Andaman and Nicobar capital Port Blair renamed to Sri Vijaya Puram; Telangana proposes deploying transgender persons in traffic management; heavy rains in Agra damage historical monuments, Taj Mahal waterlogged, and more. Catch up with the latest news of the country with this India news roundup.
Union Home Minister announced on Friday that Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has been renamed "Sri Vijaya Puram." This change is part of efforts to remove colonial imprints.
The minister stated that while the old name had ties to the colonial era, the new name represents the victory and spirit of India's freedom struggle, along with the island's role in it. The announcement was shared on X, highlighting the symbolic importance of the name change.
Agra experienced continuous rainfall for 48 hours, leading to significant damage to the city’s iconic monuments, including the Taj Mahal. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), water seeped from the main dome of the Taj Mahal, and the adjacent garden remained submerged.
On Thursday, ASI put its staff on surveillance to monitor the situation. Officials have assured that necessary repairs will be carried out, and the garden will be restored once the rain subsides.
The Chief Minister of Telangana proposed deploying members of the transgender community to help regulate traffic in the city. The CM suggested that interested transgenders be paid a stipend and receive special training for the role.
Officials were directed to collect details of those willing to volunteer and to provide uniforms for them while on duty. This initiative aims to create inclusive employment opportunities for the transgender community.
With Indore being named the cleanest city for seven consecutive years, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister announced a new category called the "Golden City Club" for cities that have consistently ranked at the top in cleanliness.
Indore, along with high-performing cities like Surat and Navi Mumbai, will compete in this new category. This change is aimed at encouraging other cities to improve their cleanliness efforts and aspire for top ranks in the general Swachhata competition.
Madhya Pradesh Sports Minister announced the introduction of specialised seating arrangements and facilities for para-athletes at all 11 sports academies in the state. These facilities will be customized to meet the needs of differently-abled athletes.
Additionally, the state is launching a 'Talent Hunt' initiative aimed at identifying potential Paralympic participants. Those selected will receive specialised training at the academies, with a focus on preparing for future Paralympic events.
Delhi recorded its cleanest air quality of the year on Friday, following heavy rainfall that lasted 24 hours. The Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to 52, nearing the 'good' level, with an AQI of 41 at 10 AM and 49 at 3 PM.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the 24-hour average AQI was 52 at 4 PM, marking the best air quality Delhi has seen this year, thanks to the rains that helped settle air pollutants.
The Union Minister will inaugurate the 'Bharatiya Bhasha Anubhag' at the 4th Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan. This initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Official Language under the Ministry of Home Affairs, will allow for instant translation of official communications between the Centre and the states.
The system will facilitate translations from Hindi or English into regional languages, and vice versa, establishing a universal translation mechanism for government correspondence.
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