Daily Briefing: EC receives forms of 90% of Bihar's electors; diplomatic win for India as US designates TRF as terrorist organisation
We are back with the seventh edition of Expresso on Culture, bringing you Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, India's G20 Sherpa, and former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant as guests on the panel this time to explore yet another intersection between culture and governance. While Saxena shares that governance is tough in Delhi, Kant identifies two issues, which he says, plagued the national capital: encroachment and freebies. Here's what the duo has to say as they engage in an insightful conversation with The Indian Express National Opinion Editor Vandita Mishra!
With that, let's move on to the top 5 stories from today's edition:
🚨 Big Story
The Election Commission has received enumeration forms of 90.12 per cent of Bihar's electors ahead of the July 25 deadline for its special intensive revision (SIR) of the state's electoral roll, and that over 36 lakh were found 'not at their addresses'. As of Friday, the EC said 7.11 crore forms had been received so far and 6.85 crore of them had been digitised. Moreover, as many as 36.86 lakh electors (a little over 4.67% of total voters) had been found to be 'probably' deceased, permanently shifted or enrolled at multiple places. It said 6,978, or 0.01% of the electors, were 'not traceable'.
Setting the tone for the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) Bihar Assembly election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that a Central employment scheme providing Rs 15,000 to youth in their first private sector job will be rolled out from August 1. The PM's comments appear to be a counter to nullify the Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) jobs pitch, which was cited for its success in the 2020 Assembly elections.
⚡ Only in Express
With the talk of a train arriving in Mizoram's Sairang station, residents find themselves dreaming of a journey. A 51-km railway line is set to connect the Mizoram capital to the Indian Railways' grid for the first time. With that, Aizawl becomes the fourth northeastern capital after Guwahati, Agartala and Itanagar to be linked to the Indian Railways' grid. The operations on the line are expected to begin by September. Dheeraj Mishra travels along the new line, a project with deep strategic value for a landlocked state, where the arrival of the train is marked by both hope and a sense of foreboding.
💡 Express Explained
The United States' decision to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a terrorist organisation is a diplomatic win for India and a message to Pakistan, but its impact on the ground remains to be seen. The decision comes three months after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 25 tourists and a local ponywala. The TRF claimed responsibility for the attack on social media channels, however, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) concluded during its investigation that all three attackers were Pakistani nationals. As lines between terror outfits blur in Vallet, we explain the on-ground challenges.
✍️ Express Opinion
In our Opinion section today, Sujan R Chinoy delves into the mending ties between India and China after prolonged estrangement caused by the bloodletting at Galwan in 2020. As both countries deliberate on the need for early de-escalation in the border areas to facilitate normalisation of ties, Chinoy writes: 'The positive signs in India-China relations are encouraging. The deep deficit of trust, however, calls for sustained efforts. The two sides must move forward with realistic expectations. The road ahead is arduous. Yet, forging a stable and cooperative relationship between the two Asian neighbours is a goal worth pursuing.'
🎞️ Watchlist
Wondering what to watch this weekend? We've got you covered! Vir Das' sixth stand-up special for Netflix, Fool Volume, combines his trademark self-effacing delivery with his signature ambition. In his review, Rohan Naahar writes: 'In Fool Volume, Das gazes inward; he glances at the world around him, and then, he gets down to business. The show isn't so much about a comedian finding his voice again as it is about a middle-aged Indian man finding a new voice.'
That's all for today. Have a lovely weekend!
Until next time,
Ariba
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
24 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Now, Delhi Assembly runs solely on sunlight, first in the country
The Delhi Legislative Assembly on Sunday became the first legislature in the country to be powered entirely by solar energy, following the commissioning of a 500-kilowatt rooftop solar power plant. Alongside this, the Assembly launched the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), marking a shift towards paperless legislative functioning. The two initiatives were inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, who called the Assembly's transition a model for sustainable and digital governance. 'This is not just an infrastructure upgrade, but a shift in institutional values,' he said, adding that the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs will provide all possible assistance to the efforts and initiatives of the Delhi Legislative Assembly in this regard. Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta emphasised that the solarisation of the Assembly is a cornerstone in a broader institutional shift towards sustainable and digital transformation. 'The present Assembly building was constructed in 1912 and was home to the country's first Parliament,' Gupta said. Highlighting the balance between tradition and progress, he remarked, 'Virasat aur Vikaas saath chalega (Legacy and development go together).' Gupta added that the solar power plant, installed on the rooftop, is expected to reduce the Assembly's monthly electricity bill by around Rs 15 lakh, or approximately Rs 1.75 crore annually. The savings, he said, would be redirected to developmental work. It will also potentially generate surplus electricity through net metering. The NeVA platform, developed under the Centre's 'One Nation, One Application' initiative, will be fully implemented from the upcoming Monsoon Session. A successful trial run was conducted with MLAs ahead of the inauguration. The trial offered firsthand experience of the digital interface, which includes smart delegate units with microphones and voting panels, RFID/NFC access, multilingual support, real-time document access via iPads, an automated AV system with HD cameras, and a secure, power-backed networking environment. The House will also see the introduction of the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Bill, 2025, by Education Minister Ashish Sood. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is also scheduled to table the Finance and Appropriation Accounts for 2023-24, which will present the financial position of the national capital. Gupta will also present two audit reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG): one on state finances for 2023-24 and a separate report on the welfare of building and construction workers in 2022-23. Sood, who also holds the Power portfolio, will also lay the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission's annual accounts and a notification on Green Energy Open Access regulations.
