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Press Trust Of India

NEW DELHI: Prime Min-

ister Narendra Modi on

Sunday said 2025 was a

year of proud milestones

for India as he high-

lighted Operation Sin-

door, saying it became a

symbol of pride for every

Indian and showed the

world that the country

does not compromise on

its security.

Addressing his

monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’

address, the last in 2025,

Modi said the country’s

impact was visible every-

where in the outgoing

year. “2025 was a year

of proud milestones

for India. Whether in

national security, sports,

scientic innovation or

on the world’s biggest

platforms, India’s impact

was visible everywhere,”

he said. The prime min-

ister said during Oper-

ation Sindoor, images

of love and devotion

toward ‘Maa Bharti’

(Mother India) emerged

from every corner of

the nation and people

expressed their emotions

and gratitude in their

own unique ways.

“Operation Sindoor’

became a symbol of pride

for every Indian. The

world witnessed clearly

that today’s India does

not compromise on its

security,” he said.

India carried out pre-

cision strikes under Oper-

ation Sindoor on terror

infrastructure in Pakistan

on May 7 in response

to the April 22 Pahal-

gam terror attack that

killed 26 people. India

and Pakistan reached an

understanding on May

10 to end the military

confrontation. Modi said

the same spirit was wit-

nessed when national

song ‘Vande Mataram’

completed 150 years.

“I had urged you to

share your messages

and suggestions using

the hashtag ‘#VandeMa-

taram150’, and our fel-

low citizens participated

in this campaign with

immense enthusiasm,” he

said. The prime minister

noted that 2025 has truly

been a memorable year

for sports, with the men’s

cricket team clinching the

ICC Champions Trophy

and the women’s cricket

team winning the World

Cup for the rst time.

‘2025: A year of India’s

proud milestones’

Operation Sindoor became a symbol of India’s security pride.

Third

launch pad

CHENNAI: ISRO is in the

process of developing a

third launch pad at the

Shriharikota spaceport

and is currently identify-

ing the right vendors for

it, a top scientist said.

Shriharikota com-

plex, which covers an

area of 175 sq km, is

located about 135 km

east of Chennai. It has

been serving the Ben-

galuru-headquartered

space agency for the

launch of various sat-

ellites using dierent

launch vehicles.

To move ahead with

its plan of placing bigger

satellites weighing over

12,000 - 14,000 kg in

various orbits in space,

ISRO requires bigger

launch vehicles, Padma-

kumar ES, the Director

and Distinguished Sci-

entist of Satish Dhawan

Space Centre, Shrihari-

kota, said.

To serve this purpose,

ISRO is planning a third

launch pad, he said.

Press Trust Of India

CEO cites incom-

plete 2002 PDF

conversion for

issue.

KOLKATA: The EC has

issued fresh instruc-

tions to district election

ocials in West Bengal,

directing that voters

marked as “unmapped”

in the BLO app due to

technical issues linked

to the digitisation of

the 2002 electoral rolls

during the ongoing SIR

exercise should not be

called for hearings, even

if such notices have been

auto-generated by the

system.

The directive, issued

by the oce of the Chief

Electoral Ocer (CEO),

West Bengal, on Saturday

stated that the issue has

arisen due to incomplete

conversion of the PDF

version of the 2002 elec-

toral rolls, the last Special

Intensive Revision (SIR)

conducted in the state,

into CSV format, leading

to linkage failures in the

booth-level ocer (BLO)

app for a number of elec-

tors.

It said that despite

being marked as

“unmapped” in the sys-

tem, many such electors

have valid self or prog-

eny linkage with the hard

copy of the 2002 elec-

toral rolls, duly authenti-

cated by district election

ocers (DEOs) and pub-

lished on the CEO’s web-

site.

The CEO’s oce said

that hearing notices gen-

erated automatically in

such cases need not be

served and should be

retained at the level of

the electoral registration

ocer (ERO) or assistant

electoral registration o-

cer (AERO).

As per the instruc-

tions, extracts of the 2002

electoral rolls may be for-

warded to the DEO con-

cerned for verication

in accordance with the

guidelines of the Election

Commission. Upon veri-

cation, EROs or AEROs

may take an appropriate

decision and upload the

necessary documents for

the disposal of the cases.

The directive also

allows BLOs to be

deputed for eld veri-

cation, including tak-

ing photographs of the

electors concerned for

uploading in the system.

Press Trust Of India

BIJAPUR:

A new police

camp has been set up at

a strategically important

location in Bijapur district

to address the security vac-

uum and facilitate develop-

ment works, an ocial said

on Sunday.

‘Surakhsa evam Jan

Suvidha Camp’ (security

and public utility camp) was

successfully established on

Friday at Dodimarka village

under the Farsegarh police

station limits, the ocial

said. The camp will serve

as a forward operating base

(FOB) for the 7th battalion

of the Chhattisgarh Armed

Force (CAF), he said.

A total of 29 new secu-

rity camps have been estab-

lished in Bijapur district

since 2024, while 923 Mao-

ists have surrendered, 221

have been killed in encoun-

ters, and 1,100 have been

arrested as a result of sus-

tained anti-Naxalite opera-

tions, he said.

The ocial said that

despite harsh terrain and

geographical conditions and

severe cold, a joint team of

the District Reserve Guard

(DRG), CAF, and district

police demonstrated exem-

plary courage and determi-

nation in establishing the

camp as part of intensied

operations against Maoist

activities in the region.

NUMBER

z A total of 29 new

security camps

established in Bijapur

district since 2024.

| STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT LOCATION |

Bijapur gets new security camp to tackle Maoists

EC flags glitch in 2002 rolls,

suspends Bengal hearings

| SPECIAL INTENSIVE REVISION |

Raipur | MONDAY, December 29, 2025 www.centralchronicle.in

Fastest Growing English Daily Of Chhattisgarh

WELLNESS

Quality health care is a global priority Pg 13

SPORT

Humpy in joint

lead; Gukesh,

Erigaisi well-

placed as Carlsen

suers rare loss

Pg 14

&GLITTERS

Jaideep Ahlawat

is the new

entry into

‘Drishyam 3’

Pg 12

COMMENT

We Sanatanis:

The World’s

Minuscule

Minority

Pg 10

Pages: 16 | Price: Rs. 4.00

HIGHLIGHT

z 2002 electoral roll

extracts sent to DEO

for veriﬁcation.

HIGHLIGHT

z Country’s impact was

visible everywhere in

the outgoing year.

‘People cautioned against indiscriminate

use of antibiotics’

Flagging the issue of antibiotic resistance, Prime Min-

ister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people not to

take such medicines without consulting a doctor. In his

monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address, Modi said the

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently

released a report which said that antibiotics were prov-

ing ineffective against many diseases like pneumonia

and UTI (Urinary Tract Infections). “This is a matter of

great concern for all of us,” he said.

‘World eyes India for its youth power’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India’s

achievements in the field of science, innovations and the

expansion of technology have greatly impressed countries

across the globe and the whole world is is looking at the

country with great hope because of its “youth power”. In

his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, Modi also said

that on January 12, the ‘National Youth Day’ will be cele-

brated on Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary when a

‘Young Leaders Dialogue’ will also be organised.

Vendors set up stalls at the banks of the Sangam on a cold winter morning, in Prayagraj, Sunday.

Winter morning in Prayagraj

Press Trust Of India

RAIGARH: A day after

several policemen were

injured and vehicles were

set ablaze during a pro-

test against a coal min-

ing project in Tamnar in

Raigarh district, Chief

Minister Vishnu Deo

Sai on Sunday said an

inquiry will be conducted

and strict action will be

taken against those found

guilty.

Meanwhile, the local

administration said it has

initiated the process to

cancel the public hear-

ing held for the project,

a key demand of the local

villagers who have been

staging a protest for the

past over two weeks.

Speaking to reporters

in Raipur, Sai said, ‘The

incident (of violence and

arson) in Tamnar will be

investigated, and action

will be taken against who-

ever is found guilty.”

Police have lodged mul-

tiple FIRs in connection

with the violence and

arson, ocials said.

Talking to reporters in

Raigarh district, Ghar-

ghoda Sub-Divisional

Magistrate (SDM) Durga

Prasad Adhikari said one

round of discussion has

been held with village

representatives following

Saturday’s incident and

the administration has

begun the cancellation

process in response to

their demands.

When specically asked

whether he was referring

to the process of cancel-

ling the public hearing,

the ocial replied in the

armative.

Probe ordered in Raigarh

mine stir violence

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

With the objec-

tive of preserving and

promoting the rich folk

traditions, tribal culture,

art and heritage of the

Bastar region, the Bastar

Pandum will once again

be organised in a grand

and vibrant manner in

2026, on the lines of last

year’s successful edition.

A high-level review

meeting on the prepa-

rations for Bastar Pan-

dum 2026 was held

at the Chief Minister’s

residence on Saturday,

chaired by Chief Minis-

ter Shri Vishnu Deo Sai.

The meeting reviewed

the detailed arrange-

ments for the event, and

necessary directions

were issued to ensure

a well-coordinated and

impactful festival.

The Bastar Pandum

2026 is proposed to

be organised in three

phases, from January 10

to February 5, 2026. The

block-level events will

be held from January 10

to 20, district-level pro-

grammes from January

24 to 30, and division-

al-level events from Feb-

ruary 1 to 5.

This year, the number

of cultural disciplines

featured at Bastar Pan-

dum will be increased

from seven to twelve.

The disciplines include

Bastar tribal dance, folk

songs, theatre, traditional

musical instruments, cos-

tumes and jewellery, wor-

ship rituals, handicrafts,

painting, tribal bever-

ages, traditional cuisine,

regional literature and

forest-based medicinal

knowledge.

During the meet-

ing, the Chief Minister

received a detailed brief-

ing from departmental

ocials and directed that

the festival be organised

in a structured, dignied

and more impactful man-

ner. He said that Bastar

Pandum is a powerful

platform representing

the true spirit and cul-

tural soul of Bastar.

It was also informed

that the logo, theme song

and ocial website of

Bastar Pandum 2026 will

be unveiled by the Chief

Minister at the temple

premises with the bless-

ings of Maa Danteshwari.

Senior tribal leaders

including Manjhi–Chalki,

Gayata–Pujari, prominent

members of the tribal

community and Padma

awardees will be present

on the occasion.

The meeting also dis-

cussed inviting Indian

ambassadors posted in

various countries, with

the aim of familiaris-

ing them with Bastar’s

unique cultural heritage,

traditions and tribal way

of life. It was also decided

to invite senior ocers

originally from the Bas-

tar division, ocers

selected through UPSC

and CGPSC, doctors,

engineers, senior pub-

lic representatives, and

tribal dance troupes from

dierent states across the

country.

To ensure wider par-

ticipation, it is proposed

that participant registra-

tion will be facilitated

through both online and

oine modes, enabling

the inclusion of a larger

number of artists and cul-

tural groups.

It was also noted that

the festival will be orga-

nised to promote and

preserve Bastar’s art,

crafts, festivals, cuisine,

dialects, ornaments, tra-

ditional musical instru-

ments, dance, music, the-

atre, regional literature,

forest-based medicinal

knowledge and sacred

groves.

‘Bastar Pandum 2026 to

oer global platform’

Bastar Pandum will once again be organised in a grand and vibrant

manner in 2026, on the lines of last year’s successful edition.

Raipur

Briefs

BEST OF THE REST

The state government is

working to strengthen rural

woman and make them

independent through PM Modi’s

‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’

and CM’s leadership.

OP Choudhary

Finance Minister - Ch’garh

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

The Shaheed

Veer Narayan Singh

Tribal Museum, built on

the historical background

of tribal freedom ghters

during the British rule,

located in the premises

of the Tribal Research

and Training Institute

in Nava Raipur, is prov-

ing to be successful in

achieving its objectives. A

large number of tourists

from India and abroad

are visiting the museum,

and it is becoming a cen-

ter of inspiration and

knowledge for students,

researchers, and the gen-

eral public. Students from

schools and colleges,

along with a large num-

ber of common people,

are visiting the museum.

In just about two months

since its inauguration,

more than 72,000 visi-

tors have already visited

the museum.

The museum is a

center of attraction and

enthusiasm. It is note-

worthy that the museum

based on tribal culture

and traditions, and the

Shaheed Veer Narayan

Singh Memorial cum

Tribal Freedom Fight-

ers Museum, were com-

pleted rapidly under the

guidance of the Tribal

Development Depart-

ment. Chief Minister

Vishnu Deo Sai and the

departmental minister

Ram Vichar also contin-

uously monitored and

provided guidance on the

construction work.

It is worth mention-

ing that this magni-

cent museum was ded-

icated to the people by

Prime Minister Naren-

dra Modi on Novem-

ber 1st, on the occasion

of the Silver Jubilee

of Chhattisgarh State-

hood. The Shaheed Veer

Narayan Singh Memo-

rial cum Tribal Freedom

Fighters Museum has

become a center of attrac-

tion and enthusiasm for

visitors. Information

about the contributions

of tribal freedom ghters

is available.

| INSPIRATION FOR STUDENTS |

Students, researchers visiting Tribal Museum

RAIPUR:

A delegation of trainee Indian

Police Service (IPS) ocers paid a

courtesy visit to Deputy Chief Minister

and Home Minister Vijay Sharma at his

ocial residence today. On this occa-

sion, Deputy Chief Minister Sharma

discussed various topics related to the

state’s law and order situation, admin-

istrative eciency, and modern polic-

ing with the trainee ocers.

Deputy Chief Minister Sharma

extended his best wishes to the trainee

ocers for their bright future, stating

that honesty, sensitivity, and a spirit

of service are the hallmarks of a suc-

cessful police ocer. He said that law

and order can be strengthened only

through community-based policing.

The delegation included IG Ajay

Yadav, SP Abhishek Pallav, and SSP

Pankaj Shukla, along with trainee IPS

ocers Aditya Kumar, Anshika Jain,

Prateek Dada Saheb, and Mansi. The

trainee ocers also shared their train-

ing experiences with Deputy Chief

Minister Sharma.

The Deputy Chief Minister

expressed his expectation that the

trainee ocers would give top pri-

ority to the swift resolution of public

grievances, impartial enforcement of

the law, and the protection of human

rights during their eld postings.

He said that the state government

is continuously striving to make the

police force modern, ecient, and

people-oriented.

DANTEWADA: Police have achieved

a major success in a Rs 50 lakh fraud

case. Police have nabbed the accused

who had been absconding for two

years. The accused are residents of

Bihar and had committed the fraud in

Dantewada. Arvind Kumar and Vidya

Kumar were the individuals who com-

mitted the fraud. According to the

complainant, a resident of Kirandul,

he received a call in 2023. The caller

said that a parcel containing foreign

currency had arrived for him, and he

would have to pay customs charges to

receive it.

The accused defrauded the vic-

tim of approximately Rs 50 lakh in a

month by claiming that CBI charges

and income tax would be levied. Based

on the complainant’s report, case

number 87/2023 under Section 420

of the IPC and Section 66(D) of the IT

Act was registered at Kirandul police

station, and an investigation was

launched. The Dantewada Cyber Cell

and Kirandul police analyzed trans-

actions from more than 100 accounts

and used cyber forensic tools to track

down and arrest the accused.

RAIPUR: JCI Raipur MAIC United suc-

cessfully organized a grand and memo-

rable oath and award ceremony, mark-

ing the celebration of President Barat

2025 under the leadership of President

JC Ronak Bengani .The program began

with a majestic procession, creating

an atmosphere of pride and enthusi-

asm. This was followed by maic music,

cultural performances, including a

welcome dance showcasing dier-

ent Yugas and a graceful, devotional

Radha–Krishna dance, delivering

strong social and motivational mes-

sages to the audience The proceedings

continued with the presentation of the

Secretary’s Report by JC Khushi Kumb-

hare , who shared a detailed overview

of the chapter’s activities and achieve-

ments. The traditional lamp lighting

ceremony was then performed by the

respected guests, symbolizing wis-

dom, growth, and new beginnings.

President JC Ronak Bengani presented

his Presidential Report, highlighting

the milestones achieved by JCI Raipur

MAIC United during his tenure. As

a mark of appreciation, the chapter

honored its dedicated and hardwork-

ing members with various titles and

recognitions. The prestigious Best JC

of the Year 2025 award was given to

JC Khushi Khumbare and in total more

than 30 awards were conferred upon

members for their exceptional contri-

butions and performance. A key high-

light of the event was the handover of

leadership. President JC Ronak Ben-

gani formally transferred the presi-

dency to the incoming President, JC

Ark Piyush Pandey.

RAIPUR:

A serious incident has come

to light in the Sundar Nagar Chowk

area of Raipur, the capital of Chhat-

tisgarh, where a drunk young man

allegedly abused, assaulted, and

threatened to kill a woman at a snack

shop. The victim shopkeeper has

led a report at the police station and

demanded strict action against the

accused. The incident is said to have

occurred on the night of December 27,

2025, around 8 PM.

According to the information

received, the victim is a resident of

Sundar Nagar, near Kargil Chowk,

Raipur, and is educated up to the 10th

grade. He runs a snack shop in Sundar

Nagar Chowk to support his family.

At the time of the incident, the victim

had nished work and gone home,

while his wife, Tripta Juneja, was at

the shop.

During this time, a young man, in

a drunken state, arrived at the shop

with a dog. It is alleged that the young

man picked up a samosa from the

shop, made his dog sni it, and then

put it back in the snack tray. Not only

that, he allegedly did the same dirty

act with other snack items. When

the shopkeeper’s wife, Tripta Juneja,

objected to this, he became furious.

According to the victim, the young

man started using obscene language,

including abusive terms directed at

her mother and sister, and threatened

to kill her. It is alleged that during this

time, the young man kicked Tripta

Juneja in the stomach and ed the

scene. The woman was very fright-

ened by this incident and immediately

called her husband to inform him of

everything.

Trainee IPS ocers pay courtesy visit to

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma

Fraudsters who swindled Rs 50 lakh

nabbed on using CBI, IT scare tactics

JCI Raipur MAIC United celebrates

grand oath and award ceremony

Snack shop owner’s wife assaulted

by a drunken man, report led

COURTESY VISIT

FRAUDSTERS NABBED

OATH CEREMONY

ASSAULT AND THREATENING BY DRUNKEN MAN

Businessman

defrauded

of lakhs of

rupees

Electronic ﬁrm

defrauded by

accountant of

Rs 6 lakh

RAIPUR:

A young man lost

Rs 10 lakh after falling

for a fake RTO e-challan

app scam. The incident

occurred on December

22. Three days after the

fraud, the RTO issued

an alert to the public.

According to the infor-

mation received, Pankaj

Patel (35), the owner of

Patel Switchgear located

in Arihant Complex,

Ganj, received a fake RTO

e-challan le from an

unknown person at 12 PM

on December 22. Upon

clicking the link, his

bank account was hacked

through his phone num-

ber, and Rs 10 lakh was

transferred out. Pankaj

Patel led a complaint at

the Ganj police station on

the night of December 27

under Section 3184. The

police have claimed that

they will soon arrest the

accused in this case.

RAIPUR:

The Maudhap-

ara police have regis-

tered a case of fraud

against an accountant of

an electronics rm for

defrauding the company

of Rs 5.63 lakh. Praveen

Agrawal (60), a resident

of Swarnabhoomi Soci-

ety, led a report yester-

day evening. He is the

director of Ambika Elec-

tronics Pvt. Ltd., located

at Ambika Tower, MG

Road, Maudhapara.

FACTFILE

z This year, the

number of cultural

disciplines featured at

Bastar Pandum will be

increased from seven to

twelve.

z Bastar Pandum is

a powerful platform

representing the true

spirit and cultural soul

of Bastar, said CM Sai.

Central Chronicle News

CM Vishnu Deo Sai

today unveiled the

State Government

Calendar for the

year 2026 at a brief

ceremony.

RAIPUR:

CM Vishnu Deo

Sai today unveiled the

State Government Cal-

endar for the year 2026

at a brief ceremony held

at his Residence Oce in

the state capital- Raipur.

The year 2026 is being

observed by the State

Government as ‘Mah-

tari Gaurav Varsh’, and

the calendar has been

designed around this cen-

tral theme, reecting the

collective aim towards

building a strong and

prosperous Chhattisgarh.

The main cover of the

calendar prominently

features the ve revered

Shakti Peeths of Chhat-

tisgarh — Maa Bamlesh-

wari of Dongargarh, Maa

Mahamaya of Ratanpur,

Maa Danteshwari of

Dantewada, Maa Chan-

drahansini of Chandra-

pur, and Maa Kudargarhi

of Surajpur. The portraits

of Hon’ble Prime Minister

Narendra Modi and Chief

Minister Vishnu Deo Sai

have also been included.

The background artisti-

cally depicts the temples

of Sirpur and Rajim, tribal

culture, Madheshwar

Hill, and the graphical

representation of majes-

tic Chitrakote Waterfall,

symbolising the rich cul-

tural and natural heritage

of Chhattisgarh. Address-

ing the occasion, Chief

Minister Sai said that

respect for “MatraShakti”

and empowerment of

women remain the high-

est priority of the State

Government.

| CALENDAR THEMED ON ‘MAHTARI GAURAV VARSH’ |

CM Sai unveils the state

govt calendar for 2026

Central Chronicle News

Police has nabbed

a drug peddler

trying to sell Her-

oin-drug in Kamal

Vihar area.

RAIPUR: The police has

nabbed a drug peddler

trying to sell Heroin-drug

in Kamal Vihar area. The

accused had brought

the heroin from Punjab.

18 grams of heroin was

seized from the accused.

He was supplying heroin

for parties to be held in

farmhouses and clubs in

the outer areas during

the New Year celebra-

tions. A case has been

registered against the

accused at Tikrapara

police station under

crime number 1043/25,

Section 21(b) of the Nar-

cotic Drugs and Psycho-

tropic Substances Act.

Raipur. Manish Rochlani,

the accused who was sup-

plying heroin at parties in

view of New Year’s Eve,

has been arrested. The

Anti-Crime and Cyber

Unit team received infor-

mation that a person was

standing near the Shiva

Temple in Kamal Vihar

Sector 04, under the

Tikrapara police station

area, who was in posses-

sion of prohibited nar-

cotic substances and was

trying to sell them. Act-

ing on the information,

a joint team of the Anti-

Crime and Cyber Unit

and Tikrapara police sta-

tion, under the direction

of senior ocers, went to

the spot, identied and

apprehended the person

matching the description

given by the informant.

Heroin-drug

supplier arrested in

Kamal Vihar Sector 4

FACTFILE

z The monthly pages of

the calendar highlight

key government

schemes and campaigns.

Raipur News

Panchayat Chairpersons

demand increase in

honorarium, TA/DA, and

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

During a high-

level meeting with Dep-

uty Chief Minister Vijay

Sharma on Saturday,

District Panchayat Chair-

persons from across

Chhattisgarh raised sev-

eral key demands, includ-

ing an increase in honorar-

ium, traveling allowances

(TA/DA), and improved

security arrangements.

The meeting, held at

the Deputy CM’s resi-

dence oce, served as a

platform for chairpersons

to voice local issues and

administrative expec-

tations. Their primary

demands included a

signicant hike in

monthly honorarium,

accommodation allow-

ances and other miscel-

laneous perks. Revision

of vehicle rental rates

and travel allowances

to match current costs

as well as provision of

adequate security and

ocial vehicle facilities

for chairpersons were

demanded.

Deputy CM Vijay

Sharma, who also holds

the Panchayat and Rural

Development portfolio,

briefed the representa-

tives on the provisions

of the newly introduced

VBG Ram G Act. The

meeting also covered

various development

schemes, including the

District and Janpad Pan-

chayat Development

Funds, the Mahtari

Sadan construction, and

the Atal Digital Facility

Centers. Ocials pro-

vided updates on the

Samarth Panchayat Por-

tal, which enables UPI-

based tax collection for

local bodies, and the

Gram Sampada Mobile

App for online monitor-

ing of assets.

The Deputy CM

assured the chairpersons

that their suggestions

would be considered

to ensure the eective

implementation of these

schemes and the bal-

anced development of

rural Chhattisgarh.

CM Sai joins Public Representatives

to listen to PM’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’

Probe committee formed over voter list irregularities in Raipur Rural

Central Chronicle News

The Prime Minister’s

year-end address

focused on the themes

of self-reliance, health

consciousness, and

a review of India’s

historic achievements

in 2025.

RAIPUR:

Chhattisgarh

Chief Minister Vishnu

Deo Sai, along with

several public repre-

sentatives, tuned in to

the 129th episode of

Prime Minister Naren-

dra Modi’s monthly

radio program, ‘Mann

Ki Baat’, at the CM

Residence today. The

Prime Minister’s year-

end address focused

on the themes of

self-reliance, health

consciousness, and a

review of India’s his-

toric achievements in

2025. In the nal epi-

sode of the year, Prime

Minister Modi shared

a vision for a stronger,

healthier India, touch-

ing upon several criti-

cal topics:

The PM urged citi-

zens to prioritize prod-

ucts made in India to

bolster the national

economy and sup-

port local artisans.

Following the broad-

cast, Chief Minister Sai

remarked that ‘Mann

Ki Baat’ has become a

powerful medium for

connecting the nation

and fostering a spirit of

public participation.

“Through this pro-

gram, the Prime Min-

ister consistently

strengthens our

resolve toward innova-

tion, self-reliance, and

nation-building. His

message on a healthy

lifestyle under the ‘Fit

India Movement’ is

the perfect inspiration

as we prepare to enter

2026,” the CM said. The

session at the CM Resi-

dence was attended by

Santosh Pandey, MP

and BJP Chief Spokes-

person, Prabodh Minj,

MLA and Purandar

Mishra, MLA.

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

Under the

guidance of Chief Minis-

ter Vishnu Deo Sai, the

Raipur District Admin-

istration has launched

specialized interview

training for UPSC Civil

Services 2025 candi-

dates through ‘Project

Anubhav.’ The initia-

tive aims to sharpen

the condence, per-

sonality development,

and presentation skills

of local aspirants who

have cleared the written

stages of the prestigious

examination.

The mock interviews

are being held at the

Collector’s Oce, where

candidates are evaluated

by a distinguished panel

of civil servants and aca-

demics. The panel pro-

vides real-world insights

and practical tips to nav-

igate the high-pressure

environment of the nal

UPSC interview.

The Interview Panel

Included Dr. Gaurav

Singh: District Collec-

tor, Kumar Biswaranjan:

CEO, Zila Panchayat,

Awadhesh Kumar

Trivedi: Senior DCM,

Railways apart from

Anupama Anand (IAS)

and Ishu Agrawal (IPS)

and Bhuwal Singh: Assis-

tant Professor, Science

College.

On Saturday, candi-

dates Sanjay Dahariya

and Roshan Agrawal

underwent rigorous

mock sessions. Each

interview lasted approxi-

mately 45 to 50 minutes,

followed by a detailed

feedback session where

the panel evaluated their

responses and suggested

improvements for the

nal personality test.

‘Project Anubhav’ is a

strategic initiative by the

Raipur District Admin-

istration designed to

bridge the gap between

academic knowledge and

professional presenta-

tion. By interacting with

serving IAS and IPS o-

cers, candidates gain a

deeper understanding of

the administrative mind-

set and current aairs.

| PROJECT ANUBHAV |

Expert Panel conduct UPSC mock interviews under ‘Project Anubhav’

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

During the 141st

Foundation Day cele-

brations of the Indian

National Congress at

Rajiv Bhawan, former

Chhattisgarh Chief Min-

ister Bhupesh Baghel

launched a sharp ideo-

logical attack on the roots

of Indian communal poli-

tics. Addressing a seminar

titled “Congress: From

the Freedom Struggle to

Nation Building,” Baghel

asserted that the theory

of nationalism based on

religious identity was pio-

neered by VD Savarkar

and Muhammad Ali Jin-

nah, labeling them as the

true architects of India’s

partition.

Baghel criticized con-

temporary “so-called

nationalists,” stating that

while Mahatma Gandhi

and Jawaharlal Nehru

were leading the charge

for independence, these

groups were actively

opposing them. He argued

that during the freedom

movement, Congress

mirrored the aspirations

of the common Indian,

while only communal,

casteist organizations and

those loyal to the British

Crown stood in oppo-

sition to the party. The

event commenced with

State Congress President

Deepak Baij hoisting the

party ag, accompanied

by a salute from the Seva

Dal. In his address, Baij

remarked that despite the

party not being in power

in most states currently,

Congress remains the only

political entity in India

with a dedicated presence

in every village across

the country. He empha-

sized the party’s enduring

grassroots connection and

its historical role in shap-

ing the modern nation.

The seminar saw par-

ticipation from several

senior leaders, includ-

ing former minister

Satyanarayana Sharma,

Amitesh Shukla, and

Rajendra Tiwari, who

reected on the party’s

historical milestones.

The gathering included a

wide spectrum of oce

bearers from the Youth

Congress, Seva Dal, and

various party cells. The

program, coordinated by

General Secretary Subodh

Haritwal, concluded with

a collective rearmation

by the workers to uphold

the party’s founding prin-

ciples against what they

termed “divisive ideolo-

gies.”

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

Following alle-

gations of discrepan-

cies in the electoral rolls

within the Raipur Rural

assembly constituency,

district authorities have

constituted a specialized

three-member investi-

gation committee. The

issue surfaced during the

Special Intensive Revi-

sion (SIR) 2025, currently

being conducted under

the mandates of the Elec-

tion Commission of India.

The complaints specif-

ically pointed toward

irregularities in the voter

lists for Ghazi Nagar,

located in the Birgaon area

under the Dharsiwa tehsil.

In response, the Sub-Divi-

sional Ocer (Revenue)

and Electoral Registration

Ocer for Assembly Con-

stituency No. 48, Raipur

Rural, moved to formalize

a probe to maintain the

integrity of the electoral

process.The appointed

investigation team con-

sists of Raipur Tehsildar

Rammurti Diwan, Birgaon

Municipal Corporation

Revenue Sub-Inspector

Shailendra Nirmalkar,

and local representative

Mahesh Kumar Sonwani.

The committee was tasked

with conducting imme-

diate eld verications

to address the concerns

raised by citizens regard-

ing Part Numbers 63 and

64 of the voter list. Accord-

ing to the District Elec-

tion Oce, preliminary

on-ground verication has

already commenced.

Savarkar, Jinnah responsible for

partition, not Congress: Bhupesh

141st Foundation Day celebrations of the Indian National Congress at Rajiv Bhawan.

FASTFACTS

Baghel criticized

contemporary “so-called

nationalists,” stating that

while Mahatma Gandhi

and Jawaharlal Nehru

were leading the charge

for independence, these

groups were actively

opposing them.

zThe event commenced

with State Congress

President Deepak Baij

hoisting the party ﬂag,

accompanied by a salute

from the Seva Dal.

FASTFACTS

His message on a

healthy lifestyle under

the ‘Fit India Movement’

is the perfect inspiration

as we prepare to enter

2026,” the CM said.

FASTFACTS

The meeting, held

at the Deputy CM’s

residence ofﬁce,

served as a platform

for chairpersons to

voice local issues

and administrative

expectations.

Central Chronicle News

Speaking on the

occasion, VC Maha-

dev Kavre described

Thakre as a “pillar

of simplicity, integ-

rity, and princi-

ples.”

RAIPUR:

A memorial

service was held at the

Kushabhau Thakre Uni-

versity of Journalism

and Mass Communica-

tion (KTUJM) today to

commemorate the 22nd

death anniversary of its

namesake and inspira-

tion, the late Kushabhau

Thakre.

Vice-Chancellor and

Divisional Commissioner

Mahadev Kavre paid o-

ral tributes at the statue

of Kushabhau Thakre

within the university

premises.

Speaking on the occa-

sion, VC Mahadev Kavre

described Thakre as

a “pillar of simplicity,

integrity, and princi-

ples.” He emphasized

how Thakre’s vision of

national service and

organization-building

continues to guide the

university’s students.

Aligning with Thakre’s

philosophy of rural

self-reliance and the

vision of Chief Minister

Vishnu Deo Sai, the uni-

versity has launched a

10-day training camp.

Organized in collabora-

tion with the Chhattis-

garh State Livelihood

Mission (BIHAN) and

the Saheli Social Welfare

Foundation, the camp

teaches rural women

from adopted villages the

craft of straw (para) and

oral art.

The gathering saw par-

ticipation from several

university ocials and

faculty members includ-

ing Sunil Kumar Sharma

(Registrar).

Shailendra Khandel-

wal conducted the pro-

ceedings and Saurabh

Sharma (Deputy Reg-

istrar) oered the vote

of thanks.Senior fac-

ulty members including

Dr. Nripendra Kumar

Sharma and Dr. Rajen-

dra Mohanty were also

present.

| DEATH ANNIVERSARY |

Tribute paid to Kushabhau Thakre

on his 22nd death anniversary

FASTFACTS

The gathering saw

participation from

several university

ofﬁcials and faculty

members including

Sunil Kumar Sharma

(Registrar).

MP pays tribute to

Veer Savarkar at

Cellular Jail

RAIPUR:

Senior BJP leader

and Raipur Member of

Parliament, Brijmohan

Agrawal, visited the his-

toric Cellular Jail (famously

known as Kala Pani) in Port

Blair on Sunday. The visit

followed his participation

in the Parliamentary Esti-

mates Committee meetings

held in the Andaman and

Nicobar Islands, where he

has been reviewing major

infrastructure and port

projects.

During his visit to

the colonial-era prison,

Agrawal visited the spe-

cic cell where the leg-

endary freedom ghter

Veer Savarkar was incar-

cerated by the British

regime. Spending several

quiet moments in the

small cell, the MP paid a

heartfelt tribute to Savar-

kar and the hundreds of

other revolutionaries who

endured inhumane tor-

ture for India’s indepen-

dence.Agrawal described

the jail as a “land of sac-

rice,” noting that the

stones of Cellular Jail serve

as a permanent reminder

that India’s freedom was

built on the foundation of

countless lives.

ARREST

SIKH COMMUNITY

Interstate drug

tracker arrested

with MDMA sourced

from Jodhpur

Sikh Community

urges state-wide free

screenings of “Chaar

Sahibzaade” lm

RAIPUR: As part of the

ongoing anti-narcotics

drive “Operation Nish-

chay,” Raipur Police suc-

cessfully apprehended an

interstate tracker near

Science City in the Pandri

area.

The suspect, identi-

ed as Kailash Bishnoi

from Jodhpur, Rajasthan,

was found in posses-

sion of 23.82 grams of

high-value MDMA drugs.

Along with the narcot-

ics, police seized three

mobile phones, ve

ATM cards from various

banks, and cash, bring-

ing the total value of the

seizure to approximately

Rs 3,42,000.

RAIPUR:

The Chhattis-

garh Sikh community

has formally requested

the state government to

organize free screenings

of the lm Chaar Sahib-

zaade across all cinemas,

multiplexes, and PVRs in

the state. During a high-

level meeting in Raipur,

community leaders pro-

posed this initiative to

honor the supreme sac-

rice of the four sons

of Guru Gobind Singh Ji

and to ensure their story

of valor and national

defense reaches every

citizen.

The Sikh society

emphasized that free

screenings would allow

the public, particularly

the youth and children,

to deeply reect on the

unprecedented sacrices

made for the protec-

tion of religion and the

nation.

NEWSLINE

RAIPUR :

Mrs Nalini

Jiyalal

Faye, aged

81, wife of

late Dr. J. B.

Faye, passed away here

on Sunday. She is sur-

vived by her sons Rajesh

Faye, Shailesh Faye,

Dhanesh Faye and Bhu-

pesh Faye, and daughter

Manjusha Maske.

Her last rites will be

performed on Monday,

December 29, 2025, at 12

noon at the Marwari Cre-

mation Ground, Raipur.

OBITUARY

Mrs Nalini

Jiyalal Faye

Rising stars shine at Raipur

District Badminton Tournament

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

The Raipur Dis-

trict Badminton Associa-

tion recently concluded

its highly anticipated

badminton tournament

for trainees at the Sapre

School Badminton Hall.

The event showcased

intense competition across

various age groups, cul-

minating in thrilling nal

matches that highlighted

the city’s budding sport-

ing talent. The tourna-

ment featured categories

ranging from Under-11 to

Senior levels. One of the

most competitive matches

saw Suryansh Bhansali

edge out Shivay Pujari in a

nail-biting three-set thriller

for the U11 Boys’ title.

In the Senior categories,

Rudraksh Tiwari and Mitali

Malani emerged victorious

in the Men’s and Women’s

singles, respectively. The

closing ceremony and

prize distribution were

held in the presence of dis-

tinguished guests from the

sporting community.

Central Chronicle News

BHILAI: In a bid to

enhance road safety and

minimize accidents, the

Police have intensied

their vigil across major

intersections. During a

recent intensive checking

drive, authorities inter-

cepted an Innova Crysta

(Registration No CG 07

CD 0013) for driving at an

excessive speed and dis-

playing a total disregard

for trac regulations.

The driver, identied

as 32-year-old Nitesh

Kumar, a resident of

Kohka Purani Basti, was

found operating the lux-

ury vehicle in a negligent

manner that posed a sig-

nicant threat to other

commuters.

Following the inter-

ception, police regis-

tered a case against him

under multiple sections

of the Motor Vehicles Act,

including Sections 112/183

(speeding), 184 (danger-

ous driving), 108, and

194B(1).

Senior Superinten-

dent of Police (SSP) Vijay

Agrawal has directed all

stations to maintain a

continuous crackdown

on both four-wheelers

and motorcycles that vio-

late safety protocols.

This special campaign

aims to instill trac

discipline and reduce

fatalities on Bhilai’s

busy roads. Police o-

cials have warned that

repeated oenders may

face license suspension in

addition to hefty nes.

Assembly Speaker

graces 20th State Inter-

Dist Volleyball Ch’ship

Central Chronicle News

BHILAI:

Chhattisgarh

Assembly Speaker Dr

Raman Singh attended the

20th Senior Chhattisgarh

State Inter-District Volley-

ball Championship as the

chief guest at the Volleyball

Complex, Pant Stadium,

Sector-1. The prestigious

four-day tournament, held

in memory of the late Beera

Singh, is being organized

under the joint aegis of the

Chhattisgarh State Volley-

ball Association and Bhilai

Steel Plant (BSP).

The championship,

which commenced on

December 25, features a

massive participation of 48

teams from across the state,

including 31 men’s and 17

women’s teams. During the

event, Dr Singh interacted

with the athletes, encour-

aging them to pursue excel-

lence with sportsmanship.

In his address, he noted

that the land of Durg has

consistently fostered ath-

letic talent, and such plat-

forms are crucial for local

players to gain national rec-

ognition.

Highlighting individual

excellence, the Speaker

honoured eight outstand-

ing players - Mahendra

Dhruv, Abdulla, Pihu Yadav,

Dipesh Sinha, Komal Mau-

rya, Santosh Kumar, Rekha

Padam, and Vinod Nair. In

addition to the active ath-

letes, six veterans—Kaushal

Prasad Nayak, SN Nema,

Tikam Das Andani, Shan-

kar Lal Yadav, Naimuddin

Han, and Rajeshwar Singh

— were felicitated for their

signicant lifelong contri-

butions to the sport of vol-

leyball. The ceremony was

conducted in the presence

of Chhattisgarh State Vol-

leyball Association Presi-

dent Mahesh Gagda, Vice

President Akram Khan,

Secretary Hem Prakash

Nayak, and Associate Sec-

retary Vinod Nair, along

with several other prom-

inent ocials, public

representatives, and sports

enthusiasts.

Central Chronicle News

Pt Shastri claried

that the oerings

received at such

events are utilized

for social welfare

projects.

BHILAI:

On the fourth day

of the Hanumant Katha at

Jayanti Stadium in Bhilai,

Pandit Dhirendra Krishna

Shastri (Bageshwar Dham

Sarkar) focused his sermon

on the power of unwaver-

ing devotion and the sig-

nicance of the Hanuman

Chalisa as a guide for mod-

ern life.

He emphasized that

devotion to Lord Hanuman

is not just about rituals but

about inner strength and

character. He explained

that a true devotee is one

who remains fearless in

the face of adversity, draw-

ing a parallel to Hanuman’s

courage. Following the pre-

vious day’s explanation, he

delved deeper into specic

verses of the Hanuman

Chalisa, describing them

as “scientic formulas” for

mental peace and spiritual

growth. Pt Shastri contin-

ued his recurring theme of

“Sanatana Unity,” urging

the massive crowd to move

beyond caste divisions and

unite under the umbrella

of their faith to protect

their cultural heritage.

Deputy Chief Min-

ister Vijay Sharma also

joined the spiritual gath-

ering. He participated in

the Vyaspeeth Aarti and

sought the blessings of

Pandit Shastri. He was

accompanied by several

prominent leaders, includ-

ing former Assembly

Speakers Dharamlal Kau-

shik; Rajnandgaon MP San-

tosh Pandey and former

MP Saroj Pandey.

Welcoming the seer

on behalf of the state gov-

ernment and the people

of Chhattisgarh, Deputy

CM Sharma remarked that

Maharaj’s presence ignites

a positive discourse in soci-

ety. The Deputy CM fur-

ther lauded Pandit Shastri

for his work towards social

harmony, national unity,

and the prestige of Sana-

tana culture. Addressing

the issue of Naxalism,

Sharma mentioned that

the state government is

working tirelessly to elim-

inate the menace, noting

that Maharaj’s concerns

and guidance on this issue

are of signicant impor-

tance. He concluded by

expressing his hope for

Pandit Shastri’s swift

return to Chhattisgarh in

the future.

| HANUMANT KATHA DAY-4 |

‘Hanuman Chalisa is a

scientific formula for peace’

Speeding SUV

penalised as part of

trac safety blitz

FASTFACTS

z The venue overﬂowed

with lakhs of devotees

and followers.

z Several political

leaders were present to

seek blessings.

NEWSLINE

Central Chronicle News

BHILAI: In a signicant

stride toward academic

leadership, DAV Public

School, Hudco, organized

a meticulously planned

two-day teacher training

initiative titled the “Per-

formance Enhancement

Programme (PEP).” The

programme was spe-

cically conceived to

strengthen professional

competencies and pre-

pare educators to meet

the rapidly evolving

demands of contempo-

rary global classrooms.

The training drew

enthusiastic participa-

tion from teacher-del-

egates representing var-

ious DAV schools in the

region. Master trainers

from diverse academic

disciplines conducted

in-depth, reective ses-

sions that combined the-

oretical rigor with practi-

cal applicability. Through

structured demonstra-

tions and interactive

workshops, the trainers

focused on enhancing

instructional eective-

ness and fostering 21st-

century skills such as

critical thinking, collab-

oration, and digital liter-

acy. The curriculum was

thoughtfully aligned with

current national educa-

tional frameworks, ensur-

ing that every session

translated into actionable

classroom strategies.

In his keynote address,

Regional Ocer Prashant

Kumar lauded the ini-

tiative, observing that

teachers are the true

architects of the nation.

He remarked that invest-

ing in teacher empow-

erment is not merely a

professional requirement

but a moral imperative

to secure an enlightened

future for the youth. His

presence, alongside prin-

cipals from various DAV

wings and subject coor-

dinators, added immense

academic gravitas to the

discourse.

Adding to the collab-

orative spirit, the event

facilitated a construc-

tive dialogue on quality

benchmarks and inno-

vative pedagogical prac-

tices. Teachers engaged

in meaningful collective

reection, sharing best

practices to overcome

common classroom

challenges. The Perfor-

mance Enhancement

Programme succeeded

in cultivating a spirit of

shared purpose, encour-

aging educators to adopt

a mindset of continuous

adaptability and profes-

sional renewal.

Ultimately, the land-

mark initiative under-

scored the DAV philoso-

phy that the enrichment

of an educator directly

impacts the holistic

development of the

learner. By bridging the

gap between traditional

teaching and modern

instructional technoloy,

the PEP left participants

inspired and resolutely

committed to translat-

ing their new knowledge

into impactful experi-

ences for their students.

The two-day event con-

cluded on an optimistic

note, marking another

milestone in the school’s

administrative and aca-

demic foresight.

ELEVATING EDUCATORS, ENRICHING FUTURES

DAV hosts performance enhancement programme in Bhilai

Central Chronicle News

BHILAI: The Pradhan

Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

(PMUY) continues to

bring a silent revolution

to the rural kitchens of

Durg. Recently, four ben-

eciaries — Rajeshwari

Sahu, Meena Yadav, Par-

meshwari Verma, and

Parvati — were provided

with free LPG cylinders,

marking an end to their

daily struggle with indoor

air pollution.

