Ngd News

The Centre on Tuesday declared Hyderabad open defecation free (ODF) after the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) undertook measures such as the construction of 98 public toilets. "The ODF tag given to Hyderabad has made us more responsible, and we will continue with our efforts to retain the ODF tag," GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy said.

India has cancelled a ₹3,174-crore deal to buy 1,600 Spike anti-tank guided missiles, according to Israeli state-owned defence company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Reports said India wasn't keen on the deal as its military research body DRDO was working on creating its own missiles. Rafael said it regretted the decision but remained committed to cooperating with India's Defence Ministry.

Uttar Pradesh government has directed the cinema halls to display the newly unveiled Kumbh Mela logo right after the National Anthem is played before screening movies. The government has also made it mandatory to carry the logo in all government publicity material including hoardings and advertisements. The state will devote nearly ₹2,500 crore for the Kumbh in Allahabad in 2019.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved the ₹6,808-crore Zojila Tunnel project, aimed at providing all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil, and Leh. The bi-directional tunnel will reportedly reduce the time taken to cross Zojila Pass from 3.5 hours to 15 minutes. The construction of the tunnel is expected to be completed in seven years.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday provided free laptops worth ₹45 crore to around 31,000 SC/ST college students, ahead of the state Assembly polls scheduled this year. Around 1.5 lakh laptops will be distributed to SC/ST students under a scheme rolled out in 2016-17. The devices carried stickers of CM Siddaramaiah's face and the Karnataka government's logo.

The Kerala Education Department has ordered that the Peace International School in Ernakulam be shut down. This comes after the school was accused of promoting enmity among different religious groups. Course material prescribed by the school featured questions on what advice should be given to friends who have decided to convert to Islam and how to deal with non-Muslims.

Delhi Metro cards will be valid in 250 selected city buses from January 8, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said. Commuters can tap the card on an Electronic Ticketing Machine, which will generate a ticket. This is part of a month-long trial to have a 'Common Mobility Card' which can be used in the Metro, Delhi Transport Corporation and cluster buses.

All industrial units in Delhi will have to switch from any other fuel source they currently use to piped natural gas (PNG) by March 15, the government has informed the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA). Adding that many units have already started the process, it said that units failing to comply with the order will be shut down.

Hyderabad Police on Thursday issued orders extending the ban on begging in the city for two more months. Telangana prisons department has also announced ₹500 reward for those providing information about the location of beggars in the city. The order was first issued in November 2017 for two months, citing danger to safety of vehicular traffic and general public.

The Centre on Thursday announced the launch of cleanliness survey 'Swachh Survekshan 2018' as a part of the Swachh Bharat Mission. The survey, third of its kind, will rank 500 cities on the national level, while 3,541 cities will have state and regional ranking. The progress will be recorded on six parameters, including sanitation related progress and innovation.

People in the village of Bhanakpur in Haryana have decided to sing the National Anthem on loudspeakers every day. The initiative comes after Jammikunta village in Telangana decided to do the same earlier. A government release said that the Sarpanch of Bhanakpur village got inspired by the Telangana village's initiative after seeing it on television and decided to replicate it.

The budget session of Parliament will commence from January 29 and the Union Budget 2018 will be presented on February 1, the cabinet committee on parliamentary affairs said on Friday. The first phase of the budget session will be from January 29 to February 9, and after a recess, Parliament will meet again from March 5 to April 6.

The Union Health Ministry on Thursday launched an online cancer detection course to help non-cancer specialists detect early signs of the disease, especially in villages and smaller cities. The course, designed by Tata Memorial Hospital, has modules based on various sites and sub-sites of cancer and comprises 14 hours of e-learning through more than 40 video lectures and case studies.

The Triple Talaq bill was not passed in the Rajya Sabha as the Winter Session of the Parliament ended on Friday. The Opposition objected to the jail term clause for the husband, saying that it would leave his family without any income. The bill has been pushed for the Budget Session of the Parliament which will begin on January 29.

The RBI will shortly issue new ₹10 denomination banknotes in the Mahatma Gandhi (New) Series bearing signature of Governor Urjit Patel. The base colour of the note will be chocolate brown, and all ₹10 notes issued by RBI earlier will remain valid. The new note will have a motif of Konark's Sun Temple depicting India's cultural heritage on one side.

The Maharashtra government has announced it will form its own international school board in the state. The Maharashtra International Education Board (MIEB) will be an autonomous body which will design curriculum for schools and conduct examinations. The board will help students who can't afford an international-level education at private schools, state Education Minister Vinod Tawde said.