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Over 22 lakh public grievances filed on CPGRAMS in 2024-25

More than 22 lakh public grievances were received during 2024-25 through the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday.

A total of 22,23,186 grievances were registered against central ministries, departments and state or Union territory governments during the year, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh said in a written reply. Of these, 23,02,236 complaints, including those carried forward from earlier periods, were disposed of.

During 2023-24, 23,16,710 grievances were registered, while 25,28,603 cases, including pending matters from the previous year, were resolved, the minister said.

Singh said the average disposal time on CPGRAMS stood at 16 and 15 days for central ministries in 2023-24 and 2024-25, respectively, while for states and Union territories, it was 119 days and 64 days.

He added that several measures, including the 10-Step Reforms under CPGRAMS, have been implemented to reduce pendency and improve the efficiency of grievance redressal.

Two juveniles held for blade-point robbery in central Delhi

The Delhi Police on Thursday said it had apprehended two juveniles for allegedly robbing a motorcyclist at blade-point in central Delhi.

The incident took place on January 28, around 7 pm, near Eidgah, when the victim slowed his motorcycle on Rani Jhansi Road due to heavy traffic. Taking advantage of the situation, the two boys allegedly stopped the motorcycle.

One of them reportedly climbed onto the pillion seat, held the complainant by the neck and overpowered him, while the other blocked the vehicle from the front. The accused allegedly threatened the victim with a surgical blade and robbed him of Rs 32,000.

Following a complaint, an FIR was registered, and CCTV footage was examined. The juveniles were later apprehended from Paharganj and Anand Parbat, with the stolen cash recovered.

Seychelles President Herminie arrives on his maiden visit to India

Seychelles President Patrick Herminie arrived in Chennai on Thursday on his maiden trip to India, coinciding with the celebration of half-a-century of strong diplomatic ties with the country.

He was accorded a warm reception by State Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister M Mathivendhan, Chennai Mayor R Priya and senior officials upon his arrival at the airport. A release from the External Affairs Ministry said that he would meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. During his five-day trip, he would also meet Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi in Chennai Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devrat in Mumbai.

Seychelles is a key maritime neighbour of India in the Indian Ocean region and holds a special place in India’s Vision MAHASAGAR and commitment to the Global South. India is expected to lend further momentum to wide-ranging cooperation and robust people-to-people ties between the two countries, the release said. 

ED conducts searches in Kerala in Nedumparambil Credit Syndicate fraud case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out searches at multiple locations in Kerala against promoters and key functionaries of the Nedumparambil Credit Syndicate Group in connection with an alleged investment fraud and money laundering case, officials said.

The federal probe agency has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognisance of several FIRs filed by the Kerala police, which accused the group of cheating depositors by collecting funds on the promise of high returns.

According to preliminary findings, a large number of investors across the state were allegedly induced to invest substantial sums that were neither returned nor generated the assured profits. ED officials said this pointed to a systematic fraud involving public deposits.

Five Tejas fighter jets ready for delivery to IAF, says HAL

State-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Thursday said five Tejas light combat aircraft are fully ready for delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF), even as the programme faces delays due to engine supply issues.

In February 2021, the defence ministry signed a ₹48,000 crore contract with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets. However, deliveries have been affected primarily because US-based GE Aerospace missed multiple deadlines for supplying aero engines required to power the aircraft.

HAL said five aircraft have been completed with all major contracted capabilities as per agreed specifications. An additional nine aircraft have already been built and flown, and will be made ready for delivery once engines are received from GE. The company added that all design and development issues are being addressed on an expedited basis.

Tejas is a single-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft designed for air defence, maritime reconnaissance and strike roles in high-threat environments. HAL said it is in active discussions with the IAF to expedite deliveries, noting that the air force is keen on inducting the jets as its fighter squadrons have dropped to 30 against a sanctioned strength of 42.

PM to speak in Rajya Sabha at 5 PM

PM Narendra Modi to speak in the Rajya Sabha at 5 PM.

Silver, gold futures tumble 10 pc as strong dollar, Fed jitters spark selloff

Silver and gold prices snapped a two-day rebound and declined sharply up to 10 per cent in the futures trade on Thursday amid weak trends in the international markets and a strong US dollar.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), silver for March delivery dropped by Rs 26,850, or 10 per cent, to Rs 2,42,000 per kilogram. In the previous session, the white metal had settled at Rs 2,68,850 per kg.

Similarly, gold for April contract depreciated by Rs 2,310, or 1.51 per cent, to Rs 1,50,736 per 10 grams as compared with Wednesday's closing level of Rs 1,53,046 per 10 grams.

"Gold and silver erased recent gains, snapping a two-day rebound as renewed selling pressure and heightened volatility returned to precious-metal markets," Renisha Chainani, Head - Research at Augmont, said.

In the international market, silver and gold futures mirrored the downward movement seen in the domestic trade.

On the Comex, the white metal for March delivery dropped by USD 8.85, or 10.48 per cent, to USD 75.55 per ounce. During the intraday trade, it plunged over 13 per cent to hit a low of USD 73.38 per ounce.

Opposition stages walkout from Rajya Sabha

The Opposition led by Congress staged a walkout on Thursday from the Rajya Sabha after Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was not allowed to quote from a "memoir" of former Army chief M M Naravane on the 2020 India-China conflict.

Soon after papers were laid in the Upper House, the Chair called a member to raise his Zero Hour mention. Meanwhile, Congress members started demanding that Kharge be allowed to speak first.

Later, Treasury and Opposition benches got engaged in altercations after Kharge said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is not being allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha.

Kharge also tried to highlight that the Lok Sabha was not running smoothly. He said both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha are pillars of democracy, and the ruling party was not letting democracy function.

His charges were vehemently opposed by the ruling party members.

When Kharge tried to quote from the unpublished Naravane's book, it was opposed by members sitting on Treasury benches.

Amid uproar, members of several opposition parties -- Congress, TMC, AAP, CPI and CPI-M staged a walkout.

Imran Khan's sons accuse Pak's Sharif govt of 'deliberately' refusing visa to meet their father

Sons of Pakistan's incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan have accused the Shehbaz Sharif government of “deliberately” refusing visas to them, saying democracy in the country is “hollow” and basic human rights are being “crushed.” Khan, 73, was arrested and jailed in August 2023 in multiple cases and currently lodged in the Adiala Jail at Rawalpindi after his conviction in one of them.

Suleman Khan and Kasim Khan, who currently live in London, are Khan's sons from his first marriage with British TV personality Jemima Goldsmith.

“My brother and I are trying to travel to Pakistan to see our father. For 914 days, he has been held in solitary confinement while his health deteriorates and he is denied access to independent medical care.

“Now the government is deliberately refusing to process our visas. Denying a prisoner treatment is cruel. Denying his children the right to see him is collective punishment,” Kasim Khan said in a post on X on Wednesday.

Imran Khan's family has claimed he has been in solitary confinement for the past several months and his health condition is not better.

Lok Sabha passes Motion of Thanks on President's address without PM's response

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Motion of Thanks on the President's address without the customary reply by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amid vociferous protests by the opposition.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla put the opposition amendments to the Motion of Thanks to vote, which were rejected.

The Speaker then read out the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address to both Houses of Parliament on January 28, which was passed by a voice vote, amid sloganeering by the opposition members.

As the protests continued, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till 2:00 PM.