CJI makes new rule on urgent hearing
NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu on Monday administered the oath of office to Justice Surya Kant, who became the 53rd Chief Justice of India. Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others, attended the ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. It marked a personal milestone for the 62-year-old judge from Haryanas Hisar district, who took the oath in Hindi, invoking God. Moments later, he walked over to greet the prime minister. Justice Kant succeeds Justice B R Gavai and will serve until February 9, 2027, when he turns 65. His judicial career includes contributions to several landmark verdicts from the Presidential Reference on removing timelines for governors to the abrogation of Article 370, the Pegasus spyware matter, questions of free speech, citizenship rights, and the Special Intensive Revision of Bihars electoral rolls. He was also on the bench that put the sedition law on hold, directing that no new FIRs be filed until the Centre completes its review. After assuming office, CJI Kant introduced a new procedural norm for urgent mentions. From now on, he said, lawyers must submit written requests explaining the cause of urgency, and the registry will examine them. Oral mentions, he made clear, will be allowed only in rare situations. If you have any urgent mentioning, give your mentioning slip along with the cause of urgency; the registrar will examine Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, when somebodys liberty is involved, there is a question of death sentence, etc, then only I will list it, he said. His remark came after a counsel sought urgent listing in a case concerning the demolition of a canteen. On the bench, CJI Kant has repeatedly underlined the limits of free expression. He cautioned podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia for derogatory remarks, observing that free speech did not permit flouting societal norms. In another hearing, a bench he led pulled up Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah for comments he made against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi during Operation Sindoor, stressing that freedom of speech is not absolute and that ministers must speak responsibly.
Modi to kickstart Mission Bengal with public rally
NEW DELHI/KOLKATA : The BJP has shifted its attention from what its leaders are calling Fateh Bihar to an ambitious Mission Bengal, but insiders admit that West Bengal will be far more challenging than Bihar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may kick off the poll campaign in the second week of December, followed by a strategy tour of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Modi may address a rally in Hooghlys Arambag on December 13 or 14, followed by Bhagwats six-day tour beginning December 18. Hindu organisations will also hold a Panch Lokkho Konthe Gita Path at the Brigade Parade Ground on December 7 to consolidate Hindu voters. Party functionaries said the demographic mix in several Bengal districts, even after the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, remains formidable and favourable for the ruling Trinamool Congress. The BJP has drawn up a fresh strategy for the 2026 Assembly polls. Bengal might not go the way Bihar did because caste dynamics dont play the same role here, a senior functionary said. He added that the BJPs focus would be on consolidating Hindu voters who are less outspoken even after being subjected to exploitation by rowdy elements of a particular community enjoying government patronage. The state has been divided into 56 organisational zones, each monitored by senior leaders from outside Bengal. The party is spotlighting alleged law-and-order failures and Jungle-Raj under TMC, echoing its Bihar campaign. With women and youth, we will take the same approach that helped us in Bihar, a BJP leader said, citing the Prime Ministers recent assertion that Bengal bhi mukt hoga Jungle-raj se jald. As the SIR continues, the party expects large deletions of dead and bogus voters, which it claims will reduce the TMCs advantage. The BJP has set up more than 71,000 booth committees and brought in leaders such as Bhupender Yadav, Biplab Deb, Amit Malviya and Sunil Bansal to strengthen ground operations.
Governor appoints Narendra Narain Yadav as protem Speaker of Bihar Assembly
PATNA, Nov 24 : Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Monday appointed Narendra Narain Yadav as protem Speaker of state Assembly. Khan appointed senior MLA and former Bihar Minister Yadav as protem Speaker of newly constituted Assembly after just concluded elections. He was also administered oath by Governor at a simple function organised in Rajbhawan. Yadav will administer oath to newly elected MLAs during the first session of newly constituted Assembly, to be convened soon. In its first cabinet meeting [] The post Governor appoints Narendra Narain Yadav as protem Speaker of Bihar Assembly appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
BJP begins search for new Bihar president after Jaiswal joins cabinet
PATNA: The search for a new Bihar BJP president has begun after the induction of incumbent Dilip Kumar Jaiswal into the Nitish Kumar cabinet as a minister. Jaiswal, a member of the legislative council, will have to step down as party chief under the one person, one post policy. Sources within the BJP said senior leaders have already begun discussions on a new state president after Jaiswal was made a minister from the BJP quota. A senior leader, who camped in Bihar throughout the election, has been reportedly tasked to select the names of probable candidates for the post. Three names will be selected and sent to the central leadership, a senior BJP leader said. Janak Ram, a former minister, is among the Dalit leaders whose name is doing the rounds for the state presidents post. Ram, a turncoat, is now a prominent Dalit face of BJP in Bihar. Before joining BJP in 2013, he was associated with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Ram also served as a minister in the previous NDA government and also served as an MP from Gopalganj. He might be considered for the state presidents post as Dalits constitute nearly 20 per cent of the states population. Sanjiv Chaurasia is another leader who may be considered for the post. He comes from Extremely Backward Classes (EBC), which constitute nearly 36 per cent of the states population. Son of former governor of Sikkim Ganga Prasad, Chaurasia has won election from Digha for the third time and had been associated with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) from the very beginning. He was also made state president and national general secretary of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and also served as state vice president and general secretary of BJP. Mithilesh Tiwari, who unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Buxar, is also a strong contender for the state presidents post among the Upper Caste leaders. He has vast experience of working with the organisation in different capacities and enjoyed the support of RSS. Nitish Mishra, former minister and MLA from Jhanjharpur, and Vivek Thakur, MP from Nawada, are among the other front runners for the post among Upper Caste leaders. Mishras tenure as industries minister in the previous NDA government was remarkable. Vivek Thakur is the son of veteran BJP leader Dr. C. P. Thakur, a former union minister. The new state president is likely to be appointed in the new year. Meanwhile, leaders are actively manoeuvring through the political corridors, each eyeing the coveted position.
