
Govt accepts Oppn demand of debate on Operation Sindoor during Parliament Monsoon Session, say sources
The sources, however, added that the government is yet to take a call regarding a debate on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.
The Monsoon session, starting on July 21, will conclude on August 21.
On Saturday, the Opposition INDIA bloc held a virtual meeting of 24 of its constituents, reaching a consensus on eight major issues that they plan to raise during the Monsoon session, including the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, ceasefire announcement by US President Donald Trump, India's foreign policy, and the Election Commission's ongoing electoral rolls revision in Bihar.
The virtual meeting was attended by Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh of the Congress; Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav; TMC's Abhishek Banerjee; Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut; NCP(SP)'s Sharad Pawar and Jayant Patil; National Conference's Omar Abdullah; JMM's Hemant Soren; RJD's Tejashwi Yadav; and DMK's Tiruchi N Siva. The CPI, CPI(M) and CPI(ML) Liberation were represented by D Raja, M A Baby, and Dipankar Bhattacharya respectively. Kerala Congress (M) MP Jose K Mani, RSP's N K Premachandran, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi's Thirumavalavan and IUML's K M Kader Mohideen also attended the meeting.
This is going to be the first session since the April 22 Pahalgam attack, in which 25 tourists and a local ponywallah were killed. Subsequently, Operation Sindoor was conducted by the Indian armed forces in Pakistan against terror emanating from that country.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
Monsoon Session Kicks Off On A Stormy Note: LS Adjourned Amid Sindoor Row, Demands For PM Statement
The Monsoon Session 2025 began with high drama in Parliament as the Opposition disrupted Lok Sabha proceedings, demanding an urgent discussion on Operation Sindoor, the Pahalgam attack, and Donald Trump's ceasefire claim. Speaker Om Birla was forced to adjourn the House till 12 PM, calling for calm and urging MPs to follow procedure. The BJP asserted that the government is ready to answer all queries but criticized the Opposition for 'creating drama'. PM Modi had earlier hailed Operation Sindoor as a 'Vijay Utsav', triggering further demands from the Congress for a full-fledged debate and a PM statement. While the Speaker assured ample time for all MPs under the rules, Congress MPs insisted this is not just a national security issue, but a matter of parliamentary accountability.#pmmodi #loksabha2025 #operationsindoor #modivsopposition #pmmodistatement #sindoorrow #parliamentprotest #monsoonsessionlive #adjournmentdrama #kcvenugopal #ombirla #toi #toibharat #bharat #trending #breakingnews #indianews Read More
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
16 minutes ago
- First Post
In numbers: How women lead India's startup revolution
Women entrepreneurs are driving a transformative wave across India's startup ecosystem, putting the country prominently on the global map of startup ventures read more India is witnessing a quiet yet powerful transformation — one that is being led by women entrepreneurs across the length and breadth of the country. Union Minister Jitendra Singh has said that of the 1.7 lakh startups currently operating in India, nearly 76,000 are led by women. This milestone is more than symbolic as it signals a structural shift in how innovation, economic participation and leadership are being reshaped across India's entrepreneurial landscape. Collectively, these startups have generated over 17 lakh jobs, contributing meaningfully to India's employment base and economic development. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This transformation is not limited to India's metropolitan hubs. The Indian minister pointed out that smaller towns, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 urban clusters in poorer states such as parts of Bihar, are emerging as fertile grounds for women-led ventures. These new entrepreneurial hotspots show the expanding reach of India's startup ecosystem into areas that were historically left out of the innovation discourse. Where women found and flourished Data from the Startup India digital map reveals that states such as Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh host the highest number of women-led startups. Maharashtra alone accounts for nearly 13,700 of these ventures, demonstrating how infrastructural advantages and capital access can fuel female entrepreneurship. Southern states such as Telangana and Kerala also show strong numbers, suggesting the influence of state-level policies designed to foster inclusive growth. However, the data also reflect disparities. Northeastern states and Union Territories such as Sikkim, Ladakh and Lakshadweep continue to lag in supporting women-led enterprises, largely due to limitations in market access, mentorship and funding. This regional imbalance highlights the need for more localised interventions tailored to the challenges of these underrepresented areas. A global powerhouse in women-led startup funding On the global stage, India ranks second only to the United States in terms of cumulative funding raised by companies with women founders. According to a recent report by Tracxn, women-led tech startups in India have collectively raised a staggering $26.4 billion to date. In 2024 alone, these ventures secured $1 billion in funding — representing 8.76 per cent of all tech startup capital raised in the country that year. Despite a 25 per cent decline from 2023's funding figures, the early-stage investment segment actually grew by six per cent, reflecting increased investor confidence in newer women-led ventures. Still, the need for sustained capital support remains critical, especially as fewer startups progress beyond Series A funding. Bengaluru: India's startup capital for women Among Indian cities, Bengaluru stands as the unequivocal leader in both the number of women-led startups and total funding secured. It is followed by Mumbai and the Delhi-NCR region. This dominance reflects not only access to capital and talent but also the presence of supportive ecosystems that encourage risk-taking and innovation by women founders. Bengaluru's startup culture — long heralded for its openness to diversity and experimentation — has provided a conducive environment for many prominent women-led companies further strengthening its position as a launchpad for entrepreneurial success. Sectoral impact: Beyond traditional boundaries Women-led startups are not confined to a narrow band of sectors. The Tracxn report reveals that these ventures span diverse industries, with the retail sector leading in cumulative funding at $7.8 billion. Edtech follows at $5.4 billion, while enterprise applications claim $5 billion. This diversification signals a maturity in the ecosystem—women founders are not just participating, they are