New Delhi, Aug 5 (IANS) India’s e-Visa facility is presently available to nationals of 172 countries for entry through 32 designated international airports and six major seaports, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, in a written reply, said that E-Visa is presently available under 13 sub-categories, i.e. e-Tourist Visa, e-Business Visa, e-Medical Visa, e-Medical Attendant Visa, e-Conference Visa, e-Ayush Visa, e-Ayush Att…

Mumbai, Aug 5 (IANS) The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly’s Privileges Committee will meet on August 6 to discuss the issue of a brawl between supporters of legislators Jitendra Awhad and Gopichand Padalkar in the premises of Vidhan Bhavan during the monsoon session of the state legislature held in July. According to the sources, the Privileges Committee will deliberate on the scuffle issue on Wednesday after the Assembly Speaker, Rahul Narwekar, on July 18 announced in he lower house to hand …

Hyderabad, Aug 5 (IANS) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Tuesday demanded that the Election Commission of India bring back ballot papers to conduct elections in view of the doubts people have about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and called for the withdrawal of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. A delegation of BRS leaders led by the party’s working president, K. T. Rama Rao, made the demand during a meeting with the Election Commission in New Delhi.The…

Chennai, Aug 5 (IANS) BJP Tamil Nadu President Nainar Nagenthran on Tuesday alleged that the Kuruvai paddy crop in the tail-end regions of the Cauvery delta is on the verge of withering due to the failure of the state government in ensuring proper irrigation facilities.In a strongly-worded statement, Nagenthran pointed out that although water from the Mettur reservoir was officially released on June 12 to irrigate the Cauvery delta districts, it has still not reached the tail-end areas of Nagapa…

Mumbai, Aug 5 (IANS) As the Bhoomi Pujan of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya marked its fifth anniversary, Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde on Tuesday said the temple’s construction was the cherished dream of party founder Balasaheb Thackeray, and its realisation stands as a moment of immense pride for the nation. Krishna Hegde described the day as historically and spiritually significant.Speaking to IANS, Krishna Hegde said, “The Bhoomi Pujan of Ram Mandir is a matter of pride for the entire c…

Chandigarh, Aug 5 (IANS) BJP national General Secretary Tarun Chugh on Tuesday demanded the immediate scrapping of the land pooling scheme and said the BJP would launch a state-wide agitation to protect the interests of farmers. Chugh said the Modi government is committed to protecting farmers, adding a “state-sponsored conspiracy to loot farmers’ land in the name of development to help realtors” would never be accepted. Chugh said, “This is not a policy, it’s a betrayal. Farmers know …

Kabul, Aug 5 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed significant transformation in recent years, with the region now presenting a picture of infrastructure development, institutional reform, and greater democratic participation, Afghanistan’s leading news outlet Khaama Press reported on Tuesday. The transformation in Jammu and Kashmir is not only visible on the ground but also showcased through data and policy direction. If Jammu and Kashmir is compared with Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (P…

New Delhi, Aug 5 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that upcoming tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals could eventually rise as high as 250 per cent, as part of his push to bring drug manufacturing back to the United States.In an interview with CNBC, Trump said the tariffs would start at a lower rate — without specifying the exact figure — and then increase over the next year to 18 months.“We’ll be putting (an) initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year, one-an…

New Delhi, Aug 5 (IANS) The National Citizen Party (NCP) has ambitious plans for Bangladesh. Its manifesto on a Second Republic has laid a strong emphasis on youth empowerment, education reform, and future-ready policies. The NCP is a youth-led party that was established through the July 2024 mass uprising. The party promises to promote youth empowerment while prioritising their cultures, capabilities, norms, and expectations towards society.The party’s programmes do look promising, especially…

Patna, Aug 5 (IANS) In a significant political move ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, announced the formation of a new alliance with five regional parties under the theme of social justice and total transformation. Speaking to the media at Maurya Hotel in Patna, Tej Pratap said his alliance includes Vikas Vanchit Insaan Party (VVIP), Bhojpuriya Jan Morcha (BJM), Pragatisheel Janta Party (PJP), Wajib Adhikar Party (WAP), and …