Budget 2021: Nirmala Sitharaman on boosting agriculture sector, says govt committed to welfare of farmers

A significant controversy unfolds as former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan claims the Indian Air Force was 'completely defeated' during 'Operation Sindoor'. Chavan alleged that fighter jets were shot down and the force was grounded, prompting a sharp backlash. The BJP and decorated military veterans, including Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor and Major General (Retd) Sanjay Meston, have strongly rebutted these remarks, labeling them as demoralizing and factually incorrect while highlighting the operation's strategic successes. This special report analyzes the political fallout from the Congress leader's statement. The broadcast also covers a major boost to India's maritime defense with the commissioning of the Indian Navy’s second MH-60R ‘Romeo’ helicopter squadron at INS Hansa, Goa. Experts detail the advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities of these new assets.

When Dhurandhar casually drops the term “burger boy,” it sounds like a joke. In Pakistan, it isn’t.

In this special report, an unidentified speaker breaks down the key differences between the proposed VB-G RAM G Bill and the existing MGNREGA. The new bill, introduced by the Centre, proposes increasing guaranteed employment from 100 to 125 days but shifts the funding model to a 60-40 Centre-State ratio. Unlike MGNREGA, the new legislation mandates a pause in work during the 60-day peak agricultural season. The report also highlights the shift in planning authority from states to the Centre and the focus on four priority areas: water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood infrastructure, and disaster management. The speaker notes that while the government claims wage payments will be faster, states will now have to bear the extra cost if the budget is exceeded.

In this special report, India Today’s Senior Special Correspondent Aishwarya Paliwal details the Modi government’s push to pass the contentious ‘VB-G RAM G Bill’ in the Lok Sabha. The legislation, set to replace MGNREGA, aims to increase guaranteed work days to 125 but faces stiff opposition over shifting the financial burden to states. Aishwarya Paliwal explains that the government is ‘determined to pass’ the bill to facilitate budget allocations for the upcoming fiscal year. The report highlights the confrontation between the Centre and Opposition over the lack of legislative scrutiny.