dislodged
Bharatiya Janata Party Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai on Thursday said he would not wear sandals and walk barefoot until the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime is dislodged.
Further, he said he would lash himself six times with a whip on December 27 at 10 am outside his residence here to draw people's attention over the tragic sexual assault of the Anna University student.
Also it was to condemn the police, and the state government for its "apathy" in handling such matters.
Addressing a press conference, Annamalai alleged that the accused, Gnanasekaran was a DMK office-bearer, which was denied by the ruling party.
The BJP leader, showing photographs of the accused with DMK leaders, alleged that he was a ruling party's student wing office-bearer.
Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathi asserted that the accused in the varsity student sexual assault case was not even a primary member of the DMK.
The BJP leader alleged that the accused committed the crime emboldened by his affiliation to the ruling party.
"This is very simple," he told reporters in Chennai.
Since, the accused was associated with the DMK, police did not act against him, he alleged and wanted to know about the use of Nirbhaya funds to prevent such crimes. -- PTI
19:59 Mumbai court tells film producer accused of raping model to surrender
A sessions court in Mumbai directed film producer Gunwant Jain, accused of raping a 38-year-model, to surrender before the police.
Setting aside a magistrate's order that released Jain following his arrest in November, additional sessions judge (Dindoshi court) DG Dhoble, in his order of December 24, directed the accused to surrender before the concerned police station (Versova in west Mumbai) immediately.
In case of default, the investigating officer shall be at liberty to arrest the accused in accordance with law for the purpose of compliance of the order, the judge said.
The court said remand of five days is granted to police from the date of Jain's surrender or arrest.
As per the police, Jain allegedly spiked the drink of the victim and sexually assaulted her.
On her complaint, a case was registered and Jain was arrested.
However, on November 22, a magistrate's court ordered his release ruling that certain procedures were not followed while arresting the accused. -- PTI
19:27 Japanese national lost Rs 35L after digital arrest
A Japanese national, Hiroshi Sasaki, who works in Bengaluru, lost Rs 35.5 lakh after being 'digitally arrested' by cyber fraudsters, the police said, on Thursday.
The incident occurred between December 12 and 14, police added.
Sasaki, who lives in a flat near Dairy Circle, received a phone call on December 12.
The caller was claiming to be from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
The caller informed him that his phone number would be blocked due to its unauthorised use.
To avoid the disconnection Sasaki was asked to dial a number.
Upon dialling the number, he was immediately connected to a WhatsApp call from someone claiming to be from the Cyber Crime wing of the Mumbai police.
The caller informed Sasaki that he was involved in a money laundering case.
The fraudsters "digitally arrested" him and siphoned off Rs 35.5 lakh by having him make payments through various means, including RTGS.
He was also told that the money would be returned after the investigation was completed.
After realising that he had been duped, the victim approached the South East Cyber Crimes, Economics and Narcotics police station and lodged a complaint. -- PTI
Youtuber Ranveer Allahbadia/ Image courtesy X
19:00 IPS officer, IRS wife rescue YouTuber and his girlfriend from drowning in Goa
Youtuber Ranveer Allahbadia has said he and his girlfriend were swept away by an underwater current on Christmas evening in Goa but were rescued by another couple.
Allahbadia, who goes by the name of BeerBiceps on social media, shared his story on Instagram on Wednesday evening.
He thanked an IPS officer and his IRS wife for saving their lives.
"We're perfectly fine & well now. But yesterday at 6:00 pm or so, my girlfriend and I had to be rescued from a bit of a situation. We both love swimming in the open ocean. I've been doing this since I was a kid. But yesterday we got swept away by an underwater current," the YouTuber said.
"This has happened to me before but I've never been alongside a companion. It's easy to swim out of one alone. It's very hard to pull someone out with you. After a 5-10 minute struggle, we called for help and were promptly rescued by a family of five swimming nearby," he added. -- PTI
18:35 Rajnath to chair Armed Forces Flag Day CSR conclave in Delhi tomorrow
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the sixth edition of the Armed Forces Flag Day Corporate Social Responsibility conclave here on Friday, officials said.
The event organised by Kendriya Sainik Board under Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare aims to highlight the measures taken for rehabilitation, resettlement and welfare of the veterans, widows and their dependents, and for mobilising the CSR support towards these efforts, the defence ministry said in a statement.
Singh will chair the Armed Forces Flag Day CSR conclave in New Delhi on December 27, the officials said.
He will also felicitate prominent CSR contributors to the AFFD Fund, they added.
Minister of State for Defence Sanjey Seth, chief of defence staff Gen Anil Chauhan, secretary ESW Niten Chandra, members from the CSR fraternity, veterans, defence service personnel and other senior officials of the ministry will also attend the conclave, the statement said. -- PTI
18:17 BJP got Rs 2,600 cr donations in 2023-24, Cong Rs 281 cr
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party received contributions of over Rs 2,604.74 crore during 2023-24 while the Opposition Congress got Rs 281.38 crore in its kitty, according to contribution reports of the two parties put in public domain by the Election Commission.
The donations listed in the reports were received till March 31, 2024 ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP had declared donations worth over Rs 740 crore ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, while the Congress had claimed to have received over Rs 146 crore in 2018-19.
During 2023-24, while the BJP received over Rs 723 crore worth of donations from Prudent Electoral Trust, it also got over Rs 127 crore from Triumph Electoral Trust and over Rs 17 lakh from Einzigartig Electoral Trust.
The Congress got over Rs 150 crore from the Prudent Electoral Trust, which was the sole trust donor to the party.
Interestingly, the Congress received multiple donations of Rs 1.38 lakh including those from top leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, K C Venugopal and Digvijaya Singh, among others.
Multiple donations were made to the Congress under the heading "Happy Birthday to our leader--JKB".
The contributions declared by the BJP and the Congress do not include the donations received through electoral bonds as these have to be declared in the party's annual audit reports and not contribution statements.
