Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that the Budget Session 2024 will commence on July 22 and conclude on August 12. The Union Budget will be presented in the Lok Sabha on July 23, with a focus on ease of doing business, infrastructure spending, and new tax deduction and exemption limits. President Droupadi Murmu has approved the schedule. The budget is expected to boost economic growth and provide relief to taxpayers. The session will be crucial for the government to outline its financial plans and priorities for the fiscal year.

The stage is all set for the Grand Annual Rath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, scheduled for Sunday. The festival marks the journey of Lord Jagannath and his siblings to their birthplace, Gundicha Temple, three kilometers away. Preparations are underway, with hundreds of carpenters and painters working on the three massive chariots. The Rath Yatra is observed on the second day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha month in the Hindu calendar. The nine-day festival is the most important celebration at the Jagannath Temple, attracting devotees from across sects and creeds.

A gun battle erupted in Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir, between security forces and terrorists, leaving one security personnel injured. The encounter began after a joint operation by the CRPF, Army, and police received intel about terrorist presence in Modergam village. Forces quickly established a cordon, trapping the militants. Initial gunfire injured one security personnel. According to Kashmir Zone Police, the encounter is ongoing, with security forces working to neutralize the terrorists. The situation is being closely monitored.

A first case has been registered against Bhole Baba, whose real name is Suraj Pal Singh, in connection with the Hathras stampede that resulted in 121 deaths. The spiritual leader is accused of negligence and culpable homicide. The case was filed in the court of Patna Chief Judicial Magistrate. Meanwhile, Dev Prakash Madhukar, the main accused in the stampede, was arrested on Friday night. Bhole Baba has expressed sadness over the incident and appealed to the affected families to have faith in the judiciary. The investigation is currently underway.

The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) 2024 began today across India without any incidents, officials said. The exam was held under close watch of security and home ministry officials, following a recent row over the NEET exam. A command centre was set up at the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) headquarters in Delhi to monitor the exam. Officials reported successful downloading of content at all test centres and a smooth start to the examination. No untoward incidents have been reported so far.

Controversial Godman Bhole Baba has broken his silence over the deadly stampede at his gathering in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, which claimed 121 lives. In a video statement, he expressed sadness and appealed for faith in the government and administration. He also vowed that those responsible for the chaos would not be spared. Through his lawyer, he requested the committee to support the bereaved families and injured individuals. This comes days after the tragic incident that shocked the nation. Bhole Baba's statement is seen as an attempt to salvage his image amid mounting criticism. [Video Courtesy: ANI]

Uttar Pradesh police have arrested Dev Prakash Madhukar, the key accused in the Hathras stampede that killed 121 people. Madhukar, a close aide of preacher Narayan Sakar Hari, was named in the FIR and had a Rs 1 lakh reward on his head. Six members of the organizing committee were arrested earlier. The stampede occurred on Tuesday during a religious gathering that drew a massive crowd of 2.5 lakh people, exceeding the permitted capacity of 80,000. The police action comes after a tragedy that has sparked widespread outrage and grief. Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances leading to the deadly stampede.

The Mumbai civic body faced a massive cleanup operation after the Team India parade, collecting tonnes of garbage and abandoned footwear. The city's streets, which were filled with cheering crowds just hours earlier, were littered with trash, shoes, and flags. The municipal corporation worked through the night to clear the waste, with sanitation workers collecting over 500 tonnes of garbage and thousands of pairs of lost footwear. The cleanup efforts continued into the next day, as the city returned to normalcy after the wild celebrations. The civic body urged citizens to keep the city clean and proud.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that an unexploded World War II bomb which was found in Jhargram district successfully defused. The bomb was discovered in an open field in Bhulanpur village, and the state government, in collaboration with the Indian Air Force, took immediate action. Nearby residents were safely evacuated before the operation. The successful defusion of the bomb was confirmed by the Chief Minister, who shared an image of the operation. This incident highlights the ongoing efforts to address unexploded ordnance from past conflicts and ensure public safety.

The Indian government has submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court arguing against the need for a re-examination of NEET-UG 2024. The government claims that there is no evidence of large-scale irregularities in the exam and that a fresh exam would negatively impact genuine candidates. The affidavit states that scrapping the exam would jeopardize the futures of lakhs of honest candidates who took the exam. The government's stance comes amid escalating controversy surrounding the exam. The Supreme Court is yet to make a decision on the matter. The outcome will be crucial for the thousands of students who have appeared for the exam.