Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday reviewed the preparations for the visit of Narendra Modi on December 25 and the inauguration of the newly-constructed Rashtra Prerna Sthal.

The chief minister said here on Saturday that this landmark project, being dedicated to the nation by the prime minister on the birth anniversary of former prime minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, will emerge as a powerful symbol of national consciousness, cultural heritage, and pride.

He stated that the statues of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Deendayal Upadhyaya, and Atal Ji installed at Rashtra Prerna Sthal will inspire future generations to understand and imbibe the ideals of national unity, Integral Humanism, and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The chief minister directed officials to ensure that all arrangements related to security, traffic management, protocol, hospitality, and crowd control meet the highest standards, keeping in view the presence of the Prime Minister. He made it clear that there should be zero tolerance for negligence at any level.
He instructed that all final touch-ups — including landscaping, gardens, the museum, amphitheatre, and beautification of approach roads — be completed within the stipulated timeline. Reviewing preparations for the arrival of nearly two lakh people from across the state, he assessed transport plans, parking layouts, bus routes, control rooms, and medical units, and directed that nodal officers be deployed for every bus cluster, parking zone, and entry gate.

Yogi further instructed the police and district administration to implement multi-layered security arrangements along VVIP routes, the helipad, the main venue, and public congregation areas. He emphasized the installation of clear signage for traffic diversions, parking facilities, and pedestrian movement to ensure smooth public access. He also stressed seamless coordination and time-bound execution across media management, reception arrangements, cultural programmes, and all protocol-related components.

Rashtra Prerna Sthal: Key Features-
• A grand project developed over 65 acres at an estimated cost of ₹230 crore
• 65-feet-tall bronze statues of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee
• A modern museum showcasing the lives, ideas, and contributions of national leaders
• A rally ground and main stage with a capacity of nearly two lakh people
• Amphitheatre, Meditation Centre, Vipassana–Yoga Centre, cafeteria, and civic amenities
• Well-planned layout with attractive landscaping, clear zoning, ample parking, and robust security arrangements.

Ahead of National Farmers’ Day, which is observed on 23rd December, the Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) has released a White Paper addressing the mounting pressures on India’s food system.

FAIFA released the White Paper at a national seminar, which highlighted the central role of farmers in meeting India’s escalating food demand and presented strategic interventions to empower farmers and accelerate sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.

The report highlighted the critical role of agriculture in responding to the country’s population growth projected to exceed 1.6 billion by 2050, alongside rising disposable incomes and a rapidly expanding middle class that is reshaping dietary preferences toward more diverse and high-value foods. These demand-side pressures are further compounded by shrinking and fragmented farmland due to urbanization, industrial expansion, and inheritance patterns.

The FAIFA, a non-profit uplifting the cause of millions of farmers and farm workers involved in commercial crop cultivation in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, organised the national seminar on the theme “Rising Food Demand and Economic Growth Imperatives” at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi.

To build a modern and sustainable agriculture sector with empowered farmers the White Paper recommended a four-pillar strategy. Firstly, the permaculture-focused pillar proposes an investment of Rs. 10,000 crores (2026–2030) to bring 5 million hectares under permaculture-based farming.

Secondly, export diversification should be driven by an investment of Rs 15,000 crore to raise agricultural exports to USD 100 billion through 50 Agri-Export Zones, cold-chain expansion, quality certification, and value addition in high-value crops. Thirdly, to uphold India’s non-GMO agricultural integrity, Rs 5,000 crore should be allocated over five years and indigenous seed varieties to be expanded by 50 per cent and 100 climate-resilient non-GMO crops to be developed.

Finally, agricultural financing can be transformed through annual credit disbursement of Rs 50,000 crore, reaching Rs 25 lakh crore by 2028 for 50 million small and marginal farmers via AI-driven digital lending.

Addressing the gathering, Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Minister of State for Heavy Industries, said, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India has placed farmers at the centre of its development journey. From strengthening food security to building a resilient, technology-driven agricultural ecosystem, the Modi government’s policies are empowering our annadatas with innovation, infrastructure and access to global markets.”

Murali Babu, president, FAIFA, said, “Under the able leadership of the government, India has made significant strides toward food security, achieving self-sufficiency in staple grains with record food grain production exceeding 315 million tonnes in recent years. However, feeding an ever-growing population presents a formidable challenge.”

