In 2019, Indonesia held a historic one-day election for the President, national and regional legislatures, and local councils. Aimed at cutting costs and simplifying administration, it came at a tragic human cost: nearly 900 poll workers died and over 5,000 fell seriously ill. In 2024, there was again a heavy toll — more than 100 deaths and nearly 15,000 illnesses. In June 2025, the Constitutional Court ruled that national and local elections must be held separately from 2029, two to two-and-a-half years apart, citing voter and administrator overload and the impact on democratic participation.

Supporters of India’s ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) proposal argue that synchronising the Lok Sabha (general election) and State Assembly elections would reduce expenditure, limit prolonged security deployments, minimise disruptions caused by the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), and prevent political parties from remaining in constant campaign mode. Indonesia’s experience, however, offers a cautionary lesson.

Comparative constitutional practice offers little support for enforced electoral synchronisation. In Canada, federal and provincial elections occur independently. In Australia, synchronisation is impossible: State legislatures serve fixed four-year terms, while the federal House of Representatives has a maximum tenure of three years.

Germany is often miscited. Its stability arises not from synchronised elections — Länder polls are deliberately staggered — but from the Constructive Vote of No Confidence, which requires the Bundestag to elect a successor before removing a Chancellor.

South Africa and Indonesia use proportional representation, which diffuses political power and protects minority voices. India’s first-past-the-post system lacks such safeguards, allowing a national wave to sweep State elections. The United States offers an even weaker analogy: fixed electoral cycles function there because the executive’s tenure is insulated from legislative confidence in a presidential system.

The Constitutional Amendment proposal

The most comprehensive blueprint emerged from the High-Level Committee ((2023-24) chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind, now taking legislative form in the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024. The proposed Article 82A empowers the President to notify an “appointed date” from which all State Assembly tenures would align with the Lok Sabha’s cycle. Assemblies constituted after this date would have their tenure curtailed, even if their five-year term had not expired. The Bill also introduces “unexpired-term elections”: if a legislature is dissolved prematurely, the new legislature would serve only the remainder of the original term rather than receiving a fresh mandate. Additionally, it grants the Election Commission of India the authority to recommend deferring State elections if simultaneous conduct proves impracticable. Amendments are proposed to Articles 83, 172, and 327. These changes raise serious constitutional concerns.

India deliberately adopted a parliamentary system where governments survive only as long as they retain legislative confidence. In the Constituent Assembly, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar explained that democracy cannot simultaneously maximise stability and responsibility. India chose responsibility — continuous executive accountability rather than guaranteed tenure.

Articles 75 and 164 establish the collective responsibility of the executive to the legislature. Articles 83 and 172 prescribe only a maximum tenure of five years for legislatures, not a guaranteed term. Early dissolution is, therefore, not a defect but a democratic safeguard, allowing voters to renew the mandate when confidence collapses. ONOE reverses this logic, treating dissolution as an administrative inconvenience and subtly shifting India toward a quasi-presidential model that weakens legislative accountability.

In S.R. Bommai vs Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court of India affirmed that federalism is part of the Constitution’s basic structure. States are not mere administrative units but possess an independent constitutional identity. Their democratic rhythms may legitimately differ.

ONOE unsettles this principle. It allows State mandates to be truncated not because legislative confidence has collapsed, but to align with the national electoral calendar. If introduced in 2029, a State electing its legislature in 2033 would see its mandate expire in just one year.

By contrast, staggered elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, and local bodies create a continuous feedback mechanism, keeping governments attentive to public sentiment. In a system without a right of recall, they serve as the next best instrument of accountability. As James Madison wrote in ‘Federalist No. 52’, frequent elections ensure governments maintain “immediate dependence on, and sympathy with, the people.”

The problem of ‘unexpired-term’ elections

The most troubling feature is mid-term elections for unexpired legislative term. The Constitution recognises no concept of a residual mandate. Although the proposed Articles 83(6) and 172(5) claim that a newly elected House would not be a continuation of the previous one, they effectively preserve earlier electoral cycles to maintain synchronisation. This produces several distortions.

First, it devalues the franchise. Mid-cycle elections would produce governments with truncated mandates, reducing elections to provisional exercises and risking deeper voter apathy.

Second, it undermines governance and accountability, as residual-term governments lack incentives for structural reform, encouraging populism and policy drift. Unlike the temporary constraints imposed by the MCC, truncated mandates could weaken governance for years rather than weeks.