PM Modi vs Mamata Banerjee: BJP's Kaleidoscopic Strategy In The Bengal Battlefield
As the sun sets on the electoral battle in Bihar, the BJP - which appears to have perfected the art of anticipation - has started laying the groundwork for its next big performance: the West Bengal assembly elections of 2026.
Bihar elections: Women outvoted men by 10+ points in half of the seats
Bihar's recent assembly polls revealed a significant trend: 16 constituencies saw female voter turnout exceeding men by over 20 percentage points, with the NDA securing most of these. Nearly half of Bihar's constituencies reported a female turnout 10-19 percentage points higher than men, predominantly favoring the NDA. This surge in female participation played a crucial role in the election outcomes.
Bulldozer rains flowers on Samrat during roadshow
Modi To Begin BJP Campaign in Poll-bound West Bengal Next Month
It might be recalled that the Prime Minister had sent a message to the BJPs workers and supporters in West Bengal while delivering his thanksgiving speech on the Bihar poll results when he said that the Ganga flows through Bihar and reaches Bengal I also congratulate the brothers and sisters of Bengal. Now together with you, the BJP will uproot jungle raj from West Bengal as well. In Bihar, jungle raj (misgovernance) during the RJD era was the main poll plank of the NDA
Railways to build smart parking hubs at six stations
RJD MLA faces backlash after slapping worker
Teen girl found dead outside city apartment
Timely surgery saves man after horrific facial injury
Mob lynches two after traders killing in Patna
Patna HC questions probe in cyberfraud case
JD(U) womens wing leader stabbed in Bhojpur
Congress expels seven leaders for anti-party activities
Nitish calls for renewed focus on industrialisation
Patna trader alleges Rs2-crore ransom threat
Uranium detected in breastmilk across 6 districts in Bihar, shows study, are babies at risk?
Congress expels seven leaders for six years over alleged claims of ticket selling in Bihar polls
PATNA : The Bihar Congress on Monday expelled seven leaders from the partys primary membership for six years for harming the partys dignity by making what it described as baseless and misleading claims that tickets were sold in the recently concluded state assembly election. The action was taken through an order issued by the partys disciplinary committee chairman, Kapildeo Prasad Yadav. The committee also contended that the party had maintained complete transparency regarding the issues raised by the leaders in their alleged propaganda. Leaders who have been expelled from the party include former Congress Seva Dal vice-president Aditya Paswan, former state Congress vice-president Shakeelur Rahman, former Kisan Congress president Raj Kumar Sharma, former state Youth Congress president Raj Kumar Rajan, the partys EBC cell former president Kudan Gupta, Banka district Congress president Kanchana Kumari, and Ravi Golden from Nalanda district. On 18 November, the partys disciplinary committee had issued show-cause notices to 43 leaders, including former ministers and MLAs, for offences such as deviation from party lines and making anti-party statements, thereby allegedly impacting the Congresss prospects in the assembly polls. The committee had asked all the leaders to submit their replies within three days, failing which strict action, including expulsion from the party for up to six years, would be initiated. All the leaders who were issued notices were accused of giving statements from public platforms during the elections, which the party said were damaging to its reputation and had a bearing on the poll outcome. Congress MP Tariq had also recently urged the party high command to conduct an impartial review of the entire ticket distribution process, saying that action should be taken against those found guilty of committing irregularities at any level. We have said that the Pradesh Congress Committee should convene a meeting to discuss the entire election process and the results, and there should be a discussion about how we suffered such a massive defeat. Our party is a national party, he added. Meanwhile, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar has asked all district party presidents and working presidents to review the partys performance in the recently concluded assembly polls. The Congress could win only six out of the 61 seats it contested. This was the second successive assembly election in which the partys performance remained dismal, as it had won only 19 out of the 70 seats it contested in the 2020 Bihar assembly election. The state Congress president has directed district presidents to convene review meetings in their respective districts soon to conduct an impartial and in-depth analysis of the political, organisational, and regional factors behind the election results. They have been asked to examine aspects such as voter turnout, booth-level activities, organisational strength, campaign issues, local factors and alliance conditions. District Congress presidents have been asked to send detailed review reports to the state Congress office immediately.
JD(U) leader Narendra Yadav appointed Pro-tem speaker of Bihar Assembly
BJP leader, Prem Kumar, who won from Gaya town for the ninth time, may be elected as Speaker
RJD leaders says the party neither commissioned these songs nor authorised them to use the names of the party and its leaders. Some of these songs that went viral on social media during the election period suggested Yadav caste supremacy, which the ruling alliance used to warn people of return of jungle raj
B N College internship highlights philosophys role in critical thinking
Chief secretary flags delays in acquisition of land for key reservoir project
Four workers injured as acid bottles explode at RPCAU in Samastipur
Two die, four hurt as wedding party vehicles plunge into gorge in Madhepura
Three held within hours of Rs8.5L robbery in Madhubani
BJP's 'Mission Bengal' Plan Deets Revealed. Like Bihar, Target Is 160+
Delhi - won. Bihar - won. Next up, Bengal. The BJP's formidable election-winning machinery survived another round of voter fraud charges this month and resumed its eastward trundle, aiming for Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool.
