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Hans India
35 minutes ago
- Hans India
Now, visa to be issued in a day, says Bandi Sanjay
Hyderabad/New Delhi: In a major reform aimed at streamlining travel and immigration processes, the central government has announced that visas can now be issued within a single day, provided all required documents are submitted. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar chaired a high-level review meeting with senior officials of the Foreign Affairs Department at North Block on Wednesday, focusing on visa simplification and enhanced monitoring of illegal immigrants. Officials briefed the Minister on the progress made in visa reforms. The number of visa sub-categories has been reduced from 26 to 22, and the earlier 104 sub-classifications have been streamlined to 69. As a result, the average visa issuance time has dropped significantly, with 65.15% of all visas in 2024 being issued as e-Visas. To further strengthen immigration control, two new portals — District Police Module (DPM) and Foreigners Identification Portal (FIP) — have been launched. These platforms aim to improve tracking of overstayers and illegal immigrants at the district level. The modernization of Immigration Check Posts (ICPs) was also reviewed. Officials reported that the number of ICPs has increased from 82 in 2014 to 114, including 37 air, 37 road, 34 sea, and 6 railway posts. Automated travel document scanning and biometric enrollment facilities have been introduced to expedite processing. The Fast-Track Immigration Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP), currently operational in eight major airports, allows pre-verified passengers to clear immigration in under a minute. This facility will soon be extended to seven more airports, including Kozhikode, Lucknow, and Amritsar. Additionally, the revamped OCI portal has facilitated the issuance of nearly 50 lakh Overseas Citizen of India cards. A dedicated mobile app for CAA-2019 applicants from six minority groups in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh has also been launched. Commending the officials, Bandi Sanjay directed that all reforms and public-facing services be effectively communicated at the grassroots level to ensure ease of access and transparency for citizens.
Hindustan Times
35 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Shahpur-Kandi power project to be completed by Sept 15: Union minister
Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Wednesday said that the Centre has speeded up languishing projects in Jammu region to ensure optimal use of river waters. Union minister Jitendra Singh (File) He also informed that the last phase of Shahpur Kandi project, a national project, which was also revised after four decades following the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be completed by September 15. 'The water will start flowing through it for the generation of electricity,' he said at a DISHA meeting. The project aims to minimise the excess water of the River Ravi going through the Madhopur Headworks downstream to Pakistan. The water will instead be used in J&K and Punjab. 'There's a good news to share that the Ujh multipurpose project, which was conceived nearly 100 years ago in 1920s by the then Maharaja Hari Singh, has now been revived and a coordination working group has been constituted of the JK UT officers and the central UT officers,' he said. He further said that Ujh multipurpose project also received an impetus because of the intervention of the home ministry and the defence ministry, who are also now keen to take up the project in order to check the infiltration route through the river Ujh. 'Once this project becomes functional, it will provide irrigation to thousands of hectares of land, which could go up to even 90,000 hectares. For the surplus water not to be allowed to flow into Pakistan, an alternate plan is also being jointly prepared by J&K, Punjab and central government,' he added. India has kept Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance following Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that left 26 tourists dead and scores injured. Indus Waters Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 for sharing of Indus waters. Under Indus water treaty, three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) were given to India and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) were given to Pakistan, with India permitted limited, non-consumptive use of the latter. Since then India has made a steady progress on four ongoing hydel power projects over Chenab river and it's tributaries in J&K and they are likely to be commissioned in 2027-28. Chenab river is one of three western rivers that fall under Indus Water Treaty (IWT) of 1960, which India has kept in abeyance following Pahalgam terror attack. Industrial biotech park to become functional soon Dr Jitendra Singh also emphasised that the industrial biotech park in Barnoti, 11th such industrial park in the country and first in north India, will become functional in the next few weeks with the involvement of public private participation. 'This will create avenues of jobs, manufacturing and business for the youngsters in various areas of bio-manufacturing and hospital instruments,' he said. The minister said that Kathua was the first district to come up with family bunker system in the border villages, covering about 2,000 families. 'The other border areas are also now following this as a role model. Meanwhile, 1,048 additional bunkers have also been proposed which will bring the total number of family bunkers in the Kathua border areas to nearly 3,000,' he said. The meeting was attended by MLA Jasrota Rajiv Jasrotia, other MLAs from the district, and senior officers of the district administration.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
‘Against Military Ethos': Huge row as KBC hosts Op Sindoor icons Sofiya, Vyomika & Prerna
New Delhi: The appearance of Indian Armed Forces officers on KBC has ignited controversy, with critics accusing the Union government of exploiting military for political gains. Amitabh Bachchan will host decorated officers from the Indian Armed Forces in the Independence Day special episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) season 17. In a promo shared by the channel, Amitabh Bachchan is seen welcoming Col Sofiya Qureshi (Indian Army), Wg Cmdr Vyomika Singh (Indian Air Force) and Commander Prerna Deosthalee (Indian Navy). The special episode will feature the officers recounting key moments from India's Operation Sindoor conducted against terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. While the officers likely sought clearance from the concerned department, their appearance has nonetheless triggered controversy, with many netizens dubbing it a 'PR stunt' and an attempt at 'political mileage.' Both Colonel Sofiya and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh held press briefings while the mission was ongoing. The makers recently released a teaser of the episode, set to air on August 15, showing KBC host Amitabh Bachchan giving the officers a grand welcome. 'This is just unbelievable. Operation Sindoor heroes appearing on national TV show KBC Just because one 'nationalist' party wants to milk some votes?' one user posted on X. "Have you ever seen anything like this after a military operation in any serious country? How is this even allowed for someone in service? The current regime is shamelessly using our forces for its petty politics and hyper-nationalism," another user said. 'Our Army was sacrosanct, above politics, beyond PR. Today, Modi govt parades serving soldiers on shows like KBC for image building. Even our Army has been made a political tool for Modi's PR. Our forces are to defend the nation, not a politician's brand,' a user posted on X. A user also questioned if armed forces protocol allows sending officers on reality shows like KBC. "The Indian Armed Forces have some protocol, some dignity and huge respect. Politicians are ruining it for their personal benefit. That's shameful," he said. Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena (UBT) also commented on the show. 'Our heroic women in Uniform who went on to become the face of Operation Sindoor have been invited by a private entertainment channel on their show. This private entertainment channel's parent company Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has also bagged the broadcasting rights of the Asia Cup till 2031. Yes, the very channel that seeks to earn revenue through India vs Pakistan cricket matches. Now join the dots,' Priyanka Chaturvedi posted on X. The Central government or the Defence ministry didn't immediately comment on the social media criticism.
