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Amaravati, July 14 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has congratulated Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and former Union Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju on his appointment as the Governor of Goa and termed it a great pride for the people of Andhra Pradesh.

The TDP president took to the social media platform ‘X’ to convey heartiest congratulations to the senior leader.

“This is a moment of great pride for the people of our state. I sincerely thank the Hon’ble President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji, Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, and the Union Cabinet for bestowing upon him this honour,” wrote Chandrababu Naidu.

He wished Ashok Gajapathi Raju "a successful and fulfilling tenure in this esteemed role".

Human Resources Development and IT Minister Nara Lokesh also congratulated Ashok Gajapathi Raju Garu on being appointed as the Governor of Goa. He thanked President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bestowing this honour on Raju. “I am confident that with his integrity, honesty and utmost commitment to public cause, Raju Garu will bring great dignity to the office of the Governor,” posted Lokesh.

Ashok, scion of the royal family of Vizianagaram, is one of the seniormost leaders of the TDP. The 73-year-old is a member of the TDP politburo, the highest decision-making body of the party. He won six times as MLA on a TDP ticket from the Vizianagaram Assembly segment.

In 2014, he was elected from the Vizianagaram Lok Sabha constituency and was made Civil Aviation Minister. He had to quit in 2018 after TDP pulled out of the NDA government over the delay in granting special status to Andhra Pradesh.

Ashok, however, suffered defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the same constituency.

The TDP did not field Ashok in last year’s election. However, his daughter Aditi Vijayalakshmi Gajapathi Raju was fielded from the Vizianagaram Assembly segment, and she won the seat with a huge majority.

Ashok had continuously represented the Vizianagaram Assembly seat for six terms. He was first elected as a Janata Party candidate. He has been associated with the TDP when it was floated by actor-turned-politician N.T. Rama Rao in 1982.

He served as a minister in Chandrababu Naidu-led government in undivided Andhra Pradesh and held key portfolios like Finance, Revenue and Legislative Affairs.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's crackdown on fake spiritual gurus through 'Operation Kalnemi' is receiving widespread appreciation from both ruling and opposition leaders.

The initiative, aimed at identifying and taking action against fraudsters who disguise themselves as religious figures to dupe people in the name of religion, has already led to the arrest of more than 100 imposters.

Launched to protect the sanctity of Sanatan Dharma and the tradition of saints, Operation Kalnemi is being hailed as a much-needed step in curbing religious exploitation.

CM Dhami, on Sunday, cautioned individuals masquerading as saints to defraud. "Over 100 imposters have been apprehended so far under Operation Kalnemi. Those conspiring and disguising themselves as 'sadhus' to bring disrepute to Sanatan Dharma will not be spared," he said.

BJP national spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi praised the campaign and stressed the need to check religious deceit.

"Any kind of conversion through money, deception, and intimidation should not be acceptable. Whether it is fraudulent, forced or financed, such activities must be brought under strict surveillance and dealt with firmly," he told IANS.

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal also commended the Chief Minister for safeguarding the legacy of saints.

"I commend Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for this initiative. With growing awareness about Sanatan Dharma, many so-called saints have emerged, misusing the image of holy men for personal gain. Operation Kalnemi will help ensure the saint tradition is not tainted," he said.

BJP spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain also backed the operation.

Speaking to IANS, he said, "CM Dhami has launched a very good campaign. Nowadays, many fake people are roaming around, showing so-called miracles and looting innocent people. They make all sorts of claims, attracting large crowds. This policy will expose such people."

Even Opposition leaders extended their support to the drive, though some added political caveats.

Shiv Sena (UBT) national spokesperson Anand Dubey praised the initiative but took a swipe at the BJP.

"It is a good thing that Kalnemi are being caught, but CM Dhami should also catch the Kalnemi within the BJP, who are corrupt and working to destroy the party from within. I praise him for this initiative, but he should also expose those creating tensions in society from his own ranks," he told IANS.

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi also endorsed the crackdown.

