India

New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) NITI Aayog is holding consultations with various ministries to further strengthen the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes to address gaps in some sectors so that domestic manufacturing capabilities get another booster shot to reduce dependence on imports, its CEO Anurag Jain said on Thursday.

While the schemes have attracted investments of Rs 2.40 lakh crore and generated an increase in production and sales worth Rs 22.66 lakh crore as of March 31, 2026, there remains considerable scope to improve India's manufacturing capabilities, NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Ashok Lahiri said.

"On the whole, we still have dependence on imports. We are trying to tweak the PLIs," Jain said.

According to NITI Aayog's November 2026 impact assessment, the PLI schemes have generated 8.49 lakh jobs so far. The government has disbursed Rs 35,354 crore in incentives, representing 18.5 per cent of the total allocated outlay. Nearly 70 per cent of the targeted segments are broadly progressing as planned.

However, implementation has varied sharply across industries, with electronics and pharmaceuticals emerging as stronger performers while the advanced chemistry cell (ACC) battery scheme continues to lag.

Large-scale electronics manufacturing ranks among the strongest performers, recording substantial gains in production, exports, sales and employment. The pharmaceutical and food processing schemes have also delivered encouraging results across investment, output and job creation.

The white goods scheme has attracted Rs 6,409 crore in investments and generated Rs 43,150 crore in production. Domestic value addition in the sector has increased from 20 per cent to 55 per cent. Meanwhile, the medical devices scheme has recorded Rs 14,945 crore in sales.

The solar PLI programme has supported a significant expansion in domestic manufacturing capacity, from 8 GW to nearly 116 GW. The drone scheme has also made progress, with 77.5 per cent of its allocated funds disbursed.

However, the ACC battery scheme remains the weakest link. Against its targeted 50 GWh manufacturing capacity, only 1.4 GWh has been developed. No commercial production has started, and no incentives have been disbursed under the programme.

NITI Aayog identified technology gaps, dependence on imported machinery and project delays as key obstacles. Other schemes also face challenges.

IT hardware PLI remains at an early stage, while telecom manufacturing continues to depend heavily on imported high-value components. The auto scheme has attracted investment and boosted production, but employment remains below target.

The assessment highlights that financial incentives alone cannot guarantee manufacturing success. Technology readiness, domestic supply chains, and execution timelines will determine how effectively India converts PLI investments into long-term industrial capacity.

--IANS

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Gurugram, Nov 12 (IANS) The ED filed a chargesheet against 41 individuals and entities in a Rs 1,000 crore fraud by ADEL Landmarks, which failed to deliver flats to homebuyers in Gurugram, Faridabad and Palwal over the past two decades, an official said on Thursday.

Those named by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Gurugram Zonal Office, in the chargesheet, filed before the Special Judge (PMLA) court, Gurugram, include ADEL Landmarks (the company) and its then directors Hem Singh Bharana and Sumit Bharana, the official said in a statement.

The chargesheet was filed under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). After the filing of the chargesheet, the Special Court issued notices on November 3 to all accused persons/entities, the ED said.

The ED investigation was initiated on the basis of 74 FIRs registered/chargesheets filed by police of Haryana and Delhi (including EOW). As per the FIRs, the company, its promoters, and its associate companies cheated and defrauded numerous homebuyers by failing to deliver the promised flats and units within the stipulated timelines, even after a delay of 12 to 19 years.

The central probe agency’s investigation revealed that ADEL Landmarks had launched several residential group housing projects in Gurugram, Faridabad and Palwal, and collected over Rs 1,075 crore as booking advance from 4,771 customers.

The ED said the booking included projects like Cosmocourt, Cosmocity-L, Cosmocity-III, Skyville, Redwood Residency, Era Green World. Era Divine Court, ADEL Divine Court. These projects, launched during 2006-2012, are still incomplete.

Investigation by the ED revealed that instead of utilising the funds for completion of these housing projects, the company, through its then directors/promoters, diverted a huge amount of home-buyers' funds to its group companies as advances for purchase of land parcels and for other purposes. This ultimately resulted in the non-delivery of booked flats, plots and units to home-buyers.

Earlier, the ED attached immovable properties, including plots and land parcels admeasuring 340 acres located in Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal and Bahadurgarh (Haryana) as well as in Meerut and Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), valued at Rs 585.46 crore and held by the accused company and its related entities, forming part of the 'proceeds of crime' under the PMLA, 2002.

These proceeds of crime have also been prayed for confiscation under PMLA, 2002 in the Prosecution Complaint filed by the ED, said the statement.

