The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued guidelines to higher education institutions across the country to impose a ban on single-use plastic. The move comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching a mass revolution against single-use plastic from October 2, which will mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The guidelines state that the institutions should systematically ban the use of plastic on their campuses and replace it with “environment friendly substitutes.” It also mandates that every higher education institution in the country should ban single-use plastics in canteens, hostels and shopping complexes in the institution’s premises. …
Author: Our Correspondent
Union Home Minister Amit Shah met a Kashmiri delegation at the North Block here on Tuesday. Twenty-two sarpanchs from Kashmir, who bravely contested the panchayat elections in spite of threat to their lives from terrorists, met Shah and other top officials of the Home Ministry. Shah will be listening to all of them and hold talks to bring normalcy in the valley, sources said. This is the first delegation from the Valley to meet the Home Minister after the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
India’s first moon lander — Vikram — on Tuesday got nearer to the Moon with the Indian space agency successfully completing the first of the two de-orbital operations. According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the de-orbital operation began at 8.50 a.m. as planned. Using the onboard propulsion system for 4 seconds the operation was carried out successfully. The orbit of Vikram Lander is 104 km x 128 km. The Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter continues to orbit the Moon in the existing orbit and both the Orbiter and Lander are healthy. The next de-orbiting operation is scheduled on Wednesday between 3.30…
The family members of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti on Monday met them for the first time as the two continued to remain under detention in Srinagar since the last 29 days. Sources said Mehbooba’s sister Rubaiya Sayeed and elder daughter Irtiqa Javed met her at the Chashma Shahi hut where she has been kept under detention. Rubaiya was abducted by militants in 1990 when her father the late Mufti Mohammed Sayeed was the Union Home Minister. Authorities had swapped seven top militant commanders to obtain her release. The move had been been severely…
Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa said in Pathankot on Monday that it was an honour to fly his last sortie in an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft with Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman. Dhanoa flew a sortie with Abhinandan in a twin-seater MiG-21 trainer aircraft at the Pathankot Air Base on Monday. He is set to retire from the IAF later this year following nearly four decades in service. Air Force officials said the sortie at the Pathankot Air Base lasted for about half-an-hour. “It was a particular joy for me to come and fly with the 26 Squadron which…
Members of the Sikh community protested against the alleged forced conversion of Sikh girls in Pakistan, outside the Pakistan High Commission here on Monday. The protesters were trying to submit a memorandum to the Pakistan High Commission when they were stopped. This irked the Sikhs who launched violent protests near the premises of the Pakistan High Commission. Sikh community members also burnt an effigy of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in protest. Two Sikh girls have been forcefully converted to Islam in Pakistan in the past few days. The protesters demanded protection of the Sikh families residing in Pakistan amid…
“Mission Mangal”, which revolves around the story of India’s Mangalyaan or the Mars Orbiter Mission, has become actor Akshay Kumars highest-grossing film in Australia. “‘Mission Mangal’ is now #AkshayKumar’s highest grossing film in #Australia. Total till 1 Sept 2019: A$ 601,561 (Rs 2.91 crore; still running). Has crossed lifetime biz of #Housefull series, #Kesari, #PadMan and all #Akshay starrers in #Australia @comScore,” trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted on Monday. Sharing the film’s business in India, Adarsh tweeted: “‘Mission Mangal’ biz at a glance…Week 1: Rs 128.16 crore (8 days), Week 2: Rs 49.95 crore, Weekend 3: Rs 9.09 crore, Total:…
Shilpa Shetty took to Instagram to share a picture of Ganpati puja festivity at home. The actress and her family chose to flaunt yellow traditional outfits while observing the rituals. Like every year, Shetty’s family has brought home an eco-friendly idol this year, too. “My GANNU RAJA is back. The remover of obstacles and Lord of success. May He bestow us all with His blessings this Ganesh Chaturthi. While I’m spiritual and celebrate all festivals, I’m also responsible towards Mother Earth and we have continued our tradition of having an #ecofriendlyGanesha idol. Ganpati Bappa Morya #ganpatibappamorya #ganpati#blessings #gratitude #10years#family #tripling…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on a two-day visit to Japan, on Monday met Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo and said India was committed to enhance defence engagements between the two countries, besides strengthening bilateral arrangements. Singh also met Japane Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya on the first day of his visit. He is accompanied by a high-level defence ministry delegation. “The meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan Mr @AbeShinzo was excellent. India attaches the highest priority to our bilateral relationship with Japan. I conveyed to him India’s commitment to further enhance the defence engagements between both the countries,” Singh…
Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday got some partial relief from the Supreme Court which ordered he remain in CBI custody in the INX Media case and not be sent to the Tihar Jail until the court hears his plea. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, told a bench headed by Justice R Banumathi: “I am begging you. Please don’t do this. Protect him till you hear this case. He shouldn’t be sent to Tihar.” The top court was conducting the hearing on a petition filed by Chidambaram against his CBI custody. Acting on Chidambaram’s request, the apex…