The Aam Aadmi Party, which is also a recognised national party, received contributions of over Rs 11.06 crore during the fiscal. -- PTI
18:08 PhD, MA students among 6 accused in Allu Arjun home attack
Six people who were arrested for allegedly trespassing into the residence of top Telugu actor Allu Arjun and engaging in vandalism are students pursuing PhD, post-graduation, and other courses.
These people who claim to be the members of Osmania University - Joint Action Committee, allegedly damaged flower pots and threw tomatoes at Arjun's residence on December 22 evening, demanding justice for the woman who died in Pushpa-2 screening stampede.
In the remand report, police said the accused went to Arjun's house, forcibly entered the premises, beat up the security staff, and damaged the property.
As per the report, two of them are pursuing PhD while two others are students of MA course.
Three of the accused hold different posts of the OU-JAC while another one is NSUI state secretary, the report stated. -- PTI
17:40 BSE Sensex top losers today
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended flat in listless trading on Thursday amid a lack of near-term triggers and unabated foreign fund outflows.
The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex dipped 0.39 points to settle at 78,472.48 in a muted trade.
During the morning trade, it had jumped 425.5 points or 0.54 percent to 78,898.37.
The NSE Nifty eked out gains of 22.55 points or 0.1 percent to 23,750.20 on the monthly expiry day.
From the 30 blue-chip stocks, Titan, Asian Paints, Nestle, Tech Mahindra, Reliance Industries, Zomato, Larsen & Toubro and Bajaj Finserv were among the laggards.
17:28 DU to introduce PhD in Hindu Studies from next academic session
Delhi University is planing to introduce a PhD programme in Hindu Studies form the 2025-26 academic session, according to a proposal by a Standing Committee.
The Governing Body of the Centre for Hindu Studies has recommended that the PhD programme be introduced in 2025-26.
The programme was earlier intended to begin in the current academic session but was postponed, as per the proposal.
The initiative to introduce a PhD in Hindu Studies is aimed at creating opportunities for students, the joint director of the Centre for Hindu Studies, Prerna Malhotra said.
"Our Governing Board has recommended starting a PhD in Hindu Studies, and the matter will be placed before the Academic Council. Students have been approaching the Centre, enquiring about research opportunities, especially those who have already qualified JRF and NET in Hindu Studies. As a premier institution, Delhi University is committed to providing such opportunities and advancing research in diverse areas of Hindu Studies," she said.
Initially, the Centre for Hindu Studies may offer 10 seats, including those under applicable reservation and supernumerary categories.
The seats may increase in the future depending on the Centre's infrastructure and academic requirements, the proposal states. -- PTI
17:15 Azerbaijan plane crash: Did Russia shoot it down?
The Russian government has cautioned against promoting "hypotheses" about the cause of the crash of a Russia-bound passenger plane that killed 38 people in Kazakhstan on Wednesday.
Footage of the wrecked fuselage appeared to indicate shrapnel damage and some aviation experts suggested the Azerbaijani Airlines plane may have been been hit by air defence systems over the Russian republic of Chechnya.
Before it went down near the Kazakh city of Aktau, the plane was diverted across the Caspian Sea, from its destination in Chechnya to western Kazakhstan.
Twenty nine of the 67 people on board survived. Azerbaijan held a national day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash.
Kazakh authorities have recovered the flight data recorder and an investigation in under way. Shortly after the crash, reports from Russian state-controlled TV said the most likely cause was a strike from a flock of birds.
But that kind of collision typically results in the plane gliding towards in the nearest airfield, aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia told Reuters news agency. "You can lose control of the plane, but you don't fly wildly off course as a consequence," he said.
Justin Crump of risk advisory company Sibylline said the pattern of damage inside and outside the plane indicated that Russian air defence active in Grozny may have caused the crash.
"It looks very much like the detonation of an air defence missile to the rear and to the left of the aircraft, if you look at the pattern of shrapnel that we see," he told BBC Radio 4.
-- BBC
17:12 Will implement Udaipur Declaration: Congress
"Will fight till last breath for Nehru-Gandhi ideology, honour of Babasaheb Ambedkar," Cong chief Mallikarjun Kharge at Belagavi CWC meet.
"BJP wants to capture all constitutional institutions like EC, but we will continue to fight this battle. People's faith in electoral process gradually decreasing and questions are being raised on impartiality of EC. What is it that this govt is trying to hide by changing election rules that court ordered to share," Kharge says.
He added that 2025 will be the year of strengthening the organisation. "We will fill vacant posts in party; fully implement Udaipur Declaration," Kharge at CWC meet.
17:07 Shinde meets PM
Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde says, "After the formation of government in Maharashtra and the expansion of the cabinet, I met with the PM and he congratulated us for the success and the work we did for the development of the state. I, Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis will meet again and will chalk out the strategy for the development of the state. We will also discuss this with the PM."
16:50 What happened at Reddy's meet with Tollywood today
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday made it clear to a visiting Telugu cinema industry delegation that there would be no compromise on law and order in the state and that it applies to everyone including the film fraternity.
The CM also conveyed to the delegation of Telugu film personalities led by ace producer and Telangana Film Development Corporation (FDC) Chairman Venkata Ramana Reddy, that a Cabinet Sub-Committee will be constituted to resolve the problems of the film industry and suggested to them to set up an in-house panel as well.
The meeting between the CM and the film personalities was held at the Police Integrated Command Control Centre in Hyderabad, and in the wake of actor Allu Arjun's recent arrest that had led to speculations of 'strained' ties between the ruling dispensation and the cinema industry post the police action against the 'Pushpa' star.
A 35-year-old woman died at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad in a stampede where Allu Arjun-starrer 'Pushpa 2' was screened on December 4, leading to his subsequent arrest on December 13 and release.
"As the Chief Minister, it is my responsibility to enforce the laws. I do not have any personal preferences. Let us all develop the film industry together without confining ourselves to Telugu only. Government is ready to extend all support to the film industry," official sources quoted the CM as saying. Asserting that the cinema industry is as important to the government as the IT and pharma sectors, Reddy said a Cabinet Sub-Committee will be constituted to resolve the problems of the film industry.