--IANS

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Chandigarh, Nov 12 (IANS) The Draft Electoral Roll for all 117 Assembly constituencies in Punjab under the Special Summary Revision (SSR) was published on Thursday.

The publication marked the commencement of the claims and objections period, which will continue till December 11.

The disposal of claims and objections will be completed by December 28, and the Final Electoral Roll will be published on January 4, 2027, a statement said.

As part of the revision process, a meeting under the chairpersonship of Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra was held with representatives of recognised political parties.

During the meeting, she handed over copies of the Integrated Draft Electoral Roll to representatives and apprised them of the key provisions and timelines of the revision exercise.

The representatives were also briefed about the prescribed forms for various electoral services, including Form 6 for inclusion of names in the electoral roll, Form 6-A for enrolment of overseas electors, Form 7 for deletion of names, and Form 8 for correction of entries or shifting of residence.

The CEO said those who attained the age of 18 years on or before January 1, 2027, are eligible to enrol as voters.

The representatives of political parties were also apprised of various digital platforms and facilities available to citizens, including the voters' service portal and the book a call request with BLO.

Mitra emphasised that special camps would be scheduled shortly across the state to facilitate electors in obtaining electoral services.

Help desks have been set up at the offices of District Election Officers (DEOs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to assist people in accessing and checking the electoral rolls.

She said electors can verify their names and other particulars in the published Integrated Draft Electoral Roll through the official website of the CEO Punjab (www.ceopunjab.gov.in) and the Election Commission of India's Voters' Service Portal (voters.eci.gov.in).

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, Nov 12 (IANS) Amid a political slugfest over the state government’s handling of the recent Arnab cyclone and devastating Ganjam floods, Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management (R&DM) minister Suresh Pujari on Thursday challenged Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik and all opposition parties to a detailed discussion in the upcoming Assembly session on disaster preparedness and management during the BJD’s 24-year rule and the current BJP government.

During an interaction with the media persons here, Pujari described a state’s legislative assembly as the best forum to hold discussions on such issues of importance.

Stating that the Assembly’s winter session is beginning on November 18, the R&DM Minister said, “We will come prepared with all the facts and figures. I appeal to all political parties to come prepared as well. I invite all opposition parties to participate in a comprehensive discussion on the various cyclones and floods Odisha has experienced since the 1999 Super Cyclone, the circumstances under which they occurred, the preparedness measures taken and how they were tackled.”

He also referred to the unprecedented downpour in several blocks of Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts due to severe cyclonic storm Arnab during the last week of October, describing it as rainfall never witnessed before.

The minister said Patrapur block in Ganjam district recorded 89.4 mm of rainfall on October 28, which surged to 546 mm the following day, which was the fourth-highest in the history of Odisha.

Another 173 mm of rainfall was recorded on October 30, taking the three-day cumulative rainfall to 808.4 mm.

Similarly, several other blocks of Ganjam, Kandhamal and Gajapati districts also experienced unprecedented rainfall during the period.

Targeting the previous BJD government, Pujari said, “During Phailin in 2013, rainfall of 205.55 mm was recorded, which included both the impact of the cyclone and the associated rainfall, leading to floods as well. How many people were killed or injured? How many casualties were reported? There were 22 casualties due to floods and 23 due to the cyclone. Those discussing the issue should make a comparison with Cyclone Arnab. Ganjam recorded zero casualties during Arnab.”

The minister noted some casualties in Ganjam were reported during this time, but they were not from the floods but due to landslides.

He also criticised the opposition BJD, alleging that the regional party during its 24-year rule failed to construct an adequate number of gates in dams and reservoir systems on the Rushikulya River and its tributaries to effectively control floods.

The minister also said the BJP government was taking several measures, in collaboration with IITs and other institutions, to strengthen and build new infrastructure and minimise the impact of natural disasters such as floods and landslides while ensuring maximum safety in the future.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Nov 12 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, on Thursday alleged that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls had identified 65 lakh people who had shifted residences and 19 lakh people who had not submitted applications and were missing in the state, claiming that the figures indicated the presence of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the country.

Addressing a media conference, the senior BJP leader alleged that Bangladeshis had infiltrated the Congress party, drawing a parallel with ethanol blending in petrol.

"Just as ethanol is mixed with petrol, Bangladeshis have mixed with the Congress party," he alleged.

Ashoka claimed that around 300 Bangladeshis had been deported by police on flights at an expenditure of Rs 65 lakh. He also referred to the arrest of five Pakistani nationals in Anekal on the outskirts of Bengaluru and claimed that there were three crore Bangladeshi and Pakistani citizens in the country.