In a step towards strengthening climate resilience in agriculture, Odisha’s Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment (DAFE) on Saturday convened a high-level inception workshop for formalizing the Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Alliance in collaboration with the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) and Catalyst Management Services (CMS).

The Alliance brought together senior government officials, research institutions, private sector partners, civil society organizations, development agencies, and policy experts to collaboratively scale climate-smart agriculture practices across the state.

Climate change can not be addressed in isolation, DAFE Secretary Arabinda Kumar Padhee said on the occasion, adding that concerted efforts need to be made to mitigate or adapt to the ill effects of climate change.

In this direction, the Odisha Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (OCSAA) serves as a platform to showcase and implement various climate-smart technologies prioritized by CSTEP across the state through different partner organizations, he further stated.

The Alliance aims to integrate climate resilience into agricultural planning and programs, strengthen soil and water conservation as foundational resilience measures, promote climate-resilient crops, diversified farming systems, horticulture, leverage science, digital tools, data-driven decision making, and mobilize public, private and blended finance for scalable CSA solutions, Padhee maintained.

Vice-Chancellor of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) Prof Pravat Kumar Roul said that the impacts of climate change are real and well felt. We have to put our efforts together to make our agricultural fields smart enough to avoid the negative impacts of climate change and to ensure food and nutrition security for the burgeoning population of the globe as well as for our state.

Director of Soil Conservation and Watershed Development Subrat Kumar Panda, speaking on the occasion, said climate-smart agriculture is no longer optional, but central to safeguarding farmer livelihoods, food security, and long-term agricultural sustainability.

Dr. Indu K Murthy, sector head, from CSTEP, said, the CSA Alliance places farmers at the centre of climate action. CSTEP as part of the Climate Resilience Cell and anchor of the alliance aims to co-create solutions that are locally relevant, economically viable, and scalable; ensuring that climate resilience directly improves livelihoods while safeguarding natural resources.

This Alliance draws its strength from its partners—each bringing distinct capabilities, experience, and commitment, and together forming a collective that can deliver climate-smart agriculture at a scale no single institution can achieve alone, By standing together, partners reduce risk, accelerate learning, and unlock statewide impact and finance —ensuring climate-smart solutions move beyond pilots into sustained adoption across Odisha, innovation finds scale, and farmers find resilience, dignity, and hope, Shiv Kumar, Co-founder & Director of Catalyst Management Services (CMS) said.

The insights generated will directly inform the Alliance’s roadmap, flagship programs, and governance structure. The Climate-Smart Agriculture Alliance represents Odisha’s commitment to collaborative, science-based, and farmer-centric climate action. By bringing government, research, private sector, and civil society together, the state aims to position itself as a national leader in climate-resilient agriculture.

The death of seven elephants after being hit by a train in Assam has once again exposed the risks that India’s railway tracks pose to wildlife. The herd, including three adults and four calves, was crossing a stretch of track known for elephant movement — though it was not officially designated as a corridor. The impact though derailed the engine and several coaches, no passengers were injured.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, describing the incident as deeply distressing, ordered a detailed inquiry. “We are deeply saddened by the death of seven elephants – three adults and four calves – in a tragic train collision earlier today. I have directed the Forest Department to conduct a detailed enquiry on this deeply disturbing accident and take steps to further secure our wildlife corridors, particularly during low visibility seasons,” he posted after the tragic incident, which, incidentally, is not an isolated one.

According to the Wildlife Trust of India, more than 160 elephants have been killed in train accidents in India since 1987 and Assam accounts for the highest 36% of them followed by West Bengal at around 26%. Railway accidents are, in fact, a major threat to wildlife nationwide. Elephants often cross tracks outside designated corridors, where trains travel at high speeds and forests are reduced to narrow strips along railway lines.

In the past three decades hundreds of elephants have been killed by trains in India, with estimates ranging from over 220 to more than 280 deaths between 1987 and 2018. Some reports cite 186 deaths between 2009 and 2020, exact figures vary due to underreporting.

India has identified about 150 elephant corridors across 15 states under Project Elephant, including several crucial landscapes in Assam. Elephant corridors are vital land strips connecting fragmented habitats, allowing safe movement for the tuskers critical for biodiversity and reducing human-elephant conflict. However, many of them are said to be blocked by encroachment, roads, and railway tracks. Officials say unless these critical corridors are formally notified and restored, habitat fragmentation will worsen and movement become more dangerous for elephants.