The government is considering organising a major convention to encourage other film industries to come to the city, he said. "Our intention is to take the (Telugu movie) industry to the next level," the sources quoted the CM as saying. He also pointed out that the film industry should remember its social responsibility and join the efforts to check drugs and other societal problems.
16:44 Stock markets settle flat in muted trade
The Indian stock markets on Thursday closed flat after a volatile session, driven by lack of major domestic or global triggers.
At the close of the trading session, the Nifty 50 at National Stock Exchange (NSE) ended at 23,750.20, up about 22 points, or 0.1 per cent up and BSE Sensex closed at 78,472.48, down 0.39 points in the red.
Adani Ports, Shriram Finance, M&M, SBI Life Insurance, Maruti Suzuki are among the gainers, while Titan, Asian Paints, Tata Consumers, Grasim Industries, JSW Steel were the major losers at NSE. Among sectoral indices, auto, energy, pharma, realty, PSU Bank saw buying while the selling was observed in indices of metal, FMCG, and media.
Bank Nifty opened in green, witnessed buying interest during the first hour but succumbed to heavy selling pressure later in the day, closing marginally lower at 51,171. -- ANI
The Brahmaputra river
16:28 China to build world's largest dam near India border
China has approved the construction of the world's largest dam, stated to be the planet's biggest infra project costing USD 137 billion, on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Indian border, raising concerns in riparian states -- India and Bangladesh.
The Chinese government has approved the construction of a hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra, according to an official statement quoted by state-run Xinhua news agency on Wednesday. The dam is to be built at a huge gorge in the Himalayan reaches where the Brahmaputra river makes a huge U-turn to flow into Arunachal Pradesh and then to Bangladesh.
The total investment in the dam could exceed one trillion yuan (USD 137 billion), which would dwarf any other single infrastructure project on the planet including China's own Three Gorges Dam, regarded as the largest in the world, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Thursday. China has already operationalised the USD 1.5 billion Zam Hydropower Station, the largest in Tibet in 2015.
The Brahmaputra dam was part of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 adopted by Plenum, a key policy body of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2020. Concerns arose in India as the dam besides empowering China to control the water flow, the size and scale of it could also enable Beijing to release large amounts of water flooding border areas in times of hostilities.
India too is building a dam over Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh. India and China established the Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) in 2006 to discuss various issues related to trans-border rivers under which China provides India with hydrological information on the Brahmaputra river and Sutlej river during the flood seasons.
Data sharing of trans-border rivers figured in the talks between India, China Special Representatives (SRs) for border question, NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, held here on December 18. The SRs provided positive directions for cross-border cooperation and exchanges" including data sharing on trans-border rivers, a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said.
The Brahmaputra Dam presents enormous engineering challenges as the project site is located along a tectonic plate boundary where earthquakes occur. The Tibetan plateau, regarded as the roof of the world, frequently experiences earthquakes as it is located over the tectonic plates. The official statement on Wednesday sought to allay concerns about earthquakes, saying that the hydropower project is safe and prioritises ecological protection.
Through extensive geological explorations and technical advancements, a solid foundation has been laid for the science-based, secure, and high-quality development of the project, it said.
The Brahmaputra flows across the Tibetan Plateau, carving out the deepest canyon on Earth and covering a staggering vertical difference of 25,154 feet before reaching India, the Post report said. The dam will be built in one of the rainiest parts of mainland China bringing bountiful flows of water. -- PTI
A rescue op at a borewell. File pic
15:55 No food, water; 3 yo stuck in 150-ft borewell
Three-year-old Chetna has been stuck inside a narrow 150 feet deep borewell for over 70 hours as the rescue operations were still underway on Thursday to save the girl.
Worried about her daughter's condition, Dholi Devi has not eaten anything since the tragic accident on Monday. Chetna fell into the borewell while playing in the agriculture farm of her father in Badiyali Dhani under Sarund police station of Kotputli-Behror district. With each passing moment, the hope for the girl being well is diminishing as the rescue team was not able to supply any food or water to Chetna.
Dholi Devi and others are constantly praying for the well being of Chetna amid the non-stop rescue operation by NDRF and SDRF teams, assisted by the local police and administration.
Initially, efforts were made to pull the girl out of the borewell with the help of a ring but all attempts failed. After two days of repeated attempts that fetched no results, a piling was brought to the spot on Wednesday morning and a pit parallel to the borewell was dug.
".... now a horizontal tunnel will be made through which the experts will reach the girl," Sarund SHO Mohammad Imran said. He said all possible efforts were made to pull out the girl but all hard work went in vain as the borewell is narrow and the technique could not deliver results. A team of doctors with an ambulance are at the spot.
"The rescue operation is likely to conclude today," the SHO said. Kotputli-Behror District Collector Kalpana Agarwal reached the village late Wednesday night to take stock of the situation. She said that the rescue operation had been constantly going on.
A lot of preparations had to be done to bring the piling machine to the farm. Two weeks ago, a five year old boy fell into a borewell in Dausa district and the rescue operation lasted over 55 hours. However, the boy had lost the battle for life by that time he was taken out. PTI
15:26 Can Sena (UBT) win civic polls? Uddhav takes stock
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday started a three-day exercise to assess his party's position in Mumbai, where civic polls are likely to be held next year, one of his close aides said.
After the split in the Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena in 2022, the recently concluded assembly elections were seen as a litmus test for Uddhav's party, which is a constituent of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). However, the MVA performed disastrously winning only 46, including 20 by Sena (UBT), of the state's 288 assembly seats.
Of the 36 assembly seats in Mumbai, Sena (UBT) contested in 21 constituencies and won 10. Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab said, Uddhav ji is taking stock of the poll preparedness of Sena (UBT) in all 227 municipal wards of Mumbai.
The deliberations will go on for three days. Local body elections, including in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), could be held in March-April 2025 if the Supreme Court gives its verdict over the OBC (Other Backward Class) quota in January.
