On Friday, a motion to suspend opposition members from the parliamentary panel discussing the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed after protests and allegations of hasty proceedings. BJP's Nishikant Dubey moved the motion, which was supported by the committee, resulting in the suspension of several opposition members, including Kalyan Banerjee, Mohammad Jawed, A Raja, Asaduddin Owaisi, Naseer Hussain, Mohibullah, Mohamed Abdullah, Arvind Sawant, Nadeem-ul Haque, and Imran Masood. The

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has decided to postpone the UGC-NET December 2024 exam, which was originally scheduled for January 15, 2025. The postponement comes in light of the Makar Sankranti and Pongal festivals, with NTA stating it received requests to reschedule the exam in the interest of the aspirants. A fresh date for the exam will be announced later, as confirmed by the NTA. However, the UGC-NET exam scheduled for January 16, 2025, will proceed as planned. Thi

A recent study has highlighted the significant impact of obesity at the time of cancer diagnosis on the survival rates of children. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 390 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were overweight in 2022, with 160 million living with obesity. Obesity is a known risk factor for various non-communicable diseases, including cancer, and this study underscores its detrimental effect on childhood cancer survival. The study, conduc

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the genome sequencing data of 10,000 Indian nationals, a significant step in advancing biotechnology research in India. This data, known as Genome India Data, encapsulates the vast genetic diversity of the Indian population and will be available to researchers through the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) with "managed access." PM Modi highlighted that the national database would be crucial in the treatment of genetic and infecti

Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden has condemned ongoing efforts to minimize the significance of the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, where a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to block the certification of the 2020 election. In an opinion piece published in The Washington Post, Biden recalled the violent insurrection that led to chaos at the Capitol, contrasting it with the upcoming peaceful certification of the election results. Biden expressed pr

The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has opened applications for the 2025-27 MBA programme. Interested candidates can apply via the official websites acad.uohyd.ac.in and uohyd.ac.in. The deadline for submission is January 15, 2025. Applicants must have a minimum of a three-year first-class Bachelor's degree, with 60% marks or equivalent, and must have appeared for CAT 2024. Shortlisted candidates will undergo a Grou

Ahead of the Union Budget 2025-26, the government is expected to introduce measures to aid small businesses, farmers, and the export sector. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently held her fourth pre-budget consultation, where she discussed key economic policies and priorities with stakeholders. Sources suggest that the government may announce tax relief for middle-class citizens to help revitalize the slowing economy, along with support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will chair the 55th GST Council meeting in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, on Saturday, December 21. This meeting will focus on several important discussions related to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. The agenda includes deliberations on taxability issues concerning food delivery platforms such as Swiggy and Zomato, and potential changes to GST rates on products like health insurance premiums, life insurance, wristwatches, shoes, and apparel. The cou

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term in office, a growing number of U.S. colleges and universities are advising international students to return to campus before January 20, 2025, due to concerns that Trump may reinstate or expand travel restrictions. This advice follows the previous travel bans imposed during his first administration, which restricted entry to the U.S. for citizens from certain predominantly Muslim countries. Many schools, including Ivy League institu

Governor Challenges State Government's Search Committee: On Wednesday, Governor R N Ravi took a bold step by canceling the search committee formed by the Tamil Nadu State Higher Education Department for appointing a new Vice-Chancellor at Annamalai University. The Governor's office stated that the state’s committee excluded the UGC Chairman’s nominee, violating the Supreme Court’s interpretation of UGC re

In a recent statement to Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman shared significant developments regarding the government's efforts to recover assets from fugitive businessmen. Properties worth ₹14,131 crore that once belonged to Vijay Mallya have been seized and handed over to public and private sector banks. This is part of the larger ₹22,280 crore recovered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to settle debts of fugitive businessmen, including Mallya, Mehul Choksi, and Nirav

Finance Minister’s View on GDP Growth: In a recent statement, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the lower-than-expected growth in India’s GDP for the September quarter, calling it a "temporary blip." She emphasized her confidence that India’s economy will regain strong growth in the upcoming quarters. Despite the slowdown in the second quarter, she highligh

In a heated debate in the Rajya Sabha marking the 75th anniversary of India’s Constitution, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a scathing attack on Congress, accusing the party of repeatedly undermining the Constitution through amendments during its rule. Sitharaman specifically targeted India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, referring to the first Constitutional amendment in 1951 that aimed to curb freedom of speech, despite Nehru's public support for press fr

The Indian rupee opened at 84.83 against the US dollar on Monday, a depreciation of 4 paise compared to the previous close of 84.79. The decline in the rupee is largely attributed to the uncertainty following the announcement of a leadership transition at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Shaktikanta Das will be succeeded by Sanjay Malhotra, sparking initial concerns in the market. However, markets quickly adjusted to the news, with experts noting that the RBI is closely monitoring banking sys

Anoushka Kale's Election as President Anoushka Kale, a 20-year-old English Literature student at Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge, has been elected as the president of the prestigious Cambridge Union Society for the Easter 2025 term. Kale won the election uncontested, receiving 126 votes. As the current Debates Officer for the society, she is recognized for her commitment to pro

The Indian rupee ended the trading session stronger after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep the benchmark interest rates unchanged, while unveiling measures aimed at improving liquidity in the banking system. The domestic currency gained 3 paise, closing at 84.70 against the US dollar, compared to 84.73 in the previous session. As part of the monetary policy changes, the RBI raised the interest rate ceiling on one-year Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) deposits by 200 basis p

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law on Tuesday, accusing opposition lawmakers of undermining the state and threatening the stability of the nation’s governance. This move comes amid a fierce parliamentary conflict over the budget bill for the next fiscal year. The opposition Democratic Party has slashed key portions of the budget, including funds for national security, law enforcement, and Yoon's office, in a dispute that has paralyzed the legislative

The Winter Session of Parliament begins today, bringing with it the discussion of three crucial bills. Following the NDA's significant victories in Haryana and Maharashtra, the government enters the session with renewed strength. The session is expected to continue until December 20 and will address several important pieces of legislation. Opposition Strategy: Today, the floor leaders of the INDIA bloc will meet in Parliament to finalize their stra

On Sunday, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan held a crucial meeting with a high-level delegation from Johns Hopkins University (JHU), led by JHU President Ronald J. Daniels. The primary topic of discussion was the possibility of setting up an offshore campus of JHU in India, which would help further strengthen academic and research ties between India and the United States. The meeting also emphasized India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages inte

Melania Trump will not be attending the traditional White House meeting on Wednesday with first lady Jill Biden, sources said. Traditionally, when the outgoing President hosts the incoming President-elect in the Oval Office, the first lady hosts her successor for tea in the residence. Michelle Obama hosted Melania Trump for tea in the Yellow Room after the 2016 election. However, Melania Trump did not meet with Jill Biden after the contentious 2020 race as Donald Trump repeatedly claimed he w