Though less frequent, train collisions have also killed tigers. Madhya Pradesh has reported several tiger deaths linked to railway lines, including a recent one from the Ratapani Tiger Reserve. These incidents prompted the state forest department to urge railway authorities to implement mitigation measures such as fencing, underpasses, improved signage, and stricter speed regulation.

Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, who was approached by Steve Bannon, the former adviser to President Donald Trump, in order to get in touch with PM Modi.

Talking to media persons at a press conference in Satara on Saturday, Chavan said, “Epstein was an Israeli spy. Many rich Americans used to approach him. Modi came into contact with Epstein in 2014. Trump’s former adviser Steve Bannon had approached Jeffrey Epstein because he wanted to meet Modi. What was Modi’s relationship with Steve Bannon? The name of Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who used to be the then Indian ambassador to the United States, has also been mentioned in Epstein’s email. The government must clarify such connections.”

“The Epstein files contain almost 30 years of data, which includes huge amounts of electronic evidence like emails, letters, photographs, video recordings, and audio recordings. All this evidence was presented in the cases against Epstein. All this evidence is now with the US Department of Justice. The Attorney General works under the authority of President Trump and the current Attorney General was appointed by President Trump as the Attorney General six months ago. All these documents are in his possession,” Chavan said.

Prithviraj Chavan said that this case has been going on since 1995-96, and its information gradually came to light in the US in 2005 and 2010. “Epstein lured minor girls and sexually exploited them and sold their bodies to high-ranking bigwigs, due to which many girls filed criminal cases against him. Epstein died in a high-security prison in New York in August 2019. There is still no clear answer about whether Epstein committed suicide by hanging himself or was murdered,” Chavan said.

“The case became so high profile that it became impossible for lawmakers from both parties in the United States (to save President Trump) to suppress it, because voters threatened that if this case is suppressed, they will face the consequences in the next election. This atmosphere forced lawmakers from both parties (Republicans and Democrats) to release all documents, photos, and videos related to Epstein, collectively known as the Epstein Files,” Chavan said.

It may be recalled that a few days ago, former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan had stated on December 1, 2025, that if the names mentioned in the Jeffrey Epstein file became public, it could cause a political earthquake in India, due to which a “Marathi man” might become the Prime Minister of India.

Tweeting about the matter on his X handle, Chavan tagged the official X handles of the Maharashtra Congress, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

“If the information in the ‘Epstein Files’ currently circulating in America comes out, it could cause a major earthquake in Indian politics. In this political upheaval, we may see a Marathi man become the Prime Minister of the country by next month,” Chavan tweeted on X.

However, when media persons asked Chavan about “Which Marathi man could become the Prime Minister during a press conference at Karad,” Chavan kept the suspense alive by saying nothing more than, “You find out now.”

Uttar Pradesh Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna, while speaking to reporters on Saturday regarding the codeine-laced cough syrup, mentioned the action taken.

Khanna clearly stated, “Action has been taken against influential people under the Yogi government’s zero-tolerance policy. Strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty”.

In this context, targetting the Samajwadi Party, Suresh Khanna said a photo of the party’s national president Akhilesh Yadav with the codeine mafia has surfaced, therefore, instead of giving vague answers, he should reveal the truth behind the photo with the codeine mafia. The entire country wants to know the truth behind this photo. “The SP did not say anything about the deaths of children in the country due to the cough syrup. Large-scale drug trafficking took place and resulted in deaths, but nothing was said about it. Those arrested have some connection or the other with the people from the Samajwadi Party,” he alleged.

He added by saying, “The UP government has already clarified that not a single death has occurred in Uttar Pradesh due to this. Despite this, the Yogi government took prompt action in this matter”.

Cough syrup worth Rs 9.42 crore has been seized. 12,65,455 bottles of codeine-based syrup were recovered. Khanna assured that as the SIT’s investigation progresses, action will be taken against everyone found to be involved.

A day after Virat Kohli’s return to domestic cricket was confirmed with his inclusion in Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy squad, another senior India stalwart is set to feature in the tournament. Former India captain Rohit Sharma has been named in Mumbai’s squad for the first two matches of the competition, marking a rare overlap of India’s modern greats in the 50-over domestic tournament.

Mumbai will be led by Shardul Thakur and boast a mix of experience and youth, with Rohit available for the opening two fixtures. The squad also includes Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan, and rising talent Angkrish Raghuvanshi, while seasoned performers Siddhesh Lad, Shams Mulani, and Tanush Kotian add depth. Wicketkeeping duties will be shared between Akash Anand and Hardik Tamore.

