Babus, mantris & buzz: Modi-Shah to be more aggressive?
· Free Press Journal
Modi-Shah to be more aggressive?
In the present scenario, it is believed that the Modi-Shah duo will adopt a more aggressive approach in the coming elections. Will Indian political history see a repeat of 2014?
Will CM DKS be able to contain simmering dissent amid cabinet expansion?
The Karnataka Congress is facing severe internal friction following Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar’s recent cabinet expansion, which has triggered dissatisfaction among key regional factions. While the top leadership managed to temporarily pacify MLAs Yashvanthrayagouda Patil and Belur Gopalkrishna, several senior lawmakers remain firm in their demands. Senior legislator MLA M. Krishnappa and other prominent leaders continue to press for ministerial berths, intensifying the turmoil within the ruling party.
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Sensing that the friction could spiral out of control and weaken the government, the Congress high command intervened by dispatching AICC General Secretary in-charge Randeep Surjewala to Bengaluru on Wednesday. His mandate is to engage with the aggrieved lawmakers, hold crisis-management talks, address their grievances and restore party unity.
Will BJP align with Akali Dal for Punjab elections?
Following a meeting of senior party leaders in Chandigarh on Saturday, Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal called for the immediate implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill. Badal cited the teachings of Sikh Gurus, who championed gender equality, dignity and equal rights for women.
Taking to X, Badal stated, "The Shiromani Akali Dal, at a meeting of its senior leaders in Chandigarh today, demanded the immediate implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill in the country." The decision followed detailed deliberations on major legislative issues currently before Parliament.
The development comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Badal in Parliament, triggering political speculation about a possible SAD-BJP alliance for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
18 candidates shortlisted for CEO, Ram Temple Trust
Interviews for the key post of CEO of the Ram Temple Trust will be held on August 11 and 12. Altogether, 18 people are reported to have been called for the interviews.
Centre rejects income-based 'creamy layer' for SCs and STs in Supreme Court
The Central government has strongly opposed petitions in the Supreme Court seeking the introduction of an income-based "creamy layer" exclusion within Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation quotas.
In a fresh affidavit, the Centre clarified that the creamy layer principle applies strictly to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and cannot be extended to SCs and STs under the existing constitutional framework. The government emphasised that affirmative action for these communities addresses centuries of systemic caste discrimination, untouchability and social exclusion, and not merely economic disadvantage. Therefore, income cannot be the sole criterion for excluding beneficiaries.
The legal challenge follows the apex court's 2024 judgment permitting states to create sub-classifications within SC/ST quotas to benefit the most underprivileged groups. While individual judges made non-binding observations about identifying a creamy layer, the Centre stressed that these remarks were not part of the ruling.
Urging the court to dismiss the petitions, the government argued that introducing income caps would require legislative policy decisions and extensive socio-economic data, warning against judicial intervention in altering established constitutional protections.
IAF Wing Commander arrested over alleged cyber espionage and defence leak
A serving Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander has reportedly been arrested by Delhi Police for allegedly sharing sensitive and classified defence information with suspected foreign intelligence operatives. The officer is currently in judicial custody after being booked under provisions of the Official Secrets Act for allegedly leaking confidential military documents and strategically important data.
According to investigators, the officer was reportedly targeted through a cyber espionage operation, commonly termed a honeytrap, initiated through social media platforms. A woman, believed to be linked to Pakistani intelligence handlers, allegedly established contact with him online. Their interaction reportedly developed into frequent digital chats and video calls, during which sensitive defence documents and operational data were allegedly shared digitally.
Although the exact nature of the compromised material has not been publicly disclosed, investigating authorities suspect that it contained critical strategic details.
Bureaucracy
Arunachal Pradesh: Youngest Collectors of the State
IAS Yashaswini B, a 2020-batch AGMUT Cadre officer currently serving as Deputy commissioner of East Kameng, and IAS Kunal Yadav, a 2021-batch AGMUT cadre officer currently serving as Deputy commissioner of Longding, are the youngest Collectors in Arunachal Pradesh. Both were born in 1995.
Will Justice Kogje be the new CJ of MP High Court?
Justice Alpesh Y. Kogje Judge of the Gujarat High Court is likely to be appointed the new Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The name of one Judge of the Bombay High Court is also in circulation. One can wait and watch until the official announcement.
SC collegium recommends Justice V. Kameswar Rao as Chief Justice of Patna HC
The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of Justice V. Kameswar Rao, Judge of the Delhi High Court, as Chief Justice of the Patna High Court.
SC collegium recommends Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge as Chief Justice of Calcutta HC
The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge, Judge of the Bombay High Court, as Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
SC collegium recommends Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi as Chief Justice of Bombay HC
The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi, Judge of the Allahabad High Court, as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court.
SC collegium recommends Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana HC
The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the elevation of Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra, Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
SC collegium recommends Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak for transfer to Gujarat HC
The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the transfer of Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak from the Orissa High Court to the Gujarat High Court.
SC collegium recommends Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra’s transfer to Chhattisgarh HC
The Supreme Court Collegium has recommended the transfer of Justice Krushna Ram Mohapatra from the Orissa High Court to the Chhattisgarh High Court.
Revised batches granted to 36 officers in IAS AGMUT cadre
In an important development concerning the AGMUT Cadre of the IAS, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has allotted revised IAS batches to 36 officers. Consequently, several officers have been granted the benefit of one additional year of seniority. The development follows a successful judicial challenge by Krishan Kumar Dahiya, a DANICS officer. The DoPT’s stand in the matter did not prevail, paving the way for implementation of the revised batch allocations.
The development has brought relief to the affected officers by restoring their seniority and extending the service benefits associated with the revised batch allocations.
Officers granted the 2007 batch are: H.P.S. Sran; Vijendra Singh Rawat; Rashmi Singh; Shashi Kaushal and Sanjay Gihar.
Officers granted the 2008 batch are: Sanjay Kumar Jha; Devesh Singh; Girdhari Lal Meena; Kuldeep Pakad; Chokha Ram Garg; Yashpal Garg; Sanjeev Ahuja; P.K. Panda; A.R. Talwade; K. Mahesh; Kuldeep Singh Gangar and Binay Bhushan.
Officers granted the 2009 batch are: Subhash Chandra; Sarpreet Singh Gill; C. Udaya Kumar; Ajay Kumar Garg; Krishan Kumar; Kulanand Joshi; Ram Niwas Sharma and Ajay Kumar Gupta.
Officers granted the 2010 batch are: Ajay Chagti; Arun Mishra; Krishan Kumar Dahiya; Kalyan Sahai Meena; Syed Musawwir Ali and Sundaresan S.D.
Officers granted the 2011 batch are: Deepak Virmani; Indu Shekhar Mishra; Sanjeev Kumar Mittal; Jayanta Kumar Ray and Sunil Kumar Singh.
2012 batch IPS officers in Nagaland promoted to rank of IG
Four IPS officers of the 2012 batch in Nagaland have been promoted to the rank of IG. The officers are Uniel Kichu Ao, Imnalensa, M James Humtsoe and T Chumrenthung.
IAS officer Harshil Meena gets cadre transfer to Gujarat
The Central Government has transferred Harshil R Meena, IAS (Kerala: 2021), from Kerala Cadre to Gujarat Cadre on grounds of his marriage to Ms Dharani M, IAS (Gujarat: 2024).
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