Third, it risks creating a “governance dead zone”. The Amendment Bill does not specify the minimum duration of an “unexpired term” triggering a mid-term election.

At the State level, deferring elections could prolong President’s Rule, conflicting with Article 356(5), which limits it to one year, extendable to three years only during a national emergency with Election Commission of India (ECI) certification.

At the Union level, a caretaker government could remain in office awaiting synchronised elections, potentially breaching Article 85’s requirement that Parliament meet every six months. Such a government cannot present a full Budget under Articles 112-117 and would be limited to a Vote on Account (Article 116), hampering fiscal governance.

Thus the “unexpired-term” mechanism is legally unworkable at the Union level beyond six months and would require sweeping constitutional changes that risk distorting the Constitution’s identity and violating the Basic Structure doctrine.

The proposed Article 82A(5) empowers the ECI to recommend deferral of State elections without clear criteria, time limits, or parliamentary oversight, if unable to be conducted simultaneously with the Lok Sabha. Even Article 356 contains safeguards — parliamentary approval and temporal limits. By contrast, Article 82A(5) creates a zone of unguided discretion.

If a State government falls mid-term, the Union government could impose President’s Rule and defer elections, effectively governing the State through the Governor. The incoming government, after elections, may inherit only a truncated tenure.

The issue is not whether such abuse is likely, but that the Amendment makes it constitutionally possible. As Alexander Hamilton warned in Federalist No. 59 (1788), the constitutional possibility of misuse is itself “an unanswerable objection.”

In the NJAC case (2015), the Court held that constitutional validity depends on institutional design, not assurances of benign exercise. An amendment that structurally endangers a basic feature is unconstitutional regardless of how power may be used in practice. ONOE risks violating federalism by enabling prolonged unelected State governance in the name of synchronisation.

The cost argument

The fiscal burden of elections is macro-economically negligible and the figures do not justify a constitutional overhaul of such magnitude.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee estimates show combined Lok Sabha and State Assembly election spending at around ₹4,500 crore (2015-16), about 0.25% of the Union Budget and 0.03% of GDP. PRS data shows Lok Sabha election costs historically ranged from 0.02%-0.05% of GDP (1957-2014). Elections are held in phases (82 days in 2024), allowing the ECI to rotate EVMs, VVPATs, and security forces. Simultaneous polls would remove this flexibility and demand costly new resources, weakening claimed administrative gains.

Is it wise to amend the Constitution and weaken federalism to save fractions of 1% of GDP? Elections are not an overhead to be minimised but the recurring price of self-government, ensuring that power remains answerable to the people.

The Justice Kurian Joseph Committee on Union-State Relations, constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu, has recommended in Part I of its Report (February 2026) that the Bill should be withdrawn — a stance endorsed by the Tamil Nadu government The promised benefits of the ONOE proposal are overstated, while its structural harms are profound. It distorts the Constitution’s identity and violates the basic structure. India must avoid repeating Indonesia’s mistake.

M.K. Stalin is the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

Image used for representation
| Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

New Delhi:

BJP MP and renowned actress Hema Malini on Tuesday voiced her support for the ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill, citing the benefits of synchronised elections. She emphasizes that frequent elections in India, unlike other countries, hinder her work as an MP due to the model code of conduct enforcement.

Ms Malini argues that simultaneous elections would conserve resources, which could then be allocated to vital sectors like education and health. This perspective resonates with concerns about the economic burden of frequent elections.

“In every country, elections are held only once, not like India where we have elections all the time. Due to this, I face a lot of problems as an MP when work stops due to the enforcement of the model code of conduct. If elections are held only once, then the money saved can be used for different purposes like education and health..,” she said.

Earlier today, the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024′ and ‘The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024’ was formally introduced in Lok Sabha after members voted on it.

The bill proposes a ‘One Nation One Election’ or simultaneous elections to both Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The bill will be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for detailed discussions.

The Speaker of the Lok Sabha announced the result of the vote on the introduction of the bill in the House. The vote showed 269 members in favor (Ayes) and 196 against (Noes). This followed Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal’s formal introduction of the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, on ‘One Nation, One Election’ and his agreement to send the bill to a JPC in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Manish Tewari opposed the move, arguing, “Beyond the seventh schedule of the Constitution is the basic structure doctrine, which spells out that there are certain features of the Constitution beyond the amending power of the House. The essential features are federalism and the structure of our democracy. Therefore, the bills moved by the Minister of Law and Justice are an absolute assault on the basic structure of the Constitution and are beyond the legislative competence of the House.”