Notably absent from the Mumbai squad are Ajinkya Rahane, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ayush Mhatre, as selectors opt to test several fresh faces. Chinmay Sutar, who last featured in List A cricket for India Emerging in 2019, earns a recall, while batter Ishan Mulchandani and fast bowler Onkar Tarmale, recently picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad at the IPL auction, also find places.

Mumbai are placed in Group C and will begin their campaign against Sikkim in Jaipur on December 24, followed by a clash with Uttarakhand on December 26.

Delhi, meanwhile, are set to play seven matches between December 24 and January 8 in Group D. Rishabh Pant will captain the side, with Ayush Badoni named vice-captain. Kohli’s inclusion has drawn significant attention, though it remains unclear how many matches he and Pant will be available for, given India’s three-match ODI series beginning January 11 in Vadodara.

Delhi’s squad features a strong batting core with Kohli, Yash Dhull, Nitish Rana, Priyansh Arya, and Arpit Rana, while Tejasvi Dahiya will serve as the primary wicket keeper behind Pant. Anuj Rawat has been named standby. The bowling attack is led by experienced pacers Ishant Sharma and Navdeep Saini, supported by Simarjeet Singh and Prince Yadav, with spin options including Hrithik Shokeen, Harsh Tyagi, and Vaibhav Kandpal.

Delhi will open their campaign against Andhra on December 24, followed by a match against Gujarat on December 26, with both games scheduled at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Recently elevated to the vice-captain’s role in the shortest format, Shubman Gill, India’s captain in Tests and One-Day Internationals (ODIs) has been dropped from the 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup following a prolonged slump in form. The BCCI senior selection committee, that met in Mumbai on Saturday in the presence of secretary Devajit Saikia, also re-appointed Axar Patel as the vice-captain of the squad while recalling an in-form Ishan Kishan as the second wicketkeeper.

Along with Shubman, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma also missed the bus for the T20 World Cup, but Rinku Singh, arguably India’s best finisher in recent years, has made his back into the national team after being left out of the just-concluded T20I series against South Africa, that India won 3-1 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.

As reported by The Statesman on Friday, Kishan’s selection was purely based on his recent performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he emerged the tournament’s leading run-scorer, piling up 517 runs at a blistering strike rate of 197.32. The Jharkhand skipper scored two fifties and two hundreds, including a century in the final against Haryana (101 off 49).

“We are looking at combinations. Our thought was to have another keeper. Gill is a quality player, unfortunate to miss out, but it is the combination we want. Ishan bats at the top, he has been in good form, and played before for India,” selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar said while unveiling the squad.

“He wasn’t there because (Dhruv) Jurel and (Rishabh) Pant were ahead. Sanju is at the top. Ishan at the top. That is the combination we are looking at right now. We felt he is the best back up keeper at this point,” the former India medium-pacer added.

The BCCI also announced that the same squad will be in place for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, starting January 21.

Axar was vice-captain of the Indian T20I squad until the conclusion of the five-match T20I series against England in January and February before Gill took over the role in India’s next T20I assignment at the Asia Cup in September, this year. Gill remained the deputy for Suryakumar in the subsequent Australia and South Africa series as well but Axar will now take over.

Meanwhile, skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who on Friday acknowledged his own struggles with the bat during the series against the Proteas, will continue to lead the side. The rest of the squad wears a familiar look, with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson likely to open the innings followed by Tilak Varma and the skipper.

Kishan’s recent exploits in the SMAT, also gives India the cushion of another top-order batter, capable of dismantling the best of bowling attacks.

Meanwhile, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who roared back to international cricket with some impactful performances against the Proteas, after a long injury lay-off, is one among four all-rounders with Axar, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar the other three.

The bowling composition includes three frontline pacers and two frontline spinners. Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack while Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana are the other two fast-bowlers. The spinners include Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav.

Defending champions India are placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, USA, Netherlands and Namibia, and will open their campaign against USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7, before facing Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on February 12.

India’s marquee clash against Pakistan is scheduled for February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, before Suryakumar Yadav’s side plays their final league stage game against the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 18.

The ICC T20 World Cup, to be held from February 7 to March 8, will have 40 group matches scheduled to be played till February 20. Top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the Super Eights starting on February 21.

