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Government seeks clarity on recovering hefty penalties from carmakers for missing fuel efficiency targets. With stricter norms ahead, the PMO is pushing ministries to define who evaluates, approves, and recovers the dues. Over Rs 8,800 crore in penalties have been levied for past non-compliance, yet no recovery has occurred.

Indian Railways has boosted Kilometrage Allowance and Allowance in lieu of Kilometrage by 25% for over two lakh running staff, effective January 2024. This decision aligns compensation with the 50% Dearness Allowance hike, addressing long-standing demands for better financial benefits for essential operational personnel.

The March 31 deadline for eliminating Left-wing extremism may pass without fanfare, having successfully created a psychological impetus for stakeholders. This pressure led to the neutralization or surrender of most CPI(Maoist) leadership, fracturing the group and pushing remaining members towards surrender.

Supreme Court's Justice Vikram Nath asserted AI can aid judicial processes but won't replace judges' core judgment-writing role. He highlighted AI's limitations in complex cases like matrimonial disputes and constitutional matters. Other judges echoed concerns about AI's potential for bias and the need for human conscience in justice delivery, emphasizing its role as a facilitator, not a substitute.

Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan highlighted a stark gender disparity in higher judicial appointments, noting women excel in lower judicial services but are underrepresented in High Courts and the Supreme Court due to subjective collegium criteria. He stressed the need for greater gender parity for India to achieve developed nation status by 2047.

SC judge Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized that a developed India by 2047 requires greater tolerance for debate and dissent, without criminalizing them. He highlighted that thousands arrested under the UAPA with minuscule convictions indicate overuse or misuse of the law, hindering justice delivery and the ideal of a developed nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the longest-serving head of government, surpassing the record previously held by Pawan Kumar Chamling. This milestone marks 25 continuous years in leadership, beginning with his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister in October 2001 and continuing as Prime Minister since May 2014.

A Lamborghini's pre-dawn drifting stunt on Bengaluru's MG Road has led to police scrutiny, with the high-end car traced to Ricky Rai, son of late underworld figure Muthappa Rai. Authorities have seized the vehicle and issued notices to Rai, who has yet to respond. The incident, captured on video, is being investigated for dangerous driving and other violations.

Two vessels, the LPG tanker Pyxis Pioneer from the US and the Russian crude oil tanker Aqua Titan, arrived at New Mangalore Port on Sunday. The port, which boasts India's largest underground LPG storage, waived cargo charges for these shipments. The Aqua Titan's course change from China to India remained unclear.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet committee on security discussed measures to diversify import sources for key sectors like chemicals and pharmaceuticals due to the West Asia conflict's global economic impact. The government is preparing short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to safeguard citizens and ensure the availability of essential goods like fertilizers and coal.

Public hearing in Delhi raises concerns over proposed changes to Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, including removal of self-perceived gender identity provision

The Assam Nagorik Sanmilani, which urged Raijor Dal on to join the Congress-led bloc a few days ago, says the BJP’s divisive politics have hollowed out the Assamese identity

The assailant fired indiscriminately and lobbed several grenades at the commando camp in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district

Assam goes to the polls amidst another political churn

The Telangana CM intends to shape the party’s future with young faces

Farmers, who recently set up a producer organisation and started growing millets, complain that they still do not have machinery needed to process the crop. Residents say work to lay a second access road to Subramaniaswami Temple is yet to be completed, with land acquisition still under way

The Kerala Chief Minister doesn’t see defections from the Left helping either the BJP or the Congress, which, according to him, is the BJP’s ‘B team’; for the State to be in step with the modern era, the Left should continue to be in govt, he argues