Daily Bulletin

The Election Commission of India (ECI) held its first All India Media Conference in New Delhi, themed “Connecting stakeholders, strengthening democracy: Role of media in elections.” Addressing over 380 media professionals, Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar affirmed that Indian elections are conducted with utmost transparency. He highlighted the robustness of the electoral rolls, which comprise nearly 95 crore voters and are concurrently audited by over 12 lakh Booth Level Officers and 15 lakh Booth Level Agents to ensure grassroots-level integrity.

The National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS), in its 12th meeting, resolved to formulate new regulations for the surveillance and security of specified dams under the Dam Safety Act, 2021. The committee reviewed recent failures, including the Teesta Stage-III dam in Sikkim, and directed states to complete mandatory safety evaluations by December 2026. To enhance technical capacity, the NCDS will continue supporting post-graduate programmes at IIT Roorkee and IISc Bengaluru for working engineers.

The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, released the book “RSS @100: A Century of Service, Unity & Sacrifice” at Uprashtrapati Bhavan. Authored by Shri Shyam Jaju and Shri Anupam Trivedi, the book commemorates the centenary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The event was also attended by Union Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of ₹1 lakh on SpiceJet Limited for employing deceptive 'dark patterns' on its online booking platform. The authority found that the airline engaged in 'forced action' by auto-enrolling customers into a loyalty program without explicit consent, a violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over ₹4,700 crore in Chandigarh. Key projects include the inauguration of a 300-bed Advanced Mother and Child Centre at PGIMER and a six-lane greenfield highway connecting IT City to Kurali. The foundation was also laid for a 150-bed Critical Care Block at PGIMER under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).

The National Health Authority (NHA) is charting the next phase of its flagship schemes, noting that the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has facilitated cashless treatments worth over ₹1.91 lakh crore. Concurrently, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has created over 94 crore ABHA numbers. The NHA is now rolling out new initiatives, including Aarogya Setu 2.0 and the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX), to create a seamless digital health ecosystem.

During an address in Chandigarh, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi highlighted significant improvements in national health infrastructure, noting that the number of medical colleges has increased from 387 in 2014 to 818 today. He also stated that over 90% of childbirths now occur in institutional settings, contributing to an 86% decline in the maternal mortality rate. Approval has also been granted for a new MBBS college at PGIMER, Chandigarh.

As part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated 75 redeveloped railway stations across the country. This major infrastructure initiative aims to modernise stations with world-class passenger amenities, improved accessibility, and integrated urban development. The scheme envisions transforming railway stations into vibrant city centres.