Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) The Maharashtra Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday, cleared the policy to make use of ‘M-Sand’ (artificial sand) mandatory in the construction sector. This has been done in order to curb the environmental problems arising from the over-extraction of natural sand and to provide alternative and sustainable resources to the construction sector.

Instead of the royalty charge of Rs 600 per brass for sand production, the meeting approved charging royalty at a discounted rate of Rs 200 per brass. The artificial sand, produced with the help of crushers from quarry waste and stones obtained from mountain excavations, can be an alternative to natural sand.According to the policy, permission will be given to set up M-Sand units after obtaining permission from the district administration and forest department, and compliance with environmental regulations will be required, said the government release.The government has instructed all government, semi-government and public institutions in the state to use M-sSand on priority in their construction projects.In addition, it has been clarified that only quality M-Sand should be used as per the norms of the Bureau of Indian Standards (IS 383:2016). The Industries Department will provide concessions to 50 individuals/institutions in each district to set up M-Sand units. Also, a concession of Rs 200 per brass will be given to the unit producing M-Sand.“The government believes that M-Sand units will increase employment opportunities at the local level, reduce dependence on natural sand and contribute to environmental protection. For this, district-level committees will be formed and an independent monitoring mechanism will be created to strictly implement the policy,” said the government release.This decision is likely to bring about a major change in the construction sector and promote environmental protection, sustainable development and the local economy. The Cabinet has given its approval to provide incentives, including industrial incentive grants, interest subsidies, exemption from electricity charges, stamp duty waivers and subsidies on electricity rates for those investing in the setting up of M-Sand units.Meanwhile, the Cabinet has accepted the Mukesh Khullar committee’s report on salary discrepancies. The committee was formed to suggest recommendations for the removal of discrepancies in the salaries of government employees and officers. The committee had submitted its report to the state government on December 31, 2024, which was accepted by the Cabinet on Tuesday.The recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission of the Centre were implemented for state government and other employees from January 1, 2016. But after the implementation of the revised pay scale, some errors were found in the pay fixation and the revised pay scale.On this, teachers in the state had filed various petitions in the Mumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur benches. As per the order of the High Court, the government had constituted a Pay Error Committee under the chairmanship of Mukesh Khullar through a government decision dated March 16, 2024. This committee discussed with various administrative departments and 58 organisations. The committee also considered the representations received by the committee and submitted to the Finance Department, said the government release.The committee examined the proposals of various cadres and made recommendations regarding 441 cadres.“It was found that while fixing the pay, despite the increase in the pay scale as per the government decision dated February 13, 2023, taken in accordance with Clause 2 of the Bakshi Committee, the new pay of some employees was less than the previous pay. The committee has recommended fixing the pay in that pay scale at the next stage. So that the pay in the new pay scale will not be lower than the previous one. In addition, the committee has recommended relaxing the condition of the pay scale for single posts higher than S-27 in the government decision dated March 28, 2023, to implement the selection grade pay scale,” said the government release.The committee has also recommended giving a revised pay scale to those working in the same cadre but in different departments.Further, the committee has recommended that if the pay scale of the promoted post in the promotion chain is reduced due to the revision of the pay scale, then that error should be rectified. The pay recommended by this committee will be sanctioned from 1 January 2016, and the actual financial benefits will be implemented from the month in which the government orders regarding this will be issued. However, no arrears will be paid from January 1, 2016, to the month in which the government order is issued.–IANSsj/dan

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that fingerprints of all arrested criminals should be recorded under the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), so that the database can be used optimally.

