Union Home Minister Amit Shah stirred up controversy during his visit to Coimbatore when he apologized for not being able to speak in Tamil, one of the oldest languages in the world. His apology came amidst the ongoing row over the three-language policy in the National Education Policy 2020. In a bold statement, Shah also declared that the anti-national DMK would be ousted from power in 2026 and the NDA government would come to power in Tamil Nadu. This assurance was met with cheers from BJP cadres who were promised a thumping victory in the upcoming Assembly polls.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has chosen Rekha Gupta, a first-time MLA, as the new Chief Minister of Delhi. She has taken oath at a grand ceremony held at Ramlila Maidan, along with other BJP ministers and top NDA leaders. The newly-formed Delhi Cabinet will have its first meeting where they are expected to approve several schemes, including the Centre's Ayushman Bharat. BJP leaders are hailing Delhi's victory as the country's victory following their big win in the assembly elections.
After 27 years, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come back to power in Delhi with a clear majority of 44 out of 70 seats. In a legislature party meeting on Wednesday, the BJP announced Rekha Gupta as the new Chief Minister, with Parvesh Verma as Deputy CM and Vijender Gupta as speaker of the Delhi Assembly. The swearing-in ceremony is set to take place on Thursday at Ramlila Maidan and is expected to be attended by over 25,000 to 30,000 people, including prominent Hindu seers and NDA leaders. Gupta, a first-time MLA and old RSS hand, will be the fourth woman Chief Minister of Delhi.
The recently announced Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been strategically tailored to cater to the needs of the state of Bihar, which is gearing up for assembly elections later this year. With a strong focus on projects and schemes that benefit farmers and the youth in Bihar, the budget aims to secure the reigns of the state for the BJP-led NDA ahead of the upcoming polls. The minister's choice of a saree adorned with Madhubani art motifs further reinforces this focus on the Mithila region.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the eighth budget of her career and the second one under the NDA 3.0 government on February 1, 2025. The Budget session of Parliament, which began on January 31, will be held in two parts and the Union Budget 2025 will be telecasted live on various platforms, including TV, mobile apps, and online portals. Zee Business, Sansad TV, Doordarshan, and YouTube will provide live coverage of the Budget, while Zee Business will also offer real-time analysis and updates on their blog. Budget documents, including the Finance Minister's speech, can be downloaded in PDF format from the official Union Budget website. Don't miss out on this crucial financial event, stay updated and informed with Zee Business.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) will meet today to vote on the final amendments to the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill. The JPC had already approved the bill with 14 amendments proposed by the ruling NDA, while rejecting 44 proposed changes by the Opposition. The JPC chairman, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, defended the committee's decision and stated that all amendments were put to vote and a majority of 16 voted in favor of the bill. However, the Opposition has raised objections and accused the chairman of bias and rushing the proceedings ahead of Assembly elections in the national capital.
In a significant turn of events, the NDA has rejected all amendments suggested by Opposition members in the Joint Parliamentary Committee's discussion on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The ruling alliance has instead adopted their own set of changes, including increasing the number of non-Muslim members on the panel and allowing state government officials to oversee Waqf properties. The decision was reached after a clause-by-clause voting, where 16 ruling government MPs voted in favor of the amendments.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah makes scathing remarks against the Congress, accusing the party of distorting his statements on Dr BR Ambedkar and creating a false narrative. He also calls out the Congress for their history of disrespect towards Ambedkar and other leaders, and urges the media to present his full statement. Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticizes Shah's comments and states that the BJP-led NDA government does not believe in the Constitution.
Opposition parties in the INDIA bloc are gathering signatures to impeach a High Court judge who made derogatory comments about Muslims. The motion is unlikely to pass due to the NDA bloc's majority, but this is the fifth attempt in recent years to impeach a judge, with past attempts failing as well. Video clips and transcripts of the judge's speech will be included in the complaint.
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the release of the official notification for the National Defence Academy (NDA) & Naval Academy (NA) Examination (I), 2025 and the Combined Defence Services (CDS) Examination (I), 2025 today, December 11, 2024. Interested candidates can visit the UPSC website to view and download the notifications and register for the exams starting from today until December 31, 2024. The exams are scheduled to take place on April 13, 2025. The article also provides information on eligibility, application process, fee details, and payment modes.