NEW DELHI, April 18: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a sharp attack on the Opposition on Friday, expressing outrage over the defeat of key legislation related to women's reservations in the Lok Sabha and accusing the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and Samajwadi Party of collectively undermining women's empowerment.

Taking to the social media platform X, Mr. Shah said it was shameful that the Opposition parties were celebrating the defeat of a Bill that would have strengthened women's political representation. "This is not the first time Congress and its allies have done this. They have consistently adopted the same stance on critical issues concerning national development and women's empowerment," he said.

The Home Minister asserted that the Congress had no genuine interest in national development, women's rights, or empowerment, and that all the parties that had voted against the Bill had together betrayed Indian women who had been fighting for their rights for decades.

Mr. Shah warned that the Opposition would face a decisive political response from the women of India in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. "The women of this country will give a fitting answer to the parties that opposed the Women's Reservation Bill," he said, adding that no political force could afford to take women's aspirations lightly.

The 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill, which sought to fast-track the implementation of the one-third reservation for women in legislative bodies, was defeated in the Lok Sabha on Thursday after the ruling National Democratic Alliance failed to secure the two-thirds majority required for a constitutional amendment. Of the 528 members who participated in the division vote, 298 supported the Bill while 230 voted against it, leaving the government 54 votes short of the required 352.

NEW DELHI, April 18: The Central government's ambitious attempt to fast-track the implementation of women's reservations in legislative bodies suffered a significant setback on Thursday when the 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha, falling short of the two-thirds majority required for a constitutional amendment.

Of the 528 members who participated in the division voting, 298 voted in favour of the Bill while 230 voted against it. The Bill required 352 votes for passage, and with the ruling National Democratic Alliance failing to bridge a gap of 54 votes, Speaker Om Birla officially declared the Bill defeated.

Following the defeat, the Central government also withdrew two related pieces of legislation — proposals pertaining to amendments to Union Territory laws and delimitation. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju made the announcement in the House.

BJP members, incensed by the outcome, staged a dharna outside Parliament in protest.

Early implementation of women's quota was the objective

The 131st Constitutional Amendment Bill had been introduced with the specific aim of reducing the long wait for the women's reservation law to come into force. Parliament had already passed the 106th Constitutional Amendment Act — the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam — in 2023 with unanimous support. However, that legislation contains a provision linking its implementation to the completion of a fresh census and subsequent delimitation exercise, effectively pushing enforcement to 2029 or later.

To circumvent this delay, the Central government proposed expanding the Lok Sabha's strength from the current 543 seats to 850, and carving out a dedicated women's quota within this expanded House without disturbing existing SC, ST, and general category seats.

Three days of special sessions, 21 hours of debate

The Bills had been introduced in the House on April 16 following three days of special sessions convened specifically for the purpose. Deliberations stretched over 21 hours, with sharp exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches. A particularly heated confrontation took place between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The Opposition, particularly parties representing southern States, raised strong objections, contending that the delimitation exercise as proposed carried the risk of reducing parliamentary representation for States in the south. They argued that delimitation should be undertaken only after a caste census, maintaining that social justice could not be achieved otherwise.

Amit Shah assures 50 per cent seat increase for all States

Responding to concerns about regional imbalance, Mr. Shah gave categorical assurances on the floor of the House that seats in every State would be increased by at least 50 per cent and that no State would be disadvantaged. He urged members not to divide the country along north-south lines, asserting that all States enjoyed equal rights under the Constitution.

In a significant gesture, Mr. Shah offered to formally amend the Bill on the spot if members felt the 50 per cent guarantee was not explicitly stated. "Give me one hour and I will incorporate it as an official amendment," he declared.

Had the Bill cleared the Lok Sabha, it would have proceeded to the Rajya Sabha for consideration. With its defeat at the first stage, the government's bid to advance the timeline for women's reservations has, for now, come to a halt. The Centre is yet to indicate its next course of action.

