The Election Commission on Sunday ordered immediate transfer of top Bengal officials, including the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary, hours after it announced the schedule for state elections.. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 15 announced the schedule for assembly polls in four states. (File Photo). The sweeping actions comes after the Election Commission announced the schedule of assembly elections for four states, including West Bengal, and one UT. Bengal goes to polling in two-phases on April 23 and 29, while the counting of votes will be done on May 4.. In the order released late on Sunday, the poll body said Dushyant Nariala, an IAS of 1993 batch, will be posted as Chief Secretary in the poll-bound Bengal. Nariala replaces Nandini Chakravorty who was appointed to the post on December 31, 2025.. Also Read: Election dates for Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry out | Check full schedule. The EC also announced the removal of Jagdish Prasad Meena, a 2004-batch IAS officer, as the Principal Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs in the state government. He will be replaced with Sanghamitra Ghosh, a 1997-batch officer.. The poll body said that the directions will be implemented with immediate effect and a compliance report regarding the joining of the above officers should be sent by 3pm on Monday, March 16.. The Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP in Bengal were quick to react to the poll body’s move. While the TMC took a swipe at EC, saying that it can trasfter officers to satisfy its boss, it cannot transfer Mamata from hearts of the people.. Also Read: Why West Bengal voting phases have been reduced to 2 from 8. “EC is only following orders to satisfy its boss. You can transfer officers but cannot transfer Mamata Banerjee from the hearts of the people,” TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty told Hindustan Times.. BJP, on the other hand, said that the Election Commission should ensure that no officials with links to the party should be part of the election machinery in the state.. “Around 250 of our workers and members were killed before, during and after the 2021 assembly polls. We urged ECI to ensure that no officer having links with the ruling party should be part of the election machinery,” Bengal BJP’s chief spokesperson Debjit Sarkar said. 

 The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has issued an advisory for nationals in the Gulf country, advising the people to remain vigilant and adhere to safety guidelines of the Saudi government.. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia issued an advisory for Indian nationals on Sunday. (AP). The advisory comes even as Saudi Arabia said its air defences have intercepted and destroyed a drone over the Eastern Province.. “In view of the prevailing situation in the region and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, all Indian Nationals currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are advised to continue to remain vigilant, strictly adhere to the safety guidelines prevalent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and follow advisories issued by the local authorities and the Embassy,” the embassy posted on X.. The advisory said the Indian Embassy in Saudi, consulates and visa services through VFS continue to function normally.. “The Embassy of India, Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah and its outsourced services through VFS, are continuing to function normally and will issue updates and advisories as and when necessary. Consular Camps are being undertaken on a regular basis,” the post added.. Indian and Saudi airlines continue operating as per regular schedules to Indian cities from Jeddah and Madinah, the advisory said.. “While Saudi carriers also continue to operate from Riyadh and Dammam to Indian destinations, Indian carriers have also resumed operations from Riyadh,” it added.. The latest advisory comes a week after the embassy issued an advisory for Indian nationals on similar lines on March 8.. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he held a telephonic conversation with Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan.. “Had a telecon last night with FM Faisal bin Farhan of Saudi Arabia. Discussed ongoing developments related to the conflict in West Asia,” Jaishankar said in a post on X.. The Indian External Affairs Minister also spoke with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed the situation in West Asia. 