RPCAU students told to embrace agri technologies
Dharmendra's political journey was short-lived: 'An actor should remain an actor'
Dharmendra passes away: A native of Sahnewal near Ludhiana, Dharmendra's Punjabi charm struck a chord with voters in Rajasthan. His campaign drew large crowds and plenty of attention - both for his star power and his outspoken remarks. While the BJP, led by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, faced a defeat in the elections, Dharmendra was successful in his electoral debut, defeating Congress candidate Rameshwar Lal Dudi by nearly 60,000 votes.
Bihar STET answer key 2025 expected to be released soon at bsebstet.org: Check details here
The Bihar School Examination Board has released the provisional STET 2025 answer key on bsebstet.org, giving candidates their first official access to question-wise solutions. Applicants can review and challenge discrepancies before final results are compiled. The CBT-based exam, held for both Secondary and Higher Secondary levels, will be evaluated using category-wise qualifying marks set by the Board.
Calls intensify for aviation link in Shahabad region
Lock BLOs inside your house, don't let them delete names from voter list: Jharkhand minister on SIR
RANCHI: Addressing a gathering at Seva Ke Adhikar Saptah programme in Jamtara on Sunday, Jharkhand Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari advised people to lock the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) inside if they visit their homes for Survey of Intensive Revision (SIR). Ansari also alleged that the BJP is conspiring to brand people as infiltrators and eliminate their names from the voter list under the guise of SIR. If anybody (BLO) comes to remove your name (SIR) from the voter list, lock them inside your house.....I will come and open the lock. Never allow them at any cost to remove your name from the voter list, said Irfan Ansari. According to Ansari, SIR is being misused to remove voters from electoral rolls, further claiming that around 65 lakh names were removed from the voters list in Bihar under the same process, resulting in an estimated loss of nearly 80 assembly seats for the Mahagathbandhan. Ansari said that this move not only deprived thousands of citizens of their voting rights but also cast doubts on their citizenship. He warned that the BJP is now planning to implement similar tactics in West Bengal and then in Jharkhand. Addressing the gathering, Dr Ansari said that several documents are now required to be submitted for inclusion in the electoral roll, which many people may not be able to provide. Therefore, he said, SIR increases the risk of exclusion of valid voters from the electoral roll. Ansari cleared that the issue does not concern only Muslims but also affects tribal communities, Dalits, backward classes and all weaker sections of society. He cited the example of Bihar and urged public representatives to remain alert. Reacting strongly, BJP termed Ansaris remarks as misleading and an attempt to remain in the headlines. The party said that the minister is making baseless claims without proper understanding of SIR. The party said that BLOs are government employees who work under the direction of the Deputy Commissioner and should not be linked to any political party.
IRCTC scam case: Rabri Devi alleges bias, seeks transfer of CBI, ED cases to another court
Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi has requested a court to move the CBI and ED cases against her. She believes she will not receive fair and impartial justice. Devi is an accused in four cases, including land-for-jobs and the IRCTC scam. She claims the Special Judge's conduct shows bias towards the prosecution.
Bihar: Uranium found in breastmilk of lactating mothers, more studies expected in other states
Based on the observed uranium concentrations in breast milk samples (0-5.25 ug/L), the study still concludes that the actual impact on infant health is likely low, and most uranium absorbed by mothers is excreted primarily through urine, not concentrated in breast milk. Therefore, breastfeeding remains recommended, unless a clinical indication suggests otherwise
Can't Propagate Ideology Without Numbers: D Fadnavis Cites A PK Example
Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis offered Prashant Kishor a life lesson Monday - 'numbers over ideology, always, in politics' - after the Jan Suraaj boss' heavy defeat in the Bihar election.
Samrat Chaudhary Is New Bihar Home Minister. Does He Have The Power To Transfer Top Cops?
Nitish Kumar may have given up the Home portfolio, but by retaining the key General Administration Department, he continues to wield significant influence across the government
SIR row: Opposition making noise because 'they have something to hide', says Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM
The parties making noise over the SIR of voter lists have 'something to hide'. Bihar has proved that their position is weak, says U.P. Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya
IRCTC scam: Ex-Bihar CM Rabri Devi moves court seeking transfer of case, claims judge biased
NEW DELHI: Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi on Monday moved the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi seeking transfer of cases from the judge currently hearing the cases against her, her husband Lalu Yadav, their son Tejashwi Yadav and other family members in the IRCTC scam case , to another court. The application claimed that special judge, Vishal Gogne, who recently framed charges in the case is biased against her and conducts the proceedings with a premeditated mind. The present Application is being filed on behalf of the Applicant for seeking transfer of cases pending adjudication before the Court of Vishal Gogne to some other court of competent jurisdiction on the ground that there exists a reasonable and bona fide apprehension in the minds of the applicant that she would not get a fair and impartial trial in this court due to multiple reasons which have been detailed herein below, the application claimed. The application, moved by senior advocate Maninder Singh, claimed that Devi has not only experienced biased during court proceeding but also has a reasonable belief that the Judge conducts the proceedings with a premeditated mind with a sole aim to convict the applicant in the present cases. The applicant has reasonable apprehension of bias and may not get fair and impartial trial in these cases which have been falsely instituted against her, the plea added.
Bihar: Agency to Autonomy to Political Authority: Pipe Dream for Women Voters
There is a drastic mismatch between womens participation as voters and their representation as political leaders in the Assembly and the NDA cabinet.