DMK MP TR Baalu opposed the bill, stating, “I oppose the 129th Constitution Amendment Bill, 2024. As my leader M.K. Stalin has said, it is anti-federal. The electors have the right to elect the government for five years, and this right cannot be curtailed with simultaneous elections.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The government has listed two bills related to “one nation, one election” for introduction in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

Union Law Minister Meghwal will introduce The Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill in the Lower House.

The ruling BJP took a major step towards implementing its key plank of “one nation, one election” on Thursday as the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the constitutional amendment bill to roll out the concept of simultaneous Lok Sabha and state assembly polls.

Two draft legislations, including one simple bill to amend provisions in laws dealing with three Union territories with legislative assemblies to align them with the Constitution amendment bill, were given the nod by the Cabinet.

The proposed constitutional amendment bill would deal with making provisions for holding Lok Sabha and state legislative assembly elections together.

While a high-level committee led by former president Ram Nath Kovind on simultaneous polls had also proposed holding municipality and panchayat elections along with the national and state elections in a phased manner, the Cabinet has decided to stay away, “as of now”, from the manner in which local body elections are conducted. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

For representative purposes.
| Photo Credit: iStockphoto

The story so far: On November 25, the Indian government announced the launch of its ‘One Nation, One Subscription’ (ONOS) plan to improve access to expensive research journals to the country’s public education and research institutes. The announcement was accompanied with scant details and broached widespread criticism from the research community, especially over what was perceived to be its disproportionate expense and lack of support for open-access publishing. On December 11, government officials conducted a press conference in New Delhi that addressed many of these concerns.

What is ONOS’s purpose?

When, say, scientists have concluded an experiment, they write up their methods and findings and publish it as a paper in a journal. The journal collects, reviews, edits, publishes, and archives these papers as a service to other scholars and the people at large.

In exchange, journals levy a fee. Subscription-based journals charge readers a fee to read papers. Some forms of open-access (OA) journals, called ‘gold’ OA, charge researchers to publish their paper. So institutes had subscribed to subscription journals through 10 or so consortia within the country.

What is the ‘One Nation One Subscription’ initiative? | Explained 

ONOS will replace these consortia as a single window through which all government-funded institutes in the country will be able to access more than 13,000 published by 30 major international publishers.

Why did ONOS provoke criticism?

At the time of announcement, a Ministry of Education press release didn’t specify which journals would be part of ONOS, how ONOS would be implemented, how its allocation of Rs 6,000 crore (for three calendar years) would be spent, and how ONOS would support efforts to make research OA. Experts on the topic also asked whether the allocation for foreign journals could have been used to support domestic publishing efforts instead.

Also it wasn’t clear whether ONOS would help scientists pay to publish in gold OA journals or whether these payments — called article processing charges (APCs) — could be discounted.

What was revealed on December 11?

The press conference was attended by officials from the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA), the Department of Science & Technology, and the Department of Higher Education.

The package: Currently students and staff at all public institutes will be able to access all papers in the journals participating in ONOS irrespective of their discipline. These include titles owned by major publishers like Springer-Nature, Wiley, and Taylor & Francis. The officials said centres of science, social science, humanities, and medical education will all be eligible and won’t have to pay any other fees. Negotiations are underway to bring more journals into the fold. Those journals that aren’t part of ONOS can still sell access separately within the country.

Phases: In her presentation Remya Haridasan, a scientist at the PSA’s office, said the government would implement ONOS in three phases. In phase I, it would merge all the consortia and work to facilitate journal access in all public institutes. The scheme will expand to include private institutions in phase II, and in phase III the government would create “universal access” to all citizens “through designated access points at public libraries”.

Open access: In a pilot, ONOS would set aside Rs 150 crore a year, out of its Rs 2,000 crore per year budget, to pay for APCs. The government has also negotiated APC discounts for researchers to publish in certain OA journals. The officials said they are aware of transformative OA models around the world and that ONOS would encompass them as it progressed. As of now, they said, 60-70% of journals in ONOS are subscription-based. They added that around half a decade ago, 75% of papers published by Indian scientists were in subscription-based journals, and that this figure has dropped to 65% today.

Dr. Haridasan said ONOS “is not a value judgment of the subscription-based model of knowledge dissemination but an adoption of the most practical India-specific solution until a sustainable OA model is achieved globally.”

