Reforms reloaded after Bihar boost as Winter Session of Parliament begins tomorrow

New Delhi, Nov 30, 2025
Buoyed by the NDA’s sweeping victory in Bihar, the Central government heads into Monday’s Winter Session of Parliament with renewed energy and an ambitious reform push, led by the long-awaited legislation that will open India’s civil nuclear sector to private participation for the first time.

The three-week session, spread over 15 sittings and concluding on December 19, follows the near-total washout of the Monsoon Session and carries the clear imprint of the Bihar result, with the treasury benches determined to get a slew of Bills passed.

At the centre of the agenda is the Atomic Energy Bill, 2025, which will lay down fresh rules for the production, development and regulation of atomic energy while carefully allowing private players into power generation under strict state oversight.

Joining it on the priority list are the Higher Education Commission of India Bill that aims to give universities greater autonomy through a single, transparent regulator; a National Highways amendment for quicker and cleaner land acquisition, tweaks to company and LLP laws to further ease doing business, and the sweeping Securities Markets Code, 2025 that will merge and modernise three existing laws governing capital markets.

Changes to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, two carry-over bills from the previous session, and the first supplementary demands for grants complete the packed legislative calendar. One proposed bill has already been shelved: after fierce resistance from allies and opposition alike, the government has stepped back from its plan to let the President directly frame regulations for the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had called an all-party meeting on Sunday in the hope of securing smoother floor coordination and avoiding a repeat of the last session’s chaos.

The opposition, however, is gearing up for a sharp offensive. It intends to corner the government over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls across twelve states and Union territories, which many parties describe as a targeted deletion drive, and also over the continuing air pollution crisis choking the national capital.

With the Bihar triumph still fresh and both sides digging in, the coming weeks promise a combustible mix of landmark reform bills, heated political confrontations, and the faint hope that, this time, Parliament might actually manage to pass laws.(Agency)

Kerala Raj Bhavan to be renamed ‘Lok Bhavan’ from Dec 1

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 30, 2025
Kerala’s Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor, is set to be officially renamed Lok Bhavan on December 1, marking a major symbolic shift in the state’s administrative nomenclature.

Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who is currently in his home state of Goa, is expected to issue the formal notification on Monday. Once issued, the official address will henceforth read Lok Bhavan, Kerala. The renaming follows the Union government’s broader move to discard colonial-era terms from the country’s administrative vocabulary.

On November 25, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a directive asking all Raj Bhavans across India to adopt the new title ‘Lok Bhavan’, and all Raj Niwas — the residences of Lieutenant Governors — to be renamed ‘Lok Niwas’.

Governor Arlekar had originally proposed the idea during the Governors’ Conference in 2024, arguing that the redesignation would help bring the Governor’s establishment closer to the people. He emphasised that the change would symbolise accessibility, transparency, and democratic participation — values he said must be reflected in constitutional offices.

With Kerala set to implement the change on December 1, the state joins others that have already notified the transition.

Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya issued the order on Friday, becoming one of the first to formalise the shift. West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose followed suit on Saturday, completing the renaming process in his state as well.

The Union government maintains that the move is part of a national effort to reinforce the idea of “Viksit Bharat”, in which administrative institutions are expected to be more people-centric. According to the MHA notification, renaming the Raj Bhavans and Raj Niwas is intended to “underscore the participatory nature of democracy” and to ensure that constitutional spaces become more publicly accessible, both symbolically and functionally.

In Kerala, the transition is also expected to include changes to signage, official stationery, government communication, and digital platforms associated with the Governor’s office. While the administrative procedures are underway, officials indicated that the public unveiling and formal use of the new name would begin immediately after the Governor’s notification is issued.

The change marks the end of nearly seven decades of the term Raj Bhavan in Kerala, replacing it with a name that the Centre hopes will resonate with modern democratic values — Lok Bhavan, the People’s House.(Agency)

Cyclone Ditwah: Woman killed as wall collapses in Kumbakonam; heavy rain forecast in TN

Chennai, Nov 30, 2025
A 20-year-old woman died after a wall collapsed on her house near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu on Sunday, even as heavy rain continued to lash parts of the state under the impact of Cyclone Ditwah.