"This operation is very nice. Strict action should be taken against people who loot others by claiming to be saints. Be it Hindus or Muslims, anyone who deceives people in the name of religion and commits a crime should be punished. I congratulate him on this operation," he said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) The CBI has booked a Nagaland University Dean for demanding a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a vendor and harassing others who supplied equipment and UPS batteries to the department of Botany, an official said on Monday.

Chitta Ranjan Deb, Senior Professor, Dean of School of Sciences, Department of Botany, Nagaland University, was booked for indulging in various corrupt and illegal practices with a predetermined intention to cause wrongful loss to the institution and corresponding personal pecuniary gain to himself, the official said.

The FIR said, “A Regular Case is registered Under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) against Dr. Chitta Ranjan Deb and investigation of the case is entrusted to… CBl, ACB, Guwahati.”

A source revealed to the CBI that earlier some vendors had given bribe to Deb via ATM machines and bank accounts as he had shown favour to them in supply of various items to the Nagaland University.

The FIR, registered by CBl, ACB Guwahati, on July 12, said that Deb was involved in wrongdoings related to favourable award of supply orders of scientific equipment and consumables to different bidders and companies against obtaining undue advantage or bribe.

The CBI said information received from a source said that on various occasions Deb demanded undue bribe from Ravindra Kumar Jain of M/s Jaldhara and Company of Jorhat, Assam, against the supply order worth Rs 5 lakh which had already been delivered and for equipment/consumables worth Rs 23 lakh being procured from Jain.

The CBI source further revealed that Deb had also demanded bribe from Gulzar Hussain of CS Power Solutions of Jorhat, Assam, in the matter of award of supply orders of UPS batteries and other items.

The FIR was registered after the CBI was informed that Deb would be visiting Jorhat on July 12 in a bid to meet Jain for obtaining a bribe of Rs 2 lakh. The source further disclosed that Deb also planned to meet Gulzar Hussain for obtaining a bribe of Rs 15,000 on the same day.

--IANS

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Gandhinagar, July 14 (IANS) In a push toward youth empowerment and employability, more than 6.5 lakh young individuals across Gujarat have been trained under the Mukhyamantri Skill Development Initiative (MSDI) in 2024-25, according to the state’s Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department.

Gujarat currently operates 558 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), comprising 288 government-run, 101 grant-in-aid, and 169 self-financed institutions, as per official data shared on Monday.

Among these are 30 ITIs dedicated to women and 19 for persons with disabilities, collectively training over 2.16 lakh trainees in vocational skills. The effort, part of a broader mission to align youth capabilities with global workforce demands, includes partnerships with various state departments and targeted schemes.

The Gujarat government is working on prioritising skill-based development to ensure its youth remain competitive in a fast-evolving global job market shaped by automation, digitisation, and AI. Notably, under the Mukhyamantri Bhavishyalkshi Kaushalya Vikas Yojana (MBKVY), over 19,000 youth have received short-term training in emerging fields such as drone technology, healthcare, automation, manufacturing, electrical, and IT.

Additionally, the Kaushalya -- The Skill University is offering 100+ industry-aligned courses aimed at equipping students with future-ready skills. To reintegrate school dropouts from Class 10 and 12 into the workforce, the state has implemented the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), offering skill-based training for self-reliance.

Under the Mukhyamantri Apprenticeship Yojana (MAY), more than 91,000 trainees have so far been engaged in work-based learning modules. To address Industry 4.0 requirements, the state is developing ‘Centres of Excellence’ across 6-8 key sectors under its Mega ITI Scheme.

Simultaneously, the Gujarat Apex Training Institute (GATI) is building eight Institutes for Training of Trainers (iToTs) to ensure advanced instructor training. To reach remote and underserved youth, Gujarat is implementing the Saksham–KVK 2.0 and LIVE (Local Institutes for Vocational Education) initiatives. Through LIVE, trainees are provided with stipends amounting to 50 per cent of the minimum wage directly via DBT.

Furthermore, the Project Sankalp initiative promotes the concept of “by industry, at industry, for industry,” ensuring that both employers and aspiring youth benefit from demand-driven training models. The efforts coincide with the global observance of World Youth Skills Day on July 15, with this year’s theme: 'AI and Digital Skills for Youth Empowerment'. The day, recognised by the UN, highlights the urgent need to equip youth with adaptive skills to meet the changing demands of the global labour market.