Domestic efforts: Officials at the press conference acknowledged the need to support domestic publishers and journals. They said there were five repositories in the country — servers where researchers could deposit digital copies of their papers and where others could freely access them — but that scientists were using them to a less-than-ideal degree. They said other efforts need to take place, such as “enhancement, promotion, and support of Indian journals” and changes in how institutes evaluate the work of researchers, especially to reduce dependence on journal titles and increase the focus on merit of each person’s work.

A new research evaluation framework would be needed that also accounts for entrepreneurial pursuits and innovation, they added. “In a democracy, you can’t have a dictum that all research done in India should be published in Indian journals,” PSA Ajay Sood said. “Science is global.”

MEA ‘strongly’ deplores Ayatollah Khamenei’s remark on Indian Muslims 

India on Monday “strongly” deplored Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s comment on the condition of the Muslim community in India. In a statement, Ministry of External Affairs described the comment as “unacceptable” . Earlier Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei included India alongside Gaza Strip and Myanmar as one of the places where Muslims are suffering. In a comment sent out in the social media Ayatollah Khamenei referred to India, Gaza, and Myanmar and said the Islamic world should not remain oblivious to the condition of Muslims in these places.

Supreme Court to hear Kolkata doctor rape, murder case on September 17

The Supreme Court is scheduled on September 17 to hear a suo motu case into the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital even as protests continue unabated in West Bengal.

Mamata meets protesting doctors; Kolkata Police Commissioner, senior health officials to be removed

After a meeting with protesting doctors, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that as demanded by them, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal, the Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police, North, and two senior officials of Health Department would be replaced. The meeting started at 6 p.m. and lasted for almost four hours; the doctors emerged from the Chief Minister’s residence just a few minutes before midnight.

Govt, BJP plan events to mark NDA’s 100 days in office

The NDA government and the BJP have planned events across the country including a blood donation camp in the national capital to mark the new dispensation’s 100 days in office on Tuesday (September 17, 2024).

Arvind Kejriwal’s search for a loyal replacement in Delhi is a political gamble 

Two days after he came out of jail on bail in the Delhi excise policy case, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal declared that he would be quitting the top post, having resolutely refused to do so while behind bars.

Meta bans RT and other Russian state media networks

Facebook owner Meta said on Monday (September 17,2024) it was banning RT, Rossiya Segodnya and other Russian state media networks, alleging the outlets used deceptive tactics to carry out influence operations while evading detection on the social media company’s platforms.

India, U.S. discuss Indo-Pacific and Gaza matters in Intersessional Dialogue

Indian and American officials held the U.S.-India 2+2 Intersessional Dialogue on Monday (September 16, 2024) during which they discussed matters related to the Indo-Pacific region, Ukraine and Gaza, the State Department said in Washington.

After prolonged negotiations, BJP concedes chair of four Parliamentary Standing Committees to Congress

After prolonged negotiations, the Bharatiya Janata Party has conceded the chair of Department-related Standing Committees on External Affairs, Agriculture, Rural Development and Education to the Congress. A notification is expected shortly. In 2014, with the Congress tally at just 44 MPs, the party held the chair of parliamentary panels on External Affairs and Finance. External Affairs was then headed by senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and Finance by Veerappa Moily. Both sides have ceded space.

Tensions simmering in Manipur since March 2023, we kept the troops ready even before May 3: former Assam Rifles D-G 

Former Director-General of the Assam Rifles, Lieutenant-General Pradeep Chandran Nair (retd), said the only sincere attempt for a dialogue between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities in Manipur last year was derailed, when a video of two Kuki-Zo women being stripped and paraded by a mob surfaced on social media on July 19. In an interview with The Hindu, Lt.-General Nair said though the violence erupted around 2.30 p.m. on May 3, 2023, the State government requisitioned the deployment of Assam Rifles only at 8.30 p.m. as “they were still trying to figure out whether they can handle it [violence] on their own”.

Supreme Court to examine suggestions to stop ‘bulldozer justice’

The Supreme Court will examine suggestions from petitioners seeking relief from States bulldozing homes and private properties of undertrials, and frame pan-India guidelines. A Bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai had made it clear that the law did not permit retributory demolition of the properties of accused, who were still awaiting trial, or their immediate families.

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls: Multi-tier security arrangements put up for first phase

Multi-tier security arrangements have been put in place to ensure free and fair Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, a senior police official said. Elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being held in three phases. Voting for 24 seats will be held in the first phase on Wednesday (September 18, 2024), followed by polling for 26 seats in the second phase on September 25. The voting for 40 seats in third phase will be held on October 1 while counting of votes will be held on October 8.