From small-town lawyer to pinnacle of judiciary, 53rd CJI Surya Kant delivered many key verdicts
NEW DELHI: Justice Surya Kant, who took oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India on Monday, has been part of several key verdicts, including orders on Presidential Reference on removing timelines for governors, abrogation of Article 370, Bihar electoral roll revision , the Pegasus spyware case, free speech, and citizenship rights. Coming from a middle-class family in Haryana's Hisar district, CJI Kant started his professional journey as a small-town lawyer before reaching the pinnacle of the Indian judiciary. He took oath in Hindi in the name of God, and will remain in charge for nearly 15 months, till demitting office on February 9, 2027, on attaining the age of 65. Delineating his top two priorities as the head of the judiciary, CJI Kant recently told the media that dealing with a huge backlog of more than five crore cases across courts and promoting game changer mediation as an alternative mode of dispute resolution will be his two important goals. CJI Kant was recently part of a five-judge Constitution bench headed by his predecessor Justice B R Gavai, which ruled that the court cannot impose any timelines on governors or the president to grant assent to Bills passed by the state assemblies, but at the same time said governors do not have unfettered powers to sit on the Bills for perpetuity. CJI Kant also penned several notable judgments in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and was appointed the chief justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on October 5, 2018. His tenure as a Supreme Court judge is marked by verdicts on the abrogation of Article 370, free speech and citizenship rights. He was part of the bench that kept the colonial-era sedition law in abeyance, directing that no new FIRs be registered under it until a government review. CJI Kant also nudged the Election Commission to disclose the details of 65 lakh voters excluded from the draft electoral rolls in Bihar while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the poll panel's decision to undertake a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter list in the poll-bound state. In an order that emphasised grassroots democracy and gender justice, he led a bench that reinstated a woman sarpanch unlawfully removed from office and called out the gender bias in the matter. He is also credited with directing that one-third of seats in bar associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association, be reserved for women. CJI Kant was part of the bench that appointed a five-member committee headed by former top court judge Justice Indu Malhotra to probe the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Punjab in 2022, saying such matters required a judicially trained mind. He also upheld the 'One Rank-One Pension' scheme for defence forces, calling it constitutionally valid, and continues to hear petitions of women officers in the armed forces seeking parity in permanent commission. In another notable case, he upheld the Char Dham project in Uttarakhand, emphasising its strategic importance for national security, while balancing environmental concerns. His bench also observed that freedom of speech is not a licence to flout societal norms while cautioning podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia for his derogatory remarks. CJI Kant headed a bench which pulled up several stand-up comedians, including 'India's Got Latent' host Samay Raina, for ridiculing disabled people on their shows, and directed the Centre to come up with guidelines for regulating online content. Holding that freedom of speech is not absolute , CJI Kant led a bench which pulled up Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah for his remarks targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who gained nationwide prominence for media briefings on 'Operation Sindoor', saying every word uttered by a minister has to be with a sense of responsibility. He has repeatedly underscored that corruption undermines governance and public trust. In a 2023 verdict, he called it a serious societal threat and ordered the CBI to probe 28 cases exposing an unholy nexus between banks and developers that defrauded homebuyers. He also led a bench that granted bail to former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the CBI excise policy case, saying the agency must work to dispel the notion of being a caged parrot. His bench flagged the absence of a legal framework for domestic workers, directing the Centre to form an expert committee to propose protective measures for the vulnerable workforce. He has been part of more than 300 benches since his elevation to the Supreme Court. CJI Kant was also on the seven-judge bench that overruled the 1967 Aligarh Muslim University verdict, opening the way for reconsideration of its minority status. He was also part of the bench which in 2021 appointed a three-member panel of cyber experts to probe the alleged use of Israeli spyware Pegasus for surveillance of certain people in India, saying the state cannot get a free pass every time the spectre of national security is raised and it cannot be the ugbear that the judiciary shies away from. High Courts must respond quickly and accurately, just like emergency wards in hospitals: Justice Surya Kant
5-Star Hotel To Gunpoint: How A Job Offer Landed This Bihar Youth In Myanmars Cyber Racket
Dharmendra Kumar said he thought he was heading to join the job, but after a drive through mountainous terrain, armed men surrounded the car and kidnapped him at gunpoint
Rabri Devi seeks transfer of CBI and ED cases, alleging bias by Judge Vishal Gogne
Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi has filed a request seeking the transfer of four criminal cases involving her and her family away from the court of Special Judge Vishal Gogne at the Rouse Avenue Courts in Delhi. The matters include the CBIs IRCTC tender case, the land-for-jobs allegations, and the related money-laundering investigations being [] The post Rabri Devi seeks transfer of CBI and ED cases, alleging bias by Judge Vishal Gogne appeared first on India Legal .
The Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) has reopened applications for its Inter Level recruitment, now offering 23,175 posts. The registration deadline is November 27, 2025, with fees due by November 25. Candidates need to be 12th pass, with some roles requiring typing skills. The selection involves preliminary and main exams, with a preliminary exam featuring 150 objective questions.
Insider track | Wives are no secretaries or helpdesks!