Ahead of India attempting to defend their T20 World Cup, India will face New Zealand for three ODIs and five T20Is. The T20I series will be played from January 21 to January 31 in preparation for the marquee event. The squad for the three ODIs, which will be played from January 11 to January 18, will be announced at a later date.

India Squad for T20 World Cup: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Axar Patel (vc), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has blamed the BJP government for the alleged spread of fake and toxic codeine-based syrup, which he claimed had reached the Prime Minister’s constituency, Varanasi.

Akhilesh Yadav said that the illegal trade of codeine cough syrup is worth thousands of crores of rupees.

Addressing the media here on Saturday, he said the Chief Minister and those standing with him were lying in a manner that was unimaginable.

“If the government is truly against the mafia, bulldozers should be used on the houses of all those whose pictures are being shown with me. Whether it is ‘Kaleen Bhaiya’ or ‘Codeine Bhaiya’, equal action should be taken against everyone involved in this illegal business,” he demanded.

During the press conference, he said, “Regarding the ongoing developments related to codeine, there is a very important issue that the government is hiding. More than 118 FIRs have been registered across 36 districts, and a black market for cough syrup was operating in Uttar Pradesh. Many photographs are being circulated; if we assume these images to be accurate and consider anyone appearing with me to be a mafia member, then I too have photographs with the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. I can understand the compulsion,” he said.

Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the entire police force is being made to blow whistles to prevent former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur from presenting his case. He also claimed that former MLA Deepak Yadav was sent to jail in a fabricated case.

A day earlier, Akhilesh Yadav had posted on X in a poetic style, saying, “When you get caught yourself, blame others, this game is old. Rulers, tell us something new.”

Ishan Kishan, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter, has returned to India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad for 2026 and said he was “very happy” to be back after over a year away from international cricket.

Leading the 15-member team for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup will be Suryakumar Yadav as the Captain with Axar Patel named the vice-captain following the omission of Shubham Gill from the World Cup squad due to fitness and form reasons.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Kishan said, “I am very happy,” regarding his return to the national squad and was also proud of his domestic team, Jharkhand, for winning their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) trophy: “Also very happy for my domestic team, Jharkhand, on winning their maiden SMAT trophy! Everyone played really well!”

Kishan earned his recall following an impressive Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) campaign, where he played a key role in helping Jharkhand win the title. He finished the tournament as the top run-scorer with 517 runs in 10 innings, which included two centuries and two half-centuries as well. His campaign stood out when he hit a century in the final against Haryana and had a strike rate of over 197.

The 26-year-old returns to the Indian T20I setup as a second wicketkeeper-batter option. He last played a T20I for India against Australia in late 2023.

Explaining Gill’s omission, chief selector Ajit Agarkar said at the squad announcement that Gill missed out as the team was exploring different top-order combinations, while also reassuring the young batter that the selectors continue to have faith in his abilities.

Along with Ishan Kishan, India’s T20 World Cup squad also includes Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Rinku Singh, and Washington Sundar, among others, as the team prepares for the tournament and the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.

Goa Police has initiated the process for issuance of an INTERPOL Blue Corner Notice against UK national Surinder Kumar Khosla, an accused in the nightclub fire incident that claimed the lives of 25 people, officials said on Saturday.

Surinder Kumar Khosla is the owner of the property on which the unauthorised structure housing the nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane was functioning.

According to the police, this step is being taken to ascertain the accused’s whereabouts and to secure his presence for investigation.
Earlier, a Goa court on Wednesday granted 5-day police custody of Luthra brothers – Saurabh and Gaurav, co-owners of ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub.

Goa Police presented the accused before the Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court after they were arrested at Delhi airport on Tuesday, after being deported from Thailand, where they fled after the blaze. The Luthra brothers underwent medical examinations before being produced in court.

A Delhi court on Tuesday granted the Goa Police a 48-hour transit remand of the accused after they landed at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi.

Speaking to reporters, advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing a victim’s family, said the further court proceedings will take place after the end of the remand period.

He said, “Yesterday, they were brought from Thailand to Delhi, and after arriving in Delhi, they were formally arrested by the Goa Police at the airport. After the arrest, they were brought to Goa this morning on Delhi transit remand. Thereafter, they were presented before the concerned court, and a further 5 days of remand were granted. Any further proceedings will take place after the end of their remand period, when they will be produced in the court on December 22.”