Ball in BJP’s court to hold early polls in Delhi, no decision yet on next CM: AAP

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party said it has put the ball in BJP’s court by demanding early elections in Delhi in November, and now it is up to the Opposition party to decide whether it was prepared to face CM Arvind Kejriwal. Mr. Kejriwal will tender his resignation as chief minister on Tuesday and the process to choose his replacement will start after that, Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, adding that there has been no discussion on who the next chief minister will be.

Adani Group says press release in circulation on its Kenya projects is fake

The Adani Group categorically stated that neither the Group nor any of its companies or subsidiaries have issued any press statements related to its ongoing projects and presence in Kenya. An Adani Group spokesperson asserted that certain “vested interests with malicious intent” are circulating “multiple fraudulent press releases”, including one titled “Adani Group Denounces Baseless Accusations and Threats”, related to the Group’s presence in Kenya.

‘One nation, one election’ not possible under present Constitution: Chidambaram

Congress leader P. Chidambaram lashed out at the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre over the ‘one nation, one election’ issue, saying it is not possible under the present Constitution and requires at least five Constitutional amendments. Replying to a question on reports that the BJP-led NDA government would implement ‘one nation, one election’ within its current tenure, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not have the numbers to place those constitutional amendments either in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha.

Typhoon Bebinca, the strongest storm to hit Shanghai since 1949, shuts down megacity

Tens of millions of people in Shanghai and across China’s densely populated east coast hunkered indoors as the strongest storm to hit since 1949 swept in, downing trees and disrupting transport across the region. Typhoon Bebinca landed early Monday morning in the city’s eastern coastal area, with wind speeds of up to 151 kilometres per hour (94 miles per hour), state media said. It is the strongest storm to hit Shanghai since Typhoon Gloria in 1949, state broadcaster CCTV said shortly after Bebinca made landfall.

Man suspected in apparent assassination attempt on Trump charged with federal gun crimes

A man suspected in an apparent assassination attempt targeting former President Donald Trump was charged with federal gun crimes, making his first court appearance in the final weeks of a White House race already touched by violence. Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, faces charges of possessing a firearm despite being a convicted felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Additional and more serious charges are possible as the investigation continues and prosecutors seek an indictment from a grand jury.

TikTok heads to court over U.S. law that could lead to a ban on the popular platform

The U.S. government and TikTok will go head-to-head in federal court as oral arguments begin in a consequential legal case that will determine if – or how — a popular social media platform used by nearly half of all Americans will continue to operate in the country. Attorneys for the two sides will appear before a panel of judges at the federal appeals court in Washington. TikTok and its China-based parent company, ByteDance, are challenging a U.S. law that requires them to break ties or face a ban in the U.S. by mid-January. The legal battle is expected to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

Apple rolls out iOS with more customisation and control features

Apple has started rolling out its iOS 18 globally. Unveiled at WWDC earlier in June this year, the latest operating system has introduced a bunch of new features and tools including more control over the Home Screen and Control Center and a more intelligent Siri. While Apple hasn’t confirmed when the update will be available to install, it is estimated that it could drop at 10 30 PM IST for the eligible older generation models. Meanwhile, the new iPhone 16 series will be preloaded with the iOS 18 and will be available from September 20.

Emmys 2024: ‘Shogun’ makes history as first non-English language series to win Drama Series with a record-breaking 18 total wins

Shogun made history at the 2024 Emmys by becoming the first majority non-English language series to win Best Drama Series. The historical epic set in feudal Japan took home a total of 18 Emmys, the most ever for a single season of television. Anna Sawai, who won the award for Lead Actress in a Drama Series, made history as the first Asian winner in the category.

A police officer directs traffic near Trump International Golf Club after the apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida on September 15, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Donald Trump safe after Secret Service opens fire at suspected person with firearm near his golf club

Donald Trump was the target of “what appears to be an attempted assassination” at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, the FBI said, just nine weeks after the Republican presidential nominee survived another attempt on his life. The former president said he was safe and well, and authorities held a man in custody. U.S. Secret Service agents posted a few holes up from where Trump was playing noticed the muzzle of an AK-style rifle sticking through the shrubbery that lines the course, roughly 400 yards away.

‘One Nation, One Election’ to be implemented in this government’s tenure

The concept of simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, referred to as “One Nation, One Election” will be implemented within the current term of the Narendra Modi government, sources said, hoping for support from political parties across the board, especially partners in the National Democratic Alliance. The census exercise, not undertaken since 2011, will also begin soon, senior government sources said.

