India

New Delhi, Dec 26: From turning walls of mud houses into blackboards to taking classes through loudspeakers on moving carts, from 'mohalla' classes to using public announcement system of panchayat bhawans, 2020 was full of struggle and innovation for teachers to ensure learning was not disrupted as schools remained closed due to COVID-19. The over 10-month-long shutdown inspired creative ways to

Alwar, Dec 26: Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) convenor and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal on Saturday announced a split from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over the Centre's new farm laws. "I am not stuck with Fevicol with the NDA. Today, I separate myself from the NDA," Beniwal said while addressing a farmers' rally in Shahjahanpur in Alwar district. On Friday, Beniwal had announced

Lucknow, Dec 26: Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Kumar Lallu and over 50 party workers were arrested in Lalitpur on Saturday after they tried to take out the 'Gai Bachao, Kisan Bachao' march ‘without permission’, police said. However, district Congress president Balwant Singh Rajput, who was among those arrested, claimed around 200 party workers were arrested. He also alleged that about two

New Delhi, Dec 26: With 22,272 new COVID-19 cases recorded in the last 24 hours, India's infections tally has reached 1,01,69,118, informed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday. The country witnessed 251 new COVID-19 deaths during the same period, taking the cumulative toll to 1,47,343. At present, there are 2,81,667 active cases, while the overall recoveries have reached 97

Chennai, Dec 25: In a setback to Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan, ahead of the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, general-secretary A. Arunachalam joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday. Arunachalam hails from a village in the Tuticorin district. The development came at a time when Haasan is campaigning for the forthcoming

Allahabad, Dec 25: Christmas has turned dark for Urdu literature with the passing away of literary giant Shamsur Rahman Faruqi in Allahabad on Friday morning. The writer and theorist had tested positive for COVID-19 in November though he was discharged from a Delhi hospital after a few days of treatment. Born on September 30, 1935, the poet, recipient of the Padma Shri honour (2009) known for his

Lucknow, Dec 25: A 20-year-old Muslim man, who was reportedly walking home with a Hindu girl after attending a birthday party, was arrested by the police on charge of so called 'Love jihad' and booked under the notorious 'anti-conversion' law in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnore district. The 'pradhan' (panchayat chief) of the village said that the youth and girl knew each other and they were returning home

New Delhi, Dec 25: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday appealed to farmers to try the three new farm laws as an "experiment" for a year or two and in case they are found not beneficial for the farming community, the government will do all necessary amendments. Describing the protesting farmers as his own people, Singh said, "Those who are sitting on dharna are farmers and

Allahabad, Dec 25: The Allahabad High Court has quashed an FIR against a person who had allegedly tweeted that "Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has transformed the state into a jungleraj in which no law and order prevails". Hearing a writ petition filed by Yashwant Singh against whom the FIR was lodged at Bhognipur police station in Rama Bai Nagar district, a bench of Justice Pankaj

New Delhi, Dec 25: The central government on Friday said that it has planned a dry run for administration of the COVID-19 vaccine in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Punjab next week as a step to prep up before the actual thing takes off. According to the Health Ministry, each state will plan the dry run in two districts and preferably in different session type settings, for example, district