New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) As many as 7,636 projects amounting to Rs 1.53 lakh crore have been completed in the 100 cities selected under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) till July 31, 2025, the Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday.Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Tokhan Sahu, in a written reply, said that a total of 8,063 projects, amounting to Rs 1.64 lakh crore were sanctioned for the 100 cities.Tokhan Sahu said cities under the Smart Cities Mission have been developed based on Smar…

Chennai, Aug 21 (IANS) Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor C. Joseph Vijay on Thursday declared that the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election would be a straight contest between his party and the ruling DMK. Addressing a massive gathering at TVK’s second State-level conference at Parapathi in Madurai district, Vijay said the BJP was his ideological enemy while the DMK was his political opponent. Thousands of TVK cadres and fans had assembled at the venue since Wednesday night, and …

Mumbai, Aug 21 (IANS) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday called upon the corporate and private organisations to focus on investing and implementing social responsibility activities in remote and developmentally backward districts instead of urban areas while doing their social responsibility work. He gave a call to work together and bring about a more comprehensive and effective transformation in the new phase of Maharashtra’s rural social transformation.He said that the schemes implem…

New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) With the steadily increasing share of renewable energy in the national grid and promotion of clean and efficient energy technologies, there has been significant decrease of about 7 per cent (from 0.78 kg / KWh in 2014-15 to 0.72 Kg / KWh in 2023-24) in average carbon emission intensity of grid electricity in India, the Parliament was informed on Thursday.Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik said that India has already achieved the target of 50 per cent of its install…

New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday appointed two senior IAS officers as Observers for the upcoming Vice-Presidential Election 2025, scheduled to be held on September 9.In a press note, the poll body said the appointments were made under the powers conferred by Article 324 of the Constitution to ensure the smooth conduct of the election process. As per the schedule notified on August 7, the polling and counting of votes for the Vice-President’s post will…

New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi held telephonic conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, discussing efforts for peaceful resolution of conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the strategic partnership between both nations. “Had a very good conversation with my friend President Macron. Exchanged views on efforts for peaceful resolution of conflicts in Ukraine and in West Asia. Reaffirme…

Lucknow, Aug 21 (IANS) Amid claims about drones being used to commit theft in Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj district, SP Vinod Kumar on Thursday warned of stern action against those involved in such rumour mongering.Talking to mediapersons, he said action against those spreading rumours about drones and theft will be taken under the National Security Act and the Gangster Act.Regarding the awareness measures, the SP shared that he, along with District Magistrate Ashutosh Mohan Agnihotri, held a meeting…

Guwahati, Aug 21 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that in a significant move aimed at preventing illegal infiltration in the state, the Assam Cabinet, on Thursday, approved a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Aadhaar enrollment of citizens aged above 18 years. Chief Minister Sarma told reporters that the focus of the state government is to stop illegal infiltration and this step was taken for this.The SOP empowers District Commissioners to permit enrollment o…

Shimla, Aug 21 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Leader of Opposition, Jairam Thakur, on Thursday said the Congress formed the government in the state based on the support of employees, “but now it is doing injustice to the employees.” The issue of clearing the 11 per cent dearness allowance (DA) of the employees was raised by the BJP in the assembly. An assurance was also sought from Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu that he would give a date by which the pending DA would be released. As there was no c…

New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that a “political solution” should be prioritised by the states over “rushing to the top court” when a Governor delays assent to Bills passed by the legislative Assembly.During the hearing on the Presidential reference made under Article 143 of the Constitution in the aftermath of the apex court verdict in the Tamil Nadu Bills case, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government, argued that not every prob…