Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has proposed that the Centre constitute a group of Union ministers and an expert committee to hold discussions with stakeholders and emulate the "Telangana model" for the caste census. Reddy also recommended that the Central government engage with all political parties and civil society organizations before initiating the process, and ensure clear timelines are established. The CM expressed willingness to cooperate with the Centre and share the state's experience, citing that one year was sufficient to complete the exercise in Telangana. The decision to include caste enumeration in the census exercise was welcomed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who suggested Telangana as a model for the same.
The Modi-led central government has approved a caste census for the upcoming national enumeration, with citizens now being counted by their caste identities as well as demographic parameters. This decision means that a caste certificate may become necessary for participation in government jobs, scholarships, and welfare schemes. However, the good news is that the process of obtaining a caste certificate has been digitized and can now be done from the comfort of one's home through their respective state government's official website. This data collected from the caste census will aid policymakers in formulating effective reservation policies, welfare schemes, and social justice programmes.
The police have arrested Dilbahadur Shrestha, a member of the Shahi Yuva Shakti, in connection to the violent pro-monarchy protest that took place on March 28 in Kathmandu. Shrestha is facing charges of organizing the disruptive group, and the police are also on the lookout for other individuals, including Durga Prasai, who are believed to have incited the violence. The arrest of Shrestha follows the earlier detention of Pashupati Khadka, the Chairman of the Shahi Yuva Sakti, who is still in custody. The government's policy to promote good governance and economic growth has been emphasized amidst the ongoing crisis in Nepali mountaineering.
Former Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Women, Lakshmi M Puri, filed a complaint with Delhi Police after her contacts received calls from her asking for money. This incident occurred after Puri received a call from a number she knew and shared an OTP with the caller. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for others to not share personal information over the phone. In a similar incident, a constable and his siblings faced the threat of deportation due to their Pakistani heritage, but were ultimately able to stay in their community thanks to a petition filed in the High Court.
During the inauguration of the Vizhinjam port, Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes a dig at the INDI Alliance, stating that the event will disturb the sleep of many. He also mentions Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's presence and adds that the plaque unveiled by him mentions Tharoor's name. It is noteworthy that Tharoor has previously faced backlash from his party for speaking in support of the BJP government. The Vizhinjam port is expected to have a major impact on India's international trade and shipping.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has voiced his support for the families of those killed in the recent Pahalgam terror attack, stating that they deserve to be recognized as martyrs for their sacrifice. The opposition leader has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respect the sentiments of the families and grant martyr status to their loved ones. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has turned down a plea on the Pahalgam attack, stating that such actions can demoralize the security forces.
The Karnataka government is preparing for a comprehensive door-to-door survey starting from May 5 to gather data on the sub-castes and social-economic conditions of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. This survey is in response to the ongoing demand for internal reservation within the SC community, particularly for the most marginalized sub-castes. The retired Justice H.N. Nagamoohana Das-led commission established by the High Court will conduct the survey and formulate recommendations by November 12, 2024, for the implementation of SC reservation according to demographics in the state. A total of 58,960 enumerators and 6,000 supervisors have been appointed for this purpose, with the aim of assessing the statistics and needs of the SC community.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently inaugurated the beautiful Jagannath Dham temple in Digha. The temple, built in the traditional Kalinga architectural style, is expected to become a popular pilgrimage and tourism spot in the region. The project, developed by the state government at a cost of Rs 250 crore, involved the contribution of over 800 skilled artisans from Rajasthan. In her speech, Banerjee praised the temple as a symbol of Bengal's devotion and cultural heritage, embodying the unity and spirit of its people.
The newly appointed BBMP Commissioner Maheshwar Rao has responded to criticism from Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya regarding the poor state of Bengaluru's civic infrastructure. In an exclusive interview with News18, Rao stated that the BBMP is committed to making Bengaluru the top city in India and welcomes suggestions and ideas for improvement. He also addressed criticisms of the Pothole Fix app, claiming that many complaints were found to be false.
The Maharashtra government has appointed Deven Bharti, a 1994-batch IPS officer, as the new Commissioner of Mumbai Police. Bharti has previously served at important postings in Mumbai, including as the Special Commissioner of Police. This decision comes after the retirement of former commissioner Vivek Phansalkar, with possible contenders including NIA chief Sadanand Date and Archana Tyagi. Bharti's appointment also marks the first time a woman has headed the Mumbai Police.