THE HEADLINES:

 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi discusses diverse national security-related issues with top police officials and chiefs of different security agencies.

• Centre asks states and Union Territories to make snakebite cases a Notifiable Disease.

• Swearing-in ceremony of newly elected Mahayuti government in Maharashtra to take place on Thursday.

• Cyclone Fengal makes landfall at Tamil Nadu coast; Disrupts normal life in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

• And in Badminton, Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu storm into Singles final of Syed Modi India International tournament in Lucknow; Indian pair of Tressa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also moves to Womens’ doubles final.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today discussed diverse national security-related issues with top police officials and chiefs of different security agencies. Attending the second day of the All-India Directors General and Inspectors General of Police Conference being held in Bhubaneswar, the Prime Minister also discussed various operational and infrastructural-related issues faced by the police. A number of issues like internal security, new criminal laws, coastal security, cybercrime, Maoist menace, and challenges posed by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones, as well as counter-terrorism strategies, also came up for debate and deliberations today.

 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who inaugurated the conference yesterday, was also present during the discussion along with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Union Home Secretary Gobind Mohan. The Directors General and Inspectors General of Police of different states and Union Territories presented a roadmap of their respective states and Union Territories for tackling challenges relating to crime control and law and order management. The Prime Minister, who arrived in Bhubaneswar last evening, will also attend the conference tomorrow on its last day.

 

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Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnav said, the Centre is focusing on aligning academic education with industrial demand to create greater employment opportunities for Indian youth. Addressing the second convocation of Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, the country’s first Logistics University in Vadodara, the Minister expressed confidence that the university will be among the top 10 universities in the country within the next five years.

 

Mr. Vaishnav lauded the university’s efforts in creating industry-ready manpower not only in the logistics sector but also in various emerging fields such as semiconductors and town planning. He also announced plans to merge the National High-Speed Rail Training Institute with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya. 239 students from various streams were awarded degrees at the convocation.

 

Union Minister Vaishnav, who was on a one-day visit to Gujarat, also visited the Bullet Train Track Slab manufacturing facility at Kim in Surat and reviewed its operations. Talking to the media at Kim, Mr. Vaishnav said that in the coming years, this facility will prove extremely beneficial to various future construction projects in the country.

 

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Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman handed over sanction letters and loans worth over 1121 crore rupees to more than 50 thousand beneficiaries at a credit outreach programme today. The Programme was organised at Jhanjharpur in Madhubani district of Bihar. Ms. Sitharaman distributed the loans under schemes of PM SVANIDHI, PM Vishwakarma, MUDRA, Stand Up India and Kisan Credit Card scheme. Addressing the beneficiaries, Ms Sitharaman said, women will be the engine of growth to reach the milestone of developed India by 2047.

 

Earlier, the Finance Minister held discussions with Women members of Self Help Groups specially Jeevika didi who were exhibiting their products including agri products.

 

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The Centre and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a 98 million US dollar loan agreement to improve horticulture farmers’ access to certified disease-free planting materials. This will enhance crop yield, quality, and resilience to climate impacts. The loan agreement for Building India’s Clean Plant Programme was signed by Joint Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, and Officer-in-Charge of ADB’s India Resident Mission.

 

According to the Finance Ministry, the project supports the Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme, which strengthens plant health management. The project will also help farmers in adapting to climate change by addressing the impact of rising temperatures on pests and diseases.

 

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The Union Health Ministry has asked States and Union Territories to make snakebite cases and deaths a ‘Notifiable Disease’ under the relevant provisions of the State Public Health Act or other applicable legislation. In a letter to the Principal Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary (Health) of all states and UTs, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava emphasized that snakebites are a significant public health concern. She highlighted that snakebites can cause mortality, morbidity, and disability, particularly among farmers and tribal populations.

 

“A notifiable disease is a disease that is required to be reported to public health authorities when it is diagnosed. The goal of this is to monitor, control, and prevent the spread of diseases, and to implement measures to protect public health. To address the issue of snakebites, Health Ministry has launched the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming by 2030 in consultation with relevant Ministries and stakeholders. The objectives of this action plan are to halve the snakebite related deaths by 2030 and to monitor snakebite cases and deaths across the country. The mandatory notification of all snakebite cases and deaths is crucial to strengthen snakebite surveillance. PALLAVI PARMAR, AKASHVANI NEWS, DELHI.”