At the Goa film festival, Suhasini Maniratnam seemed to have had her patience tested once too often. While chatting at an IFFI sidebar event, she reportedly found herself fielding more questions about her husband, filmmaker Mani Ratnam, than about her work. Suhasini, who was hosting a conversation with Khushboo Sundar, gentlybut firmlyreminded everyone that wives are not automatically secretaries, spokespeople, or helpdesks for their husbands. Women, she noted, do manage to exist as individuals with their own professional identities. If someone truly wants insights from Mani Ratnam, she quipped, perhaps they could try the radical step of asking him directly. A small, pointed reminder that autonomy isnt too much to expect, yet often elusive. PMO presses for ease of living The Prime Ministers Office (PMO) has instructed ministries to identify petty violations that needlessly draw ordinary people into disproportionate legal complications. Emphasising ease of living for citizens, the move aims to decriminalise minor lapses and discard outdated regulations. The PMO has also said that Indias laws should reflect todays realities, not the paperwork of a bygone era. At its core, the initiative aims to simplify compliance, streamline governance, and demonstrate that a modern nation cannot be governed by antiquated rules. Ultimately, this reform is about more than reducing casesit is about restoring common sense. Babus worry about pension Serving and retired IAS officers are increasingly uneasy about government orders to the 8th Central Pay Commission to assess the unfunded cost of non-contributory pension schemes. Officers under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), funded by the Consolidated Fund of India, are closely watching the implications. A new government circular requires IAS officers to choose their pension optionOPS, the National Pension System (NPS), or the Unified Pension Schemeby November 30, 2025. The OPS covered all officers appointed before April 1, 2005. After this date, the government introduced the contributory NPS for most civil servants, while IAS officers and defence personnel remained under OPS for a brief period. The current review has reignited debate over pension liabilities and long-term financial security. Of early warnings & sense of humour South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a warm exchange with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 summit, quipped that Indias experience with the G20 had been quite the learning for his country. Thanking India for its support as South Africa hosted its first-ever G20 summit, he joked, You should have warned us how difficult it iswe might have run away! This years summit came with its own unusual twist: the United States chose to stay away, a decision that drew particular attention considering it is slated to host the next gathering. There was a public spat between the two countries over the Americans decision not to take part in the current summit. Despite the unexpected diplomatic wrinkle, South Africas debut outing appears to have been handled with confidence. Perhaps a touch of humour from the president just helped. Chirag and star power for politics The Union minister and chief of the LJP(RV) is known not just for his political clout but also for his enthusiastic faith in astrology. Kundali matching, planetary analysis, favourable yogashe reportedly consults them all. Party insiders claim he even weighs candidature proposals against the contenders horoscopes. During the Bihar Assembly polls, those blessed with a stronger rajyog reportedly ranked higher in the ticket queue. Despite his devotion to the stars, Chirag still talks often of karma, aligning it neatly with his Bihar First, Bihari First mantra. His colourful bracelets and sparkling ringsincluding a much-discussed silver thumb ringseem to complete the picture. And perhaps a few well-timed horoscopes helped light the Chirag for his candidates in Bihar.
LDFs campaign will expose SIR as an attack on democracy and equality
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a quick chat with TNIE, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam outlines LDFs united stand on key issues, from Sabarimala to welfare pensions. He stresses on Left unity, people-centric development, and resistance to BJPs ideological agenda. Excerpts: Do you think the recent controversy over the Sabarimala gold theft and the unresolved man-animal conflicts will hurt the LDF in the local body elections? From the very beginning, we have made it clear that we fully support the SIT investigation in the Sabarimala issue. The government will not shield anyone involved, and this must be communicated openly to the public throughout the campaign. On man-animal conflict, our position is straightforward: human life comes first. While we value biodiversity and recognise that animals are a part of the ecosystem, our priority is to protect people when their lives are threatened. You have opposed SIR strongly. How will you bring it into the campaign? SIR is a BJP-RSS scheme to deny voting rights to dalits, adivasis, and the poor. It stems from Golwalkars Bunch of Thoughts, which insists that only those who accept their version of religion and culture deserve citizenship. Their vision is rooted in chaturvarnya and Manusmriti, excluding marginalised communities. Weve already seen its impact in Bihar, where even the Election Commission acted like the BJPs executive committee. Our campaign will expose SIR as an attack on democracy and equality. On PM SHRI, differences between CPI and CPM lingered even after the government revised its stand. Will this affect LDFs campaign coordination? PM SHRI is not a minor issue; it touches ideology, politics, education, and values. From the start, the LDF approached it with unity. When the BJP tries to push its chaturvarnya-based agenda into education, the Left can only oppose it. Both CPI and CPM share this position, so the LDF has one clear stand. Though opponents and the press tried to portray a clash, we were confident of resolving it collectively. That unity is the strength of the LDF. This is not the victory of one party, but of all partners together, a political victory for both CPI and CPM. Will the increase in welfare pensions help LDF electorally? It will, but more importantly, it reflects our vision of development. The UDF once mocked us as a pension government, but we proudly stand by it. For us, development is not just highways and big projects, it is improving peoples lives and giving them hope. Yes, we are a pension and kit government, but for the poor. That shows clearly who we represent.
Bihar state cabinet has criminals and crorepatis, says ADR
NEW DELHI: Nearly half of Bihars ministers face criminal cases and almost all have assets running into crores, according to a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The document, Analysis of Criminal Background, Financial, Education, Gender and Other Details of Ministers in the Bihar Assembly 2025, reviews the affidavits of 24 ministers. It shows that 11 of them have criminal cases and nine of them face serious charges such as rioting, assault on public servants, cheating, forgery, grievous hurt and electoral offences. The report notes that criminal allegations cut across party lines. Six BJP ministers have criminal cases, two from JD(U) have similar cases, both ministers of LJP(RV) are named in complaints and the only HAM(S) minister also faces serious charges. No convictions are recorded. The details show a cabinet with considerable economic strength, as 21 of the 24 ministers have assets above Rs1 crore. The average declared wealth is a little over Rs 5.32 crore.
