The department of posts, West Bengal Circle, will be formally issuing a Special Philatelic Cover commemorating the Gangasagar Mela-2026.

The special cover will be released by Jitendra Gupta, Director General Postal Services, department of posts in a programme at Diamond Harbour on 14 January, day of Makar Sankranti.

The Gangasagar Mela, held annually at the confluence of the river Ganga and the Bay of Bengal, is one of India’s most significant spiritual gatherings, reaching its peak this year on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. To honour this cultural heritage and the millions of devotees participating in the 2026 pilgrimage, the department is launching this unique collector’s item featuring a special cancellation.

Around 45 lakh pilgrims have arrived at Gangasagar in South 24-Parganas since 1 January to take the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengal and offer prayers at the Kapil Muni Ashram, state minister for power and housing Aroop Biswas said on Monday.

Addressing a Press conference at Sagar Island, the minister indicated that the pilgrim turnout is expected to rise further in the coming days, particularly around Makar Sankranti. He also informed that two pilgrims, one each from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, were airlifted to Kolkata after they complained of severe illness. To ensure the safety and smooth movement of devotees, an elaborate security and crowd-management plan has been rolled out.

More than 15,000 police personnel have been deployed across the fair area. According to the administration, security arrangements include 54 watchtowers, seven advance teams, 15 anti-crime patrolling teams, 14 foot patrolling teams, 13 missing person squads, two sniffer dogs, 16 river patrolling teams and 28 coordination teams working round the clock to maintain law and order.

For effective crowd regulation at the bathing ghats, 698 drop gates have been installed. In addition, 54 km of barricades, 42 police assistance centres, special directional signage and colour-coded lighting systems have been set up to guide pilgrims safely through the mela grounds. Officials said that of the 84 pilgrims reported missing so far, 80 have already been reunited with their families with the help of the administration and volunteers. One of the major attractions of this year’s Gangasagar Mela is the specially curated “Banglar Mandir” theme.

Pilgrims are being offered a glimpse of replicas and representations of some of Bengal’s most iconic religious sites, including Digha’s Jagannath Temple, Kalighat, Dakshineswar, Tarapith, Mahakal Temple, Cooch Behar’s Madan Mohan Temple and Belur Math, along with a miniature replica of Durga Angan. Transport arrangements have been significantly scaled up to handle the massive influx. As many as 21 jetties are being used for ferrying pilgrims. The administration has pressed into service around 3,600 buses from Babughat to Lot No. 8 and 300 buses from Kachuberia to Sagar, besides 13 barges, 45 vessels and 120 launches.

However, the diversion of thousands of buses for mela duty has raised concerns over reduced public transport services in Kolkata and adjoining areas from Monday. Transport department sources said that commuters in South and North 24-Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata may face inconvenience, especially during peak office hours. To mitigate the impact, the state transport department has initiated emergency measures, including deploying idle buses after basic repairs and planning additional services on key routes. Private bus operators have also been urged to bring non-operational vehicles back on the roads. Meanwhile, Eastern Railway has put in place special arrangements for Gangasagar-bound pilgrims via Kakdwip and Namkhana stations. Additional infrastructure and special train services will remain operational till 16 January, 2026, covering the peak rush period of the annual pilgrimage, which transforms the otherwise tranquil Sagar Island into a vibrant confluence of cultures, faiths and regions from across the country.

young immigrant from Chattagram in Bangladesh, currently residing in East Burdwan, was granted Indian citizenship by the Ministry of Home Affairs, according to the provisions of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, on Saturday.

Thirty-seven-year-old Sabuj Das, a resident of Kale Khan Talla locality in Purbasthali here for the last 26 years, had procured his EPIC and Aadhar Card, but was in trouble to establish his Indian roots, as his parents – Chandmoni Das and Chandratara Das – had illegally entered India 26 years ago.

Apprehensive about trouble during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, Sabuj had applied for Indian citizenship last October.

On Friday, he received a phone call from the ministry of home affairs that advised him to visit their Kolkata office to collect his nationality certificate. Sabuj said: “I was provided with the photocopy of the document. The hard copy will come to my address by post, the officials said.”

