India news
India is home to world’s 1/3rd of extreme poor population: UN study

NEW DELHI: India is home to the largest number of poor with one-third of the world's 1.2 billion extreme poor living here. It also had the highest number of under-five deaths in the world in 2012, with 1.4 million children dying before reaching their fifth birthday, according to the UN Millennium De
Major relief to citizens, govt to accept self-attested documents

In what may come as a major relief to citizens, the government has decided to do away with the necessity of filing affidavits from a gazetted officer or a notary for a big chunk of government-related work and instead to promote self-attestation of documents. It has also asked states to review the
No Regrets on Meeting Hafiz Saeed: Ramdev Aide Vaidik

New Delhi: Ved Pratap Vaidik, the senior journalist whose meeting with Hafiz Saeed has created a political storm, today said he doesn't regret meeting man who tops India's list of most wanted. "Regrets? Apology? These are strange words coming for a journalist. Why should a journalist need to apol
Population explosion makes Delhi world’s second most populous city

New Delhi: It’s official now. Delhi has emerged as the second most populous city of the world. According to a United Nations report released on Thursday, the population of Delhi has almost doubled since 1990 and is currently at an estimated 25 million people. Although the basis of the
Couple Kills 6-Year-Old Niece After Kidnapping Goes Awry

Bangalore: A six-year-old girl was kidnapped and killed, allegedly by her aunt and uncle, in Bangalore on Wednesday. Police have arrested Salman Shah and his wife Shabreen, who allegedly killed the girl after the kidnapping went wrong The victim, whose name has been withheld, was picked up ea
AI, Indigo flights come close to collision
An Indigo flight from Bagdogra came close to a descending Air India plane over Bagdogra in West Bengal on Friday, raising the spectre of a collision and giving scare to about 250 passengers on board the two aircraft. The Air Traffic Control (ATC) had given clearance to both the aircraft, accordin
Indian bride leads marriage procession to groom’s house after he refused to marry her

Patna: Bihar witnessed a peculiar marriage on Thursday when very much against the established social custom, a bride led her marriage procession to the house of her would be in-laws after the groom did not turn up on the scheduled date of marriage, angry at not being given adequate dowry. The b
ID cards for all ‘genuine’ Indians: Rajnath

NEW DELHI: Home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday told Lok Sabha that the government would prepare a National Population Register (NPR) incorporating all genuine Indian citizens and issue them national identity cards in a time-bound manner. "We have to identify who is an Indian citizen and who is
Sharia courts never claimed legal powers: Muslim Personal Law Board

Hyderabad : The All India Muslim Personal Law Board Monday said the Darul-Qaza (Sharia courts) never claimed that they are constitutional institutions or have legal powers. All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) assistant secretary Mohammed Abdul Raheem Qureshi, said the Supreme Court Monda
Shariat courts run by Muslim clerics, fatwas have no legal sanction, rules SC

New Delhi: Shariat courts run by Muslim clerics have no legal sanction and their decisions are not binding, the Supreme Court ruled today restraining fora like 'Dar-ul-Qazas' from giving verdicts or issuing 'fatwas' against a person who has not asked for it. The apex court, however, refused to decl
Another 200 Indian Nationals Return From Iraq

New Delhi: A day after 46 Indian nurses returned to Kochi in Kerala from war-torn Iraq, a special chartered flight carrying 200 more Indians from Najaf landed at the Delhi International Airport this morning. "The situation is very bad in Iraq. We thank the Indian embassy, they helped us in getti
Indian Nurses, Freed By ISIS, On Their Way Back Home

NEW DELHI: A day that started with despair for Indian nationals in Iraq ended on a bright note as ISIS on Friday afternoon released 46 Indian nurses who had been held captive. The nurses had been forcibly taken from Tikrit to ISIS' stronghold Mosul sparking fear that they too had been kidnapped,
Passport delivery to become hassle-free, no police verification in case of renewal

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: The passport delivery system could soon become hassle-free and quick. On the directions of the chief passport officer in the ministry of external affairs, Mumbai may lead the way to do away with cumbersome processes that currently delay the issuance of a passport. The ministry i
'Abducted' Indian nurses reach Mosul, unharmed

This photo taken on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, shows damaged homes due to clashes between fighters of ISIS and Iraqi security forces in Tikrit, 130 kilometers north of Baghdad, Iraq. (Photo: AP) THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/NEW DELHI: The 46 Indian nurses who were forcibly moved by suspected ISIS mil
Farmers await rains after slow start to monsoon

(Reuters) - Pramod Patil's 40-acre field in Lasalgaon usually turns green around now with germinated soybean and corn seeds, but this year he has yet to begin planting because of scanty monsoon rains in Maharashtra. Like 27-year old Patil, millions of farmers are hoping rains will strengthen in t
Late starter: Mumbai receives more rain in 12 hours than in last fortnight

Waterlogged railway track near Kurla MUMBAI: Strong rain lashed the city on Wednesday, bringing citizens much-needed respite from the heatwave. The suburbs were the bigger beneficiary than the island city. While the Colaba weather station recorded 17.2mm of rain from 8.30am to 8.30pm, the Santa C
India seeks assurances from U.S. over spying reports

(Reuters) - India summoned a senior U.S. diplomat on Wednesday to explain reports that the U.S. National Security Agency was authorised to spy on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party before he took office, and to seek assurances this would not happen in future. The U.S. State Department said it w
CJI RM Lodha slams Modi govt for rejecting Gopal Subramanium's candidature

Chief Justice of India RM Lodha has slammed Modi govt over the Gopal Subramanium row. NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India RM Lodha has hit out at Narendra Modi government for rejecting the candidature of former solicitor general Gopal Subramanium as SC judge. "The first thing I had taken objecti