The victim, Renuka, was the daughter of Muthuveil, a resident of Alamankurichi near Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district.

According to officials, a portion of the wall of Muthuveil’s motor shed collapsed due to incessant rainfall and crashed onto the roof of their adjacent house.

Renuka died on the spot. Muthuveil, his wife Seetha and their younger daughter Kanimozhi sustained injuries and were admitted to a nearby hospital.

Local authorities have initiated relief measures and are assessing structural safety in the rain-affected neighbourhood.

Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, said Cyclone Ditwah, formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal, has started weakening and is expected to downgrade into a deep depression by around 5.30 p.m. on Sunday.

The system is not likely to make landfall along the Tamil Nadu coast, the RMC clarified.

According to the latest bulletin, the cyclone is currently located 220 km from Chennai, 130 km from Puducherry, and 120 km from Vedaranyam, moving at a speed of 7 kmph towards the north-northwest.

Even with the weakening trend, the weather office has warned that gale-force winds may blow up to 30 km offshore from the north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts on Sunday evening.

Extremely heavy rainfall remains a concern for several districts. The highest rainfall in the past 24 hours was recorded at Kodiakkarai (250 mm), indicating the intensity of the system’s rain bands over the delta and northern coastal regions.

Given the forecast, a red alert has been issued for Tiruvallur and Ranipet districts, where very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is expected through the day.

Several other districts may witness heavy spells of rain at isolated locations.

Officials urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain indoors, avoid water-logged zones and follow instructions from district administrations.

Disaster response teams have been kept on standby in coastal districts to handle any emergency arising from intense rainfall or localised flooding. With the cyclone weakening but still close to the coast, the RMC advised continued caution until the system fully loses strength over the sea.(Agency)

71-year-old loses Rs 1.92 crore to digital arrest scam; three arrested

Hyderabad, Nov 30, 2025
In another digital arrest case, Cybercrime Police of Hyderabad have nabbed three fraudsters who extorted Rs 1.92 crore from a senior citizen.

A 71-year-old male victim from Hyderabad had approached the police with a complaint stating that he was cheated by cyber fraudsters in the guise of a digital arrest.

The accused, who posed as officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), lured the victim into depositing Rs 1,92,50,070 into various bank accounts between November 7 and 14, a police official said on Sunday.

The fraudsters told the victim that a case had been registered against him for misuse of the Aadhaar card. He was told that using the Aadhaar card, an account was opened in Canara Bank, Mumbai. They made a video call and showed the photo of the Canara bank ATM card, and also sent him a fake FIR of the Crime Branch, Delhi. Later, they demanded money to close the case. Believing them, the victim deposited the amount in the bank accounts provided by them.

After realising that he had been cheated, the victim approached the police. A case was registered at Cybercrime Police Station under sections 66 C, 66 D of the Information Technology Act and the relevant section of the BNS.

Police arrested Pandu Vinith Raj, G. Thirupathaiah and Gouni Vishwanatham, all residents of Hyderabad. They were found involved in five cases across the country, out of which two pertain to Telangana.

The main accused, Saneep alias Alex, was absconding. Vinith Raj was the account supplier, while Thirupathaiah and Vishwanatham were joint account holders.

Police have cautioned citizens against falling victim to digital arrest.

The police clarified that there is no legal concept called a “Digital Arrest” under Indian law. Police do not conduct arrests over video calls; a genuine arrest involves officers physically coming to your location with an official, verifiable warrant, said an advisory.

People have also been advised not to transfer money. Legitimate law enforcement or government agencies (like the Police, CBI, ED, or Customs) will never ask you to pay a fine, security deposit, or transfer money via phone, UPI, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to “avoid arrest” or “clear your name.”