Long range rockets found with Manipur groups; MHA-constituted committee conducts inquiry

The latest additions to the arsenal of warring Kuki-Zo and Meitei groups in Manipur, which are crude, unguided rockets with potential ranges of up to 5-6 km, has created a flutter in the security establishment. The Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted a multi-stakeholder expert committee to investigate the incident which has wider ramifications, according to sources in the security establishment. The rockets are in addition to the hexacopter drones which both sides have now acquired to drop bombs and rocket propelled grenades (RPG), in a significant escalation of the crisis which began in May 2023.

I&B Ministry bets big on Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning -powered dashboard to analyse news stories

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is planning to introduce an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)-powered integrated dashboard with the capability to analyse recent news stories for forecasting emerging trends. The tool is expected to enhance the Ministry’s ability to swiftly respond to such trends. An AI&ML-based platform for multilingual translation and voice localisation will also be developed to facilitate efficient public dissemination of information about government initiatives.

Kolkata rape and murder case: Braving heavy rain in Kolkata, protestors continue agitation for justice

Protests continued in Kolkata for the 36th day, demanding justice for the woman doctor who was raped and killed at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital last month. Even amidst pouring rain, protesting resident doctors, senior doctors, and common people from all walks of life took to the streets to continue their agitation . The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front carried out a maha micchil (massive protest rally) from Salt Lake Central Park to the headquarters of the State Health Department at Swasthya Bhawan and reiterated their five main demands.

Bomb blast at Manipur Minister’s house, Internet ban extended

A bomb exploded at the house of Manipur’s Transport Minister Khashim Vashum in Ukhrul town, about 80 km northeast of the State’s capital Imphal. The Minister was away in Imphal when the incident happened in the Naga-dominated headquarters of the Ukhrul district. The Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley, meanwhile, remained tense but incident-free. The Manipur government extended the suspension of Internet and mobile data services, including Very Small Aperture Terminal and virtual private network services, in these three districts and the two others – Bishnupur and Kakching – till September 20.

India sends assistance to flood-hit Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam

India launched Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam that have been hit by severe flooding caused by Typhoon Yagi. India has committed $1mn worth of flood relief assistance to Vietnam and $1,00,000 worth of assistance to Laos, the Ministry of External Affairs announced. Following this, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force have swung into action deploying ships and aircraft to ferry the assistance.

Maharashtra assembly election likely in second week of November: Eknath Shinde

Dropping hints about the upcoming Assembly elections, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told press persons at his residence ‘Varsha’ that it would likely be held in the second week of November and preferably in two phases. “Elections are likely to be held in the second week of November. A two-phase election would be preferable. Merit and a good strike rate will be the criteria for seat-sharing among the Mahayuti allies. The seat-sharing will be finalised in the coming 8 to 10 days,” he said.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar targets Rahul Gandhi over quota remark, says it shows ‘anti-constitutional mindset’

In a veiled attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on “ending reservations”, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said that such comments by a person holding a constitutional post show an “anti-constitutional mindset”. “A person from a constitutional post saying on a foreign land that reservation should be ended underscores the same anti-constitutional mindset. The baton of prejudices against reservation has been handed over. It is the same old anti-constitutional mindset,” he said without taking the name of Gandhi, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Engineer Rashid’s AIP and former Jamaat members join hands for J&K Assembly polls

In a significant political development, the Awami Ittehad Party headed by Lok Sabha member Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer and former members of Jamaat-e-Islami have come together in a strategic alliance for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. “A joint meeting was held today in which the AIP delegation was led by AIP Supremo and chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, while the JEI delegation was led by Ghulam Qadir Wani.

Terrorists exchange fire with security forces in J&K’s Poonch

An encounter broke out in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district when security forces launched a cordon and search operation following information about the presence of terrorists, an official said. Acting on a tip off, a joint search operation was launched by the police and Army in the Pathanateer area near Gursai top in Mendhar sub-division on Saturday evening, the security official said.

Study shows Chennai’s air pollution far exceeds WHO standards

As cities continue to grow, the complexity of managing air quality has increased, prompting the question if existing strategies and standards are enough to cope with the worsening air pollution crisis. A recent Greenpeace study analysing air pollution trends in 2023 across 10 cities in South Indian States reveals that Chennai’s monthly average PM_2.5 (fine particulate matter) levels are four to seven times higher, and PM₁₀ (coarse particulate matter) levels are three to six times higher, compared to WHO annual guidelines.