He alleged that three crore missing people had been identified across the country and claimed that Bangladeshis were among those present during the Kogilu Cross incident reported from Bengaluru, with only five residents involved.

He further alleged that the Congress had issued voter identity cards to them.

Questioning the Congress's criticism of SIR, Ashoka said the exercise had been conducted nine times and that it had been carried out seven times when the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power.

He also questioned Congress leaders' credentials to criticise the exercise, referring to Sonia Gandhi's acquisition of Indian citizenship and claiming that her name was included in the voter list only 15 years after she came to India following her marriage.

Turning to the controversy over the Bengaluru Metro project, Ashoka challenged the Congress government to substantiate its claim that Karnataka's contribution to the project was 84 per cent.

He said the Centre and the State each had a 20 per cent share in the project, while the remaining amount was raised through loans for which the Central government provided guarantees. He alleged that the State government had not repaid the Metro loans.

"If 84 per cent of the investment is from the State, show where it is reflected in the budget. Do not weave a false story involving crows and sparrows in this matter," he said.

Ashoka questioned why the Centre was blamed whenever Metro ticket fares were increased if the State government claimed to have borne the bulk of the project expenditure.

He also took a swipe at the Congress over the controversy surrounding the Prime Minister's Metro inauguration programme. "If our share is higher, invite Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi instead of the Prime Minister for the inauguration," he said.

Clarifying the protocol surrounding the Prime Minister's visit, Ashoka said the Chief Minister had been invited because protocol and security arrangements had to be followed during the Prime Minister's programme. He added that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar often proudly stated that the Prime Minister addressed him as "DK".

Criticising the State government over its handling of welfare and agricultural issues, Ashoka alleged that rice meant for distribution through fair price shops was being diverted and sent abroad.

Instead of identifying those responsible for the alleged diversion, the government was burdening farmers, he charged. He said drought relief had not reached farmers and Rs 5,000 crore had not been provided to women under the government's welfare commitments.

Ashoka accused the Congress government of indulging in low-level politics while neglecting these issues. If the government was genuinely concerned, it should order an inquiry into the alleged diversion of rice and take up the matter with the Central government, he demanded.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 12 (IANS) A major disaster was averted on Thursday after a stray dog ​​was spotted suddenly entering the runway of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport in Kolkata by a pilot and a flight from Chennai coming in for landing, was diverted to Andal airport in West Burdwan district. The quick thinking of a pilot and the quick action of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) saved the lives of many passengers.

According to airport officials, an IndiGo flight from Kolkata to Ranchi was preparing to take off on Wednesday. After the plane reached the runway, just before take-off, the pilot noticed a stray dog roaming on the runway.

Realising the danger, the pilot immediately informed the Kolkata Air Traffic Control about the matter. At the same time, another IndiGo flight from Chennai was about to land in Kolkata. As soon as the news of the dog on the runway was received, the ATC officials were alerted.

Due to the fear of an accident, the plane was not allowed to land in Kolkata and was immediately ordered to divert to an alternative route. After receiving the ATC's instructions, the plane from Chennai safely left for Andal Airport in West Burdwan district that is about 187 kilometres from Kolkata airport.

While the passengers were safe, the incident has raised serious questions about security at NSCBI Airport. The Kolkata Airport Authority is investigating how a dog managed to sneak into such a secure and important area as the runway without being seen.

It is worth mentioning that on Wednesday morning, a hijack threat was made at an Air India flight in NSCBI Airport. In this incident, the police arrested a passenger from Sodepur in North 24 Parganas district.

It is learnt that his office was sending him to work in an African country against his will. He was not willing to go abroad leaving his cancer-stricken wife behind. That is why he fabricated the hijack story. He basically did this to foil the foreign trip but landed being arrested.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, Nov 12 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy appeared before the Public Representatives Court, Nampally, on Thursday in connection with cases registered against him during the previous government’s tenure.

A case was registered against Revanth Reddy in 2021 for allegedly violating COVID-19 guidelines during the campaign for the by-election to the Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly seat. Revanth Reddy was then president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC).

He had participated in the election campaign in Chalakurti village of Peddapur mandal in Nalgonda district on April 11, 2021.

He was booked for not wearing a mask and not following other COVID-19 guidelines.

As part of the hearing in the case, the court recorded Revanth Reddy’s statement under section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Similar cases were registered against Revanth Reddy at other places in the state for violation of COVID-19 rules and the Model Code of Conduct.

On February 28, 2026, he had appeared before the Public Representatives Court in connection with seven cases registered during the previous government’s tenure.