Dynasty politics and votes: The family packs of Bihar
The Bihar Assembly election threw family members of politicians into the limelight. The sons and daughters of MPs and MLAs say they have been elected based on their potential and their work
Justice Surya Kant to take oath today
NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Justice Surya Kant, who has been part of several landmark verdicts and orders on abrogation of Article 370 removing Jammu and Kashmirs special status, Bihar electoral rolls revision and Pegasus spyware case, will on Monday take oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp He will succeed Justice B R Gavai, who demits office this evening. Justice Kant was appointed as the next CJI on October 30 and will [] The post Justice Surya Kant to take oath today appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
BJP to Highlight SIR Issue in Bengal Polls
The BJP and its allies bagged a sweeping majority in Bihar, where the Opposition had been attacking it over the SIR exercise and linking it to vote chori.
Amid 'SIR deaths', officials say Phase-2 easier than Bihar exercise
The Council of BJP: on the Bihar Council of Ministers
Nitish Kumar and JD(U) are no longer in command in Bihar
Bulldozer raj begins in Bihar, says Dipankar
Indias New Labour Codes: The Pros and Cons
Jag Mohan Thaken After a thumping win in the Bihar Assembly elections, the BJP-led central government has begun implementing its long-pending policy agendas. On Friday, November 21, 2025, it officially notified the four labour codes that had been awaiting implementation since 2019 and 2020. The government claims that Indias Labour Codes mark a major reform [] The post Indias New Labour Codes: The Pros and Cons appeared first on Northlines .
SVU seizes cash & jewellery from excise superintendent's premises
Anil Kumar Azad, the Excise Superintendent, is under scrutiny from the Vigilance Unit for allegedly acquiring assets exceeding Rs 1 crore that cannot be justified by his declared income. In coordinated operations in Patna, Aurangabad, and Jehanabad, authorities discovered substantial real estate holdings, fixed deposits, and investments registered under both Azad and his wife's names.
PPU rules to curb plagiarism in PhD theses: Registrar
In a bid to uphold academic honesty, Patliputra University has introduced rigorous plagiarism regulations for PhD theses, limiting similarities to 40% and imposing consequences on supervisors for exceeding this threshold. Additionally, as part of the NEP 2020 initiative, the university is refreshing its postgraduate curriculum to enhance career readiness and research competencies.
Bihar DGP: Petty crimes will be treated as organised now
In a groundbreaking move, Bihar's DGP has expanded the definition of organised crime to encompass minor infractions such as theft and pickpocketing. This innovative framework, dubbed 'small organised crime', seeks to proactively dismantle criminal networks by tracking offenders even for seemingly trivial offenses.
3 die, 4 hurt as speeding SUV crashes into divider on NH 27 in Darbhanga
Now, PK joins rigged chorus as Jan Suraaj bites dust
In a startling turn of events, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj party suffered a crushing defeat in the Bihar assembly elections. Kishor didn't hold back, claiming that the election process was tainted by 'invisible forces' manipulating the outcomes. He pointed to suspicious vote counts for obscure parties and the strangely uniform tallies for several NDA candidates.
RJD mocks Deepaks miraculous rise from counting agent to min
The Rashtriya Janata Dal has voiced its concerns over Deepak Prakash's rapid rise to the cabinet minister position in Bihar, drawing attention to his previous stint as a counting agent for an Independent candidate whose deposit was lost. Despite being a non-MLA, questions linger around his appointment.
Womans murder sparks protests in Bihar's Nawada town
Nawada was engulfed in terror when a gruesome home invasion took the life of a 48-year-old woman, leaving her daughter in critical condition. Armed with knives, screwdrivers, and iron rods, the masked robbers executed their chilling attack.
Toxic air & water pollution fuelling rise in lung cancer cases in state, says expert
Health specialists are sounding the alarm about the increasing cases of lung cancer among non-smokers in India, particularly in Bihar, where intense air and groundwater pollution is rampant. The presence of harmful arsenic in food and water, along with subpar living conditions, is contributing to a troubling rise in cancer rates.
