Opposition members in Rajya Sabha demanded that a bill for changes in human rights protection law to expedite appointments in NHRC and state rights bodies be sent to a parliamentary panel for scrutiny. The MPs also claimed that they were not given enough time to move amendments.A Congress MP suggested that the human rights track record of experts appointed on the commissions should be checked.

Nasa on Monday congratulated its Indian counterpart Isro on the successful launch of its second moon mission Chandrayaan-2 and said it was looking forward to know what the Indian space agency learns about the lunar south pole. The success of Chandrayaan-2 also made global headlines with a leading US newspaper writing «India is on its way to the moon.»

The Supreme Court on Monday fixed August 6 for hearing the plea of senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel pertaining to his election to the Rajya Sabha in 2017 which has been challenged by rival BJP candidate Balwantsinh Rajput in the Gujarat high court.

The Supreme Court will pronounce verdict on Tuesday as to who would complete the stalled projects of embattled real estate major Amrapali Group to give respite to over 42,000 hassled home buyers. The SC- appointed forensic auditors have found wide scale irregularities in the financial affairs of Amrapali Group.

The world is increasingly becoming urban and India is playing a big role in the global demographic shift. India alone will account for nearly a fifth of the global growth in urban population by 2050. A look at the figures behind an urban future…

The visit will reflect the importance New Delhi attaches to its ties with the Himalayan nation and would reiterate the government's emphasis on its 'Neighbourhood First' policy. The two countries share a unique and time-tested bilateral relationship, characterised by trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding.

On completion of 50 days of the second term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government, Union minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday said that «the pace of reforms has increased» as compared to the first term and that this government «caters to all sections of the society»

Earlier, the Railway Board had empowered general managers of its zones to engage govt security agencies like home guards, Maharashtra Industrial Security Force in core areas of railway security to the extent of vacancy in the Railway Protection Force to secure its premises. Now, the order has been modified to include former army men through the Sainik Kalayan Boards.

The plea, filed by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, has sought that 'Vande Mataram', written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, be given the same respect as the national anthem -- 'Jana Gana Mana', penned by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Kicking up a new controversy, BJP's Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur on Sunday asserted that she had not been elected to Parliament to clean toilets and drains. «We have not been elected to clean your drains or toilets. I have said this in the past and I am repeating it now,» she said when a party worker complained about the unhygienic conditions in the MP's Sehore.

Odisha has got its first Foreign Post Office (FPO) with the opening of the facility in Mancheswar area here . The FPO, which was inaugurated at the premises of the Postal Printing Press at Mancheswar here on Saturday, will facilitate customs clearance and booking of articles or consignments for foreign countries, a senior official said.

Veteran Leftist leader, former Lok Sabha MP and founder of the Marxist Coordination Committee (MCC) AK Roy passed away at a hospital in Dhanbad on Sunday.

The mortal remains of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit were consigned to flames on Sunday, with colleagues, Congress workers and admirers braving heavy rains and gusty winds bid her final farewell. The 81-year-old Congress veteran, who died on Saturday due to cardiac arrest, was cremated with full state honours at the Nigambodh Ghat.

The fate of the fragile H D Kumaraswamy led Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka is likely to be decided on the floor of the assembly on Monday after it defied on July 19 the two deadlines set by governor Vajubhai Vala to prove majority. The coalition government was wracked by a raft of resignations by the rebel MLAs.

The 20th batch comprising 4158 pilgrims including 1137 women and 260 sadhus Sunday left Bhagwati Nagar base camp here to offer prayers at the 3,880 metre high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.

Mamata Banerjee on Sunday alleged that central agencies are threatening Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders with prison in chit fund scam cases if they don't get in touch with the BJP. The TMC supremo, addressing the Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata, also said the party will launch a state-wide protest on July 26, demanding return of black money «siphoned off» by BJP.

A resident of Chamri in Hapur has allegedly received an electricity bill of Rs 1,28,45,95,444 and is running from pillar to post for getting it rectified but to no avail. Moreover, adding to his woes, the electricity department has also cut the connection as he failed to pay the bill. A department official admitted that it is because of some technical fault and will be rectified.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), late on Saturday said that the performance of Chandrayaan-2—whose first launch on July 15 was scrubbed after a leak in the cryogenic stage—was normal after the launch rehearsals for the rescheduled launch on July 22

Ever since he posted his resignation given to party president Rahul Gandhi on last Sunday, Sidhu has remained incommunicado. He is believed to have met Priyanka Gandhi in Delhi on Thursday. Sources said Sidhu had been asked to ‘lie low’ for some time to avoid any escalation of conflict in the state leadership.

Congress on Saturday explored pros and cons of going ahead with its petition to seek Supreme Court’s clarification on its July 17 order that said the 15 rebel MLAs can’t be compelled to attend the legislature session by issuing whip. “The order goes against the 10th Schedule of the Constitution (Anti-defection Act) as the party legislators’ leader has every right to issue the whip,’’ said a Congress source.

Sheila Dikshit's contribution in 'transforming' Delhi plays out in the many flyovers, launch of the Delhi Metro rail network and outreach to the civil society through the Bhagidari movement steered by residents’ welfare associations. She will be remembered for tough decisions like implementing the SC verdict on relocating polluting industries & implementing the shift of Delhi's public transport to CNG.