The five-year term of most municipal corporations, including the BMC, and many other local bodies in the state expired in 2022. In December 2021, the Supreme Court had ruled that reservation for OBCs in local bodies would not be allowed unless the government fulfilled the triple test laid down in the apex court's 2010 order. It had ruled that until the triple test criteria was fulfilled, OBC seats would be re-notified as general category seats.
The triple test required the state government to set up a dedicated commission to gather data on the backwardness of OBCs in every local body, to specify the proportion of reservation in each local body in light of the commission's recommendations, and ensure that such reservation does not exceed the overall 50 per cent quota ceiling. -- PTI
Congress leaders at Belagavi
15:04 Did Cong use incorrect India map at Belagavi meet?
A controversy has erupted over the alleged misrepresentation of the India map on the posters displayed by the Congress to commemorate the centenary of 1924 Congress session in Karnataka's Belagavi, with the BJP dubbing it as "vote bank" politics by the national party.
The ruling Congress has put up these posters throughout Belagavi town as part of celebrations for the centenary event.
According to BJP, the Indian map featured on the posters omits the Gilgit region of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir as well as the Aksai Chin region, currently under the Chinese administration, which are integral parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The national unit of BJP strongly criticised the Congress. In a post on X' it said, RaGa's Mohabbat ki Dukaan is always open for China! They would break the nation. They've done it once. They'll do it again. The BJP Karnataka unit termed the "incorrect depiction" of the Indian map as a way to appease its "vote bank". @INCKarnataka, has shown utter disrespect for India's sovereignty by displaying a distorted map at their Belagavi event, portraying Kashmir as part of Pakistan. All this just to appease their vote bank. This is shameful! the party posted on X'.
Hitting out at the Congress, BJP's Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal demanded that the police register a case against the organisers. The publication of an incorrect map of India not only constitutes a breach of Geospatial information standards but also violates the law, Yatnal said in a post on X'.
According to him, under section 74 of the IPC, displaying a wrong map of India is a clear offence. It is also a violation under the National Honour Act. -- ANI
14:44 Why did the Shindes meet Shah?
Maharashtra Deputy CM and Shiv Sena chief, Eknath Shinde, along with his son and MP Shrikant Shinde and daughter-in-law Vrushali Shinde meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
14:37 Cricket on ice
Children play Cricket on a frozen pond in Jammu & Kashimir's Sopore. Intense cold wave conditions prevailed across Kashmir as the minimum temperatures settled several degrees below the freezing point, officials said on Thursday. There is a possibility of light snowfall over the higher reaches on Friday and Saturday as a Western Disturbance is set to impact the region, they said.
The night temperature dropped at most places in Kashmir as the valley continued to reel under freezing conditions. The fall in the mercury led to the freezing of water supply lines as a thin layer of ice covered the surface of several water bodies including the Dal Lake.
14:26 Israeli strike kills five journalists in Gaza
Five journalists were killed in an Israeli strike that hit their vehicle in Gaza, CNN reported, citing a hospital and their news outlet statement.
According to the hospital, the vehicle, belonging to Al-Quds Today Television, was parked outside Al-Awda Hospital when it was hit.
The television channel, based in Gaza, is affiliated with the Palestine Islamic Jihad group.
Other journalists at the spot said Ayman Al-Jadi, Faisal Abu Al-Qumsan, Mohammed Al-Lada'a, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Ali, and Fadi Hassouna were all sleeping in the vehicle when the strike hit, the report said.Footage of the aftermath showed the vehicles in flames with the words "TV" and "PRESS" in large alphabets visible on the backdoors. Another video seen showed that it completely engulfed by flames, CNN reported.
Al-Quds Today Television condemned the attack and said that the five people were killed "while performing their journalistic and humanitarian duty."
In a statement, the Israeli military said it conducted strike on what it called an "Islamic Jihad terrorist cell inside in the area of Nuseirat." However, it did not provide any proof for its allegations.The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a US-based non-profit group, has said at least 141 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, Israel, the West Bank and Lebanon since October 7 last year, "making it the deadliest period for journalists since CPJ began gathering data in 1992.
"Of those killed, 133 were Palestinians in Gaza, who "face particularly high risks as they try to cover the conflict," CNN reported. Earlier this month, an Al Jazeera photojournalist was killed in an airstrike in Gaza. -- ANI
Delhi CM Atishi
13:49 AAP threatens to split INDIA bloc, throw out Cong
The AAP launched a scathing attack on the Congress on Thursday, accusing it of colluding with the BJP for the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls to harm the prospects of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Rajya Sabha MP of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Sanjay Singh alleged at a press conference in New Delhithat the actions of the Congress are damaging the unity of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).
"We had not said a single word against the Congress during the Haryana election. Yet the Congress seems to be reading out from the BJP's script. Its candidates' list looks as if it was finalised at the BJP office," Singh said. He accused Congress leaders Ajay Maken and Sandeep Dixit of targeting the AAP, instead of focusing on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"Ajay Maken has crossed all limits by calling Arvind Kejriwal anti-national. Despite campaigning for the Congress in past elections, Kejriwal now faces an FIR, while the Congress had never filed a single FIR against any BJP leader," Singh said.
Atishi echoed similar sentiments, claiming that the Congress is actively undermining the AAP. "It is evident that Congress candidates like Sandeep Dixit and Farhad Suri are receiving support from the BJP. This collusion raises questions about the Congress's commitment to the INDIA alliance," she said.
The AAP demanded disciplinary action against Maken and other Congress leaders within 24 hours and said if no step is taken, it will push for the grand old party's expulsion from the INDIA bloc.
"We will ask the other parties in the alliance to remove the Congress," Singh said.
The Delhi Assembly polls are due in February. -- PTI
BJP state prez K Annamalai shared this pic
13:17 Sex predator's pic with Udhayanidhi, DMK says...
The accused in the varsity student sexual assault case is not even a primary member of the DMK, Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathi said in Chennai on Thursday.
Gnanasekaran, the accused was arrested in a matter of five to six hours showing police's swift action and the government had no necessity to hide anything, he told reporters.
While the accused was not even an ordinary party member, some sections of media claimed as if he was an office-bearer of the students wing and it was wrong.