CUSB launches special admission drive for SC/ST candidates
Bihar Resident Dies in Srinagar Road Accident
SRINAGAR: A 45-year-old man from Bihar lost his life after he met with an accident in the Nowgam area of Central Kashmirs Srinagar district on Sunday evening. Sources said that the deceased has been identified as Sukhadi Rawat (45), a resident of Bihar presently living in Rajbagh, Srinagar. He sustained grievous injuries in an accident []
Congress asserts INDIA alliance united ahead of crucial Winter session
NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament, Congress whip and member of the partys parliamentary strategy group Tamil Nadu MP Manickam Tagore on Sunday asserted that the INDIA alliance remains united and that the Congress is committed to taking other parties along. The session, comprising 15 sittings, is scheduled to begin on 1 December and conclude on 19 December. Speaking to TNIE , the Tamil Nadu MP said the Congress would work in tandem with its INDIA bloc partners and firm up effective floor coordination after the all-party meeting slated for 30 November. Congress is committed to taking other parties along. We dont take any unilateral decisions. We are very clear that floor coordination will be stronger, Tagore said, noting that the bloc has consistently tried to improve its joint strategy in Parliament. We hope it will be issue-based coordination. This time as well, we expect the issues to take centre stage. Tagore added that the Congress and its allies are prepared to present a cohesive front on key matters expected to be raised during the session. The all-party meeting is crucial, said Tagore, adding that it will determine whether the government is willing to discuss the Oppositions demands, particularly the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in nine states and Union Territories, as well as other issues that he said have significantly affected people. What the government is ready to offer is very important, he said. There will be a demand for discussion on the SIR, on vote theft, and on many other matters. Democracy is under attack, and we want the government to be open with the Opposition. He added that the Opposition will attend the all-party meeting with an open mind. The leader said the Opposition wants Parliament to function effectively and insisted that the House must take up issues that require urgent discussion. We want the peoples issues to be discussed, but the governments arrogance is preventing Parliament from running smoothly, he alleged. They are curtailing the number of sitting days. The Prime Minister is not coming to Parliament; he is not answering questions. This is the attitude of the government, and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister is leading this bulldozing approach. He added that in previous sessions as well, the Opposition had been ready for debate. We want Parliament to function, and we are open to discussions. We want to raise the democratic rights of the people, which have been under attack, he said. Tagore noted that the party has always believed in taking everyone along, even though electoral setbacks do occur. Referring to the recent results in Bihar, he said the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) was the major partner while Congress played a junior role, and the defeat affected the entire Mahagathbandhan. He attributed part of the setback to alleged unfairness in the process overseen by the Election Commission. There were reasons for the outcome, and this was one of the main concerns, he said, adding that the alliance continues to function as a team. Calling the SIR issue fundamental to the Constitution and the democratic process, Tagore emphasised that the alliance remains united in its fight for justice. The fight for democracy is one of our main issues, he added.
Bihar Over, Rahul Gandhi And BJP Clash Over Bengal's New SIR Frontline
After the intense battles fought on the plains of Bihar and in the Supreme Court, the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise frontline has moved to West Bengal.
Sitamarhi civil surgeon issues show-cause notice to doctor after dispute
NDA weighs choice for assembly Speaker post amid power balance concerns
Minister pledges district-level industrial network in Bihar
Nitish orders speedy allotment of new MLA flats
Uranium Detected In Breastmilk In Bihar: Dont Panic, Keep Breastfeeding, Say Experts
Experts tell News18 that misinterpretation of the study could cause far more harm than the uranium levels themselves, as the real danger is stopping breastfeeding in panic
Why NDA swept Bihar ignoring Prashant Kishors long-term vision
Almost all prepoll surveys got it wrong about the extent of the NDA victories. But they got one thing right: Prashant Kishors poor performance. They, however, largely missed the reasons for his very poor show. All opinions by pundits provided their reasons only after the results. That hasnt fazed leader of the Jan Suraaj Party Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Patna HC orders health audit of Deo Sun Temple and Umga temple complex
Uranium found in breast milk in 6 Bihar districts - are babies at risk?
Uranium (U238) was detected in all breast milk samples from 40 mothers in Bihar, with nearly 70% of infants facing exposure linked to potential non-carcinogenic health risks. Researchers emphasize breastfeeding should continue despite the contamination, calling for urgent biomonitoring and public-health intervention.
Election Commission has ordered Assam officials to remove non-human and no image entries from electoral rolls.
Womens colleges in Rohtas & Kaimur still lack basic courses
MUs 22nd convocation on Nov 25 after 10-year gap
UAE national arrested for illegal border crossing bid
Nitish Kumar will get AIMIM's cooperation if he keeps communalism at bay: Owaisi
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has offered full cooperation to the new NDA government in Bihar. This support is conditional on the government ensuring justice for the Muslim-dominated Seemanchal region. Owaisi also stressed the need to keep communalism out of politics. He highlighted the neglect of Seemanchal, a region with significant Dalit and tribal populations.
From Bihar to Bengal: How SIR is reshaping voter rolls; a deep dive into how it works
India's voter rolls are undergoing a Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a nationwide exercise to ensure accuracy. While the Election Commission calls it crucial for democracy, political parties allege it's a politically motivated move to alter electoral outcomes, sparking debate and legal challenges. The process aims for clean rolls but faces opposition concerns.
Uranium Found in Breast Milk in Multiple Bihar Districts, New Study Reveals Alarming Exposure Levels
A new study has found uranium (U-238) in the breast milk of lactating mothers across several Bihar districts, with the highest levels in Katihar. While 70% of infants showed potential non-carcinogenic health risks, researchers say breastfeeding ...
No Reason For Alarm: Scientist Punctures Scare Over Uranium In Breastmilk
In a reassuring statement that addresses concern over a study that found uranium in the breastmilk of lactating mothers in Bihar, a senior scientist and member of National Disaster Management Authority has said the study's findings pose no concern
Assam SIR: BLOs to check for 'non-human', 'no image' entries
The Election Commission has directed its field staff in Assam to identify and replace 'non-human' and 'no image' entries in electoral rolls with proper voter photographs. This directive follows claims of animal images appearing in Bihar's voter list. Booth-level officers will conduct field verification and collect necessary applications for image replacement.
Bihar Board Class 10, 12 Date Sheet 2026: Check Expected Date, Past Year Trends Here
Bihar Board Date Sheet 2026: Students can expect the date sheet to be released in early December, 2025, according to past year trends.
