As India prepares to mark its 69th Independence Day on Saturday, people pin hopes on flagship programmes, unfurled by PM Narendra Modi during the last one year, kindling optimism notwithstanding sceptics apprehensions that results are a far cry. Power corridors contest criticism and back up statements with piles of data and physical targets accomplished on the ground rubbishing claims of critics who rue, “let us come to the ground reality –nothing extraordinary has been done except for high sounding announcements”.

New Delhi: In order to build on the very encouraging response to the two very affordable and convenient to subscribe insurance schemes, namely the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) for accident and disability cover of up to ₹2 Lakh at an annual premium of ₹12 and the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) for a term life cover of 2 Lakh at an annual premium of ₹330, launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9th May this year, a special enrolment drive is being launched by participating Banks and Insurance Companies in the months of August-September, in the backdrop of the forthcoming festival of Raksha Bandhan. The drive will reach out to the pool of eligible Bank account holders who are yet to be enrolled under these schemes.

New Delhi: Mysore city in Karnataka has topped the Swachh Bharat Rankings of 476 cities in the country with three more from the State figuring in the top 10. West Bengal does well with 25 cities / towns from the State finding a place in the top 100 cities. 

New Delhi: Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) successfully concluded the dialogue on Naga political issue, which has existed for six decades, and signed an agreement in the presence of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Read in Hindi: भारत सरकार और एनएससीएन के बीच ऐतिहासिक शांति समझौते पर हस्‍ताक्षर)

New Delhi: The deep depression over southwest Rajasthan and adjoining Gujarat state moved north-northeastwards during the past 12 hours and lay centered over south Rajasthan about 180 km south-southwest of Bikaner (Rajasthan) at 0530 hours IST of Wednesday. It would move slowly north-northeastwards and weaken into a depression during next 12 hours. (Read in Hindi: देश के कई इलाकों में भारी वर्षा की चेतावनी)

New Delhi: Former President and a great scientist Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam has died on Monday following a cardiac arrest at a function in IIM-Shillong. Earlier, he was was hospitalized in a very critical condition.