Addressing a meeting in New Delhi with Puducherry Lieutenant Governor (LG) K. Kailashnathan to assess the implementation of three new criminal laws in the Union Territory (UT), HM Shah said that provisions like e-summons, e-Sakshya, Nyaya Shruti and forensics should be fully implemented as soon as possible.He said that the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of the Union Territory of Puducherry should review the progress of implementation of the new criminal laws once a week, the Home Minister every 15 days, and the Lieutenant Governor once a month.National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), a biometric system used by law enforcement to store and identify individuals based on fingerprints.Earlier, HM Shah said that only the Director of Prosecution (DoP) should have the right to give legal advice in any case.The Home Minister emphasised ensuring the early implementation of the new criminal laws.He said that FIRs in the Union Territory of Puducherry should be registered in the Tamil language only, and arrangements should be made to make it available in other languages ​​to those who require it.Earlier, while chairing a review meeting on the implementation of three new criminal laws with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), HM Shah stressed the use of biometric technology to identify unclaimed bodies.The Union Home Minister said there is a need to regularly interact with senior police formations of State/UTs to monitor the progress of the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) and Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) regularly and provide impetus to the project.He said that NCRB should create a data-rich platform to benefit the Investigation Officers and other stakeholders of the Criminal Justice System.He appreciated NCRB’s efforts in the technical implementation of the New Criminal Laws and the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS).The Union Minister also reviewed the integration of CCTNS 2.0, NAFIS, Prisons, Courts, Prosecution and Forensics with ICJS 2.0 at the all-India level. Union Home Secretary, Director NCRB and several senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs, NCRB and NIC were present in the meeting.During the discussions, he asked NCRB to facilitate the complete implementation of new criminal laws in ICJS 2.0, stressing on use of applications like eSakshya, Nyaya Shruti, eSign and eSummons in every state/UT.Elaborating on the need to have a generation of alerts right from registration to disposal of a case, he said alerts to investigation officers and senior officers as per pre-defined timelines, would help expedite the investigation.He emphasised that a team of the Ministry of Home Affairs and NCRB should visit the States/Union Territories to increase the adoption of technical projects and assist them in all possible ways.–IANSrch/dan

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Calling upon the youth to dedicate themselves to the nation with patriotism, Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) Professor Mazhar Asif on Tuesday flagged off a Tiranga March as part of a campaign in support of Nation First.The ‘Rashtra Pratham – A Campaign in Support of Nation First’ was launched by the Higher Education Institutions, Ministry of Education.The march symbolises the JMI fraternity’s unflinching support for the Indian Armed Forces, the Government of India, and national security agencies, said a statement.Prof. Mazhar Asif and Prof. Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi (Registrar) led the march, which started from JMI’s imposing Centenary Gate and concluded at the Dean of Students’ Welfare (DSW) lawns of the university.Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his decisive leadership, under which our armed forces and national security agencies delivered a strong message against terrorism, the VC said, “JMI salutes the Indian Armed Forces for their extraordinary courage and determination to defend our borders and safeguard national security.”He said, “The Tiranga March is being conducted today to honour our valiant soldiers and to salute the resilience and tenacity exhibited by the Government of India since the start of Operation Sindoor. Above all, we have gathered here to pledge to place the nation over all else.”Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Rizvi said, “Operation Sindoor exemplifies not only the courage and conviction of our Armed Forces but is also an outstanding demonstration of every Indian’s unstinting support and love for the country.”He said, “The way in which the entire country came together to support the Government and our security forces is remarkable. JMI was among the first central universities to express its strongest condemnation of the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam and extended its deep condolences to the families of those who lost their lives by planting 26 trees in their memory.”He said the march is a reaffirmation of our unconditional support to uphold the spirit and ethos of ‘Nation First,’ as we have assembled here to commit ourselves to the service and the cause of the nation.Deans, Heads of Departments, Directors of Centres, Officers of JMI, faculty members and staff, along with the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Service Scheme (NSS) wings of JMI, participated in large numbers in the Tiranga March.–IANSrch/uk

Bhopal, May 13 (IANS) The Congress has demanded the resignation of Kunwar Vijay Shah, a…

Kolkata, May 13 (IANS) West Bengal BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul on Tuesday expressed gratitude toward the Indian armed forces and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that the BJP’s 11-day-long Tiranga Yatra was a nationwide initiative to honour the bravery and sacrifices of the armed forces, particularly in the wake of the recently concluded ‘Operation Sindoor.’