One photograph that purportedly showed the accused, close to Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, was being circulated. It was clear that there was a gap between Gnanasekaran and the Dy CM, and it showed the picture was clicked by someone and such instances cannot be prevented, he added. PTI
Representational image
13:03 Son wants to marry transgender, parents end life
A middle-aged couple allegedly died by suicide in Nandyal district after their 24-year-old son expressed his desire to marry a transgender person.
According to Nandyal sub-divisional police officer P Srinivas Reddy, Subba Rayudu (45) and Saraswati (38) took their lives after conflicts over their son, Sunil Kumar associating with the local transgender community for the past three years.
Kumar has been in a relationship with a transgender person for three years and was adamant about not marrying a woman. He insisted on staying with the transgender person, leading to frequent quarrels with his parents.
Kumar had previously attempted suicide over the matter, police said on Thursday.
Further investigation revealed that Kumar had spent Rs 1.5 lakh belonging to the transgenders, prompting them to demand the amount from his parents and cause nuisance. The public insults directed at his parents by members of the transgender community compounded their distress and drove them to take the extreme step, they said. An investigation is on. PTI
12:48 Teen kidnap, murder: Accused sent to jail
A Thane court on Thursday remanded the main accused in the case of kidnapping and murder of a 12-year-old girl in police custody till January 2, 2025.
The prime accused, Vishal Gawli, was brought to the city in the morning and kept at the Naupada police station, after being nabbed in Maharashtra's Buldhana district on Wednesday, officials said.
He was produced before the Kalyan District and Sessions Court where Judge V A Patrawale remanded him in police custody till January 2, Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Zende said.
The police had also arrested his wife Sakshi Gawli and another person in connection with the kidnap and murder of the girl, whose body was found in a village near her hometown Kalyan in Thane district on Tuesday.
The Kalyan court on Thursday extended Sakshi Gawli's police remand till January 2, police said. Vishal Gawli allegedly kidnapped the girl with the help of his wife and killed the minor in Chakki Naka area of Kalyan, they said without elaborating how the victim was murdered.
The couple then took the body in an autorickshaw and dumped it at Bapgaon on Kalyan-Padgha road, as per police. After the crime, Vishal was seen buying a bottle of liquor at Aadharwadi Chowk in Kalyan. To evade police, he fled to Buldhana from where he was nabbed on Wednesday, they said.
The motive behind the murder was not clear yet, the police said, adding they have so far interrogated around 10 persons, including relatives and friends of the accused. He was brought here at around 6 am on Thursday, a crime branch official told PTI.
The accused was nabbed by a police team from Shegaon while he was stepping out of a salon after shaving his beard in a bid to conceal his identity, as per officials. His medical examination was conducted in Buldhana following which he was brought to Thane, an official said.
A police official earlier said they were waiting for the postmortem report and if rape is confirmed, other legal sections will be added to the case. The autorickshaw used in the crime has also been seized by police, he said. Vishal Gawli, a resident of Kolsewadi, already had some criminal cases, including property-related offences, registered against him, the police said. Sakshi Gawli, who worked in a bank, is his third wife. -- PTI
Allu Arjun holds a press conference after the incident
12:11 No compromise on law and order: CM to Tollywood
A meeting between Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and directors, producers, and actors from the Tollywood industry is underway at Telangana State Police Command and Control Centre at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad.
There will be no compromise with law and order, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said in a firm message to Telugu movie actors, director, and producers.
The delegation of influential people from Tollywood is led by Telangana Film Development Corporation (FDC) chairman Dil Raju. Among other attendees are actors like Nagarjuna, Varun Tej, Sai Dharam Tej, Kalyan Ram, Shiva Balaji, Adavi Sesh, Nithin, and Venkatesh.Directors including Koratala Siva, Anil Ravipudi, K Raghavendra Rao, Prashanth Varma, Sai Rajesh and Producers like Suresh Babu, KL Narayana, Damodhar, Allu Aravind, BVSN Prasad, Chinna Babu among others are present in the meeting.
The meeting is likely to be focused on the smooth functioning of the Tollywood industry.
On December 4, when Allu Arjun attended the premiere of Pushpa 2: The Rule at Sandhya Theatre, a massive crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor, and chaos ensued when he waved to fans from the sunroof of his car. This led to the tragic death of a woman named Revathi and injuries to her child.
Following the incident, Allu Arjun was arrested and later released on bail after furnishing a Rs 50,000 bond.
On Tuesday, actor Allu Arjun was questioned by Hyderabad police in connection with the tragic incident during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2.The incident has also sparked political controversy. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy blamed Allu Arjun for the tragedy, stating in the Assembly that police had denied permission for any event at Sandhya Theatre due to safety concerns.
The actor, however, dismissed the allegations, calling them an attempt at "character assassination."
Earlier this year, Telangana Minister K Surekha linked former Minister and BRS leader KTR to the divorce of Tollywood actors Samantha and Naga Chaitanya, accusing KTR of tapping the phones of actors and blackmailing them.
Surekha's remarks sparked massive controversy, with several BRS leaders as well as superstar and Naga Chaitanya's father, Nagarjuna Akkineni, condemning the remarks. -- ANI
The passenger who captured the video said his prayers as the plane crashed
11:26 Passenger captures moment Kazakhstan plane crashed
A video taken by a passenger inside the aircraft that crashed in Kazakhstan has gone viral on social media. The video shows the final moments of the plane. Thirty-eight people were killed in the crash near Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea.
In the video, the passenger is heard saying "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) as the plane goes into a steep descent.
Yellow oxygen masks were seen dangling over the seats. Screaming and crying were heard, amid the soft doorbell-like sound of the 'wear seatbelt' light.
The plane was flying from the Azerbaijani capital Baku on the western shore of the Caspian to the city of Grozny in Chechnya in southern Russia. Azerbaijan Airlines, the country's flag carrier, said the plane "made an emergency landing" around 3 km from Aktau.
11:06 Ronaldo steeps in family time this Christmas
Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo shares this image from a Christmas vacation with his family in Lapland (Finland), writing, "The most important part of Christmas."