Justice Surya Kant to take oath on Monday as next Chief Justice of India
NEW DELHI: Justice Surya Kant, who has been part of several landmark verdicts and orders on abrogation of Article 370 removing Jammu and Kashmir's special status, Bihar electoral rolls revision and Pegasus spyware case, will on Monday take oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India . He will succeed Justice B R Gavai, who demits office this evening. Justice Kant was appointed as the next CJI on October 30 and will remain in the post for nearly 15 months. He will demit office on February 9, 2027 on attaining the age of 65 years. Born on February 10, 1962 in Hisar district of Haryana to a middle-class family, Justice Kant went from being a small-town lawyer to the country's highest judicial office, where he has been part of several verdicts and orders of national importance and constitutional matters. He also has the distinction of standing 'first class first' in his Master's degree in law in 2011 from Kurukshetra University. Justice Kant, who penned several notable judgments in the Punjab and Haryana HC, was appointed the chief justice of Himachal Pradesh HC on October 5, 2018. His tenure as an SC judge is marked by verdicts on the abrogation of Article 370, free speech and citizenship rights. 'Will prioritise reducing pendancy of cases': CJI designate Surya Kant The judge was part of the recent presidential reference on the powers of the Governor and President in dealing with bills passed by a state assembly. The verdict is keenly awaited with potential ramifications across states. He was part of the bench that kept the colonial-era sedition law in abeyance, directing that no new FIRs be registered under it until a government review. Justice Kant also nudged the Election Commission to disclose the details of 65 lakh voters excluded from the draft electoral rolls in Bihar while hearing a batch of petitions challenging the poll panel's decision to undertake Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters list in the poll-bound state. In an order that emphasised grassroots democracy and gender justice, he led a bench that reinstated a woman sarpanch unlawfully removed from office and called out the gender bias in the matter. He is also credited with directing that one-third of seats in bar associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association, be reserved for women. Justice Kant was part of the bench that appointed a five-member committee headed by former top court judge Justice Indu Malhotra to probe the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Punjab in 2022, saying such matters required a judicially trained mind. He also upheld the One Rank-One Pension scheme for defence forces, calling it constitutionally valid, and continues to hear petitions of women officers in the armed forces seeking parity in permanent commission. Justice Kant was on the seven-judge bench that overruled the 1967 Aligarh Muslim University judgment, opening the way for reconsideration of the institution's minority status. He was also part of the bench which heard the Pegasus spyware case and which appointed a panel of cyber experts to probe allegations of unlawful surveillance, famously stating that the state cannot get a free pass under the guise of national security.
Prashant Kishor claims Bihar polls rigged but admits he has no proof
Election strategist and Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor broke his silence on Sunday following his partys poor performance in the recently concluded Bihar Assembly elections, claiming that the polls appeared rigged, although he admitted he currently had no proof to substantiate the allegation, he was speaking in an interview with India Today TV . Kishor described the partys defeat as crushing but insisted that the Jan Suraaj campaign had generated significant traction on the ground. He argued that the actual voting trends did not align with the feedback his team had gathered during months of the Jan Suraaj yatra, suggesting that something went wrong in the process. He also alleged that some invincible powers influenced the results, noting that unknown parties ended up securing lakhs of votes. Kishor said he was being urged by people to claim that electronic voting machines (EVMs) had been manipulated, but he stressed that these were only allegations without evidence at this stage. New Nitish Kumar cabinet full of corrupt, criminal leaders, alleges Prashant Kishor According to Kishor, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had distributed money to thousands of women voters in Bihar to sway the election outcome. He claimed that from the announcement of elections until polling day, women were handed an initial installment of Rs 10,000, with promises of further amounts totaling Rs 2 lakh if they voted for the NDA and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Kishor remarked that he had never witnessed a government distributing money to such an extent in Bihar or elsewhere in India. He further pointed to the lingering fear of Lalu Prasad Yadavs Jungle Raj as a factor that worked against Jan Suraaj. Kishor noted that many voters assumed his party was unlikely to win and feared that voting for it could inadvertently aid the return of Lalus rule, which reportedly discouraged support. Responding to critics who prematurely declared his political career over, Kishor dismissed such claims, asserting that public attention on him only indicated he remained a significant player in politics. He said the narrative of his career was far from over. The Jan Suraaj Party, which contested 238 of the 243 Assembly seats, failed to win a single constituency. Preliminary party estimates suggested it secured only 23% of the vote, with most candidates losing their deposits. JD(U) would have been bundled up with 25 seats had it not given Rs 10,000 to women: Prashant Kishor
Justice Surya Kant To Take Oath On Monday As Next CJI
NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Justice Surya Kant, who has been part of several landmark verdicts and orders on abrogation of Article 370 removing Jammu and Kashmirs special status, Bihar electoral rolls revision and Pegasus spyware case, will on Monday take oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India. He will succeed Justice B R Gavai, who demits office this evening. Justice Kant was appointed as the next CJI on October 30 and will remain in the post for nearly 15 [] The post Justice Surya Kant To Take Oath On Monday As Next CJI appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Owaisi thanks people of Seemanchal region after 5-seat win
Illegal cough syrup trade: UP Police book 12 medical store owners
An FIR has been filed against twelve medical store owners and two individuals in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh. They are accused of running a large illegal trade of codeine-based cough syrup. Over 37 lakh bottles worth Rs 57 crore were allegedly sold using forged documents. The syrup was smuggled to Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
A young woman from Bihar, driven by a childhood dream, overcame significant personal tragedy and societal limitations to become a leading breast radiologist. Her journey, marked by academic brilliance, a successful medical career, and athletic achievements, exemplifies resilience and the power of turning adversity into opportunity.