Speaking to IANS, Agnimitra Paul said, “On behalf of the BJP, we across India want to thank our armed forces and our guardian, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On April 22, 2025, the ‘sindoor’ of 26 Indian women was wiped off due to a brutal terrorist attack. In response, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, our armed forces not only avenged the attack but eliminated the masterminds behind it.”She highlighted that ‘Operation Sindoor’ successfully destroyed key terrorist infrastructure.“Nine terrorist camps where they were trained were wiped out. Eleven air bases in Pakistan were targeted. The headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, where their training used to take place, were demolished. This was not just a military response—it was a targeted and strategic retaliation,” she told IANS.Paul also reacted on India’s diplomatic measures.“Diplomatically, India stopped the water supply from the Indus River and shut down all trade with Pakistan. They will no longer use Indian roads at the border. This strong stance is what we want to honour through the Tiranga Yatra,” she added.The Tiranga Yatra was started on May 13 and will end on May 23, with events planned across various parts of the country.Kicked off at 4 p.m. Tuesday, the Tiranga Yatra is designed to instil a sense of national pride and unity, with a special focus on recognising the valour of the Indian Army.The BJP aims to connect with citizens across communities and regions, emphasising a message of patriotism, national solidarity, and respect for the Tricolour.Reacting to Prime Minister Modi’s recent declaration that India would only engage with Pakistan on two issues—terrorism and the return of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK)—Paul dismissed the possibility of normal diplomatic dialogue with Pakistan.“Pakistan is our enemy, that is known. But what is shocking is that some Opposition parties are still praising Pakistan and opposing India. The Prime Minister has made it absolutely clear: for us, any act of terrorism is an act of war. This is not the India of 2008 when the 26/11 Mumbai attacks went unanswered. This is a powerful, new India—Modi’s India,” she added.BJP leader further reiterated PM Modi’s message that “blood and water cannot flow together.”“If Indian blood is shed, then the waters from our rivers will not be released. There will be no compromise. And let me be clear—this is not war. Those accusing the government of warmongering, especially communists and other party leaders, are mistaken. This is the first small step to end terrorism,” Paul said.Paul emphasised that India stands for peace but will not tolerate provocation.“India does not want war. But if anyone dares to challenge us, we will not remain silent. The Prime Minister has delivered a clear message: we will not tease anyone, but if someone provokes us, we will not spare them,” Paul concluded.–IANSjk/dan

Imphal, May 13 (IANS) Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, senior security and civil officials and other dignitaries on Tuesday laid wreaths and paid homage to BSF braveheart Deepak Chingakham, who was killed in cross-border firing by Pakistan in R.S. Pura sector of Jammu.

