Mock Impeachment Of CEC, BJP Hits Out Over Protest Ahead Of Mega RallyThe opposition INDIA bloc held a symbolic public impeachment of the Chief Election Commissioner at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar was slated to preside over the symbolic proceedings, with Mallikarjun Kharge moving the motion against the Chief Election Commissioner and Rahul Gandhi delivering the concluding address.

The opposition bloc accused the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and poll body leadership of undermining democracy ahead of a planned mega rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi. In response, the Bharatiya Janata Party slammed the opposition's actions, calling the mock proceedings an insult to democratic traditions and constitutional bodies.

Union ministers defended the Election Commission, asserting its global credibility and accusing the opposition of questioning constitutional institutions and blaming the referee whenever they face electoral defeat.PM Launches Ekta Cruise in Kevadia, Pays Tribute to Patel as Nation Marks Ekta DiwasPrime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ekta Cruise on the Narmada River, which travels to the Statue of Unity with a capacity to accommodate 600 passengers. During his visit to Kevadia, the Prime Minister dedicated development projects valued at over 400 crore rupees, including eco-tourism initiatives such as an artificial rainforest and the Vaman Vriksh Vatika.

The visit coincides with Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Nationwide celebrations included floral tributes by President Droupadi Murmu and the Union Home Minister, along with Run for Unity events across multiple states.World Bank Cites Rapid Poverty Decline in India; Economists Clash over DataA World Bank report indicates that India lifted 49.6 crore people out of poverty between 2011 and 2023, registering one of the fastest poverty declines globally.

According to the findings, extreme poverty calculated at three dollars a day dropped from 27.1 percent to 2.6 percent, while the poverty ratio at 4.2 dollars a day fell from 57.7 percent to 16.1 percent. However, the report highlights that the top 10 percent of the population earns a median income 13 times higher than the bottom 10 percent.

On India Today, economists Dr. Surjit Bhalla and Professor Santosh Mehrotra debated the findings.

Dr. Bhalla asserted that extreme poverty in India has effectively been eliminated, arguing that recent employment and real wage growth have benefited casual workers at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

In contrast, Professor Mehrotra questioned the World Bank's methodology, arguing that changes in the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey prevent direct comparisons with 2011, while citing stagnant real wages and increasing dependency on agriculture as unresolved structural concerns.Panchkula School Assault: Class 3 Boy Brutally Beats KG Girl, Police Probe NegligenceA six-year-old kindergarten girl was brutally assaulted by an eight-year-old Class 3 student inside a school classroom in Panchkula, Haryana. According to the victim's family, the child was thrashed with stones and a flower pot, dragged across the floor, and beaten repeatedly even after falling unconscious.

The critically injured minor was initially rushed to a local hospital before being referred to PGIMER Chandigarh, where she is undergoing medical treatment and is reported to be stable. A family member recounted discovering the victim covered in blood locked inside an upstairs classroom after school hours.

The horrific incident has triggered widespread outrage and raised serious questions regarding the school administration's negligence and absence of supervision. Haryana Police have initiated a probe into the assault, questioning the school management and the parents of the minor boy involved to establish the circumstances that led to the brutal incident.