Evening news
December 3, 2025 9:00 PM
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***Headlines***
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It is not mandatory for mobile manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app; the government says the app is safe and designed only to protect against cybercrime.
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The Lok Sabha has passed the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to increase excise duty and cess on tobacco products.
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Twelve Maoists have been killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated the government’s resolve to ensure dignity, accessibility and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.
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Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that about 64 percent of citizens receive at least some form of social security.
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And in men’s cricket, India set a target of 359 runs for South Africa in the second ODI in Raipur.
====Detailed news====
In view of the growing acceptance of the Sanchar Saathi app, the government has decided not to make pre-installation of the app mandatory for mobile manufacturers. The Ministry of Communications said in a statement that the app is safe and is fully designed to help citizens from the hands of bad actors in the cyber world.
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia today rejected the Opposition’s allegations of espionage and said that espionage is not possible and will not happen through the Sanchar Saathi app. Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Shri Scindia clarified that users can register and activate the app at their convenience and they can deactivate or delete it from their device at any time. He said that the Narendra Modi government has provided this facility to protect citizens from fraudulent activities.
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The government has made it mandatory to mention the retail selling price on the label of all paan masala packs. The Consumer Affairs Ministry said in a statement that these amendments have been made under the Legal Measures Second (Amendment) Rules, 2025. It said that the revised rules will come into effect from February 1 next year, from which date all paan masala manufacturers, packers and importers will have to comply with the new rules.
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The Lok Sabha passed the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The proposed legislation aimed to amend the Central Excise Act, 1944, specifically to increase excise duty and cess on tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, hookah tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff and flavored tobacco.
Responding to the debate on the bill, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that this is not a new law and not even an additional tax. She said that it is not a cess but an excise duty which existed before GST. She said that even after the implementation of GST, the rate of compensation cess remained unchanged from July 2017 to 2024.
Several other members participated in the discussion, including Dr. D Purandeswari of the BJP, Karti P Chidambaram of the Congress and Supriya Sule of the NCP.
“The bill seeks to increase the Central Excise Duty on unmanufactured tobacco, manufactured tobacco, tobacco products and tobacco substitutes. The Central Excise Act, 1944 imposed excise duty between Rs 200 and Rs 735 per thousand cigarettes, but the increased duty under the bill is between Rs 2,700 and Rs 11,000 per thousand cigarettes. The bill proposes higher excise duty on manufactured tobacco products. For example, duty on chewing tobacco will increase from 25 percent to 100 percent. Duty on hookah will increase from 25 percent to 40 percent. For smoking mixtures for pipes and cigarettes, the duty is proposed to be increased from 60 percent to 325 percent. The bill aims to protect people from the harmful effects of tobacco and discourage them from consuming tobacco.” Anand Kumar, Bhupendra Singh, Akashvani News, Delhi.
After discussion, the parliament session was adjourned to meet again tomorrow.
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Twelve Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district today. Three security personnel also lost their lives while on duty, and two others were injured.
“Based on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of Maoists on the Bijapur-Dantewada border, a joint team comprising District Reserve Guards, Special Task Force, Cobra Unit and CRPF of Dantewada and Bijapur launched a search operation in the area. During the operation, an exchange of fire broke out. Security forces have so far recovered the bodies of twelve Maoists from the encounter site. Rifles and other explosives have also been seized from the spot. Two more security personnel were injured in the encounter. Additional forces have been sent to the area and a coordinated search operation is underway in the area. Bikalp Shukla, Akashvani Sangbad, Raipur”
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reiterated the government’s resolve to ensure dignity, access and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. In a post on social media, Shri Modi said that persons with disabilities have achieved excellence in various fields through their creativity and determination. Highlighting the steps taken in recent years, Shri Modi noted that India has strengthened its commitment to the welfare of persons with disabilities through legislation, accessible infrastructure, inclusive education policies and innovations in assistive technology.
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Prime Minister Modi today shared an article on social media highlighting the importance of natural farming. Shri Modi said it encourages diverse areas where plants, trees and livestock coexist to support natural biodiversity. He made a clear call to people across India to adopt and expand natural farming methods.
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Labour and Employment Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has said that today about 64 per cent of citizens receive at least some form of social security, making India the second largest provider of social security benefits in the world. Speaking at the IndiaAge 2025 conference in New Delhi today, Dr Mandaviya said that the new labour law has gained insights from the International Labour Organisation by introducing several worker-friendly measures.
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The new labour laws implemented by the government on the 21st of last month are set to stabilise the livelihoods of workers across India. Our correspondent brings you a report on how the new reforms are directly benefiting bidi and cigar workers.
“To provide financial stability to bidi and cigar workers, the government has now introduced an expanded system of wage protection, social-security coverage and workplace protection. Under the new reforms, the normal working day has now been standardized to a fixed eight hours and the weekly limit has been maintained at 48 hours. Also, free annual health check-ups are now being provided to healthcare workers. Also, the central government will fix the floor wage considering the minimum living standard of the employee which includes food, clothing etc., which will provide stability in daily life. Employers have also been directed to pay double the normal wage for any work done outside the normal working hours as employees are entitled to overtime as per the new code. These measures will create stability and bring dignity to the lives of workers by ensuring more inclusive support systems. Akashvani News, Delhi with Rohan, Aman Yadav.”
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Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey has stressed that the youth of this country should think about making the country a developed nation by 2047. Mr. Dubey said this while delivering the prestigious Dr. Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture 2025 in New Delhi, organised by Akashvani. He said that the contribution of the first President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, in framing the Constitution and his ideals are relevant even today.
To pay tribute to Dr. Rajendra Prasad, All India Radio organizes the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lecture every year. The recording of this lecture will be broadcast on the entire All India Radio network at 9:30 PM tonight on the occasion of Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s birth anniversary.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India tomorrow to attend the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. During the two-day visit, President Putin will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The two leaders will exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. Several agreements are likely to be signed, including in the areas of trade, economy, healthcare, education, culture and media.
President Droupadi Murmu will also receive the Russian President and host a banquet in his honour. The visit will provide an opportunity for the leadership of India and Russia to review the progress of bilateral relations and set out a vision for strengthening the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’.
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President Droupadi Murmu said that the Indian Navy will continue to advance indigenous technology and make significant contributions to the nation’s goal of building a developed India. She was addressing the Navy’s operational demonstration in Thiruvananthapuram on the eve of Navy Day.
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In men’s cricket, India set a target of 359 runs against South Africa in the second match of the three-match ODI series in Raipur. The hosts scored 358 runs for the loss of five wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Ruturaj Gaekwad scored 105 runs off 83 balls and Virat Kohli scored 102 runs off 93 balls. It was Kohli’s 53rd ODI century, a record-breaking feat in the format. Earlier, the visitors won the toss and elected to field. In reply, South Africa scored 289 runs for the loss of four wickets in 40.3 overs, when the last report came.
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The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall over Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Mahe, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal tomorrow. The Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall at some places in south interior Karnataka. It also said that there is a possibility of cold wave in Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan.
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The headlines again:
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It is not mandatory for mobile manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app; the government says the app is safe and designed only to protect against cybercrime.
-
The Lok Sabha has passed the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to increase excise duty and cess on tobacco products.
-
Twelve Maoists have been killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district.
-
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated the government’s resolve to ensure dignity, accessibility and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.
-
Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that about 64 percent of citizens receive at least some form of social security.
-
And in men’s cricket, India set a target of 359 runs for South Africa in the second ODI in Raipur.
