Author: Rishabh Sharma

CHANDIGARH — A major political controversy has erupted in Punjab after Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi publicly condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for deploying taxpayers’ money toward state-backed religious outreach initiatives. In a direct critique of the government, the Congress lawmaker argued that personal faith should remain entirely separate from official state functions and public expenditure. Objections Raised Over Public Fund Usage Gandhi stressed that citizens pay taxes to enable the state to furnish essential services—such as healthcare, quality education, employment opportunities, and infrastructure—rather than promoting specific religious events. “Religion is a matter…

KURUKSHETRA — Agro-processing entity MK Proteins Limited has expanded its board of directors with the appointment of Aritika Garg as an Additional Director in the Non-Executive Independent category. Garg’s background includes domain experience in statutory auditing, financial accounting, corporate taxation, and regulatory policy, providing enhanced financial risk governance to the company’s executive leadership.

PUDUCHERRY — BSE-listed entity Gothi Plascon India Limited has announced the resignation of Pranay Gothi from his role as Director, effective August 2026. According to the official regulatory disclosure, Gothi submitted his resignation citing personal commitments and prior business engagements.

GUWAHATI — The Assam government has granted a second six-month tenure extension to State Chief Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota (IAS: 1993), securing his administrative leadership through April 30, 2027. Effective November 1, 2026, the second extension follows the completion of his initial six-month extension ending October 31. The decision maintains continuity at the apex of the state bureaucracy as Assam executes key policy priorities and infrastructure commitments.

LUCKNOW — Senior Indian Administrative Service officer Dr. Raj Shekhar (IAS: 2004) has been designated as Secretary, Planning Department, alongside taking charge as Director General, Economics and Statistics, under the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Dr. Shekhar transitions to the state’s central planning apparatus from his earlier assignment as Managing Director of Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural).

DURGAPUR — Avijit Kumar Chanda, an employee at the Sinter Plant of Steel Authority of India Limited’s (SAIL) Durgapur Steel Plant, has been granted a patent by the Government of India for his invention, the “Seismic Protection Unit.” The patent certificate was officially presented on August 22, 2026, by Surajit Mishra, Director Incharge of Burnpur and Durgapur Steel Plants, at a ceremony held at the DIC Conference Hall. Inspired by the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, Chanda developed the life-saving seismic safety solution, which was formally patented on August 6, 2026, with technical support from his daughter, Ankita. Key Highlights & Innovation…

NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of National Space Day, commending India’s scientific community and calling for continued innovation in space exploration. In a message shared on social media platform X, the Prime Minister emphasized expanding India’s technological ambitions, urging stakeholders to pursue larger goals, drive research, and advance into new frontiers of space science. Key Highlights & Observance National Observance: Commemorates India’s achievements and ongoing developments in space exploration and technology. National Directive: Focuses on expanding the scale of scientific ambition, promoting research innovation, and exploring new domains in space…

NEW DELHI — Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has designated preventive healthcare as a cornerstone of India’s long-term national security and economic strategy, urging a shift toward early disease detection to reduce growing medical expenses. Delivering an address at the inauguration of a Mahajan Imaging and Labs facility, Singh highlighted the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular conditions, and cancer. He emphasized that establishing robust diagnostic systems, digital pathology, and AI-driven early screening is crucial to prevent severe strain on national hospital infrastructure as India’s demographic profile matures toward 2050. Key Operational & Strategic Points Economic…

GURUGRAM — FMCG enterprise PepsiCo has appointed Smita Basu Roy to lead its public relations and corporate communications strategy across India and South Asia. In her new role, Roy will oversee corporate messaging, web and social media channels, internal communications, and regional corporate branding initiatives. Prior to joining PepsiCo, she led communications at Godrej Enterprises Group and previously served as Head of Corporate Communications at Voltas Limited, bringing over 11 years of cross-functional media and brand strategy experience to the position.

NEW DELHI — The Home Department of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) has issued immediate reassignment orders for three senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, acting on recommendations from the Police Establishment Board with approval from the Lieutenant Governor. The administrative restructuring realigns key executive roles across central operational command, economic crime investigation, and high-level administrative liaison within the national capital’s police infrastructure. Key Officer Postings Chinmoy Biswal (IPS: 2008): Appointed as Joint Commissioner of Police, Operations (Jt. CP/Ops) upon arrival. Shivendra Kant Tewari (IPS: 2009): Reassigned from OSD to the Lieutenant Governor to serve as…