India.com
24 minutes ago
- India.com
Meet T-14 Armata Tank, super powerful war weapon offered by Russia to India, its features are..., Trump to...
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump is not happy with India and Russia's friendship and is threatening both countries with tariffs. Amidst this, the two countries are discussing a crucial defence deal that might further enrage Trump. What has Russia offered to India? Russia has offered to sell the next-generation T-14 Armata tanks to India to replace its ageing T-72 tanks with new tanks. Russia's offer includes domestic manufacturing in India under the Make in India programme. Armata tanks are made by the Russian company Uralvagonzavod, and the T-14 Armata is its most advanced tank. Uralvagonzavod has offered to design and develop this tank according to India's needs for its Next Generation Battle Tank (NGMBT) programme. For this, the Russian company has shown interest in partnering with Indian defence companies. What is the crux of the proposal? The proposal includes possible collaboration with India's Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) or other public sector defence units. The proposal is strategically prepared according to India's 'Make-I' procurement category, which aims to increase India's indigenous production. Under this plan, the Government of India provides up to 70% of the funding for developing prototypes, which emphasises domestic manufacturing and technology transfer. Will India buy the advanced T-14 Armata tank? Uralvagonzavod had signed a technology transfer agreement with India for T-90S tanks, which are now manufactured in India as T-90 Bhishma. India uses more than 83 per cent domestic technology in the T-90S tank, including complete localisation of the tank's engine. Russian officials have also expressed their intention to work with India for the local production of the T-14 Armata tank project. Company officials have suggested that the T-14 Armata would be an ideal successor to replace the Indian Army's huge but ageing fleet of T-72 tanks. Why is T-14 Armata considered one of the most advanced tanks in the world? The T-14 Armata is considered one of the most advanced tanks in the world. It has many remotely operated functions, an armoured capsule for the crew, a state-of-the-art digital control system and an active protection system (APS) called 'Afghanit'. This system is capable of destroying the enemy's anti-tank missiles on the way. Three operators can sit inside this tank and destroy the enemy's anti-tank missiles and RPGs in the air. It has a millimetre-wave radar, which provides 360-degree protection. Guided missiles can also be fired from this tank up to 8–10 kilometres. The maximum speed of this tank is 75 to 80 kilometres per hour, and its range is 500 kilometres. The weight of this tank is 55 tonnes, and its cost is around Rs 30 to 42 crore. If it is manufactured in India, its cost will be reduced by at least Rs 10 crore.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
24 minutes ago
- Business Standard
PM Modi, Amit Shah meet President Murmu separately at Rashtrapati Rhavan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday called on President Droupadi Murmu separately within hours at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. It was not known the reasons behind the subsequent meetings of the prime minister and the home minister with the President. "Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan," the Rashtrapati Bhavan said on 'X'. Hours later, the Rashtrapati Bhavan again wrote on 'X', "Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan." The home minister also wrote on 'X' sharing a picture of his meeting with President Murmu. "Called on Hon'ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji at Rashtrapati Bhavan." However, there is no words so far from the prime minister's office. This was the first meeting of the prime minister with the President after his recent visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives. The meetings came against the backdrop of the logjam in Parliament over the Opposition's demand for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections in the state. Except discussions in both Houses on Operation Sindoor, Parliament has seen little business ever since the Monsoon session began on July 21. Also, the Lok Sabha last week approved the extension of the President's rule in Manipur for six more months, while the Rajya Sabha is yet to take up the motion for discussion. The President's rule was imposed in the Northeastern state on February 13. The prime minister's meeting with the President also came days after US President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on exports from India and an unspecified penalty because of New Delhi's purchases of Russian military equipment and oil. The meetings also came nearly two weeks after Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21 tendered his resignation as vice president to the President citing health grounds. The vice president also functions as the chairman of Rajya Sabha. The Election Commission last week announced that election of vice president will take place on September 9. The electoral college for the vice-presidential election comprises all elected and nominated members of the Rajya Sabha and all members of the Lok Sabha.