For Rajeshwari Sahu

of Medesara, the connec-

tion is a dream realized.

Living in a small kutcha

house, she spent years

battling stinging eyes

and breathing diculties

caused by thick smoke.

“This isn’t just a cylinder;

it’s a gift of health for my

family,” she remarked.

Similarly, Parmeshwari

Verma from Raveli high-

lighted that the shift to

clean fuel would protect

her small children from

the harmful eects of

kitchen smoke while sav-

ing signicant time for

domestic chores.

The distribution

emphasizes the govern-

ment’s commitment

to “Ease of Living” for

women. By providing a

clean, safe, and aord-

able alternative to re-

wood, the scheme not

only improves health out-

comes but also empow-

ers women by reducing

their physical labour and

time spent in the kitchen.

Ujjwala Yojana transforms

lives of rural women

Four women from EWS category received free LPG connections, ending

years of respiratory issues caused by traditional rewood stoves.

The beneﬁciaries receiving LPG connections.

Dy CM and other dignitaries performing Vyaspeeth Aarti.

FASTFACTS

z The scheme provides

deposit-free domestic

LPG connections.

z Scheme removing

the ﬁnancial barrier

for families below the

poverty line.

Sadaram

clears bank

debt

BHILAI: The Chhattisgarh

government’s stream-

lined paddy procurement

policy for the 202526

Kharif season is yielding

signicant economic ben-

ets for small-scale farm-

ers. Among the success

stories is Shri Sadaram, a

progressive farmer from

village Kataro, who owns

4.28 acres of land. By

leveraging the state’s pur-

chase limit of 21 quintals

per acre at the lucrative

rate of Rs 3,100 per quin-

tal, Sadaram has success-

fully stabilized his fami-

ly’s nances.

Sadaram shared that

the digital “Tuhar Token”

app was a game-changer,

allowing him to book two

separate slots for his 234

bags of paddy without

standing in long queues

at the procurement cen-

ter. Within just one week

of the sale, the payment

was directly credited to

his bank account. “With

this money, I immediately

repaid my Rs 70,000

bank loan and am now

preparing for the Rabi

season,” he said.

He expressed deep

gratitude to Chief Minis-

ter Vishnu Deo Sai, noting

that the current system is

far superior to previous

years. The combination of

high support prices and

digital oversight has not

only saved farmers’ time

but has also provided

them with the nancial

strength to improve their

standard of living.

Employees to

stage strike

from today

BHILAI:

Chhattisgarh

Karmachari-Adhikari

Federation is set to

launch a three-day

statewide strike from

December 29. The

“Pen-Down” movement

is a protest against

the non-fulllment of

promises made under

the “Modi Ki Guaran-

tee” manifesto, which

the employees claim

has been ignored for

nearly two years. In

Durg, the protest will

be centered in front of

the Government Multi-

purpose Higher Second-

ary School ( Jhaduram

Dewangan School) on

GE Road.

Leaders of the federa-

tion have called upon all

departmental colleagues

to join the strike in large

numbers to pressure the

government into action.

The strike is expected to

aect schools, munici-

pal oces, and various

administrative depart-

ments across the state.

RESOLUTION

HLSSS to

escalate

movement

BHILAI:

The House Lease

Samyukt Sangharsh Samiti

(HLSSS) held its weekly

meeting in Sector 2, where

hundreds of members gath-

ered to protest the “eva-

sive tactics” and “cunning

maneuvers” of the Bhilai

Steel Plant (BSP) manage-

ment. The committee criti-

cized the top management

for hiding facts under the

guise of legal complexities

while failing to implement

the Public Premises (PP)

Act fairly. They alleged that

the management, which

has historically failed to

adhere to PF, Gratuity,

and Minimum Wage reg-

ulations, is now using the

PP Act solely to break the

morale of retention hold-

ers. The members high-

lighted that the House

Lease Scheme of 200103

was approved by the SAIL

Board, yet management’s

deliberate delay in regu-

larizing these leases has

plunged the future of thou-

sands of retired employees,

traders, and elderly resi-

dents into darkness. The

House Lease Samyukt Sang-

harsh Samiti accused top

ocials of misleading the

state government to secure

personal promotions while

harassing the weak and

elderly. Vowing to escalate

the movement, the organi-

zation issued an “Aar-Par”

challenge, stating they are

prepared to go to the “Muk-

tidham” rather than vacate

their BSP quarters.

How to apply?

Eligible women (18+) from BPL households can

apply online or at the nearest LPG distributor. The

documents required for making an application

includes passport size photo; Aadhaar Card (Ben-

eciary & adult family members); Ration Card /

Address Proof and Bank Account details (IFSC).

FINAL RESPECTS

Dy CM meets

bereaved

family

BHILAI: Deputy Chief Min-

ister and Home Minister

Vijay Sharma paid a visit

to the residence of the

late senior IPS ocer Pra-

khar Pandey in Sector 9,

Bhilai, on Sunday to oer

his nal respects. Pandey,

a 2009-batch ocer who

was serving as DIG (CID)

at the Police Headquar-

ters, recently passed

away following a cardiac

arrest. During his visit to

Pandey’s residence, the

Deputy CM met with the

grieving family members

and shared his heartfelt

condolences. “Prakhar

Pandey was a quintessen-

tial example of a dutiful,

disciplined, and sensi-

tive ocer whose entire

life was dedicated to

public service,” Sharma

remarked. He assured the

family that the state gov-

ernment and the entire

police department stand

rmly with them during

this dicult time. Late

Prakhar Pandey was well-

known in the department

for his strategic capabil-

ities and clean image.

Throughout his career,

he served as the Super-

intendent of Police (SP)

in several key districts,

including Durg, Mungeli,

Surajpur, and Kabirdham,

and also held the critical

role of SP (CM Security).

Bhilai

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

The grit shown by the

state’s youth in the sporting

arena continues to bring

pride to Chhattisgarh,

Dr Raman Singh

(Assembly Speaker)

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Yearender

‘People and Places’

on their shoulders

took the pall of

gloom which took

the country into grief

on the many times

lives were lost and

partition eternal

happened. Below are

the people who were

promoted to divinity

and places which

witnesses incidents

that shook the soul

of India.

FOR THOSE WHO

BID ADIEU

In grief the

world and

particularly

India

showed

deﬁning

grace like

the weeping

willow

tree in the

painting

IN MEMORIAM

2025

Zubeen Garg

Jane Goodall

Dharmendra Deol

Pope Francis

RCB cup celebrations turn sour

Renowned singer and musician Zubeen Garg,

best known for the hit song Ya Ali and his sig-

nicant contributions to Assamese, Bengali,

and Hindi music, passed away on Septem-

ber 19 after suering a medical emergency

during a scuba diving incident. He was 52. His

passing witnessed over whelming grief from

across the country particularly Assam.

Conservationist and chimpanzee researcher

Jane Goodall breathed her last at 91. Dr Goodall,

devoted her life to the study and conserva-

tion of chimpanzees and the other great apes.

Through her pioneering new ways to study

them, Goodall discovered that chimps used

tools, created complex societies and could be so

aggressive they could even kill one another.

Veteran Bollywood star Dharmendra, fondly called

“He-Man” and “Dharam Paaji,” passed away at the

age of 89 on November 24. His demise was deeply

mourned across the lm industry and beyond, with

tributes pouring in that celebrated his charm, ver-

satility, and enduring impact on Hindi cinema.

Pope Francis head of the Catholic Church and sovereign

of Vatican City from 13 March 2013 breathed his last

on April 21. He was the rst Jesuit pope, the rst Latin

American, and the rst born or raised outside Europe

and had a see of fan followers all across the world and

also holding great political power in social subjugations.

A day after Royal Challangers Bengaluru’s IPL triumph, lakhs of fans

thronged the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and also the Vidhana Soudha

where the Karnataka government had organised a separate felicitation

event on June 4. In the resulting chaos, 11 persons — all under the age of 40

— lost their lives and at least 50 others sustained injuries in the stampede.

A deepening grief - Air India ight AI 171 Vadodara-Anand bridge collapse

On June 12,

Air India

ight AI 171,

a Boeing

7878 aircraft

en route Lon-

don Gatwick,

crashed into

a medical

hostel complex

shortly after

take o from

Sardar Vallabh-

bhai Patel Inter-

national Airport.

The aircraft burst

into ames, kill-

ing 241 out of 242

people onboard

and 19 individuals

on the ground.

There was one sur-

vivor passenger.

At least 20

people died after

a section of the

four-decade-old

Gambhira Bridge

in Gujarat’s

Vadodara dis-

trict collapsed

early on July 9,

2025, below. The

bridge served

as a vital link

between central

Gujarat and

the Saurashtra

regions, con-

necting Anand

and Vadodara

districts. It was

built in 1985 by a

Lucknow-based

company.

Delhi car blast

near Red Fort

A high-intensity explosion in a slow-mov-

ing car outside the Red Fort in New Delhi

claimed the lives of 13 people and injured

more than 20 others on November 10, spark-

ing a nationwide alert and a probe involving

multiple agencies across States. A doctor

from J&K’s Pulwama, identied as Umar Nabi,

teaching at the Al-Falah University in Farid-

abad, emerged as the likely sole occupant

of the car which exploded. The NIA, which

took over the probe, made its ninth and latest

arrest in the case on December 18.

Stampede at TVK

leader Vijay’s rally

On September 27, thousands of people gath-

ered in Karur, Tamil Nadu, to attend a rally by

actor-turned-politician Vijay. As the chief of

the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party arrived

hours late, the crowd swelled and surged

towards his vehicle, triggering a stampede that

killed 41 people and injured over 100 others.

Most of the adult victims were between 18 and

30 years of age.

Kamini Kaushal

Giorgio Armani

Piyush Pandey

Fauja Singh

Sreenivasan

Sandhya Shantaram

Veteran actress

Kamini Kaushal,

renowned for her

roles in Bimal Roy’s

‘Biraj Bahu’ (1954)

and ‘Arzoo’ (1950)

passed away in Mum-

bai on November 14,

2025, at the age of

98. A leading actress

of the 1940s to 1960s,

she shared the screen with legends such as

Ashok Kumar, Raj Kapoor and many others.

She appeared in over 70 lms, including ‘Do

Bhai’, ‘Shaheed’, ‘Nadiya Ke Paar’, ‘Aag’ and

‘Shabnam’, and also worked in television,

notably Chand Sitare.

Acclaimed Italian fashion designer and founder

of the Armani luxury fashion house. Giorgio

Armani breathed his last on 4 September 2025.

Widely regarded as among the most inuential

designers in contemporary fashion, he became

known for minimalist, deconstructed silhou-

ettes—especially his jackets and suits—which are

said to have redened masculine and feminine

elegance in a contemporary form.

Advertising veteran Piyush

Pandey, widely regarded as a

legend in the Indian adver-

tising industry, passed away

on October 23, 2025, at the

age of 70. Pandey began his

career in 1982 with Ogilvy

& Mather India (now Ogilvy

India) as a trainee account

executive before moving

to the creative side, where he revolutionised

Indian advertising. He was the mastermind

behind iconic campaigns such as Asian Paints’

“Har Khushi Mein Rang Laaye”, Cadbury’s “Kuch

Khaas Hai”, and Fevicol’s iconic “Egg” lm.

Pandey’s trailblazing contributions earned him

the CLIO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012,

the Padma Shri, and he became the rst Asian to

serve as Cannes Lions jury president.

Fauja Singh a British Indian marathon runner,

nicknamed the “Turbaned Tornado”, died in a

road accident at the age of 114 on July 2025. Singh

became an international sensation after taking up

distance running at the ripe old age of 89 and was

a torchbearer for the Olympics in Athens in 2004

and London in 2012 and appeared in advertise-

ments with sports stars such as David Beckham

and Muhammad Ali.

Renowned Malayalam actor, screenwriter, director

and producer Sreenivasan passed away on December

20 at the age of 69, leaving behind a prolic legacy

that shaped Malayalam cinema for over four decades.

As a lmmaker, his works ‘Vadakkunokkiyanthram’

and ‘Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala’ won major state

and national honours. A multiple award winner, he

was a key force behind Malayalam cinema’s golden

era of comedy and social drama.

Veteran actress Sandhya

Shantaram, wife of legend-

ary actor and lmmaker V.

Shantaram, passed away

in Mumbai on October 4,

2025. A celebrated name

in Indian cinema, she was

best known for her perfor-

mances in classics such as

Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje

(1955), Do Aankhen Barah

Haath (1958), Navrang

(1959), Marathi lm Pinjra

(1972) and Amar Bhoopali. During the 1950s and

1960s, Sandhya Shantaram worked extensively in

both Hindi and Marathi cinema, primarily under

the direction of V. Shantaram, leaving behind a rich

cinematic legacy.

Central Chronicle News

MAINPUR: From the last

week of December until

the entire month of Jan-

uary, the Udanti Sitanadi

Tiger Reserve, along

with the Sikasar Reser-

voir, Pairi Udgam, and

Devdahara areas, are

heavily crowded with

tourists. Despite the

harsh winter, tourists

from far and wide have

already begun arriving.

Today, Saturday, thou-

sands of tourists were

arriving at the Sikasar

Reservoir from morn-

ing until late evening. It

is a favorite destination

for tourists from both

India and abroad to cele-

brate the New Year with

their loved ones. These

days, the picturesque

natural scenery of the

fogy sky and dripping

dewdrops, combined

with the bitter cold, is

attracting tourists. To

welcome the New Year,

people are in search of

such a place where they

can enjoy amidst nature.

This search is fullled in

the tourist places of this

region, hence a large

number of tourists have

started arriving here

from now.

A large number of tour-

ists from dierent dis-

tricts of Chhattisgarh as

well as from Odisha state

are reaching Devdahara

Waterfall, Godena Fall,

Eco Centre, Taurenga,

Sodoor and Sikasar res-

ervoir of Udanti Sitanadi

Tiger Reserve of Garia-

band district to see the

wild animals roaming

freely in nature and for-

est and to celebrate the

New Year in peace, away

from the chaos. 28 km

from Tehsil headquarter

Mainpur. A huge crowd is

seen at the distant Sikasar

reservoir. On one hand,

college students have

arrived in large num-

bers from Durga Bhilai,

Dhamtari, Rajnandgaon,

Raipur area, while on

the other hand, many

families have also come

and for their safety, they

have come with blankets,

sleepers and full meals

to protect themselves

from the cold. Tourists

are seen dancing by light-

ing bonres all around

in Sikasar. A large num-

ber of tourists have also

reached the peaceful and

dense forest Taurenga

Rest House, Eco Centre

Koyaba, Udanti, away

from the Kolohal. A large

number of tourists come

to this area from Odisha

state and get the oppor-

tunity to see the wild ani-

mals roaming freely in the

forest by roaming in an

open jeep, due to which a

huge crowd is seen every

year in the New Year in

Udanti Sanctuary. 25 km

from Mainpur. A large

number of tourists have

also reached the distant

Devdahra Falls, enjoying

kayaking in the Kulha-

dighat Kathwa River. The

Forest Department has

made arrangements for

kayaking and facilities in

the entire Gariaband dis-

trict in the Kathwa Kulha-

dighat River.

Tourists from Austra-

lia were delighted to see

the wild animals roaming

freely in the Udanti Sanc-

tuary A group of six tour-

ists from Australia arrived

at the Udanti Sanctuary

in Mainpur four days ago

and toured the sanctuary

area by ypsy.

Tourists start arriving at the

USTR, Sikasar, and Pairi Udgam

Newly Elected

Sarpanchs

imparted

training

MUNGELI: A training pro-

gram for newly elected

Gram Panchayat Sarpan-

chs is being organized

at the District Panchayat

Resource Center under

the State Gram Swaraj

Abhiyan scheme. This

training has been con-

ducted in various shifts

since December 2, 2025,

with the next shift start-

ing on January 5, 2026.

The objective of the

training is to provide

the Sarpanches with

essential information

related to panchayat

administration, nancial

management, eective

implementation of devel-

opment schemes, trans-

parency, accountability,

and good governance.

During the program,

detailed guidance is

being provided on the

role, rights, and respon-

sibilities of Gram Pan-

chayats, as well as on

various government

schemes and important

topics related to rural

development.

Primary

compensation

increased by

Rs. 3.35 crore

MCB: A relief has come for

the aected landowners in

the cases of land acquisition

for the Chirmiri-Nagpur Halt

new broad gauge railway

line project in Manendra-

garh- Chirmiri- Bharatpur

district under the Railways

Act, 1989. Based on the

new guidelines and updated

market value issued by the

government for the year

202526, the primary com-

pensation amount has been

re-examined and revised.

In this process, a new cal-

culation has been made

taking into account the

market value of the land,

as well as structures, assets,

and other statutory items,

which will be applicable to

all concerned beneciaries.

After the implementation

of the new guidelines, a sig-

nicant increase has been

recorded in the compensa-

tion for the land acquired

in Chiripani, Sarola, Banji,

Khairbana, and Sarbhoka

villages under Nagapur sub

-tehsil, Manendragarh teh-

sil. While the total primary

compensation amount was

estimated at Rs. 6 crore

1 lakh 56 thousand 713

based on the old guidelines

of 201920 and the then

prevailing market value,

according to the new guide-

lines of 202526 and the

current market value, this

amount has increased to Rs.

9 crore 37 lakh 50 thousand

677. Thus, there has been a

total increase of Rs. 3 crore

35 lakh 93 thousand 964,

which will directly benet

a large number of aected

farmers and landowners.

Central Chronicle News

KORBA: This morning at

8:00 AM, amidst the bit-

ing cold, Mayor of Korba

Municipal Corporation,

Mrs. Sanju Devi Rajput,

Municipal Corporation

(KMC) Speaker Nutan

Singh Thakur, Councilor

representative Avinash

Banjare, and Councilor

of Ward No. 2, Ishwar

Patel, reached the newly

constructed oce of the

Chhattisgarh Newspaper

Distributors Association,

district unit, in TP Nagar

and released the 2026

calendar of the Chhattis-

garh Newspaper Distribu-

tors Association.

Addressing the brief

program, Mayor Mrs.

Sanju Devi Rajput said

that the work of news-

paper distribution is

challenging. Whether

it is the biting cold,

scorching sun, or pour-

ing rain, delivering

newspapers to every

house early in the morn-

ing without fail is no

less than a challenge. It

would be a great thing if

we could do something

for these hardworking

people. We are ready to

provide them with all

possible help and will

make efforts to equip

the newspaper distrib-

utors’ association office

with resources.

Central Chronicle News

BILASPUR: Guru Ghasidas

University (Central Uni-

versity), is constantly

achieving new milestones

and reaching greater

heights in the eld of

research and innovation

under the dynamic lead-

ership of the Vice-Chan-

cellor, Professor Alok

Kumar Chakrawal. In

this context, under

the able guidance of

the Vice-Chancellor

for Strengthening both

India’s electric mobility

ecosystem and the Viksit

Bharat @2047 vision of

the Government of India,

Guru Ghasidas Vishwav-

idyalaya (GGV), Bilaspur,

has received administra-

tive approval of Rs 2.5

crore from the Ministry of

Electronics and Informa-

tion Technoloy (MeitY)

under the MeitYMHI

Electric Vehicle Sub Sys-

tem (EVSS) Programme.

The approved project,

titled “Design and Devel-

opment of a Smart Vehi-

cle Control Unit (SVCU)”,

focuses on the design,

development, and man-

ufacturing of critical

EV subsystems, namely

the Vehicle Control Unit

(VCU) and Battery Man-

agement System (BMS)

for electric two-wheel-

ers and three-wheelers.

These systems are vital

for vehicle safety, enery

eciency, and perfor-

mance.

GGV Bilaspur is the

lead implementing insti-

tution, with IIT Bhilai

and Erkey Motors as key

academic and industry

partners. The 36-month

project is expected to

signicantly benet

Chhattisgarh by enabling

local skill development,

advanced hands-on

training, and employ-

ment generation in the

emerging EV and elec-

tronics manufacturing

sectors. It will also sup-

port regional startups

and MSMEs by providing

access to testing, proto-

typing, and validation

facilities. In the long run,

the Centre of Excellence

is expected to help retain

technical talent within

the state, strengthening

Chhattisgarh’s innova-

tion ecosystem. Impor-

tantly, the project has a

strong social inclusion

and capacity-building

component.

Chhattisgarh

FACTFILE

z A large number

of tourists from

different districts of

Chhattisgarh as well as

from Odisha state are

reaching Devdahara

Waterfall, Godena Fall.

FACTFILE

z GGV Bilaspur is the

lead implementing

institution, with IIT

Bhilai and Erkey Motors

as key academic and

industry partners.

Despite protest by villagers, their

land is forcefully being encroached

in Tamnar and Parsodikala.

Vinod Chandrakar

Ex-MLA Mahasamund

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

| NEW YEAR CALENDAR |

Mayor assures all possible help to newspaper distributors

CHHURA: On the occasion of the 101st

birth anniversary of the late Atal Bihari

Vajpayee, the Atal Complex was inau-

gurated in the city. The Chief Minister

Vishnu Deo Sai, as the chief guest, and

other dignitaries including Dr. Raman

Singh, Speaker of the Chhattisgarh

Legislative Assembly (as the special

guest, Arun Sao, Deputy Chief Minis-

ter and Minister of Urban Administra-

tion and Development (presiding over

the event), Dayal Das Baghel, Minister

of Food and Urban Administration,

Rupkumari Choudhary, Member of

Parliament from Mahasamund Lok

Sabha constituency, Rohit Sahu, MLA,

and Chandulal Sahu, Chairman of

Chhattisgarh State Housing Corpora-

tion, were virtually present.

INAUGURATION OF ATAL COMPLEX

Atal Complex inaugurated

on 101 birth anniv of Late

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

| EV CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE |

GGV Bilaspur receives

Rs 2.5 cr MeitY approval

VEERBALDIWAS

Veer Bal Diwas

Celebration held at EMRS

Dongariya

DUBATIA: Veer Bal Diwas (Brave Chil-

dren’s Day) was celebrated with rev-

erence and enthusiasm at Eklavya

Adarsh Residential School (EMRS),

Dongariya. On this occasion, special

programs were organized to educate

the students about the unparalleled

sacrice, courage, and patriotism of

the Sahibzadas (sons) of Guru Gobind

Singh Ji, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs.

The program began with a prayer

assembly. Following this, Principal Mr.

Rajiv Kumar Pandey highlighted the

courageous lives and sacrices of the

four Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh

Ji. Students expressed their thoughts

through speeches, poetry recitations,

poster making, essay writing, and

other forms of expression.

A patriotic atmosphere prevailed

throughout the school. The teachers

inspired the students to adopt the val-

ues of truth, courage, righteousness,

and patriotism in their lives.

Eorts will be

made to provide

motorized bicycles

for newspaper

distributors.

Nutan Singh

KMC Speaker

Briefs

BEST OF THE REST

GARIABAND: Bhavna Dhruv, a meri-

torious student of Class XI (Science

stream) of Eklavya Model Residential

School (EMRS), Kosambuda, Block

Chhura, District Gariaband, has been

selected to participate in a two-day

Semiconductor Training Program to

be held at the Indian Institute of Sci-

ence (IISc), Bengaluru. The program is

being organized under the aegis of the

National Education Society for Tribal

Students (NESTS), Ministry of Tribal

Aairs, Government of India, as part

of its national STEM (Science, Tech-

noloy, Engineering & Mathematics)

initiative. The training program aims

to provide selected tribal students

from across the country with expo-

sure to advanced scientic concepts,

emerging technologies, and hands-on

learning in the eld of semiconduc-

tors. Bhavna Dhruv’s selection for this

prestigious national-level program is

a matter of great pride not only for

EMRS Kosambuda but also for the

entire region and district.

CHHURA: With the noble objective

of providing a dynamic platform to

showcase students’ scientic aptitude

and innovative spirit, a grand Science

Exhibition was magnicently orga-

nized at St. John’s English Medium

School, Chhura. Students from vari-

ous classes participated with immense

enthusiasm and presented a wide

array of creative, functional, and

thought-provoking scientic models

based on diverse themes of science.

The primary aim of the exhibition

was to inculcate scientic tempera-

ment, curiosity, analytical thinking,

and an experimental mindset among

students. The exhibition featured

outstanding models on environmen-

tal conservation, renewable enery

resources, water conservation, pol-

lution control, health and hygiene,

modern technoloy, robotics, and the

signicance of science in everyday

life, which emerged as major attrac-

tions for visitors. The students con-

dently and eloquently explained the

working mechanisms, practical utility,

and societal impact of their respec-

tive projects in a clear and impressive

manner. The exhibition was graciously

visited and reviewed by distinguished

dignitaries including Supriya Bhoi,

Wardha Panda, and Sumant Kumar

Acharya. The Chief Guest of this pro-

gram were Mr.Staford Burn, Director

Private School Association,Dist,Gar-

iband and Mr.Manoj Kumar Patel ,

Director Modern Public School Bas-

na,while Mr.Mayank Yadav, In-charge

Principal of Eklavya Residential

School, Koshambuda, Chhura, Mr.

Vikash Sihag, Science Teacher, Ekla-

vya School, Chhura, were present as

Special Guests.

SELECTION FOR TWO- DAYS SEMI-CONDUCTOR TRAINING

EMRS Kosambuda student Bhavna Dhruv

selected for training prog at IISc Bengaluru

SCIENCE EXHIBITION

Grand Science Exhibition organised at

St. John’s English Medium School

Thousands of people from Chhattisgarh and Odisha have arrived to

celebrate the New Year amidst nature.

Two new councillors

appointed in PIC after

resignation of two

Two-day Panthi competition

concludes in Anwari

Central Chronicle News

SIMGA: Two councillors

tendered regisnation

from PIC at the inau-

guration ceremony of

Atal Bihari Vajpayee in

Simga on Thursday. Due

to which today Munic-

ipal Council President

Hardeep Singh Bhatia

announced the immedi-

ate appointment of the

post, which became talk

of the town in the city. On

Thursday in Simga Munic-

ipal Council, Priyanka

Anoop Tiwari and Ward

No. 11 councilor Tupesh

alias Tebu Devangan sub-

mitted their resignation

from PIC to BJP Mandal

President Chandramani

Tiwari on 25/12/2025 and

today submitted their for-

mal resignation to Munic-

ipal Ocer CMO Rama-

kant Sahu.

On getting the news of

which, Municipal Council

President Hardeep Singh

Bhatia immediately made

the new announcement

and announced Suman

Sahu as the chairperson

of Ward No. 12 and Bharti

Patkar as the chairperson

of Ward No. 6, on which

the councilors congrat-

ulated the president.

It is worth noting that

Hardeep Singh Bhatia’s

political image is such

that he was elected as a

councilor from Kankalin

ward in 1994. He held the

post of chairperson twice

since 1999 and gave a dif-

ferent identity to Simga

city. Among his devel-

opment works, many

works like beautication

of Saropi pond, new bus

stand, cremation ground,

Khandwa ground, mini

stadium were carried out.

ANWARI: Like every

year, a two-day Panthi

competition was orga-

nized in Anwari village.

The closing ceremony

was attended by Chief

Guest Tarani Neelam

Chandrakar, President

of the District Congress

Committee, Dhamtari;

Sarpanch Hitendra

Nath Mandal presided;

special guests were

Manoj Banjare, Vice

President of the Chhat-

tisgarh Bhim Army;

Sanjay Sarang, Servant

Ram Tarak, Lomas Pal,

Kunjan Bihari Pal, Mul-

chand Chandel, Lalit

Kumar Nagarchi, Gaid

Lal Patela, Uday Charan

Banjare, Paras Ram Nir-

malkar, Kuljan Thakur,

and others.

In his address, the

chief guest of the pro-

gram Tarani said that

Ghasidas gave the mes-

sage to everyone to fol-

low the path of truth

and by giving the slo-

gan of Manke Manke Ek

Saman, he removed the

evils prevalent in the

society.

Central Chronicle News

Kurud Municipality

touched the pinnacle

of trust, where the

enthusiasm of 291

traders together cre-

ated a revenue record

of Rs. 11.80 cr.

KURUD: When there is

power in resolve and the

echo of development in

intentions, history makes

its own path. On Satur-

day, the Kurud Munici-

pality not only wrote a

new chapter in business

but also touched the pin-

nacle of trust, where the

enthusiasm of 291 traders

together created a reve-

nue record of Rs. 11.80

crore. This was not just

an auction of shops, but

it was the public’s seal of

approval on Ajay Chan-

drakar’s development

vision and Vishnudev

Sai’s good governance,

which has established

Kurud as the brightest

star on the business map

of Chhattisgarh.

The “Spectacular”

gures of the auction:

nUnprecedented Enthu-

siasm: For the rst

time, 291 courageous

businessmen partici-

pated in this race for

development.

n‘Mega-Record’ Reve-

nue: The auction of

just 25 shops resulted

in a massive invest-

ment of Rs. 11 crore 80

lakh 14 thousand in the

municipal treasury.

nCenter of Modernity:

With an investment

of approximately Rs.

6 crore, a ‘super-com-

plex’ will be built

here, which will be

equipped with all

modern amenities

and will make Kurud a

business hub.

At this height of suc-

cess, Municipal President

Jyoti Bhanu Chandrakar

said with great joy: “This

is not just an auction, but

it is the unwavering faith

of the people of Kurud in

our leadership. Under the

good governance of Chief

Minister Vishnu Deo Sai ji

and the guidance of our

development-oriented

MLA, Ajay Chandrakar

ji, the development char-

iot of Kurud will now be

unstoppable. It was the

far-sighted vision of the

MLA that secured this

valuable land for the

municipality, the benets

of which will now reach

every ward.”

She further added—

“The river of devel-

opment will now ow

in every ward of the

municipality. With the

remaining amount, we

will improve every street,

every drain, and every

basic necessity in such a

way that Kurud becomes

the most developed city

in Chhattisgarh.”

| KURUD’S CLARION CALL |

Golden history created with a

record auction of Rs. 11.80 cr

Constable Tilak

Banchor transferred

to the police lines

Central Chronicle News

Villagers submitted

a complaint letter

to the SP charging a

constable of misue

of power.

NANDINI: Constable Cha-

man Pal, posted at Nan-

dini Nagar police station,

faces serious allegations

of misusing his position

to intimidate and assault

villagers, and provid-

ing protection to illegal

liquor sales in the vil-

lage. Regarding this mat-

ter, the villagers of Gram

Birebhat have submitted

a written complaint to

Durg Superintendent

of Police Vijay Agrawal,

demanding an impartial

investigation and strict

action.

The villagers allege

that Constable Chaman

Pal, who is himself a res-

ident of Gram Birebhat

(which falls under the

Nandini police station

area), is taking undue

advantage of his posi-

tion and creating distur-

bances in the village on a

daily basis. He is accused

of protecting liquor

smugglers in the village

and threatening to impli-

cate them in false cases

by using his authority as

a police ocer. The com-

plaint letter states that

illegal liquor sales have

been going on in Gram

Birebhat for a long time.

My goal is not

just to help youth

get a job, but to

instil condence

in those young

people whose

dreams have

been hindered by

circumstances.

Lakeshwar Baghel

Central Chronicle News

KHAIRAGARH: Even after

failing the physical e-

ciency test in the police

recruitment himself, a

young man did not give

up and transformed his

failure into the great-

est success for society.

Lakeshwar Janghel, a res-

ident of Pipariya in Khai-

ragarh, has today become

a center of hope for hun-

dreds of unemployed

youth who were unable

to fulll their dreams due

to nancial constraints.

Over 90 Young Men and

Women Selected in Police

and Army in Just 5 Years

Under the guidance

of Lakeshwar Janghel,

more than 90 young men

and women have been

selected in the police and

army in the last ve years

after receiving free train-

ing. This achievement

was not made possible

by any institution or gov-

ernment assistance, but

through individual deter-

mination, a spirit of ser-

vice, and social responsi-

bility.

Five years ago,

Lakeshwar Janghel,

who himself dreamt

of becoming a police

ocer, failed the phys-

ical examination. How-

ever, he considered this

not an end, but a new

beginning. He decided

to become a mentor

for those young people

who are talented but lag

behind due to a lack of

resources.

| RAY OF HOPE FOR RURAL YOUTH |

Lakeshwar becomes a ray of hope for rural talents

Variety of programmes mark

Good Governance Day at PNP

Central Chronicle News

PITHORA: A grand and dig-

nied program was suc-

cessfully organized by the

Pithora Nagar Panchayat

(PMP) near the Atal Com-

plex on the auspicious

occasion of the birth anni-

versary of Bharat Ratna

and former Prime Minis-

ter, the revered Atal Bihari

Vajpayee, and Good Gov-

ernance Day. The event

showcased a blend of the

government’s welfare

schemes and a commit-

ment to urban develop-

ment. The program was

graced by the presence

of senior BJP leader Shan-

kar Agrawal as the chief

guest, Devesh Nishad

presiding over the event,

and special guests Viren-

dra Tiwari, BJP Mandal

President Ashish Sharma,

former Mandal President

Preetram Surye, Naresh

Singhal, Mannulal Thakur,

MLA representative Dilip

Nishad, Jatin Thakkar,

Sumit Agarwal, Dulikesan

Sahu, Raidas Goyal, Coun-

cillors Mrs. Ramkunwar

Sinha, Rajesh Chaudhary,

Saurabh Agarwal, Piyan-

shu Dixit, Raja Shukla,

and other public repre-

sentatives.

Central Chronicle News

RAJIM: On the auspicious

occasion of the birth cen-

tenary of former Prime

Minister, Bharat Ratna,

revered Atal Bihari Vaj-

payee, the groundbreak-

ing ceremony for the

Gauravpath, to be built at

a cost of Rs 37 lakh, was

held in the nearby Gram

Panchayat of Kirwai. This

Gauravpath will directly

connect the main road

to the village’s main reli-

gious site, the Pujarin Dai

Temple. The gift of this

Gauravpath has added

a new phase of develop-

ment work to the village.

The groundbreaking cer-

emony was held today

with full rituals under the

chief patronage of Rajim

Assembly Constituency

MLA Rohit Sahu.

The program was pre-

sided over by BJP District

President Anil Chan-

drakar. Distinguished

BJP District General Sec-

retary Chandrashekhar

Sahu, BJP District General

Secretary Ashish Sharma,

BJP District Minister

Surendra Sontake, Sar-

panch Vedkumari Sahu,

BJP Mandal President

Rakesh Sahu, General

Secretary Renuka Sahu,

and Sarpanch Represen-

tative Hemant Sahu were

present.

The program began

with a prayer service to a

photograph of Atal Bihari

Vajpayee. In this solemn

ceremony, public rep-

resentatives commemo-

rated the Atal Centenary

Year by inaugurating a

new development initia-

tive in the village.

Addressing the gather-

ing, MLA Rohit Sahu said

that the BJP government,

with the aim of “Sabka

Saath Sabka Vikas”, is pro-

viding grassroots develop-

ment projects in every vil-

lage. The Gauravpath, for

which we performed the

groundbreaking ceremony

today, is an initiative to

directly connect the main

religious site of this village,

Maa Pujarin Dai Dham.

The construction of this

Gauravpath will facilitate

easy access to the court-

yard of our revered god-

dess Maa Pujarin Dai. Pre-

viously, we have carried

out development projects

worth lakhs of rupees in

Kirwai village and at the

Pujarin Dai Dham.

Kirwai gets Gauravpath

boost during Atal Jayanti

MLA Rohit Sahu performed the groundbreaking ceremony

for the Gauravpath worth Rs 37 lakh.

Atalji’s life was dedicated to

good governance: Anil

BJP District President Anil Chandrakar said that Atal

ji’s life was dedicated to good governance and develop-

ment. This Gauravpath is a small effort towards bringing

his vision to reality. Speaking more about revered Atal

ji is like showing light to the sun. The Atal Centenary

Year is a moment of pride for all of us. The development

work we are receiving in this centenary year is possible

due to the strong foundation laid by revered Atal ji. He

congratulated the villagers on receiving the gift of Gau-

ravpath and called it a strong step towards development

and progress. Other guests also addressed the event.

Prominent among those present were Surendra Sontake,

Ramadhar Sahu, Omprakash Sahu, Babulal Sahu, Moti

Nishad, Mahesh Sahu, Cheman Tarak, Kamalnarayan,

Tuka Tarak, Moti Sahu, Bhagwat Sahu, and local public

representatives.

Grand DJ dance

competition in

Kohka on

Dec 31

DONGARGAON: A grand

DJ dance competition is

being organized in Kohka

on December 31st to wel-

come the New Year. Con-

siderable enthusiasm is

being seen among the

youth of the area regard-

ing this competition.

According to the orga-

nizers, local and nearby

participants will enter-

tain the audience with

their spectacular dance

performances. With a

modern DJ sound system

and attractive lighting,

this competition will be a

special attraction for the

audience. Participants

who perform exception-

ally well in the compe-

tition will be honoured

with prizes.

Excise Dept

takes action

against illicit

liquor, one

arrested

KHAIRAGARH: Under the

campaign against ille-

gal liquor being run by

the Excise Department,

KCG district, Khairagarh

circle, a major opera-

tion was conducted on

December 26th. Based

on information received

from an informant, the

excise team raided and

seized illegally stored

foreign liquor. During the

operation, 18 pouches

of Golden Goa foreign

liquor were recovered,

the total quantity of

which is stated to be

3.240 bulk liters.

2300 kg of

illegal bio-

fertilizer

seized from 3

agri centers

CHHUIKHADAN: With the

objective of providing

farmers with quality and

standard agricultural

inputs, the Agriculture

Department is continu-

ously conducting inspec-

tion and investigation

campaigns in the dis-

trict. In this series, the

Agriculture Department

team conducted a sur-

prise inspection at three

agricultural sales centers

in Chhuikhadan devel-

opment block and took

major action. During

the inspection, it was

found that Gayatri Krishi

Kendra, Annadata Krishi

Kendra, and Kamal Krishi

Kendra were storing and

selling organic fertilizers

without valid registration

and license certicates. A

total of 2300 kilograms

of bio-stimulant bio-fer-

tilizer was found illegally

stored during the investi-

gation, which was seized

on the spot as per rules

and presented before the

Collector’s court.

EFFIGY BURNING

Hindu Sanatan

Manch burn

ex-CM’s egy,

KAWARDHA: Recently,

former Chief Minister

Bhupesh Baghel’s state-

ment regarding the reli-

gious preacher and saint

Dhirendra Shastri has

evoked strong reactions

in political and social

circles. In his statement,

Bhupesh Baghel ques-

tioned Dhirendra Shas-

tri’s methods, his events,

and activities, and com-

mented on his alleged

connection to a politi-

cal agenda, which has

angered Hindu organiza-

tions.

In this context, mem-

bers of the Hindu San-

atan Manch—Pokhraj

Singh Parihar, Aditya

Jha, Ravi Singh Rajput,

Tuleshwar Sharma, Nitin

Pathak, and other activ-

ists—today burned an

ey of former Chief

Minister Bhupesh Baghel

in front of the court

premises to register their

protest. The members of

the Manch said that such

language and accusations

from a person who has

held a constitutional posi-

tion are not only inappro-

priate but also likely to

spread unnecessary ani-

mosity in society.

ACTION AT RICE MILLS

FOOTBALL TOURNEY

6,694 sacks of

paddy bags and

15,470 sacks of rice

seized in three cases

Football fever in

Maneri, three

matches held, two

emerge winner, one

ends in draw

MAHASAMUND: The

administration is con-

tinuously taking inten-

sive action against illegal

storage, transportation,

and stock verication of

paddy in the district. In

this connection, a major

action was taken today

in three separate cases,

seizing a large quantity

of paddy and rice. As per

the instructions of Collec-

tor Vinay Kumar Langeh,

a team under the guid-

ance of Saraypali SDM

Anupama Anand and led

by Tehsildar Shridhar

Panda conducted a physi-

cal verication at Shri Sai

Rice Mill, Saraypali.

DONGARGAON: On the

third day of the open

football tournament

held in the nearby vil-

lage of Maneri from

December 25th to 30th,

the rst match was

played between Sur-

guja and Khursitikul, in

which the Khursitikul

team won 20. In the sec-

ond match, Rengakath-

era emerged victorious

with a 10 win against

Rajnandgaon. The third

match of the day was

played between Bharveli

and Bhilai, which ended

in a draw.

NEWSLINE

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Chhattisgarh News

Business

“The new guidelines

will create a transparent

framework to revive

domestic shipbuilding and

boos investment.”

Sarbananda Sonowal

Shipping & Ports Minister

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Press Trust Of India

NEW DELHI: The Ministry

of Ports, Shipping and

Waterways (MoPSW) has

notied guidelines for two

major shipbuilding initia-

tives with a total outlay of

over Rs 44,700 crore. The

two initiatives -- the Ship-

building Financial Assis-

tance Scheme (SBFAS) and

the Shipbuilding Develop-

ment Scheme (SbDS) -- are

aimed at strengthening

the country’s domestic

shipbuilding capacity and

improving global compet-

itiveness, as per an ocial

statement. Under SBFAS,

which has a total corpus

of Rs 24,736 crore, the

government will provide

nancial assistance of

1525 per cent per vessel,

depending on the cate-

gory of the vessel. The

SbDS, with a budgetary

outlay of Rs 19,989 crore,

focuses on long-term

capacity and capability

creation. Union Minister

of Ports, Shipping and

Waterways (MoPSW),

Sarbananda Sonowal said

that these guidelines cre-

ate a stable and transpar-

ent framework that will

revive domestic shipbuild-

ing, boosting forward and

backward linkages, the

ocial statement said.

It said the scheme intro-

duces graded support

for small normal, large

normal, and specialised

vessels, with stage-wise

disbursement linked

to dened milestones

and backed by security

instruments. Incentives

for series orders are also

included, the statement

added. The scheme also

provides for the establish-

ment of a National Ship-

building Mission to ensure

coordinated planning and

execution of shipbuilding

initiatives.

It also introduces a

shipbreaking credit note,

under which ship own-

ers scrapping vessels at

Indian yards will receive

a credit equivalent to

40 per cent of the scrap

value, linking ship recy-

cling with new ship con-

struction and support-

ing a circular economy

approach. According to

the statement, indepen-

dent valuation and mile-

stone-based assessments

have been made manda-

tory to strengthen gov-

ernance and ensure e-

cient use of public funds.

Over the next decade, the

statement said, SBFAS is

expected to support ship-

building projects worth

about Rs 96,000 crore,

stimulate domestic man-

ufacturing, and generate

employment across the

maritime value chain.

Govt noties guidelines of

two shipbuilding initiatives

Press Trust Of India

NEW DELHI: Satellite com-

munication services will

be rolled out in the coun-

try after players in the

segment, including Elon

Musk-owned Starlink,

comply with the demands

of security agencies,

Union Telecom Minister

Jyotiraditya Scindia said.

The minister, in an inter-

view to PTI, said the gov-

ernment will soon be in a

position to allocate spec-

trum to satcom players

- Starlink, Eutelsat One,

and Jio SGS - once Depart-

ment of Telecom (DoT)

nalises spectrum pric-

ing. “There are two issues

that need to be addressed.

One by the licence hold-

ers OneWeb, Reliance

Jio, and Starlink, which

is to comply with secu-

rity clearances regarding

international gateways,

ensuring data remains in

India, and so on,” Scindia

said. The minister added

that the government has

already allocated provi-

sional spectrum to satcom

companies to demon-

strate compliance capabil-

ity with security agencies.

“They are in the process

of doing that, so they need

to comply,” Scindia said.

He noted that the govern-

ment is in the process of

nalising spectrum pric-

ing, which is being dealt

with by DoT and the Tele-

com Regulatory Authority

of India (Trai). “Hopefully

that should be resolved

soon,” Scindia said. Trai

and DoT have dierences

on several points over

spectrum for satcom ser-

vices. Earlier this month,

Trai rejected several sug-

gestions made by the DoT

on spectrum allocation for

satcom services, including

levying a 5 per cent annual

spectrum fee on satellite

communication players

instead of 4 per cent.

| SPECTRUM ALLOCATION |

Satcom services after security clearance: Scindia

BizBriefs

BEST OF THE REST

NEW DELHI:

Private equity invest-

ments in real estate fell 29 per cent this

year to USD 3.46 billion due to lower

inow of funds in housing and ware-

housing projects, according to Knight

Frank India. Private equity (PE) invest-

ments stood at USD 4.9 billion during

the preceding year. Inow of PE funds

hit record USD 6.73 billion during the

2018 calendar year. Real estate consul-

tant Knight Frank India in an analysis

released on Sunday noted that inves-

tors remained cautious this year.