New-age tech support like e-books and iPads are not good for children. They need to stick to conventional copybooks, textbooks and blackboards, leaving aside gadgets, advised educationist Dr Punam Suri, chairman of Dayanand Anglo-Vedic University and president of DAV College Managing Committee.

“Even tech giant Bill Gates has prohibited use of cellphones, computers, and iPads in his own school he has started. Some Australian institutions too have insisted on going back to the old school methods of imparting education,” he added.

Dr Suri, who is a Padmashree awardee, was attending the golden jubilee celebrations of DAV Model School, Durgapur, yesterday. He laid the foundation stone for the Mahatma Anand Swami block of the school, named after his grandfather, who was a Gandhian and Arya Samaj stalwart.

Reading is unfortunately becoming a lost art nowadays and the very word ‘reader’ seems to be fading. The 2024 survey data of the National Literacy Trust – a UK-based independent charity forum – suggested that barely 34.6 per cent children aged between 8 and 18 years enjoy reading in their free time, with daily reading falling by 20.5 per cent.

Dr Suri addressed 1,500 teachers assembled from different DAV institutions on Saturday evening. Over-emphasis on theoretical knowledge and slow adaptation to industry needs has consistently been causing lack of employability. He told The Statesman: “What we are doing in our universities in higher education now is following an entire curriculum developed through the interface between industry and academia. They sit together and make the syllabi. Some day, it has to happen in school too. We suggest that the colleges and the universities should tailor-make the product, based on industry needs.”

In DAV schools, the curriculum has been fixed half way already to meet industry needs. Dr Suri said: “In our university, the curriculum is prepared jointly by the academia and the industry. We, however, are yet to achieve the stage when the students can get admission through industry. The IITs and engineering institutions send their students to the industrial units for internships. Once we send a student for internship, we seek a note on that student from the respective industry officer on what type of skills he’s fit to deal with and our university gets focused on that for him.”

Dr Suri sent some suggestions to Centre about rationalising the process of selection of candidates through interviews. He said: “Once I had proposed to the Prime Minister for the practical alterations in the process and thankfully, the University Grants Commission has adapted a dedicated 400 marks for eligibility test.”

Papia Mukherjee, Regional Director, DAV institutions, said: “Right from childhood, the kids need to be monitored constantly to help them get on the right tracks for their future. And that is what we insist at each DAV institution here.”

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is unlikely to consider the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)’s request to move the Bangladeshi cricket team’s T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.

According to a report by news agency ANI, an independent security assessment carried out by the ICC has found no credible threat to the Bangladeshi team’s security in India.

“It is important to clarify that the ICC’s independent risk assessments, carried out by internationally recognised security experts, do not conclude that Bangladesh cannot play its scheduled matches in India,” ANI quoted a highly-placed source as saying.

The overall security risk for the tournament in India has been assessed as low to moderate, which is consistent with the profile of many major global sporting events, the source added.

BCB director labels former captain Tamim as Indian agent; comment draws backlash from Bangladesh cricket fraternity

The ICC said that it has full confidence in the security arrangements being made by the BCCI given the board’s track record in safely hosting major international sporting events.

The ICC has also dismissed reports by a section of Bangladeshi media that it has asked the BCB not to select cricketer Mustafizur Rahman due to security concerns. The ICC clarified that it never advises boards on the selection of players.

The development comes days after the BCB wrote to the ICC requesting to shift its India matches to Sri Lanka citing security risks.
“We have sent a letter to the ICC requesting that our matches be moved from India to Sri Lanka,” BCB director Khaled Mashud Pilot said.

“No compromise on security or dignity,” says Bangladesh sports adviser on T20 World Cup venues

He cited the issue of Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion from his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). “If they have said they cannot provide security to one of our players, how will they ensure the security of our entire team? That is why we will not go there to play,” he said.

Rahman was released by KKR after right-wing groups protested his inclusion in the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned IPL franchise amid rising incidents of violence against Hindus.

Two suspected cases of Nipah virus disease, listed as a high-priority pathogen by the WHO, have been identified in West Bengal, according to official sources on Monday.