NEW DELHI, April 16: Union Minister of State for Steel Srinivas Varma on Thursday said that the Women's Reservation Constitutional Amendment Bill, taken up for debate in Parliament, had generated enormous anticipation among women across the country. He observed that women in both rural and urban areas were visibly glued to their television sets, eagerly watching the proceedings of the debate as they unfolded in real time.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister emphasised that ensuring adequate representation for women in politics — particularly in decision-making positions — was essential for the holistic development of the nation. He expressed the view that greater participation of women in governance would accelerate positive changes in the social and economic spheres at a much faster pace.

Pointing to the tangible results of reservations extended to women in local bodies across the country, Srinivas Varma argued that a similar transformation was now needed at the level of State Legislatures and Parliament. The impact of women's participation in local governance had already been felt nationwide, he said, and it was time to replicate that success at higher levels of democratic representation.

Expressing confidence that the Women's Reservation Constitutional Amendment Bill would be passed, the Minister described its enactment as a pivotal milestone in the political history of India. The Bill would significantly enhance the political representation of women and further strengthen democracy in the country, he added.

Calling upon all political parties to set aside their differences and extend wholehearted support to the Bill, Srinivas Varma said that collective cooperation was indispensable for legislation that advances women's empowerment. In the larger national interest, all sections of society and political opinion must work together to ensure the Bill's passage, he urged.

VIJAYAWADA, April 15: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Delhi Local Advisory Committee Chairman Y. Sumant Reddy, accompanied by senior TTD officials, called on Bharatiya Janata Party Andhra Pradesh State president P.V.N. Madhav at the BJP State office here on Wednesday and extended a formal invitation to him to attend the Srivari Brahmotsavams to be held in New Delhi.

The grand religious festival at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Devasthanam in the national capital is scheduled to be held from April 30 to May 10, and elaborate arrangements are being made to ensure that the celebrations are conducted with utmost grandeur and devotion, the TTD officials said.

During the meeting, discussions were also held regarding the preparations under way for the prestigious event. The Brahmotsavams in New Delhi are expected to draw large numbers of devotees from across the country, reflecting the enduring reverence for Lord Venkateswara among people of all regions.

Madhav received the invitation warmly and appreciated the TTD's efforts in organising the sacred festival in the national capital. The meeting was attended by TTD officials and local BJP leaders.

NEW DELHI — As the conflict in West Asia continues to send shockwaves across global markets and supply chains, India's top leadership swung into action on Friday, convening the first meeting of a specially constituted Informal Group of Ministers to assess the crisis and chart a coordinated national response.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the high-powered gathering at Kartavya Bhawan-2 in New Delhi on March 28, 2026 — bringing together some of the most powerful cabinet ministers in the Modi government around a single urgent agenda: protecting India and its people from the far-reaching consequences of a conflict unfolding thousands of kilometres away.

A Cabinet of Heavy Hitters

The composition of the Informal Group of Ministers — known as the IGoM — left no doubt about the seriousness with which the government is treating the West Asia situation.

Seated around the table were Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Power Minister Manohar Lal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Consumer Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, and Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh.

It was a gathering that covered virtually every sector of the Indian economy likely to feel the impact of the West Asia conflict — from fuel and energy to food supply, aviation, and industrial chemicals. The message was clear: this government is treating the crisis as a whole-of-government challenge, not a problem to be managed by any single ministry.

Rajnath Singh Sets the Tone

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh used his opening address to set a tone of calm urgency — acknowledging the seriousness of the situation while projecting confidence in India's ability to navigate it.

He emphasised the need for a proactive, coordinated, and forward-looking approach — stressing that vigilance must be maintained as the situation in West Asia continues to evolve in unpredictable ways. His guidance to the group was specific and demanding: adopt a medium to long-term preparedness approach, maintain high-level coordination across ministries, and ensure swift decision-making when the situation demands it.

"All policy efforts should remain in synergy and be implemented in a time-bound manner," Singh told the assembled ministers — a directive that reflects the government's awareness that fragmented or delayed responses could amplify the impact of an already serious global disruption.

In a post on X following the meeting, the Defence Minister made the government's commitment explicit and personal. "The Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is committed to safeguarding the Indian people from any impact of the conflict," he wrote — words clearly intended to reassure a public already anxious about rising fuel prices, rumours of shortages, and the spectre of broader economic disruption.