Among dierent asset classes, the

data showed that the PE fund inow in

oce assets rose to USD 2 billion dur-

ing this calendar year from USD 1.85

billion in 2024. Oce assets attracted

58 per cent of the total inows in

2025. Retail real estate also garnered

USD 374 million this year as against

nil inow during 2024. However, PE

investments fell sharply in housing

and warehousing assets. Housing seg-

ment attracted USD 576 million this

year as against USD 1,177 million in

2024. “The slowdown in private equity

investments in Indian real estate dur-

ing 2025, reects a sharp recalibration

across three interconnected dimen-

sions, the eective cost of capital, exit

visibility, and valuation alignment,”

the consultant observed.

NEW DELHI:

Ola Electric on Sunday

said it has scaled up deliveries of its

4680 Bharat Cell powered S1 Pro+

(5.2 kWh) across Tamil Nadu, Ker-

ala, Telangana, and Karnataka. The

company has commenced deliveries

across Coimbatore, Kochi, and Hyder-

abad, along with continued ramp-up

in Bengaluru, Ola Electric said in a

statement. The S1 Pro+ (5.2 kWh) is the

rst product powered by the compa-

ny’s indigenously manufactured 4680

Bharat Cell battery pack, delivering

more range, higher performance and

enhanced safety, it added. “Custom-

ers are now taking deliveries of the

scooters powered by our own 4680

Bharat Cell, and the rollout is picking

up strong momentum. With deliver-

ies scaling across multiple states, we

are now gearing up to take the 4680

Bharat Cell powered vehicles nation-

wide, reaching every corner of the

country,” an Ola Electric spokesper-

son said.

REALTY OLA- EV

Pvt equity funds in real

estate down by 29 pc:

Knight Frank

Ola Electric delivering

‘4680-Bharat-Cell’

powered vehicles

NEW DELHI:

British aero-engine maker

Rolls-Royce on Sunday said it is look-

ing at making India its third “home

market” outside of the UK in line

with a plan to unlock the full poten-

tial of opportunities across an array

of domains, including jet engines,

naval propulsion, land systems and

advanced engineering. In an interview

to PTI, Sashi Mukundan, the executive

vice president of Rolls-Royce India,

elaborating on the move, said the

company is planning for a “big invest-

ment” in the country, and listed devel-

oping a next-generation aero engine in

India as a priority to power the com-

bat jets that New Delhi will produce

under the Advanced Medium Combat

Aircraft (AMCA) programme.

Mukundan also highlighted how

Rolls-Royce can contribute signi-

cantly to addressing India’s require-

ment for electric propulsion capability

for boosting the Indian Navy’s com-

bat prowess. The AMCA engine core

can be modied into a naval marine

engine and it can also be used for

electric propulsion, he suggested, not-

ing that Rolls-Royce is among a very

few engine makers globally to have

the capability to “marinize the aero

engine”.

Mukundan, without divulging spe-

cic details, said Rolls-Royce was eye-

ing making a signicant investment to

expand its footprint in India, noting

that the country has “scale, policy

clarity and a strong push” towards

a defence and industrial ecosystem

that is expanding rapidly and becom-

ing more sophisticated. “If every-

thing goes well, it would be a signi-

cant investment. It’ll be big enough

that people will notice it, but I don’t

want to put a number to it. What mat-

ters is the impact of this investment,

which would be the development of

the entire value chain and ecosystem

here across sectors that we operate

in,” he said. The top Rolls-Royce exec-

utive said the company will rm up

two Memorandums of Understanding

(MoUs) with two defence public sector

undertakings in India.

NEW DELHI:

Bitcoin experienced a

sharp pullback in 2025, sliding nearly

30 per cent from its record high lev-

els as weak trading activity, techni-

cal breakdowns, and continued sell-

ing by long-term holders kept prices

under pressure. Despite the decline,

improving regulation, growing insti-

tutional involvement, and expand-

ing blockchain adoption are sustain-

ing long-term optimism, with 2026

increasingly being seen as a potential

turnaround year for the crypto mar-

ket. Over the year, the crypto ecosys-

tem recorded steady advancements.

Decentralised nance platforms con-

tinued to expand, stablecoins gained

wider acceptance for payments and

settlements, and several countries

progressed with pilot projects for cen-

tral bank digital currencies.

Developer activity also remained

strong, particularly across the Asia-Pa-

cic region and other global markets,

with millions of developers building

applications on blockchain networks.

These trends highlighted growing

interest in blockchain technoloy

despite price volatility. The weakness

in Bitcoin prices was driven by a com-

bination of technical and market fac-

tors. Prices slipped below the key 365-

day moving average, which triggered

further selling pressure. Despite the

decline, several major developments

shaped the crypto market in 2025.

Early in the year, the United States

announced the creation of a Strate-

gic Bitcoin Reserve, a move highlight-

ing Bitcoin’s growing importance at a

national and strategic level.

ROLLS TO MAKE JET ENGINE

BITCOIN MARKET

Rolls-Royce plans big investment in India; eyes

jet engine, naval propulsion programmes

Bitcoin experiences sharp decline: Slumps

down 30% from record high in 2025

NUMBER

z Under new guidelines,

ship owners scrapping

vessels at Indian yards

will receive a credit

worth 40 pc of scrap

value.

Press Trust Of India

Ratan Tata’s integ-

rity and nation-rst

industrial leader-

ship was inspiring,

said Home Minister

Amit Shah.

NEW DELHI:

Union Home

Minister Amit Shah on

Sunday paid tributes

to Ratan Tata on his

88th birth anniversary,

remembering him as a

leader who reshaped

Indian enterprise with

integrity and compassion.

In a post on social media

platform X, Shah said

that Ratan Tata played a

pivotal role in building

indigenous industry and

demonstrated through

seless philanthropy that

true success lies in ser-

vice to the nation. “Trib-

utes to Ratan Tata Ji on

his Jayanti, who reshaped

Indian enterprise with

integrity and compas-

sion. From building indig-

enous industry to seless

philanthropy, he showed

that true success lies in

service to the nation.

His legacy will inspire a

self-reliant Bharat,” the

Home Minister said.

Earlier, Commerce and

Industry Minister Piyush

Goyal remembered Ratan

Tata, saying that the insti-

tutions he nurtured and

the values he championed

continue to guide gener-

ations. “On his Jayanti,

I fondly remember Shri

Ratan Tata ji with deep

admiration and respect.

His leadership seamlessly

blended innovation with

compassion, redening

the role of Indian enter-

prise in national devel-

opment,” Goyal said in a

post on X. “The institu-

tions he nurtured and the

values he championed

continue to guide gen-

erations,” the minister

added. Union Communi-

cations Minister Jyotira-

ditya Scindia also paid his

tributes, saying, “Remem-

bering Ratan Tata on his

birth anniversary. His life

of integrity, humility and

compassion, along with

his extraordinary com-

mitment to philanthropy

and nation-building, set

a benchmark for ethi-

cal leadership,” Scindia

posted on X. Delhi Chief

Minister Rekha Gupta

paid tributes to Ratan

Tata as well.

| RATAN TATA |

Tributes paid to Ratan Tata

on his 88th birth anniversary

Press Trust Of India

In India, AI adop-

tion is becoming

sharper and more

grounded, said

Industry leaders.

NEW DELHI: As India

moves toward 2026, its

technoloy sector is enter-

ing a phase where scale,

accountability and out-

comes matter more than

momentum alone, accord-

ing to industry leaders.

Sindhu Gangadharan,

Managing Director, SAP

Labs India, and Chair-

person, Nasscom, said the

industry has built strong

foundations across arti-

cial intelligence (AI), cloud,

cybersecurity and digital

platforms, supported by

deep talent and a mature

ecosystem of startups,

global capability centres

(GCCs) and global enter-

prises. “The next chapter

is about converting capa-

bility into sustained busi-

ness and societal impact.

AI adoption is becom-

ing sharper and more

grounded in real use cases.

Enterprises are asking

clearer questions around

productivity, resilience

and trust,” she said. Enter-

prises now expect technol-

oy to integrate seamlessly

into core processes rather

than remain on the fringes

as experimentation. This

shift places greater respon-

sibility on the industry to

design solutions that are

secure, explainable and

aligned with long-term

value creation. “India is

well positioned to lead this

phase. Our strength lies

in combining engineering

depth with domain under-

standing and the ability to

execute at scale.

India well positioned

to lead AI-driven

tech future: Industry

FACTFILE

z India well positioned

to lead AI impact

through skills,

collaboration and scale.

FACTFILE

z Industry Minister

Piyush Goyal recalled

Ratan Tata’s values

guiding generations,

and blending innovation

with compassion.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has notied guidelines for

two major shipbuilding initiatives with a total outlay of over Rs 44,700 crore.

Sharad Pawar praises Gautam Adani

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar praised industrialist Gautam Adani’s during inauguration of Sharadchandra Pawar Centre of Excellence in AI at Baramati. PTI.

Nation News

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Railway for major

redevelopment

of Raipur

Press Trust Of India

Project boosts capac-

ity, safety, and connec-

tivity for future travel.

NEW DELHI:

Raipur

Railway Station is set to

undergo a major redevel-

opment at a sanctioned cost

of Rs 463 crore, aimed at

transforming it into a mod-

ern, passenger-friendly and

fully integrated transport

hub. The project focuses on

enhancing capacity, acces-

sibility, safety and multi-

modal connectivity to meet

future travel demand.

Key features include

barrier-free access across

the station and platforms

for Divyangjans, wide

two-lane circulating roads

on both sides for conges-

tion-free vehicular move-

ment, and large city-side

and rear-side G+2 station

buildings with integrated

reserved and unreserved

ticketing, drinking water

and sanitation facilities. An

expansive 36-metre-wide

air concourse with seating

for over 1,500 passengers,

kiosks, food courts, lifts,

escalators and commer-

cial spaces is planned to

improve passenger circula-

tion.

To decongest passen-

ger ow, separate arrival

and departure foot over-

bridges will be provided,

along with an exclusive

FOB for parcel movement.

A multi-storey parcel and

RMS building with mod-

ern handling and scanning

facilities is also planned.

Passenger amenities will be

strengthened with execu-

tive and reserved lounges,

retiring rooms, dormito-

ries, upgraded waiting

halls, deluxe toilets, cloak

room and medical emer-

gency room.

The redevelopment

includes large-scale parking

infrastructure, multimodal

transport hubs on both

city and Gudiyari sides,

reserved parking for future

metro services, pedestrian

plazas, landscaped areas

and commercial zones to

boost station-area activity.

Security will be enhanced

with dedicated check facil-

ities, CCTV monitoring

rooms and separate service

buildings and barracks for

RPF and GRP.

An Integrated Mobility

Plan, agreed in principle by

the Railways and the State

Government, will provide

seamless access from Atal

Path Expressway to both

sides of the station, widen

key approach roads, elimi-

nate trac bottlenecks near

Kukri Talab, and ease con-

gestion at Telghani Naka.

FASTFACTS

z 36m-wide concourse

with 1,500+ seats,

amenities planned for

passengers

zMajor redevelopment

at a sanctioned cost of

Rs 463 crore.

HYDERABAD

Make India

‘vishwa guru’

RSS Chief Mohan Bhag-

wat on Sunday called

upon Hindus to work

towards making the

Hindu society and India

a ‘Vishwa Guru’ for the

welfare of the world.

Addressing the valedic-

tory function of Vishwa

Sangh Shibir, a congre-

gation of international

Hindu organisations,

he said Hindus and

Swayamsevaks have to

lead by example and

demonstrate how human

intellect can be directed

towards global welfare.

“... Technoloy will

advance. Social media

will grow. AI will come.

Everything will come.

But, technonoloy’s ill

eects will not be there.

Technoloy would not

become owner of human

beings. Human beings

would remain the owners

of technoloy,” he said.

“Human intellect will

move towards using tech-

noloy for welfare of the

world. Not the reverse.

How it will happen?

We have to live by

example. This is before

the entire Indian soci-

ety,” he added.

NEWSLINE

Winter

tourist rush

GANGTOK:

Sikkim is wit-

nessing a surge in tourist

arrivals during the winter

season, with several popu-

lar destinations reporting

near-capacity occupancy,

ocials said on Sunday.

Hotels and homestays

in tourist hubs such as

Lachung in North Sikkim

are fully booked, while

Lachen and Gurudong-

mar Lake remain closed

to visitors since June this

year, they said. In East Sik-

kim, destinations includ-

ing Tsomgo Lake, Nathula

Pass, and Zuluk have

recorded heavy footfall

since December 22.

According to ocial

data, as many as 1,516

tourist vehicles visited

Tsomgo, Baba Mandir and

Nathula Pass on Decem-

ber 28, reecting the scale

of the seasonal rush. On

the same day, a total of

6,080 tourists, including

domestic and foreign vis-

itors, travelled to Nathula.

The corresponding gure

during the winter season

last year stood at around

5,000. Among domestic

tourists, 3,418 were men,

1,621 women and 874

children, ocials said.

The foreign tourist count

included 20 men, 21

women and 26 children.

“Bike adventure tour-

ism has increased signi-

cantly compared to last

year, and Sikkim is fac-

ing a shortage of bikes.

Gangtok and Pelling

have also seen a massive

surge in hotel bookings,

while North Sikkim is

fully booked due to the

compulsory two-night,

one-day booking norm,”

a senior Tourism Depart-

ment ocial said. He

urged tourists to conrm

accommodation bookings

in North Sikkim before

proceeding to the destina-

tions. The ocial added

that continuous snowfall

in some of the most-visited

tourist locations has also

contributed to the sudden

rise in tourist inow.

Press Trust Of India

Robotic telesurgery

can bridge India’s

healthcare gaps.

NEW DELHI:

SS Innova-

tions International Inc,

achieved a landmark mile-

stone with 100 successful

robotic telesurgeries. To

commemorate this, the

company hosted India’s

rst Marathon Robotic

Telesurgery, perform-

ing over 20 tele-enabled

surgeries in a single day,

demonstrating the sys-

tem’s precision, safety, and

scalability across multiple

specialties.

The initiative under-

scores the potential of

robotic telesurgery to

bridge healthcare gaps in

India, enabling expert sur-

geons to operate remotely

and providing advanced

care to patients beyond

metropolitan centers. Spe-

cialists hailed SSII Mantra’s

reliability, highlighting

its applications in oncol-

oy, uroloy, cardiac, and

bariatric surgeries.

Dr Sudhir Srivastava,

Founder and CEO of SS

Innovations International,

said, “Completing 100

telesurgeries represents

a dening moment for

Indian medtech innova-

tion. Our mission is to

ensure world-class surgi-

cal expertise can reach

patients everywhere,

safely and dependably.”

Experts participating

in the marathon empha-

sized how SSII Mantra

makes advanced surgical

care accessible, aordable,

and scalable, establishing

telesurgery as a practical

solution for underserved

regions.

With this achievement,

SS Innovations Interna-

tional strengthens India’s

position as a leader in tech-

noloy-enabled, remotely

delivered healthcare,

showcasing the clinical

maturity of the SSII Man-

tra platform and its role in

shaping the future of surgi-

cal care.

| ROBOTIC TELESURGERY |

First robotic telesurgery marathon

marks 100 successful procedures

FASTFACTS

z SSII Mantra makes

advanced telesurgery

accessible and scalable.

z100 telesurgeries

mark a milestone in

Indian medtech.

Press Trust Of India

HYDERABAD: Though

the Congress govern-

ment in Telangana, led by

Chief Minister A Revanth

Reddy, rmly entrenched

itself in 2025 with impres-

sive wins in the Jubilee

Hills Assembly bypoll and

rural local body elections,

the fullment of all poll

promises in 2026 is likely

to become a daunting task

amid mounting debts and

falling revenues.

The Congress govern-

ment unveiled a grand

vision to make the state a

USD 3 trillion economy by

2047 and USD 1 trillion by

2034 which, according to

former RBI Governor D Sub-

barao, requires an annual

growth rate of 89 per cent.

Telangana’s borrowings

stood at over Rs 58,000

crore at the end of Novem-

ber, as against the budgeted

Rs 54,000 crore for the full

year while the total receipts

were at Rs 1.67 lakh crore,

59 per cent of the targeted

Rs 2.85 lakh crore.

The situation presents

an apparent dim nan-

cial picture, as the Con-

gress government is yet

to implement some of its

poll promises under the

“Six Guarantees” it made

ahead of the 2023 polls.

Two of the promises with

huge nancial implica-

tions are, providing Rs

2500 monthly nancial

assistance for women

and Rs 4000 monthly

pension to the elderly.

Both are yet to be imple-

mented. The ‘guarantees’

that have been rolled out

include free bus travel

for women across the

state and 200 units of

free power for eligible

beneciaries. Besides

the ‘Telangana Rising

Global Summit’ where it

released its 2047 vision

document, the govern-

ment hosted big ticket

events, including Miss

World pageant and foot-

ball legend Lionel Messi’s

“GOAT Tour to India”

during the year, aiming

to project the state at the

global level.

Road likely bumpy for

Telangana in 2026

‘Govt faces land, funds, and

environment hurdles for major proj’

Fullling 2026 poll promises may be tough amid rising debt.

A ﬁrecracker show takes place during the release of the Telangana Rising 2047 Vision document.

Hyderabad native Sajid

Akram, the slain suspect

in the mass shooting

turned out to be an Indian

national hailing from here,

although no terror link

with the city was found.

The state witnessed a num-

ber of accidents, includ-

ing industrial, during the

outgoing year. Eight work-

ers went missing when a

portion of the Srisailam

Left Bank Canal (SLBC)

tunnel project collapsed

in Nagarkurnool district in

February. Though the gov-

ernment undertook pro-

longed search operations

using advanced technol-

oy, only two bodies could

be recovered. A blaze in

the residential cum jewel-

lery shops complex build-

ing at Gulzar Houz near

the iconic Charminar here

on May 18 killed 17 people,

including eight children,

belonging to the extended

family of a jeweller.

HIGHLIGHT

z State saw multiple

accidents, including

industrial, last year.

zBlast at pharma ﬁrm

killed 46.

QUOTE FROM THE QUOTABLE

“Good government depends on the

character of its people.”

[ C. Rajagopalachari ]

Established 1974 Volume 51 No. 86

| OUR VIEW |

The Prime Minister’s nal Mann Ki Baat of 2025

sought to present the year as a dening chapter

in India’s contemporary journey — one marked

by security resolve, cultural assertion and growing

global condence. From an editorial standpoint, the

message reects not just a recap of achievements but

a deliberate attempt to shape how the year will be

remembered in public memory. Operation Sindoor

stands at the centre of this narrative. By underlining

India’s precision strikes in response to the Pahalgam

terror attack, the government has reinforced its long-

held position that national security will not be com-

promised. The emphasis on restraint followed by an

understanding to de-escalate with Pakistan projects an

image of calibrated strength — assertive yet controlled.

For many Indians, this balance remains reassuring; for

critics, it invites scrutiny on whether deterrence alone

can ensure long-term stability. Beyond security, the

Prime Minister’s address highlighted India’s growing

visibility in sports, science and culture. Sporting tri-

umphs — particularly the women’s cricket World Cup

victory and success in blind and para-sports — point to

a broader, more inclusive sporting ecosystem. These

achievements deserve recognition, not merely as med-

als won but as symbols of changing social attitudes and

investment in talent across categories. Scientic mile-

stones, including India’s presence at the International

Space Station, strengthen the country’s claim as a seri-

ous technological player. Such advances align well with

the government’s focus on youth power, innovation

and global aspiration. Yet, the editorial lens must also

ask whether this optimism is translating evenly into

employment opportunities and research depth across

institutions. Cultural moments like the Mahakumbh,

the Ram Mandir ceremony and renewed emphasis

on swadeshi reect a conscious blending of heritage

with nationalism. While these resonate strongly with

many citizens, sustaining unity requires ensuring that

cultural pride remains inclusive rather than exclusion-

ary. As the Prime Minister acknowledged, 2025 also

witnessed natural disasters, reminding the nation that

resilience must extend beyond rhetoric. Moving into

2026, the challenge lies in converting condence into

consistent governance outcomes. Pride is powerful,

but progress ultimately rests on delivery.

| GUEST VIEW |

Why I Chose People

Over Cinema

We Sanatanis: The World’s Minuscule Minority

For years, I believed cinema was my destination.

I entered it thinking I was building something

small, something temporary. But the people who

stood by me turned that fragile dream into a fortress.

They gave me love, loyalty and strength beyond imagi-

nation. When fans give you everything, including their

faith, walking away from responsibility is not an option.

Cinema shaped my identity, but it cannot dene my

purpose forever. I now feel a

deeper calling — to stand up

for those who stood for me

without asking anything in

return. Giving up lms is not a

loss; it is a conscious decision

to repay a debt of trust. Fame

is meaningful only when it

translates into service. I rmly

believe that growth comes

through resistance. A strong

opponent sharpens resolve

and claries intent. History

does not move forward without struggle, and those

who wish to change it must be prepared. The coming

years will demand courage, unity and discipline, and

I am ready for that challenge. My farewell to cinema is

emotional, but it is not regretful. Art gave me a voice;

now that voice must speak beyond the screen. This

transition is not about ambition, but about accountabil-

ity. When people build you a fort, you don’t admire it

from afar — you protect it.

Vijay

Printed and Published by Sameer Maheshwari on behalf of Ramgopal Investments Pvt. Ltd. at Navbharat Press, Navbharat Bhawan, Press Complex, Raipur. Editor in Chief - Sameer Maheshwari. Editor: Sameer Shukla (Responsible for selection of news under PRB Act.),

Phone: (0771) 4911922 Fax : (0771) 4257703 , Postal Regn. No. C.G./RYPD.N./62/2025-27, Regd. No. 26172/74/RNI

YOURLETTERS

Send your articles (600-650 words) and letters (70-8 0 words) for this page on: editorialcc007@gmail.com The letters can be edited or rewritten for clarity.

Violence shadows India’s festive season

The recent attacks on Christmas gatherings and vendors in Jabalpur, Puri and

Nalbari reveal an unsettling rise in intolerance during a season meant for peace.

Assaulting a visually impaired woman, burning school decorations and intimi-

dating small traders reflect a troubling trend in states boasting “double-engine”

governance. Such acts corrode India’s global image and mock claims of cul-

tural liberalism. When aggression replaces harmony, the message to the world

is painfully clear.

Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata

Climate disasters demand urgent global resolve

The escalating toll of floods, cyclones and wildfires across continents confirms

that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a relentless reality. Com-

munities are devastated, economies strained, yet responses remain confined to

rhetoric. The crisis stems not from ignorance but from inadequate political will.

Those least responsible continue to suffer the most. If successive catastrophes

cannot compel decisive action, what will finally move policymakers to act? Delay

now is nothing less than negligence.

Hasnain, Patna

Comment

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Teachers Who Carry Classrooms On Shoulders

Teaching is often

described as the act of

imparting knowledge.

But anyone who has spent

years inside a classroom

knows that this denition

barely scratches the surface.

Behind every classroom

stands a teacher carrying far

more than lesson plans, text-

books, and timetables.

In Chhattisgarh, a teach-

er’s day begins long before

the irst bell rings. Along with

chalk and registers, teach-

ers bring patience, author-

ity, empathy, resilience, and

hope. These are not written

into job descriptions, yet

they are demanded daily.

After decades in this profes-

sion, many teachers quietly

ask themselves a dificult

question: Is teaching merely

what I do, or is it who I am?

Oficially, a teacher’s role

is to teach a subject. In reality,

every school day demands

multiple roles. When youth-

ful tempers rise and class-

rooms slip toward disorder,

the teacher becomes a disci-

plinarian. Firm words, deliv-

ered at the right moment,

can turn chaos into calm and

conflict into understanding.

In such moments, language

becomes a tool of peace.

At other times, teach-

ers are called upon to act

as judges. Disputes among

students are frequent, and

each one demands fairness,

sensitivity, and balance. Lis-

tening patiently, weighing

facts, and making decisions

that may influence a child’s

sense of justice for years is no

easy task. It is intimidating,

yet teachers step forward

because students trust them

enough to seek help.

There are days when the

classroom quietly transforms

into a counselling space.

Without formal degrees in

psycholoy, teachers listen

to fears shaped by poverty,

family stress, peer pressure,

or self-doubt. When students

see only dark clouds ahead,

teachers offer reassurance

and belief. Often, that belief

becomes the irst light a

struggling child experiences.

Teaching also extends

beyond students to parents.

Teachers regularly act as

communicators and medi-

ators, explaining not just

marks, but behaviour, poten-

tial, and growth. Across vil-

lages, towns, and cities of

Chhattisgarh, teachers bridge

the gap between home and

school. A child’s progress

depends on this partnership.

Like the wheels of a chariot,

teachers and parents must

move together for the jour-

ney to continue.

Modern classrooms are

complex spaces. Gifted learn-

ers sit beside restless ones.

Hopeful minds share benches

with cynical attitudes. Manag-

ing this diversity is mentally

and emotionally exhaust-

ing. Yet teaching continues.

Teachers adapt their meth-

ods, connect lessons to real

life, and speak the language

students understand. Discus-

sions move beyond textbooks

to ilms, sports, technoloy,

dreams, and aspirations, sim-

ply to keep curiosity alive.

Recognition for this

unseen labour is rare. Teach-

ing today is often viewed as

a service rather than a call-

ing. Appreciation is limited,

expectations are endless, and

workloads continue to grow.

Yet teachers persist. The true

reward lies elsewhere. It lies

in a hesitant child inding

conidence, a troubled stu-

dent choosing a better path,

or a former student returning

years later with gratitude.

Teachers in Chhattisgarh

are often tired, unheard,

and stretched thin. But their

impact runs deep and lasts

long. When students grow

into thoughtful, responsible

individuals, teachers know

their work has mattered.

And in those quiet

moments of reflection, a

truth becomes clear:

A teacher does not merely

teach lessons.

A teacher shapes lives.

A Year Framed

By Condence

And Resolve

Beyond textbooks and timetables, teachers shoulder emotional, social, and moral responsibilities that

quietly shape classrooms, communities, and the future of society.By T. Sreelal Nair

Dr Amitabh Dubey

Former Prof. of

English, Govt. Of MP

And castes? Countless.

Brahmins alone: Kan-

yakubja, Sarjupari, Sanadhya,

Jijhotia, Bhargava, Malvi,

Gaur… and dozens more across

regions. Hardly any inter-mar-

riage even among them. Same

story for every single caste in

this country. We are a million

micro-nations wearing the

same religious mask.

Even our religion is no

monolith. Shaiva, Shakta,

Vaishnava – different sects,

different gods, different ritu-

als. Some worship Ram, some

Krishna, some Jagannath,

some Balaji. Some worship the

devotees (Hanuman) or their

sons (Ganesh). Kartikeya is

taboo in the north but Muru-

gan in the south. Ravana is

worshipped in pockets. New

gods keep popping up – San-

toshi Maa forty years ago,

Vaibhav Lakshmi today. Some

swear by Sai Baba, others

curse him. Nobody can explain

who Satyanarayan actually is.

Every kul-devi and kul-devta

has his or her own iefdom.

Our religion is as fragmented

as our castes.

Peeling Indian caste and

religion is like peeling an onion

– endless layers, endless tears.

Caste is the oldest reality

show in India: “Kaun Banega

Supreme?” Everyone dances

waving their birādari flag.

Brahmin shouts, “We own

the Vedas!” Kshatriya roars,

“We own the sword!” Vaishya

smirks, “Money talks!” And

the Dalit? He never even got a

line in the script.

Reservation is the ratio-

n-shop queue: everybody

wants it, nobody wants to

wait. SCSTOBC status is the

golden VIP pass for jobs, seats,

promotions. General Cate-

gory? The sandwich illing –

neither here nor there. The

OBC list grows every year like

phone notiications. A caste

gets added and the village dis-

tributes sweets.

We all know the system

has become absurd, yet we

keep dragging it like some

hideous ancestral furniture –

too scared to throw it out, no

space to keep it.

“Divide and rule” its our

democratic rulers just as well

as it itted the British.

Reservation is the bone

flung at us, treating Indians

like dogs. Those who got it are

gnawing happily. Those who

didn’t are barking. Snatching

the bone back from the ones

who have it is harder than

pulling a bone from a dog’s

jaws – and our vote-hungry

politicians will never dare.

Split into a thousand little

tribes of caste and sect, we

Sanatanis are the minuscule

minority on the planet. The

British left, but the exploitation

in the name of caste and reli-

gion never stopped. Brace

yourselves. Once the caste

census results are out, another

round of Mandal-Kamandal

chaos is guaranteed.

Jai Hind. Or whatever little

is left of it.

(The views and opinions

expressed in this article are

those of the author and do

not necessarily reflect the

oficial policy or position of

the newspaper.)

While India res mis-

siles at terrorists

across the border,

it quietly launched another

missile inside its own house:

the caste census. The missiles

raining on the enemy aim to

wipe out terrorists; the one

red within aims to obliter-

ate whatever little social har-

mony we had left in India.

This internal missile won’t

explode today, but the day the

census results are out, it will

leave India’s social health on

its deathbed. We’ll be hurled

straight back into the dark

ages of Mandal vs Kamandal.

In Bundelkhand they have

a word: khūtā – the peg. You

hammer it into the ground to

tether cattle, or into the wall

to hang clothes. The rope

that ties the animal is called

girmā. Old Bundelkhandi cou-

ples, bored stiff in their taste-

less marriages, used to taunt

each other with the proverb:

“Hamāo girmā inke khūte

se kā bandho? Hamāre to

bhāg phūt gaye!”

(“Why would my rope

stay tied to their peg? Mine

snapped long ago and I ran!”)

That same girmā of reli-

gion and khūtā of caste is still

deciding whether Indian San-

atanis will break free or stay

chained, even today.

The British started driv-

ing these caste pegs in 1871

and kept hammering till 1941.

After Independence, the Con-

stitution came, the oficial

caste census was supposedly

stopped, but the pegs stayed

irmly in the ground. Reli-

gion’s rope was re-branded:

“majority” and “minority”.

Till the 1990s there were only

three pegs: Scheduled Castes,

Scheduled Tribes, and Gen-

eral Category – three huge

pens in which hundreds of

jātis were herded together

according to their “social

health”.

To the irst two pens they

tossed the delicious kha-

li-chuni (oil-cake mash) called

Reservation. To the third

pen, whose social health was

declared “excellent”, they

served dry straw called Merit.

Then in the ’90s, lured by the

smell of that mash, politicians

drove in a fourth massive

peg – Other Backward Classes

– and tied almost everyone

except Brahmins, Thakurs

and Banias to it, feeding them

reservation too.

Since then, Indian castes

have been in a non-stop

girmā-breaking competition

to grab more mash.

In the Modi era they ham-

mered a sub-peg called EWS

beside the dry-straw pen and

tossed a handful of mash

there too, just to keep them

quiet. Today’s clamour for a

caste census is nothing but

a naked political game to

increase quotas, demand big-

ger shares, and tighten the

ropes.

What truly binds Indian

Sanatanis is not religion but

caste. Proof? Roti-beti rela-

tionships and the way every

political party picks candi-

dates purely on caste arith-

metic. Marry outside your jāti

and you’re ex-communicated

– or worse, murdered in the

name of “honour”. That’s

why khap panchayats exist.

Symbolic

Nation

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Use AI, other modern

tools to dismantle

‘religious conversion

rackets’.

Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh CM

Press Trust Of India

CHANDIGARH: Punjab

BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on

Sunday slammed the AAP

government for conven-

ing a special assembly

session to oppose the

VBG RAM G Act, saying

the Bhawant Mann dis-

pensation was “acting

like an event manage-

ment company” instead

of focusing on develop-

ment works.

Intensifying his attack,

the BJP leader alleged

that the AAP govern-

ment was preparing for

yet another “propaganda

exercise”.

The Punjab govern-

ment has called a one-

day special session of the

assembly on December

30 against the Centre’s

Viksit Bharat Guaran-

tee for Rozgar and Ajee-

vika Mission (Gramin)

Act, which replaces the

20-year-old MGNREGA.

The VBG RAM G Bill

was passed in Parliament

during the recently con-

cluded Winter Session of

Parliament amid vocifer-

ous protests by the oppo-

sition. The new act has

a provision for 125 days

of wage employment for

rural workers.

However, Punjab

Cabinet Minister Tarun-

preet Singh Sond on Sat-

urday claimed that the

new rural employment

law will severely impact

below-poverty-line fam-

ilies, Scheduled Caste

communities, and rural

labourers who depend

on the Mahatma Gandhi

National Rural Employ-

ment Guarantee Act

(MGNREGA) for survival.

In a statement here

on Sunday, BJP leader

Jakhar said the Mann gov-

ernment has “failed” on

every front and has no

achievements to count.

“Therefore, it keeps roll-

ing out new propaganda

every day,” he said, point-

ing to the special session.

He described the spe-

cial session, being con-

vened to oppose the VBG

RAM G Act, as the next

episode in this series.

Book

release

GUWAHATI:

Union minis-

ter Sarbananda Sonowal

on Sunday emphasised

that books on contribu-

tions on legends of one

state in languages of

other areas strengthen

cultural dialogue and fos-

ter emotional and intel-

lectual connect.

Releasing a book on

musical maestro Bhupen

Hazarika here, ‘Bhupen

da ka surila safar’ (Bhu-

pen Da’s Melodious Jour-

ney), Sonowal said that

the singer was not merely

the voice of Assam, but

a resonant expression

of India’s collective con-

science.

“Bhupen da’s music

emerged from deep

human sensitivity, social

concern and an unwaver-

ing commitment to har-

mony and national unity.

This Hindi-language work

will serve as an important

bridge, introducing the

rich cultural legacy of the

North East to the Hindi-

speaking heartland of the

country,” he said.

Press Trust Of India

Vaishnaw stresses

terminal expansion,

capacity upgrades to

cut congestion and

boost connectivity.

BHUBANESWAR: East

Coast Railway (ECoR)

has embarked on an

ambitious infrastructure

upgradation programme

across Bhubaneswar, Puri

and Visakhapatnam to

double the train-originat-

ing capacity in the next

ve years, in view of rap-

idly growing passenger

demand. Union Minister

of Railways, Informa-

tion & Broadcasting, and

Electronics & Informa-

tion Technoloy Ashwini

Vaishnaw said the focus

is on expanding coaching

terminals and enhancing

sectional and operational

capacities to reduce con-

gestion, strengthen the

railway network and

improve nationwide con-

nectivity.

At present, infrastruc-

ture in these key cities is

being augmented to meet

future requirements. The

comprehensive plan tar-

gets doubling originating

capacity by 2030 through

terminal expansion, cre-

ation of new satellite ter-

minals, development of

large maintenance facili-

ties, and enhancement of

sectional capacity using

modern signalling and

multitracking.

Major initiatives

include construction of

additional platforms, sta-

bling lines, pit lines and

shunting facilities, along

with identication of new

terminals in and around

urban areas to bal-

ance trac loads. Mega

coaching complexes and

advanced maintenance

depots are also planned

to support increased

train operations. At Puri,

two additional full-length

integrated pit lines are

under construction,

while the entire coach-

ing maintenance facility

is proposed to shift to a

second coaching terminal

on the sanctioned Puri–

Konark new line, where

a large-scale coaching

complex is planned.

In Bhubaneswar, the

upcoming Bhubaneswar

New Station is being

developed as a satellite

coaching terminal, sup-

ported by pit line facili-

ties at Mancheswar and

new depots in nearby

areas due to space con-

straints.

ECoR plans to double train-

originating capacity by 2030

| INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES |

| OPPOSING VB-G RAM G |

‘AAP govt acting like event management firm’

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Culture

and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekha-

wat on Sunday urged former Congress

president Sonia Gandhi to return the

correspondences and documents of

rst prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru

to the Prime Ministers’ Museum and

Library, stating that they belonged to

the country and not to any individual.

In an interview with PTI Videos,

Shekhawat also said Aravalli Hills con-

troversy was a classic example of the

Congress creating an issue out of a

non-issue.

Talking about Nehru’s letters

and documents, the minister said,

“The Prime Ministers’ Museum and

Library (PMML), which was formerly

the Nehru Memorial Museum and

Library (NMML), was established after

the death of Prime Minister Jawahar-

lal Nehru. A society was created (to

manage the museum) but it did not

function properly. Subsequently, the

NMML was renamed as PMML (in

2023).”

The culture minister said that over

a 20-year period from 1970 to 1990,

all non-ocial documents related to

Nehru were brought to the museum;

this included the personal letters

Nehru wrote to people, the replies

received, and his personal comments

and notes.

Briefs

BEST OF THE REST

HERITAGE CONSERVATION

‘Request Sonia Gandhi to return Nehru’s

letters to Prime Ministers’ Museum’

NEW DELHI: From mango battles in royal

orchards and chapatis secretly passing

between villages to bonds with elephants

and a chutney song that evolves into a

diasporic anthem, a new short-story col-

lection by author Karan Puri evokes a

strong sense of nostalgia, blending mem-

ory, food and gentle touches of magic.

“Tales Between Tastes”, published by

TreeShade Books, brings together 10

stories that place food at the heart of

storytelling. The collection harks back

to an era of shared meals, oral traditions

and close-knit communities, rekindling

the warmth and comfort of childhood

recollections. “A mango is not just a

fruit -- it’s summer afternoons, orchard

rivalries, or even the sweetness of rst

friendships. A chapati isn’t just bread --

it’s resilience, tradition, and the secret

journeys of messages hidden in kitchens

across villages. “Food to me, has always

been more than just nourishment -- it’s

memory, emotion, and culture wrapped

into a single bite. When I was writing

Tales Between Tastes, I realized that

every dish, every avour we encounter

carries a story within it,” said the author

in a statement.

NEW SHORT-STORY COLLECTION

New book rekindles

nostalgia through food

and folklore

CONTROVERSY

BLO found dead in

Bengal, work-related

pressure alleged

KOLKATA: A Booth Level Ocer (BLO)

was found dead in West Bengal’s

Bankura district on Sunday, triggering

allegations that work-related pressure

linked to the ongoing Special Intensive

Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls may

have played a role, police said.

The incident occurred in Ranib-

andh block, where the body of the

deceased, Haradhan Mandal, was

recovered from a school premises on

Sunday morning.

“Mandal was a schoolteacher by

profession and served as the BLO of

Booth No. 206 under the Rajakata

area of Ranibandh block,” a police o-

cer said.

According to the ocer, a note

bearing the deceased’s signature was

recovered from the spot, in which he

reportedly referred to being unable to

cope with work pressure.

“We have seized the note and sent

the body for post-mortem examina-

tion,” he said.

The police initiated an investigation

to ascertain the circumstances lead-

ing to Mandal’s death. Ocials said all

angles are being examined.

CHENNAI: Leaders cutting across

party lines in Tamil Nadu on Sunday

paid oral tributes at the memorial

of DMDK founder leader Vijayakanth,

fondly addressed as ‘Captain’ by his

admirers, on his second death anni-

versary.

Chief Minister M K Stalin, in his

tributes, recalled Vijayakanth’s wel-

fare-centric work and hailed him as

large-hearted and a good friend. In

his message, the CM said: “The late

leader earned people’s boundless love

for being compassionate towards the

poor and for helping all the people.”

Deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi

Stalin and AIADMK general secretary

Edappadi K Palaniswami were among

those who visited Vijayakanth’s

samadhi on the premises of the DMDK

headquarters at Koyambedu here.

TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai, BJP

leaders Nainar Nagenthran, Pon Rad-

hakrishnan, Tamilisai Soundararajan,

NTK top leader Seeman, and Tamilaga

Vazhvurimai Katchi founder leader T

Velmurugan were among others who

visited the mausoleum and paid oral

tributes.

In a social media post, TVK founder

leader Vijay said, “I pay my respects

to Captain Vijayakanth on his second

death anniversary; he holds an indel-

ible place in the hearts of the people.”

PMK top leader Anbumani said

years may pass but Vijayakanth will

be remembered by the people for his

humanity. Several admirers placed

newborns on the samadhi and prayed

for the wellbeing of their children.

Similar to Sabarimala pilgrimage,

many men dressed in traditional black

attire carried ‘Irumudi’ and oered

prayers at the samadhi.

RICH TRIBUTES

Leaders cutting across party lines pay tributes to

‘Captain’ Vijayakanth on his death anniversary

Eviction drive

TEZPUR:

An eviction

drive to clear over 87

acres of grazing land in

Assam’s Biswanath dis-

trict was carried out by

the administration on

Sunday, aecting more

than 360 families, an o-

cial said.

He said the exer-

cise was conducted in a

peaceful manner.

Biswanath district

Commissioner Lakhinan-

dan Saharia said the evic-

tion began around 7 am

in Baghmari area under

Behali Assembly constit-

uency.

Eviction notices were

issued to 435 families

allegedly encroaching

about 265 bighas (87.45

acres) of Village Grazing

Reserve (VGR) in the area

in August this year. VGR

refers to tracts of land set

aside for livestock graz-

ing.

The process was

stopped as 68 families

approached the Gauhati

High Court against the

administration’s notice,

the DC said.

“Today, the eviction

was carried out in the

land encroached by the

remaining 367 families,”

he said. About 20 exca-

vators were pressed into

service while heavy secu-

rity deployment made in

the area to ensure peace-

ful eviction. An alleged

encroacher, Alap Uddin

Haji, who lost his house,

claimed that they did not

know that it was VGR land

that his family had been

occupying. “We have

been living here since my

father’s time. We have

nowhere to go now,” he

said.

Press Trust Of India

NEW DELHI:

President

Droupadi Murmu on Sun-

day undertook a sortie

onboard Indian Navy’s

indigenously-built front-

line submarine INS Vagh-

sheer on the Western sea-

board.

Murmu is the second

President to undertake a

submarine sortie. In Feb-

ruary 2006, APJ Abdul

Kalam experienced a sub-

marine sortie onboard

INS Sindhu Rakshak.

Chief of Naval Sta

Admiral Dinesh K Trip-

athi accompanied Pres-

ident Murmu, who is

also the Supreme Com-

mander of the armed

forces, during the sortie

in the Kalvari class sub-

marine from the Karwar

naval base in Karnataka,

ocials said.

The President, don-

ning a naval uniform,

waved at naval person-

nel before entering the

submarine. She also

interacted with the crew

of INS Vaghsheer and

lauded their dedication,

while describing the

indigenous submarine

as a shining example of

the Indian Navy’s pro-

fessional excellence and

combat preparedness.

“President Droupadi

Murmu undertook a

dived sortie on the West-

ern Seaboard onboard

INS Vaghsheer,” the Presi-

dent’s Secretariat said.

It said the President

was briefed on the role

of the submarine arm in

India’s maritime stratey,

and the operational capa-

bilities as well as con-

tributions in safeguard-

ing national maritime

interests. Murmu, while

interacting with the crew

of INS Vaghsheer, com-

mended their dedication,

commitment and spirit of

seless service, it added.

“She said that this

indigenous submarine

is a shining example of

the Indian Navy’s profes-

sional excellence, com-

bat preparedness and

unwavering commitment

to national security,” the

secretariat said on social

media. INS Vaghsheer, the

sixth and nal submarine

of the P75 Scorpene proj-

ect, was commissioned

into the Navy in January.

It is one of the most silent

and versatile diesel-elec-

tric submarines in the

world, according to Navy

ocials.

It is designed to under-

take a wide range of

missions, including anti-

surface warfare, anti-sub-

marine warfare, intelli-

gence gathering, area

surveillance, and special

operations. Armed with

wire-guided torpedoes,

anti-ship missiles, and

advanced sonar systems,

the submarine also fea-

tures modular construc-

tion, allowing for future

upgrades such as the

integration of Air Inde-

pendent Propulsion (AIP)

technoloy.

The Indian Navy is

developing the Karwar

base considering India’s

long-term security inter-

ests in the Indian Ocean

region. In October,

Murmu took a sortie in a

Rafale ghter jet from the

Indian Air Force Station

in Ambala, becoming the

rst President of India to

y in two dierent ghter

aircraft of the Indian Air

Force (IAF).

President Droupadi Murmu during a submarine sortie aboard Indian

Navy’s frontline submarine INS Vaghsheer on the Western seaboard, from

the Karwar naval base in Karnataka.

Prez Murmu on INS

Vaghsheer sortie

The President, donning a naval uniform, waved at naval personnel

before entering the submarine.

HIGHLIGHT

z President Murmu

undertakes dived

sortie onboard INS

Vaghsheer.

z President briefed

on submarine arm’s

strategic role.

HIGHLIGHT

z Infra upgrade across

Bhubaneswar, Puri

and Visakhapatnam to

double train capacity in

ﬁve yrs.

Mann govt has

failed on every

front.

Sunil Jakhar

Punjab BJP chief

CLOSE UP

Jaideep Ahlawat

is the new entry into

‘Drishyam 3’

CineBriefs

BEST OF THE REST

Trending on Insta

OTT Watch

A new book, Salman Khan: The Sul-

tan of Bollywood by Mohar Basu, cel-

ebrates the cinematic journey of Bol-

lywood superstar Salman Khan as he

turns 60 on December 27. Published

by HarperCollins India, the book fea-

tures rare photographs, fan stories,

and insights from long-time collab-

orators, highlighting his iconic roles

from Maine Pyar Kiya to Tiger Zinda

Hai. Described as more than a biog-

raphy, it explores why Salman com-

mands unmatched stardom across

romance, action, and comedy. With

hits like Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Sultan, and

Dabangg, his charisma remains unpar-

alleled. The book is a tribute to the

mass hero whose screen magic spans

generations.

Nora Fatehi radiated global pop-

star enery in a striking David Koma

ensemble, featuring a strapless tex-

tured maroon top and matching

mini skirt, paired with a maroon

jacket and knee-high boots. Styled

by Shaleena Nathani, she turned her

appearance at David Guetta’s con-

cert into a high-fashion statement,

announcing her upcoming single

Fire Starter with Ciara.

Bollywood

Salman Khan

celebrates 60 year

stardom

Fashion

Nora Fatehi rocks David

Koma maroon look

@shrutzhaasan

Shruti Haasan shares

funny yet relatable

dentist story

Actress Shruti Haasan shared her relat-

able dentist dilemma on Instagram.

Posting to her Stories, she covered half

her face with her hands, capturing a

mix of relief, discomfort, and the uni-

versal post-dentist emotions.

@kajalaggarwalofficial

Actress Kajal Aggarwal

welcomes 2026

As the year ends, we naturally reect

and plan for the year ahead. Actress

Kajal Aggarwal shared on social media

that she intends to step into 2026 with

hope, excitement, and an open, posi-

tive heart.

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas con-

tinue to give fans glimpses of their life

on the road together during the Jonas

Brothers’ Greetings from Your Home-

town tour. A recent Instagram post

showed the couple sharing candid,

behind-the-scenes moments, highlight-

ing their easygoing chemistry and play-

ful banter. Whether posing for photos

or enjoying quiet downtime, the duo

exudes warmth and partnership, bal-

ancing busy tour schedules with per-

sonal connection. Priyanka’s relaxed

look leather jacket, denim, and mini-

mal makeup mirror the authenticity of

their relationship: comfortable, eort-

less, and in sync. Fans loved seeing the

superstar couple’s genuine moments,

proving that o-stage, their bond is as

iconic as their public personas.

Originally adapted

from the Malayalam hit

directed by Jeetu Joseph,

the Hindi Drishyam lms

have enjoyed massive suc-

cess at the box oce. With

a strong cast and renewed

intrigue, Drishyam 3

promises to raise the

stakes even higher.

e bollywood hot pair

Priyanka and Nick Jonas keep

fans swooning again

“I screen-tested for Kaabil, and I was more

than happy to do that. I’m not saying it was

for Kaabil, but when you’re asked to screen-

test while another contemporary isn’t, you

do wonder why the dierence.”

Yami Gautam

Actress

Web Series

Rajani 2.0: Classic

show returns with

modern twist

Actor-director Karan Razdan, return-

ing with a new version of the 1985

show Rajani, revealed that the original

episodes starring Priya Tendulkar are

lost forever due to poor tape preser-

vation. The original series, directed by

Basu Chatterjee, featured Tendulkar

as a middle-class housewife tackling

social issues, with cameos by Shah

Rukh Khan and Subhash Ghai. The

revamped Rajani 2.0, streaming on

Waves OTT, stars Aradhana Sharma

as Rajani’s daughter, continuing her

mother’s legacy. Razdan emphasized

that replacing Tendulkar would have

been inappropriate. The new series

addresses modern issues like work-

place safety, digital arrests, and hous-

ing fraud.

Pratham Mittal

joins Shark Tank

India

New Shark Tank India

5 joinee Pratham Mittal

says he wants to bring

more heart to the show,

calling reality television

ruthless, as he joins

the campus special to

encourage student entre-

preneurship despite risks

involved.

Smriti Mandhana

skips Kapil

episode

Indian cricketer Smriti

Mandhana skipped The

Great Indian Kapil Show

celebrating the women’s

World Cup win, following

the cancellation of her

wedding with Palash

Muchhal, sparking

reactions on social media

ahead of the December

27 episode.

Shubhangi

Atre denies pay

dispute exit

Actor Shubhangi Atre

has addressed rumours

about her exit from

Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain,

clarifying it wasn’t a pay

dispute. She cited per-

sonal growth, encourage-

ment from her daughter,

and completing the show

respectfully as reasons.

Benedict hunts

Cinderella in

Bridgerton

The Bridgerton Season

4 trailer teases Benedict

Bridgerton’s romantic

quest for the mysterious

Lady in Silver, featur-

ing Cinderella-inspired

masquerades, hidden

identities, and a magical

love story premiering on

Netix January 29, 2026.

Laughter Chefs

gets musical treat

Tejasswi Prakash

describes her experi-

ence watching Sunidhi

Chauhan perform on

Laughter Chefs Unlimited

Entertainment as mag-

ical, calling it “like our

own private concert,”

with music, laughter, and

playful moments lighting

up the set.

| HOLLYWOOD |

‘Just Friends’ a Christmas Classic

and holiday favourite

Central Chronicle News

The third instal-

ment of the hit

thriller franchise is

set to go on oors in

January 2026.

The Drishyam fran-

chise is gearing up for

a thrilling new chapter

with a major casting

update. Jaideep Ahlawat

has ocially joined

the cast of Drishyam 3,

starring alongside Ajay

Devgn and Tabu. The

much-anticipated third

instalment is scheduled

to go on oors in January

2026, raising excitement

among fans of the popu-

lar crime thriller series.

According to sources,

Jaideep Ahlawat has

been roped in for a piv-

otal role that will intro-

duce fresh twists to the

tightly woven narra-

tive. This marks his rst

association with the

Drishyam universe, and

his inclusion is expected

to add a darker, more

intense layer to the

story. Known for his

commanding screen

presence and nuanced

performances, Ahlawat’s

role is being described

as crucial to the lm’s

central conict. The

makers are reportedly

keen on expanding the

moral complexity of the

story, pushing the char-

acters into more unpre-

dictable territory.

Central Chronicle News

Filmmaker Roger

Kumble has revealed that

his 2005 rom-com Just

Friends, starring Ryan

Reynolds, Anna Faris, and

Amy Smart, was never

originally intended as a

Christmas movie. The lm

follows a formerly over-

weight high school stu-

dent, played by Reynolds,

who attempts to break

free from the friend zone

when reconnecting with

his best friend. Kumble

told People that it wasn’t

“a mandate” to make

it a holiday lm. “Once

the production designer

kept adding a little bit of

Christmas to everything,

we talked about it… and

we were like, ‘This could

work as a holiday movie,’”

he explained. The festive

elements naturally com-

plemented the story’s

themes of family, forgive-

ness, and togetherness.

Reecting on the lm’s

reception, Kumble said

box oce performance

wasn’t his priority. “When

you make a movie, I don’t

really judge it based on

whether it worked at the

box oce… It’s great to

see so many fans of it. I’m

just really pleased,” he

said, praising the collab-

orative eort behind the

lm. Co-star Amy Smart,

who played Jamie Pala-

mino, called Just Friends

one of her favourite

projects. “It was such a

fun experience, and I’m

happy it’s a Christmas

movie because it has that

magic, warmth, and nos-

talgia,” she said.

Jaideep Ahlawat

joins Ajay Devgn

in Drishyam 3.

“It wasn’t always meant to be a

Christmas movie,” says Kumble

Drishyam 3 adds a powerful new name as Jaideep

Ahlawat joins Ajay Devgn and Tabu.

HIGHLIGHT

z Just Friends wasn’t

planned as a Christmas

movie, says director

Roger Kumble.

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

&Glitters

CUTOUT PHOTO

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

WELNESS

Quality health

care is a global

priority

HealthTips

THE OATS COOKBOOK

| SELF-SILENCING |

The magic of a healthy plate is mindfulness

Central Chronicle News

A healthy plate combines

balance, nutrition, and

mindfulness for sustain-

able everyday health.

Food is more than fuel; it is

information for our cells, emo-

tions, and overall well-being.

One simple truth has trans-

formed countless lives the

magic of a healthy plate. It is

not about strict dieting, calo-

rie counting, or food fear, but

about balance, nourishment,

and consistency, practiced

daily for a lifetime.

A healthy plate naturally

teaches portion control. Half

the plate with seasonal vege-

tables and fruits, one quarter

with quality proteins, and one

quarter with whole grains or

healthy carbs provides what the

body truly needs. This balance

supports steady enery, bet-

ter digestion, and stable blood

sugar, preventing overeating

without stress or restriction.

The impact begins early. For

children, it aids growth, immu-

nity, concentration, and emo-

tional stability. For adults, it

supports weight management,

gut health, hormonal balance,

and stress control. As we age,

the same plate protects against

lifestyle diseases such as diabe-

tes, high blood pressure, heart

problems, and joint issues. One

plate, dierent life stages, life-

long benets. A healthy plate

also nurtures mental and emo-

tional well-being. Regular bal-

anced meals keep hunger hor-

mones in check, reduce mood

swings, and curb cravings.

Savory Oats Upma

Ingredients

½ cup oats, 1 small onion, ½ cup

mixed diced vegetables (carrot,

beans, peas), 1 tsp oil, ½ tsp

mustard seeds, curry leaves, salt, 1 cup water.

Instructions

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and

curry leaves until aromatic. Sauté onions and

vegetables until tender. Add oats and water,

cooking until oats absorb the liquid. Season with

salt and serve hot as a wholesome breakfast or

light lunch.

Benefits

0Packed with ﬁber, vitamins, and minerals, this

savoury dish aids digestion, maintains satiety,

and balances blood sugar.

Oats & Avocado

Toast

Ingredients

1 slice whole-

grain bread, 2

tbsp cooked oats,

½ avocado, salt,

pepper, lemon juice, chilli ﬂakes (optional).

Instructions

Mash avocado in a bowl and mix with cooked

oats. Spread evenly over toasted bread. Sprinkle

salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon. Add

chilli ﬂakes for extra ﬂavour if desired. Serve

immediately as a quick, satisfying breakfast or

snack.

Benefits

Rich in healthy fats, ﬁber, and protein; promotes

heart health, improves satiety, and provides

sustained energy throughout the morning.

Oats & Spinach Fritters

Ingredients

½ cup oats, 1 cup chopped

spinach, ½ onion, ½ tsp

garlic, salt, pepper, 1 tsp

olive oil.

Instructions

Mix oats, spinach, onion, and garlic into a thick

batter. Shape into small fritters. Heat oil in a

non-stick pan and cook fritters 3–4 minutes per

side until golden brown. Serve warm with yogurt

dip or chutney for a nutritious snack or light

meal.

Benefits

Rich in iron, ﬁber, and protein; supports

immunity, digestion, and provides sustained

energy for active days.

Oats & Berry Smoothie

Ingredients

½ cup oats, 1 cup almond

milk, ½ cup mixed berries

(fresh or frozen), 1 tsp

chia seeds, ½ tsp honey.

Instructions

Blend oats and almond

milk ﬁrst until smooth.

Add berries, chia seeds, and honey, blending

again until creamy. Pour into a glass and enjoy

chilled. Perfect for a quick, refreshing breakfast

packed with nutrients.

Benefits

Rich in antioxidants, ﬁber, and protein; boosts

immunity, supports digestion, and provides long-

lasting energy to start your day.

Oats & Chickpea Salad

Ingredients

½ cup toasted oats, ½

cup boiled chickpeas,

½ cucumber (diced), ½

tomato (diced), 1 tsp olive

oil, juice of ½ lemon, salt,

pepper, fresh coriander.

Instructions

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Toss well with olive

oil and lemon juice. Garnish with coriander and

serve fresh as a light, protein-rich lunch that

keeps you satisﬁed.

Benefits

High in ﬁbre and plant protein; supports

digestion, heart health, and maintains fullness

between meals.

Oats & Carrot

Cake Muffins

Ingredients

1 cup oats,

1 cup grated

carrot, 1 cup

whole wheat

ﬂour, 2 tbsp

honey, 1 tsp

cinnamon, 1 tsp

baking powder, ½ cup milk.

Instructions

Mix dry ingredients, fold in grated carrot, milk,

and honey. Pour into mufﬁn molds and bake at

180°C for 20–25 minutes. Cool slightly before

serving.

Benefits

High in ﬁber, antioxidants, and vitamins; aids

digestion, boosts immunity, and satisﬁes sweet

cravings healthily.

Saving lives starts not just with

medicine, but with the quality-of-

care people receive.

Poor health care quality affecting millions

every year

The magic of a healthy plate

in our whole life

When global health is

discussed, attention

usually turns to major

diseases such as HIV, tubercu-

losis, and malaria. While these

illnesses remain critical chal-

lenges, another widespread

issue often goes unnoticed

poor-quality and unsafe health

care systems that affect mil-

lions every year. According to

global estimates, nearly 43 mil-

lion people are injured annually

due to unsafe medical care in

hospitals. This troubling fig-

ure highlights a harsh reality:

health care, which is meant

to heal, can sometimes cause

harm. Improving safety and

quality is therefore essential

to making health systems part

of the solution rather than the

problem. Experts working to

improve global health stress

that there is no single answer.

Instead, progress comes from

learning across disciplines and

borders. Doctors, research-

ers, health ministers, econo-

mists, patients, and commu-

nities all contribute valuable

perspectives. Their shared

belief is clear high-quality care

is a matter of life and death and

must be embedded into health

systems from the start, espe-

cially as countries work toward

universal health coverage. But

what exactly defines “quality”

health care? It is mainly: care

should be safe, effective, effi-

cient, timely, patient-centered,

and equitable. These principles

mirror how we judge quality

in everyday life, making them

both practical and relatable.

Globally, patient harm

during treatment remains

a serious concern. Experts

point out that many hospi-

tal patients experience pre-

ventable injuries. Meanwhile,

organizations like the World

Bank focus on measuring

health system performance

and promoting patient-cen-

tered care.

When patients are placed

at the heart of health systems,

quality becomes easier to

understand and improve.

Emotional eating diminishes

when the body is truly nour-

ished, making food a source

of strength rather than guilt.

Importantly, a healthy plate is

exible and culturally rooted.

It can be Indian, traditional,

home-cooked, and simple. Dal,

sabzi, roti, rice, curd, fruits,

nuts, and seeds mindfully com-

bined become everyday medi-

cine. Transformation does not

come from short-term diets but

from daily healthy plates served

with patience and self-love. Con-

sistency matters more than per-

fection. The magic of a healthy

plate lies in its simplicity, sup-

porting the body, calming the

mind, and sustaining health

through every stage of life.

Antibiotics are often mis-

takenly used as a safety net for

sore throats, colds, and u-like

illnesses, even though most of

these infections are viral. Antibi-

otics do not work against viruses,

and in many cases, the body can

recover on its own within three

to ve days. Using antibiotics

unnecessarily does not speed up

healing or prevent complications.

Instead, it may cause side eects

such as stomach upset, allergies,

or changes in gut bacteria. A larger

concern is antibiotic resistance,

which develops silently over time

and makes future bacterial infec-

tions harder to treat.

GOOD LIVING

Antibiotics aren’t a quick

x for viral infections

Wellness

HIGHLIGHT

Across

the world,

unsafe health

care causes

preventable

harm,

highlighting the

urgent need for

safer systems.

Mouth taping has emerged

as a viral sleep trend, with many

claiming it improves sleep quality

by encouraging nasal breathing

instead of mouth breathing. The

idea is that nasal breathing helps

lter, warm, and humidify air

before it reaches the lungs, which

may reduce snoring and mouth

dryness for some people. It may

also help maintain oral moisture

and support better airow during

sleep. However, experts caution

that mouth taping is not a proven

medical treatment and its benets

remain largely anecdotal. It may

be unsafe for people with nasal

congestion, allergies, or breathing

issues, and can cause skin irrita-

tion or sleep discomfort.

Mouth taping:

Helpful habit or

risky trend?

Press Trust Of India

Despite spirited Sri

Lankan batting, India’s

depth ensured a com-

fortable 30-run win.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

India continued their

commanding run in the

Women’s T20I series,

defeating Sri Lanka by 30

runs in the fourth match

to surge to a 40 lead,

though the hosts were

aware the performance

was not entirely clinical.

Asked to bat rst, India

piled up a mammoth

221 for two, their high-

est-ever total in Women’s

T20Is, built on a breath-

taking opening part-

nership between Smriti

Mandhana and Shafali

Verma. The duo added

162 runs in just 15.2 overs,

the best partnership for

any wicket for India in

the format. Mandhana

struck a uent 80, while

Shafali blazed her way

to 79, narrowly missing a

maiden T20I century.

The pair dominated

the Sri Lankan attack

with eortless timing and

clean hitting, nding gaps

at will and clearing the

ropes without excessive

risk. Mandhana was par-

ticularly elegant through

the o-side, while Sha-

fali’s fearless strokeplay

kept the tempo relent-

lessly high.

Late reworks from

Richa Ghosh, who

smashed an unbeaten 40

o just 16 balls, and quick

runs from skipper Har-

manpreet Kaur ensured

India crossed the 200-

run mark with ease.

In reply, Sri Lanka

showed early intent as

Hasini Perera and cap-

tain Chamari Athapath-

thu raced to 50 within

four overs. Athapaththu

top-scored with 52, while

Nilakshika Silva provided

useful support as Sri

Lanka nished on a com-

petitive 191 for six.

India’s bowling eort

was led by the impres-

sive Vaishnavi Sharma,

who returned gures of 2

for 24. However, several

dropped chances and

a few expensive overs

highlighted elding areas

India will look to tighten

ahead of future contests.

Despite those lapses,

India never allowed

Sri Lanka to seriously

threaten the chase, seal-

ing another convincing

victory and underlining

their supremacy in the

series.

Press Trust Of India

Vijayawada’s Surya

Charishma and com-

posed campaigner

Rithvik Sanjeevi

emerged champions

at the Senior National

Badminton Champi-

onships.

VIJAYAWADA: Home

favourite Surya Charishma

Tamiri and composed

campaigner Rithvik San-

jeevi S emerged champi-

ons in the women’s and

men’s singles respectively

at the Senior National

Badminton Champion-

ships here on Sunday,

capping a thrilling day of

nals.

The women’s singles

summit clash lived up to

its billing as experience

met youthful ambition.

Backed by a loud, parti-

san crowd, the 19-year-

old Surya Charishma

faced prodigious talent

Tanvi Patri, who was

chasing the distinction of

becoming the youngest

senior national cham-

pion. Tanvi controlled

the opening game, dic-

tating rallies and drawing

errors from Charishma to

take it 2117. The momen-

tum shifted early in the

second game when a

service fault call at 65

went Charishma’s way.

She seized the opening,

reeled o seven consec-

utive points and powered

through the game 2112.

In the decider, Charish-

ma’s tactical nous came

to the fore. She length-

ened rallies and tested

Tanvi’s stamina, staying

patient and precise. With

the score locked at 14-all,

fatigue began to tell on

the youngster. Charishma

surged ahead, winning

six straight points to

clinch the match 1721,

2112, 2114 in 58 minutes,

sparking jubilant celebra-

tions in the stands.

The men’s singles nal

oered a contrasting nar-

rative of calm under pres-

sure. Rithvik Sanjeevi con-

trolled the opening game

2116, but faced resistance

in the second as Bharat

Raghav raced to a 95 lead.

The 2024 Odisha Masters

winner responded with

six points on the trot, only

for two judgment errors

to allow Bharat back into

contention and earn a

game point. Rithvik held

his nerve, stuck to his

defensive plan and closed

out the match 2220 in 39

minutes.

Sports News

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Charishma, Rithvik

clinch singles titles

Mandhana-Shafali

blaze seal 4-0 lead

HIGHLIGHT

z Lee chased 160kmph

since childhood, valuing

raw pace above personal

wicket milestones.

z Hall of Fame inductee

credits genetics, action

mechanics, and mindset

for extreme speed.

A record-breaking opening stand powered India to a 30-run victory over Sri Lanka in

Thiruvananthapuram, sealing an unassailable 4-0 lead in the T20I series.

Press Trust of India

Yuvraj Sandhu capped

a dream season with

record-breaking sev-

enth title triumph.

JAMSHEDPUR:

India’s

leading golfer Yuvraj

Sandhu created history

by clinching his record

seventh title of the 2025

season after a thrilling

one-stroke victory at the

TATA Open, the PGTI sea-

son nale.

The 28-year-old

Chandigarh-based golfer

signed o with a bril-

liant six-under 65 in the

nal round to nish at

20-under 264, sealing

the title with a decisive

birdie on the 18th hole at

the Beldih and Golmuri

Golf Courses. His closest

challenger, Shubham Jag-

lan, nished just one shot

behind at 19-under.

Already crowned the

2025 PGTI Order of Merit

winner, Sandhu surpassed

the previous single-season

record of six wins and also

earned his DP World Tour

card for 2026. The victory

fetched him Rs 30 lakh,

taking his season earnings

to a record Rs 1.91 crore.

Calling it his best season

ever, Sandhu said he was

thrilled to end the year on

such a high.

Press Trust of India

Punjab skipper

Abhishek Sharma

transformed a quiet

Sunday net session

into an exhibition of

fearless T20 batting.

JAIPUR: Around 10 min-

utes into his net session

on a quiet Sunday morn-

ing here, Punjab skipper

Abhishek Sharma paused

and turned to teammate

Gaurav Chaudhary with a

question that revealed his

intent and imagination.

Barely 10 minutes into

his session, Abhishek

revealed his mindset by

asking about an imag-

inary eld placement.

On hearing that mid-o

was saving singles, he

unfurled a trademark

inside-out swing, sending

the ball soaring eort-

lessly.

For nearly an hour,

defence became sec-

ondary as Abhishek

launched an estimated

45 sixes, mostly against

spinners. He deliberately

chose to face o-breaks,

leg-breaks and left-arm

orthodox bowling on

a surface that gripped

sharply, with deliveries

stopping, turning and

occasionally keeping low.

Even after requesting the

light roller, the diculty

remained unchanged.

Whenever beaten

by uneven bounce or

sharp turn, Abhishek

calmly inspected the

pitch, adjusted his foot-

work and responded

with authority. Shorter

lengths were punished

with decisive charges

down the track, while

googlies and o-breaks

were lifted repeatedly

inside-out over extra

cover, with several balls

landing atop a nearby

residential building.

A brief experiment

with straight hits fol-

lowed after a closed bat-

face dismissal, reecting

his adaptability.

Yuvraj Sandhu scripts

rcord seventh season title

Abhishek turns nets into six-hitting showcase

| TATA OPEN|

| FEARLESS PREPARATION SESSION |

Press Trust Of India

Former speedster

Brett Lee says pace

obsession, not wickets,

shaped his legendary

career.

MELBOURNE:

Former

Australian fast bowler

Brett Lee has revealed

that touching the

160kmph mark meant

more to him than any

wicket he claimed dur-

ing his illustrious inter-

national career. Recently

inducted into Australian

Cricket’s Hall of Fame,

Lee said his obsession

with extreme pace began

at the age of nine and

remained his singular

personal goal.

The 49-year-old cred-

ited his athletic build and

his mother, Helen, a for-

mer sprinter, for provid-

ing the genetic foundation

required for raw speed.

While Lee acknowledged

that team success—such

as Australia’s 2003 World

Cup triumph and a record

16 consecutive Test wins—

remained paramount, he

admitted wickets were

never his primary moti-

vation.

Lee nished his career

with an impressive 718

international wickets,

terrorising batters world-

wide with relentless pace.

He explained that his

run-up, braced front leg

and rapid front-arm pull

were crucial components

of his bowling action.

These elements, he

said, came naturally and

helped generate excep-

tional speed through the

crease.

| PACE ABOVE ALL|

Brett Lee says 160kmph

dream dened his career

Laura equals

fastest ﬁfty

record in

domestic T20s

ALEXANDRA:

Australia’s

Laura Harris on Sun-

day carved her name

into cricketing folklore

as she became the sec-

ond woman to smash a

half-century o 15 balls

in the history of T20

cricket. The 35-year-old

achieved the stunning

feat during the Wom-

en’s Super Smash game

between Otago and Can-

terbury at Molyneux

Park in Alexandra, New

Zealand, according to

ESPNcricinfo. Laura,

who plays for Otago,

equalled the record of

England’s Marie Kelly,

who also hammered a

15-ball half-century for

Warwickshire against

Gloucestershire in

2022.

Central Chronicle News

Drag-icker Deepika

Sehrawat believes

fresh beginnings will

revive India’s women’s

hockey fortunes.

NEW DELHI: After a

bruising season of inju-

ries, inconsistent results

and missed milestones,

Indian women’s hockey

drag-icker Deepika

Sehrawat is condent

that the new year will

usher in renewed hope

and momentum for the

national side.

The 22-year-old for-

ward, set to return

to competitive action

with Delhi SG Pipers in

the Women’s Hockey

India League (WHIL),

described 2024 as one of

the most testing phases

of her young career. Side-

lined for ve months after

slipping during a practice

session ahead of the Asia

Cup, Deepika admitted

the layo was emotion-

ally draining.

“Those months

away from hockey were

extremely dicult. I often

felt frustrated and help-

less because my prepa-

ration had been strong,”

she said, adding that her

return has strengthened

her resolve. Now fully

t, the Hockey India Best

Emerging Player award

winner for 2025 is deter-

mined to give her all.

India’s women’s team

endured a disappointing

campaign, nishing last

in the FIH Pro League

and suering relegation

to the Nations Cup. A

narrow loss to China in

the Asia Cup nal denied

them direct World Cup

qualication, while the

resignation of head coach

Harendra Singh added to

the turbulence.

With World Cup quali-

ers scheduled in Hyder-

abad in March, Deepika

believes the team has

a clear opportunity to

reset. The top three sides

from a competitive eld

will book their places for

the World Cup in Belgium

and the Netherlands later

this year.

| HOPEFUL COMEBACK SEASON |

Deepika Sehrawat sees new hope for women’s hockey

HIGHLIGHT

z Injury-hit Deepika

eyes strong comeback

through HIL ahead

of crucial World Cup

qualiﬁers.

zIndian team seeks

regained momentum

after turbulent year

marked by setbacks and

transition.

FASTFACTS

z Surya Charishma

staged a gritty

comeback,

overpowering Tanvi

Patri in a pulsating

three-game women’s

singles ﬁnal.

HIGHLIGHT

z Abhishek smashed

over 45 sixes,

repeatedly attacking

spinners on a

challenging, gripping

red-soil surface.

zInside-out lofts over

extra cover showcased

his intent, imagination

and mastery against

turning deliveries.

Press Trust Of India

Mandhana crossed

10,000 international

runs as Shafali struck

third straight fty.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

Smriti Mandhana (80)

and Shafali Verma (79)

went on a record-making

spree, powering India

to their highest Wom-

en’s T20I total of 221 for

two in the fourth match

against Sri Lanka, here

on Sunday.

Having batted sec-

ond in each of the three

games so far in this ve-

match rubber, Mand-

hana and Shafali put on

a batting masterclass to

hammer Sri Lanka bowl-

ers all around the Green-

eld International Sta-

dium after being asked

to bat rst.

Towards the end,

Richa Ghosh smacked

a 16-ball 40 not out and

skipper Harmanpreet

Kaur made 9-ball 16 not

out, as India rattled up a

massive total.

Indian openers Mand-

hana and Shafali shared

a massive 162-run stand

in 15.2 overs, which is

now the best partner-

ship for any wicket for

the country in women’s

T20Is.

It was also the fourth

occasion when Mand-

hana and Shafali stitched

an alliance of 100 or

more, as the pair bet-

tered its own record

of 143 against the West

Indies at Gros Islet in

2019.

Mandhana also

entered history books,

becoming only the

fourth batter after com-

patriot Mithali Raj, New

Zealand’s Suzie Bates

and England’s Charlotte

Edwards to complete

10,000 international

runs across formats.

On her part, Shafali

continued with her red-

hot form to make a third

consecutive half-century

in this series but missed

a maiden ton in format,

which was for the taking.

She gave a return

catch to Nimasha Meep-

age in the 16th over after

making 79 o 46 balls

with 12 fours and a six.

Without going on an

overdrive, both Mand-

hana and Shafali pierced

gaps with precision and

brought out spectacular

hits on both sides of the

wicket.

In particular, Sha-

fali’s hit over the bowler

Kawya Kavindi’s head

on the nal ball of the

fourth over stood out

as she took a few paces

down the wicket to ham-

mer it with full ow of

the bat. Earlier in the

over, Mandhana had col-

lected two fours o the

bowler.

Having had a quiet

series so far given her

lofty standards, Mand-

hana was in her ele-

ments as her drives

were crisp and so were

the hits on the on-side,

where each of her three

sixes were hit.

While both Mandhana

and Shafali fell in quick

succession, the hard-hit-

ting Richa pummelled

four fours and three sixes

for her 40 not out while

adding 53 runs for the

unbeaten third wicket

with Harmanpreet as

India zoomed past the

200-run mark.

Press Trust Of India

Vijayawada’s Surya

Charishma and com-

posed campaigner

Rithvik Sanjeevi

emerged champions

at the Senior National

Badminton Champi-

onships.

VIJAYAWADA: Home

favourite Surya Charishma

Tamiri and composed

campaigner Rithvik San-

jeevi S emerged champi-

ons in the women’s and

men’s singles respectively

at the Senior National

Badminton Champion-

ships here on Sunday,

capping a thrilling day of

nals.

The women’s singles

summit clash lived up to

its billing as experience

met youthful ambition.

Backed by a loud, parti-

san crowd, the 19-year-

old Surya Charishma

faced prodigious talent

Tanvi Patri, who was

chasing the distinction of

becoming the youngest

senior national cham-

pion. Tanvi controlled

the opening game, dic-

tating rallies and drawing

errors from Charishma to

take it 2117. The momen-

tum shifted early in the

second game when a

service fault call at 65

went Charishma’s way.

She seized the opening,

reeled o seven consec-

utive points and powered

through the game 2112.

In the decider, Charish-

ma’s tactical nous came

to the fore. She length-

ened rallies and tested

Tanvi’s stamina, staying

patient and precise. With

the score locked at 14-all,

fatigue began to tell on

the youngster. Charishma

surged ahead, winning

six straight points to

clinch the match 1721,

2112, 2114 in 58 minutes,

sparking jubilant celebra-

tions in the stands.

The men’s singles nal

oered a contrasting nar-

rative of calm under pres-

sure. Rithvik Sanjeevi con-

trolled the opening game

2116, but faced resistance

in the second as Bharat

Raghav raced to a 95 lead.

The 2024 Odisha Masters

winner responded with

six points on the trot, only

for two judgment errors

to allow Bharat back into

contention and earn a

game point. Rithvik held

his nerve, stuck to his

defensive plan and closed

out the match 2220 in 39

minutes.

Sports News

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Charishma, Rithvik

clinch singles titles

Mandhana, Shafali’s record

stand res India to 221/2

HIGHLIGHT

z Lee chased 160kmph

since childhood, valuing

raw pace above personal

wicket milestones.

z Hall of Fame inductee

credits genetics, action

mechanics, and mindset

for extreme speed.

Roared on by home fans, Vijayawada’s Surya Charishma and composed campaigner

Rithvik Sanjeevi emerged champions at the Senior National Badminton Championships.

Press Trust of India

Yuvraj Sandhu capped

a dream season with

record-breaking sev-

enth title triumph.

JAMSHEDPUR:

India’s

leading golfer Yuvraj

Sandhu created history

by clinching his record

seventh title of the 2025

season after a thrilling

one-stroke victory at the

TATA Open, the PGTI sea-

son nale.

The 28-year-old

Chandigarh-based golfer

signed o with a bril-

liant six-under 65 in the

nal round to nish at

20-under 264, sealing

the title with a decisive

birdie on the 18th hole at

the Beldih and Golmuri

Golf Courses. His closest

challenger, Shubham Jag-

lan, nished just one shot

behind at 19-under.

Already crowned the

2025 PGTI Order of Merit

winner, Sandhu surpassed

the previous single-season

record of six wins and also

earned his DP World Tour

card for 2026. The victory

fetched him Rs 30 lakh,

taking his season earnings

to a record Rs 1.91 crore.

Calling it his best season

ever, Sandhu said he was

thrilled to end the year on

such a high.

Press Trust of India

Punjab skipper

Abhishek Sharma

transformed a quiet

Sunday net session

into an exhibition of

fearless T20 batting.

JAIPUR: Around 10 min-

utes into his net session

on a quiet Sunday morn-

ing here, Punjab skipper

Abhishek Sharma paused

and turned to teammate

Gaurav Chaudhary with a

question that revealed his

intent and imagination.

Barely 10 minutes into

his session, Abhishek

revealed his mindset by

asking about an imag-

inary eld placement.

On hearing that mid-o

was saving singles, he

unfurled a trademark

inside-out swing, sending

the ball soaring eort-

lessly.

For nearly an hour,

defence became sec-

ondary as Abhishek

launched an estimated

45 sixes, mostly against

spinners. He deliberately

chose to face o-breaks,

leg-breaks and left-arm

orthodox bowling on

a surface that gripped

sharply, with deliveries

stopping, turning and

occasionally keeping low.

Even after requesting the

light roller, the diculty

remained unchanged.

Whenever beaten

by uneven bounce or

sharp turn, Abhishek

calmly inspected the

pitch, adjusted his foot-

work and responded

with authority. Shorter

lengths were punished

with decisive charges

down the track, while

googlies and o-breaks

were lifted repeatedly

inside-out over extra

cover, with several balls

landing atop a nearby

residential building.

A brief experiment

with straight hits fol-

lowed after a closed bat-

face dismissal, reecting

his adaptability.

Yuvraj Sandhu scripts

rcord seventh season title

Abhishek turns nets into six-hitting showcase

| TATA OPEN|

| FEARLESS PREPARATION SESSION |

Press Trust Of India

Former speedster

Brett Lee says pace

obsession, not wickets,

shaped his legendary

career.

MELBOURNE:

Former

Australian fast bowler

Brett Lee has revealed

that touching the

160kmph mark meant

more to him than any

wicket he claimed dur-

ing his illustrious inter-

national career. Recently

inducted into Australian

Cricket’s Hall of Fame,

Lee said his obsession

with extreme pace began

at the age of nine and

remained his singular

personal goal.

The 49-year-old cred-

ited his athletic build and

his mother, Helen, a for-

mer sprinter, for provid-

ing the genetic foundation

required for raw speed.

While Lee acknowledged

that team success—such

as Australia’s 2003 World

Cup triumph and a record

16 consecutive Test wins—

remained paramount, he

admitted wickets were

never his primary moti-

vation.

Lee nished his career

with an impressive 718

international wickets,

terrorising batters world-

wide with relentless pace.

He explained that his

run-up, braced front leg

and rapid front-arm pull

were crucial components

of his bowling action.

These elements, he

said, came naturally and

helped generate excep-

tional speed through the

crease.

| PACE ABOVE ALL|

Brett Lee says 160kmph

dream dened his career

Laura equals

fastest ﬁfty

record in

domestic T20s

ALEXANDRA:

Australia’s

Laura Harris on Sun-

day carved her name

into cricketing folklore

as she became the sec-

ond woman to smash a

half-century o 15 balls

in the history of T20

cricket. The 35-year-old

achieved the stunning

feat during the Wom-

en’s Super Smash game

between Otago and Can-

terbury at Molyneux

Park in Alexandra, New

Zealand, according to

ESPNcricinfo. Laura,

who plays for Otago,

equalled the record of

England’s Marie Kelly,

who also hammered a

15-ball half-century for

Warwickshire against

Gloucestershire in

2022.

Central Chronicle News

Drag-icker Deepika

Sehrawat believes

fresh beginnings will

revive India’s women’s

hockey fortunes.

NEW DELHI: After a

bruising season of inju-

ries, inconsistent results

and missed milestones,

Indian women’s hockey

drag-icker Deepika

Sehrawat is condent

that the new year will

usher in renewed hope

and momentum for the

national side.

The 22-year-old for-

ward, set to return

to competitive action

with Delhi SG Pipers in

the Women’s Hockey

India League (WHIL),

described 2024 as one of

the most testing phases

of her young career. Side-

lined for ve months after

slipping during a practice

session ahead of the Asia

Cup, Deepika admitted

the layo was emotion-

ally draining.

“Those months

away from hockey were

extremely dicult. I often

felt frustrated and help-

less because my prepa-

ration had been strong,”

she said, adding that her

return has strengthened

her resolve. Now fully

t, the Hockey India Best

Emerging Player award

winner for 2025 is deter-

mined to give her all.

India’s women’s team

endured a disappointing

campaign, nishing last

in the FIH Pro League

and suering relegation

to the Nations Cup. A

narrow loss to China in

the Asia Cup nal denied

them direct World Cup

qualication, while the

resignation of head coach

Harendra Singh added to

the turbulence.

With World Cup quali-

ers scheduled in Hyder-

abad in March, Deepika

believes the team has

a clear opportunity to

reset. The top three sides

from a competitive eld

will book their places for

the World Cup in Belgium

and the Netherlands later

this year.

| HOPEFUL COMEBACK SEASON |

Deepika Sehrawat sees new hope for women’s hockey

HIGHLIGHT

z Injury-hit Deepika

eyes strong comeback

through HIL ahead

of crucial World Cup

qualiﬁers.

zIndian team seeks

regained momentum

after turbulent year

marked by setbacks and

transition.

FASTFACTS

z Surya Charishma

staged a gritty

comeback,

overpowering Tanvi

Patri in a pulsating

three-game women’s

singles ﬁnal.

HIGHLIGHT

z Abhishek smashed

over 45 sixes,

repeatedly attacking

spinners on a

challenging, gripping

red-soil surface.

zInside-out lofts over

extra cover showcased

his intent, imagination

and mastery against

turning deliveries.

World

Moscow’s response to

European attack will be

devastating.

Sergei Lavrov

Russian foreign minister

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Counter-protesters chant pro-government slogans at Alawite demonstrators,

two days after a bomb in an Alawite mosque in Homs killed eight people and

wounded 18 during Friday prayers, in Latakia, Syria’s coastal region. | Photo: AP

Press Trust Of India

LATAKIA: Clashes broke

out on Syria’s coast

between protesters from

the Alawite religious

minority and counter-

demonstrators on Sun-

day, two days after a

bombing at an Alawite

mosque in the city of

Homs killed eight people

and wounded 18 others

during prayers.

Thousands of protesters

gathered in the coastal cit-

ies of Latakia and Tartous,

and elsewhere. Ocials

have said that preliminary

investigations indicate

that explosive devices

were planted inside the

mosque in Homs, but

authorities haven’t pub-

licly identied a suspect

yet in Friday’s bombing.

Funerals for the dead

were held on Saturday.

A little-known group

calling itself Saraya Ansar

al-Sunna claimed respon-

sibility for the attack in

a statement posted on

its Telegram channel, in

which it indicated that

the attack was intended

to target members of the

Alawite sect, an oshoot

of Shiite Islam whom

hard-line Islamists con-

sider to be apostates.

Sunday’s demonstra-

tions were called for by

Ghazal Ghazal, an Alawite

sheikh living outside of

Syria who heads a group

called the Supreme Alaw-

ite Islamic Council in Syria

and the Diaspora.

An Associated Press

photographer in Lata-

kia saw pro-government

counterprotesters throw

rocks at the Alawite

demonstrators, while a

group of protesters beat a

counterdemonstrator who

crossed to their side.

Protesters clash in Syria after

deadly Alawite mosque bombing

The bombing of an Alawite mosque in Homs, which killed eight people and was claimed by

the group Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, has reignited sectarian tensions.

HIGHLIGHT

z Sunday’s

demonstrations saw

violent confrontations

between Alawite

protesters and pro-

government counter-

demonstrators.

z Since the fall of

Bashar al-Assad in

December 2024, the

Alawite community

has faced a volatile

environment.

| CHINA THAI CAMBODIA |

Thai, Cambodian top diplomats meet in China to solidify ceasefire

Press Trust Of India

BEIJING: Top diplomats

from Thailand and Cam-

bodia kicked o two days

of talks in China on Sun-

day as Beijing seeks to

strengthen its role in medi-

ating the two countries’

border dispute, a day after

they signed a new cease-

re. The ceasere agree-

ment signed on Saturday

calls for a halt to weeks of

ghting along their con-

tested border that has

killed more than 100 peo-

ple and displaced over half

a million people in both

countries.

Thai Foreign Minister

Sihasak Phuangketkeow

and Cambodian Foreign

Minister Prak Sokhonn

were set to meet in China’s

southwestern Yunnan

province for talks medi-

ated by their Chinese

counterpart, Wang Yi.

The talks aim to ensure

a sustained ceasere and

promote lasting peace

between the countries,

according to a statement

by Sihasak’s oce.

Wang was scheduled to

join both bilateral meet-

ings with each of the dip-

lomats and a trilateral talk

on Monday. China has

welcomed the ceasere

announcement, which

freezes the front lines

and allows for displaced

civilians to return to their

homes near the border.

“China stands ready to

continue to provide the

platform and create con-

ditions for Cambodia and

Thailand to have fuller and

more detailed communi-

cation,” a Chinese Foreign

Ministry statement read.

Briefs

BEST OF THE REST

JOHANNESBURG : Three people,

including a one-year-old child, died

when a two-story building collapsed

in South Africa’s Soweto township,

west of Johannesburg, in the early

hours of Sunday morning, author-

ities said. Three others sustained

injuries during the incident and were

receiving treatment at the Chris Hani

Barawanath Hospital. According to

authorities, a total of six people were

inside the building when it collapsed,

and emergency personnel rescued

the three people injured who were

trapped under the rubble. PTI

SAFRICA BUILDING COLLAPSE

Building collapse in South

Africa kills three people,

including 1-year-old

CHINA MILITARY CORRUPTION

Three high-ranking

Chinese military ocials

expelled for corruption

BEIJING:

The Chinese parliament

has expelled three high-ranking

military officials in the latest

crackdown against corruption.

The Standing Committee of

the National People’s Congress

on Saturday expelled Wang Ren-

hua, head of the Central Military

Commission’s (CMC) Political

and Legal Affairs Committee;

Zhang Hongbing, political com-

missar of the People’s Armed

Police (PAP), and Wang Peng,

director of the CMC’s training

department.

PTI

KOSOVO ELECTION

Kosovo voters cast ballots in second attempt this

year to elect government, avoid more crisis

PRISTINA: Voters in Kosovo cast ballots

on Sunday in an early parliamentary

election in hopes of breaking a polit-

ical deadlock that has gripped the

small Balkan nation for much of this

year. The snap vote was scheduled

after Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s gov-

erning Vetevendosje, or Self-Determi-

nation, party failed to form a govern-

ment despite winning the most votes

in a February 9 election.

The deadlock marked the rst time

Kosovo could not form a government

since it declared independence from

Serbia in 2008, following a 199899

war that ended in a NATO interven-

tion. The prime minister’s party is

again the favourite in the race, but

it is unclear whether it will manage

to muster a majority this time in the

120-member parliament, after other

mainstream parties refused an alli-

ance. According to Kosovo’s election

laws, 20 parliamentary seats are auto-

matically assigned to ethnic Serb rep-

resentatives and other minority par-

ties. Another inconclusive vote would

further deepen the crisis. Kosovo has

not approved a budget for next year,

sparking fears of possible negative

eects on the already poor economy

in the country of 2 million people. PTI

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2025: A Year of India's Proud Milestones PDF Free Download

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Press Trust Of India

NEW DELHI: Prime Min-

ister Narendra Modi on

Sunday said 2025 was a

year of proud milestones

for India as he high-

lighted Operation Sin-

door, saying it became a

symbol of pride for every

Indian and showed the

world that the country

does not compromise on

its security.

Addressing his

monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’

address, the last in 2025,

Modi said the country’s

impact was visible every-

where in the outgoing

year. “2025 was a year

of proud milestones

for India. Whether in

national security, sports,

scientic innovation or

on the world’s biggest

platforms, India’s impact

was visible everywhere,”

he said. The prime min-

ister said during Oper-

ation Sindoor, images

of love and devotion

toward ‘Maa Bharti’

(Mother India) emerged

from every corner of

the nation and people

expressed their emotions

and gratitude in their

own unique ways.

“Operation Sindoor’

became a symbol of pride

for every Indian. The

world witnessed clearly

that today’s India does

not compromise on its

security,” he said.

India carried out pre-

cision strikes under Oper-

ation Sindoor on terror

infrastructure in Pakistan

on May 7 in response

to the April 22 Pahal-

gam terror attack that

killed 26 people. India

and Pakistan reached an

understanding on May

10 to end the military

confrontation. Modi said

the same spirit was wit-

nessed when national

song ‘Vande Mataram’

completed 150 years.

“I had urged you to

share your messages

and suggestions using

the hashtag ‘#VandeMa-

taram150’, and our fel-

low citizens participated

in this campaign with

immense enthusiasm,” he

said. The prime minister

noted that 2025 has truly

been a memorable year

for sports, with the men’s

cricket team clinching the

ICC Champions Trophy

and the women’s cricket

team winning the World

Cup for the rst time.

‘2025: A year of India’s

proud milestones’

Operation Sindoor became a symbol of India’s security pride.

Third

launch pad

CHENNAI: ISRO is in the

process of developing a

third launch pad at the

Shriharikota spaceport

and is currently identify-

ing the right vendors for

it, a top scientist said.

Shriharikota com-

plex, which covers an

area of 175 sq km, is

located about 135 km

east of Chennai. It has

been serving the Ben-

galuru-headquartered

space agency for the

launch of various sat-

ellites using dierent

launch vehicles.

To move ahead with

its plan of placing bigger

satellites weighing over

12,000 - 14,000 kg in

various orbits in space,

ISRO requires bigger

launch vehicles, Padma-

kumar ES, the Director

and Distinguished Sci-

entist of Satish Dhawan

Space Centre, Shrihari-

kota, said.

To serve this purpose,

ISRO is planning a third

launch pad, he said.

Press Trust Of India

CEO cites incom-

plete 2002 PDF

conversion for

issue.

KOLKATA: The EC has

issued fresh instruc-

tions to district election

ocials in West Bengal,

directing that voters

marked as “unmapped”

in the BLO app due to

technical issues linked

to the digitisation of

the 2002 electoral rolls

during the ongoing SIR

exercise should not be

called for hearings, even

if such notices have been

auto-generated by the

system.

The directive, issued

by the oce of the Chief

Electoral Ocer (CEO),

West Bengal, on Saturday

stated that the issue has

arisen due to incomplete

conversion of the PDF

version of the 2002 elec-

toral rolls, the last Special

Intensive Revision (SIR)

conducted in the state,

into CSV format, leading

to linkage failures in the

booth-level ocer (BLO)

app for a number of elec-

tors.

It said that despite

being marked as

“unmapped” in the sys-

tem, many such electors

have valid self or prog-

eny linkage with the hard

copy of the 2002 elec-

toral rolls, duly authenti-

cated by district election

ocers (DEOs) and pub-

lished on the CEO’s web-

site.

The CEO’s oce said

that hearing notices gen-

erated automatically in

such cases need not be

served and should be

retained at the level of

the electoral registration

ocer (ERO) or assistant

electoral registration o-

cer (AERO).

As per the instruc-

tions, extracts of the 2002

electoral rolls may be for-

warded to the DEO con-

cerned for verication

in accordance with the

guidelines of the Election

Commission. Upon veri-

cation, EROs or AEROs

may take an appropriate

decision and upload the

necessary documents for

the disposal of the cases.

The directive also

allows BLOs to be

deputed for eld veri-

cation, including tak-

ing photographs of the

electors concerned for

uploading in the system.

Press Trust Of India

BIJAPUR:

A new police

camp has been set up at

a strategically important

location in Bijapur district

to address the security vac-

uum and facilitate develop-

ment works, an ocial said

on Sunday.

‘Surakhsa evam Jan

Suvidha Camp’ (security

and public utility camp) was

successfully established on

Friday at Dodimarka village

under the Farsegarh police

station limits, the ocial

said. The camp will serve

as a forward operating base

(FOB) for the 7th battalion

of the Chhattisgarh Armed

Force (CAF), he said.

A total of 29 new secu-

rity camps have been estab-

lished in Bijapur district

since 2024, while 923 Mao-

ists have surrendered, 221

have been killed in encoun-

ters, and 1,100 have been

arrested as a result of sus-

tained anti-Naxalite opera-

tions, he said.

The ocial said that

despite harsh terrain and

geographical conditions and

severe cold, a joint team of

the District Reserve Guard

(DRG), CAF, and district

police demonstrated exem-

plary courage and determi-

nation in establishing the

camp as part of intensied

operations against Maoist

activities in the region.

NUMBER

z A total of 29 new

security camps

established in Bijapur

district since 2024.

| STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT LOCATION |

Bijapur gets new security camp to tackle Maoists

EC flags glitch in 2002 rolls,

suspends Bengal hearings

| SPECIAL INTENSIVE REVISION |

Raipur | MONDAY, December 29, 2025 www.centralchronicle.in

Fastest Growing English Daily Of Chhattisgarh

WELLNESS

Quality health care is a global priority Pg 13

SPORT

Humpy in joint

lead; Gukesh,

Erigaisi well-

placed as Carlsen

suers rare loss

Pg 14

&GLITTERS

Jaideep Ahlawat

is the new

entry into

‘Drishyam 3’

Pg 12

COMMENT

We Sanatanis:

The World’s

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Minority

Pg 10

Pages: 16 | Price: Rs. 4.00

HIGHLIGHT

z 2002 electoral roll

extracts sent to DEO

for veriﬁcation.

HIGHLIGHT

z Country’s impact was

visible everywhere in

the outgoing year.

‘People cautioned against indiscriminate

use of antibiotics’

Flagging the issue of antibiotic resistance, Prime Min-

ister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people not to

take such medicines without consulting a doctor. In his

monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address, Modi said the

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recently

released a report which said that antibiotics were prov-

ing ineffective against many diseases like pneumonia

and UTI (Urinary Tract Infections). “This is a matter of

great concern for all of us,” he said.

‘World eyes India for its youth power’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India’s

achievements in the field of science, innovations and the

expansion of technology have greatly impressed countries

across the globe and the whole world is is looking at the

country with great hope because of its “youth power”. In

his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, Modi also said

that on January 12, the ‘National Youth Day’ will be cele-

brated on Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary when a

‘Young Leaders Dialogue’ will also be organised.

Vendors set up stalls at the banks of the Sangam on a cold winter morning, in Prayagraj, Sunday.

Winter morning in Prayagraj

Press Trust Of India

RAIGARH: A day after

several policemen were

injured and vehicles were

set ablaze during a pro-

test against a coal min-

ing project in Tamnar in

Raigarh district, Chief

Minister Vishnu Deo

Sai on Sunday said an

inquiry will be conducted

and strict action will be

taken against those found

guilty.

Meanwhile, the local

administration said it has

initiated the process to

cancel the public hear-

ing held for the project,

a key demand of the local

villagers who have been

staging a protest for the

past over two weeks.

Speaking to reporters

in Raipur, Sai said, ‘The

incident (of violence and

arson) in Tamnar will be

investigated, and action

will be taken against who-

ever is found guilty.”

Police have lodged mul-

tiple FIRs in connection

with the violence and

arson, ocials said.

Talking to reporters in

Raigarh district, Ghar-

ghoda Sub-Divisional

Magistrate (SDM) Durga

Prasad Adhikari said one

round of discussion has

been held with village

representatives following

Saturday’s incident and

the administration has

begun the cancellation

process in response to

their demands.

When specically asked

whether he was referring

to the process of cancel-

ling the public hearing,

the ocial replied in the

armative.

Probe ordered in Raigarh

mine stir violence

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

With the objec-

tive of preserving and

promoting the rich folk

traditions, tribal culture,

art and heritage of the

Bastar region, the Bastar

Pandum will once again

be organised in a grand

and vibrant manner in

2026, on the lines of last

year’s successful edition.

A high-level review

meeting on the prepa-

rations for Bastar Pan-

dum 2026 was held

at the Chief Minister’s

residence on Saturday,

chaired by Chief Minis-

ter Shri Vishnu Deo Sai.

The meeting reviewed

the detailed arrange-

ments for the event, and

necessary directions

were issued to ensure

a well-coordinated and

impactful festival.

The Bastar Pandum

2026 is proposed to

be organised in three

phases, from January 10

to February 5, 2026. The

block-level events will

be held from January 10

to 20, district-level pro-

grammes from January

24 to 30, and division-

al-level events from Feb-

ruary 1 to 5.

This year, the number

of cultural disciplines

featured at Bastar Pan-

dum will be increased

from seven to twelve.

The disciplines include

Bastar tribal dance, folk

songs, theatre, traditional

musical instruments, cos-

tumes and jewellery, wor-

ship rituals, handicrafts,

painting, tribal bever-

ages, traditional cuisine,

regional literature and

forest-based medicinal

knowledge.

During the meet-

ing, the Chief Minister

received a detailed brief-

ing from departmental

ocials and directed that

the festival be organised

in a structured, dignied

and more impactful man-

ner. He said that Bastar

Pandum is a powerful

platform representing

the true spirit and cul-

tural soul of Bastar.

It was also informed

that the logo, theme song

and ocial website of

Bastar Pandum 2026 will

be unveiled by the Chief

Minister at the temple

premises with the bless-

ings of Maa Danteshwari.

Senior tribal leaders

including Manjhi–Chalki,

Gayata–Pujari, prominent

members of the tribal

community and Padma

awardees will be present

on the occasion.

The meeting also dis-

cussed inviting Indian

ambassadors posted in

various countries, with

the aim of familiaris-

ing them with Bastar’s

unique cultural heritage,

traditions and tribal way

of life. It was also decided

to invite senior ocers

originally from the Bas-

tar division, ocers

selected through UPSC

and CGPSC, doctors,

engineers, senior pub-

lic representatives, and

tribal dance troupes from

dierent states across the

country.

To ensure wider par-

ticipation, it is proposed

that participant registra-

tion will be facilitated

through both online and

oine modes, enabling

the inclusion of a larger

number of artists and cul-

tural groups.

It was also noted that

the festival will be orga-

nised to promote and

preserve Bastar’s art,

crafts, festivals, cuisine,

dialects, ornaments, tra-

ditional musical instru-

ments, dance, music, the-

atre, regional literature,

forest-based medicinal

knowledge and sacred

groves.

‘Bastar Pandum 2026 to

oer global platform’

Bastar Pandum will once again be organised in a grand and vibrant

manner in 2026, on the lines of last year’s successful edition.

Raipur

Briefs

BEST OF THE REST

The state government is

working to strengthen rural

woman and make them

independent through PM Modi’s

‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’

and CM’s leadership.

OP Choudhary

Finance Minister - Ch’garh

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

The Shaheed

Veer Narayan Singh

Tribal Museum, built on

the historical background

of tribal freedom ghters

during the British rule,

located in the premises

of the Tribal Research

and Training Institute

in Nava Raipur, is prov-

ing to be successful in

achieving its objectives. A

large number of tourists

from India and abroad

are visiting the museum,

and it is becoming a cen-

ter of inspiration and

knowledge for students,

researchers, and the gen-

eral public. Students from

schools and colleges,

along with a large num-

ber of common people,

are visiting the museum.

In just about two months

since its inauguration,

more than 72,000 visi-

tors have already visited

the museum.

The museum is a

center of attraction and

enthusiasm. It is note-

worthy that the museum

based on tribal culture

and traditions, and the

Shaheed Veer Narayan

Singh Memorial cum

Tribal Freedom Fight-

ers Museum, were com-

pleted rapidly under the

guidance of the Tribal

Development Depart-

ment. Chief Minister

Vishnu Deo Sai and the

departmental minister

Ram Vichar also contin-

uously monitored and

provided guidance on the

construction work.

It is worth mention-

ing that this magni-

cent museum was ded-

icated to the people by

Prime Minister Naren-

dra Modi on Novem-

ber 1st, on the occasion

of the Silver Jubilee

of Chhattisgarh State-

hood. The Shaheed Veer

Narayan Singh Memo-

rial cum Tribal Freedom

Fighters Museum has

become a center of attrac-

tion and enthusiasm for

visitors. Information

about the contributions

of tribal freedom ghters

is available.

| INSPIRATION FOR STUDENTS |

Students, researchers visiting Tribal Museum

RAIPUR:

A delegation of trainee Indian

Police Service (IPS) ocers paid a

courtesy visit to Deputy Chief Minister

and Home Minister Vijay Sharma at his

ocial residence today. On this occa-

sion, Deputy Chief Minister Sharma

discussed various topics related to the

state’s law and order situation, admin-

istrative eciency, and modern polic-

ing with the trainee ocers.

Deputy Chief Minister Sharma

extended his best wishes to the trainee

ocers for their bright future, stating

that honesty, sensitivity, and a spirit

of service are the hallmarks of a suc-

cessful police ocer. He said that law

and order can be strengthened only

through community-based policing.

The delegation included IG Ajay

Yadav, SP Abhishek Pallav, and SSP

Pankaj Shukla, along with trainee IPS

ocers Aditya Kumar, Anshika Jain,

Prateek Dada Saheb, and Mansi. The

trainee ocers also shared their train-

ing experiences with Deputy Chief

Minister Sharma.

The Deputy Chief Minister

expressed his expectation that the

trainee ocers would give top pri-

ority to the swift resolution of public

grievances, impartial enforcement of

the law, and the protection of human

rights during their eld postings.

He said that the state government

is continuously striving to make the

police force modern, ecient, and

people-oriented.

DANTEWADA: Police have achieved

a major success in a Rs 50 lakh fraud

case. Police have nabbed the accused

who had been absconding for two

years. The accused are residents of

Bihar and had committed the fraud in

Dantewada. Arvind Kumar and Vidya

Kumar were the individuals who com-

mitted the fraud. According to the

complainant, a resident of Kirandul,

he received a call in 2023. The caller

said that a parcel containing foreign

currency had arrived for him, and he

would have to pay customs charges to

receive it.

The accused defrauded the vic-

tim of approximately Rs 50 lakh in a

month by claiming that CBI charges

and income tax would be levied. Based

on the complainant’s report, case

number 87/2023 under Section 420

of the IPC and Section 66(D) of the IT

Act was registered at Kirandul police

station, and an investigation was

launched. The Dantewada Cyber Cell

and Kirandul police analyzed trans-

actions from more than 100 accounts

and used cyber forensic tools to track

down and arrest the accused.

RAIPUR: JCI Raipur MAIC United suc-

cessfully organized a grand and memo-

rable oath and award ceremony, mark-

ing the celebration of President Barat

2025 under the leadership of President

JC Ronak Bengani .The program began

with a majestic procession, creating

an atmosphere of pride and enthusi-

asm. This was followed by maic music,

cultural performances, including a

welcome dance showcasing dier-

ent Yugas and a graceful, devotional

Radha–Krishna dance, delivering

strong social and motivational mes-

sages to the audience The proceedings

continued with the presentation of the

Secretary’s Report by JC Khushi Kumb-

hare , who shared a detailed overview

of the chapter’s activities and achieve-

ments. The traditional lamp lighting

ceremony was then performed by the

respected guests, symbolizing wis-

dom, growth, and new beginnings.

President JC Ronak Bengani presented

his Presidential Report, highlighting

the milestones achieved by JCI Raipur

MAIC United during his tenure. As

a mark of appreciation, the chapter

honored its dedicated and hardwork-

ing members with various titles and

recognitions. The prestigious Best JC

of the Year 2025 award was given to

JC Khushi Khumbare and in total more

than 30 awards were conferred upon

members for their exceptional contri-

butions and performance. A key high-

light of the event was the handover of

leadership. President JC Ronak Ben-

gani formally transferred the presi-

dency to the incoming President, JC

Ark Piyush Pandey.

RAIPUR:

A serious incident has come

to light in the Sundar Nagar Chowk

area of Raipur, the capital of Chhat-

tisgarh, where a drunk young man

allegedly abused, assaulted, and

threatened to kill a woman at a snack

shop. The victim shopkeeper has

led a report at the police station and

demanded strict action against the

accused. The incident is said to have

occurred on the night of December 27,

2025, around 8 PM.

According to the information

received, the victim is a resident of

Sundar Nagar, near Kargil Chowk,

Raipur, and is educated up to the 10th

grade. He runs a snack shop in Sundar

Nagar Chowk to support his family.

At the time of the incident, the victim

had nished work and gone home,

while his wife, Tripta Juneja, was at

the shop.

During this time, a young man, in

a drunken state, arrived at the shop

with a dog. It is alleged that the young

man picked up a samosa from the

shop, made his dog sni it, and then

put it back in the snack tray. Not only

that, he allegedly did the same dirty

act with other snack items. When

the shopkeeper’s wife, Tripta Juneja,

objected to this, he became furious.

According to the victim, the young

man started using obscene language,

including abusive terms directed at

her mother and sister, and threatened

to kill her. It is alleged that during this

time, the young man kicked Tripta

Juneja in the stomach and ed the

scene. The woman was very fright-

ened by this incident and immediately

called her husband to inform him of

everything.

Trainee IPS ocers pay courtesy visit to

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma

Fraudsters who swindled Rs 50 lakh

nabbed on using CBI, IT scare tactics

JCI Raipur MAIC United celebrates

grand oath and award ceremony

Snack shop owner’s wife assaulted

by a drunken man, report led

COURTESY VISIT

FRAUDSTERS NABBED

OATH CEREMONY

ASSAULT AND THREATENING BY DRUNKEN MAN

Businessman

defrauded

of lakhs of

rupees

Electronic ﬁrm

defrauded by

accountant of

Rs 6 lakh

RAIPUR:

A young man lost

Rs 10 lakh after falling

for a fake RTO e-challan

app scam. The incident

occurred on December

22. Three days after the

fraud, the RTO issued

an alert to the public.

According to the infor-

mation received, Pankaj

Patel (35), the owner of

Patel Switchgear located

in Arihant Complex,

Ganj, received a fake RTO

e-challan le from an

unknown person at 12 PM

on December 22. Upon

clicking the link, his

bank account was hacked

through his phone num-

ber, and Rs 10 lakh was

transferred out. Pankaj

Patel led a complaint at

the Ganj police station on

the night of December 27

under Section 3184. The

police have claimed that

they will soon arrest the

accused in this case.

RAIPUR:

The Maudhap-

ara police have regis-

tered a case of fraud

against an accountant of

an electronics rm for

defrauding the company

of Rs 5.63 lakh. Praveen

Agrawal (60), a resident

of Swarnabhoomi Soci-

ety, led a report yester-

day evening. He is the

director of Ambika Elec-

tronics Pvt. Ltd., located

at Ambika Tower, MG

Road, Maudhapara.

FACTFILE

z This year, the

number of cultural

disciplines featured at

Bastar Pandum will be

increased from seven to

twelve.

z Bastar Pandum is

a powerful platform

representing the true

spirit and cultural soul

of Bastar, said CM Sai.

Central Chronicle News

CM Vishnu Deo Sai

today unveiled the

State Government

Calendar for the

year 2026 at a brief

ceremony.

RAIPUR:

CM Vishnu Deo

Sai today unveiled the

State Government Cal-

endar for the year 2026

at a brief ceremony held

at his Residence Oce in

the state capital- Raipur.

The year 2026 is being

observed by the State

Government as ‘Mah-

tari Gaurav Varsh’, and

the calendar has been

designed around this cen-

tral theme, reecting the

collective aim towards

building a strong and

prosperous Chhattisgarh.

The main cover of the

calendar prominently

features the ve revered

Shakti Peeths of Chhat-

tisgarh — Maa Bamlesh-

wari of Dongargarh, Maa

Mahamaya of Ratanpur,

Maa Danteshwari of

Dantewada, Maa Chan-

drahansini of Chandra-

pur, and Maa Kudargarhi

of Surajpur. The portraits

of Hon’ble Prime Minister

Narendra Modi and Chief

Minister Vishnu Deo Sai

have also been included.

The background artisti-

cally depicts the temples

of Sirpur and Rajim, tribal

culture, Madheshwar

Hill, and the graphical

representation of majes-

tic Chitrakote Waterfall,

symbolising the rich cul-

tural and natural heritage

of Chhattisgarh. Address-

ing the occasion, Chief

Minister Sai said that

respect for “MatraShakti”

and empowerment of

women remain the high-

est priority of the State

Government.

| CALENDAR THEMED ON ‘MAHTARI GAURAV VARSH’ |

CM Sai unveils the state

govt calendar for 2026

Central Chronicle News

Police has nabbed

a drug peddler

trying to sell Her-

oin-drug in Kamal

Vihar area.

RAIPUR: The police has

nabbed a drug peddler

trying to sell Heroin-drug

in Kamal Vihar area. The

accused had brought

the heroin from Punjab.

18 grams of heroin was

seized from the accused.

He was supplying heroin

for parties to be held in

farmhouses and clubs in

the outer areas during

the New Year celebra-

tions. A case has been

registered against the

accused at Tikrapara

police station under

crime number 1043/25,

Section 21(b) of the Nar-

cotic Drugs and Psycho-

tropic Substances Act.

Raipur. Manish Rochlani,

the accused who was sup-

plying heroin at parties in

view of New Year’s Eve,

has been arrested. The

Anti-Crime and Cyber

Unit team received infor-

mation that a person was

standing near the Shiva

Temple in Kamal Vihar

Sector 04, under the

Tikrapara police station

area, who was in posses-

sion of prohibited nar-

cotic substances and was

trying to sell them. Act-

ing on the information,

a joint team of the Anti-

Crime and Cyber Unit

and Tikrapara police sta-

tion, under the direction

of senior ocers, went to

the spot, identied and

apprehended the person

matching the description

given by the informant.

Heroin-drug

supplier arrested in

Kamal Vihar Sector 4

FACTFILE

z The monthly pages of

the calendar highlight

key government

schemes and campaigns.

Raipur News

Panchayat Chairpersons

demand increase in

honorarium, TA/DA, and

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

During a high-

level meeting with Dep-

uty Chief Minister Vijay

Sharma on Saturday,

District Panchayat Chair-

persons from across

Chhattisgarh raised sev-

eral key demands, includ-

ing an increase in honorar-

ium, traveling allowances

(TA/DA), and improved

security arrangements.

The meeting, held at

the Deputy CM’s resi-

dence oce, served as a

platform for chairpersons

to voice local issues and

administrative expec-

tations. Their primary

demands included a

signicant hike in

monthly honorarium,

accommodation allow-

ances and other miscel-

laneous perks. Revision

of vehicle rental rates

and travel allowances

to match current costs

as well as provision of

adequate security and

ocial vehicle facilities

for chairpersons were

demanded.

Deputy CM Vijay

Sharma, who also holds

the Panchayat and Rural

Development portfolio,

briefed the representa-

tives on the provisions

of the newly introduced

VBG Ram G Act. The

meeting also covered

various development

schemes, including the

District and Janpad Pan-

chayat Development

Funds, the Mahtari

Sadan construction, and

the Atal Digital Facility

Centers. Ocials pro-

vided updates on the

Samarth Panchayat Por-

tal, which enables UPI-

based tax collection for

local bodies, and the

Gram Sampada Mobile

App for online monitor-

ing of assets.

The Deputy CM

assured the chairpersons

that their suggestions

would be considered

to ensure the eective

implementation of these

schemes and the bal-

anced development of

rural Chhattisgarh.

CM Sai joins Public Representatives

to listen to PM’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’

Probe committee formed over voter list irregularities in Raipur Rural

Central Chronicle News

The Prime Minister’s

year-end address

focused on the themes

of self-reliance, health

consciousness, and

a review of India’s

historic achievements

in 2025.

RAIPUR:

Chhattisgarh

Chief Minister Vishnu

Deo Sai, along with

several public repre-

sentatives, tuned in to

the 129th episode of

Prime Minister Naren-

dra Modi’s monthly

radio program, ‘Mann

Ki Baat’, at the CM

Residence today. The

Prime Minister’s year-

end address focused

on the themes of

self-reliance, health

consciousness, and a

review of India’s his-

toric achievements in

2025. In the nal epi-

sode of the year, Prime

Minister Modi shared

a vision for a stronger,

healthier India, touch-

ing upon several criti-

cal topics:

The PM urged citi-

zens to prioritize prod-

ucts made in India to

bolster the national

economy and sup-

port local artisans.

Following the broad-

cast, Chief Minister Sai

remarked that ‘Mann

Ki Baat’ has become a

powerful medium for

connecting the nation

and fostering a spirit of

public participation.

“Through this pro-

gram, the Prime Min-

ister consistently

strengthens our

resolve toward innova-

tion, self-reliance, and

nation-building. His

message on a healthy

lifestyle under the ‘Fit

India Movement’ is

the perfect inspiration

as we prepare to enter

2026,” the CM said. The

session at the CM Resi-

dence was attended by

Santosh Pandey, MP

and BJP Chief Spokes-

person, Prabodh Minj,

MLA and Purandar

Mishra, MLA.

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

Under the

guidance of Chief Minis-

ter Vishnu Deo Sai, the

Raipur District Admin-

istration has launched

specialized interview

training for UPSC Civil

Services 2025 candi-

dates through ‘Project

Anubhav.’ The initia-

tive aims to sharpen

the condence, per-

sonality development,

and presentation skills

of local aspirants who

have cleared the written

stages of the prestigious

examination.

The mock interviews

are being held at the

Collector’s Oce, where

candidates are evaluated

by a distinguished panel

of civil servants and aca-

demics. The panel pro-

vides real-world insights

and practical tips to nav-

igate the high-pressure

environment of the nal

UPSC interview.

The Interview Panel

Included Dr. Gaurav

Singh: District Collec-

tor, Kumar Biswaranjan:

CEO, Zila Panchayat,

Awadhesh Kumar

Trivedi: Senior DCM,

Railways apart from

Anupama Anand (IAS)

and Ishu Agrawal (IPS)

and Bhuwal Singh: Assis-

tant Professor, Science

College.

On Saturday, candi-

dates Sanjay Dahariya

and Roshan Agrawal

underwent rigorous

mock sessions. Each

interview lasted approxi-

mately 45 to 50 minutes,

followed by a detailed

feedback session where

the panel evaluated their

responses and suggested

improvements for the

nal personality test.

‘Project Anubhav’ is a

strategic initiative by the

Raipur District Admin-

istration designed to

bridge the gap between

academic knowledge and

professional presenta-

tion. By interacting with

serving IAS and IPS o-

cers, candidates gain a

deeper understanding of

the administrative mind-

set and current aairs.

| PROJECT ANUBHAV |

Expert Panel conduct UPSC mock interviews under ‘Project Anubhav’

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

During the 141st

Foundation Day cele-

brations of the Indian

National Congress at

Rajiv Bhawan, former

Chhattisgarh Chief Min-

ister Bhupesh Baghel

launched a sharp ideo-

logical attack on the roots

of Indian communal poli-

tics. Addressing a seminar

titled “Congress: From

the Freedom Struggle to

Nation Building,” Baghel

asserted that the theory

of nationalism based on

religious identity was pio-

neered by VD Savarkar

and Muhammad Ali Jin-

nah, labeling them as the

true architects of India’s

partition.

Baghel criticized con-

temporary “so-called

nationalists,” stating that

while Mahatma Gandhi

and Jawaharlal Nehru

were leading the charge

for independence, these

groups were actively

opposing them. He argued

that during the freedom

movement, Congress

mirrored the aspirations

of the common Indian,

while only communal,

casteist organizations and

those loyal to the British

Crown stood in oppo-

sition to the party. The

event commenced with

State Congress President

Deepak Baij hoisting the

party ag, accompanied

by a salute from the Seva

Dal. In his address, Baij

remarked that despite the

party not being in power

in most states currently,

Congress remains the only

political entity in India

with a dedicated presence

in every village across

the country. He empha-

sized the party’s enduring

grassroots connection and

its historical role in shap-

ing the modern nation.

The seminar saw par-

ticipation from several

senior leaders, includ-

ing former minister

Satyanarayana Sharma,

Amitesh Shukla, and

Rajendra Tiwari, who

reected on the party’s

historical milestones.

The gathering included a

wide spectrum of oce

bearers from the Youth

Congress, Seva Dal, and

various party cells. The

program, coordinated by

General Secretary Subodh

Haritwal, concluded with

a collective rearmation

by the workers to uphold

the party’s founding prin-

ciples against what they

termed “divisive ideolo-

gies.”

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

Following alle-

gations of discrepan-

cies in the electoral rolls

within the Raipur Rural

assembly constituency,

district authorities have

constituted a specialized

three-member investi-

gation committee. The

issue surfaced during the

Special Intensive Revi-

sion (SIR) 2025, currently

being conducted under

the mandates of the Elec-

tion Commission of India.

The complaints specif-

ically pointed toward

irregularities in the voter

lists for Ghazi Nagar,

located in the Birgaon area

under the Dharsiwa tehsil.

In response, the Sub-Divi-

sional Ocer (Revenue)

and Electoral Registration

Ocer for Assembly Con-

stituency No. 48, Raipur

Rural, moved to formalize

a probe to maintain the

integrity of the electoral

process.The appointed

investigation team con-

sists of Raipur Tehsildar

Rammurti Diwan, Birgaon

Municipal Corporation

Revenue Sub-Inspector

Shailendra Nirmalkar,

and local representative

Mahesh Kumar Sonwani.

The committee was tasked

with conducting imme-

diate eld verications

to address the concerns

raised by citizens regard-

ing Part Numbers 63 and

64 of the voter list. Accord-

ing to the District Elec-

tion Oce, preliminary

on-ground verication has

already commenced.

Savarkar, Jinnah responsible for

partition, not Congress: Bhupesh

141st Foundation Day celebrations of the Indian National Congress at Rajiv Bhawan.

FASTFACTS

Baghel criticized

contemporary “so-called

nationalists,” stating that

while Mahatma Gandhi

and Jawaharlal Nehru

were leading the charge

for independence, these

groups were actively

opposing them.

zThe event commenced

with State Congress

President Deepak Baij

hoisting the party ﬂag,

accompanied by a salute

from the Seva Dal.

FASTFACTS

His message on a

healthy lifestyle under

the ‘Fit India Movement’

is the perfect inspiration

as we prepare to enter

2026,” the CM said.

FASTFACTS

The meeting, held

at the Deputy CM’s

residence ofﬁce,

served as a platform

for chairpersons to

voice local issues

and administrative

expectations.

Central Chronicle News

Speaking on the

occasion, VC Maha-

dev Kavre described

Thakre as a “pillar

of simplicity, integ-

rity, and princi-

ples.”

RAIPUR:

A memorial

service was held at the

Kushabhau Thakre Uni-

versity of Journalism

and Mass Communica-

tion (KTUJM) today to

commemorate the 22nd

death anniversary of its

namesake and inspira-

tion, the late Kushabhau

Thakre.

Vice-Chancellor and

Divisional Commissioner

Mahadev Kavre paid o-

ral tributes at the statue

of Kushabhau Thakre

within the university

premises.

Speaking on the occa-

sion, VC Mahadev Kavre

described Thakre as

a “pillar of simplicity,

integrity, and princi-

ples.” He emphasized

how Thakre’s vision of

national service and

organization-building

continues to guide the

university’s students.

Aligning with Thakre’s

philosophy of rural

self-reliance and the

vision of Chief Minister

Vishnu Deo Sai, the uni-

versity has launched a

10-day training camp.

Organized in collabora-

tion with the Chhattis-

garh State Livelihood

Mission (BIHAN) and

the Saheli Social Welfare

Foundation, the camp

teaches rural women

from adopted villages the

craft of straw (para) and

oral art.

The gathering saw par-

ticipation from several

university ocials and

faculty members includ-

ing Sunil Kumar Sharma

(Registrar).

Shailendra Khandel-

wal conducted the pro-

ceedings and Saurabh

Sharma (Deputy Reg-

istrar) oered the vote

of thanks.Senior fac-

ulty members including

Dr. Nripendra Kumar

Sharma and Dr. Rajen-

dra Mohanty were also

present.

| DEATH ANNIVERSARY |

Tribute paid to Kushabhau Thakre

on his 22nd death anniversary

FASTFACTS

The gathering saw

participation from

several university

ofﬁcials and faculty

members including

Sunil Kumar Sharma

(Registrar).

MP pays tribute to

Veer Savarkar at

Cellular Jail

RAIPUR:

Senior BJP leader

and Raipur Member of

Parliament, Brijmohan

Agrawal, visited the his-

toric Cellular Jail (famously

known as Kala Pani) in Port

Blair on Sunday. The visit

followed his participation

in the Parliamentary Esti-

mates Committee meetings

held in the Andaman and

Nicobar Islands, where he

has been reviewing major

infrastructure and port

projects.

During his visit to

the colonial-era prison,

Agrawal visited the spe-

cic cell where the leg-

endary freedom ghter

Veer Savarkar was incar-

cerated by the British

regime. Spending several

quiet moments in the

small cell, the MP paid a

heartfelt tribute to Savar-

kar and the hundreds of

other revolutionaries who

endured inhumane tor-

ture for India’s indepen-

dence.Agrawal described

the jail as a “land of sac-

rice,” noting that the

stones of Cellular Jail serve

as a permanent reminder

that India’s freedom was

built on the foundation of

countless lives.

ARREST

SIKH COMMUNITY

Interstate drug

tracker arrested

with MDMA sourced

from Jodhpur

Sikh Community

urges state-wide free

screenings of “Chaar

Sahibzaade” lm

RAIPUR: As part of the

ongoing anti-narcotics

drive “Operation Nish-

chay,” Raipur Police suc-

cessfully apprehended an

interstate tracker near

Science City in the Pandri

area.

The suspect, identi-

ed as Kailash Bishnoi

from Jodhpur, Rajasthan,

was found in posses-

sion of 23.82 grams of

high-value MDMA drugs.

Along with the narcot-

ics, police seized three

mobile phones, ve

ATM cards from various

banks, and cash, bring-

ing the total value of the

seizure to approximately

Rs 3,42,000.

RAIPUR:

The Chhattis-

garh Sikh community

has formally requested

the state government to

organize free screenings

of the lm Chaar Sahib-

zaade across all cinemas,

multiplexes, and PVRs in

the state. During a high-

level meeting in Raipur,

community leaders pro-

posed this initiative to

honor the supreme sac-

rice of the four sons

of Guru Gobind Singh Ji

and to ensure their story

of valor and national

defense reaches every

citizen.

The Sikh society

emphasized that free

screenings would allow

the public, particularly

the youth and children,

to deeply reect on the

unprecedented sacrices

made for the protec-

tion of religion and the

nation.

NEWSLINE

RAIPUR :

Mrs Nalini

Jiyalal

Faye, aged

81, wife of

late Dr. J. B.

Faye, passed away here

on Sunday. She is sur-

vived by her sons Rajesh

Faye, Shailesh Faye,

Dhanesh Faye and Bhu-

pesh Faye, and daughter

Manjusha Maske.

Her last rites will be

performed on Monday,

December 29, 2025, at 12

noon at the Marwari Cre-

mation Ground, Raipur.

OBITUARY

Mrs Nalini

Jiyalal Faye

Rising stars shine at Raipur

District Badminton Tournament

Central Chronicle News

RAIPUR:

The Raipur Dis-

trict Badminton Associa-

tion recently concluded

its highly anticipated

badminton tournament

for trainees at the Sapre

School Badminton Hall.

The event showcased

intense competition across

various age groups, cul-

minating in thrilling nal

matches that highlighted

the city’s budding sport-

ing talent. The tourna-

ment featured categories

ranging from Under-11 to

Senior levels. One of the

most competitive matches

saw Suryansh Bhansali

edge out Shivay Pujari in a

nail-biting three-set thriller

for the U11 Boys’ title.

In the Senior categories,

Rudraksh Tiwari and Mitali

Malani emerged victorious

in the Men’s and Women’s

singles, respectively. The

closing ceremony and

prize distribution were

held in the presence of dis-

tinguished guests from the

sporting community.

Central Chronicle News

BHILAI: In a bid to

enhance road safety and

minimize accidents, the

Police have intensied

their vigil across major

intersections. During a

recent intensive checking

drive, authorities inter-

cepted an Innova Crysta

(Registration No CG 07

CD 0013) for driving at an

excessive speed and dis-

playing a total disregard

for trac regulations.

The driver, identied

as 32-year-old Nitesh

Kumar, a resident of

Kohka Purani Basti, was

found operating the lux-

ury vehicle in a negligent

manner that posed a sig-

nicant threat to other

commuters.

Following the inter-

ception, police regis-

tered a case against him

under multiple sections

of the Motor Vehicles Act,

including Sections 112/183

(speeding), 184 (danger-

ous driving), 108, and

194B(1).

Senior Superinten-

dent of Police (SSP) Vijay

Agrawal has directed all

stations to maintain a

continuous crackdown

on both four-wheelers

and motorcycles that vio-

late safety protocols.

This special campaign

aims to instill trac

discipline and reduce

fatalities on Bhilai’s

busy roads. Police o-

cials have warned that

repeated oenders may

face license suspension in

addition to hefty nes.

Assembly Speaker

graces 20th State Inter-

Dist Volleyball Ch’ship

Central Chronicle News

BHILAI:

Chhattisgarh

Assembly Speaker Dr

Raman Singh attended the

20th Senior Chhattisgarh

State Inter-District Volley-

ball Championship as the

chief guest at the Volleyball

Complex, Pant Stadium,

Sector-1. The prestigious

four-day tournament, held

in memory of the late Beera

Singh, is being organized

under the joint aegis of the

Chhattisgarh State Volley-

ball Association and Bhilai

Steel Plant (BSP).

The championship,

which commenced on

December 25, features a

massive participation of 48

teams from across the state,

including 31 men’s and 17

women’s teams. During the

event, Dr Singh interacted

with the athletes, encour-

aging them to pursue excel-

lence with sportsmanship.

In his address, he noted

that the land of Durg has

consistently fostered ath-

letic talent, and such plat-

forms are crucial for local

players to gain national rec-

ognition.

Highlighting individual

excellence, the Speaker

honoured eight outstand-

ing players - Mahendra

Dhruv, Abdulla, Pihu Yadav,

Dipesh Sinha, Komal Mau-

rya, Santosh Kumar, Rekha

Padam, and Vinod Nair. In

addition to the active ath-

letes, six veterans—Kaushal

Prasad Nayak, SN Nema,

Tikam Das Andani, Shan-

kar Lal Yadav, Naimuddin

Han, and Rajeshwar Singh

— were felicitated for their

signicant lifelong contri-

butions to the sport of vol-

leyball. The ceremony was

conducted in the presence

of Chhattisgarh State Vol-

leyball Association Presi-

dent Mahesh Gagda, Vice

President Akram Khan,

Secretary Hem Prakash

Nayak, and Associate Sec-

retary Vinod Nair, along

with several other prom-

inent ocials, public

representatives, and sports

enthusiasts.

Central Chronicle News

Pt Shastri claried

that the oerings

received at such

events are utilized

for social welfare

projects.

BHILAI:

On the fourth day

of the Hanumant Katha at

Jayanti Stadium in Bhilai,

Pandit Dhirendra Krishna

Shastri (Bageshwar Dham

Sarkar) focused his sermon

on the power of unwaver-

ing devotion and the sig-

nicance of the Hanuman

Chalisa as a guide for mod-

ern life.

He emphasized that

devotion to Lord Hanuman

is not just about rituals but

about inner strength and

character. He explained

that a true devotee is one

who remains fearless in

the face of adversity, draw-

ing a parallel to Hanuman’s

courage. Following the pre-

vious day’s explanation, he

delved deeper into specic

verses of the Hanuman

Chalisa, describing them

as “scientic formulas” for

mental peace and spiritual

growth. Pt Shastri contin-

ued his recurring theme of

“Sanatana Unity,” urging

the massive crowd to move

beyond caste divisions and

unite under the umbrella

of their faith to protect

their cultural heritage.

Deputy Chief Min-

ister Vijay Sharma also

joined the spiritual gath-

ering. He participated in

the Vyaspeeth Aarti and

sought the blessings of

Pandit Shastri. He was

accompanied by several

prominent leaders, includ-

ing former Assembly

Speakers Dharamlal Kau-

shik; Rajnandgaon MP San-

tosh Pandey and former

MP Saroj Pandey.

Welcoming the seer

on behalf of the state gov-

ernment and the people

of Chhattisgarh, Deputy

CM Sharma remarked that

Maharaj’s presence ignites

a positive discourse in soci-

ety. The Deputy CM fur-

ther lauded Pandit Shastri

for his work towards social

harmony, national unity,

and the prestige of Sana-

tana culture. Addressing

the issue of Naxalism,

Sharma mentioned that

the state government is

working tirelessly to elim-

inate the menace, noting

that Maharaj’s concerns

and guidance on this issue

are of signicant impor-

tance. He concluded by

expressing his hope for

Pandit Shastri’s swift

return to Chhattisgarh in

the future.

| HANUMANT KATHA DAY-4 |

‘Hanuman Chalisa is a

scientific formula for peace’

Speeding SUV

penalised as part of

trac safety blitz

FASTFACTS

z The venue overﬂowed

with lakhs of devotees

and followers.

z Several political

leaders were present to

seek blessings.

NEWSLINE

Central Chronicle News

BHILAI: In a signicant

stride toward academic

leadership, DAV Public

School, Hudco, organized

a meticulously planned

two-day teacher training

initiative titled the “Per-

formance Enhancement

Programme (PEP).” The

programme was spe-

cically conceived to

strengthen professional

competencies and pre-

pare educators to meet

the rapidly evolving

demands of contempo-

rary global classrooms.

The training drew

enthusiastic participa-

tion from teacher-del-

egates representing var-

ious DAV schools in the

region. Master trainers

from diverse academic

disciplines conducted

in-depth, reective ses-

sions that combined the-

oretical rigor with practi-

cal applicability. Through

structured demonstra-

tions and interactive

workshops, the trainers

focused on enhancing

instructional eective-

ness and fostering 21st-

century skills such as

critical thinking, collab-

oration, and digital liter-

acy. The curriculum was

thoughtfully aligned with

current national educa-

tional frameworks, ensur-

ing that every session

translated into actionable

classroom strategies.

In his keynote address,

Regional Ocer Prashant

Kumar lauded the ini-

tiative, observing that

teachers are the true

architects of the nation.

He remarked that invest-

ing in teacher empow-

erment is not merely a

professional requirement

but a moral imperative

to secure an enlightened

future for the youth. His

presence, alongside prin-

cipals from various DAV

wings and subject coor-

dinators, added immense

academic gravitas to the

discourse.

Adding to the collab-

orative spirit, the event

facilitated a construc-

tive dialogue on quality

benchmarks and inno-

vative pedagogical prac-

tices. Teachers engaged

in meaningful collective

reection, sharing best

practices to overcome

common classroom

challenges. The Perfor-

mance Enhancement

Programme succeeded

in cultivating a spirit of

shared purpose, encour-

aging educators to adopt

a mindset of continuous

adaptability and profes-

sional renewal.

Ultimately, the land-

mark initiative under-

scored the DAV philoso-

phy that the enrichment

of an educator directly

impacts the holistic

development of the

learner. By bridging the

gap between traditional

teaching and modern

instructional technoloy,

the PEP left participants

inspired and resolutely

committed to translat-

ing their new knowledge

into impactful experi-

ences for their students.

The two-day event con-

cluded on an optimistic

note, marking another

milestone in the school’s

administrative and aca-

demic foresight.

ELEVATING EDUCATORS, ENRICHING FUTURES

DAV hosts performance enhancement programme in Bhilai

Central Chronicle News

BHILAI: The Pradhan

Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

(PMUY) continues to

bring a silent revolution

to the rural kitchens of

Durg. Recently, four ben-

eciaries — Rajeshwari

Sahu, Meena Yadav, Par-

meshwari Verma, and

Parvati — were provided

with free LPG cylinders,

marking an end to their

daily struggle with indoor

air pollution.

For Rajeshwari Sahu

of Medesara, the connec-

tion is a dream realized.

Living in a small kutcha

house, she spent years

battling stinging eyes

and breathing diculties

caused by thick smoke.

“This isn’t just a cylinder;

it’s a gift of health for my

family,” she remarked.

Similarly, Parmeshwari

Verma from Raveli high-

lighted that the shift to

clean fuel would protect

her small children from

the harmful eects of

kitchen smoke while sav-

ing signicant time for

domestic chores.

The distribution

emphasizes the govern-

ment’s commitment

to “Ease of Living” for

women. By providing a

clean, safe, and aord-

able alternative to re-

wood, the scheme not

only improves health out-

comes but also empow-

ers women by reducing

their physical labour and

time spent in the kitchen.

Ujjwala Yojana transforms

lives of rural women

Four women from EWS category received free LPG connections, ending

years of respiratory issues caused by traditional rewood stoves.

The beneﬁciaries receiving LPG connections.

Dy CM and other dignitaries performing Vyaspeeth Aarti.

FASTFACTS

z The scheme provides

deposit-free domestic

LPG connections.

z Scheme removing

the ﬁnancial barrier

for families below the

poverty line.

Sadaram

clears bank

debt

BHILAI: The Chhattisgarh

government’s stream-

lined paddy procurement

policy for the 202526

Kharif season is yielding

signicant economic ben-

ets for small-scale farm-

ers. Among the success

stories is Shri Sadaram, a

progressive farmer from

village Kataro, who owns

4.28 acres of land. By

leveraging the state’s pur-

chase limit of 21 quintals

per acre at the lucrative

rate of Rs 3,100 per quin-

tal, Sadaram has success-

fully stabilized his fami-

ly’s nances.

Sadaram shared that

the digital “Tuhar Token”

app was a game-changer,

allowing him to book two

separate slots for his 234

bags of paddy without

standing in long queues

at the procurement cen-

ter. Within just one week

of the sale, the payment

was directly credited to

his bank account. “With

this money, I immediately

repaid my Rs 70,000

bank loan and am now

preparing for the Rabi

season,” he said.

He expressed deep

gratitude to Chief Minis-

ter Vishnu Deo Sai, noting

that the current system is

far superior to previous

years. The combination of

high support prices and

digital oversight has not

only saved farmers’ time

but has also provided

them with the nancial

strength to improve their

standard of living.

Employees to

stage strike

from today

BHILAI:

Chhattisgarh

Karmachari-Adhikari

Federation is set to

launch a three-day

statewide strike from

December 29. The

“Pen-Down” movement

is a protest against

the non-fulllment of

promises made under

the “Modi Ki Guaran-

tee” manifesto, which

the employees claim

has been ignored for

nearly two years. In

Durg, the protest will

be centered in front of

the Government Multi-

purpose Higher Second-

ary School ( Jhaduram

Dewangan School) on

GE Road.

Leaders of the federa-

tion have called upon all

departmental colleagues

to join the strike in large

numbers to pressure the

government into action.

The strike is expected to

aect schools, munici-

pal oces, and various

administrative depart-

ments across the state.

RESOLUTION

HLSSS to

escalate

movement

BHILAI:

The House Lease

Samyukt Sangharsh Samiti

(HLSSS) held its weekly

meeting in Sector 2, where

hundreds of members gath-

ered to protest the “eva-

sive tactics” and “cunning

maneuvers” of the Bhilai

Steel Plant (BSP) manage-

ment. The committee criti-

cized the top management

for hiding facts under the

guise of legal complexities

while failing to implement

the Public Premises (PP)

Act fairly. They alleged that

the management, which

has historically failed to

adhere to PF, Gratuity,

and Minimum Wage reg-

ulations, is now using the

PP Act solely to break the

morale of retention hold-

ers. The members high-

lighted that the House

Lease Scheme of 200103

was approved by the SAIL

Board, yet management’s

deliberate delay in regu-

larizing these leases has

plunged the future of thou-

sands of retired employees,

traders, and elderly resi-

dents into darkness. The

House Lease Samyukt Sang-

harsh Samiti accused top

ocials of misleading the

state government to secure

personal promotions while

harassing the weak and

elderly. Vowing to escalate

the movement, the organi-

zation issued an “Aar-Par”

challenge, stating they are

prepared to go to the “Muk-

tidham” rather than vacate

their BSP quarters.

How to apply?

Eligible women (18+) from BPL households can

apply online or at the nearest LPG distributor. The

documents required for making an application

includes passport size photo; Aadhaar Card (Ben-

eciary & adult family members); Ration Card /

Address Proof and Bank Account details (IFSC).

FINAL RESPECTS

Dy CM meets

bereaved

family

BHILAI: Deputy Chief Min-

ister and Home Minister

Vijay Sharma paid a visit

to the residence of the

late senior IPS ocer Pra-

khar Pandey in Sector 9,

Bhilai, on Sunday to oer

his nal respects. Pandey,

a 2009-batch ocer who

was serving as DIG (CID)

at the Police Headquar-

ters, recently passed

away following a cardiac

arrest. During his visit to

Pandey’s residence, the

Deputy CM met with the

grieving family members

and shared his heartfelt

condolences. “Prakhar

Pandey was a quintessen-

tial example of a dutiful,

disciplined, and sensi-

tive ocer whose entire

life was dedicated to

public service,” Sharma

remarked. He assured the

family that the state gov-

ernment and the entire

police department stand

rmly with them during

this dicult time. Late

Prakhar Pandey was well-

known in the department

for his strategic capabil-

ities and clean image.

Throughout his career,

he served as the Super-

intendent of Police (SP)

in several key districts,

including Durg, Mungeli,

Surajpur, and Kabirdham,

and also held the critical

role of SP (CM Security).

Bhilai

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

The grit shown by the

state’s youth in the sporting

arena continues to bring

pride to Chhattisgarh,

Dr Raman Singh

(Assembly Speaker)

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Yearender

‘People and Places’

on their shoulders

took the pall of

gloom which took

the country into grief

on the many times

lives were lost and

partition eternal

happened. Below are

the people who were

promoted to divinity

and places which

witnesses incidents

that shook the soul

of India.

FOR THOSE WHO

BID ADIEU

In grief the

world and

particularly

India

showed

deﬁning

grace like

the weeping

willow

tree in the

painting

IN MEMORIAM

2025

Zubeen Garg

Jane Goodall

Dharmendra Deol

Pope Francis

RCB cup celebrations turn sour

Renowned singer and musician Zubeen Garg,

best known for the hit song Ya Ali and his sig-

nicant contributions to Assamese, Bengali,

and Hindi music, passed away on Septem-

ber 19 after suering a medical emergency

during a scuba diving incident. He was 52. His

passing witnessed over whelming grief from

across the country particularly Assam.

Conservationist and chimpanzee researcher

Jane Goodall breathed her last at 91. Dr Goodall,

devoted her life to the study and conserva-

tion of chimpanzees and the other great apes.

Through her pioneering new ways to study

them, Goodall discovered that chimps used

tools, created complex societies and could be so

aggressive they could even kill one another.

Veteran Bollywood star Dharmendra, fondly called

“He-Man” and “Dharam Paaji,” passed away at the

age of 89 on November 24. His demise was deeply

mourned across the lm industry and beyond, with

tributes pouring in that celebrated his charm, ver-

satility, and enduring impact on Hindi cinema.

Pope Francis head of the Catholic Church and sovereign

of Vatican City from 13 March 2013 breathed his last

on April 21. He was the rst Jesuit pope, the rst Latin

American, and the rst born or raised outside Europe

and had a see of fan followers all across the world and

also holding great political power in social subjugations.

A day after Royal Challangers Bengaluru’s IPL triumph, lakhs of fans

thronged the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and also the Vidhana Soudha

where the Karnataka government had organised a separate felicitation

event on June 4. In the resulting chaos, 11 persons — all under the age of 40

— lost their lives and at least 50 others sustained injuries in the stampede.

A deepening grief - Air India ight AI 171 Vadodara-Anand bridge collapse

On June 12,

Air India

ight AI 171,

a Boeing

7878 aircraft

en route Lon-

don Gatwick,

crashed into

a medical

hostel complex

shortly after

take o from

Sardar Vallabh-

bhai Patel Inter-

national Airport.

The aircraft burst

into ames, kill-

ing 241 out of 242

people onboard

and 19 individuals

on the ground.

There was one sur-

vivor passenger.

At least 20

people died after

a section of the

four-decade-old

Gambhira Bridge

in Gujarat’s

Vadodara dis-

trict collapsed

early on July 9,

2025, below. The

bridge served

as a vital link

between central

Gujarat and

the Saurashtra

regions, con-

necting Anand

and Vadodara

districts. It was

built in 1985 by a

Lucknow-based

company.

Delhi car blast

near Red Fort

A high-intensity explosion in a slow-mov-

ing car outside the Red Fort in New Delhi

claimed the lives of 13 people and injured

more than 20 others on November 10, spark-

ing a nationwide alert and a probe involving

multiple agencies across States. A doctor

from J&K’s Pulwama, identied as Umar Nabi,

teaching at the Al-Falah University in Farid-

abad, emerged as the likely sole occupant

of the car which exploded. The NIA, which

took over the probe, made its ninth and latest

arrest in the case on December 18.

Stampede at TVK

leader Vijay’s rally

On September 27, thousands of people gath-

ered in Karur, Tamil Nadu, to attend a rally by

actor-turned-politician Vijay. As the chief of

the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party arrived

hours late, the crowd swelled and surged

towards his vehicle, triggering a stampede that

killed 41 people and injured over 100 others.

Most of the adult victims were between 18 and

30 years of age.

Kamini Kaushal

Giorgio Armani

Piyush Pandey

Fauja Singh

Sreenivasan

Sandhya Shantaram

Veteran actress

Kamini Kaushal,

renowned for her

roles in Bimal Roy’s

‘Biraj Bahu’ (1954)

and ‘Arzoo’ (1950)

passed away in Mum-

bai on November 14,

2025, at the age of

98. A leading actress

of the 1940s to 1960s,

she shared the screen with legends such as

Ashok Kumar, Raj Kapoor and many others.

She appeared in over 70 lms, including ‘Do

Bhai’, ‘Shaheed’, ‘Nadiya Ke Paar’, ‘Aag’ and

‘Shabnam’, and also worked in television,

notably Chand Sitare.

Acclaimed Italian fashion designer and founder

of the Armani luxury fashion house. Giorgio

Armani breathed his last on 4 September 2025.

Widely regarded as among the most inuential

designers in contemporary fashion, he became

known for minimalist, deconstructed silhou-

ettes—especially his jackets and suits—which are

said to have redened masculine and feminine

elegance in a contemporary form.

Advertising veteran Piyush

Pandey, widely regarded as a

legend in the Indian adver-

tising industry, passed away

on October 23, 2025, at the

age of 70. Pandey began his

career in 1982 with Ogilvy

& Mather India (now Ogilvy

India) as a trainee account

executive before moving

to the creative side, where he revolutionised

Indian advertising. He was the mastermind

behind iconic campaigns such as Asian Paints’

“Har Khushi Mein Rang Laaye”, Cadbury’s “Kuch

Khaas Hai”, and Fevicol’s iconic “Egg” lm.

Pandey’s trailblazing contributions earned him

the CLIO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012,

the Padma Shri, and he became the rst Asian to

serve as Cannes Lions jury president.

Fauja Singh a British Indian marathon runner,

nicknamed the “Turbaned Tornado”, died in a

road accident at the age of 114 on July 2025. Singh

became an international sensation after taking up

distance running at the ripe old age of 89 and was

a torchbearer for the Olympics in Athens in 2004

and London in 2012 and appeared in advertise-

ments with sports stars such as David Beckham

and Muhammad Ali.

Renowned Malayalam actor, screenwriter, director

and producer Sreenivasan passed away on December

20 at the age of 69, leaving behind a prolic legacy

that shaped Malayalam cinema for over four decades.

As a lmmaker, his works ‘Vadakkunokkiyanthram’

and ‘Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala’ won major state

and national honours. A multiple award winner, he

was a key force behind Malayalam cinema’s golden

era of comedy and social drama.

Veteran actress Sandhya

Shantaram, wife of legend-

ary actor and lmmaker V.

Shantaram, passed away

in Mumbai on October 4,

2025. A celebrated name

in Indian cinema, she was

best known for her perfor-

mances in classics such as

Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje

(1955), Do Aankhen Barah

Haath (1958), Navrang

(1959), Marathi lm Pinjra

(1972) and Amar Bhoopali. During the 1950s and

1960s, Sandhya Shantaram worked extensively in

both Hindi and Marathi cinema, primarily under

the direction of V. Shantaram, leaving behind a rich

cinematic legacy.

Central Chronicle News

MAINPUR: From the last

week of December until

the entire month of Jan-

uary, the Udanti Sitanadi

Tiger Reserve, along

with the Sikasar Reser-

voir, Pairi Udgam, and

Devdahara areas, are

heavily crowded with

tourists. Despite the

harsh winter, tourists

from far and wide have

already begun arriving.

Today, Saturday, thou-

sands of tourists were

arriving at the Sikasar

Reservoir from morn-

ing until late evening. It

is a favorite destination

for tourists from both

India and abroad to cele-

brate the New Year with

their loved ones. These

days, the picturesque

natural scenery of the

fogy sky and dripping

dewdrops, combined

with the bitter cold, is

attracting tourists. To

welcome the New Year,

people are in search of

such a place where they

can enjoy amidst nature.

This search is fullled in

the tourist places of this

region, hence a large

number of tourists have

started arriving here

from now.

A large number of tour-

ists from dierent dis-

tricts of Chhattisgarh as

well as from Odisha state

are reaching Devdahara

Waterfall, Godena Fall,

Eco Centre, Taurenga,

Sodoor and Sikasar res-

ervoir of Udanti Sitanadi

Tiger Reserve of Garia-

band district to see the

wild animals roaming

freely in nature and for-

est and to celebrate the

New Year in peace, away

from the chaos. 28 km

from Tehsil headquarter

Mainpur. A huge crowd is

seen at the distant Sikasar

reservoir. On one hand,

college students have

arrived in large num-

bers from Durga Bhilai,

Dhamtari, Rajnandgaon,

Raipur area, while on

the other hand, many

families have also come

and for their safety, they

have come with blankets,

sleepers and full meals

to protect themselves

from the cold. Tourists

are seen dancing by light-

ing bonres all around

in Sikasar. A large num-

ber of tourists have also

reached the peaceful and

dense forest Taurenga

Rest House, Eco Centre

Koyaba, Udanti, away

from the Kolohal. A large

number of tourists come

to this area from Odisha

state and get the oppor-

tunity to see the wild ani-

mals roaming freely in the

forest by roaming in an

open jeep, due to which a

huge crowd is seen every

year in the New Year in

Udanti Sanctuary. 25 km

from Mainpur. A large

number of tourists have

also reached the distant

Devdahra Falls, enjoying

kayaking in the Kulha-

dighat Kathwa River. The

Forest Department has

made arrangements for

kayaking and facilities in

the entire Gariaband dis-

trict in the Kathwa Kulha-

dighat River.

Tourists from Austra-

lia were delighted to see

the wild animals roaming

freely in the Udanti Sanc-

tuary A group of six tour-

ists from Australia arrived

at the Udanti Sanctuary

in Mainpur four days ago

and toured the sanctuary

area by ypsy.

Tourists start arriving at the

USTR, Sikasar, and Pairi Udgam

Newly Elected

Sarpanchs

imparted

training

MUNGELI: A training pro-

gram for newly elected

Gram Panchayat Sarpan-

chs is being organized

at the District Panchayat

Resource Center under

the State Gram Swaraj

Abhiyan scheme. This

training has been con-

ducted in various shifts

since December 2, 2025,

with the next shift start-

ing on January 5, 2026.

The objective of the

training is to provide

the Sarpanches with

essential information

related to panchayat

administration, nancial

management, eective

implementation of devel-

opment schemes, trans-

parency, accountability,

and good governance.

During the program,

detailed guidance is

being provided on the

role, rights, and respon-

sibilities of Gram Pan-

chayats, as well as on

various government

schemes and important

topics related to rural

development.

Primary

compensation

increased by

Rs. 3.35 crore

MCB: A relief has come for

the aected landowners in

the cases of land acquisition

for the Chirmiri-Nagpur Halt

new broad gauge railway

line project in Manendra-

garh- Chirmiri- Bharatpur

district under the Railways

Act, 1989. Based on the

new guidelines and updated

market value issued by the

government for the year

202526, the primary com-

pensation amount has been

re-examined and revised.

In this process, a new cal-

culation has been made

taking into account the

market value of the land,

as well as structures, assets,

and other statutory items,

which will be applicable to

all concerned beneciaries.

After the implementation

of the new guidelines, a sig-

nicant increase has been

recorded in the compensa-

tion for the land acquired

in Chiripani, Sarola, Banji,

Khairbana, and Sarbhoka

villages under Nagapur sub

-tehsil, Manendragarh teh-

sil. While the total primary

compensation amount was

estimated at Rs. 6 crore

1 lakh 56 thousand 713

based on the old guidelines

of 201920 and the then

prevailing market value,

according to the new guide-

lines of 202526 and the

current market value, this

amount has increased to Rs.

9 crore 37 lakh 50 thousand

677. Thus, there has been a

total increase of Rs. 3 crore

35 lakh 93 thousand 964,

which will directly benet

a large number of aected

farmers and landowners.

Central Chronicle News

KORBA: This morning at

8:00 AM, amidst the bit-

ing cold, Mayor of Korba

Municipal Corporation,

Mrs. Sanju Devi Rajput,

Municipal Corporation

(KMC) Speaker Nutan

Singh Thakur, Councilor

representative Avinash

Banjare, and Councilor

of Ward No. 2, Ishwar

Patel, reached the newly

constructed oce of the

Chhattisgarh Newspaper

Distributors Association,

district unit, in TP Nagar

and released the 2026

calendar of the Chhattis-

garh Newspaper Distribu-

tors Association.

Addressing the brief

program, Mayor Mrs.

Sanju Devi Rajput said

that the work of news-

paper distribution is

challenging. Whether

it is the biting cold,

scorching sun, or pour-

ing rain, delivering

newspapers to every

house early in the morn-

ing without fail is no

less than a challenge. It

would be a great thing if

we could do something

for these hardworking

people. We are ready to

provide them with all

possible help and will

make efforts to equip

the newspaper distrib-

utors’ association office

with resources.

Central Chronicle News

BILASPUR: Guru Ghasidas

University (Central Uni-

versity), is constantly

achieving new milestones

and reaching greater

heights in the eld of

research and innovation

under the dynamic lead-

ership of the Vice-Chan-

cellor, Professor Alok

Kumar Chakrawal. In

this context, under

the able guidance of

the Vice-Chancellor

for Strengthening both

India’s electric mobility

ecosystem and the Viksit

Bharat @2047 vision of

the Government of India,

Guru Ghasidas Vishwav-

idyalaya (GGV), Bilaspur,

has received administra-

tive approval of Rs 2.5

crore from the Ministry of

Electronics and Informa-

tion Technoloy (MeitY)

under the MeitYMHI

Electric Vehicle Sub Sys-

tem (EVSS) Programme.

The approved project,

titled “Design and Devel-

opment of a Smart Vehi-

cle Control Unit (SVCU)”,

focuses on the design,

development, and man-

ufacturing of critical

EV subsystems, namely

the Vehicle Control Unit

(VCU) and Battery Man-

agement System (BMS)

for electric two-wheel-

ers and three-wheelers.

These systems are vital

for vehicle safety, enery

eciency, and perfor-

mance.

GGV Bilaspur is the

lead implementing insti-

tution, with IIT Bhilai

and Erkey Motors as key

academic and industry

partners. The 36-month

project is expected to

signicantly benet

Chhattisgarh by enabling

local skill development,

advanced hands-on

training, and employ-

ment generation in the

emerging EV and elec-

tronics manufacturing

sectors. It will also sup-

port regional startups

and MSMEs by providing

access to testing, proto-

typing, and validation

facilities. In the long run,

the Centre of Excellence

is expected to help retain

technical talent within

the state, strengthening

Chhattisgarh’s innova-

tion ecosystem. Impor-

tantly, the project has a

strong social inclusion

and capacity-building

component.

Chhattisgarh

FACTFILE

z A large number

of tourists from

different districts of

Chhattisgarh as well as

from Odisha state are

reaching Devdahara

Waterfall, Godena Fall.

FACTFILE

z GGV Bilaspur is the

lead implementing

institution, with IIT

Bhilai and Erkey Motors

as key academic and

industry partners.

Despite protest by villagers, their

land is forcefully being encroached

in Tamnar and Parsodikala.

Vinod Chandrakar

Ex-MLA Mahasamund

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

| NEW YEAR CALENDAR |

Mayor assures all possible help to newspaper distributors

CHHURA: On the occasion of the 101st

birth anniversary of the late Atal Bihari

Vajpayee, the Atal Complex was inau-

gurated in the city. The Chief Minister

Vishnu Deo Sai, as the chief guest, and

other dignitaries including Dr. Raman

Singh, Speaker of the Chhattisgarh

Legislative Assembly (as the special

guest, Arun Sao, Deputy Chief Minis-

ter and Minister of Urban Administra-

tion and Development (presiding over

the event), Dayal Das Baghel, Minister

of Food and Urban Administration,

Rupkumari Choudhary, Member of

Parliament from Mahasamund Lok

Sabha constituency, Rohit Sahu, MLA,

and Chandulal Sahu, Chairman of

Chhattisgarh State Housing Corpora-

tion, were virtually present.

INAUGURATION OF ATAL COMPLEX

Atal Complex inaugurated

on 101 birth anniv of Late

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

| EV CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE |

GGV Bilaspur receives

Rs 2.5 cr MeitY approval

VEERBALDIWAS

Veer Bal Diwas

Celebration held at EMRS

Dongariya

DUBATIA: Veer Bal Diwas (Brave Chil-

dren’s Day) was celebrated with rev-

erence and enthusiasm at Eklavya

Adarsh Residential School (EMRS),

Dongariya. On this occasion, special

programs were organized to educate

the students about the unparalleled

sacrice, courage, and patriotism of

the Sahibzadas (sons) of Guru Gobind

Singh Ji, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs.

The program began with a prayer

assembly. Following this, Principal Mr.

Rajiv Kumar Pandey highlighted the

courageous lives and sacrices of the

four Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh

Ji. Students expressed their thoughts

through speeches, poetry recitations,

poster making, essay writing, and

other forms of expression.

A patriotic atmosphere prevailed

throughout the school. The teachers

inspired the students to adopt the val-

ues of truth, courage, righteousness,

and patriotism in their lives.

Eorts will be

made to provide

motorized bicycles

for newspaper

distributors.

Nutan Singh

KMC Speaker

Briefs

BEST OF THE REST

GARIABAND: Bhavna Dhruv, a meri-

torious student of Class XI (Science

stream) of Eklavya Model Residential

School (EMRS), Kosambuda, Block

Chhura, District Gariaband, has been

selected to participate in a two-day

Semiconductor Training Program to

be held at the Indian Institute of Sci-

ence (IISc), Bengaluru. The program is

being organized under the aegis of the

National Education Society for Tribal

Students (NESTS), Ministry of Tribal

Aairs, Government of India, as part

of its national STEM (Science, Tech-

noloy, Engineering & Mathematics)

initiative. The training program aims

to provide selected tribal students

from across the country with expo-

sure to advanced scientic concepts,

emerging technologies, and hands-on

learning in the eld of semiconduc-

tors. Bhavna Dhruv’s selection for this

prestigious national-level program is

a matter of great pride not only for

EMRS Kosambuda but also for the

entire region and district.

CHHURA: With the noble objective

of providing a dynamic platform to

showcase students’ scientic aptitude

and innovative spirit, a grand Science

Exhibition was magnicently orga-

nized at St. John’s English Medium

School, Chhura. Students from vari-

ous classes participated with immense

enthusiasm and presented a wide

array of creative, functional, and

thought-provoking scientic models

based on diverse themes of science.

The primary aim of the exhibition

was to inculcate scientic tempera-

ment, curiosity, analytical thinking,

and an experimental mindset among

students. The exhibition featured

outstanding models on environmen-

tal conservation, renewable enery

resources, water conservation, pol-

lution control, health and hygiene,

modern technoloy, robotics, and the

signicance of science in everyday

life, which emerged as major attrac-

tions for visitors. The students con-

dently and eloquently explained the

working mechanisms, practical utility,

and societal impact of their respec-

tive projects in a clear and impressive

manner. The exhibition was graciously

visited and reviewed by distinguished

dignitaries including Supriya Bhoi,

Wardha Panda, and Sumant Kumar

Acharya. The Chief Guest of this pro-

gram were Mr.Staford Burn, Director

Private School Association,Dist,Gar-

iband and Mr.Manoj Kumar Patel ,

Director Modern Public School Bas-

na,while Mr.Mayank Yadav, In-charge

Principal of Eklavya Residential

School, Koshambuda, Chhura, Mr.

Vikash Sihag, Science Teacher, Ekla-

vya School, Chhura, were present as

Special Guests.

SELECTION FOR TWO- DAYS SEMI-CONDUCTOR TRAINING

EMRS Kosambuda student Bhavna Dhruv

selected for training prog at IISc Bengaluru

SCIENCE EXHIBITION

Grand Science Exhibition organised at

St. John’s English Medium School

Thousands of people from Chhattisgarh and Odisha have arrived to

celebrate the New Year amidst nature.

Two new councillors

appointed in PIC after

resignation of two

Two-day Panthi competition

concludes in Anwari

Central Chronicle News

SIMGA: Two councillors

tendered regisnation

from PIC at the inau-

guration ceremony of

Atal Bihari Vajpayee in

Simga on Thursday. Due

to which today Munic-

ipal Council President

Hardeep Singh Bhatia

announced the immedi-

ate appointment of the

post, which became talk

of the town in the city. On

Thursday in Simga Munic-

ipal Council, Priyanka

Anoop Tiwari and Ward

No. 11 councilor Tupesh

alias Tebu Devangan sub-

mitted their resignation

from PIC to BJP Mandal

President Chandramani

Tiwari on 25/12/2025 and

today submitted their for-

mal resignation to Munic-

ipal Ocer CMO Rama-

kant Sahu.

On getting the news of

which, Municipal Council

President Hardeep Singh

Bhatia immediately made

the new announcement

and announced Suman

Sahu as the chairperson

of Ward No. 12 and Bharti

Patkar as the chairperson

of Ward No. 6, on which

the councilors congrat-

ulated the president.

It is worth noting that

Hardeep Singh Bhatia’s

political image is such

that he was elected as a

councilor from Kankalin

ward in 1994. He held the

post of chairperson twice

since 1999 and gave a dif-

ferent identity to Simga

city. Among his devel-

opment works, many

works like beautication

of Saropi pond, new bus

stand, cremation ground,

Khandwa ground, mini

stadium were carried out.

ANWARI: Like every

year, a two-day Panthi

competition was orga-

nized in Anwari village.

The closing ceremony

was attended by Chief

Guest Tarani Neelam

Chandrakar, President

of the District Congress

Committee, Dhamtari;

Sarpanch Hitendra

Nath Mandal presided;

special guests were

Manoj Banjare, Vice

President of the Chhat-

tisgarh Bhim Army;

Sanjay Sarang, Servant

Ram Tarak, Lomas Pal,

Kunjan Bihari Pal, Mul-

chand Chandel, Lalit

Kumar Nagarchi, Gaid

Lal Patela, Uday Charan

Banjare, Paras Ram Nir-

malkar, Kuljan Thakur,

and others.

In his address, the

chief guest of the pro-

gram Tarani said that

Ghasidas gave the mes-

sage to everyone to fol-

low the path of truth

and by giving the slo-

gan of Manke Manke Ek

Saman, he removed the

evils prevalent in the

society.

Central Chronicle News

Kurud Municipality

touched the pinnacle

of trust, where the

enthusiasm of 291

traders together cre-

ated a revenue record

of Rs. 11.80 cr.

KURUD: When there is

power in resolve and the

echo of development in

intentions, history makes

its own path. On Satur-

day, the Kurud Munici-

pality not only wrote a

new chapter in business

but also touched the pin-

nacle of trust, where the

enthusiasm of 291 traders

together created a reve-

nue record of Rs. 11.80

crore. This was not just

an auction of shops, but

it was the public’s seal of

approval on Ajay Chan-

drakar’s development

vision and Vishnudev

Sai’s good governance,

which has established

Kurud as the brightest

star on the business map

of Chhattisgarh.

The “Spectacular”

gures of the auction:

nUnprecedented Enthu-

siasm: For the rst

time, 291 courageous

businessmen partici-

pated in this race for

development.

n‘Mega-Record’ Reve-

nue: The auction of

just 25 shops resulted

in a massive invest-

ment of Rs. 11 crore 80

lakh 14 thousand in the

municipal treasury.

nCenter of Modernity:

With an investment

of approximately Rs.

6 crore, a ‘super-com-

plex’ will be built

here, which will be

equipped with all

modern amenities

and will make Kurud a

business hub.

At this height of suc-

cess, Municipal President

Jyoti Bhanu Chandrakar

said with great joy: “This

is not just an auction, but

it is the unwavering faith

of the people of Kurud in

our leadership. Under the

good governance of Chief

Minister Vishnu Deo Sai ji

and the guidance of our

development-oriented

MLA, Ajay Chandrakar

ji, the development char-

iot of Kurud will now be

unstoppable. It was the

far-sighted vision of the

MLA that secured this

valuable land for the

municipality, the benets

of which will now reach

every ward.”

She further added—

“The river of devel-

opment will now ow

in every ward of the

municipality. With the

remaining amount, we

will improve every street,

every drain, and every

basic necessity in such a

way that Kurud becomes

the most developed city

in Chhattisgarh.”

| KURUD’S CLARION CALL |

Golden history created with a

record auction of Rs. 11.80 cr

Constable Tilak

Banchor transferred

to the police lines

Central Chronicle News

Villagers submitted

a complaint letter

to the SP charging a

constable of misue

of power.

NANDINI: Constable Cha-

man Pal, posted at Nan-

dini Nagar police station,

faces serious allegations

of misusing his position

to intimidate and assault

villagers, and provid-

ing protection to illegal

liquor sales in the vil-

lage. Regarding this mat-

ter, the villagers of Gram

Birebhat have submitted

a written complaint to

Durg Superintendent

of Police Vijay Agrawal,

demanding an impartial

investigation and strict

action.

The villagers allege

that Constable Chaman

Pal, who is himself a res-

ident of Gram Birebhat

(which falls under the

Nandini police station

area), is taking undue

advantage of his posi-

tion and creating distur-

bances in the village on a

daily basis. He is accused

of protecting liquor

smugglers in the village

and threatening to impli-

cate them in false cases

by using his authority as

a police ocer. The com-

plaint letter states that

illegal liquor sales have

been going on in Gram

Birebhat for a long time.

My goal is not

just to help youth

get a job, but to

instil condence

in those young

people whose

dreams have

been hindered by

circumstances.

Lakeshwar Baghel

Central Chronicle News

KHAIRAGARH: Even after

failing the physical e-

ciency test in the police

recruitment himself, a

young man did not give

up and transformed his

failure into the great-

est success for society.

Lakeshwar Janghel, a res-

ident of Pipariya in Khai-

ragarh, has today become

a center of hope for hun-

dreds of unemployed

youth who were unable

to fulll their dreams due

to nancial constraints.

Over 90 Young Men and

Women Selected in Police

and Army in Just 5 Years

Under the guidance

of Lakeshwar Janghel,

more than 90 young men

and women have been

selected in the police and

army in the last ve years

after receiving free train-

ing. This achievement

was not made possible

by any institution or gov-

ernment assistance, but

through individual deter-

mination, a spirit of ser-

vice, and social responsi-

bility.

Five years ago,

Lakeshwar Janghel,

who himself dreamt

of becoming a police

ocer, failed the phys-

ical examination. How-

ever, he considered this

not an end, but a new

beginning. He decided

to become a mentor

for those young people

who are talented but lag

behind due to a lack of

resources.

| RAY OF HOPE FOR RURAL YOUTH |

Lakeshwar becomes a ray of hope for rural talents

Variety of programmes mark

Good Governance Day at PNP

Central Chronicle News

PITHORA: A grand and dig-

nied program was suc-

cessfully organized by the

Pithora Nagar Panchayat

(PMP) near the Atal Com-

plex on the auspicious

occasion of the birth anni-

versary of Bharat Ratna

and former Prime Minis-

ter, the revered Atal Bihari

Vajpayee, and Good Gov-

ernance Day. The event

showcased a blend of the

government’s welfare

schemes and a commit-

ment to urban develop-

ment. The program was

graced by the presence

of senior BJP leader Shan-

kar Agrawal as the chief

guest, Devesh Nishad

presiding over the event,

and special guests Viren-

dra Tiwari, BJP Mandal

President Ashish Sharma,

former Mandal President

Preetram Surye, Naresh

Singhal, Mannulal Thakur,

MLA representative Dilip

Nishad, Jatin Thakkar,

Sumit Agarwal, Dulikesan

Sahu, Raidas Goyal, Coun-

cillors Mrs. Ramkunwar

Sinha, Rajesh Chaudhary,

Saurabh Agarwal, Piyan-

shu Dixit, Raja Shukla,

and other public repre-

sentatives.

Central Chronicle News

RAJIM: On the auspicious

occasion of the birth cen-

tenary of former Prime

Minister, Bharat Ratna,

revered Atal Bihari Vaj-

payee, the groundbreak-

ing ceremony for the

Gauravpath, to be built at

a cost of Rs 37 lakh, was

held in the nearby Gram

Panchayat of Kirwai. This

Gauravpath will directly

connect the main road

to the village’s main reli-

gious site, the Pujarin Dai

Temple. The gift of this

Gauravpath has added

a new phase of develop-

ment work to the village.

The groundbreaking cer-

emony was held today

with full rituals under the

chief patronage of Rajim

Assembly Constituency

MLA Rohit Sahu.

The program was pre-

sided over by BJP District

President Anil Chan-

drakar. Distinguished

BJP District General Sec-

retary Chandrashekhar

Sahu, BJP District General

Secretary Ashish Sharma,

BJP District Minister

Surendra Sontake, Sar-

panch Vedkumari Sahu,

BJP Mandal President

Rakesh Sahu, General

Secretary Renuka Sahu,

and Sarpanch Represen-

tative Hemant Sahu were

present.

The program began

with a prayer service to a

photograph of Atal Bihari

Vajpayee. In this solemn

ceremony, public rep-

resentatives commemo-

rated the Atal Centenary

Year by inaugurating a

new development initia-

tive in the village.

Addressing the gather-

ing, MLA Rohit Sahu said

that the BJP government,

with the aim of “Sabka

Saath Sabka Vikas”, is pro-

viding grassroots develop-

ment projects in every vil-

lage. The Gauravpath, for

which we performed the

groundbreaking ceremony

today, is an initiative to

directly connect the main

religious site of this village,

Maa Pujarin Dai Dham.

The construction of this

Gauravpath will facilitate

easy access to the court-

yard of our revered god-

dess Maa Pujarin Dai. Pre-

viously, we have carried

out development projects

worth lakhs of rupees in

Kirwai village and at the

Pujarin Dai Dham.

Kirwai gets Gauravpath

boost during Atal Jayanti

MLA Rohit Sahu performed the groundbreaking ceremony

for the Gauravpath worth Rs 37 lakh.

Atalji’s life was dedicated to

good governance: Anil

BJP District President Anil Chandrakar said that Atal

ji’s life was dedicated to good governance and develop-

ment. This Gauravpath is a small effort towards bringing

his vision to reality. Speaking more about revered Atal

ji is like showing light to the sun. The Atal Centenary

Year is a moment of pride for all of us. The development

work we are receiving in this centenary year is possible

due to the strong foundation laid by revered Atal ji. He

congratulated the villagers on receiving the gift of Gau-

ravpath and called it a strong step towards development

and progress. Other guests also addressed the event.

Prominent among those present were Surendra Sontake,

Ramadhar Sahu, Omprakash Sahu, Babulal Sahu, Moti

Nishad, Mahesh Sahu, Cheman Tarak, Kamalnarayan,

Tuka Tarak, Moti Sahu, Bhagwat Sahu, and local public

representatives.

Grand DJ dance

competition in

Kohka on

Dec 31

DONGARGAON: A grand

DJ dance competition is

being organized in Kohka

on December 31st to wel-

come the New Year. Con-

siderable enthusiasm is

being seen among the

youth of the area regard-

ing this competition.

According to the orga-

nizers, local and nearby

participants will enter-

tain the audience with

their spectacular dance

performances. With a

modern DJ sound system

and attractive lighting,

this competition will be a

special attraction for the

audience. Participants

who perform exception-

ally well in the compe-

tition will be honoured

with prizes.

Excise Dept

takes action

against illicit

liquor, one

arrested

KHAIRAGARH: Under the

campaign against ille-

gal liquor being run by

the Excise Department,

KCG district, Khairagarh

circle, a major opera-

tion was conducted on

December 26th. Based

on information received

from an informant, the

excise team raided and

seized illegally stored

foreign liquor. During the

operation, 18 pouches

of Golden Goa foreign

liquor were recovered,

the total quantity of

which is stated to be

3.240 bulk liters.

2300 kg of

illegal bio-

fertilizer

seized from 3

agri centers

CHHUIKHADAN: With the

objective of providing

farmers with quality and

standard agricultural

inputs, the Agriculture

Department is continu-

ously conducting inspec-

tion and investigation

campaigns in the dis-

trict. In this series, the

Agriculture Department

team conducted a sur-

prise inspection at three

agricultural sales centers

in Chhuikhadan devel-

opment block and took

major action. During

the inspection, it was

found that Gayatri Krishi

Kendra, Annadata Krishi

Kendra, and Kamal Krishi

Kendra were storing and

selling organic fertilizers

without valid registration

and license certicates. A

total of 2300 kilograms

of bio-stimulant bio-fer-

tilizer was found illegally

stored during the investi-

gation, which was seized

on the spot as per rules

and presented before the

Collector’s court.

EFFIGY BURNING

Hindu Sanatan

Manch burn

ex-CM’s egy,

KAWARDHA: Recently,

former Chief Minister

Bhupesh Baghel’s state-

ment regarding the reli-

gious preacher and saint

Dhirendra Shastri has

evoked strong reactions

in political and social

circles. In his statement,

Bhupesh Baghel ques-

tioned Dhirendra Shas-

tri’s methods, his events,

and activities, and com-

mented on his alleged

connection to a politi-

cal agenda, which has

angered Hindu organiza-

tions.

In this context, mem-

bers of the Hindu San-

atan Manch—Pokhraj

Singh Parihar, Aditya

Jha, Ravi Singh Rajput,

Tuleshwar Sharma, Nitin

Pathak, and other activ-

ists—today burned an

ey of former Chief

Minister Bhupesh Baghel

in front of the court

premises to register their

protest. The members of

the Manch said that such

language and accusations

from a person who has

held a constitutional posi-

tion are not only inappro-

priate but also likely to

spread unnecessary ani-

mosity in society.

ACTION AT RICE MILLS

FOOTBALL TOURNEY

6,694 sacks of

paddy bags and

15,470 sacks of rice

seized in three cases

Football fever in

Maneri, three

matches held, two

emerge winner, one

ends in draw

MAHASAMUND: The

administration is con-

tinuously taking inten-

sive action against illegal

storage, transportation,

and stock verication of

paddy in the district. In

this connection, a major

action was taken today

in three separate cases,

seizing a large quantity

of paddy and rice. As per

the instructions of Collec-

tor Vinay Kumar Langeh,

a team under the guid-

ance of Saraypali SDM

Anupama Anand and led

by Tehsildar Shridhar

Panda conducted a physi-

cal verication at Shri Sai

Rice Mill, Saraypali.

DONGARGAON: On the

third day of the open

football tournament

held in the nearby vil-

lage of Maneri from

December 25th to 30th,

the rst match was

played between Sur-

guja and Khursitikul, in

which the Khursitikul

team won 20. In the sec-

ond match, Rengakath-

era emerged victorious

with a 10 win against

Rajnandgaon. The third

match of the day was

played between Bharveli

and Bhilai, which ended

in a draw.

NEWSLINE

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Chhattisgarh News

Business

“The new guidelines

will create a transparent

framework to revive

domestic shipbuilding and

boos investment.”

Sarbananda Sonowal

Shipping & Ports Minister

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Press Trust Of India

NEW DELHI: The Ministry

of Ports, Shipping and

Waterways (MoPSW) has

notied guidelines for two

major shipbuilding initia-

tives with a total outlay of

over Rs 44,700 crore. The

two initiatives -- the Ship-

building Financial Assis-

tance Scheme (SBFAS) and

the Shipbuilding Develop-

ment Scheme (SbDS) -- are

aimed at strengthening

the country’s domestic

shipbuilding capacity and

improving global compet-

itiveness, as per an ocial

statement. Under SBFAS,

which has a total corpus

of Rs 24,736 crore, the

government will provide

nancial assistance of

1525 per cent per vessel,

depending on the cate-

gory of the vessel. The

SbDS, with a budgetary

outlay of Rs 19,989 crore,

focuses on long-term

capacity and capability

creation. Union Minister

of Ports, Shipping and

Waterways (MoPSW),

Sarbananda Sonowal said

that these guidelines cre-

ate a stable and transpar-

ent framework that will

revive domestic shipbuild-

ing, boosting forward and

backward linkages, the

ocial statement said.

It said the scheme intro-

duces graded support

for small normal, large

normal, and specialised

vessels, with stage-wise

disbursement linked

to dened milestones

and backed by security

instruments. Incentives

for series orders are also

included, the statement

added. The scheme also

provides for the establish-

ment of a National Ship-

building Mission to ensure

coordinated planning and

execution of shipbuilding

initiatives.

It also introduces a

shipbreaking credit note,

under which ship own-

ers scrapping vessels at

Indian yards will receive

a credit equivalent to

40 per cent of the scrap

value, linking ship recy-

cling with new ship con-

struction and support-

ing a circular economy

approach. According to

the statement, indepen-

dent valuation and mile-

stone-based assessments

have been made manda-

tory to strengthen gov-

ernance and ensure e-

cient use of public funds.

Over the next decade, the

statement said, SBFAS is

expected to support ship-

building projects worth

about Rs 96,000 crore,

stimulate domestic man-

ufacturing, and generate

employment across the

maritime value chain.

Govt noties guidelines of

two shipbuilding initiatives

Press Trust Of India

NEW DELHI: Satellite com-

munication services will

be rolled out in the coun-

try after players in the

segment, including Elon

Musk-owned Starlink,

comply with the demands

of security agencies,

Union Telecom Minister

Jyotiraditya Scindia said.

The minister, in an inter-

view to PTI, said the gov-

ernment will soon be in a

position to allocate spec-

trum to satcom players

- Starlink, Eutelsat One,

and Jio SGS - once Depart-

ment of Telecom (DoT)

nalises spectrum pric-

ing. “There are two issues

that need to be addressed.

One by the licence hold-

ers OneWeb, Reliance

Jio, and Starlink, which

is to comply with secu-

rity clearances regarding

international gateways,

ensuring data remains in

India, and so on,” Scindia

said. The minister added

that the government has

already allocated provi-

sional spectrum to satcom

companies to demon-

strate compliance capabil-

ity with security agencies.

“They are in the process

of doing that, so they need

to comply,” Scindia said.

He noted that the govern-

ment is in the process of

nalising spectrum pric-

ing, which is being dealt

with by DoT and the Tele-

com Regulatory Authority

of India (Trai). “Hopefully

that should be resolved

soon,” Scindia said. Trai

and DoT have dierences

on several points over

spectrum for satcom ser-

vices. Earlier this month,

Trai rejected several sug-

gestions made by the DoT

on spectrum allocation for

satcom services, including

levying a 5 per cent annual

spectrum fee on satellite

communication players

instead of 4 per cent.

| SPECTRUM ALLOCATION |

Satcom services after security clearance: Scindia

BizBriefs

BEST OF THE REST

NEW DELHI:

Private equity invest-

ments in real estate fell 29 per cent this

year to USD 3.46 billion due to lower

inow of funds in housing and ware-

housing projects, according to Knight

Frank India. Private equity (PE) invest-

ments stood at USD 4.9 billion during

the preceding year. Inow of PE funds

hit record USD 6.73 billion during the

2018 calendar year. Real estate consul-

tant Knight Frank India in an analysis

released on Sunday noted that inves-

tors remained cautious this year.

Among dierent asset classes, the

data showed that the PE fund inow in

oce assets rose to USD 2 billion dur-

ing this calendar year from USD 1.85

billion in 2024. Oce assets attracted

58 per cent of the total inows in

2025. Retail real estate also garnered

USD 374 million this year as against

nil inow during 2024. However, PE

investments fell sharply in housing

and warehousing assets. Housing seg-

ment attracted USD 576 million this

year as against USD 1,177 million in

2024. “The slowdown in private equity

investments in Indian real estate dur-

ing 2025, reects a sharp recalibration

across three interconnected dimen-

sions, the eective cost of capital, exit

visibility, and valuation alignment,”

the consultant observed.

NEW DELHI:

Ola Electric on Sunday

said it has scaled up deliveries of its

4680 Bharat Cell powered S1 Pro+

(5.2 kWh) across Tamil Nadu, Ker-

ala, Telangana, and Karnataka. The

company has commenced deliveries

across Coimbatore, Kochi, and Hyder-

abad, along with continued ramp-up

in Bengaluru, Ola Electric said in a

statement. The S1 Pro+ (5.2 kWh) is the

rst product powered by the compa-

ny’s indigenously manufactured 4680

Bharat Cell battery pack, delivering

more range, higher performance and

enhanced safety, it added. “Custom-

ers are now taking deliveries of the

scooters powered by our own 4680

Bharat Cell, and the rollout is picking

up strong momentum. With deliver-

ies scaling across multiple states, we

are now gearing up to take the 4680

Bharat Cell powered vehicles nation-

wide, reaching every corner of the

country,” an Ola Electric spokesper-

son said.

REALTY OLA- EV

Pvt equity funds in real

estate down by 29 pc:

Knight Frank

Ola Electric delivering

‘4680-Bharat-Cell’

powered vehicles

NEW DELHI:

British aero-engine maker

Rolls-Royce on Sunday said it is look-

ing at making India its third “home

market” outside of the UK in line

with a plan to unlock the full poten-

tial of opportunities across an array

of domains, including jet engines,

naval propulsion, land systems and

advanced engineering. In an interview

to PTI, Sashi Mukundan, the executive

vice president of Rolls-Royce India,

elaborating on the move, said the

company is planning for a “big invest-

ment” in the country, and listed devel-

oping a next-generation aero engine in

India as a priority to power the com-

bat jets that New Delhi will produce

under the Advanced Medium Combat

Aircraft (AMCA) programme.

Mukundan also highlighted how

Rolls-Royce can contribute signi-

cantly to addressing India’s require-

ment for electric propulsion capability

for boosting the Indian Navy’s com-

bat prowess. The AMCA engine core

can be modied into a naval marine

engine and it can also be used for

electric propulsion, he suggested, not-

ing that Rolls-Royce is among a very

few engine makers globally to have

the capability to “marinize the aero

engine”.

Mukundan, without divulging spe-

cic details, said Rolls-Royce was eye-

ing making a signicant investment to

expand its footprint in India, noting

that the country has “scale, policy

clarity and a strong push” towards

a defence and industrial ecosystem

that is expanding rapidly and becom-

ing more sophisticated. “If every-

thing goes well, it would be a signi-

cant investment. It’ll be big enough

that people will notice it, but I don’t

want to put a number to it. What mat-

ters is the impact of this investment,

which would be the development of

the entire value chain and ecosystem

here across sectors that we operate

in,” he said. The top Rolls-Royce exec-

utive said the company will rm up

two Memorandums of Understanding

(MoUs) with two defence public sector

undertakings in India.

NEW DELHI:

Bitcoin experienced a

sharp pullback in 2025, sliding nearly

30 per cent from its record high lev-

els as weak trading activity, techni-

cal breakdowns, and continued sell-

ing by long-term holders kept prices

under pressure. Despite the decline,

improving regulation, growing insti-

tutional involvement, and expand-

ing blockchain adoption are sustain-

ing long-term optimism, with 2026

increasingly being seen as a potential

turnaround year for the crypto mar-

ket. Over the year, the crypto ecosys-

tem recorded steady advancements.

Decentralised nance platforms con-

tinued to expand, stablecoins gained

wider acceptance for payments and

settlements, and several countries

progressed with pilot projects for cen-

tral bank digital currencies.

Developer activity also remained

strong, particularly across the Asia-Pa-

cic region and other global markets,

with millions of developers building

applications on blockchain networks.

These trends highlighted growing

interest in blockchain technoloy

despite price volatility. The weakness

in Bitcoin prices was driven by a com-

bination of technical and market fac-

tors. Prices slipped below the key 365-

day moving average, which triggered

further selling pressure. Despite the

decline, several major developments

shaped the crypto market in 2025.

Early in the year, the United States

announced the creation of a Strate-

gic Bitcoin Reserve, a move highlight-

ing Bitcoin’s growing importance at a

national and strategic level.

ROLLS TO MAKE JET ENGINE

BITCOIN MARKET

Rolls-Royce plans big investment in India; eyes

jet engine, naval propulsion programmes

Bitcoin experiences sharp decline: Slumps

down 30% from record high in 2025

NUMBER

z Under new guidelines,

ship owners scrapping

vessels at Indian yards

will receive a credit

worth 40 pc of scrap

value.

Press Trust Of India

Ratan Tata’s integ-

rity and nation-rst

industrial leader-

ship was inspiring,

said Home Minister

Amit Shah.

NEW DELHI:

Union Home

Minister Amit Shah on

Sunday paid tributes

to Ratan Tata on his

88th birth anniversary,

remembering him as a

leader who reshaped

Indian enterprise with

integrity and compassion.

In a post on social media

platform X, Shah said

that Ratan Tata played a

pivotal role in building

indigenous industry and

demonstrated through

seless philanthropy that

true success lies in ser-

vice to the nation. “Trib-

utes to Ratan Tata Ji on

his Jayanti, who reshaped

Indian enterprise with

integrity and compas-

sion. From building indig-

enous industry to seless

philanthropy, he showed

that true success lies in

service to the nation.

His legacy will inspire a

self-reliant Bharat,” the

Home Minister said.

Earlier, Commerce and

Industry Minister Piyush

Goyal remembered Ratan

Tata, saying that the insti-

tutions he nurtured and

the values he championed

continue to guide gener-

ations. “On his Jayanti,

I fondly remember Shri

Ratan Tata ji with deep

admiration and respect.

His leadership seamlessly

blended innovation with

compassion, redening

the role of Indian enter-

prise in national devel-

opment,” Goyal said in a

post on X. “The institu-

tions he nurtured and the

values he championed

continue to guide gen-

erations,” the minister

added. Union Communi-

cations Minister Jyotira-

ditya Scindia also paid his

tributes, saying, “Remem-

bering Ratan Tata on his

birth anniversary. His life

of integrity, humility and

compassion, along with

his extraordinary com-

mitment to philanthropy

and nation-building, set

a benchmark for ethi-

cal leadership,” Scindia

posted on X. Delhi Chief

Minister Rekha Gupta

paid tributes to Ratan

Tata as well.

| RATAN TATA |

Tributes paid to Ratan Tata

on his 88th birth anniversary

Press Trust Of India

In India, AI adop-

tion is becoming

sharper and more

grounded, said

Industry leaders.

NEW DELHI: As India

moves toward 2026, its

technoloy sector is enter-

ing a phase where scale,

accountability and out-

comes matter more than

momentum alone, accord-

ing to industry leaders.

Sindhu Gangadharan,

Managing Director, SAP

Labs India, and Chair-

person, Nasscom, said the

industry has built strong

foundations across arti-

cial intelligence (AI), cloud,

cybersecurity and digital

platforms, supported by

deep talent and a mature

ecosystem of startups,

global capability centres

(GCCs) and global enter-

prises. “The next chapter

is about converting capa-

bility into sustained busi-

ness and societal impact.

AI adoption is becom-

ing sharper and more

grounded in real use cases.

Enterprises are asking

clearer questions around

productivity, resilience

and trust,” she said. Enter-

prises now expect technol-

oy to integrate seamlessly

into core processes rather

than remain on the fringes

as experimentation. This

shift places greater respon-

sibility on the industry to

design solutions that are

secure, explainable and

aligned with long-term

value creation. “India is

well positioned to lead this

phase. Our strength lies

in combining engineering

depth with domain under-

standing and the ability to

execute at scale.

India well positioned

to lead AI-driven

tech future: Industry

FACTFILE

z India well positioned

to lead AI impact

through skills,

collaboration and scale.

FACTFILE

z Industry Minister

Piyush Goyal recalled

Ratan Tata’s values

guiding generations,

and blending innovation

with compassion.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has notied guidelines for

two major shipbuilding initiatives with a total outlay of over Rs 44,700 crore.

Sharad Pawar praises Gautam Adani

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar praised industrialist Gautam Adani’s during inauguration of Sharadchandra Pawar Centre of Excellence in AI at Baramati. PTI.

Nation News

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Railway for major

redevelopment

of Raipur

Press Trust Of India

Project boosts capac-

ity, safety, and connec-

tivity for future travel.

NEW DELHI:

Raipur

Railway Station is set to

undergo a major redevel-

opment at a sanctioned cost

of Rs 463 crore, aimed at

transforming it into a mod-

ern, passenger-friendly and

fully integrated transport

hub. The project focuses on

enhancing capacity, acces-

sibility, safety and multi-

modal connectivity to meet

future travel demand.

Key features include

barrier-free access across

the station and platforms

for Divyangjans, wide

two-lane circulating roads

on both sides for conges-

tion-free vehicular move-

ment, and large city-side

and rear-side G+2 station

buildings with integrated

reserved and unreserved

ticketing, drinking water

and sanitation facilities. An

expansive 36-metre-wide

air concourse with seating

for over 1,500 passengers,

kiosks, food courts, lifts,

escalators and commer-

cial spaces is planned to

improve passenger circula-

tion.

To decongest passen-

ger ow, separate arrival

and departure foot over-

bridges will be provided,

along with an exclusive

FOB for parcel movement.

A multi-storey parcel and

RMS building with mod-

ern handling and scanning

facilities is also planned.

Passenger amenities will be

strengthened with execu-

tive and reserved lounges,

retiring rooms, dormito-

ries, upgraded waiting

halls, deluxe toilets, cloak

room and medical emer-

gency room.

The redevelopment

includes large-scale parking

infrastructure, multimodal

transport hubs on both

city and Gudiyari sides,

reserved parking for future

metro services, pedestrian

plazas, landscaped areas

and commercial zones to

boost station-area activity.

Security will be enhanced

with dedicated check facil-

ities, CCTV monitoring

rooms and separate service

buildings and barracks for

RPF and GRP.

An Integrated Mobility

Plan, agreed in principle by

the Railways and the State

Government, will provide

seamless access from Atal

Path Expressway to both

sides of the station, widen

key approach roads, elimi-

nate trac bottlenecks near

Kukri Talab, and ease con-

gestion at Telghani Naka.

FASTFACTS

z 36m-wide concourse

with 1,500+ seats,

amenities planned for

passengers

zMajor redevelopment

at a sanctioned cost of

Rs 463 crore.

HYDERABAD

Make India

‘vishwa guru’

RSS Chief Mohan Bhag-

wat on Sunday called

upon Hindus to work

towards making the

Hindu society and India

a ‘Vishwa Guru’ for the

welfare of the world.

Addressing the valedic-

tory function of Vishwa

Sangh Shibir, a congre-

gation of international

Hindu organisations,

he said Hindus and

Swayamsevaks have to

lead by example and

demonstrate how human

intellect can be directed

towards global welfare.

“... Technoloy will

advance. Social media

will grow. AI will come.

Everything will come.

But, technonoloy’s ill

eects will not be there.

Technoloy would not

become owner of human

beings. Human beings

would remain the owners

of technoloy,” he said.

“Human intellect will

move towards using tech-

noloy for welfare of the

world. Not the reverse.

How it will happen?

We have to live by

example. This is before

the entire Indian soci-

ety,” he added.

NEWSLINE

Winter

tourist rush

GANGTOK:

Sikkim is wit-

nessing a surge in tourist

arrivals during the winter

season, with several popu-

lar destinations reporting

near-capacity occupancy,

ocials said on Sunday.

Hotels and homestays

in tourist hubs such as

Lachung in North Sikkim

are fully booked, while

Lachen and Gurudong-

mar Lake remain closed

to visitors since June this

year, they said. In East Sik-

kim, destinations includ-

ing Tsomgo Lake, Nathula

Pass, and Zuluk have

recorded heavy footfall

since December 22.

According to ocial

data, as many as 1,516

tourist vehicles visited

Tsomgo, Baba Mandir and

Nathula Pass on Decem-

ber 28, reecting the scale

of the seasonal rush. On

the same day, a total of

6,080 tourists, including

domestic and foreign vis-

itors, travelled to Nathula.

The corresponding gure

during the winter season

last year stood at around

5,000. Among domestic

tourists, 3,418 were men,

1,621 women and 874

children, ocials said.

The foreign tourist count

included 20 men, 21

women and 26 children.

“Bike adventure tour-

ism has increased signi-

cantly compared to last

year, and Sikkim is fac-

ing a shortage of bikes.

Gangtok and Pelling

have also seen a massive

surge in hotel bookings,

while North Sikkim is

fully booked due to the

compulsory two-night,

one-day booking norm,”

a senior Tourism Depart-

ment ocial said. He

urged tourists to conrm

accommodation bookings

in North Sikkim before

proceeding to the destina-

tions. The ocial added

that continuous snowfall

in some of the most-visited

tourist locations has also

contributed to the sudden

rise in tourist inow.

Press Trust Of India

Robotic telesurgery

can bridge India’s

healthcare gaps.

NEW DELHI:

SS Innova-

tions International Inc,

achieved a landmark mile-

stone with 100 successful

robotic telesurgeries. To

commemorate this, the

company hosted India’s

rst Marathon Robotic

Telesurgery, perform-

ing over 20 tele-enabled

surgeries in a single day,

demonstrating the sys-

tem’s precision, safety, and

scalability across multiple

specialties.

The initiative under-

scores the potential of

robotic telesurgery to

bridge healthcare gaps in

India, enabling expert sur-

geons to operate remotely

and providing advanced

care to patients beyond

metropolitan centers. Spe-

cialists hailed SSII Mantra’s

reliability, highlighting

its applications in oncol-

oy, uroloy, cardiac, and

bariatric surgeries.

Dr Sudhir Srivastava,

Founder and CEO of SS

Innovations International,

said, “Completing 100

telesurgeries represents

a dening moment for

Indian medtech innova-

tion. Our mission is to

ensure world-class surgi-

cal expertise can reach

patients everywhere,

safely and dependably.”

Experts participating

in the marathon empha-

sized how SSII Mantra

makes advanced surgical

care accessible, aordable,

and scalable, establishing

telesurgery as a practical

solution for underserved

regions.

With this achievement,

SS Innovations Interna-

tional strengthens India’s

position as a leader in tech-

noloy-enabled, remotely

delivered healthcare,

showcasing the clinical

maturity of the SSII Man-

tra platform and its role in

shaping the future of surgi-

cal care.

| ROBOTIC TELESURGERY |

First robotic telesurgery marathon

marks 100 successful procedures

FASTFACTS

z SSII Mantra makes

advanced telesurgery

accessible and scalable.

z100 telesurgeries

mark a milestone in

Indian medtech.

Press Trust Of India

HYDERABAD: Though

the Congress govern-

ment in Telangana, led by

Chief Minister A Revanth

Reddy, rmly entrenched

itself in 2025 with impres-

sive wins in the Jubilee

Hills Assembly bypoll and

rural local body elections,

the fullment of all poll

promises in 2026 is likely

to become a daunting task

amid mounting debts and

falling revenues.

The Congress govern-

ment unveiled a grand

vision to make the state a

USD 3 trillion economy by

2047 and USD 1 trillion by

2034 which, according to

former RBI Governor D Sub-

barao, requires an annual

growth rate of 89 per cent.

Telangana’s borrowings

stood at over Rs 58,000

crore at the end of Novem-

ber, as against the budgeted

Rs 54,000 crore for the full

year while the total receipts

were at Rs 1.67 lakh crore,

59 per cent of the targeted

Rs 2.85 lakh crore.

The situation presents

an apparent dim nan-

cial picture, as the Con-

gress government is yet

to implement some of its

poll promises under the

“Six Guarantees” it made

ahead of the 2023 polls.

Two of the promises with

huge nancial implica-

tions are, providing Rs

2500 monthly nancial

assistance for women

and Rs 4000 monthly

pension to the elderly.

Both are yet to be imple-

mented. The ‘guarantees’

that have been rolled out

include free bus travel

for women across the

state and 200 units of

free power for eligible

beneciaries. Besides

the ‘Telangana Rising

Global Summit’ where it

released its 2047 vision

document, the govern-

ment hosted big ticket

events, including Miss

World pageant and foot-

ball legend Lionel Messi’s

“GOAT Tour to India”

during the year, aiming

to project the state at the

global level.

Road likely bumpy for

Telangana in 2026

‘Govt faces land, funds, and

environment hurdles for major proj’

Fullling 2026 poll promises may be tough amid rising debt.

A ﬁrecracker show takes place during the release of the Telangana Rising 2047 Vision document.

Hyderabad native Sajid

Akram, the slain suspect

in the mass shooting

turned out to be an Indian

national hailing from here,

although no terror link

with the city was found.

The state witnessed a num-

ber of accidents, includ-

ing industrial, during the

outgoing year. Eight work-

ers went missing when a

portion of the Srisailam

Left Bank Canal (SLBC)

tunnel project collapsed

in Nagarkurnool district in

February. Though the gov-

ernment undertook pro-

longed search operations

using advanced technol-

oy, only two bodies could

be recovered. A blaze in

the residential cum jewel-

lery shops complex build-

ing at Gulzar Houz near

the iconic Charminar here

on May 18 killed 17 people,

including eight children,

belonging to the extended

family of a jeweller.

HIGHLIGHT

z State saw multiple

accidents, including

industrial, last year.

zBlast at pharma ﬁrm

killed 46.

QUOTE FROM THE QUOTABLE

“Good government depends on the

character of its people.”

[ C. Rajagopalachari ]

Established 1974 Volume 51 No. 86

| OUR VIEW |

The Prime Minister’s nal Mann Ki Baat of 2025

sought to present the year as a dening chapter

in India’s contemporary journey — one marked

by security resolve, cultural assertion and growing

global condence. From an editorial standpoint, the

message reects not just a recap of achievements but

a deliberate attempt to shape how the year will be

remembered in public memory. Operation Sindoor

stands at the centre of this narrative. By underlining

India’s precision strikes in response to the Pahalgam

terror attack, the government has reinforced its long-

held position that national security will not be com-

promised. The emphasis on restraint followed by an

understanding to de-escalate with Pakistan projects an

image of calibrated strength — assertive yet controlled.

For many Indians, this balance remains reassuring; for

critics, it invites scrutiny on whether deterrence alone

can ensure long-term stability. Beyond security, the

Prime Minister’s address highlighted India’s growing

visibility in sports, science and culture. Sporting tri-

umphs — particularly the women’s cricket World Cup

victory and success in blind and para-sports — point to

a broader, more inclusive sporting ecosystem. These

achievements deserve recognition, not merely as med-

als won but as symbols of changing social attitudes and

investment in talent across categories. Scientic mile-

stones, including India’s presence at the International

Space Station, strengthen the country’s claim as a seri-

ous technological player. Such advances align well with

the government’s focus on youth power, innovation

and global aspiration. Yet, the editorial lens must also

ask whether this optimism is translating evenly into

employment opportunities and research depth across

institutions. Cultural moments like the Mahakumbh,

the Ram Mandir ceremony and renewed emphasis

on swadeshi reect a conscious blending of heritage

with nationalism. While these resonate strongly with

many citizens, sustaining unity requires ensuring that

cultural pride remains inclusive rather than exclusion-

ary. As the Prime Minister acknowledged, 2025 also

witnessed natural disasters, reminding the nation that

resilience must extend beyond rhetoric. Moving into

2026, the challenge lies in converting condence into

consistent governance outcomes. Pride is powerful,

but progress ultimately rests on delivery.

| GUEST VIEW |

Why I Chose People

Over Cinema

We Sanatanis: The World’s Minuscule Minority

For years, I believed cinema was my destination.

I entered it thinking I was building something

small, something temporary. But the people who

stood by me turned that fragile dream into a fortress.

They gave me love, loyalty and strength beyond imagi-

nation. When fans give you everything, including their

faith, walking away from responsibility is not an option.

Cinema shaped my identity, but it cannot dene my

purpose forever. I now feel a

deeper calling — to stand up

for those who stood for me

without asking anything in

return. Giving up lms is not a

loss; it is a conscious decision

to repay a debt of trust. Fame

is meaningful only when it

translates into service. I rmly

believe that growth comes

through resistance. A strong

opponent sharpens resolve

and claries intent. History

does not move forward without struggle, and those

who wish to change it must be prepared. The coming

years will demand courage, unity and discipline, and

I am ready for that challenge. My farewell to cinema is

emotional, but it is not regretful. Art gave me a voice;

now that voice must speak beyond the screen. This

transition is not about ambition, but about accountabil-

ity. When people build you a fort, you don’t admire it

from afar — you protect it.

Vijay

Phone: (0771) 4911922 Fax : (0771) 4257703 , Postal Regn. No. C.G./RYPD.N./62/2025-27, Regd. No. 26172/74/RNI

YOURLETTERS

Send your articles (600-650 words) and letters (70-8 0 words) for this page on: editorialcc007@gmail.com The letters can be edited or rewritten for clarity.

Violence shadows India’s festive season

The recent attacks on Christmas gatherings and vendors in Jabalpur, Puri and

Nalbari reveal an unsettling rise in intolerance during a season meant for peace.

Assaulting a visually impaired woman, burning school decorations and intimi-

dating small traders reflect a troubling trend in states boasting “double-engine”

governance. Such acts corrode India’s global image and mock claims of cul-

tural liberalism. When aggression replaces harmony, the message to the world

is painfully clear.

Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata

Climate disasters demand urgent global resolve

The escalating toll of floods, cyclones and wildfires across continents confirms

that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a relentless reality. Com-

munities are devastated, economies strained, yet responses remain confined to

rhetoric. The crisis stems not from ignorance but from inadequate political will.

Those least responsible continue to suffer the most. If successive catastrophes

cannot compel decisive action, what will finally move policymakers to act? Delay

now is nothing less than negligence.

Hasnain, Patna

Comment

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Teachers Who Carry Classrooms On Shoulders

Teaching is often

described as the act of

imparting knowledge.

But anyone who has spent

years inside a classroom

knows that this denition

barely scratches the surface.

Behind every classroom

stands a teacher carrying far

more than lesson plans, text-

books, and timetables.

In Chhattisgarh, a teach-

er’s day begins long before

the irst bell rings. Along with

chalk and registers, teach-

ers bring patience, author-

ity, empathy, resilience, and

hope. These are not written

into job descriptions, yet

they are demanded daily.

After decades in this profes-

sion, many teachers quietly

ask themselves a dificult

question: Is teaching merely

what I do, or is it who I am?

Oficially, a teacher’s role

is to teach a subject. In reality,

every school day demands

multiple roles. When youth-

ful tempers rise and class-

rooms slip toward disorder,

the teacher becomes a disci-

plinarian. Firm words, deliv-

ered at the right moment,

can turn chaos into calm and

conflict into understanding.

In such moments, language

becomes a tool of peace.

At other times, teach-

ers are called upon to act

as judges. Disputes among

students are frequent, and

each one demands fairness,

sensitivity, and balance. Lis-

tening patiently, weighing

facts, and making decisions

that may influence a child’s

sense of justice for years is no

easy task. It is intimidating,

yet teachers step forward

because students trust them

enough to seek help.

There are days when the

classroom quietly transforms

into a counselling space.

Without formal degrees in

psycholoy, teachers listen

to fears shaped by poverty,

family stress, peer pressure,

or self-doubt. When students

see only dark clouds ahead,

teachers offer reassurance

and belief. Often, that belief

becomes the irst light a

struggling child experiences.

Teaching also extends

beyond students to parents.

Teachers regularly act as

communicators and medi-

ators, explaining not just

marks, but behaviour, poten-

tial, and growth. Across vil-

lages, towns, and cities of

Chhattisgarh, teachers bridge

the gap between home and

school. A child’s progress

depends on this partnership.

Like the wheels of a chariot,

teachers and parents must

move together for the jour-

ney to continue.

Modern classrooms are

complex spaces. Gifted learn-

ers sit beside restless ones.

Hopeful minds share benches

with cynical attitudes. Manag-

ing this diversity is mentally

and emotionally exhaust-

ing. Yet teaching continues.

Teachers adapt their meth-

ods, connect lessons to real

life, and speak the language

students understand. Discus-

sions move beyond textbooks

to ilms, sports, technoloy,

dreams, and aspirations, sim-

ply to keep curiosity alive.

Recognition for this

unseen labour is rare. Teach-

ing today is often viewed as

a service rather than a call-

ing. Appreciation is limited,

expectations are endless, and

workloads continue to grow.

Yet teachers persist. The true

reward lies elsewhere. It lies

in a hesitant child inding

conidence, a troubled stu-

dent choosing a better path,

or a former student returning

years later with gratitude.

Teachers in Chhattisgarh

are often tired, unheard,

and stretched thin. But their

impact runs deep and lasts

long. When students grow

into thoughtful, responsible

individuals, teachers know

their work has mattered.

And in those quiet

moments of reflection, a

truth becomes clear:

A teacher does not merely

teach lessons.

A teacher shapes lives.

A Year Framed

By Condence

And Resolve

Beyond textbooks and timetables, teachers shoulder emotional, social, and moral responsibilities that

quietly shape classrooms, communities, and the future of society.By T. Sreelal Nair

Dr Amitabh Dubey

Former Prof. of

English, Govt. Of MP

And castes? Countless.

Brahmins alone: Kan-

yakubja, Sarjupari, Sanadhya,

Jijhotia, Bhargava, Malvi,

Gaur… and dozens more across

regions. Hardly any inter-mar-

riage even among them. Same

story for every single caste in

this country. We are a million

micro-nations wearing the

same religious mask.

Even our religion is no

monolith. Shaiva, Shakta,

Vaishnava – different sects,

different gods, different ritu-

als. Some worship Ram, some

Krishna, some Jagannath,

some Balaji. Some worship the

devotees (Hanuman) or their

sons (Ganesh). Kartikeya is

taboo in the north but Muru-

gan in the south. Ravana is

worshipped in pockets. New

gods keep popping up – San-

toshi Maa forty years ago,

Vaibhav Lakshmi today. Some

swear by Sai Baba, others

curse him. Nobody can explain

who Satyanarayan actually is.

Every kul-devi and kul-devta

has his or her own iefdom.

Our religion is as fragmented

as our castes.

Peeling Indian caste and

religion is like peeling an onion

– endless layers, endless tears.

Caste is the oldest reality

show in India: “Kaun Banega

Supreme?” Everyone dances

waving their birādari flag.

Brahmin shouts, “We own

the Vedas!” Kshatriya roars,

“We own the sword!” Vaishya

smirks, “Money talks!” And

the Dalit? He never even got a

line in the script.

Reservation is the ratio-

n-shop queue: everybody

wants it, nobody wants to

wait. SCSTOBC status is the

golden VIP pass for jobs, seats,

promotions. General Cate-

gory? The sandwich illing –

neither here nor there. The

OBC list grows every year like

phone notiications. A caste

gets added and the village dis-

tributes sweets.

We all know the system

has become absurd, yet we

keep dragging it like some

hideous ancestral furniture –

too scared to throw it out, no

space to keep it.

“Divide and rule” its our

democratic rulers just as well

as it itted the British.

Reservation is the bone

flung at us, treating Indians

like dogs. Those who got it are

gnawing happily. Those who

didn’t are barking. Snatching

the bone back from the ones

who have it is harder than

pulling a bone from a dog’s

jaws – and our vote-hungry

politicians will never dare.

Split into a thousand little

tribes of caste and sect, we

Sanatanis are the minuscule

minority on the planet. The

British left, but the exploitation

in the name of caste and reli-

gion never stopped. Brace

yourselves. Once the caste

census results are out, another

round of Mandal-Kamandal

chaos is guaranteed.

Jai Hind. Or whatever little

is left of it.

(The views and opinions

expressed in this article are

those of the author and do

not necessarily reflect the

oficial policy or position of

the newspaper.)

While India res mis-

siles at terrorists

across the border,

it quietly launched another

missile inside its own house:

the caste census. The missiles

raining on the enemy aim to

wipe out terrorists; the one

red within aims to obliter-

ate whatever little social har-

mony we had left in India.

This internal missile won’t

explode today, but the day the

census results are out, it will

leave India’s social health on

its deathbed. We’ll be hurled

straight back into the dark

ages of Mandal vs Kamandal.

In Bundelkhand they have

a word: khūtā – the peg. You

hammer it into the ground to

tether cattle, or into the wall

to hang clothes. The rope

that ties the animal is called

girmā. Old Bundelkhandi cou-

ples, bored stiff in their taste-

less marriages, used to taunt

each other with the proverb:

“Hamāo girmā inke khūte

se kā bandho? Hamāre to

bhāg phūt gaye!”

(“Why would my rope

stay tied to their peg? Mine

snapped long ago and I ran!”)

That same girmā of reli-

gion and khūtā of caste is still

deciding whether Indian San-

atanis will break free or stay

chained, even today.

The British started driv-

ing these caste pegs in 1871

and kept hammering till 1941.

After Independence, the Con-

stitution came, the oficial

caste census was supposedly

stopped, but the pegs stayed

irmly in the ground. Reli-

gion’s rope was re-branded:

“majority” and “minority”.

Till the 1990s there were only

three pegs: Scheduled Castes,

Scheduled Tribes, and Gen-

eral Category – three huge

pens in which hundreds of

jātis were herded together

according to their “social

health”.

To the irst two pens they

tossed the delicious kha-

li-chuni (oil-cake mash) called

Reservation. To the third

pen, whose social health was

declared “excellent”, they

served dry straw called Merit.

Then in the ’90s, lured by the

smell of that mash, politicians

drove in a fourth massive

peg – Other Backward Classes

– and tied almost everyone

except Brahmins, Thakurs

and Banias to it, feeding them

reservation too.

Since then, Indian castes

have been in a non-stop

girmā-breaking competition

to grab more mash.

In the Modi era they ham-

mered a sub-peg called EWS

beside the dry-straw pen and

tossed a handful of mash

there too, just to keep them

quiet. Today’s clamour for a

caste census is nothing but

a naked political game to

increase quotas, demand big-

ger shares, and tighten the

ropes.

What truly binds Indian

Sanatanis is not religion but

caste. Proof? Roti-beti rela-

tionships and the way every

political party picks candi-

dates purely on caste arith-

metic. Marry outside your jāti

and you’re ex-communicated

– or worse, murdered in the

name of “honour”. That’s

why khap panchayats exist.

Symbolic

Nation

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Use AI, other modern

tools to dismantle

‘religious conversion

rackets’.

Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh CM

Press Trust Of India

CHANDIGARH: Punjab

BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on

Sunday slammed the AAP

government for conven-

ing a special assembly

session to oppose the

VBG RAM G Act, saying

the Bhawant Mann dis-

pensation was “acting

like an event manage-

ment company” instead

of focusing on develop-

ment works.

Intensifying his attack,

the BJP leader alleged

that the AAP govern-

ment was preparing for

yet another “propaganda

exercise”.

The Punjab govern-

ment has called a one-

day special session of the

assembly on December

30 against the Centre’s

Viksit Bharat Guaran-

tee for Rozgar and Ajee-

vika Mission (Gramin)

Act, which replaces the

20-year-old MGNREGA.

The VBG RAM G Bill

was passed in Parliament

during the recently con-

cluded Winter Session of

Parliament amid vocifer-

ous protests by the oppo-

sition. The new act has

a provision for 125 days

of wage employment for

rural workers.

However, Punjab

Cabinet Minister Tarun-

preet Singh Sond on Sat-

urday claimed that the

new rural employment

law will severely impact

below-poverty-line fam-

ilies, Scheduled Caste

communities, and rural

labourers who depend

on the Mahatma Gandhi

National Rural Employ-

ment Guarantee Act

(MGNREGA) for survival.

In a statement here

on Sunday, BJP leader

Jakhar said the Mann gov-

ernment has “failed” on

every front and has no

achievements to count.

“Therefore, it keeps roll-

ing out new propaganda

every day,” he said, point-

ing to the special session.

He described the spe-

cial session, being con-

vened to oppose the VBG

RAM G Act, as the next

episode in this series.

Book

release

GUWAHATI:

Union minis-

ter Sarbananda Sonowal

on Sunday emphasised

that books on contribu-

tions on legends of one

state in languages of

other areas strengthen

cultural dialogue and fos-

ter emotional and intel-

lectual connect.

Releasing a book on

musical maestro Bhupen

Hazarika here, ‘Bhupen

da ka surila safar’ (Bhu-

pen Da’s Melodious Jour-

ney), Sonowal said that

the singer was not merely

the voice of Assam, but

a resonant expression

of India’s collective con-

science.

“Bhupen da’s music

emerged from deep

human sensitivity, social

concern and an unwaver-

ing commitment to har-

mony and national unity.

This Hindi-language work

will serve as an important

bridge, introducing the

rich cultural legacy of the

North East to the Hindi-

speaking heartland of the

country,” he said.

Press Trust Of India

Vaishnaw stresses

terminal expansion,

capacity upgrades to

cut congestion and

boost connectivity.

BHUBANESWAR: East

Coast Railway (ECoR)

has embarked on an

ambitious infrastructure

upgradation programme

across Bhubaneswar, Puri

and Visakhapatnam to

double the train-originat-

ing capacity in the next

ve years, in view of rap-

idly growing passenger

demand. Union Minister

of Railways, Informa-

tion & Broadcasting, and

Electronics & Informa-

tion Technoloy Ashwini

Vaishnaw said the focus

is on expanding coaching

terminals and enhancing

sectional and operational

capacities to reduce con-

gestion, strengthen the

railway network and

improve nationwide con-

nectivity.

At present, infrastruc-

ture in these key cities is

being augmented to meet

future requirements. The

comprehensive plan tar-

gets doubling originating

capacity by 2030 through

terminal expansion, cre-

ation of new satellite ter-

minals, development of

large maintenance facili-

ties, and enhancement of

sectional capacity using

modern signalling and

multitracking.

Major initiatives

include construction of

additional platforms, sta-

bling lines, pit lines and

shunting facilities, along

with identication of new

terminals in and around

urban areas to bal-

ance trac loads. Mega

coaching complexes and

advanced maintenance

depots are also planned

to support increased

train operations. At Puri,

two additional full-length

integrated pit lines are

under construction,

while the entire coach-

ing maintenance facility

is proposed to shift to a

second coaching terminal

on the sanctioned Puri–

Konark new line, where

a large-scale coaching

complex is planned.

In Bhubaneswar, the

upcoming Bhubaneswar

New Station is being

developed as a satellite

coaching terminal, sup-

ported by pit line facili-

ties at Mancheswar and

new depots in nearby

areas due to space con-

straints.

ECoR plans to double train-

originating capacity by 2030

| INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES |

| OPPOSING VB-G RAM G |

‘AAP govt acting like event management firm’

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Culture

and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekha-

wat on Sunday urged former Congress

president Sonia Gandhi to return the

correspondences and documents of

rst prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru

to the Prime Ministers’ Museum and

Library, stating that they belonged to

the country and not to any individual.

In an interview with PTI Videos,

Shekhawat also said Aravalli Hills con-

troversy was a classic example of the

Congress creating an issue out of a

non-issue.

Talking about Nehru’s letters

and documents, the minister said,

“The Prime Ministers’ Museum and

Library (PMML), which was formerly

the Nehru Memorial Museum and

Library (NMML), was established after

the death of Prime Minister Jawahar-

lal Nehru. A society was created (to

manage the museum) but it did not

function properly. Subsequently, the

NMML was renamed as PMML (in

2023).”

The culture minister said that over

a 20-year period from 1970 to 1990,

all non-ocial documents related to

Nehru were brought to the museum;

this included the personal letters

Nehru wrote to people, the replies

received, and his personal comments

and notes.

Briefs

BEST OF THE REST

HERITAGE CONSERVATION

‘Request Sonia Gandhi to return Nehru’s

letters to Prime Ministers’ Museum’

NEW DELHI: From mango battles in royal

orchards and chapatis secretly passing

between villages to bonds with elephants

and a chutney song that evolves into a

diasporic anthem, a new short-story col-

lection by author Karan Puri evokes a

strong sense of nostalgia, blending mem-

ory, food and gentle touches of magic.

“Tales Between Tastes”, published by

TreeShade Books, brings together 10

stories that place food at the heart of

storytelling. The collection harks back

to an era of shared meals, oral traditions

and close-knit communities, rekindling

the warmth and comfort of childhood

recollections. “A mango is not just a

fruit -- it’s summer afternoons, orchard

rivalries, or even the sweetness of rst

friendships. A chapati isn’t just bread --

it’s resilience, tradition, and the secret

journeys of messages hidden in kitchens

across villages. “Food to me, has always

been more than just nourishment -- it’s

memory, emotion, and culture wrapped

into a single bite. When I was writing

Tales Between Tastes, I realized that

every dish, every avour we encounter

carries a story within it,” said the author

in a statement.

NEW SHORT-STORY COLLECTION

New book rekindles

nostalgia through food

and folklore

CONTROVERSY

BLO found dead in

Bengal, work-related

pressure alleged

KOLKATA: A Booth Level Ocer (BLO)

was found dead in West Bengal’s

Bankura district on Sunday, triggering

allegations that work-related pressure

linked to the ongoing Special Intensive

Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls may

have played a role, police said.

The incident occurred in Ranib-

andh block, where the body of the

deceased, Haradhan Mandal, was

recovered from a school premises on

Sunday morning.

“Mandal was a schoolteacher by

profession and served as the BLO of

Booth No. 206 under the Rajakata

area of Ranibandh block,” a police o-

cer said.

According to the ocer, a note

bearing the deceased’s signature was

recovered from the spot, in which he

reportedly referred to being unable to

cope with work pressure.

“We have seized the note and sent

the body for post-mortem examina-

tion,” he said.

The police initiated an investigation

to ascertain the circumstances lead-

ing to Mandal’s death. Ocials said all

angles are being examined.

CHENNAI: Leaders cutting across

party lines in Tamil Nadu on Sunday

paid oral tributes at the memorial

of DMDK founder leader Vijayakanth,

fondly addressed as ‘Captain’ by his

admirers, on his second death anni-

versary.

Chief Minister M K Stalin, in his

tributes, recalled Vijayakanth’s wel-

fare-centric work and hailed him as

large-hearted and a good friend. In

his message, the CM said: “The late

leader earned people’s boundless love

for being compassionate towards the

poor and for helping all the people.”

Deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi

Stalin and AIADMK general secretary

Edappadi K Palaniswami were among

those who visited Vijayakanth’s

samadhi on the premises of the DMDK

headquarters at Koyambedu here.

TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai, BJP

leaders Nainar Nagenthran, Pon Rad-

hakrishnan, Tamilisai Soundararajan,

NTK top leader Seeman, and Tamilaga

Vazhvurimai Katchi founder leader T

Velmurugan were among others who

visited the mausoleum and paid oral

tributes.

In a social media post, TVK founder

leader Vijay said, “I pay my respects

to Captain Vijayakanth on his second

death anniversary; he holds an indel-

ible place in the hearts of the people.”

PMK top leader Anbumani said

years may pass but Vijayakanth will

be remembered by the people for his

humanity. Several admirers placed

newborns on the samadhi and prayed

for the wellbeing of their children.

Similar to Sabarimala pilgrimage,

many men dressed in traditional black

attire carried ‘Irumudi’ and oered

prayers at the samadhi.

RICH TRIBUTES

Leaders cutting across party lines pay tributes to

‘Captain’ Vijayakanth on his death anniversary

Eviction drive

TEZPUR:

An eviction

drive to clear over 87

acres of grazing land in

Assam’s Biswanath dis-

trict was carried out by

the administration on

Sunday, aecting more

than 360 families, an o-

cial said.

He said the exer-

cise was conducted in a

peaceful manner.

Biswanath district

Commissioner Lakhinan-

dan Saharia said the evic-

tion began around 7 am

in Baghmari area under

Behali Assembly constit-

uency.

Eviction notices were

issued to 435 families

allegedly encroaching

about 265 bighas (87.45

acres) of Village Grazing

Reserve (VGR) in the area

in August this year. VGR

refers to tracts of land set

aside for livestock graz-

ing.

The process was

stopped as 68 families

approached the Gauhati

High Court against the

administration’s notice,

the DC said.

“Today, the eviction

was carried out in the

land encroached by the

remaining 367 families,”

he said. About 20 exca-

vators were pressed into

service while heavy secu-

rity deployment made in

the area to ensure peace-

ful eviction. An alleged

encroacher, Alap Uddin

Haji, who lost his house,

claimed that they did not

know that it was VGR land

that his family had been

occupying. “We have

been living here since my

father’s time. We have

nowhere to go now,” he

said.

Press Trust Of India

NEW DELHI:

President

Droupadi Murmu on Sun-

day undertook a sortie

onboard Indian Navy’s

indigenously-built front-

line submarine INS Vagh-

sheer on the Western sea-

board.

Murmu is the second

President to undertake a

submarine sortie. In Feb-

ruary 2006, APJ Abdul

Kalam experienced a sub-

marine sortie onboard

INS Sindhu Rakshak.

Chief of Naval Sta

Admiral Dinesh K Trip-

athi accompanied Pres-

ident Murmu, who is

also the Supreme Com-

mander of the armed

forces, during the sortie

in the Kalvari class sub-

marine from the Karwar

naval base in Karnataka,

ocials said.

The President, don-

ning a naval uniform,

waved at naval person-

nel before entering the

submarine. She also

interacted with the crew

of INS Vaghsheer and

lauded their dedication,

while describing the

indigenous submarine

as a shining example of

the Indian Navy’s pro-

fessional excellence and

combat preparedness.

“President Droupadi

Murmu undertook a

dived sortie on the West-

ern Seaboard onboard

INS Vaghsheer,” the Presi-

dent’s Secretariat said.

It said the President

was briefed on the role

of the submarine arm in

India’s maritime stratey,

and the operational capa-

bilities as well as con-

tributions in safeguard-

ing national maritime

interests. Murmu, while

interacting with the crew

of INS Vaghsheer, com-

mended their dedication,

commitment and spirit of

seless service, it added.

“She said that this

indigenous submarine

is a shining example of

the Indian Navy’s profes-

sional excellence, com-

bat preparedness and

unwavering commitment

to national security,” the

secretariat said on social

media. INS Vaghsheer, the

sixth and nal submarine

of the P75 Scorpene proj-

ect, was commissioned

into the Navy in January.

It is one of the most silent

and versatile diesel-elec-

tric submarines in the

world, according to Navy

ocials.

It is designed to under-

take a wide range of

missions, including anti-

surface warfare, anti-sub-

marine warfare, intelli-

gence gathering, area

surveillance, and special

operations. Armed with

wire-guided torpedoes,

anti-ship missiles, and

advanced sonar systems,

the submarine also fea-

tures modular construc-

tion, allowing for future

upgrades such as the

integration of Air Inde-

pendent Propulsion (AIP)

technoloy.

The Indian Navy is

developing the Karwar

base considering India’s

long-term security inter-

ests in the Indian Ocean

region. In October,

Murmu took a sortie in a

Rafale ghter jet from the

Indian Air Force Station

in Ambala, becoming the

rst President of India to

y in two dierent ghter

aircraft of the Indian Air

Force (IAF).

President Droupadi Murmu during a submarine sortie aboard Indian

Navy’s frontline submarine INS Vaghsheer on the Western seaboard, from

the Karwar naval base in Karnataka.

