Latest news with #Thakur
New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
TNIE journalist conferred with Devrishi Narad Patrakar Samman
NEW DELHI: The Devrishi Narad Patrakar Samman 2025, one of the most esteemed recognitions in Indian journalism, was conferred on several outstanding journalists this year, including The New Indian Express (TNIE) Senior Assistant Editor Rajesh Kumar Thakur, on Friday. Based in Delhi, Thakur was recognised for his exceptional reportage across key beats such as politics, government policies, the BJP, PMO, RSS, Indian Railways, and the Rajya Sabha. His award-winning portfolio featured several high-impact stories, including the investigative series Operation Sindoor, his in-depth coverage of the Delhi Assembly elections, and notable reports like 'Dilli Ab AAP Ki Nahi' ('Delhi No Longer Yours, AAP') and 'Delhi to Get a woman CM' — stories that sparked wide readership and discussion for their sharp insights and timely revelations. Thakur's incisive journalism stood out among over 90 nominations received by the Indraprahstha Vishwa Samvad Kendra (IVSK) for this year's awards. Held annually since 2010, the awards celebrate excellence in journalism across diverse beats such as rural affairs, women's empowerment, politics, and governance. The award ceremony took place on Friday at the Constitution Club, New Delhi. Among the dignitaries present were Pradeep Joshi, Akhil Bharatiya Sah-Prachar Pramukh of the RSS, and Navneet Kumar Sahgal, IAS and Chairman of Prasar Bharati, along with other eminent personalities from media and governance. The winners were selected by a distinguished jury comprising veteran journalists and experts, underscoring the credibility and prestige of the honours.
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Himachal leaps from 21st to 5th rank in School Education Performance index: Education Minister Rohit Thakur
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 27 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Education Minister Rohit Thakur on Friday hailed the state's remarkable turnaround in school education, declaring that it has reclaimed its position as a leader in educational outcomes. 'It is a matter of great pride for Himachal Pradesh that historically, from the time of Dr YS Parmar, the architect of modern Himachal, we have been known for achievements in education. Back in 1947, the literacy rate was merely 7 per cent, which rose to 83 per cent by 2011,' Thakur told reporters in Shimla. However, he acknowledged that in recent years, Himachal Pradesh had been witnessing a decline in the quality of education. 'The recent surveys conducted during the tenure of the previous government were worrying and disappointing. The National Achievement Survey conducted by the Government of India showed that in 2021, Himachal, once among the top five states, slipped to 21st position, which was a major shock for us,' he said. 'The ASER report also revealed that eighth-grade students were unable even to read or comprehend subjects of the third-grade curriculum. Similarly, in the Performance Grading Index (PGI), the state fell to 18th position, which clearly reflected the deterioration in academic performance,' Thakur said. Thakur said that the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government, which came to power in December 2022, inherited a crumbling education system along with a broken economy, and it posed a dual challenge. 'I may not be an academician, but I am a hard taskmaster,' he said, adding that strict measures were implemented, and with the cooperation of officials, employees and teachers, the department accepted the challenge head-on. 'ASER Now Ranks Himachal No. 1 in Reading and Learning', he said. 'We took bold steps, and today, these reforms are showing results. The ASER report now places Himachal Pradesh at the top for reading and learning outcomes. We even surpassed Kerala. In the Performance Grading Index, Himachal has climbed back from 21st to 5th position in 2024,' he informed. 'In the recent learning outcome tests, Himachal ranked 2nd in Class 3, 4th in Class 9, and 5th overall nationally. Moving from 21st to 5th is no small feat,' he said. The minister emphasised that the education department had focused on consolidation rather than expansion and had worked efficiently with limited resources. 'We said we would consolidate our department, and within two and a half years, there have been visible achievements. We started the cluster system, brought directorates together, and filled thousands of vacant posts,' he added. Thakur revealed that 3,600 schools and institutions were functioning with just one teacher, which had adversely affected performance. 'We approved 5,800 posts in education, of which around 4,000 have already been recruited. The number of single-teacher schools has now been reduced to half,' he said. 'We also recruited 700 lecturers through the Commission, whereas the previous government managed only 500 appointments in five years,' he noted. 'To implement NEP-related directives and streamline higher education, 119 new principal posts have been filled in 136 colleges, most of which earlier had no principals,' the minister said. 