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India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
15-day national anti-drug campaign launched by Narcotics Control Bureau
In the lead-up to the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (June 26), the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has organised a massive awareness campaign across India called Nasha Mukt Pakhwada (Drug-Free Fortnight). Launched on June 11, 2025, this nationwide movement aims to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse and encourage community involvement in building a drug-free India. Citizens from all walks of life, students, law enforcement officers, NGOs, and public figures, joined hands to spread the message 'Say Yes to Life, No to Drugs.'NCB'S COUNTRYWIDE CAMPAIGN GAINS MOMENTUMThe Nasha Mukt Pakhwada, running from June 11 to June 26, witnessed enthusiastic participation across India. Various events such as walkathons, cyclothons, and bike rallies were held to spread awareness. These events saw people from all age groups, especially the youth, participating alongside members of the Central Armed Police Forces, NGOs, and public HELD ACROSS 13 CITIES ON JUNE 22One of the biggest highlights of the campaign was the series of cyclothons and bike rallies organised by NCB's zonal units in 13 major cities on June 22, 2025. In New Delhi, the rally was flagged off by the Director General of NCB from the National Police Memorial. Over 1,000 participants, including Delhi Police, CAPFs, Brahma Kumaris, and volunteers, attended the event. Olympian Sarita Mor and other top officials also lent their AND CELEBRITIES SHOW SUPPORTThe campaign drew nationwide attention with active participation from top government leaders and celebrities. In Bengaluru, the Hon'ble Governor of Karnataka, Shri Thawar Chand Gehlot, took part in the launch of the MANAS Mental Health & De-Addiction Helpline. Bollywood legend and Padma Bhushan awardee Mohanlal supported the awareness drive in Kerala. Olympians Pramila G. Aiyappa and Sri Aiyappa flagged off the rally in Bengaluru. Chief Minister of Tripura Dr. Manik Saha flagged off a bike rally in Agartala on June 25. 15-day national anti-drug campaign launched by Narcotics Control Bureau PUBLIC PLEDGE AND POWERFUL MESSAGESAt several events, leaders, including the Cabinet Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Avinash Gehlot, and the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Jawahar Singh Bedam, took a public pledge: "Say Yes to Life, No to Drugs." The message was loud and clear: India is committed to building a healthier, drug-free society through awareness, prevention, and public URGED TO REPORT DRUG ACTIVITY VIA 1933 HELPLINENCB has also reminded citizens that they play a vital role in the fight against drug trafficking. Anyone can report suspicious activities related to drugs through the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline by calling the toll-free number 1933. The identity of the caller will remain strictly confidential.- Ends advertisement
Hindustan Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru stampede: What caused chaos outside Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB celebrations?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's IPL victory celebrations turned tragic on Wednesday night when a stampede broke out outside M Chinnaswamy Stadium, leaving at least ten people dead and over 20 injured. The chaos began as thousands of RCB fans gathered outside the stadium early in the evening, eager to catch a glimpse of the team arriving with the trophy. The massive crowd triggered a stampede at several entry points, prompting police to use lathi-charge to control the surge. Authorities confirmed six deaths and multiple injuries, with the injured admitted to Bowring Hospital. Visuals also showed fans climbing trees and buses as huge crowds gathered outside Chinnaswamy Stadium to catch a glimpse of IPL 2025 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The Karnataka government honoured the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team for winning their first IPL title, ending an 18-year wait for the prestigious trophy. Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, chief minister Siddaramaiah, and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar felicitated the Rajat Patidar-led team on the grand steps of the iconic Vidhana Soudha, the state legislature and secretariat building. The crowd grew increasingly restless despite repeated police appeals to maintain order and disperse, with warnings against unlawful entry and unsafe behaviour. 'I have no information about the deaths as of now. I was busy with the felicitation ceremony. There was an uncontrollable crowd throughout the way. I apologise to the people of Karnataka that a procession was cancelled due to massive crowds,' DK Shivakumar told reporters. With inputs from Arun Dev
Hans India
26-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Convocation of University of Agricultural Sciences to be held today
Raichur: The 14th convocation of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, will be held on May 26 at 11 am at the university auditorium, where a total of 488 degrees will be conferred, announced Vice-Chancellor M. Hanumanthappa in a press conference. Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, who is also the Chancellor of the university, will preside over the event. State Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy, in his capacity as Pro-Chancellor, will attend the convocation. Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General of the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi, will deliver the convocation address. Members of the university's Board of Management and Academic Council will also be present. Out of the 488 degrees to be awarded, 352 students will receive undergraduate degrees, 136 will receive postgraduate degrees, and 39 will be awarded doctoral degrees. A significant number of female students feature in the list, with 152 women earning undergraduate degrees, 62 postgraduate degrees, and 19 women earning PhDs. In the undergraduate category, 27 women students will be awarded gold medals, while two students will receive cash prizes. In the postgraduate section, 17 students will receive gold medals, and 15 students will be conferred gold medal-accompanied PhDs. An honorary doctorate will be conferred on a farmer in recognition of outstanding contributions to agriculture and allied activities. Three names of progressive farmers from the Kalyana Karnataka region were recommended, and the Governor has selected one for the honour, the Vice-Chancellor added. University Registrar Durgesh K.R., Gururaj Sunkad, Jagruthi Deshamanya, and Arun Kumar Hosamani were present during the media briefing. Vice-Chancellor Hanumanthappa noted that the university has developed a total of 597 technologies since its inception. In 2022–2023 alone, several improved crop varieties and technological innovations were developed and made available to farmers. This includes the launch of GNV–1109, a nutrient-enriched rice variety aimed at combating malnutrition, as well as HBR–2 in finger millet and ICRC–1 in groundnuts. The university's ongoing oilseed crop research project was recently recognized as the 'Best Organized Research Programme' in the country. Additionally, the College of Agricultural Engineering in Raichur has consistently upheld quality education, earning it the prestigious 'Best Technical Education Award 2023' from the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers in New Delhi.
New Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Experts lambast BBMP split plan, call for polls soon
BENGALURU: As the state government contemplates splitting the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into smaller corporations, citizen groups and urban experts have suggested that elections to the BBMP Council should be conducted first, followed by drafting a vision document by citizens outlining their aspirations for the city. Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot recently gave his assent to the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, which allows BBMP to be split into a maximum of seven smaller corporations. Sources in the BBMP revealed that the Congress-led state government is inclined to split the BBMP into three corporations. Citizen activist and Bengaluru Praja Vedike founder, N S Mukunda, said, 'When H D Kumaraswamy was Chief Minister, he pushed for an elevated corridor. Now, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is aiming to bring a tunnel road to Bengaluru, despite public opposition. The government now wants to slice the city into three corporations. Why can't the people of Bengaluru decide what they want for their city, how it should be governed and how many corporations are needed to manage it?' He said half of the city's problems stem from projects imposed on it. Criticising the current form of proposed Greater Bengaluru Authority, he said it does not decentralise powers. 'Every government wants to retain control and is unwilling to devolve powers,' he said.
Hindustan Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
How will Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill impact the real estate sector in the IT capital?
The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill proposes to expand the city's administrative boundaries by including adjoining villages, towns, and peri-urban areas within Bengaluru's official limits. This restructuring aims to streamline governance across the rapidly growing metropolitan region. Instead of a single municipal body, the bill envisions the creation of multiple smaller municipal corporations, each led by an elected mayor and responsible for specific zones. These corporations will function under a central authority to ensure cohesive urban planning and infrastructure coordination across Greater Bengaluru. This proposed redefinition of city limits for the real estate sector is expected to drive up property prices, especially in the outskirts and peri-urban regions. However, experts caution that the extent of the price increase will depend on the actual rollout of infrastructure and improvement in mobility services. 'This move will likely lead to a surge in land prices in areas newly brought under the city's jurisdiction,' said Srinivas Alavilli, a fellow at WRI India. 'Many of these locations are already witnessing speculative growth, and official inclusion could further accelerate this trend.' He said the bill may also pave the way for developing new commercial hubs, including business parks in previously underdeveloped zones. 'Today, Bengaluru's economic activity is concentrated in a few zones—Electronic City, Whitefield, ORR, Hebbal, and industrial areas like Bommasandra and Peenya. With better governance and planning under the proposed GBA, we could see more balanced growth, easing congestion in existing business districts.' Also Read: Bengaluru real estate: Studio apartments under ₹30,000 you should check out Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot has granted his assent to the landmark Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024. The legislation, aimed at restructuring the city's civic administration, proposes the division of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into multiple, smaller municipal corporations The Bill proposes a decentralised and participatory model of urban governance for the Greater Bengaluru Area. It plans to set up a Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), which will act as a supervisory body to coordinate development and align planning across the city. The Bill also allows for the creation of up to 10 independent city corporations to improve administrative efficiency and deliver civic services more effectively to residents, urban experts told The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill proposes to expand the city's administrative boundaries by including nearby villages, towns, and urban areas within Bengaluru's official limits. This move aims to bring fast-growing suburbs and peri-urban regions under a single governance structure. Instead of one large municipal body, the bill suggests creating several smaller corporations. Each corporation will manage a part of the Greater Bengaluru area (through elected Mayors) but will work under a central authority to ensure coordination. The exact boundaries of the Greater Bengaluru Authority are yet to be defined, but it is expected to cover around 1,000 sq. km, compared to BBMP's current 700+ sq. km. Alavilli, pointed out that this expansion will likely include the merging of adjacent areas and villages into the Bengaluru metropolitan area, said experts. "The Greater Bengaluru Authority has the potential to improve urban planning and inter-agency coordination significantly. If it lives up to its promise, it could unlock large parcels of vacant land and enable the redensification of existing areas. This, in turn, would allow the city to better leverage its metro network, improve mobility, and reduce congestion," Srikanth Viswanathan, CEO of Janaagraha, said. Also Read: Bengaluru real estate: If your apartment's value has doubled, is it time to cash out now? For the real estate sector, expanding Bengaluru's limits may boost property prices, especially in the outskirts. However, this must be critically assessed against actual infrastructure delivery and mobility outcomes, they add. "Such a redefinition will naturally impact real estate. Areas surrounding Bengaluru will likely see a rise in land prices as they begin to be officially identified as part of the city. This will create a ripple effect, especially in peri-urban areas, where land values are already high in anticipation," Alavilli said. He said that the city will likely witness new commercial hubs, such as business parks in previously underdeveloped areas. "Currently, Bengaluru's major employment zones include Electronic City, Whitefield, Outer Ring Road, Hebbal, and industrial estates like Bommasandra and Peenya. With better planning and governance under GBA, we could enable more distributed development, reducing congestion and development stress on a few zones." Experts say that while the GBA is expected to expand Bengaluru's administrative boundaries, it simultaneously dilutes critical planning functions, particularly land use and transport integration. "For example, areas like Whitefield were developed without proper transport planning, resulting in serious mobility challenges. Though the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) was introduced to address such gaps, the GBA risks undermining it. Effective integration of land use and transport is fundamental to sustainable urban development. Still, that focus appears to be weakening in the proposed Act," Satya Arikutharam, former chief technical advisor to the state government, now an independent consultant, said. BMLTA is a statutory body established to regulate and coordinate urban mobility initiatives within the Bengaluru Metropolitan Area (BMA). It aims to consolidate planning and oversight of transport policy in the region.