The cases were identified on Sunday at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL), ICMR, AIIMS Kalyani, West Bengal.

The sources noted that the ministry of health & family welfare is closely monitoring the situation in the state, with Union minister JP Nadda writing to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, “assuring full support.”

The health minister also spoke to the Chief Minister over the telephone and reiterated “Centre’s commitment to extend all necessary assistance to the state in managing the situation”.

Even as Nipah is a zoonotic disease with high mortality and potential for rapid spread, the situation is being handled with utmost priority by the Central government, the sources said.

“Immediately upon receipt of information, the Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, held discussions with the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Health), Government of West Bengal, to review the situation and ensure swift and coordinated action,” the sources said.

“A National Joint Outbreak Response Team has been deployed to support the State Government in containment and public health response measures,” they added.

The team comprises experts from the All India Institute of Health and Public Hygiene, Kolkata; National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune; National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai; AIIMS Kalyani; and the Department of Wildlife, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Central government guidelines on Nipah Virus Disease under the Communicable Disease Alert have been shared with the State Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) unit.

In addition, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, has also been activated to coordinate the national response.

The Centre is also providing comprehensive technical, logistical and operational support to the State.

“All essential resources, including laboratory support, enhanced surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control measures, and expert guidance, have already been mobilised,” the sources said.

“The state has been advised to ensure close coordination with the deployed expert teams and to undertake meticulous contact tracing and other containment measures,” they added.

Union minister and West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Trinamul Congress (TMC) government, vowing to “bring back the state’s lost fame and rejuvenate its culture” by dislodging the ruling party in the upcoming Assembly elections.

His remarks were made while paying tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his 164th birth anniversary in the city. Speaking to reporters in Kolkata after offering floral tributes at Vivekananda’s ancestral house and cultural centre, Mr Majumdar invoked the legacy of Bengal’s iconic figures to criticise the present political atmosphere in the state. “People like Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore and Raja Ram Mohan Roy once walked this land. Today, ‘file chor’ and ‘coal chor’ are roaming freely. This shows how much the atmosphere has deteriorated,” he said.

The minister asserted that it was time to reclaim Bengal’s cultural and intellectual heritage. “We have to make this land the land of Vivekananda once again. Bengal must be rejuvenated culturally and morally,” he said, adding that the removal of the TMC government was essential to achieve that goal. Referring to the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda as an “auspicious day”, Mr Majumdar urged people to take a pledge to remove those allegedly associated with corruption. “We should take an oath today to free Bengal from people linked to scams. Only then can we once again make Bengal the heart of a cultural and educational revolution,” he said.

His comments came against the backdrop of recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at the Kolkata office of political consultancy firm I-PAC in connection with an alleged coal pilferage and money laundering case.

The controversy intensified after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the site during the raid, an act that the BJP has repeatedly questioned. Mr Majumdar alleged that the Chief Minister’s presence at the scene raised serious doubts and demanded answers from her. The day also saw senior BJP leaders joining in the political offensive. Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda and called upon the youth to “come forward to save Bengal and strengthen India”.

Coal India paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary, commemorating the life and legacy of one of India’s greatest visionaries. Chairman, B Sairam, along with Director (HR) Dr Vinay Ranjan, CVO BK Tripathy, and senior officials of Coal India, offered floral tributes in remembrance of his timeless ideals.

Swami Vivekananda’s teachings on justice, dignity, and social empowerment continue to guide and inspire the organisation. His vision of service to humanity reinforces Coal India’s commitment to integrity, courage, and responsible nation-building, as it strives to contribute meaningfully to the progress and welfare of society.

An explosive 137-run stand between Grace Harris and skipper Smriti Mandhana powered RCB to a nine-wicket win in their Women’s Premier League (WPL) clash at Navi Mumbai on Monday.

Earlier, RCB had put UPW to bat first and had reduced them to 50/5, before Deepti Sharma (45*) and Deandra Dottin (40*) helped the team recover enough to reach a fighting 143/5, with Nadine de Klerk and Shreyanka Patil getting two wickets each. In the chase, Grace displayed some excellent ball-striking in her 40-ball 85, while Smriti stayed unbeaten at 47* towards the end. This is RCB’s second win in a row, while UPW’s second successive loss.