'For the school cadre, no regular promotions of principals have been done since 2017. We have now regularised nearly 1,900 school principals, and the promotion process has begun,' Thakur said. He also assured that PGT and school cadre promotions would be completed within two months and that the introduction of English-medium sections and exposure visits were all part of efforts to raise educational quality. Rohit Thakur also addressed the sensitive issue of school closures and mergers, explaining the rationale behind the decisions. 'Around 450 schools had no students for nearly 12 years. We merged these schools. In some areas, like Lahaul-Spiti, there were eight teachers for just three students. Enrollment is declining, and migration is a factor,' he said. 'Where there is demand, we will deploy more teachers. But we must rationalise resources,' Thakur told ANI. He stated that reforms have now been tied to clear performance outcomes, and the responsibilities of principals, headmasters, directors, and additional directors have been redefined. 'Unless we link reforms with measurable results, they will not deliver. We are now doing exactly that,' Thakur added. (ANI)
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Why more Indians are ditching costly medicines — and trusting generics
Why more Indians are ditching costly medicines — and trusting generics Durgesh Nandan Jha TNN Jun 27, 2025, 14:56 IST IST Once dismissed as unreliable, govt-supplied generic medicines are gaining traction — thanks to soaring medical costs, expanding Jan Aushadhi stores, and a slow but steady shift in public trust Manikant Thakur and his wife, who have diabetes and hypertension, used to spend nearly Rs 2,000 a month on medicines until last year. But then, in December, Thakur lost his job and, to cut expenses until he could find a new job, he decided to switch to generic drugs supplied from the Jan Aushadhi store. These were 50%-80% cheaper than the branded generics he had been using earlier. 'We went against the advice of our family doctor, who said the generic medicines supplied at Jan Aushadhi stores weren't of good quality, which is why they were cheap,' Thakur says. 'But we still wanted to give it a shot, as every single penny counted.'
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Gurugram home prices up 84% since 2020: Why buyers must tread carefully now
Gurugram is one of India's most expensive real estate markets, but a viral video by sector expert Vishal Bhargava says it's a "house of cards". Bhargava's concerns about a correction may not be entirely unfounded. Average residential property prices in the National Capital Region increased by 81 per cent between Q1 2020 and Q1 2025, according to a report by ANAROCK, a real estate consultancy. Gurgaon, which is part of the region, witnessed an 84 per cent increase, with rates going from Rs 6,150 per sq. ft. to Rs 11,300. A snapshot of residential prices in Gurugram shared by NoBroker, a real estate platform, shows: 2BHK: Rs 89 lakh 3BHK: Rs 3.7 crore 4BHK: Rs 5.2 crore 'This trend has largely been fuelled by a deep supply-demand mismatch, buoyant NRI inflows and a shift towards luxury housing,' said Prashant Thakur, regional director and head of research and advisory at ANAROCK Group. Developers claim the market is being driven by genuine end-user demand, but not all experts agree with that. 'Troubling bubble' 'Unfortunately, we are seeing increased investor activity once again like in the early 2000s. This increases the worrisome possibility of a bubble forming. If demand weakens or liquidity conditions worsen for any reason, there would be consequences. Long-term sustainable growth will be based on real end-user demand, affordability, and the speed at which new supply comes online,' said Thakur. Varun Chaudhary, managing director at CG Developers, believes much of the growth is speculative. 'Traders are booking properties with a minimum down payment and flipping them instantly for profits. Builders are also encouraging this, as it helps them inflate prices and sell out quickly. Now, with prices flattening, many buyers are unable to exit or make further payments. It will be completely wrong to dismiss the signs of a bubble, especially when price-to-rent ratios are increasingly becoming unsustainable and speculation is gripping new launches,' he said. Sunil Sisodiya, founder and chairman of Neworld Developers, doesn't believe that the surge is purely speculative. 'While home prices in Gurugram have indeed rapidly escalated since 2021, the majority of this price growth is based on structural demand rather than speculative risk.' 'Multiple issues triggered this growth, including but not limited to, large infrastructural spends like the Dwarka Expressway, the emergence of Gurugram as a city for corporates and startups, and a post-Covid lifestyle shift of preferring larger homes in planned communities. Although some price moderation may occur in certain micro-markets, a large-scale correction seems unlikely because of strong fundamentals,' he said. The discussion around rental yields provides further context. According to Thakur, yields in some prime locations in Gurugram are between 3.5 per cent and 4 per cent. These are strong by Indian standards and suggest a healthy rental market, especially in the 2-3 BHK and luxury segments located close to commercial hubs. Yet Chaudhary pointed out that capital values are often not aligned with rental returns. 