Seven Empowered Groups Brief the Ministers

The meeting was not a general discussion. It was a structured, data-driven review of India's sectoral vulnerabilities and the policy measures already deployed to address them.

Seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries — senior bureaucrats tasked with monitoring specific sectors — made detailed presentations to the IGoM, outlining the key issues identified in their respective areas and the concrete steps already taken to manage the situation.

The breadth of the presentations underscored the multi-dimensional nature of the challenge. The West Asia conflict touches virtually every pillar of the Indian economy — oil and gas supplies, fertilizer imports, shipping routes, aviation connectivity, food prices, and industrial supply chains. Each Empowered Group was directed to continue close monitoring of developments and to maintain the high-level coordination that the current moment demands.

Rajnath Singh called for constructive inputs from all ministers present — a signal that the IGoM intends to function as a genuine deliberative body, drawing on the expertise and perspective of each ministry rather than operating as a top-down directive mechanism.

States and Districts Brought Into the Loop

One of the most significant decisions to emerge from Saturday's meeting was the IGoM's reaffirmation of the critical importance of coordination with state governments and district administrations.

The crisis, the group recognised, will ultimately be felt not in the corridors of Kartavya Bhawan but in petrol stations, kitchens, hospital supply chains, and local markets across India's cities, towns, and villages. Effective management of the situation therefore requires that state and district administrations are kept fully informed, properly equipped, and capable of responding swiftly to developments on the ground.

The need for timely communication of key policy initiatives to the public was also underscored — a recognition that how the government communicates during a crisis can be as important as what it actually does.

Declaring War on Rumours and Fake News

Perhaps the most operationally significant directive to emerge from Saturday's meeting was a direct instruction to all ministries and departments regarding the management of information.

Every ministry and department has been directed to share relevant information, developments, and advisories related to the ongoing West Asia situation through the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting's WhatsApp Channel — creating a single, authoritative, government-verified stream of information accessible to citizens across the country.

The objective is twofold: to ensure that accurate, timely information reaches the public, and to actively counter the rumours, misinformation, and fake news that have already begun to circulate on social media — causing panic buying at petrol pumps, anxiety over LPG supplies, and confusion over government policy.

The directive reflects a hard lesson that governments around the world have learned from recent crises: in the age of social media, the information battle can be as consequential as the policy battle. A government that wins on policy but loses on communication will still face a crisis of public confidence.

India's Strategic Posture

Saturday's IGoM meeting represents more than a bureaucratic response to a distant conflict. It represents a deliberate strategic posture — one that says India is watching, India is prepared, and India will act to protect its people and its economy from shocks that originate beyond its borders but land within them.

The formation of the IGoM itself — bringing together defence, finance, energy, food, aviation, and science ministers under a single coordinating umbrella — reflects a sophisticated understanding of how modern conflicts cascade through interconnected global systems. The West Asia conflict is not just a military event. It is an energy event, a supply chain event, a food security event, and a financial market event — all simultaneously.

India's response, Saturday's meeting signalled, will be equally multi-dimensional.

With Prime Minister Modi personally engaged in monitoring the situation, and a cabinet-level group now meeting regularly to track developments and coordinate responses, the government is positioning itself to stay ahead of the curve — rather than react to it.

The first IGoM meeting is done. It will not be the last.

The Informal Group of Ministers on West Asia was constituted to monitor the evolving situation and recommend proactive measures. Further meetings are expected as the situation develops.

NEW DELHI — In a moment that captured the quiet but profound transformation underway in Jammu & Kashmir, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh sat face to face with young men and women from Pulwama, Bandipora, Anantnag, and Kupwara on Saturday — districts that once made headlines for conflict and unrest — and listened as they spoke confidently about their dreams, their ambitions, and their place in the story of modern India.

The occasion was the concluding interactive session of the 6th Kashmir Youth Exchange Programme — "Watan Ko Jaano" — organised by My Bharat under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs. And the message that emerged from the gathering was as significant as it was striking: Jammu and Kashmir's youth are no longer on the margins. They are moving — confidently, purposefully, and with growing momentum — toward the centre of national life.

Eleven Years of Transformation

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State with Independent Charge for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and also holding charge of the PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, used the platform to reflect on what he described as a fundamental shift in the trajectory of J&K's youth over the past eleven years.