During the chase of 144, Grace Harris started off the innings with two fours in the first over against Deepti Sharma, while skipper Smriti chipped in with boundaries against her compatriots Kranti Gaud and Shikha Pandey.

Shikha and Kranti continued to leak runs against the hard-hitting duo as RCB reached 46 runs in just five overs.

Deandra Dottin’s final over of the powerplay was brutal, as Grace smashed her for three sixes and fours each, and the bowler also bowled a no-ball and a wide each, giving away a massive 32 runs. Grace reached her fifty in 22 balls, with seven fours and three sixes as RCB ended the powerplay at 78/0. This was the joint-most expensive over in WPL history and the fourth instance of a batter reaching the 50-run mark during the powerplay.

Mandhana also picked up some boundaries against spinners Asha Shobhana and Sophie Ecclestone while Grace was looking unstoppable. RCB reached the 100-run mark in 7.5 overs.

At the end of 10 overs, RCB was 121/0, with Grace (76*) and Smriti (40*) unbeaten.

The 137-run stand was over courtesy of Shikha as a fine catch by Lanning removed Grace for a 40-ball 85, with 10 fours and five sixes. But with three runs needed in eight overs, it was too, too late.

RCB ended their chase at 145/1 in 12.1 overs, with Smriti (47* in 32 balls, with nine fours) and Richa Ghosh (4*) unbeaten.

Earlier, Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin’s 93-run stand for the 6th wicket helped UP Warriorz to reach 143/5 in their 20 overs.

The two batters first steadied the innings and then gradually lifted the tempo, putting on a vital 93-run partnership. In the final over, Deepti went berserk, slamming 15 runs off the last six balls, including three boundaries.

RCB won the toss and opted to bowl. UP Warriorz got off to a sloppy start, managing just 21 runs in the first four overs, with Meg Lanning and Harleen Deol at the crease.

RCB’s bowlers were spot on with their tight line and lengths, forcing Harleen (11) to get adventurous, but she ended up handing Lauren Bell a catch.

Warriorz power-play ended on a modest 36-1, with Phoebe Litchfield and Meg Lanning at the crease. After the power-play, RCB’s bowlers turned up the heat, striking at regular intervals, and Warriorz crumbled, losing four wickets in just eight balls, plummeting to 50/5.

Litchfield’s 20 was a lone bright spot, but RCB’s bowling onslaught did the damage. Skipper Lanning (14), Kiran Navgire (5) and Shweta Sehrawat (0) did not get to do much. The dangerous cocktail of Shreyanka Patil’s spin and Nadine de Klerk’s pace was too much for UPW.

Deandra Dottin and Deepti Sharma took Warriorz’ innings forward, chipping singles and rotating the strike with ease. Warriorz crossed the 100-run mark in the 16th over. The duo added a solid 50-run stand for the sixth wicket, turning the tide towards Warriorz after a terrible collapse.

After the 16th over, UPW were struggling at 100/5, but Dottin and Deepti shifted gears in the final four overs. The duo unleashed a scoring frenzy, smashing 43 runs off 24 balls, taking UPW to a respectable 143 at the end of 20 overs. Their explosive batting turned the innings around, with Deepti top-scoring with 45* (in 35 balls, with five fours and a six) and Dottin chipping in with 40* (in 37 balls, with two fours and a six).

Nadine (2/28) and Shreyanka (2/50) were in the thick of things with the ball, while pacer Lauren Bell (1/16 in four overs) once again stole the show with her economy rate of just four.

Brief Scores: UPW: 143/5 in 20 overs (Deepti Sharma 45*, Deandra Dottin 40*, Nadine de Klerk 2/28) lost to RCB: 145/1 in 12.1 overs (Grace Harris 85, Smriti Mandhana 47*, Shikha Pandey 1/28).

The Kerala High Court on Monday came down heavily on the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) while hearing bail petitions of some of the accused in the Sabarimala gold heist case, questioning the role of the Board if all major responsibilities had been entrusted to sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the case.

