The Supreme Court is set to hear petitions challenging the appointment process of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners on February 4. The case addresses concerns about the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from the selection panel, which is seen as excessive executive interference.
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Popular content creators Abhi & Niyu shared insights on digital learning and storytelling at the TOI summit, emphasizing continuous effort and the rise of online education. They discussed the evolving job market in the AI era, the significance of hands-on skills, and the importance of embracing entrepreneurship and failure.
Soma Das, a cancer survivor, remains distressed despite retaining her teaching job due to humanitarian grounds. She sympathizes with other teachers who lost their positions in the job scam, expressing that their fight was also hers. Das relies on her salary to fund her medical treatment.
Indore and Udaipur have become the first Indian cities to gain international recognition as accredited wetland cities under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty focused on wetland conservation. Although Bhopal was also nominated, it missed out due to ecological concerns. Currently, 85 Indian wetlands are protected under this treaty, which includes 172 member countries globally.
Cockfight organisers in Andhra Pradesh have upped the ante this Sankranti by offering high-value prizes like Mahindra Thar, Royal Enfield bullets, and home appliances. These lucrative rewards have attracted participants from major cities, aiming to enhance enthusiasm for the traditional sport while ensuring memorable experiences for contestants.
Home Minister Amit Shah criticized NCP chief Sharad Pawar's tenure as Union agriculture minister, questioning his contributions to Maharashtra's cooperative sector. Shah highlighted the BJP-led government's efforts to support cooperatives through initiatives like ethanol blending and tax reductions. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde praised PM Modi's 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' slogan, emphasizing supplementary industries for farmers.
A tragic incident occurred in Telangana's Kamareddy district as a 26-year-old woman, Monika, and her three children, Vinay (7), Akshara (9), and Mythili (10), drowned in a pond. The children unknowingly stepped into a pit while bathing and began to drown. Monika attempted to save them but also drowned in the process.
Belagavi will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's 1924 Congress session. Nearby Hudali, where Gandhi stayed in 1937, continues his teachings of self-reliance and non-violence. The village thrives on Khadi production, abstains from alcohol and tobacco, and maintains communal harmony, making it a model of Gandhi's vision for rural India.
Rajya Sabha Congress MP Vivek K Tankha has urged the Central government to discuss with Pakistan the creation of a corridor to Sharda Peeth, a revered Hindu temple in PoK, similar to the Kartarpur corridor. He emphasized the need for the rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits and providing them religious access, highlighting security and essential facility concerns.
The United States' ATA report identifies China and India as key suppliers of precursor chemicals for illicit fentanyl. China remains the primary source, with India following. Diplomatic tensions rise as the U.S. imposes tariffs on Chinese imports, citing Beijing's failure to regulate shipments contributing to the fentanyl crisis.
Congress leader Sandeep Dixit questions Akhilesh Yadav's support for AAP in the Delhi Assembly elections, suggesting it may be influenced by AAP's policies. Akhilesh stated that supporting AAP is strategic to defeat the BJP as AAP is stronger than Congress in Delhi. The Delhi polls are scheduled for February, with nominations closing on January 17.