--IANS

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Chennai, July 14 (IANS) Sculptors from Thirumuruganpoondi, a town renowned for its traditional stone sculpture industry in Tiruppur district, have urged the Tamil Nadu government to establish a dedicated industrial cluster to safeguard and revive their age-old craft.

K. Radhakrishnan, a temple architect and president of the Thirumuruganpoondi Sculptors Association, emphasised the town’s historical significance.

"After Mahabalipuram, Thirumuruganpoondi is the most important hub for stone sculptures in Tamil Nadu. For six generations, our town has been home to skilled artisans who produce high-quality stone sculptures, which are shipped across states and cities,” he said.

According to Radhakrishnan, raw materials are primarily sourced from Uthukuli in Tiruppur and Rasipuram in Namakkal. However, restrictions on quarry operations in Uthukuli have led to a severe shortage of quality stone, escalating prices from Rs 600 to Rs 900 per square foot in just a year.

At the same time, the cost of machinery has increased, compelling sculptors to raise their prices and thereby reducing their order volumes.

He warned that the industry is on a decline due to government apathy. “There were more than 150 sculpture workshops in Thirumuruganpoondi five years ago. Now, only 112 remain. Skilled artisans are paid up to Rs 1,500 per day, and we offer Rs 500 to new trainees, but even so, young people are reluctant to enter the field. Families involved in this profession for generations are discouraging their children from continuing due to a lack of support.”

He appealed to the government to either fully fund a separate cluster or provide land at a 50 per cent subsidy.

Without such assistance, he said, the industry could gradually vanish. S. Yuvraj, secretary of the association, pointed out that access to credit remains a major hurdle.

“Last year, we trained 21 young people to become entrepreneurs. They applied for loans but have yet to receive them. This has led to disappointment and distrust. The government should step in to facilitate easier access to loans, machinery subsidies, and introduce a dedicated board to support workers in this sector.”

Responding to the demands, a senior official from the District Industries Centre (DIC) said that the government’s Micro Cluster Development Programme already offers up to 90 per cent subsidy, covering project costs up to Rs 7.5 crore. However, land acquisition remains the responsibility of the artisans.

"If the sculptors want government-provided land, they can approach us directly. We are ready to guide them and help with the loan process,” the official said. The sculptors hope that timely intervention from the government will help preserve this traditional art form and rejuvenate the once-thriving industry.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur has a unique batch this year, showcasing a rich tapestry of diversity, with students representing 21 states and three union territories.

A notable 14.5 per cent of the cohort are alumni of top-tier institutions, including IITs, NITs, IISERs, IIITs -- underscoring a strong trend toward academic excellence.

Specifically, 26 students (7.57 per cent) hail from elite institutes such as IIT Guwahati, NIT Rourkela, NIT Tiruchirapalli, and VNIT Nagpur, reflecting an upward trend in student calibre.

The Indian Institute of Management Raipur told IANS that they have inaugurated the MBA Batch of 2025-27 with an intensive orientation programme, welcoming 353 students to a transformative journey rooted in diversity, inclusion, and leadership. The programme highlighted the institute’s expanding national presence and growing academic repute.

Maintaining a balanced academic background, 55.5 per cent of the batch comes from engineering disciplines, while 44.5 per cent represent a wide array of non-engineering fields such as commerce, sciences, law, humanities, management, dentistry, and medicine.

This interdisciplinary mix aims to foster well-rounded decision-making and enriched peer learning.

Prof. Ram Kumar Kakani, Director of IIM Raipur, emphasised the value of such diversity, stating, “Classroom diversity drives decision-making depth. At IIM Raipur, we don’t just teach management -- we create a space where analytical thinking meets human insight. The interdisciplinary nature of this cohort enhances engagement, strengthens collaborative problem-solving, and prepares students to thrive in today’s interconnected world. Our goal is to develop not just competent professionals but also ethical and visionary leaders.”