Police have also advised citizens not to share OTP, passwords, bank account details, Aadhaar, or PAN information over the phone or video call, especially to an unknown person claiming to be an official.(Agency)

Tahira Kashyap to cook a cherished recipe from her Nani’s notes for her father’s birthday

Mumbai, Nov 30, 2025
Ayushmann Khurrana’s wife Tahira Kashyap took to social media to pen a heartfelt note for her father Yajan Kashyap on his birthday.

The star wife shared how she plans to prepare a special dish passed down by her Nani mama—a recipe she has treasured in her notes for years. Taking to her Instagram handle, Tahira, on Sunday, posted a few photos from her morning video call with her father and expressed deep admiration for him.

Through the post, she conveyed how she sees divinity in him and how his habit of blessing not just his own children but everyone—regardless of their background—has always inspired her.

Tahira also mentioned that he is someone whom no one forgets to wish on his birthday, reflecting the love and respect he naturally attracts. Along with the pictures, she wrote, “I see God in him. When my father blesses me in the same breath he wishes for God to bless all children. The love and respect he gives everyone irrespective of whether they are successful or not, rich or not, educated or not, is an example. I love you papa, love you so so so much.”

“Pictures from today’s morning video call. He is one person nobody misses to wish and celebrate also sharing kada prashad recipe which my Nani mama shared with me, kept in my notes for ever and today I’ll be making it in mumbai celebrating your birthday papa while you soak the winter sun! There is so much to learn from you, so much may you keep radiating the warmth everywhere you go. There is ruhaniyat in you.”

Tahira Kashyap is the wife of actor Ayushmann Khurrana. The two got married in 2011 after years of dating, and are parents to two children son Virajveer and daughter Varushka. Tahira, writer and filmmaker, is recognized for her books, short films. Her published works include “I Promise,” “Cracking the Code,” and “The 12 Commandments of Being a Woman.”(Agency)

Anupam Kher opens up on receiving prestigious honours for his work beyond acting

Mumbai, Nov 30, 2025
Veteran actor Anupam Kher has been honoured by two of India’s distinguished educational institutions for his remarkable contributions both on and off the screen.

Recognized not only for his illustrious acting career but also for his efforts as an individual contributing to society, Kher expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the prestigious awards from DAV Schools and St. Xavier’s College Alumni Association.

Sharing his videos and photos, Kher wrote, “AWARDS AND HONOURS: I am deeply humbled, happy and delighted to receive two Awards/Honours from two very distinguished educational institutions of India for my work in my professional and personal capacity! Thank you Hon. Governor of #Maharashtra and #Gujarat Sh. #AcharyaDevvrat ji, a DAVian himself, President DAV Schools Sh. Poonam Suri ji, CEO Smt. Nisha Pashin ji and all the DAVians for this great Honour!.”

“Also THANKS to St. Xavier’s College Calcutta Alumni Association for the wonderful recognition! I consider these honours are also for whatever little contribution I try to make to our society! Not just as an ACTOR. But also as an INDIVIDUAL! Jai Ho! Jai Hindi! #Awards #Gratitude #Humbled.”

Meanwhile, Anupam Kher’s recent directorial “Tanvi The Great” recently returned to theatres. The film starred Jackie Shroff, Arvind Swami, Boman Irani, Pallavi Joshi, Karan Tacker, and Nasser, along with Anupam and Iain Glen.

“Tanvi The Great” narrated the story of a 21-year-old woman on the autism spectrum, who lives with her mother and grandfather. Inspired by her late father, Captain Samar Raina, an Indian Army officer, she dreams of saluting the national flag at Siachen Glacier.

Up next, the veteran actor recently announced that he has joined forces with filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya for his 549th project. On the first day of the shoot, Kher presented the Hum Saath-Saath Hain maker with an auspicious shawl from Ayodhya.

Calling the filmmaker and ‘icon, an amazing person and an amzing director’, Kher penned, “ANNOUNCING MY 549th FILM: Delighted to share that my 549th untitled film started today with one and only SOORAJ BARJATYA! Presented him the auspicious shawl which I got from #Ayodhya! (sic).”(Agency)

SMAT: Abhishek Sharma blasts 12-ball fifty en route to 32-ball century against Bengal

Hyderabad, Nov 30, 2025
Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma unleashed carnage with a record-breaking half century enroute to his 32-ball century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against an experienced Bengal bowling attack here on Sunday at the Gymkhana Ground.