Iran two years after Mahsa Amini: persecution and defiance

Persecution of bereaved relatives. Impunity for perpetrators. Rampant executions and infighting among the opposition. A bleak picture confronts opponents of Iran’s clerical authorities two years after a protest movement erupted that they hoped would be a turning point in the four-and-a-half-decade history of the Islamic republic. Activists and exiles still hope that the protests sparked by the September 16, 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini — an Iranian Kurd arrested for allegedly violating the dress code for women — left an indelible mark on Iran and that her tragic death aged 22 was not in vain.

A police officer directs traffic near Trump International Golf Club after the apparent assassination attempt of Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida on September 15, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Donald Trump safe after Secret Service opens fire at suspected person with firearm near his golf club

Donald Trump was the target of “what appears to be an attempted assassination” at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, the FBI said, just nine weeks after the Republican presidential nominee survived another attempt on his life. The former president said he was safe and well, and authorities held a man in custody. U.S. Secret Service agents posted a few holes up from where Trump was playing noticed the muzzle of an AK-style rifle sticking through the shrubbery that lines the course, roughly 400 yards away.

‘One Nation, One Election’ to be implemented in this government’s tenure

The concept of simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and State Assemblies, referred to as “One Nation, One Election” will be implemented within the current term of the Narendra Modi government, sources said, hoping for support from political parties across the board, especially partners in the National Democratic Alliance. The census exercise, not undertaken since 2011, will also begin soon, senior government sources said.

Long range rockets found with Manipur groups; MHA-constituted committee conducts inquiry

The latest additions to the arsenal of warring Kuki-Zo and Meitei groups in Manipur, which are crude, unguided rockets with potential ranges of up to 5-6 km, has created a flutter in the security establishment. The Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted a multi-stakeholder expert committee to investigate the incident which has wider ramifications, according to sources in the security establishment. The rockets are in addition to the hexacopter drones which both sides have now acquired to drop bombs and rocket propelled grenades (RPG), in a significant escalation of the crisis which began in May 2023.

I&B Ministry bets big on Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning -powered dashboard to analyse news stories

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is planning to introduce an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)-powered integrated dashboard with the capability to analyse recent news stories for forecasting emerging trends. The tool is expected to enhance the Ministry’s ability to swiftly respond to such trends. An AI&ML-based platform for multilingual translation and voice localisation will also be developed to facilitate efficient public dissemination of information about government initiatives.

Kolkata rape and murder case: Braving heavy rain in Kolkata, protestors continue agitation for justice

Protests continued in Kolkata for the 36th day, demanding justice for the woman doctor who was raped and killed at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital last month. Even amidst pouring rain, protesting resident doctors, senior doctors, and common people from all walks of life took to the streets to continue their agitation . The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front carried out a maha micchil (massive protest rally) from Salt Lake Central Park to the headquarters of the State Health Department at Swasthya Bhawan and reiterated their five main demands.

Bomb blast at Manipur Minister’s house, Internet ban extended

A bomb exploded at the house of Manipur’s Transport Minister Khashim Vashum in Ukhrul town, about 80 km northeast of the State’s capital Imphal. The Minister was away in Imphal when the incident happened in the Naga-dominated headquarters of the Ukhrul district. The Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley, meanwhile, remained tense but incident-free. The Manipur government extended the suspension of Internet and mobile data services, including Very Small Aperture Terminal and virtual private network services, in these three districts and the two others – Bishnupur and Kakching – till September 20.

India sends assistance to flood-hit Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam

India launched Operation Sadbhav to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam that have been hit by severe flooding caused by Typhoon Yagi. India has committed $1mn worth of flood relief assistance to Vietnam and $1,00,000 worth of assistance to Laos, the Ministry of External Affairs announced. Following this, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force have swung into action deploying ships and aircraft to ferry the assistance.