Students arrive at IIM Raipur with an average of 23 months of professional experience across sectors such as IT, engineering, BFSI, retail, and healthcare. This blend of academic excellence and practical exposure contributes to a dynamic and collaborative learning ecosystem, he added.

The week-long programme included several impactful sessions aimed at student empowerment and institutional immersion.

According to the IIM, there was a POSH sensitisation workshop led by Prof. Ashapurna Baruah with inputs from experts Mala Thapar and Dr. C.K. Swain.

A Career and Placement orientation was also offered. International relations overview, Campus and infrastructure briefings were also provided for the students.

The IIM also arranged a scholarship awareness session and a mental health and stress management session. These sessions underscored the IIM’s commitment to a holistic student experience -- nurturing not only academic and professional growth but also ethical awareness, psychological well-being, and social responsibility.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) launched a scathing attack at the Central government on Monday, following the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) disclosures that a significant number of individuals from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar were found during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar.

RJD MP Manoj Jha held the Union Home Minister directly responsible for the alleged presence of foreign nationals in the state, demanding accountability and even calling for resignations.

Manoj Jha, speaking to IANS said, “Nothing can be more unfortunate than this. The ECI is a constitutional body we have long placed our faith in—built on the foundations laid by pioneers like Sukumar Sen (Former Chief Election Commissioner of India). But today, under the pretext of 'intensive revision', anarchy is being promoted. Field reporters and journalists covering this are facing direct and indirect threats. What is happening to our democracy?”

Jha further questioned the credibility of the electoral verification process, pointing out that even the Prime Minister was elected based on the same voter rolls now under scrutiny.

“If even a single Bangladeshi is found on the electoral rolls, then who failed to prevent this? It’s not a failure of the local administration—this is a national issue. The Union Home Minister is responsible. He should resign and accept that his ministry has failed. It’s an open and shut case,” Jha told IANS.

He also hit out at BJP over latter's claim that the RJD and Congress were opposing the Special Intensive Revision.

“Has the BJP seen the entire electoral roll? Is the ECI now functioning as their alliance partner?” Jha asked.

“The ECI is meant to be the watchdog of our democracy—not a ‘lapdog’ of the ruling party. If foreigners are indeed staying in Bihar, then hold the Home Minister and the Prime Minister accountable,” he said.

The debate over the SIR findings comes amid wider concerns about governance in Bihar.

Reacting to comments made by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha on the state’s law and order situation, the RJD leader did not hold back.

“He says the culprits are always caught. Let him go to Muzaffarpur and say that in the house of Gopal Khemka. Where is the sympathy for the victims? Don’t make sweeping statements—let’s talk with facts in the public domain,” Manoj Jha countered.

He concluded with a dire warning, “Lawlessness is the new law in Bihar. This is complete anarchy. From big businessmen to ordinary citizens—no one is safe.”

--IANS

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Bengaluru, July 14 (IANS) Under the Shakti free travel scheme for women, in celebration of the number of free trips for women passengers reaching 500 crore, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday handed over the ticket for the 500 croreth trip to a woman passenger on a BMTC bus at Windsor Circle in Bengaluru.

Speaking to the media in Bengaluru on Monday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated, "As part of the celebration marking the 500th crore journey under the government’s ambitious Shakti scheme, a symbolic ticket was handed over on Monday to the 500th crore woman passenger."

During the 2023 Assembly elections, five guarantee schemes were announced.

Following the Cabinet decision to implement them immediately after the government assumed office on May 20, 2023, the Shakti scheme was launched on June 11, the CM stated.

Since then, free travel for women in government buses across the state has been made available, CM Siddaramaiah said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress President, D.K. Shivakumar described the Shakti scheme as a model for the entire country.

“Our government will not stop the guarantee schemes for any reason. As long as God gives us strength and the people give us authority, these schemes will continue,” he said.

“The Congress party has provided many welfare programmes to the people of this country. Various pension schemes, MGNREGA, bank nationalisation — no one, including the BJP, can stop these programmes. These are programmes that are essential for people’s hearts and livelihoods. They will continue without interruption,” Dy CM Shivakumar added.

“This scheme enables women across the state to travel free of cost. They can visit their loved ones without spending any money. Many working women save between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 every month because of this,” Shivakumar said.