The cases pertain to alleged violations during the 2019 Huzurnagar by-election and a public meeting held in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the allegations, during the 2019 Huzurnagar by-election campaign, a rally was organised with around 40 vehicles and DJ sound systems in support of a candidate. Cases were registered against Revanth Reddy and then MP Uttam Kumar Reddy in this connection.

Last year, the Telangana High Court had quashed a criminal case against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy over alleged Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations during the 2019 Huzurnagar by-elections.

The case, registered at Garidepally police station, named Revanth Reddy as accused no. 2 and then MP N Uttam Kumar Reddy as accused no. 1. They were booked under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for purportedly holding a campaign meeting in Ponugodu mandal on October 19, 2019, without permission from election officials.

Police later filed a chargesheet before the Principal Special Judicial First Class Magistrate for Excise Cases in Hyderabad.

The High Court observed that MCC-related offences in this case were not maintainable and the chargesheet lacked evidence of intentional disobedience.

The order came on Revanth Reddy’s plea to quash the proceedings.

--IANS

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Itanagar/New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) Nearly 50,000 devotees have visited the exposition of the sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha in Arunachal Pradesh in the first two weeks of the event that is offering people a rare opportunity to pay their respects, an official said on Thursday.

"As the exposition enters its second week, it continues to provide an opportunity for devotees from different parts of Arunachal Pradesh to offer prayers, seek blessings and experience the spiritual significance of the sacred relics," a statement issued by the Union Ministry of Culture said.

The exposition commenced at Gaden Namgyal Lhatse Monastery (Tawang Monastery) on October 31 and concluded on November 7.

During this period, more than 31,000 devotees from Tawang and neighbouring areas visited the monastery to offer prayers and pay their respects to the sacred relics, the statement said.

Following the conclusion of the exposition at Tawang, the sacred relics arrived at Thubchog Gatsel Ling (TGL) Monastery, also known as Lower Gompa, in Bomdila, on November 8, it added.

The participation of the local community reflects the strong Buddhist traditions and spiritual heritage of the region, the statement said.

The public exposition at TGL Monastery in Bomdila will continue till Friday, providing devotees with further opportunities to have darshan of the sacred relics.

Following the conclusion of the Bomdila exposition, the sacred relics will proceed to the Golden Pagoda in Namsai, where they will be open for public veneration from November 14 to 20, the statement said.

The exposition is being organised by the Union Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the National Museum in New Delhi, the Arunachal Pradesh government, and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in New Delhi.

The initiative reflects the Union government's continued commitment to preserving and promoting India's rich Buddhist heritage and strengthening the country's cultural and spiritual ties with Buddhist communities, the statement said.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Nov 12 (IANS) Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka said on Thursday that when people began condemning the mistakes of the Congress government, the ethanol controversy was raised to divert the issue and distract the public mind.

Speaking at a press conference, he said misinformation is being spread about blending ethanol with petrol. A problem that does not exist in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and elsewhere has been created here. The government is unable even to give Rs 5,000 drought relief to farmers. It first announced Rs 2,500 and then gave only Rs 1,500 in Yadgir.

Even then, the Revenue Minister justified it by saying it happened by mistake. Such errors continue even when IAS officers are present. Recently, an IAS officer in Hassan posted on social media that “if the lion sleeps, dogs will bark.” Such officers have lost the competence to provide relief, he said.

Under the Kisan Samman scheme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is giving Rs 6,000 directly to the bank accounts of farmers across the country. But in the state, there is no system to deliver relief directly to farmers. Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has said that per capita income has increased. But he has not disclosed how much debt has been incurred per person. All these issues have been diverted by raising the ethanol matter, he said.

Vehicle manufacturing companies have not complained that their engines are getting damaged, nor have people gone to court. Only Congress is complaining about this. Only Minister Rizwan Arshad and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar were raising complaints, he noted.

Belagavi Congress leaders had demanded that ethanol be purchased. Now Bengaluru Congress leaders are saying ethanol is not needed. More than 80 countries are blending ethanol. When I was Transport Minister, I appealed to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding ethanol use, but he did not give permission. At that time, the petroleum lobby was active. Countries like America, Brazil and Vietnam are using ethanol to help farmers, he said.

From 2014-15 till May 2026, ethanol blending has resulted in more than Rs 1.90 lakh crore foreign exchange savings. Consumption of more than 310 lakh tonnes of crude oil has reduced, and about 930 lakh metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions have been reduced. Farmers have received more than Rs 1.60 lakh crore in additional income, he said.