Maharashtra assembly election likely in second week of November: Eknath Shinde

Dropping hints about the upcoming Assembly elections, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told press persons at his residence ‘Varsha’ that it would likely be held in the second week of November and preferably in two phases. “Elections are likely to be held in the second week of November. A two-phase election would be preferable. Merit and a good strike rate will be the criteria for seat-sharing among the Mahayuti allies. The seat-sharing will be finalised in the coming 8 to 10 days,” he said.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar targets Rahul Gandhi over quota remark, says it shows ‘anti-constitutional mindset’

In a veiled attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on “ending reservations”, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said that such comments by a person holding a constitutional post show an “anti-constitutional mindset”. “A person from a constitutional post saying on a foreign land that reservation should be ended underscores the same anti-constitutional mindset. The baton of prejudices against reservation has been handed over. It is the same old anti-constitutional mindset,” he said without taking the name of Gandhi, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Engineer Rashid’s AIP and former Jamaat members join hands for J&K Assembly polls

In a significant political development, the Awami Ittehad Party headed by Lok Sabha member Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer and former members of Jamaat-e-Islami have come together in a strategic alliance for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls. “A joint meeting was held today in which the AIP delegation was led by AIP Supremo and chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, while the JEI delegation was led by Ghulam Qadir Wani.

Terrorists exchange fire with security forces in J&K’s Poonch

An encounter broke out in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district when security forces launched a cordon and search operation following information about the presence of terrorists, an official said. Acting on a tip off, a joint search operation was launched by the police and Army in the Pathanateer area near Gursai top in Mendhar sub-division on Saturday evening, the security official said.

Study shows Chennai’s air pollution far exceeds WHO standards

As cities continue to grow, the complexity of managing air quality has increased, prompting the question if existing strategies and standards are enough to cope with the worsening air pollution crisis. A recent Greenpeace study analysing air pollution trends in 2023 across 10 cities in South Indian States reveals that Chennai’s monthly average PM_2.5 (fine particulate matter) levels are four to seven times higher, and PM₁₀ (coarse particulate matter) levels are three to six times higher, compared to WHO annual guidelines.

Iran two years after Mahsa Amini: persecution and defiance

Persecution of bereaved relatives. Impunity for perpetrators. Rampant executions and infighting among the opposition. A bleak picture confronts opponents of Iran’s clerical authorities two years after a protest movement erupted that they hoped would be a turning point in the four-and-a-half-decade history of the Islamic republic. Activists and exiles still hope that the protests sparked by the September 16, 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini — an Iranian Kurd arrested for allegedly violating the dress code for women — left an indelible mark on Iran and that her tragic death aged 22 was not in vain.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has played a remarkable role in bringing down the country’s logistics cost, Economic Survey on July 22 said. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has played a remarkable role in bringing down the country’s logistics cost, Economic Survey on July 22 said.

The ‘One Nation, One Tax’ regime has ensured that trucks do not have to wait for hours on State borders, which has brought down the travel time by up to 30%.

Also read: Economic Survey 2023-24 updates

“This has reduced the logistics cost and increased the average distance trucks travel from 225 km before GST to 300-325 km,” the Economic Survey 2023-24 tabled in Parliament said.

This has been a great value, adding to the ease of doing business and the growth of manufacturing in the country, it added.

The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) study of December last year has shown that the logistics cost in the economy has declined 0.8 to 0.9 percentage points of GDP between FY14 and FY22.

India’s position in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) rose from 44th place in 2018 to 38th in 2023 out of 139 countries. This improvement is attributed to reduced logistics costs and better trade facilitation.

With the introduction of cargo tracking, dwell time in the eastern port of Visakhapatnam came down from 32.4 days in 2015 to 5.3 days in 2019. Additionally, the country’s position in international shipments climbed to 22 in 2023 from 44 in 2018 due to its modernisation and digitalisation efforts.

India moved up five places in infrastructure score and four places up to 48 in logistics competence and equality.

India aims to be in the top 25 countries on the LPI by 2030.

New Delhi:

The panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind to examine the issue of holding simultaneous elections in the country has been renamed as the High Level Committee on One Nation, One Election, according to an official statement on Wednesday.

The committee held its second meeting on Wednesday. It has been renamed as the High Level Committee on One Nation, One Election.

The panel has been tasked with examining and making recommendation for holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities and panchayats, keeping in view the existing framework under the Constitution of India and other statutory provisions.

Set up on September 2, it has also been asked to examine and recommend if the relevant amendments to the Constitution would require ratification by the states.

It will analyse and recommend possible solution in a scenario of simultaneous elections emerging out of a hung House, adoption of no-confidence motion, or defection or any such other event.

The panel was also informed that a website – www.onoe.gov.in – has been developed for the One Nation, One Election, which besides being a repository of all relevant information on the subject, shall provide a platform for interaction and receiving suggestions from all stakeholders. The website was launched during the meeting, the statement said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)