The fire at the Arpora nightclub on December 6 that claimed 25 lives led to criminal proceedings against the club owners over alleged negligence and violation of mandatory safety norms.

With the deletion of nearly one crore names from the voter list in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the voter base in Tamil Nadu has been pushed to the level it was 11 years ago.

A whopping 97, 37, 831 names have been removed from the 2025 electoral rolls in the SIR carried out in the state, which effectively brings down the electoral base from 6,41,14, 587 to 5,45,76,756 eligible voters. The deletions included names of 25,94,672 persons listed as deceased, dual entries 3,98,278 and those who have shifted 66,44,881. Of the 38 districts in the state, Chennai accounted for the highest number of deletions with 14.5 lakh names and the backward Ariyalur district had the lowest with 24,368 names being removed.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha poll, the electoral base of the state was 6,18,90,346 voters while it was 6,29,43,512 in the 2021 Assembly election. In both the DMK emerged victorious. Then, in the 2019 parliamentary poll, there were 5,91,23,197 voters and the 2016 Assembly election had a total electorate of 5,82,62,973 persons. In the 2014 Lok Sabha poll, it was 5,37,52,682, while it was 4,71,16,687 voters in the 2011 Assembly election.

Now, the SIR exercise has brought down the voter base nearly to what it was in the 2014 LS election, pushing it down by 11 years. As per the post-SIR Draft Electoral Rolls, the deceased who account for 26,94,672 and the 3,98,278 removed for dual entry could never get into the voter list. Both account for 30,92,950 names. But the 66,44,881 persons who have shifted have the opportunity to apply with necessary documents and become voters. Even in this there could be deletions, bringing down the possibility to only 50 lakhs, say officials engaged in the SIR.

Meanwhile political parties have flagged discrepancies over assigning the list of Polling Stations, making it difficult for the voter verification. But for Thoothukudi, the list of new Polling Stations has not been released online, it is alleged. The PMK has demanded that the EC release the new list on its website.

Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon tightened Australia’s grip on the Ashes on Day 4 of the third Test at the Adelaide Oval, leaving England staring at defeat and the hosts on the brink of an unassailable 3-0 series lead. After Australia set a daunting target of 435, the captain and his senior spinner combined to dismantle England’s resistance, sharing all six wickets to fall as the visitors closed on 207 for 6 at stumps, still 228 runs adrift.

Australia resumed the morning on 271 for 4, with Travis Head and Alex Carey continuing the work that had defined Day 3. The pair added a further 40 runs before England finally made inroads, but not before Head marched on to another landmark.

Resuming on 142, the left-hander brought up his sixth Test score of 150 or more and raced to 170, striking boundaries with ease to take Australia beyond 300. His innings eventually ended when Josh Tongue bounced him out with a sharp short ball, halting a stand of 162 for the fifth wicket.

England capitalised briefly thereafter. Ben Stokes removed Carey with a well-directed short delivery that resulted in a leg-slip catch, while Tongue continued his fine spell by dismissing Josh Inglis for his fourth wicket. Brydon Carse then struck twice in quick succession, accounting for Cummins and Lyon in the same over, before Jofra Archer finished the innings with a sharp return catch to remove Scott Boland. Australia lost their final six wickets for just 38 runs and were bowled out for 349, giving England a slender boost after a long chase in the field.

That optimism faded quickly once England began their pursuit. Cummins struck early, removing Ben Duckett in the second over, and the visitors reached lunch at a precarious 5 for 1. Ollie Pope struggled to settle in the afternoon session and was undone by Cummins, with Marnus Labuschagne pulling off a stunning one-handed catch at second slip to leave England 31 for 2.

Zak Crawley and Joe Root then mounted England’s most assured resistance of the day. They batted with intent, sweeping and reverse-sweeping Lyon and punishing anything loose to lift England past 100. Crawley, in particular, looked fluent, and the pair added a half-century stand to reach 106 for 2 at tea, giving England a flicker of belief.

The momentum shifted again early in the final session. Root survived briefly on umpire’s call but fell in the next over, edging Cummins to the keeper for the 13th time in Tests. Crawley brought up a fighting fifty, but support was limited. Harry Brook struggled for fluency and was eventually bowled by Lyon attempting a reverse sweep.

Lyon then dealt two decisive blows, dismissing Ben Stokes for the 10th time in Tests and stumping Crawley for a well-made 85. With England sliding to 194 for 6, Will Jacks and Jamie Smith saw out the closing overs, but Australia remain firmly in control heading into the final day.

