While consumers are temporarily shielded from price increases at the pump, experts warn that sustained pressure on oil marketing companies could lead to eventual adjustments in retail fuel prices. For now, the government emphasizes that the decision is part of its broader fiscal strategy in a challenging global economic environment.
The revised rates mean that a domestic LPG cylinder, currently priced at Rs 803, will cost RS 853 starting Tuesday. Even Ujjwala Yojana users, who receive government subsidies, will now pay Rs 550 instead of Rs 500. This price adjustment is expected to affect over 30 crore households, particularly those in rural and urban lower-income groups.
The Supreme Court has taken serious note of this alarming situation and converted the matter into a suo motu writ petition titled In Re: Kancha Gachibowli Forest, State of Telangana. The Court has directed the Chief Secretary of Telangana to respond to several critical questions, including the rationale for initiating developmental activities without completing mandated assessments under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023.
The event saw participation from eminent personalities, including Dr. Sowmya Mishra, DGP Prisons; BP Acharya, former IAS officer; and Dana Kishore, Principal Secretary to the Governor. The presence of army personnel and other dignitaries added gravitas to the occasion.
A four-page letter found in his possession detailed the recruitment of minors, raising serious ethical and humanitarian concerns. The letter reportedly disclosed that 25 individuals were recruited from Indravati zone and another 130 from a different location. Among these recruits, 65 were children aged 12 to 13, while 40 were between 14 and 17 years old.
Mindless Deforestation: Supreme Court Imposes Hefty Fine of Rs 1 lakh per tree. In a recent case involving the cutting of 454 trees within the protected Taj Trapezium Zone, the court imposed a stringent penalty of Rs 1 lakh per tree to deter such actions and ensure ecological accountability.
The Supreme Court emphasized the responsibility of educational institutions to ensure the safety and well-being of students. It directed institutions to promptly lodge FIRs in cases of suicides and urged law enforcement agencies to act diligently.
The JAC passed a resolution urging the Union government to extend the freeze on parliamentary constituencies based on the 1971 Census for another 25 years. The resolution highlighted that states which have successfully implemented population control measures should not be penalized with reduced representation in Parliament.
Leaders warn that such a move might reduce their political representation in Parliament, weakening their influence in national policymaking. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has been at the forefront of this opposition, cautioning that the exercise could erode democratic principles and compromise the rights of states.
People of Gujarat wanted “a real alternative” and “not a B team” of the BJP. Raul Gandhi stressed that the party must throw out all those Congress functionaries who were maintaining links with the BJP clandestinely. “Let these people work for the BJP openly. I am sure even the BJP will not accept them,” Gandhi said.