 New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday called for enhanced public-private partnership to provide a new direction to the nation’s sports economy.. Rajnath calls for enhanced public-private partnership to boost sports economy. Addressing a gathering at the final match of the Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup here, he said, “The government, through a series of initiatives, is fostering a sports culture within the country where athletes and youth have access to opportunities, resources, and get respect.”. Singh called for enhanced public-private partnership in the sector to further elevate India’s prestige on the international stage, and to provide a new direction to the nation’s sports economy.. In the near future, India will “carve out a strong global identity for itself in sports, especially polo”, if the government, the private sector, and various social groups work together, the defence minister asserted.. He said polo is deeply rooted in the nation’s sporting traditions, spanning thousands of years, and can rightfully be designated as a “heritage sport” of India.. Singh noted that the Indian Army has made a significant contribution towards bringing talented players into the sport of polo and in preserving its rich heritage.. “Working in collaboration with the Indian Polo Association, the Indian Army has played a pivotal role in keeping this legacy vibrant and relevant.. “I am confident that, working together, we will foster a positive culture for Polo as well as other sports in India. This will enable our young talent to come to the fore and bring glory to the nation,” he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the ministry.. Singh said initiatives such as ‘Khelo India’ and the ‘Target Olympic Podium Scheme’, coupled with the unprecedented development of sports infrastructure, have provided the youth with a new platform to excel and move forward.. He added that the ‘National Sports Governance Act’ and the ‘Khelo Bharat Policy’ are set to yield immense benefits for talented athletes, and these measures will foster greater transparency and accountability within sports organisations.. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. 

 New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday called for enhanced public-private partnership to provide a new direction to the nation’s sports economy.. Rajnath calls for enhanced public-private partnership to boost sports economy. Addressing a gathering at the final match of the Aditya Birla Memorial Polo Cup here, he said, “The government, through a series of initiatives, is fostering a sports culture within the country where athletes and youth have access to opportunities, resources, and get respect.”. Singh called for enhanced public-private partnership in the sector to further elevate India’s prestige on the international stage, and to provide a new direction to the nation’s sports economy.. In the near future, India will “carve out a strong global identity for itself in sports, especially polo”, if the government, the private sector, and various social groups work together, the defence minister asserted.. He said polo is deeply rooted in the nation’s sporting traditions, spanning thousands of years, and can rightfully be designated as a “heritage sport” of India.. Singh noted that the Indian Army has made a significant contribution towards bringing talented players into the sport of polo and in preserving its rich heritage.. “Working in collaboration with the Indian Polo Association, the Indian Army has played a pivotal role in keeping this legacy vibrant and relevant.. “I am confident that, working together, we will foster a positive culture for Polo as well as other sports in India. This will enable our young talent to come to the fore and bring glory to the nation,” he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the ministry.. Singh said initiatives such as ‘Khelo India’ and the ‘Target Olympic Podium Scheme’, coupled with the unprecedented development of sports infrastructure, have provided the youth with a new platform to excel and move forward.. He added that the ‘National Sports Governance Act’ and the ‘Khelo Bharat Policy’ are set to yield immense benefits for talented athletes, and these measures will foster greater transparency and accountability within sports organisations.. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. 

 External affairs minister S. Jaishankar travelled to Belgium on Sunday to interact with his counterparts from the 27 member states of the European Union, marking his first foreign visit since the start of Israel and the US’s war against Iran last month.. India’s Jaishankar in Belgium for EU Foreign Affairs Council talks, focusing on trade, regional security, and well-being of Indians in West Asia. Jaishankar, who is visiting Brussels at the invitation of European Union foreign and security policy chief Kaja Kallas, will participate in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, the External Affairs Ministry said.. During the two-day visit, Jaishankar will also hold meetings with the leadership of the EU and his counterparts from Belgium and other EU member states.. His visit comes in the wake of the India-EU Summit in January, when the two sides concluded negotiations on a free trade deal, and is expected to deepen India’s strategic partnership with the EU.. Ahead of his departure for Brussels, Jaishankar spoke to his counterparts from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to discuss the latest developments surrounding the conflict in West Asia.. Jaishankar said on social media that he and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan exchanged views on various aspects of the regional situation on Saturday night. He said in another post that he had discussed ongoing developments related to the conflict in West Asia with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday night.. During an ongoing outreach to the leadership of West Asian countries, the Indian government has emphasised the security and well-being of 10 million Indians living in the region. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are home to close to eight million Indians.