Abhishek was all guns blazing from ball one as he raced to a 12-ball half-century, the joint third-fastest fifty and joint second-fastest by an Indian in men’s T20 cricket. He hit five fours and five sixes to get to his fifty, conceding just one dot ball in the 12 balls he had faced to get to the landmark.

The 25-year-old left-handed batter became the fifth player to reach a fifty in just 12 balls in T20 cricket. His mentor, former India allrounder Yuvraj Singh, was the first to do so during the 2007 T20 World Cup match against England, where he famously hit six sixes in an over off Stuart Broad.

The fastest fifty in men’s T20 cricket was made by Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee against Mongolia at the Hangzhou Asian Games in September 2023. India’s Ashutosh Sharma is the second in the list with an 11-ball fifty for Railways against Arunachal Pradesh in the 2023–24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Chris Gayle achieved this feat in the Big Bash League for the Melbourne Renegades against the Adelaide Strikers in January 2016. Later, in October 2018, Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai matched the record while playing for Kabul Zwanan against Balkh Legends in an Afghanistan Premier League match in Sharjah.

Abhishek maintained his aggressive batting and reached a century in just 32 balls, striking 11 sixes and seven fours. However, he narrowly missed the record for the fastest men’s T20 century, which is held by Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who achieved it in 27 balls.

This is the third-fastest T20 hundred by an Indian. Abhishek already shares the record for the second-fastest T20 century by an Indian, having scored a 28-ball hundred, the same as Urvil Patel, who achieved it for Gujarat against Tripura in last year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Opening the innings with Prabhsimran Singh, who made 70 off 35 balls, Abhishek finished with 148 off 52 deliveries. Punjab ended their innings at 310/5 in 20 overs, which is the second-highest total in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy history, behind Baroda’s 349/5 against Sikkim in Indore in December 2024.(Agency)

‘Belong to nation and countrymen’: PM Modi highlights India’s key Nov achievements in ‘Mann Ki Baat’

New Delhi, Nov 30, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the “major achievements” of the nation in the month of November and said that they brought many inspirations for the people and hence belong to the country.

Addressing the 128th episode of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the Prime Minister said, “The month of November has brought many inspirations. A few days ago, on November 26, a special programme was organised at the Parliament’s Central Hall. A grand series of nationwide events commenced on the 150th anniversary celebrations of ‘Vande Mataram’. On November 25, the ‘Dharma Dhwaja’ was hoisted at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. On the same day, the Panchajanya memorial was inaugurated in Kurukshetra’s Jyotisar.”

He praised the world’s largest Leap Engine MRO facility in Hyderabad, and said that India has taken a “major step” in the field of maintenance, repair and overhaul sector of aircraft.

The Prime Minister also mentioned the induction of INS Mahe in the Indian Navy, Skyroot’s Infinity Campus and said that these achievements have “become a reflection of Bharat’s new thinking, innovation and youth power”.

Stressing that India has achieved a “major milestone” in the agriculture sector, PM Modi said, “India has set a record of producing 357 million tonnes of food grain. Compared to a decade ago, India’s food grain production has increased by 100 million tonnes.”

In the world of sports, the Prime Minister said that India’s flag is flying high.

“A few days ago, it was announced that India will host the Commonwealth Games. These achievements belong to the nation, to the countrymen. Mann Ki Baat is a wonderful platform to celebrate such accomplishments of the countrymen to bring forward collective efforts of the people,” he said.

“If there is determination in the heart, faith in the collective strength to work as a team, if there is the courage to fall and then rise again, then success is guaranteed even in the difficult times,” he added.(Agency)

Shefali Shah reveals life-altering experience of bringing Ria to life in ‘Monsoon Wedding’

Mumbai, Nov 30, 2025
Veteran actress Shefali Shah celebrated 24 years of her iconic film “Monsoon Wedding,” reflecting on her transformative journey as Ria.

In her latest post on Instagram, the ‘Darlings’ actress opened up about how the role became a voice for countless women. Shefali shed the light on courage, resilience, and the power of storytelling that continues to resonate even decades later.

Sharing a heartfelt video from the movie, she wrote, “Monsoon Wedding was actually like one big family coming together for a wedding. We all did group yoga in the morning, then a big breakfast that @pagliji got from her home.

This was followed by a workshop by Naseer bhai, and then post lunch Mira worked with us on individual scenes. The film went on to become a cult, and it won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. What an incredible run I had thought then. I didn’t realise how this film and Ria would become the voice of so many girls who had gone through it, then and till date.”

“When I did the film it was a cathartic experience, but I think I was focusing more on the creative process. But later from the outside, I could see her churning up the latent strength that lies in every woman. Guilt and shame is ingrained in us. She disowned it and put it on the person who was responsible for causing the damage.

She shed her guilt, she repudiated shame, and stood up for herself, and along with herself, unknowingly she became a voice for all those women who had stayed silent for so long.”

Shefali Shah added, “How many others got strength from Ria I don’t know, but I do know that character came to life and became more true because of all the stories of women known and unknown to me.

Often I’m troubled by a question, “What have I done in my life that has been life-altering? I’m not a doctor or a scientist or a researcher or lawyer, activist or anyone who actually helps make others’ lives better. But what do I do? Nothing.”

“I remember years later when I was in Delhi, a very handsome elderly couple walked up to me. The gentleman very warmly appreciated my work while this beautiful, dignified, stately woman, his wife, stood silent throughout, just holding my hands. After thanking them, I was about to leave when the man told me, “She went through what Ria did. Thank you for giving her the voice and strength to talk about it after holding it in for years.”

The post further read, “If anyone saw us, they would have seen a group of three people huddled together, tightly holding hands with tears in their eyes. Two women of different ages sharing the same silent strength. And this is the answer to my haunting question. Sometimes what I do does make a difference.”

“Monsoon Wedding,” directed by Mira Nair, written by Sabrina Dhawan, starred Naseeruddin Shah, Lillete Dubey, Shefali Shah and Vasundhara Das. The film, set during a traditional Punjabi Hindu wedding in Delhi, was released in India on 30 November 2001.(Agency)

Man shot dead in Delhi’s Aya Nagar over ‘family enmity’

New Delhi, Nov 30, 2025
A 55-year-old man was allegedly shot dead in Delhi’s Fatehpur Beri police station area following enmity over a property in the early hours of Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Ratan Lohiya.

The incident occurred at around 5 a.m. when the victim, who left home for his dairy work in Aya Nagar, was cornered by assailants and shot dead.

It came to the fore that the enmity of Lohiya’s son with one Ramveer over property led to the murder.

Around two years ago, Lohiya’s elder son Deepak was thrashed by Ramveer’s goons, and the hearing is on in that case.

Six months ago, Deepak, angered over getting continuous threats over the issue, allegedly shot dead Ramveer’s elder son Arun, in Chhatapur CDR chowk. The police had arrested Deepak, and he was now in Tihar jail.

Lohiya’s relatives claimed that he had no enmity with anyone, and Ramveer killed him to avenge his son’s death.

The deceased’s sister, Maimla, told IANS that Lohiya had been getting continuous death threats for the past three years.

She said that her brother was shot in the head.

Stating that such incidents will make their living in the village difficult, she demanded justice.

Maimla alleged that even after being informed, the police did not take action against Ramveer and his family.

The deceased’s wife, Kamlesh, said her husband was attacked by a group of 12 people.

Advocating for her son, Deepak, she said, “He was a simple youth. He was attacked by 20 people. Two days after he regained consciousness, a case was filed. However, whenever he used to go for hearings, Ramveer’s group gheraoed him and threatened him. Enraged over that, Deepak shot dead Ramveer’s son Arun.”

She said that they have been living under constant threat.

Kamlesh said the accused included Ramveer, his son, his relatives, and Kamal.(Agency)

1...155156157...6,991 Page 156 of 6,991