A single bench of Justice A Badharudeen made the remarks while hearing arguments by the prosecution, which stated that the gold plating of the door frames and the Dwarapalaka idols had been entrusted to Unnikrishnan Potty. The court wondered why such crucial works were assigned to a single individual.

“What is the role of the TDB if all major responsibilities were entrusted to sponsor Unnikrishnan Potty, the prime accused in the case?” the court asked.

The court was considering the bail applications of former Devaswom Board President A. Padmakumar, Bellary-based gold merchant Govardhan, and former Sabarimala Executive Officer Murari Babu. The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the case, opposed the bail pleas of the accused.

The High Court also criticised the SIT for not arresting former TDB member KP Shankaradas in connection with the Sabarimala gold heist case.

Justice Badharudeen took a strong stand against the SIT while considering the bail pleas of the three accused. Observing that one of the accused had been in hospital since the day he was named in the case, the court remarked that his son is a Superintendent of Police and that this may have influenced his continued hospitalisation. Shankaradas was a member of the TDB when A Padmakumar was its president.

The birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was observed across the state with great enthusiasm.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid rich tribute to swamiji. In her X handle she said Swamiji’s work to uplift the downtrodden and preservation of communal harmony still inspire the people.

Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamul Congress national general secretary paid rich tribute to Swamiji after visiting the great monk and youth icon’s house during the day.

The day was declared as the national youth day. Seminars, workshops and rallies carrying the photographs of Swamiji were held across the city.

Alambazar Math where the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna used to stay has been thoroughly renovated and thrown open to the people.

Swamiji stayed at the math after returning from the West in 1897. His brother disciples had stayed here.

A special puja was held at Belur Math this morning.

Udbodhan, the Bengali publishing house of the Ramakrishna Mission gave concession to the books on Ramakrishna Vivekananda Vedanta literature.

A programme to commemorate Swamiji’s birthday was held at the monk’s ancestral house on Gour Mohan Mukherjee Street. Swami Jnanalokananda, secretary of Swamiji’s ancestral house urged the students to study Swamiji’s life and works and work for the downtrodden.

The day was observed with enthusiasm at the Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira Ekalavya Model Residential School in Jhargram. The school is meant for Scheduled Tribe students. Swami Sumanashanandaji of Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park urged the students to concentrate on their studies. Akanksha Bhaskar, district magistrate of Jhargram spoke at the meeting.

The day was observed with due solemnity at Sri Ramakrishna Kanyagurukul, Jhargram.

Several clubs organised football tournaments, physical fitness shows and blood donation camps.

Abhishek Banerjee today posted on his X handle: “On the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, I bow in reverence to a towering soul whose thoughts continue to illuminate India’s moral and intellectual conscience.

“His call for strength rooted in compassion, for faith anchored in reason and for service driven by empathy remains profoundly relevant even today. Swamiji reminded us that to serve humanity is to serve the divine.

“At a time when divisions are amplified and identities weaponised, Swami Ji’s message of universal brotherhood and harmony among faiths stands as a timeless guide.”

Sergio Gor, a trusted lieutenant of US President Donald Trump, who assumed charge as the US Ambassador to India on Monday, has said that he is honoured to join the dedicated team of officials at the US Embassy in New Delhi.

In a social media post on X, Ambassador Gor said that he is very optimistic about the future of India-US relations.

“Namaste! Today marks my first day at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. I am honored to join this dedicated team and eager to get to work advancing President Donald Trump’s priorities and deepening the U.S.-India partnership. I couldn’t be more optimistic about the days ahead for both of our nations under President Trump’s leadership,” he said.

Earlier today, Gor assumed charge as the US Ambassador to India. Addressing a gathering at the US Embassy, he hailed the historic ties between the two countries.

‘Iran ready for both war and dialogue,’ says Iranian FM after Trump’s ‘very strong options’ threat over protest killings

Highlighting the importance of India-US ties, Gor said that no other partner (country) is more essential than India.

“In the months and years ahead, it is my goal as ambassador to pursue a very ambitious agenda. We will do this as true strategic partners, each bringing strength, respect, and leadership to the table,” Gor said.