As a mark of solemn tribute, the Governor laid a wreath during the ceremonial homage, honouring the courage and sacrifice of the martyr. A Raj Bhavan official said that the ceremony reflected the state’s collective grief and deep gratitude for Constable Chingakham’s service to the nation. Senior officials from the Border Security Force (BSF), Manipur Police, Army, Assam Rifles, state administration and family members were also present to honour the brave soldier, whose dedication and service to the nation will be remembered with pride. The mortal remains of Constable (General Duty) Deepak Chimngakham (25) of the 7th Battalion, Border Security Force (BSF), on Tuesday afternoon, were brought to Bir Tikendrajit International Airport, Imphal. A solemn tribute ceremony was held at the airport, where the Governor and other dignitaries paid their last respect with full honours. After the wreath laying ceremony at Imphal Airport, the mortal remains of the Martyr were taken to his hometown in Yairipok Yambem Mathak Leikai in Imphal East district, where the last rites of the braveheart were performed with full force honour. A Raj Bhavan statement said that during the recent India-Pakistan border conflict, Constable (General Duty) Deepak Chimngakham (25) of the 7th Battalion, BSF, laid down his life following a drone attack launched from Pakistan at the Kharkhola Border Outpost (BOP). On May 10, Constable Chingakham was seriously injured during cross-border firing by Pakistan along the international boundary, and on May 11, he succumbed to his injuries. Hailing from Imphal East district in Manipur, Constable Chimngakham was a dedicated soldier who served the nation with distinction and courage. His sacrifice has left the entire state and the country in mourning, the statement said. The Manipur government on Monday announced Rs 10 lakh ex gratia for the family of the martyred BSF jawan Chingakham. Former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh earlier deeply condoled the death of the BSF constable. On Tuesday, Singh visited the home of BSF Constable Chingakham at Yairipok. BJP’s lone Rajya Sabha member from Manipur, Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, BJP leader K. Sharat Kumar, state Congress President Keisham Meghachandra Singh, Congress Lok Sabha member Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and many political leaders paid their emotional tribute to the fallen hero. Heart-rending scenes were witnessed at the funeral site as the martyr’s weeping parents fell over the coffin carrying Chingakham’s mortal remains. Chingakham Bonibihari Singh, father of the fallen constable, said he is proud of his son’s sacrifice. A senior BSF officer said that Chingakham was a brave soldier of the border guarding force. “We are proud that he held his responsibility as a soldier. The entire BSF stands by his family,” the official said and indicated that his brother can be recruited in the BSF. Chingakham joined the BSF in April 2021. –IANS sc/dan

Dhanbad, May 13 (IANS) Following a violent clash between two groups of students late Monday night, the administration of BIT Sindri — one of Jharkhand’s most prestigious engineering institutes — has ordered all first-year students to vacate their hostels with immediate effect.By Tuesday afternoon, all first-year engineering students had left the hostel and returned to their homes.The decision comes in the wake of rising tensions on campus after a dispute between first-year and third-year students snowballed into a physical confrontation.Institute Director Pankaj Rai said an internal probe has been launched, and assured that strict action will be taken against those found guilty.A separate police investigation is also underway. CCTV footage from the campus has been collected, and efforts are on to identify all students involved in the altercation.Dr Rai added that with summer vacations approaching and internships scheduled for June-July, the decision to vacate the hostel was also aimed at allowing first-year students to focus on their upcoming training and avoid further escalation of the situation.The dispute reportedly began on Monday evening when a first-year student, allegedly accompanied by an outsider, had an altercation with a third-year student.According to sources, the first-year student physically assaulted the senior, triggering outrage among third-year students.Around 11 p.m., a group of senior students reportedly arrived at the first-year hostel in about a dozen vehicles and launched a retaliatory attack, injuring at least three students.The violence prompted swift action from the institute’s top brass.Director Dr Pankaj Rai, Career Development Centre Chairman Dr Ghanshyam, Hostel Superintendent Dr R.K. Verma, Dr Prashant Kumar, as well as wardens and senior faculty members, rushed to the scene. Local police also arrived shortly after being informed.Established in 1949, BIT Sindri is the first government engineering college of undivided Bihar and enjoys a reputation for academic excellence across the country.–IANSsnc/skp/dan

Patna, May 13 (IANS) Janata Dal (United) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar on Tuesday strongly criticised the…

Jaipur, May 13 (IANS) Calling government officers to make a timeline to fulfill each budgetary announcement, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that the state budget should be dedicated to the all-round development of the state.