innovating across verticals that were once considered male-dominated. Emerging sub-sectors such as fashion tech, Internet-first consumer brands and B2C ecommerce are seeing increased activity by women founders, redefining what entrepreneurial leadership looks like in India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Unicorns, IPOs and the journey ahead India's women-led startup ecosystem has already produced multiple unicorns, with notable spikes in 2021 when eight new unicorns emerged. While the pace has slowed — 2023 and 2024 saw no new unicorns — the groundwork for future growth continues to be laid. In terms of public market participation, five women-led startups went public in 2024, including notable names like MobiKwik and LawSikho. These successful IPOs mark important milestones, proving that women entrepreneurs are not only building scalable businesses but also ones that are investment-worthy at the highest levels. However, the path to unicorn status and public listing remains steep. Only 2.3 per cent of funded women-led startups have advanced to Series C or beyond. Addressing this requires more institutional backing, mentorship networks, and long-term funding strategies. Icons of innovation A number of women-led startups have emerged as industry benchmarks. Startups such as ACKO, LivSpace, Amagi and The Good Glamm Group are disrupting fields such as insurtech, proptech, SaaS and digital consumer goods. These ventures showcase the range, impact and ambition that characterise the new wave of women-led innovation in India. Government support and vision The government has not remained a passive observer in this evolution. At a recent conference on women's development in Bihar, Singh stressed upon the government's focus on empowering women through institutional and scientific avenues. Initiatives such as the WISE (Women in Science and Engineering), CURIE and GATI schemes aim to build both skill and confidence among aspiring women innovators. Bihar, for instance, is being positioned as a model state in women-led development, thanks to programmes like the Lakhpati Didi scheme and 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayats. These efforts reflect a strategic push to embed women-centric leadership into the country's developmental blueprint. Singh also emphasised how women are increasingly occupying leadership roles in traditionally male-dominated sectors. India now boasts over one-third of its CSIR laboratories headed by women scientists. Women are playing vital roles in space missions, defence and policy-making—reshaping perceptions and realities at the highest levels. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Inclusive and bold India's women-led startup revolution is more than a statistical phenomenon. It is a powerful indicator of what inclusive, equitable growth can look like. From Bengaluru's tech corridors to the grassroots of Bihar, women are shaping a new economic narrative grounded in creativity, resilience and impact. Yet, the journey is far from complete. Funding gaps, regional disparities and a lack of late-stage capital remain significant hurdles. Closing these gaps will require not only public sector commitment but also proactive support from investors, incubators and industry leaders. As India looks toward its Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, one thing is increasingly clear: the future of Indian innovation is not just inclusive, it is female-led. And in that future, numbers don't just tell a story; they tell a revolution in progress.
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
16 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Trump's claims on ceasefire 'humiliating' for country, says Kharge in RS
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday termed US President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he mediated between India and Pakistan to bring about a ceasefire during Operation Sindoor in May as "humiliating" for the country, and asked the government for a clarification on the issue. Kharge, and other Congress party members also demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should give answers to the issues raised by them regarding the Pahalgam terror attack and Trump's claims on ceasefire during Operation Sindoor. The House witnessed a brief adjournment due to opposition uproar during the Zero Hour, and also a walkout by Congress when the Rajya Sabha reassembled for the Question Hour at 12 noon. Kharge, along with several opposition members in the Rajya Sabha, had submitted adjournment notices (under Rule 267) to take up discussion on the terror attack in Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor after suspending the listed business of the day. Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, the Congress President made a case for a two-day debate on the Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor, alleged security lapses and foreign policy. "The Prime Minister should answer," he demanded. Recalling that the Pahalgam terror attack that took place on April 22, Kharge lamented that the terrorists who carried the attack have neither been caught nor killed till date. Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha himself has admitted that there has been a lapse in Pahalgam, he added. Kharge said all political parties had given unconditional support to the government. "In such a situation, we want to know from the government what is the complete situation?," he said. The senior Congress leader further said the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Deputy Army Chief and one of the senior Defence Attache have made some revelations regarding Operation Sindoor. "Apart from this, the government should also clarify its stand on the statement of US President Donald Trump, because he has claimed not once but 24 times that he got the ceasefire done. This is humiliating for the country," he said. Responding to Kharge's demands, Leader of the House and Union Minister J P Nadda asserted that the government was ready to discuss all issues related to Operation Sindoor. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar also assured agitating Opposition MPs that he will ensure a full-fledged discussion on the issue for as much time as members want. Dhankhar said he will discuss the issue with leaders of various parties, as he adjourned the House proceedings briefly till 12 noon amid uproar by Opposition benches. When the House met at 12 noon for the scheduled Question Hour, the Congress party again raised the issue, and later staged a walkout from the House in protest. Operation Sindoor, initiated on May 7, 2025, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians, launched a calibrated, tri-services response that embodied precision, professionalism, and purpose. Operation Sindoor was conceived as a punitive and targeted campaign to dismantle the terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and deeper inside Pakistan. A ceasefire was announced on May 10.