Brief scores: Australia 371 & 349 (Travis Head 170, Alex Carey 72; Josh Tongue 4-70, Brydon Carse 3-80) lead England 286 & 207/6 (Zak Crawley 85, Joe Root 39; Pat Cummins 3-24, Nathan Lyon 3-64) by 227 runs.

Former Maharashtra Sports Minister Manikrao Kokate, who was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on Friday in a 1995 cheating and forgery case on a Rs 1 lakh surety, plans to approach the Supreme Court, sources said here on Saturday.

Kokate’s lawyers have decided to do so since the petitioner, former minister Tukaram Dighole who filed the original complaint against Kokate, is expected to move the Supreme Court shortly.

The petitioners have claimed that Kokate’s status since MLA is no longer legally tenable, his lawyers will approach the top court to save his legislative status as soon as he receives the high court order. The lawyers are expected to seek a stay on a previous Nashik Sessions Court judgement convicting Kokate and sentencing him to two-year prison term for availing of government flats for low income citizens on the basis of forged documents.

While granting bail, the Bombay High Court refused to stay the conviction of Kokate and two-year jail term. If Kokate, who is likely to undergo a surgery at Lilavati Hospital in Bandra West gets jailed, will lose his MLA status under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which mandates disqualification of elected representatives sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more in a criminal case. Hence, his lawyers will approach the apex court to avoid such an eventuality, sources said.

Meanwhile, frenetic and competitive lobbying by Ajit Pawar-led NCP MLAs has intensified to grab Kokate’s vacant ministerial post, sources said.

According to sources, Ajit Pawar-led NCP is considering promoting Indranil Naik to the post of cabinet minister and giving portfolios which used to be with Manikrao Kokate to Naik. Indranil Naik, who is from the nomadic Banjara community presently handles six important portfolios as a Minister of State. These portfolios are Industry, Soil and Water Conservation, Tribal Development, Public Works, Higher and Technical Education as well as Tourism.

The Ajit Pawar-led NCP is toying with the idea of strengthening its base in the Vidarbha region in North Maharashtra by promoting Minister of State Indranil Naik, by elevating him as a cabinet minister, sources said.

The party is also looking at elevating Sana Malik, the MLA who represents the Anushakti Nagar constituency in Mumbai, to the Minister of State post which will fall vacant if Indranil Naik is promoted to cabinet minister rank.

The idea behind the Ajit Pawar-led NCP’s move is to provide a fair representation to all three major groups, namely Muslims, women and youth, by elevating its Anushakti Nagar MLA Sana Malik, who ticks all these boxes, sources said.

Both Indranil Naik and Sana Malik are likely to be sworn in before the Budget Session of the legislative assembly is held in February 2026, after the local civic body elections are over, sources said.

Earlier, the names of sacked Food & Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde, Anil Bhaidas Patil, Sanjay Bansode, Majalgaon MLA Prakash Solanke and Maval MLA Sunil Shelke were doing the rounds, but it was decided to drop Dhananjay Munde since he is likely to face legal troubles due to his alleged involvement in the Massajog village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case, due to which he was forced to resign.

Moreover, the return of Dhananjay Munde, who is an OBC face, to the cabinet would have antagonised the Maratha community, which the Ajit Pawar-led NCP wanted to avoid, sources said.

The Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance has increased the authorised share capital in Reliance Consumer Products Ltd (RCPL) to Rs 10,000 crore, according to a regulatory filing by the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company to the Registrar of Companies (RoC).

The increase in share capital of RCPL was executed through a mix of six billion equity shares of Rs 10 each and four billion preference shares of Rs 10 each, as per the filing.

Significantly, the company came after a recent restructuring of RCPL’s FMCG business, making it a direct subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), with effect from December 1. Earlier, RCPL used to be a direct unit of RIL’s retail business holding company called Reliance Retail Ventures (RRVL).

The existing FMCG entity RCPL was amalgamated with RRVL, and the consolidated “consumer brands business undertaking” was demerged from RRVL into the new RCPL.

RCPL stated, in its RoC filing, that the authorised share capital has been increased to accommodate the proposed allotment of new equity shares by the company to RRVL shareholders and for future funding requirements.

Incidentally, RCPL mirrors the equity structure of RRVL-83.56% owned by RIL and the rest by nine global marquee investors such as Silver Lake, KKR, and Mubadala.