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Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has called upon the youth to pledge to make India a developed nation and contribute towards nation-building. Addressing an event in Faridabad, the Lok Sabha Speaker said that India has emerged as a major power in solving global challenges today. Mr. Birla said that the country now has an incredible identity in the world. He said that it is the strength of democracy that the country is setting new records in every field in the 21st century.

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The oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected Mahayuti government in Maharashtra will take place on 5th December at 5 PM at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan. Talking to media, BJP Maharashtra President Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the ceremony.

 

The Mahayuti coalition, comprising the BJP, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), secured 230 out of 288 seats in the recently held Assembly polls. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with a record 132 seats, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won 57 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP secured 41.

 

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Cyclone Fengal, prevailing over the South West Bay of Bengal, made its landfall on the coast of Tamilnadu and Puducherry this evening. The process of the landfall began between Mahabalipuram and Puducherry at around 5:30 pm. According to Balachandran, Regional Head of the Met Department, the Cyclone is moving with a wind speed of 70 to 80 kilometers per hour and gusting up to 90 kilometers per hour tonight. According to the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, heavy rain and high waves, rising up to 3 to 4 meters, are likely to occur along the coast of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and South Andhra Pradesh. Rain is likely to continue till 3rd December.

 

“Rains have affected the normal life of people living in the Coastal districts of North Tamilnadu. Air services have been suspended till four am tomorrow. State Government buses have been routed through the airport to transport the stranded passengers.Suburban train services have been hit due to water logging in the tracks. The timings of more than ten regular trains have been changed or curtailed upto nearby safer railway stations. People living in low lying areas have been shifted to safety in more than 2000 camps. Water levels in reservoirs are increasing. District authorities have been asked to monitor and take appropriate action on releasing surplus water. JOY, AKASHVANI NEWS, CHENNAI.”

 

The Cyclone has brought torrential rains and strong winds to Puducherry, disrupting daily life. Heavy rainfall for over three hours has left roads and low-lying areas waterlogged, forcing vehicles to wade through the inundation. Power outages have been reported in several areas. Residents have been urged to remain indoors. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

 

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Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has said that the Constitution’s guiding principle has to emanate from the preamble, which is a great unifying force and helps a larger democracy make the boldest of decisions. The Vice President said this while addressing the Special Session of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in Itanagar today.

 

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In Nagaland, the much-anticipated Hornbill Festival 2024 is set to begin tomorrow, marking a significant milestone as it celebrates its silver jubilee. Our Correspondent reports, this year’s edition promises to be even more special, drawing greater global attention and excitement.

 

“Excitement is building across the streets of Nagaland as the state prepares to host the grand Hornbill Festival, aptly dubbed the “Festival of Festivals,” at the Naga Heritage Kisama-a picturesque venue located about 12 kilometers from the state capital, Kohima. The 25th edition of this iconic cultural event will kick off with a star-studded inaugural ceremony.

Ambassadors to India from the four country partners-Wales, Japan, Peru, and the USA-will be honored guests during the ceremony. Adding a touch of musical brilliance to the occasion, Oscar-winning composer Dr. A. R. Rahman will also be in attendance.

The opening ceremony will be a spectacular affair, as it will feature an impressive of around 800 performers, showcasing a rich blend of traditional Naga culture, music, and dance. FOR AKASHVANI NEWS, ASONUO FROM KOHIMA.”

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In the Syed Modi India International Badminton Tournament, top Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen stormed into the Men’s Singles final in Lucknow. In the semifinals, Sen outclassed Japan’s Shogo Ogawa 21-8, 21-14. Lakshya will take on Singapore’s Jia Heng Jason Teh in the title clash.

Earlier, ace Indian shuttler PV Sindhu advanced to the Women’s Singles final. She defeated compatriot Unnati Hooda 21-12, 21-9. In another event, the Indian pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand Pullela also moved to the Women’s Doubles final.

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi discusses diverse national security-related issues with top police officials and chiefs of different security agencies.

• Centre asks states and Union Territories to make snakebite cases a Notifiable Disease.

• Swearing-in ceremony of newly elected Mahayuti government in Maharashtra to take place on Thursday.

• Cyclone Fengal makes landfall at Tamil Nadu coast; Disrupts normal life in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

• And in Badminton, Lakshya Sen and PV Sindhu storm into Singles final of Syed Modi India International tournament in Lucknow; Indian pair of Tressa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand also moves to Womens’ doubles final.