Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill to amend a law on protection and rights of transgender persons that proposes excluding social orientations from the ambit of the statute, with Rajya Sabha giving its nod, even as opposition members pressed for sending it to a select committee.. LGBTQIA+ community members hold placards during a protest demanding the withdrawal of the Transgender Amendment Bill 2026, in Mumbai, India, March 25, 2026. (REUTERS). The bill, which seeks to amend Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act 2019, also provides for graded punishment based on the gravity of harm inflicted on such people. The bill was passed in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.. Replying to the debate on the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Upper House, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar said the proposed legislation is an effort to take along all segments of the society together.. He said that the bill aims to provide protection to only those who face discrimination due to biological issues. The minister asserted that the amendment will ensure that transgender persons continue to get legal recognition and protection.. The Modi government is committed to protecting all those people who are suffering due to biological reasons, he said adding that their rights will be protected.. The minister opined that such persons should be brought into the mainstream so that they should not live in dejection.. Highlighting the steps taken by the government for the welfare of the community, the minister said that transgender welfare boards have been set up in over 30 states. This bill will bring administrative clarity and protect rights of the transgender persons.. The minister said that the legislation will help end discrimination of transgender persons saying the bill is clear resolve of the Modi government which believes in Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas.. The government is working towards emancipation and empowerment of every person and the proposed legislation is an effort to take all segments of society together, he stated.. The Modi government is committed to protecting all those people who are suffering due to biological reasons.. The bill was passed by a voice vote in the Rajya Sabha after rejecting amendments moved by the Opposition. The House did not approve the demands by Opposition for sending the bill to select committee.. “The bill reflects our nation’s commitment to ensuring that every citizen enjoys equal rights and lives with dignity and respect. This bill is not merely a legal reform but a pathway to justice for those who have long faced social exclusion and discrimination due to their identity,” he said.. “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas is not just a slogan, but a firm resolve of our government, which under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working toward building and India where every citizen can move forward with dignity and hope,” he said.. He assured t 

 A parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), in its report submitted to Parliament on Wednesday, flagged concerns over the reactive nature of highway maintenance budgeting, underutilisation of research and development funds, and slow progress in key projects such as port connectivity under the Bharatmala project.. Parliamentary panel raises concerns over highway upkeep, R&D fund utilisation and delays in key Bharatmala port connectivity projects. (Representative photo). The report highlighted that while overall budget utilisation might suggest good absorption of funds, there is wide variation across verticals.. “The ministry stated that budget utilisation has been consistently above 99% in recent years, with 90% utilisation expected in the current year with Rs. 870 crore pending. The Committee observes that while the aggregate capital head shows high utilisation, this figure masks significant sub-head level variations: Highway Research at 80.59% under-utilisation in 2025-26; MMLP at under 20% utilisation; and Parvatmala at 53% utilisation. The Committee is of the view that aggregate utilisation figures, while broadly positive, should not mask specific areas of persistent under-absorption,” the report said.. The standing committee on transport, tourism and culture, in its 390th report on demands for grants, recommended that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways adopt specific, measurable annual targets to reduce road crashes and fatalities under its outcome budget framework.. In the ropeway sector under the Parvatmala Pariyojana too, the committee recommended expediting notification of comprehensive national standards for safety and operations, along with a vendor development programme to boost domestic manufacturing. The report comes after the March 22 ropeway trolley crash in Chhattisgarh that resulted in the death of a woman. Currently, eight projects covering 36 km have been awarded, and five projects are under implementation, with the Varanasi Ropeway targeted for operationalisation and 10 new projects planned for award in 2026–27, the committee noted. To be sure, the ropeway is not operated by MoRTH.. On maintenance planning of highways, the committee said it continues to rely on incremental precedents rather than scientific assessment of asset deterioration, resulting in disruptions to systematic repair cycles. It noted a recurring pattern of underestimation in budget estimates (BE), followed by sharp upward revisions. In 2024–25, maintenance allocation was projected at ₹2,500 crore (BE) and later revised upward by 86.4% to ₹4,660 crore (RE). For 2025–26, the BE was ₹4,555 crore, revised to ₹4,895.02 crore, while actual expenditure till January 2026 stood at ₹3,744.31 crore, leaving around 18% to be spent in the final two months.. To address this, the committee recommended a shift to a “zero-based maintenance budgeting” framework, under which annual projections woul 

 The government has blocked 652 mobile applications over concerns related to data security and “other malpractices,” the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.. The government has blocked 652 mobile applications over concerns related to data security.. In a written reply to a question raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Minister of State for MeitY Jitin Prasada said the blocking was carried out under Section 69A of the IT Act, which allows the government to restrict access to online content in the interest of sovereignty, security and public order. However, the government’s response did not address several specific questions raised by Gandhi. The government did not provide a list of Chinese-origin apps that may still be operating in India under rebranded versions, nor did it clarify what action has been taken against such entities.. HT reached out to IT Ministry officials to ascertain how many of the 652 blocked apps are of Chinese origin but did not receive a response. However, China has claimed that since June 2020, India has banned over 300 Chinese mobile applications across sectors such as social media, e-commerce and gaming, as per the minutes of a World Trade Organisation Council for Trade in Services meeting dated July 25, 2025, which records proceedings from June 13.. India’s first round of app bans in June 2020 came in the immediate aftermath of the Galwan Valley clash, which escalated tensions between India and China. The government then said the 59 apps were blocked over concerns that they were collecting and transmitting user data to servers outside India. Among the apps banned, and which remain banned to this day, include TikTok, PUBG, WeChat and Shein.. Over the years, several Chinese apps banned by India have resurfaced on Android and iOS app stores, often under rebranded or altered versions, a concern also flagged by Gandhi in his question.. In 2022, then MoS MeitY Rajeev Chandrasekhar, in response to a question in the Lok Sabha, said the Ministry of Home Affairs had identified 348 mobile apps, developed across multiple countries including China, that were collecting user data and transmitting it to servers outside India without authorisation. Acting on the MHA’s request, MeitY blocked these apps. The latest figure of 652 apps suggests the number has nearly doubled in four years.. On surveillance, the government, in its parliamentary response on Wednesday, highlighted new CCTV security rules such as disclosing hardware origins, testing for vulnerabilities, and mandatory lab certification. It said 507 models are now certified and that non-compliant devices cannot be procured by government departments. However, it did not share how many CCTV cameras have been bought in the past five years or where they came from.. Further, the ministry did not elaborate on the security protocols governing AI systems used by the government or identify any foreign AI platforms curre 