He also shared moments from his trip in a video on his YouTube channel, including a meeting with the Santa Claus.
"Today was a very special day and a very different day because we went to meet Santa Claus," he said.
In another short video on his X account, the Portuguese icon is seen taking a plunge in a chilly pool with snow all around.
Representational image
10:55 What women in auto sector grapple with...
The severity of injuries among women in India's auto sector has been rising steadily from 2019 to 2024, according to the latest report by the Safe in India Foundation. Titled Crushed, the report marks the sixth annual study on the condition of workers in the sector.
It reveals a surge in crush injuries (losing fingers at work) among women, with cases increasing from 19 in 2019 to 321 in 2024. Other types of injuries have also seen a sharp rise, growing from 8 to 126 over the same period.
The report highlights the reality that more women are being injured while operating machinery, particularly power presses, which continue to pose significant safety risks.
In addition, women in this sector face another burden of economic disparity.
The proportion of women earning less than Rs 9,000 is significantly higher than men in both operator and helper roles.
Both men and women are largely concentrated in the salary bracket of Rs 10,001 to Rs 15,000, with 42 per cent of women and 58 per cent of men working as operators, and 30 per cent of women and 44 per cent of men working as helpers. Hence, a wage gap persists.
Among operators, 18 per cent of women earn between Rs 8,001 and Rs 9,000, compared to only 7 per cent of men. For helpers, the disparity is even more pronounced, with 29 per cent of women earning between Rs 8,001 and Rs 9,000, compared to 20 per cent for men.
Even among workers earning less than Rs 8,000, the proportion of women is higher than men in both operator and helper roles.
This disparity is significant, as the severity of injuries is closely linked to income levels.
The findings reveal that low-paid, unskilled, and less-educated workers suffer more severe injuries compared to their higher-paid, skilled, and educated counterparts.
Workers earning below Rs 8,000 per month lost, on average, 2.27 fingers in an accident, compared to an average loss of 1.54 fingers by workers earning more than Rs 20,000.Furthermore, workers with education below the 5th grade lost an average of 2.23 fingers, while those with diplomas lost an average of 1.72 fingers.
A typical crush injury to fingers results in an average loss of 1.94 fingers per worker, with a clear correlation between income levels and injury severity.
-- Shikha Chaturvedi/Business Standard
10:32 Pushpa 2 row: Telugu film industry to meet CM today
A crucial meeting between the Telangana government and Telugu film industry representatives is expected to be held on Thursday to thaw the speculated strained ties between the ruling dispensation and the tinseltown following the arrest of top actor Allu Arjun.
The 42 year-old star was arrested recently in connection with the stampede at a theatre here screening his latest movie "Pushpa: The Rule" that resulted in the death of a woman on December 4.
Telangana State Film Development Corporation (FDC) chairman and leading producer Dil Raju on Wednesday said a delegation of film personalities would call on state Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy today to foster "healthy relations" between the government and the industry.
The meeting assumes significance amid Cinematography minister Komatireddi Venkat Reddy's statement that the state government, in future, may consider ticket price hike only for certain categories such as films made on history, freedom struggle or anti-drugs or message oriented.
The state government's stand came in the wake of the death of a 35-year-old woman at Sandhya Theatre here due to suffocation where 'Pushpa 2' movie was screened on December 4.
The minister's statement, if really implemented, will have a huge impact on the high budget films such as Ram Charan's "Game Changer", Nandamuri Balakrishna's "Daaku Maharaj" and Venkatesh's "Sankranthiki Vasthunnam" which are slated for release during Sankranti next year. Directed by popular Director S Shankar, Game Changer was produced by Dil Raju.
The film is reportedly made with a budget of nearly Rs 400 crore. Though the Telangana State Film Chamber of Commerce welcomed the government's decision that it will not allow benefit shows of movies in the state and also enhanced ticket prices will be done on a case-to-case basis, the move may not go down well with the production houses as they usually look to reap the benefits during the early day of the film release.
The meeting is being organised on behalf of the FDC, Dil Raju had said, adding, he would act as a bridge between the government and the film fraternity. Some ruling Congress leaders have found fault with Allu Arjun's comments last week, describing the stampede incident as purely accidental and denying the allegations made by CM Revanth Reddy on the "roadshow" before the film screening.
Hours after Reddy slammed the actor for holding a roadshow and waving to the crowds at the theatre, without referring to anyone, the 'Pushpa' star refuted the allegations, saying it was not a procession or a roadshow.
Allu Arjun was arrested by the city police in connection with the death of the woman on December 13. The Telangana High Court granted him a four-week interim bail on the same day and he was released from a prison here on December 14 morning. -- PTI
Bapsi Sidhwa. File pic
10:29 Author Bapsi Sidhwa passes away
Legendary author and writer Bapsi Sidhwa passed away in Houston, Texas, yesterday. Sidhwa was a pioneering literary voice whose works transcended boundaries and bridged cultures.
Born in Karachi, raised in Lahore, a proud Houstonian, and beloved around the world, Bapsi was a storyteller of remarkable depth and insight. Her novels illuminated the complexities of identity, history, and the human spirit, resonating across generations and geographies.
Through seminal works like Ice-Candy-Man and The Crow Eaters, Bapsi masterfully wove narratives that captured the struggles, joys, and resilience of communities often overlooked. She brought the Parsi experience to the forefront of English literature, creating unforgettable characters and vivid worlds that showcased the diversity and richness of South Asian life.
Her evocative prose not only shed light on the tumultuous histories of Partition and cultural diaspora but also highlighted universal themes of love, survival, and humanity's enduring strength amidst chaos.
Within the global Zoroastrian community, Bapsi was a trailblazer and a beloved figure. She brought the Parsi ethos to life in her work, portraying with warmth and wit the traditions, challenges, and indomitable spirit of this small but vibrant community.
Her contributions extended to her active involvement in the Zoroastrian Association of Houston (ZAH), where her warmth, humor, and generosity of spirit touched the lives of many.