Gor is considered a close associate of President Trump. His appointment to India comes amid an unraveling of ties between Washington and New Delhi.

The imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods by Trump strained the relationship, while his claims, including on the brief India-Pakistan war in May last year, did not help either.

Gor, however, said that Trump’s friendship with PM Modi is “real” and that their differences will be resolved in the end.

“I’ve travelled all over the world with President Trump, and I can attest that his friendship with Prime Minister Modi is real. The United States and India are bound not just by shared interests, but by a relationship anchored at the highest levels. Real friends can disagree, but always resolve their differences in the end,” he said.

The new US Ambassador further stated that he has come to India with a clear mission – “to take the partnership between our two nations to the next level”.

“This is the intersection between the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy,” Gor added.

Kamarpukur Ramakrishna Math and Mission celebrated the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda as National Youth Day with daylong programmes.

The celebrations began with mangal arati, recitation of Vedic mantras and shlokas, followed by a colourful procession depicting the life and ideology of Swami Vivekananda. Around thirty schools and organisations participated in the procession, which saw the involvement of more than 4,000 people.

Yoga and meditation sessions were also organised to promote physical and mental well-being.

Scholar Swapan Bandyopadhyay addressed the gathering and spoke on Swamiji’s teachings, their relevance in modern times, and his spiritual journey.

The head of Kamarpukur Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Swami Lokottarananda, in his message said that Swami Vivekananda’s message to the youth centred on self-belief, physical and moral strength, character-building, fearless action and selfless service. He urged young people to be heroes with “muscles of iron and nerves of steel” to uplift themselves and the nation, famously calling upon them to “arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached”.

Nylon kite thread, commonly known as Chinese manjha, poses a serious threat to humans, birds and animals due to its non-biodegradable nature and razor-sharp, glass-coated surface. Its use has resulted in severe, and at times fatal, injuries, particularly to motorcyclists, pedestrians and animals, prompting widespread bans despite persistent enforcement challenges.

Kite flying is a traditional activity during the Sankranti festival in several cities and suburban areas. With the festival slated to be celebrated this month, the sale of kites and various types of kite thread has increased. However, nylon kite thread has proved to be particularly dangerous, not only to humans but also to birds and arboreal animals.

People from different sections of society, including environmentalists and nature lovers, have repeatedly raised concerns over its use.

Nature lovers have urged the police to stop the sale of nylon threads. According to them, during Sankranti, hundreds of birds and animals that take shelter in trees become entangled in these threads. The Serampore police have stepped up vigil against the sale of nylon kite thread and have launched an awareness campaign to educate the public about its harmful effects. People are being encouraged to use traditional cotton thread for kite flying. Confirming this, the Inspector-in-charge of Serampore police station, Shukomoy Chatterjee, said the initiative aims to ensure safer celebrations while protecting wildlife and public safety.

The Haryana Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has invited applications under the Tractor Subsidy Scheme for the year 2025–26 to empower farmers belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. Eligible farmers can apply online through the departmental portal, www.agriharyana.gov.in, till January 15.

A government spokesperson said that Scheduled Caste farmers registered on the “Meri Fasal Mera Byora (MFMB)” portal and owning agricultural land are eligible to apply. Land registered in the name of any family member under the Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP/Family ID) will also be considered valid. Eligible farmers can avail a subsidy of up to Rs 3,00,000 per unit on tractors of 45 horsepower (HP) or above.

The spokesperson further informed that the selection of beneficiaries will be carried out through an online draw by the District-Level Executive Committee, constituted under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner. After the purchase of the tractor and physical verification, the subsidy amount will be directly credited to the beneficiary’s bank account registered on the MFMB portal.

To be eligible, the applicant must be a resident of Haryana and belong to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. The beneficiary should not have availed of a tractor subsidy under any scheme of the department during the past five years. Additionally, the tractor purchased under the scheme cannot be sold for a period of five years from the date of purchase.

Two suspected cases of Nipah virus disease, listed as a high-priority pathogen by the WHO, have been identified in West Bengal, according to official sources on Monday.

The cases were identified on Sunday at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL), ICMR, AIIMS Kalyani, West Bengal.