'Rents in Gurugram and Bengaluru are quite similar. However, home prices in Gurugram are around 30 per cent higher, leading to compressed rental earnings. Reports suggest nearly 60-65 per cent of current demand is from investors, not actual occupants. This further makes us question the sustainability of current price levels.' Distress sales and project delays are not widespread, said Sisodiya. 'Distress sales are uncommon in prime sectors, while developers are continuing to improve delivery timelines due to RERA compliance and the flight-to-quality trend. Some older developers have even started completing projects closer to the launch date, in response to higher demand.' Reputable builders are focused on plotted developments and low-rise units with shorter development cycles and fewer regulatory hurdles, said Sisodiya. Speculation vs demand However, Thakur pointed to growing reliance on traders rather than long-term buyers. 'The dominant model now is to sell out on launch, with traders snapping up multiple apartments using very little upfront capital. They intend to flip these before full payment. This approach has resulted in prices being influenced more by speculation than genuine demand. Unlike Mumbai and Bengaluru, Gurugram's market does not rely heavily on its own resident population.' Santosh Agarwal, executive director and chief financial officer at Alpha Corp Development, countered this view. 'While investor interest remains a part of any healthy market, the predominant momentum is coming from families, professionals, and NRIs seeking lasting ownership. Project planning, pricing strategies, and delivery models are all being tailored around this shift. It's no longer about transactional volumes; it's about creating trust, quality, and sustained community value.' The city's real estate boom has also led to a spike in legal disputes. 'Gurugram's real estate market has seen a surge in disputes, especially relating to under-construction projects,' said Rajiv Sharma, partner at Singhania & Co. 'Common legal issues include project delays, structural defects, fund diversion, and violations of RERA's 70 per cent escrow rule.' So what can homebuyers do to assess whether a project is being driven by genuine demand or speculative trading? Experts suggest the following indicators: • Consistent and moderate price growth • High occupancy levels • Low number of resale listings • Well-developed surrounding infrastructure Thakur said, 'Buyers should focus on reputable developers with a proven track record of timely completion. If a location has seen very quick price spikes and too many delays, it's a sign of high investor activity.' Chaudhary added that genuine demand is usually backed by livability. 'A high occupancy rate, quality of amenities and organic price growth are better indicators of demand. On the other hand, projects with aggressive marketing, frequent resale listings, low occupancy, and discounts for early bookings often signal speculative interest. One of the most common signs is when units are being flipped frequently even before completion.' Buyers beware Legal safeguards exist but require vigilance. 'Buyers need to check whether the project is predominantly booked by end users or traders, whether the builder-buyer agreement is ambiguous, and if RERA escrow rules are being followed,' said Sharma. He also noted that section 12 of RERA allows legal recourse in case of misrepresentation. 'Many times, builders create hype using advertisements or brochures that may later turn out to be misleading.' Finally, there's the choice between ready-to-move and under-construction homes. Sharma said each comes with its own risks. 'Ready units reduce risks like non-delivery and quality issues, but are usually more expensive and require upfront payment. Regardless of the type, due diligence is crucial to ensure the title is clear and the property is free from legal hassles.' For Agarwal, confidence is key. "Gurugram today is a trust-driven market. Buyers are focusing on reputation, not just price. They want developers who deliver consistently."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Agencies resolve to step up border surveillance
Madhubani: A high-level intelligence coordination meeting held on Thursday at the 48th Battalion Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in Jaynagar resulted in a renewed joint strategy to tighten surveillance and curb illegal activities along the India-Nepal border. The session, chaired by deputy inspector general Saroj Kumar Thakur of SSB sector headquarters, Muzaffarpur, focused on enhancing inter-agency coordination and operational readiness. Participating agencies agreed to scale up patrolling, monitor cross-border movement more closely and intensify crackdowns on liquor smuggling, arms trafficking, counterfeit currency and human trafficking. The meeting also assessed potential threats from religious extremism, Maoist activity and terrorism with a particular emphasis on preventing encroachment along the international border. Improved cooperation with Nepal Police for joint operations was encouraged, alongside a review of the current political and security dynamics in the border region. Attendees included senior officers from the 48th, 71st, 20th, and 51st SSB battalions, local police officials, and representatives from the NIA, IB and other allied agencies. Addressing the gathering, Thakur stressed the need for maintaining India-Nepal relations through collaborative efforts and praised the support of all agencies in curbing cross-border crime.