She was more than a literary icon. She was a mentor, an advocate, a role model for women, and a beacon of hope for marginalized voices. Her indomitable spirit, sharp wit, and profound compassion left an indelible mark on all who knew her.
10:15 World of literature poorer: Murmu on Vasudevan Nair's demise
President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday condoled the demise of renowned Malayalam writer M T Vasudevan Nair and said with his passing away, the world of literature has become poorer.
Popularly known as MT, Nair died at a hospital in Kozhikode, Kerala on Wednesday evening. He was 91. In a post on X, Murmu said, "With the demise of Shri M T Vasudevan Nair, renowned Malayalam writer, the world of literature has become poorer. Rural India came alive in his writings."
"He was honoured with major literary awards and had made significant contribution to films. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan. I convey my heartfelt condolences to the members of his family, and the large number of his readers and admirers," the president said.
The 91-year-old writer had been hospitalised in critical condition with a diagnosis of heart failure and breathed his last on Wednesday. He was suffering several health issues including respiratory ailments for a while, according to the literary sources. M T is a celebrated writer, screenwriter, and filmmaker, renowned for his profound contributions to Malayalam literature and cinema. -- PTI
10:09 Markets surge in early trade
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty surged in early trade on Thursday amid a rally in Asian markets and buying in blue-chip bank stocks. The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex jumped 425.5 points to 78,898.37 in early trade. The NSE Nifty surged 123.85 points to 23,851.50.
From the 30 blue-chip stocks, State Bank of India, Maruti, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra and Power Grid were among the biggest gainers. Asian Paints, Tech Mahindra, Nestle and Tata Consultancy Services were among the laggards. In Asian markets, Seoul, Tokyo and Shanghai were trading in the positive territory. US markets were closed on Wednesday for Christmas. -- PTI
The couple intended to hang themselves
10:01 Alert cops stop elderly, ailing couple from suicide
Acting swiftly, the Thane Municipal Corporation's emergency response team and local police have saved the lives of an elderly couple who attempted suicide in Thane, an official said on Thursday.
The Kasarwadavli police in Maharashtra's Thane city received information on Wednesday night from the couple's nephew about their intention to hang themselves from the ceiling of their home, located on the seventh floor of a building in Waghbil area off Ghodbunder Road.
The police then promptly alerted the Thane Municipal Corporation's disaster management cell at around 11 pm, its chief Yasin Tadvi said.
The 70 year-old man and his wife, aged 65, had apparently been struggling with recurring health issues and hence decided to end their lives together, he said. They had sent an SMS to their nephew, informing him of their plan following which he alerted the police.
Within minutes of receiving the alert, the fire brigade and disaster cell personnel of the TMC and police reached the couple's apartment, but found it locked from inside. The rescue personnel then accessed the apartment through an adjacent flat by entering via the window, the official said.
They prevented the couple from taking the extreme step and rescued them in 10 minutes, he said. The rescue team and police then counselled the couple and convinced them to desist from any further attempts to harm themselves, the official said. -- PTI
09:48 Ajinkya Rahane Invests in Proxgy's Series A funding
Proxgy, an Internet of Things (IoT) technology firm in areas such as safety, connectivity, and productivity solutions, said that cricketer Ajinkya Rahane, has invested in its ongoing $3 million Series A funding round.
Other key investors in the round include Zerodha Co-Founder Nikhil Kamath, actor Suniel Shetty, industrialist Vinod Duggar and key investor Manish Patel.
Proxgy, founded by Pulkit Ahuja in 2020, leverages technologies such as artificial intelligence and IoT, where devices communicate with each intelligently. Its innovations include SmartHat, a safety helmet featuring the smallest gas detection sensor, health monitoring systems, cameras, and connectivity protocols like 4G and WiFi.
Another such innovation is 'Sleefe' a wearable smart device that converts any cap into a smart cap, offering real time monitoring and communication for industrial workers.
'Proxgy's products have the potential to redefine safety and productivity in industrial environments,' said Rahane.
Pulkit Ahuja, founder and CEO of Proxgy, said Rahane's support, along with others, is a huge endorsement of the company's vision. 'This funding will enable us to expand globally,' said Ahuja.
Manish Patel, who is a partner at CMG Group based out of the United States, added that Proxgy's products like SmartHat and Sleefe address critical gaps in safety and productivity across industries.
-- Peerzada Abrar/Business Standard
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09:38 Is Atishi not listening to Kejriwal?
Following notices issued by senior Delhi government officials disowning the ruling AAP's registration process for two of its schemes in the national capital, BJP leader Gaurav Vallabh on Wednesday took a dig at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal, saying that nowadays Delhi Chief Minister Atishi is not listening to him.
Vallabh claimed that there was a split in the Aam Aadmi Party just before the Delhi assembly elections, adding that several factions have emerged within the party, under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, Atishi, Sanjay Singh and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
"These days CM Atishi is not listening to Arvind Kejriwal. On one hand, Kejriwal is announcing welfare schemes but on other side, Atishi is saying there are no such welfare scheme. I think there is a split in the party. One faction is with Arvind Kejriwal and the other faction is with Chief Minister Atishi... One faction is with Sanjay Singh while Punjab faction is with Punjab CM. So I think that before the Delhi elections, there is going to be a split in the Aam Aadmi Party..." Gaurav Vallabh told ANI.
Sharpening his attack, the BJP leader alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal-led government has done corruption in liquor and hence, he should change his party's name to 'Daru Premi Party'.
Vallabh said, " I want to tell one thing to Kejriwal Ji and the Delhi government that in the last three general (Lok Sabha) elections, BJP has won all 7 seats. Kejriwal ji, even when you were in jail on liquor charges, the elected representatives of the BJP were working for the people of Delhi. You and your government have done only one thing, corruption in liquor. So now you should change the name of your party to 'Daru Premi Party'."
This follows the Delhi government's Women and Child Development (WCD) department issuing a clarification regarding the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana' announced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ahead of the 2025 assembly elections. The department stated that no such scheme has been officially notified.
"It is clarified that no such scheme has been notified by the Delhi Government," the department said in the notice published in national newspapers on Wednesday. -- ANI
08:45 Micro insurance premium tops Rs 10K cr for first time
Aathira Varier/Business Standard
In 2023-2024, new business premium (NBP) in life insurances micro-insurance segment, which targets low-income groups, surpassed Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion) for the first time, according to the financial years annual report by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai).
Overall NBP rose to Rs 10,860.39 crore (Rs 108.60 billion), rising 23.5 per cent from Rs 8,792.8 crore (Rs 87.92 bilion) in FY23.
Individual NBP dropped 23.78 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 152.57 crore (Rs 1.52 billion) while group NBP rose 24.61 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 10,707.82 crore (Rs 107.07 billion).
Private life insurers drove the segment with over Rs 10,708.4 crore (Rs 107.08 billion)while Life Insurance Corporation of India, which is State-owned, accounted for nearly Rs 152 crore (Rs 1.52 billion).
Private insurers collected group premiums worth Rs 10,690.73 crore (Rs 106.90 billion), from 469 schemes, while LIC gathered Rs 17.09 crore (Rs 170.9 million), from 4,993 schemes.
The number of persons covered under the scheme stood at 178.39 million.
The number of micro-insurance agents at the end of FY24 stood at 102,000, of whom 19,166 belonged to public-sector life insurers and the rest to private ones.
Of the micro-insurance agents, non-government organisations form 4.49 per cent, self-help groups 0.25 per cent, microfinance institutions 0.24 per cent, business correspondents 0.12 per cent, and others 94.90 per cent.
Micro insurance offers affordable products to help low-income people cope with financial losses.
The sale of products received a nudge after Irdai introduced regulations on distributing micro insurance in 2005.
In July 2015, Irdai issued micro-insurance norms, in accordance with which the sum assured offered life, pension, or health benefits up to Rs 2 lakh with an annual premium for micro-variable insurance products under the non-linked non-par platform capped at Rs 6,000.
The concept of 'micro-insurance agent' was introduced to attract more intermediaries to the segment and leverage grassroots organisations like cooperatives and self-help groups with a large section of the low-income segment.
In 2023-2024, new business premium (NBP) in life insurances micro-insurance segment, which targets low-income groups, surpassed Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion) for the first time, according to the financial years annual report by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai).
Overall NBP rose to Rs 10,860.39 crore (Rs 108.60 billion), rising 23.5 per cent from Rs 8,792.8 crore (Rs 87.92 bilion) in FY23.
Individual NBP dropped 23.78 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to Rs 152.57 crore (Rs 1.52 billion) while group NBP rose 24.61 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 10,707.82 crore (Rs 107.07 billion).
Private life insurers drove the segment with over Rs 10,708.4 crore (Rs 107.08 billion)while Life Insurance Corporation of India, which is State-owned, accounted for nearly Rs 152 crore (Rs 1.52 billion).
Private insurers collected group premiums worth Rs 10,690.73 crore (Rs 106.90 billion), from 469 schemes, while LIC gathered Rs 17.09 crore (Rs 170.9 million), from 4,993 schemes.
The number of persons covered under the scheme stood at 178.39 million.
The number of micro-insurance agents at the end of FY24 stood at 102,000, of whom 19,166 belonged to public-sector life insurers and the rest to private ones.
Of the micro-insurance agents, non-government organisations form 4.49 per cent, self-help groups 0.25 per cent, microfinance institutions 0.24 per cent, business correspondents 0.12 per cent, and others 94.90 per cent.
Micro insurance offers affordable products to help low-income people cope with financial losses.
The sale of products received a nudge after Irdai introduced regulations on distributing micro insurance in 2005.
In July 2015, Irdai issued micro-insurance norms, in accordance with which the sum assured offered life, pension, or health benefits up to Rs 2 lakh with an annual premium for micro-variable insurance products under the non-linked non-par platform capped at Rs 6,000.
The concept of 'micro-insurance agent' was introduced to attract more intermediaries to the segment and leverage grassroots organisations like cooperatives and self-help groups with a large section of the low-income segment.
08:40 Investor count nears 110 mn; youth, women lead growth
Samie Modak/Business Standard
India's unique equity investor base is growing rapidly, nearing 110 million, just months after surpassing 100 million in August and 90 million in February. At the end of November, the total investor count (unique PAN number) registered with the National Stock Exchange, the countrys largest bourse, stood at 107 million.
Maharashtra alone contributes 16.5 per cent (17.7 million) investors. However, its share has reduced from 16.5 per cent in March 2015, indicating a wider distribution of investors across the state.
Uttar Pradesh, the only other state with over 10 million unique investors, has been leading the charts of new investor registrations over the past few months.
Furthermore, the age-wise classification of investors shows a huge influx of young investors.
Those under the age bracket of 30 years account for 40 per cent of the investor base, up from just 22.6 per cent in March 2019.
Data also shows a steady improvement in gender inclusion with the share of women investors increasing to 24 per cent from 22.7 per cent at the end of March 2022.
Female investors in Goa, Chandigarh and Mizoram account for over 30 per cent of the total.
India's unique equity investor base is growing rapidly, nearing 110 million, just months after surpassing 100 million in August and 90 million in February. At the end of November, the total investor count (unique PAN number) registered with the National Stock Exchange, the countrys largest bourse, stood at 107 million.
Maharashtra alone contributes 16.5 per cent (17.7 million) investors. However, its share has reduced from 16.5 per cent in March 2015, indicating a wider distribution of investors across the state.
Uttar Pradesh, the only other state with over 10 million unique investors, has been leading the charts of new investor registrations over the past few months.
Furthermore, the age-wise classification of investors shows a huge influx of young investors.
Those under the age bracket of 30 years account for 40 per cent of the investor base, up from just 22.6 per cent in March 2019.
Data also shows a steady improvement in gender inclusion with the share of women investors increasing to 24 per cent from 22.7 per cent at the end of March 2022.
Female investors in Goa, Chandigarh and Mizoram account for over 30 per cent of the total.
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