Encouraging Shri Anna Yojana, the Chief Minister said that it should be included in government programmes.Chief Minister Sharma said that the government officers should work by making a timeline to fulfill each budget announcement.They (government officers) should ensure to complete the work within the same fixed limit, he added.He said: “Keeping in mind the resolution of Developed Rajasthan by 2047, our government has made various provisions for the all-round development of the state in each of its budgets. We are continuously working to make the youth of the state self-reliant, empowered and happy by giving them ample employment opportunities.”CM Sharma was addressing the review meeting organised regarding the implementation of budget announcements of the year 2025-26 at the Chief Minister’s residence on Tuesday.In the meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed various announcements in detail and provided necessary guidelines to the officials.He said that the BJP-led state government is ensuring a regular follow-up of the progress of budgetary announcements, so that the benefits of these schemes reach the last person at the ground level.The Chief Minister added that it is the top priority of the state government that the youth of the state get employment.In this direction, recruitment for about 1.88 lakh government posts is in process, CM Sharma said.He added that the state government is ensuring easy and quality access to public welfare schemes in remote areas of the state.”In this sequence, recruitment will soon be done for the posts of various personnel, patwari, school teachers and constables in the State Forest department. Advance action has been started in this regard by the Personnel Department,” the Chief Minister said.CM Sharma said that the post of hospital manager will be created to ensure better administrative management in all medical institutions, including medical colleges.He added that special training should be given to the doctors and nursing staff working in the department so that their management skills can be increased.He said that Maa Yojana and Rajasthan Government Health Scheme portal should be integrated under the Integrated Health Management System.The work of e-health records should be expedited by organising health camps in the state, he added.The Chief Minister said that Shri Anna Yojana should be included in various programmes of the state government so that its use is encouraged.He added that keeping in mind the nutritional capacity and utility of Shri Anna Yojana, these products should be started on a pilot basis at mid-day meal centres so that nutrition and immunity are increased in children.He directed the officials to use the products made by the women of self-help groups and Rajeevika in government events, which will not only promote those products but will also increase their income.Chief Minister Sharma also directed the officials to form a committee for the purpose of promoting the marketing, production and promotion of Shri Anna Yojana.He said that a clear action plan should be made for the budgetary announcements so that the announcements can be implemented within the stipulated time frame.He added that the departments should prepare progress reports of their budgetary announcements and review them regularly.The work of those departments in which the expected progress has not been made should be expedited, CM Sharma said.It was told in the meeting that Global Capacity Centre Policy will be brought with the aim of creating employment opportunities in the state as well as increasing investment in the service sector, he added.The trading sector will be developed and promoted in the state by bringing Rajasthan Trade Promotion Policy, he said.In the meeting, the Chief Minister gave detailed guidelines on the progress of various budgetary announcements, including widespread dissemination of circular economy, e-bus service, proposed amnesty scheme, Rajasthan Vehicle Scrap Policy, speeding up the process of connecting domestic consumers to piped gas supply.During the meeting, Chief Minister Sharma reviewed the implementation of budgetary announcements of major departments like Water Resources, Industry, Urban Development, Technical Education, Medical Education, Civil Aviation, Transport, Information Technology, Finance, Forest, Environment, Rural Development, Revenue, Self Government, Medical and Health, Personnel, School Education, Public Works Department.During this meeting, Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant along with senior officers of various departments were present.–IANSarc/khz

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a public interest litigation seeking a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the violent protests which erupted against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 in West Bengal’s Murshidabad. Taking a stern view of filing a PIL directly before the top court, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh remarked that the petitioner should have first approached the Calcutta High Court. “This practice of filing direct writ petitions before the Supreme Court, we will deal with very seriously,” cautioned the Justice Kant-led Bench.“Why don’t you petition the Calcutta High Court. If it was matter involving multiple states, then we can understand, but this is not such a case,” it added. Rejecting the plea, the apex court granted liberty to the petitioner to move the Calcutta High Court for relief.On April 22, the Supreme Court dismissed, as withdrawn, another PIL seeking the formation of a five-member judicial enquiry commission under the chairmanship of a retired apex court judge to enquire into the Murshidabad communal violence.The petition had sought directions to the West Bengal government to file a status report on the clashes/riots which took place during the protest against the Waqf Amendment Act, apart from taking action and curbing the hate speeches made with respect to any community.During the hearing on a clutch of petitions challenging the validity of the contentious amendments introduced to the Waqf Act, 1995, a bench headed by CJI Sanjiv Khanna had expressed its concern over violence taking place. “One thing that is very disturbing is the violence which is taking place. Once the matter is before the court, it should not happen,” the top court had remarked.–IANSpds/uk