 The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the launch and implementation of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)–Modified Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) for 10 years, with a total outlay of ₹28,840 crore backed by government budgetary support.. The cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the launch and implementation of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)–Modified Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) for 10 years. (PMO). Under the scheme, the government will develop 100 airports/airstrips, it said. The scheme, which will be in place from financial year (FY) 2026–27 to FY 2035–36, will cater to underserved and unserved airstrips, the government said.. “It will be a boost to economic growth, trade and tourism in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, support affordable air travel for common citizens, (help in) improved emergency response and healthcare access in remote and hilly regions, greater viability and sustainability for regional aerodromes and airline operators, promotion of the indigenous aerospace sector under Atmanirbhar Bharat and progress towards the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal,” a statement issued by the government read.. The first UDAN scheme (UDAN 1.0) was launched in October 2016 and took off on April 27, 2017, with the objective of making air travel affordable and strengthening connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 cities. UDAN 2.0 was launched in 2018, UDAN 3.0 in 2019, and UDAN 4.0 in 2020. A series of UDAN 5 was launched starting April 2023. Thereafter, UDAN 5.1 was launched in May 2023, UDAN 5.2 in July the same year, UDAN 5.3 in January 2024, UDAN 5.4 in August 2024, and UDAN 5.5 was launched in February last year.. In over nine years of implementation, 663 routes were operationalised across 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes as of February 28 this year. More than 3.41 lakh flights were operated, carrying 162.47 lakh passengers.. The key components of the modified scheme, announced on Wednesday, include the development of aerodromes, their operations and maintenance (O&M), development of modern helipads, and viability gap funding (VGF).. “Under the Modified UDAN Scheme, it is proposed to develop 100 airports from existing unserved airstrips to enhance regional connectivity, in line with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision of infrastructure expansion and transforming India into a globally competitive aviation ecosystem, with a total outlay of ₹12,159 crore over the next eight years,” a statement issued by the government read.. Speaking on the maintenance of aerodromes, the government said, “Given the high recurring O&M costs and limited revenue streams for RCS-only aerodromes, the scheme proposes to provide O&M support for three years capped at ₹3.06 crore per annum per airport and ₹0.90 crore per annum per heliport/water aerodrome, estimated at ₹2,577 crore for around 441 aerodromes.”. The government also proposed to develop 200 modern helipads to add 

 Singer Zubeen Garg drowned accidentally, and there is no evidence of foul play, Singapore’s state coroner’s court ruled on Wednesday. State coroner Adam Nakhoda said the court had no reason to differ from the conclusions of the police, which determined that the incident was a tragic accident.. Singer Zubeen Garg. (PTI). Garg, who was in Singapore for a cultural festival and was scheduled to perform, died on September 19, 2025, during a private yacht outing. Evidence presented during the coroner’s inquiry suggested that Garg had alcohol before boarding the yacht and appeared visibly unsteady. Witnesses told the court that he initially wore a life jacket when he first entered the waters, but later removed it, citing poor fit.. The court found Garg returned to the yacht in an exhausted state and attempted a second swim. “Despite being offered a properly sized life jacket, he refused to wear it,” the court said. It added that those present tried to persuade him to use safety gear.. The Singapore Police said video evidence reviewed during the inquiry showed Garg’s swimming was laboured and unsteady. He turned back towards the yacht, possibly due to fatigue or physical discomfort, before becoming unresponsive in the water.. Other swimmers quickly moved to assist him and brought him back on board. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered, and emergency services were alerted. Garg was taken to Singapore General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.. A post-mortem examination confirmed drowning as the cause of death. Toxicology findings showed a high level of alcohol in his bloodstream, which the court said would have significantly impaired his coordination and judgment.. The coroner noted Garg’s medical history, including hypertension and epilepsy, but said there was insufficient evidence to conclude that a seizure occurred at the time of the incident.. The court addressed concerns Garg’s family had raised and said the investigation had been comprehensive and found no indication that anyone had forced or coerced him into the water or contributed to his death through deliberate action.. Garg’s death sparked outrage, protests, and demands for accountability. Separate criminal proceedings are pending in Assam against individuals connected to Garg’s Singapore trip.. The Assam government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into Garg’s death. Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the incident as a plain and simple murder.. A probe team travelled to Singapore in October last year following diplomatic intervention. After nearly three months of investigation, the SIT filed a 12,000-page chargesheet in December 2025. Seven people, including the Garg’s cousin and an Assam Police officer, have been arrested.. The Assam government formed a fast-track court in October to hear the case. The high court approved day-to-day hearings in the matter this month.