Vehicle mileage has reduced more due to potholes on roads than due to ethanol. BMTC buses that used to run at 18 km per hour have now dropped to 11 km per hour. Out of 63 samples, only 11 samples were shown. The test results of the remaining samples should also have been shown. Were the samples collected from Congress-owned petrol bunks? Which bunks? That has not been disclosed, he said.

The Central Government has given guidelines on where and how testing should be done. Ignoring that, testing has been done somewhere else. As per Section 8/2 of the law brought by the UPA in 2005, six samples should be collected and given to the company and the owner. Information should be given to the owner within five days. The government has not followed any such process, he said.

Congress leaders who go to the Central Government for everything should have met Central ministers and held discussions on ethanol as well. This should be tested impartially and information given to the people, rather than creating panic among them. Otherwise, it will be like extracting potatoes from gold, as Rahul Gandhi says — getting results from tests, he remarked sarcastically.

If petrol is Rs 53 per litre, ethanol is priced at Rs 56.70. Because the rate is higher, companies do not make excessive profits from this. From ethanol alone, the Congress government received Rs 10,308 crore in income in 2025-26.

While the Central Government gets Rs 12 per litre from petrol, the state government gets Rs 24-25. That means the Congress, which receives higher revenue, is now making accusations about the same thing. Raids were conducted on 805 petrol bunks.

But weighing and measuring is the responsibility of the state government. Therefore, this is entirely the state government’s responsibility. Then they should have disclosed how many people action has been taken against, he said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 12 (IANS) Congress leader Hussain Dalwai on Thursday questioned Indian Overseas Congress Chairman Sam Pitroda's praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that he might be considering switching sides, while RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav dismissed the remarks as “politically insignificant”.

BJP leaders, meanwhile, welcomed Pitroda's comments, with BJP MLA and former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan saying that appreciation for the Prime Minister was welcome if Pitroda had recognised the truth.

Reacting to Pitroda's remarks, Dalwai said the Congress leader lived abroad and might not be fully aware of developments in India.

"Sam Pitroda does not live in India; he lives abroad. How would he know what is happening here? He must have made the statement for some reason. I think he may be considering switching sides. I do not know what is going on in his mind," Dalwai told IANS.

He said Pitroda should instead speak about what he described as restrictions on people's democratic rights, including the freedom to express dissent and protest.

"He is praising the Prime Minister. The government is subjecting people to oppression and injustice and is not even allowing them the right to speak, protest or struggle. This is completely wrong and goes against the Constitution. If Sam Pitroda speaks about these issues, that would be a good thing," Dalwai said.

RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav also questioned the political significance of Pitroda's comments, alleging that his positions changed according to convenience.

"Sam Pitroda keeps making comments from time to time, often according to his own convenience. He is quite good at assessing when to be close to whom and when to oppose whom. Sometimes he sides with PM Narendra Modi, sometimes with the Congress, and at other times he puts the Congress or PM Modi in the dock. This has been his pattern," Yadav said.

"I do not believe that his statements carry any significance in terms of national interest or political interest," he added.

BJP spokesperson T.R. Srinivas said Pitroda's comments appeared to signal a change in his attitude towards Modi, but cautioned against concluding the reasons behind it.

"Sam Pitroda has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a hardworking Gujarati leader and said he has no personal differences with him. There must be some reason behind this change of heart. It is too early to speculate whether it is related to Sonia Gandhi's recently released book or something else. We will have to wait and watch how developments unfold," Srinivas said.

BJP MLA and former Union Minister V. Muraleedharan also welcomed the remarks, saying that Pitroda was entitled to appreciate the Prime Minister.

"If Sam Pitroda has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi after realising the truth, I welcome it. Ultimately, the truth cannot be concealed for long and will eventually come out. However, I do not know the context or motive behind his remarks. If he has said something good, everyone should be happy about it," Muraleedharan said.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, Pitroda described Modi as a hardworking leader and spoke positively about their personal interactions, while maintaining that he differed with the Prime Minister's ideology and worldview.

"He is a Gujarati friend. I respect him as a person. My wife and I have met him. He has been very warm, kind, loving and caring at a personal level. Of course, he is a good orator and hard-working, and we get along well. We have no personal issues," Pitroda said.

"I have nothing against Modi as a Gujarati leader, friend or well-wisher. He has been very warm towards me, and I appreciate that. Similarly, I have been to his house in Gujarat several times. I may have issues with his views of the world, his ideology, but that is not against the individual. I can disagree with him and have dinner with him," he added.

--IANS

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