Before the restructuring, RCPL’s authorised share capital was Rs 100 crore, as per an RoC filing, with all FMCG brand acquisitions and investments undertaken by RRVL.

Reliance is out to grow the FMCG business and challenge established behemoths like Hindustan Unilever, Coca-Cola, and ITC.

According to analysts, Reliance has unlocked value by transforming a company with a Rs 10,000 crore authorised capital as the new RCPL to house its demerged consumer brands separate from retail store operations. The move isolates high-margin FMCG assets from working capital intensive retail, potentially enabling a standalone listing for the consumer vertical.

As per RCPL’s balance sheet, the company clocked Rs 1,301 crore revenue from operations in FY25, with a net profit of Rs 9 crore. However, RIL has declared that the FMCG business clocked sales of Rs 11,450 crore during the fiscal, its second year of operation. Most of the revenue was recognised in the retail business books since it owned most of the brands, including Campa at the time.

RCPL has recently acquired a majority stake in food and staples company Udhaiyam’s Agro Foods, besides reintroducing the sauce and legacy jam brand called SIL. In its October earnings call, the company had stated that its FMCG business had grown two-fold in the first half of FY26, clocking Rs 5,400 crore in July-September sales.

Reliance is also setting up multiple factories and food parks for its FMCG business. Recently, Reliance signed a deal with the government to build several facilities with a total outlay of Rs 40,000 crore.

With only a week remaining before the deadline for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Uttar Pradesh, which ends on December 26, political parties have stepped up their efforts to complete the exercise on time.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress have deployed their booth-level agents (BLAs) and workers to ensure that no eligible voter is left out.

Approximately 2.96 crore voters are at stake in this process, whose names may be removed from the voter list after being categorised as “untraceable.” All political parties fear that if supporters’ names are deleted, it could adversely affect the 2027 Assembly elections.

According to the revised schedule issued by the Election Commission, the enumeration phase will conclude on December 26, the draft voter list will be published on December 31, and the period for claims and objections will run from December 31 to January 30.

State Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said on Saturday that district election officers have been instructed to verify deceased, transferred and absent voters. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have been asked to seek assistance from BLAs in identifying missing voters.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath clarified on Friday that the winter session of the Assembly (December 19–24) was kept short because most MLAs are engaged in the SIR exercise and wish to make full use of the extended deadline provided by the Election Commission. Earlier, on December 14, the Chief Minister had said that about four crore voters were missing from the voter list, of whom 85 to 90 percent were “our” voters.

The BJP has convened an organisational meeting of all MPs and MLAs of the state in Lucknow on Sunday. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will also attend the meeting, scheduled at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan. According to party sources, the main agenda is to review incomplete SIR forms and booth-level work. State General Secretary Dharampal Singh has also raised the issue with the party’s state and central leadership.

Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party (SP) is relying on its “PDA guardians” for the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of the electoral rolls. Party president Akhilesh Yadav is personally monitoring the process, and party workers have been directed to protest and expose any irregularities they encounter. SP National General Secretary Rajendra Chaudhary said the party is documenting irregularities daily and submitting the information to the Election Commission to ensure that no legitimate voter’s name is removed.

BSP chief Mayawati has asked party workers to give top priority to the SSR exercise and has instructed them to suspend organisational activities for a few days. She emphasised that the poor, labourers, the oppressed and members of the Bahujan Samaj must not be deprived of their constitutional right to vote.

Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee President Ajay Rai said the party has intensified its SSR work, assigning responsibilities to senior leaders and former MLAs in various districts. He demanded a two-month extension of the voter list revision deadline, citing Uttar Pradesh’s large population and winter conditions such as cold and fog.

With the SSR deadline approaching, voter list revision has become a central political issue in Uttar Pradesh, and activity around it is expected to intensify in the coming days.

An FIR has been registered against two Christian pastors and five others on charges of allegedly attempting to forcibly convert a tribal youth and assaulting him in the tribal-dominated Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday.

According to sources, the incident occurred in Madrani village under the jurisdiction of the Kakanwani police station.

A large number of activists of the Sarva Adivasi Samaj staged protests in the area late Friday night following the incident.

They alleged that the victim, Gendalal Damor, was pressured to convert to Christianity by the accused. When he refused, they allegedly assaulted him and pelted stones at his house.

According to the police, a case has been registered against two Christian pastors and five others, and further investigation is underway.