"Over the last eleven years, the Modi Government has enabled the mainstreaming of youth from Jammu and Kashmir," the minister said, "which has in turn raised their level of self-confidence and aspiration."

The evidence, he argued, is visible and measurable. Young people from J&K are now appearing — and excelling — in civil services examinations and other highly competitive national tests. They are entering sectors like tourism, hospitality, and aviation. They are building careers and connections across the country that would have been unthinkable for many in the region just a decade ago.

"Earlier, many young people from the region were hesitant to step beyond their immediate surroundings," Dr. Jitendra Singh observed. "Today, they are confidently engaging with opportunities across the country."

From the Margins to the Mainstream

The minister traced this transformation back to a specific moment — Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, articulated in 2014, to bring regions that had long remained on the periphery of India's development story — Jammu and Kashmir and the North East — firmly into the national mainstream.

Sustained policy support, targeted interventions, and a deliberate focus on youth development have, Dr. Jitendra Singh argued, begun to bear tangible fruit. The change is not merely statistical. It is visible in the faces and voices of the young people who gathered for Saturday's programme — students from some of J&K's most historically troubled districts, speaking with a confidence and openness that reflects a region in the process of genuine transformation.

Voices From the Ground

The most powerful moments of Saturday's session came not from the minister's podium but from the participants themselves.

Young men and women from Pulwama, Bandipora, Anantnag, and Kupwara shared their experiences of visiting national institutions — Parliament, Legislative Assemblies, and Rashtrapati Bhavan — describing how exposure to these symbols of Indian democracy has deepened their sense of belonging and participation in the nation's civic life.

Several students spoke of a growing sense of trust and openness — a willingness among J&K's youth to explore opportunities beyond the region, to engage with different cultures and communities, and to build connections that transcend geographical and historical boundaries.

"Programmes like this are helping youth from Jammu and Kashmir move beyond earlier limitations," participants said, describing how the exchange has broadened their horizons and strengthened their identity as citizens of a larger, shared nation.

Sports, Infrastructure, and the Road Ahead

The session was not limited to celebration. Participants raised practical and pressing concerns — calling for stronger sports infrastructure, better access to coaching facilities, and improved resources for local talent in Jammu and Kashmir.

Dr. Jitendra Singh acknowledged these gaps and pointed to progress already underway. The ecosystem for sports and youth development in J&K, he said, is steadily improving — with greater transparency in selection processes and increased investment in infrastructure. As a symbol of what is possible, he cited the recent Ranji Trophy victory by the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team — a landmark achievement that captured the imagination of a region hungry for stories of success on the national stage.

Participants also offered constructive suggestions on improving logistical arrangements and deepening structured interaction with students from other parts of India through institutional visits and peer engagement. The minister received these inputs positively, indicating they would help shape and strengthen future editions of the programme.

A Larger Mission

Dr. Jitendra Singh placed Saturday's programme within what he described as a broader national commitment — the determination to ensure that no region and no section of Indian society is left behind in the country's development journey.

"The transformation underway in Jammu and Kashmir is part of a larger effort," he said. "The increasing participation of youth from J&K in national life is a clear indication of this shift. Their growing confidence and aspirations will play an important role in shaping India's future."

It is a vision of inclusion — of a Viksit Bharat, a developed India, that draws its strength from every corner of the country, including those corners that history has treated most harshly.

A Celebration of Heritage and Identity

The programme concluded on a note of cultural pride, with participants offering performances that showcased the rich and diverse heritage of Jammu and Kashmir — music, dance, and artistic expression that reminded a national audience of the beauty and depth of a region too often defined only by its conflicts.

It was a fitting end to a programme built on a simple but powerful idea: that when young people from different parts of India meet, talk, and share — the nation grows stronger, more connected, and more whole.

For the young men and women of Pulwama, Bandipora, Anantnag, and Kupwara who gathered in New Delhi on Saturday, "Watan Ko Jaano" — Know Your Nation — was more than a programme title.

It was a promise. And on the evidence of Saturday's session, one that is being kept.

The 6th Kashmir Youth Exchange Programme was organised by My Bharat under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs.