Times of India

A police constable in Agra was arrested for demanding a dowry of Rs 30 lakh from his bride's family on their wedding day. The bride bravely refused to marry him, leading to his arrest and subsequent release on bail. The incident highlights the persistent issue of dowry demands in India, even among those tasked with upholding the law.

A right-wing group, claiming permission from officials (which was later denied by the administration), demolished a structure inside a Dehradun school calling it an illegal religious structure. The group streamed the act live. While the school is yet to file a complaint, the incident raises concerns about the security of the institution.

Donald Trump has appointed Robert F Kennedy Jr as the secretary of health and human services. Kennedy, an environmental activist, previously endorsed Trump and will focus on addressing chronic diseases, reducing chemicals in food, and reforming the FDA. However, his stance on vaccines has drawn criticism and accusations of spreading misinformation.

The Karnataka government has formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe alleged financial irregularities during the previous BJP government's handling of Covid-19 funds. The SIT will build upon a report that identified potential irregularities amounting to over Rs 7,000 crore, including inflated procurement costs and underreported deaths.

Anurag Thakur, Former Union Minister, has accused the JMM-Congress-RJD government in Jharkhand of promoting "love jihad" and "land jihad," leading to demographic shifts. He alleged that the government prioritizes appeasement politics over tribal rights and public welfare. Thakur criticized the government's failure to fulfill promises regarding employment, benefits, and tribal welfare, citing corruption and unfulfilled promises as evidence of misgovernance.

Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Congress Jharkhand in-charge, pledged subsidized cooking gas cylinders at a rally, sparking accusations of appeasement politics from the BJP. PM Modi criticized the promise as a tactic to secure votes, while Congress retorted that BJP is resorting to religious polarization out of desperation.

A Dalit colony in Madhya Pradesh's Gohta village was attacked by a mob following polling, resulting in four houses being set ablaze and a statue of B.R. Ambedkar vandalized. While locals reported the incident to police, authorities claimed no formal complaint was lodged and downplayed the event as common election-related tension.

The Congress party has filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that they made divisive and false statements during election rallies in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The Congress is seeking an immediate ban on campaigning by both leaders.

During election rallies in Maharashtra, Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of never reading the Indian Constitution and criticized the BJP's focus on the color of his copy of the document. Gandhi alleged Modi's involvement in the MVA government's downfall, claiming it benefited industrialist Gautam Adani's bid for Mumbai's Dharavi redevelopment project.

A parliamentary committee, revisiting a long-standing debate, is set to discuss the inclusion of "salary" in determining the "creamy layer" for OBC reservation in UPSC exams. MPs argue that including "salary" contradicts a 1993 order, while the government justifies its stance based on the lack of "equivalence of posts" between PSU and government jobs.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to receive Dominica's highest civilian award, the Dominica Award of Honour. The award recognizes Modi's contributions to Dominica during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the supply of 70,000 AstraZeneca vaccine doses in 2021.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at 20 locations linked to Santiago Martin, a significant political donor known as the 'lottery king,' and his associates. The searches, spanning across multiple states, are part of an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering related to the illegal distribution and sale of lotteries.

Sharad Pawar confirmed a 2019 meeting at Gautam Adani's residence. Amit Shah and Ajit Pawar were present for power-sharing discussions between BJP and NCP. Ajit Pawar stated the meeting involved talks of BJP dropping cases against NCP leaders in exchange for joining forces. Sharad Pawar expressed reservations, leading to the collapse of the short-lived government.

Viacom18 and Star India have merged to create India's largest media and entertainment company, valued at over Rs 70,000 crore. The joint venture, backed by Reliance Industries and Disney, will offer a vast library of content across television and digital platforms, including popular channels like Star, Colors, JioCinema, and Hotstar.

A pregnant woman, her relatives, and a doctor narrowly escaped disaster in Nashik when the ambulance transporting them exploded. The driver, noticing smoke, evacuated everyone moments before the vehicle became engulfed in flames. An investigation has been ordered into the incident, which is suspected to have involved an exploding oxygen cylinder.

An armed reserve police officer in Chennai is under investigation after a video of him consuming alcohol while transporting prisoners surfaced online. The officer, SSI Lingeshwaran, was filmed drinking inside the police vehicle. He is also accused of allowing prisoners to make unauthorized calls and video calls using his phone.

India's goods exports surged by 17% to $39.2 billion in October, marking the fastest growth in 28 months, driven by Christmas demand and focused sector initiatives. However, a record $66.3 billion import bill, up 3.8%, resulted in a $27.1 billion trade deficit. Despite recent global challenges, the government aims for record exports exceeding $800 billion in 2024-25.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal called on the Reserve Bank of India to reduce interest rates. Goyal argued that using interest rates to control food price inflation was ineffective. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das cautioned against assuming a rate cut. Das highlighted the risks of inflation increasing and economic growth slowing down.

Boeing, the aerospace giant, is laying off 10% of its global workforce, approximately 17,000 employees, in a bid to cut costs and streamline operations. CEO Kelly Ortberg attributed the layoffs to financial challenges and the need to enhance competitiveness.

Shivkumar Gautam, the main suspect in the Baba Siddique murder case, was arrested. Gautam told police he spoke to two policemen after the shooting. He claimed he did not see the killers. Police investigation revealed that three other accused went to Jharkhand before the incident. One of them received training in using an AK-47.