The sources noted that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is closely monitoring the situation in the state, with Union Minister JP Nadda writing to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, “assuring full support.”

The Health Minister also spoke to the Chief Minister over the telephone and reiterated “Centre’s commitment to extend all necessary assistance to the State in managing the situation”.

Even as Nipah is a zoonotic disease with high mortality and potential for rapid spread, the situation is being handled with utmost priority by the Central government, the sources said.

“Immediately upon receipt of information, the Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, held discussions with the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (Health), Government of West Bengal, to review the situation and ensure swift and coordinated action,” the sources said.

“A National Joint Outbreak Response Team has been deployed to support the State Government in containment and public health response measures,” they added.

The team comprises experts from the All India Institute of Health and Public Hygiene, Kolkata; National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune; National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Chennai; AIIMS Kalyani; and the Department of Wildlife, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Central Government guidelines on Nipah Virus Disease under the Communicable Disease Alert have been shared with the State Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) unit.

In addition, the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) at the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, has also been activated to coordinate the national response.

The Centre is also providing comprehensive technical, logistical and operational support to the State.

“All essential resources, including laboratory support, enhanced surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control measures, and expert guidance, have already been mobilised,” the sources said.

“The State has been advised to ensure close coordination with the deployed expert teams and to undertake meticulous contact tracing and other containment measures,” they added.

Nipah virus disease is an emerging zoonotic infectious disease caused by the Nipah virus (NiV). It can cause acute encephalitis, severe respiratory illness, and, in many cases, death.

First discovered in 1999 in Malaysia, the Nipah virus (NiV) causes yearly outbreaks throughout south and southeast Asia, especially in India, with associated mortality rates of 40–75 per cent.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday accused the Central government of adopting a biased and vengeful attitude towards Kerala and deliberately creating obstacles to hinder the state’s growth.

Inaugurating the ruling Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) ‘Satyagraha’ protest against the BJP-led Union government’s alleged political vendetta and denial of Kerala’s rightful financial allocations, at the Martyrs’ Column in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan said the Centre, through its policies, is attempting to weaken the state and stall its progress.

Describing the satyagraha as a fight for survival in an extraordinary situation, the Chief Minister said the Centre has consciously created hurdles to block Kerala’s development.

“The state is being discriminated against and denied its rightful share of financial resources and support,” he said.

Kerala is not demanding anything it does not deserve, Vijayan asserted, adding that everyone who has an interest in the welfare of the state should stand united against this neglect.

“The Centre has deliberately created obstacles to stop the growth of our state. In this matter, everyone who is concerned about Kerala should stand together and raise their voice. Unfortunately, some groups in the state are not prepared to speak out against the Centre,” he said.

Vijayan further alleged that the Centre is attempting to snatch away Kerala’s constitutionally guaranteed rights, which should not happen in a democratic country.

He also dismissed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent statement that Kerala would have a BJP Chief Minister next time, saying such a scenario would never become a reality in the state.

The satyagraha, held in front of the Palayam Martyrs’ Column from 10 am to 5 pm, was led by Chief Minister Vijayan and attended by state ministers and LDF leaders. The protest is a continuation of an earlier demonstration led by the Chief Minister in Delhi.

Meanwhile, BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Monday that Chief Minister Vijayan’s criticism of the Central government over Kerala’s financial crisis amounted to an admission of failure by the LDF government on the financial front after nearly a decade in power.

He accused the Chief Minister and the LDF government of misgovernance, fiscal mismanagement, and deliberately misleading the public ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Rejecting Vijayan’s allegation that the NDA government is discriminating against Kerala, Chandrasekhar said the Modi government is not curtailing any rightful claims of the state.

“The UPA government gave ₹72,000 crore to Kerala, whereas the Modi government has given ₹3.2 lakh crore. During Pinarayi Vijayan’s tenure, the state’s debt increased threefold. Unemployment rose to 30 percent, inflation increased to 8.27 per cent, 54 lakh households lack drinking water, and 5.5 lakh people do not have homes,” he claimed.

“The Chief Minister is attempting to take on more debt. This reflects the incompetence of the government,” Chandrasekhar said.