“A woman happily offered me bread and peanut pancakes as a token of appreciation. No matter how much criticism our scheme receives, it will eventually fade away. Our work will remain permanent. We are very happy because we have kept the promises we made. We are empowered by the strength given by the people to implement all this,” he said.

The Shakti scheme, one of the five guarantees of the Congress, enables women to travel in all RTC buses across the state including the city buses for free.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's effort in bringing a new revolution in India through biofuels, which has resulted in Namibia's entry into the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA).

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister said that biofuel is an energy that is obtained from household and farm waste, grains or spoiled grains, and this environmentally-friendly, clean fuel is also a powerful medium to accelerate the country's development.

"Namibia joins GBA. India's initiative towards clean energy and the expansion of the Global Biofuel Alliance family is another proof of PM Narendra Modi's farsightedness on the mantra of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," the minister said in a post on X.

Puri emphasised that the Prime Minister's efforts toward biofuels are bringing substantial change to the nation and improving the lives of citizens.

"PM Modi’s efforts have brought a ‘new revolution of change through biofuel' in India. This green fuel, which is powering India's development journey, is changing and improving the lives of people from villages to cities," the minister posted.

The biofuel is not only helping farmers to generate income, but the development around it is creating new employment opportunities, especially in rural areas.

"Along with increasing the income of farmers, this fuel is also creating new employment opportunities in rural areas," he added.

In a recent conversation with IANS, the minister said that biofuel blending has reached 20 per cent this year, which was 1.4 per cent in 2014.

India today stands strong as the third-largest biofuel producer in the world. According to official estimates, ethanol blending initiatives have improved farmer incomes over the past ten years because they are made from sugarcane, created jobs in rural areas, decreased CO2 emissions equal to planting 1.75 crore trees, and saved Rs 85,000 crore in foreign exchange.

Leading this effort are public sector oil companies Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum, which have introduced a variety of ethanol and gasoline blends throughout the nation.

--IANS

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New Delhi, July 14 (IANS) As the Indian astronaut and Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to return to Earth on July 15, after an 18-day stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS), political leaders across the spectrum, from Shiv Sena (UBT) to the BJP, have hailed the moment as a proud milestone for the country as well as its space ambitions.

Shukla’s participation in the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) made him the first Indian astronaut in 41 years to reach the ISS. His return journey will begin with undocking from the space station at 4:30 PM IST on July 14, with a scheduled splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast around 3:00 PM IST on July 15.

Speaking to IANS, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey called it a “moment of immense pride” for the nation.

“It’s a proud moment for all Indians. Shubhanshu Shukla has made the entire country proud. There are very few people on Earth who achieve what he has. The whole country is excited about his return, and we are expecting him to share many valuable experiences from space,” Dubey said.

BJP leader Sanjay Upadhyay echoed the sentiments, emphasising the significance of Shukla’s mission for the scientific community.

“It’s a proud moment for the entire country that a scientist like Shubhanshu Shukla is returning home after a successful mission in space. Students and young scientists are eagerly waiting to hear about his experience. The knowledge he has gathered will inspire future generations,” he said.

BJP MP Agnimitra Paul also lauded Shukla's achievements, linking them to a broader wave of national progress.

“This is a proud moment for all of us. He is coming back after conducting successful experiments in space. Thanks to the motivation and inspiration provided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indians in every field are now achieving global excellence. I congratulate the entire country on this incredible feat,” she told IANS.

During his 18-day mission, Shukla and his Ax-4 crew carried out more than 60 advanced scientific experiments in fields such as biology, materials science, human health, and artificial intelligence. His work was crucial to India’s future space plans.

At least seven of the experiments were designed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), contributing to essential data for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. One standout effort involved photographing six varieties of crop seeds in microgravity, which will undergo genetic analysis after the mission to support research in space-based agriculture.

In a conversation with Axiom Space Chief Scientist Dr. Lucie Low, Shukla expressed his pride in playing a dual role during the mission.

“I feel proud to serve as a bridge between the researchers and the station—to conduct research on their behalf,” he said.

--IANS

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