Prez Murmu on INS

Vaghsheer sortie

The President, donning a naval uniform, waved at naval personnel

before entering the submarine.

HIGHLIGHT

z President Murmu

undertakes dived

sortie onboard INS

Vaghsheer.

z President briefed

on submarine arm’s

strategic role.

HIGHLIGHT

z Infra upgrade across

Bhubaneswar, Puri

and Visakhapatnam to

double train capacity in

ﬁve yrs.

Mann govt has

failed on every

front.

Sunil Jakhar

Punjab BJP chief

CLOSE UP

Jaideep Ahlawat

is the new entry into

‘Drishyam 3’

CineBriefs

BEST OF THE REST

Trending on Insta

OTT Watch

A new book, Salman Khan: The Sul-

tan of Bollywood by Mohar Basu, cel-

ebrates the cinematic journey of Bol-

lywood superstar Salman Khan as he

turns 60 on December 27. Published

by HarperCollins India, the book fea-

tures rare photographs, fan stories,

and insights from long-time collab-

orators, highlighting his iconic roles

from Maine Pyar Kiya to Tiger Zinda

Hai. Described as more than a biog-

raphy, it explores why Salman com-

mands unmatched stardom across

romance, action, and comedy. With

hits like Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Sultan, and

Dabangg, his charisma remains unpar-

alleled. The book is a tribute to the

mass hero whose screen magic spans

generations.

Nora Fatehi radiated global pop-

star enery in a striking David Koma

ensemble, featuring a strapless tex-

tured maroon top and matching

mini skirt, paired with a maroon

jacket and knee-high boots. Styled

by Shaleena Nathani, she turned her

appearance at David Guetta’s con-

cert into a high-fashion statement,

announcing her upcoming single

Fire Starter with Ciara.

Bollywood

Salman Khan

celebrates 60 year

stardom

Fashion

Nora Fatehi rocks David

Koma maroon look

@shrutzhaasan

Shruti Haasan shares

funny yet relatable

dentist story

Actress Shruti Haasan shared her relat-

able dentist dilemma on Instagram.

Posting to her Stories, she covered half

her face with her hands, capturing a

mix of relief, discomfort, and the uni-

versal post-dentist emotions.

@kajalaggarwalofficial

Actress Kajal Aggarwal

welcomes 2026

As the year ends, we naturally reect

and plan for the year ahead. Actress

Kajal Aggarwal shared on social media

that she intends to step into 2026 with

hope, excitement, and an open, posi-

tive heart.

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas con-

tinue to give fans glimpses of their life

on the road together during the Jonas

Brothers’ Greetings from Your Home-

town tour. A recent Instagram post

showed the couple sharing candid,

behind-the-scenes moments, highlight-

ing their easygoing chemistry and play-

ful banter. Whether posing for photos

or enjoying quiet downtime, the duo

exudes warmth and partnership, bal-

ancing busy tour schedules with per-

sonal connection. Priyanka’s relaxed

look leather jacket, denim, and mini-

mal makeup mirror the authenticity of

their relationship: comfortable, eort-

less, and in sync. Fans loved seeing the

superstar couple’s genuine moments,

proving that o-stage, their bond is as

iconic as their public personas.

Originally adapted

from the Malayalam hit

directed by Jeetu Joseph,

the Hindi Drishyam lms

have enjoyed massive suc-

cess at the box oce. With

a strong cast and renewed

intrigue, Drishyam 3

promises to raise the

stakes even higher.

e bollywood hot pair

Priyanka and Nick Jonas keep

fans swooning again

“I screen-tested for Kaabil, and I was more

than happy to do that. I’m not saying it was

for Kaabil, but when you’re asked to screen-

test while another contemporary isn’t, you

do wonder why the dierence.”

Yami Gautam

Actress

Web Series

Rajani 2.0: Classic

show returns with

modern twist

Actor-director Karan Razdan, return-

ing with a new version of the 1985

show Rajani, revealed that the original

episodes starring Priya Tendulkar are

lost forever due to poor tape preser-

vation. The original series, directed by

Basu Chatterjee, featured Tendulkar

as a middle-class housewife tackling

social issues, with cameos by Shah

Rukh Khan and Subhash Ghai. The

revamped Rajani 2.0, streaming on

Waves OTT, stars Aradhana Sharma

as Rajani’s daughter, continuing her

mother’s legacy. Razdan emphasized

that replacing Tendulkar would have

been inappropriate. The new series

addresses modern issues like work-

place safety, digital arrests, and hous-

ing fraud.

Pratham Mittal

joins Shark Tank

India

New Shark Tank India

5 joinee Pratham Mittal

says he wants to bring

more heart to the show,

calling reality television

ruthless, as he joins

the campus special to

encourage student entre-

preneurship despite risks

involved.

Smriti Mandhana

skips Kapil

episode

Indian cricketer Smriti

Mandhana skipped The

Great Indian Kapil Show

celebrating the women’s

World Cup win, following

the cancellation of her

wedding with Palash

Muchhal, sparking

reactions on social media

ahead of the December

27 episode.

Shubhangi

Atre denies pay

dispute exit

Actor Shubhangi Atre

has addressed rumours

about her exit from

Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain,

clarifying it wasn’t a pay

dispute. She cited per-

sonal growth, encourage-

ment from her daughter,

and completing the show

respectfully as reasons.

Benedict hunts

Cinderella in

Bridgerton

The Bridgerton Season

4 trailer teases Benedict

Bridgerton’s romantic

quest for the mysterious

Lady in Silver, featur-

ing Cinderella-inspired

masquerades, hidden

identities, and a magical

love story premiering on

Netix January 29, 2026.

Laughter Chefs

gets musical treat

Tejasswi Prakash

describes her experi-

ence watching Sunidhi

Chauhan perform on

Laughter Chefs Unlimited

Entertainment as mag-

ical, calling it “like our

own private concert,”

with music, laughter, and

playful moments lighting

up the set.

| HOLLYWOOD |

‘Just Friends’ a Christmas Classic

and holiday favourite

Central Chronicle News

The third instal-

ment of the hit

thriller franchise is

set to go on oors in

January 2026.

The Drishyam fran-

chise is gearing up for

a thrilling new chapter

with a major casting

update. Jaideep Ahlawat

has ocially joined

the cast of Drishyam 3,

starring alongside Ajay

Devgn and Tabu. The

much-anticipated third

instalment is scheduled

to go on oors in January

2026, raising excitement

among fans of the popu-

lar crime thriller series.

According to sources,

Jaideep Ahlawat has

been roped in for a piv-

otal role that will intro-

duce fresh twists to the

tightly woven narra-

tive. This marks his rst

association with the

Drishyam universe, and

his inclusion is expected

to add a darker, more

intense layer to the

story. Known for his

commanding screen

presence and nuanced

performances, Ahlawat’s

role is being described

as crucial to the lm’s

central conict. The

makers are reportedly

keen on expanding the

moral complexity of the

story, pushing the char-

acters into more unpre-

dictable territory.

Central Chronicle News

Filmmaker Roger

Kumble has revealed that

his 2005 rom-com Just

Friends, starring Ryan

Reynolds, Anna Faris, and

Amy Smart, was never

originally intended as a

Christmas movie. The lm

follows a formerly over-

weight high school stu-

dent, played by Reynolds,

who attempts to break

free from the friend zone

when reconnecting with

his best friend. Kumble

told People that it wasn’t

“a mandate” to make

it a holiday lm. “Once

the production designer

kept adding a little bit of

Christmas to everything,

we talked about it… and

we were like, ‘This could

work as a holiday movie,’”

he explained. The festive

elements naturally com-

plemented the story’s

themes of family, forgive-

ness, and togetherness.

Reecting on the lm’s

reception, Kumble said

box oce performance

wasn’t his priority. “When

you make a movie, I don’t

really judge it based on

whether it worked at the

box oce… It’s great to

see so many fans of it. I’m

just really pleased,” he

said, praising the collab-

orative eort behind the

lm. Co-star Amy Smart,

who played Jamie Pala-

mino, called Just Friends

one of her favourite

projects. “It was such a

fun experience, and I’m

happy it’s a Christmas

movie because it has that

magic, warmth, and nos-

talgia,” she said.

Jaideep Ahlawat

joins Ajay Devgn

in Drishyam 3.

“It wasn’t always meant to be a

Christmas movie,” says Kumble

Drishyam 3 adds a powerful new name as Jaideep

Ahlawat joins Ajay Devgn and Tabu.

HIGHLIGHT

z Just Friends wasn’t

planned as a Christmas

movie, says director

Roger Kumble.

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

&Glitters

CUTOUT PHOTO

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

WELNESS

Quality health

care is a global

priority

HealthTips

THE OATS COOKBOOK

| SELF-SILENCING |

The magic of a healthy plate is mindfulness

Central Chronicle News

A healthy plate combines

balance, nutrition, and

mindfulness for sustain-

able everyday health.

Food is more than fuel; it is

information for our cells, emo-

tions, and overall well-being.

One simple truth has trans-

formed countless lives the

magic of a healthy plate. It is

not about strict dieting, calo-

rie counting, or food fear, but

about balance, nourishment,

and consistency, practiced

daily for a lifetime.

A healthy plate naturally

teaches portion control. Half

the plate with seasonal vege-

tables and fruits, one quarter

with quality proteins, and one

quarter with whole grains or

healthy carbs provides what the

body truly needs. This balance

supports steady enery, bet-

ter digestion, and stable blood

sugar, preventing overeating

without stress or restriction.

The impact begins early. For

children, it aids growth, immu-

nity, concentration, and emo-

tional stability. For adults, it

supports weight management,

gut health, hormonal balance,

and stress control. As we age,

the same plate protects against

lifestyle diseases such as diabe-

tes, high blood pressure, heart

problems, and joint issues. One

plate, dierent life stages, life-

long benets. A healthy plate

also nurtures mental and emo-

tional well-being. Regular bal-

anced meals keep hunger hor-

mones in check, reduce mood

swings, and curb cravings.

Savory Oats Upma

Ingredients

½ cup oats, 1 small onion, ½ cup

mixed diced vegetables (carrot,

beans, peas), 1 tsp oil, ½ tsp

mustard seeds, curry leaves, salt, 1 cup water.

Instructions

Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds and

curry leaves until aromatic. Sauté onions and

vegetables until tender. Add oats and water,

cooking until oats absorb the liquid. Season with

salt and serve hot as a wholesome breakfast or

light lunch.

Benefits

0Packed with ﬁber, vitamins, and minerals, this

savoury dish aids digestion, maintains satiety,

and balances blood sugar.

Oats & Avocado

Toast

Ingredients

1 slice whole-

grain bread, 2

tbsp cooked oats,

½ avocado, salt,

pepper, lemon juice, chilli ﬂakes (optional).

Instructions

Mash avocado in a bowl and mix with cooked

oats. Spread evenly over toasted bread. Sprinkle

salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon. Add

chilli ﬂakes for extra ﬂavour if desired. Serve

immediately as a quick, satisfying breakfast or

snack.

Benefits

Rich in healthy fats, ﬁber, and protein; promotes

heart health, improves satiety, and provides

sustained energy throughout the morning.

Oats & Spinach Fritters

Ingredients

½ cup oats, 1 cup chopped

spinach, ½ onion, ½ tsp

garlic, salt, pepper, 1 tsp

olive oil.

Instructions

Mix oats, spinach, onion, and garlic into a thick

batter. Shape into small fritters. Heat oil in a

non-stick pan and cook fritters 3–4 minutes per

side until golden brown. Serve warm with yogurt

dip or chutney for a nutritious snack or light

meal.

Benefits

Rich in iron, ﬁber, and protein; supports

immunity, digestion, and provides sustained

energy for active days.

Oats & Berry Smoothie

Ingredients

½ cup oats, 1 cup almond

milk, ½ cup mixed berries

(fresh or frozen), 1 tsp

chia seeds, ½ tsp honey.

Instructions

Blend oats and almond

milk ﬁrst until smooth.

Add berries, chia seeds, and honey, blending

again until creamy. Pour into a glass and enjoy

chilled. Perfect for a quick, refreshing breakfast

packed with nutrients.

Benefits

Rich in antioxidants, ﬁber, and protein; boosts

immunity, supports digestion, and provides long-

lasting energy to start your day.

Oats & Chickpea Salad

Ingredients

½ cup toasted oats, ½

cup boiled chickpeas,

½ cucumber (diced), ½

tomato (diced), 1 tsp olive

oil, juice of ½ lemon, salt,

pepper, fresh coriander.

Instructions

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Toss well with olive

oil and lemon juice. Garnish with coriander and

serve fresh as a light, protein-rich lunch that

keeps you satisﬁed.

Benefits

High in ﬁbre and plant protein; supports

digestion, heart health, and maintains fullness

between meals.

Oats & Carrot

Cake Muffins

Ingredients

1 cup oats,

1 cup grated

carrot, 1 cup

whole wheat

ﬂour, 2 tbsp

honey, 1 tsp

cinnamon, 1 tsp

baking powder, ½ cup milk.

Instructions

Mix dry ingredients, fold in grated carrot, milk,

and honey. Pour into mufﬁn molds and bake at

180°C for 20–25 minutes. Cool slightly before

serving.

Benefits

High in ﬁber, antioxidants, and vitamins; aids

digestion, boosts immunity, and satisﬁes sweet

cravings healthily.

Saving lives starts not just with

medicine, but with the quality-of-

care people receive.

Poor health care quality affecting millions

every year

The magic of a healthy plate

in our whole life

When global health is

discussed, attention

usually turns to major

diseases such as HIV, tubercu-

losis, and malaria. While these

illnesses remain critical chal-

lenges, another widespread

issue often goes unnoticed

poor-quality and unsafe health

care systems that affect mil-

lions every year. According to

global estimates, nearly 43 mil-

lion people are injured annually

due to unsafe medical care in

hospitals. This troubling fig-

ure highlights a harsh reality:

health care, which is meant

to heal, can sometimes cause

harm. Improving safety and

quality is therefore essential

to making health systems part

of the solution rather than the

problem. Experts working to

improve global health stress

that there is no single answer.

Instead, progress comes from

learning across disciplines and

borders. Doctors, research-

ers, health ministers, econo-

mists, patients, and commu-

nities all contribute valuable

perspectives. Their shared

belief is clear high-quality care

is a matter of life and death and

must be embedded into health

systems from the start, espe-

cially as countries work toward

universal health coverage. But

what exactly defines “quality”

health care? It is mainly: care

should be safe, effective, effi-

cient, timely, patient-centered,

and equitable. These principles

mirror how we judge quality

in everyday life, making them

both practical and relatable.

Globally, patient harm

during treatment remains

a serious concern. Experts

point out that many hospi-

tal patients experience pre-

ventable injuries. Meanwhile,

organizations like the World

Bank focus on measuring

health system performance

and promoting patient-cen-

tered care.

When patients are placed

at the heart of health systems,

quality becomes easier to

understand and improve.

Emotional eating diminishes

when the body is truly nour-

ished, making food a source

of strength rather than guilt.

Importantly, a healthy plate is

exible and culturally rooted.

It can be Indian, traditional,

home-cooked, and simple. Dal,

sabzi, roti, rice, curd, fruits,

nuts, and seeds mindfully com-

bined become everyday medi-

cine. Transformation does not

come from short-term diets but

from daily healthy plates served

with patience and self-love. Con-

sistency matters more than per-

fection. The magic of a healthy

plate lies in its simplicity, sup-

porting the body, calming the

mind, and sustaining health

through every stage of life.

Antibiotics are often mis-

takenly used as a safety net for

sore throats, colds, and u-like

illnesses, even though most of

these infections are viral. Antibi-

otics do not work against viruses,

and in many cases, the body can

recover on its own within three

to ve days. Using antibiotics

unnecessarily does not speed up

healing or prevent complications.

Instead, it may cause side eects

such as stomach upset, allergies,

or changes in gut bacteria. A larger

concern is antibiotic resistance,

which develops silently over time

and makes future bacterial infec-

tions harder to treat.

GOOD LIVING

Antibiotics aren’t a quick

x for viral infections

Wellness

HIGHLIGHT

Across

the world,

unsafe health

care causes

preventable

harm,

highlighting the

urgent need for

safer systems.

Mouth taping has emerged

as a viral sleep trend, with many

claiming it improves sleep quality

by encouraging nasal breathing

instead of mouth breathing. The

idea is that nasal breathing helps

lter, warm, and humidify air

before it reaches the lungs, which

may reduce snoring and mouth

dryness for some people. It may

also help maintain oral moisture

and support better airow during

sleep. However, experts caution

that mouth taping is not a proven

medical treatment and its benets

remain largely anecdotal. It may

be unsafe for people with nasal

congestion, allergies, or breathing

issues, and can cause skin irrita-

tion or sleep discomfort.

Mouth taping:

Helpful habit or

risky trend?

Press Trust Of India

Despite spirited Sri

Lankan batting, India’s

depth ensured a com-

fortable 30-run win.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

India continued their

commanding run in the

Women’s T20I series,

defeating Sri Lanka by 30

runs in the fourth match

to surge to a 40 lead,

though the hosts were

aware the performance

was not entirely clinical.

Asked to bat rst, India

piled up a mammoth

221 for two, their high-

est-ever total in Women’s

T20Is, built on a breath-

taking opening part-

nership between Smriti

Mandhana and Shafali

Verma. The duo added

162 runs in just 15.2 overs,

the best partnership for

any wicket for India in

the format. Mandhana

struck a uent 80, while

Shafali blazed her way

to 79, narrowly missing a

maiden T20I century.

The pair dominated

the Sri Lankan attack

with eortless timing and

clean hitting, nding gaps

at will and clearing the

ropes without excessive

risk. Mandhana was par-

ticularly elegant through

the o-side, while Sha-

fali’s fearless strokeplay

kept the tempo relent-

lessly high.

Late reworks from

Richa Ghosh, who

smashed an unbeaten 40

o just 16 balls, and quick

runs from skipper Har-

manpreet Kaur ensured

India crossed the 200-

run mark with ease.

In reply, Sri Lanka

showed early intent as

Hasini Perera and cap-

tain Chamari Athapath-

thu raced to 50 within

four overs. Athapaththu

top-scored with 52, while

Nilakshika Silva provided

useful support as Sri

Lanka nished on a com-

petitive 191 for six.

India’s bowling eort

was led by the impres-

sive Vaishnavi Sharma,

who returned gures of 2

for 24. However, several

dropped chances and

a few expensive overs

highlighted elding areas

India will look to tighten

ahead of future contests.

Despite those lapses,

India never allowed

Sri Lanka to seriously

threaten the chase, seal-

ing another convincing

victory and underlining

their supremacy in the

series.

Press Trust Of India

Vijayawada’s Surya

Charishma and com-

posed campaigner

Rithvik Sanjeevi

emerged champions

at the Senior National

Badminton Champi-

onships.

VIJAYAWADA: Home

favourite Surya Charishma

Tamiri and composed

campaigner Rithvik San-

jeevi S emerged champi-

ons in the women’s and

men’s singles respectively

at the Senior National

Badminton Champion-

ships here on Sunday,

capping a thrilling day of

nals.

The women’s singles

summit clash lived up to

its billing as experience

met youthful ambition.

Backed by a loud, parti-

san crowd, the 19-year-

old Surya Charishma

faced prodigious talent

Tanvi Patri, who was

chasing the distinction of

becoming the youngest

senior national cham-

pion. Tanvi controlled

the opening game, dic-

tating rallies and drawing

errors from Charishma to

take it 2117. The momen-

tum shifted early in the

second game when a

service fault call at 65

went Charishma’s way.

She seized the opening,

reeled o seven consec-

utive points and powered

through the game 2112.

In the decider, Charish-

ma’s tactical nous came

to the fore. She length-

ened rallies and tested

Tanvi’s stamina, staying

patient and precise. With

the score locked at 14-all,

fatigue began to tell on

the youngster. Charishma

surged ahead, winning

six straight points to

clinch the match 1721,

2112, 2114 in 58 minutes,

sparking jubilant celebra-

tions in the stands.

The men’s singles nal

oered a contrasting nar-

rative of calm under pres-

sure. Rithvik Sanjeevi con-

trolled the opening game

2116, but faced resistance

in the second as Bharat

Raghav raced to a 95 lead.

The 2024 Odisha Masters

winner responded with

six points on the trot, only

for two judgment errors

to allow Bharat back into

contention and earn a

game point. Rithvik held

his nerve, stuck to his

defensive plan and closed

out the match 2220 in 39

minutes.

Sports News

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Charishma, Rithvik

clinch singles titles

Mandhana-Shafali

blaze seal 4-0 lead

HIGHLIGHT

z Lee chased 160kmph

since childhood, valuing

raw pace above personal

wicket milestones.

z Hall of Fame inductee

credits genetics, action

mechanics, and mindset

for extreme speed.

A record-breaking opening stand powered India to a 30-run victory over Sri Lanka in

Thiruvananthapuram, sealing an unassailable 4-0 lead in the T20I series.

Press Trust of India

Yuvraj Sandhu capped

a dream season with

record-breaking sev-

enth title triumph.

JAMSHEDPUR:

India’s

leading golfer Yuvraj

Sandhu created history

by clinching his record

seventh title of the 2025

season after a thrilling

one-stroke victory at the

TATA Open, the PGTI sea-

son nale.

The 28-year-old

Chandigarh-based golfer

signed o with a bril-

liant six-under 65 in the

nal round to nish at

20-under 264, sealing

the title with a decisive

birdie on the 18th hole at

the Beldih and Golmuri

Golf Courses. His closest

challenger, Shubham Jag-

lan, nished just one shot

behind at 19-under.

Already crowned the

2025 PGTI Order of Merit

winner, Sandhu surpassed

the previous single-season

record of six wins and also

earned his DP World Tour

card for 2026. The victory

fetched him Rs 30 lakh,

taking his season earnings

to a record Rs 1.91 crore.

Calling it his best season

ever, Sandhu said he was

thrilled to end the year on

such a high.

Press Trust of India

Punjab skipper

Abhishek Sharma

transformed a quiet

Sunday net session

into an exhibition of

fearless T20 batting.

JAIPUR: Around 10 min-

utes into his net session

on a quiet Sunday morn-

ing here, Punjab skipper

Abhishek Sharma paused

and turned to teammate

Gaurav Chaudhary with a

question that revealed his

intent and imagination.

Barely 10 minutes into

his session, Abhishek

revealed his mindset by

asking about an imag-

inary eld placement.

On hearing that mid-o

was saving singles, he

unfurled a trademark

inside-out swing, sending

the ball soaring eort-

lessly.

For nearly an hour,

defence became sec-

ondary as Abhishek

launched an estimated

45 sixes, mostly against

spinners. He deliberately

chose to face o-breaks,

leg-breaks and left-arm

orthodox bowling on

a surface that gripped

sharply, with deliveries

stopping, turning and

occasionally keeping low.

Even after requesting the

light roller, the diculty

remained unchanged.

Whenever beaten

by uneven bounce or

sharp turn, Abhishek

calmly inspected the

pitch, adjusted his foot-

work and responded

with authority. Shorter

lengths were punished

with decisive charges

down the track, while

googlies and o-breaks

were lifted repeatedly

inside-out over extra

cover, with several balls

landing atop a nearby

residential building.

A brief experiment

with straight hits fol-

lowed after a closed bat-

face dismissal, reecting

his adaptability.

Yuvraj Sandhu scripts

rcord seventh season title

Abhishek turns nets into six-hitting showcase

| TATA OPEN|

| FEARLESS PREPARATION SESSION |

Press Trust Of India

Former speedster

Brett Lee says pace

obsession, not wickets,

shaped his legendary

career.

MELBOURNE:

Former

Australian fast bowler

Brett Lee has revealed

that touching the

160kmph mark meant

more to him than any

wicket he claimed dur-

ing his illustrious inter-

national career. Recently

inducted into Australian

Cricket’s Hall of Fame,

Lee said his obsession

with extreme pace began

at the age of nine and

remained his singular

personal goal.

The 49-year-old cred-

ited his athletic build and

his mother, Helen, a for-

mer sprinter, for provid-

ing the genetic foundation

required for raw speed.

While Lee acknowledged

that team success—such

as Australia’s 2003 World

Cup triumph and a record

16 consecutive Test wins—

remained paramount, he

admitted wickets were

never his primary moti-

vation.

Lee nished his career

with an impressive 718

international wickets,

terrorising batters world-

wide with relentless pace.

He explained that his

run-up, braced front leg

and rapid front-arm pull

were crucial components

of his bowling action.

These elements, he

said, came naturally and

helped generate excep-

tional speed through the

crease.

| PACE ABOVE ALL|

Brett Lee says 160kmph

dream dened his career

Laura equals

fastest ﬁfty

record in

domestic T20s

ALEXANDRA:

Australia’s

Laura Harris on Sun-

day carved her name

into cricketing folklore

as she became the sec-

ond woman to smash a

half-century o 15 balls

in the history of T20

cricket. The 35-year-old

achieved the stunning

feat during the Wom-

en’s Super Smash game

between Otago and Can-

terbury at Molyneux

Park in Alexandra, New

Zealand, according to

ESPNcricinfo. Laura,

who plays for Otago,

equalled the record of

England’s Marie Kelly,

who also hammered a

15-ball half-century for

Warwickshire against

Gloucestershire in

2022.

Central Chronicle News

Drag-icker Deepika

Sehrawat believes

fresh beginnings will

revive India’s women’s

hockey fortunes.

NEW DELHI: After a

bruising season of inju-

ries, inconsistent results

and missed milestones,

Indian women’s hockey

drag-icker Deepika

Sehrawat is condent

that the new year will

usher in renewed hope

and momentum for the

national side.

The 22-year-old for-

ward, set to return

to competitive action

with Delhi SG Pipers in

the Women’s Hockey

India League (WHIL),

described 2024 as one of

the most testing phases

of her young career. Side-

lined for ve months after

slipping during a practice

session ahead of the Asia

Cup, Deepika admitted

the layo was emotion-

ally draining.

“Those months

away from hockey were

extremely dicult. I often

felt frustrated and help-

less because my prepa-

ration had been strong,”

she said, adding that her

return has strengthened

her resolve. Now fully

t, the Hockey India Best

Emerging Player award

winner for 2025 is deter-

mined to give her all.

India’s women’s team

endured a disappointing

campaign, nishing last

in the FIH Pro League

and suering relegation

to the Nations Cup. A

narrow loss to China in

the Asia Cup nal denied

them direct World Cup

qualication, while the

resignation of head coach

Harendra Singh added to

the turbulence.

With World Cup quali-

ers scheduled in Hyder-

abad in March, Deepika

believes the team has

a clear opportunity to

reset. The top three sides

from a competitive eld

will book their places for

the World Cup in Belgium

and the Netherlands later

this year.

| HOPEFUL COMEBACK SEASON |

Deepika Sehrawat sees new hope for women’s hockey

HIGHLIGHT

z Injury-hit Deepika

eyes strong comeback

through HIL ahead

of crucial World Cup

qualiﬁers.

zIndian team seeks

regained momentum

after turbulent year

marked by setbacks and

transition.

FASTFACTS

z Surya Charishma

staged a gritty

comeback,

overpowering Tanvi

Patri in a pulsating

three-game women’s

singles ﬁnal.

HIGHLIGHT

z Abhishek smashed

over 45 sixes,

repeatedly attacking

spinners on a

challenging, gripping

red-soil surface.

zInside-out lofts over

extra cover showcased

his intent, imagination

and mastery against

turning deliveries.

Press Trust Of India

Mandhana crossed

10,000 international

runs as Shafali struck

third straight fty.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

Smriti Mandhana (80)

and Shafali Verma (79)

went on a record-making

spree, powering India

to their highest Wom-

en’s T20I total of 221 for

two in the fourth match

against Sri Lanka, here

on Sunday.

Having batted sec-

ond in each of the three

games so far in this ve-

match rubber, Mand-

hana and Shafali put on

a batting masterclass to

hammer Sri Lanka bowl-

ers all around the Green-

eld International Sta-

dium after being asked

to bat rst.

Towards the end,

Richa Ghosh smacked

a 16-ball 40 not out and

skipper Harmanpreet

Kaur made 9-ball 16 not

out, as India rattled up a

massive total.

Indian openers Mand-

hana and Shafali shared

a massive 162-run stand

in 15.2 overs, which is

now the best partner-

ship for any wicket for

the country in women’s

T20Is.

It was also the fourth

occasion when Mand-

hana and Shafali stitched

an alliance of 100 or

more, as the pair bet-

tered its own record

of 143 against the West

Indies at Gros Islet in

2019.

Mandhana also

entered history books,

becoming only the

fourth batter after com-

patriot Mithali Raj, New

Zealand’s Suzie Bates

and England’s Charlotte

Edwards to complete

10,000 international

runs across formats.

On her part, Shafali

continued with her red-

hot form to make a third

consecutive half-century

in this series but missed

a maiden ton in format,

which was for the taking.

She gave a return

catch to Nimasha Meep-

age in the 16th over after

making 79 o 46 balls

with 12 fours and a six.

Without going on an

overdrive, both Mand-

hana and Shafali pierced

gaps with precision and

brought out spectacular

hits on both sides of the

wicket.

In particular, Sha-

fali’s hit over the bowler

Kawya Kavindi’s head

on the nal ball of the

fourth over stood out

as she took a few paces

down the wicket to ham-

mer it with full ow of

the bat. Earlier in the

over, Mandhana had col-

lected two fours o the

bowler.

Having had a quiet

series so far given her

lofty standards, Mand-

hana was in her ele-

ments as her drives

were crisp and so were

the hits on the on-side,

where each of her three

sixes were hit.

While both Mandhana

and Shafali fell in quick

succession, the hard-hit-

ting Richa pummelled

four fours and three sixes

for her 40 not out while

adding 53 runs for the

unbeaten third wicket

with Harmanpreet as

India zoomed past the

200-run mark.

Press Trust Of India

Vijayawada’s Surya

Charishma and com-

posed campaigner

Rithvik Sanjeevi

emerged champions

at the Senior National

Badminton Champi-

onships.

VIJAYAWADA: Home

favourite Surya Charishma

Tamiri and composed

campaigner Rithvik San-

jeevi S emerged champi-

ons in the women’s and

men’s singles respectively

at the Senior National

Badminton Champion-

ships here on Sunday,

capping a thrilling day of

nals.

The women’s singles

summit clash lived up to

its billing as experience

met youthful ambition.

Backed by a loud, parti-

san crowd, the 19-year-

old Surya Charishma

faced prodigious talent

Tanvi Patri, who was

chasing the distinction of

becoming the youngest

senior national cham-

pion. Tanvi controlled

the opening game, dic-

tating rallies and drawing

errors from Charishma to

take it 2117. The momen-

tum shifted early in the

second game when a

service fault call at 65

went Charishma’s way.

She seized the opening,

reeled o seven consec-

utive points and powered

through the game 2112.

In the decider, Charish-

ma’s tactical nous came

to the fore. She length-

ened rallies and tested

Tanvi’s stamina, staying

patient and precise. With

the score locked at 14-all,

fatigue began to tell on

the youngster. Charishma

surged ahead, winning

six straight points to

clinch the match 1721,

2112, 2114 in 58 minutes,

sparking jubilant celebra-

tions in the stands.

The men’s singles nal

oered a contrasting nar-

rative of calm under pres-

sure. Rithvik Sanjeevi con-

trolled the opening game

2116, but faced resistance

in the second as Bharat

Raghav raced to a 95 lead.

The 2024 Odisha Masters

winner responded with

six points on the trot, only

for two judgment errors

to allow Bharat back into

contention and earn a

game point. Rithvik held

his nerve, stuck to his

defensive plan and closed

out the match 2220 in 39

minutes.

Sports News

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Charishma, Rithvik

clinch singles titles

Mandhana, Shafali’s record

stand res India to 221/2

HIGHLIGHT

z Lee chased 160kmph

since childhood, valuing

raw pace above personal

wicket milestones.

z Hall of Fame inductee

credits genetics, action

mechanics, and mindset

for extreme speed.

Roared on by home fans, Vijayawada’s Surya Charishma and composed campaigner

Rithvik Sanjeevi emerged champions at the Senior National Badminton Championships.

Press Trust of India

Yuvraj Sandhu capped

a dream season with

record-breaking sev-

enth title triumph.

JAMSHEDPUR:

India’s

leading golfer Yuvraj

Sandhu created history

by clinching his record

seventh title of the 2025

season after a thrilling

one-stroke victory at the

TATA Open, the PGTI sea-

son nale.

The 28-year-old

Chandigarh-based golfer

signed o with a bril-

liant six-under 65 in the

nal round to nish at

20-under 264, sealing

the title with a decisive

birdie on the 18th hole at

the Beldih and Golmuri

Golf Courses. His closest

challenger, Shubham Jag-

lan, nished just one shot

behind at 19-under.

Already crowned the

2025 PGTI Order of Merit

winner, Sandhu surpassed

the previous single-season

record of six wins and also

earned his DP World Tour

card for 2026. The victory

fetched him Rs 30 lakh,

taking his season earnings

to a record Rs 1.91 crore.

Calling it his best season

ever, Sandhu said he was

thrilled to end the year on

such a high.

Press Trust of India

Punjab skipper

Abhishek Sharma

transformed a quiet

Sunday net session

into an exhibition of

fearless T20 batting.

JAIPUR: Around 10 min-

utes into his net session

on a quiet Sunday morn-

ing here, Punjab skipper

Abhishek Sharma paused

and turned to teammate

Gaurav Chaudhary with a

question that revealed his

intent and imagination.

Barely 10 minutes into

his session, Abhishek

revealed his mindset by

asking about an imag-

inary eld placement.

On hearing that mid-o

was saving singles, he

unfurled a trademark

inside-out swing, sending

the ball soaring eort-

lessly.

For nearly an hour,

defence became sec-

ondary as Abhishek

launched an estimated

45 sixes, mostly against

spinners. He deliberately

chose to face o-breaks,

leg-breaks and left-arm

orthodox bowling on

a surface that gripped

sharply, with deliveries

stopping, turning and

occasionally keeping low.

Even after requesting the

light roller, the diculty

remained unchanged.

Whenever beaten

by uneven bounce or

sharp turn, Abhishek

calmly inspected the

pitch, adjusted his foot-

work and responded

with authority. Shorter

lengths were punished

with decisive charges

down the track, while

googlies and o-breaks

were lifted repeatedly

inside-out over extra

cover, with several balls

landing atop a nearby

residential building.

A brief experiment

with straight hits fol-

lowed after a closed bat-

face dismissal, reecting

his adaptability.

Yuvraj Sandhu scripts

rcord seventh season title

Abhishek turns nets into six-hitting showcase

| TATA OPEN|

| FEARLESS PREPARATION SESSION |

Press Trust Of India

Former speedster

Brett Lee says pace

obsession, not wickets,

shaped his legendary

career.

MELBOURNE:

Former

Australian fast bowler

Brett Lee has revealed

that touching the

160kmph mark meant

more to him than any

wicket he claimed dur-

ing his illustrious inter-

national career. Recently

inducted into Australian

Cricket’s Hall of Fame,

Lee said his obsession

with extreme pace began

at the age of nine and

remained his singular

personal goal.

The 49-year-old cred-

ited his athletic build and

his mother, Helen, a for-

mer sprinter, for provid-

ing the genetic foundation

required for raw speed.

While Lee acknowledged

that team success—such

as Australia’s 2003 World

Cup triumph and a record

16 consecutive Test wins—

remained paramount, he

admitted wickets were

never his primary moti-

vation.

Lee nished his career

with an impressive 718

international wickets,

terrorising batters world-

wide with relentless pace.

He explained that his

run-up, braced front leg

and rapid front-arm pull

were crucial components

of his bowling action.

These elements, he

said, came naturally and

helped generate excep-

tional speed through the

crease.

| PACE ABOVE ALL|

Brett Lee says 160kmph

dream dened his career

Laura equals

fastest ﬁfty

record in

domestic T20s

ALEXANDRA:

Australia’s

Laura Harris on Sun-

day carved her name

into cricketing folklore

as she became the sec-

ond woman to smash a

half-century o 15 balls

in the history of T20

cricket. The 35-year-old

achieved the stunning

feat during the Wom-

en’s Super Smash game

between Otago and Can-

terbury at Molyneux

Park in Alexandra, New

Zealand, according to

ESPNcricinfo. Laura,

who plays for Otago,

equalled the record of

England’s Marie Kelly,

who also hammered a

15-ball half-century for

Warwickshire against

Gloucestershire in

2022.

Central Chronicle News

Drag-icker Deepika

Sehrawat believes

fresh beginnings will

revive India’s women’s

hockey fortunes.

NEW DELHI: After a

bruising season of inju-

ries, inconsistent results

and missed milestones,

Indian women’s hockey

drag-icker Deepika

Sehrawat is condent

that the new year will

usher in renewed hope

and momentum for the

national side.

The 22-year-old for-

ward, set to return

to competitive action

with Delhi SG Pipers in

the Women’s Hockey

India League (WHIL),

described 2024 as one of

the most testing phases

of her young career. Side-

lined for ve months after

slipping during a practice

session ahead of the Asia

Cup, Deepika admitted

the layo was emotion-

ally draining.

“Those months

away from hockey were

extremely dicult. I often

felt frustrated and help-

less because my prepa-

ration had been strong,”

she said, adding that her

return has strengthened

her resolve. Now fully

t, the Hockey India Best

Emerging Player award

winner for 2025 is deter-

mined to give her all.

India’s women’s team

endured a disappointing

campaign, nishing last

in the FIH Pro League

and suering relegation

to the Nations Cup. A

narrow loss to China in

the Asia Cup nal denied

them direct World Cup

qualication, while the

resignation of head coach

Harendra Singh added to

the turbulence.

With World Cup quali-

ers scheduled in Hyder-

abad in March, Deepika

believes the team has

a clear opportunity to

reset. The top three sides

from a competitive eld

will book their places for

the World Cup in Belgium

and the Netherlands later

this year.

| HOPEFUL COMEBACK SEASON |

Deepika Sehrawat sees new hope for women’s hockey

HIGHLIGHT

z Injury-hit Deepika

eyes strong comeback

through HIL ahead

of crucial World Cup

qualiﬁers.

zIndian team seeks

regained momentum

after turbulent year

marked by setbacks and

transition.

FASTFACTS

z Surya Charishma

staged a gritty

comeback,

overpowering Tanvi

Patri in a pulsating

three-game women’s

singles ﬁnal.

HIGHLIGHT

z Abhishek smashed

over 45 sixes,

repeatedly attacking

spinners on a

challenging, gripping

red-soil surface.

zInside-out lofts over

extra cover showcased

his intent, imagination

and mastery against

turning deliveries.

World

Moscow’s response to

European attack will be

devastating.

Sergei Lavrov

Russian foreign minister

CENTRAL CHRONICLE | Raipur, Monday, December 29, 2025

Counter-protesters chant pro-government slogans at Alawite demonstrators,

two days after a bomb in an Alawite mosque in Homs killed eight people and

wounded 18 during Friday prayers, in Latakia, Syria’s coastal region. | Photo: AP

Press Trust Of India

LATAKIA: Clashes broke

out on Syria’s coast

between protesters from

the Alawite religious

minority and counter-

demonstrators on Sun-

day, two days after a

bombing at an Alawite

mosque in the city of

Homs killed eight people

and wounded 18 others

during prayers.

Thousands of protesters

gathered in the coastal cit-

ies of Latakia and Tartous,

and elsewhere. Ocials

have said that preliminary

investigations indicate

that explosive devices

were planted inside the

mosque in Homs, but

authorities haven’t pub-

licly identied a suspect

yet in Friday’s bombing.

Funerals for the dead

were held on Saturday.

A little-known group

calling itself Saraya Ansar

al-Sunna claimed respon-

sibility for the attack in

a statement posted on

its Telegram channel, in

which it indicated that

the attack was intended

to target members of the

Alawite sect, an oshoot

of Shiite Islam whom

hard-line Islamists con-

sider to be apostates.

Sunday’s demonstra-

tions were called for by

Ghazal Ghazal, an Alawite

sheikh living outside of

Syria who heads a group

called the Supreme Alaw-

ite Islamic Council in Syria

and the Diaspora.

An Associated Press

photographer in Lata-

kia saw pro-government

counterprotesters throw

rocks at the Alawite

demonstrators, while a

group of protesters beat a

counterdemonstrator who

crossed to their side.

Protesters clash in Syria after

deadly Alawite mosque bombing

The bombing of an Alawite mosque in Homs, which killed eight people and was claimed by

the group Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, has reignited sectarian tensions.

HIGHLIGHT

z Sunday’s

demonstrations saw

violent confrontations

between Alawite

protesters and pro-

government counter-

demonstrators.

z Since the fall of

Bashar al-Assad in

December 2024, the

Alawite community

has faced a volatile

environment.

| CHINA THAI CAMBODIA |

Thai, Cambodian top diplomats meet in China to solidify ceasefire

Press Trust Of India

BEIJING: Top diplomats

from Thailand and Cam-

bodia kicked o two days

of talks in China on Sun-

day as Beijing seeks to

strengthen its role in medi-

ating the two countries’

border dispute, a day after

they signed a new cease-

re. The ceasere agree-

ment signed on Saturday

calls for a halt to weeks of

ghting along their con-

tested border that has

killed more than 100 peo-

ple and displaced over half

a million people in both

countries.

Thai Foreign Minister

Sihasak Phuangketkeow

and Cambodian Foreign

Minister Prak Sokhonn

were set to meet in China’s

southwestern Yunnan

province for talks medi-

ated by their Chinese

counterpart, Wang Yi.

The talks aim to ensure

a sustained ceasere and

promote lasting peace

between the countries,

according to a statement

by Sihasak’s oce.

Wang was scheduled to

join both bilateral meet-

ings with each of the dip-

lomats and a trilateral talk

on Monday. China has

welcomed the ceasere

announcement, which

freezes the front lines

and allows for displaced

civilians to return to their

homes near the border.

“China stands ready to

continue to provide the

platform and create con-

ditions for Cambodia and

Thailand to have fuller and

more detailed communi-

cation,” a Chinese Foreign

Ministry statement read.

Briefs

BEST OF THE REST

JOHANNESBURG : Three people,

including a one-year-old child, died

when a two-story building collapsed

in South Africa’s Soweto township,

west of Johannesburg, in the early

hours of Sunday morning, author-

ities said. Three others sustained

injuries during the incident and were

receiving treatment at the Chris Hani

Barawanath Hospital. According to

authorities, a total of six people were

inside the building when it collapsed,

and emergency personnel rescued

the three people injured who were

trapped under the rubble. PTI

SAFRICA BUILDING COLLAPSE

Building collapse in South

Africa kills three people,

including 1-year-old

CHINA MILITARY CORRUPTION

Three high-ranking

Chinese military ocials

expelled for corruption

BEIJING:

The Chinese parliament

has expelled three high-ranking

military officials in the latest

crackdown against corruption.

The Standing Committee of

the National People’s Congress

on Saturday expelled Wang Ren-

hua, head of the Central Military

Commission’s (CMC) Political

and Legal Affairs Committee;

Zhang Hongbing, political com-

missar of the People’s Armed

Police (PAP), and Wang Peng,

director of the CMC’s training

department.

PTI

KOSOVO ELECTION

Kosovo voters cast ballots in second attempt this

year to elect government, avoid more crisis

PRISTINA: Voters in Kosovo cast ballots

on Sunday in an early parliamentary

election in hopes of breaking a polit-

ical deadlock that has gripped the

small Balkan nation for much of this

year. The snap vote was scheduled

after Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s gov-

erning Vetevendosje, or Self-Determi-

nation, party failed to form a govern-

ment despite winning the most votes

in a February 9 election.

The deadlock marked the rst time

Kosovo could not form a government

since it declared independence from

Serbia in 2008, following a 199899

war that ended in a NATO interven-

tion. The prime minister’s party is

again the favourite in the race, but

it is unclear whether it will manage

to muster a majority this time in the

120-member parliament, after other

mainstream parties refused an alli-

ance. According to Kosovo’s election

laws, 20 parliamentary seats are auto-

matically assigned to ethnic Serb rep-

resentatives and other minority par-

ties. Another inconclusive vote would

further deepen the crisis. Kosovo has

not approved a budget for next year,

sparking fears of possible negative

eects on the already poor economy

in the country of 2 million people. PTI

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2025: A Year of India's Proud Milestones PDF Free Download

2025: A Year of India's Proud Milestones PDF Free Download

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