‘Bangla Pokkho' rally to protest govt order notifying Hindi, Urdu as language in WBCS exam
The organisation's general secretary Garga Chattopadhyay said, 'We demand Bengali be made the mandatory language in writing WBCS exams on the lines of the yardstick followed in other states.
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Economic Times
18 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Online Gaming Bill: Cricket industry's revenue could be hit due to proposed ban on real money gaming
Synopsis The 'Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025' threatens real money gaming platforms, potentially impacting sports sponsorships, especially in cricket. While the bill aims to regulate the burgeoning online gaming industry, it distinguishes between esports and real money gaming, favoring the former. The proposed legislation could lead to decreased revenue for fantasy gaming companies and affect player endorsements. Representational image The 'Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025', which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, could spell the end of "real money gaming platforms", that have stakes in the sponsorship market of Indian sports, most significantly cricket. The contents of the bill, which aims to regulate one of the fastest growing industries, is music to the ears for the Esports fraternity in the country. But the multi-billion dollar fantasy gaming industry comprising companies that have spent big money in sponsorship of cricket might see a marked dip in their revenues. And as a chain reaction, it could also affect the sports sponsorship market, including individual players' sponsorship and franchise-based domestic leagues of disciplines like kabaddi and football. The Online gaming regulation bill looks to create a regulatory body that will look after four diverse segments -- Esports, educational gaming, social and casual gaming and real money gaming. Of these, there will be restrictions on online money games, states the document which is in possession of PTI. As per "PROHIBITIONS" clause: "No person shall offer, aid, abet, induce or otherwise indulge or engage in the offering of online money game and online money gaming service. "No bank, financial institution, or any other person facilitating financial transactions or authorisation of funds shall engage in, permit, aid, abet, induce or otherwise facilitate any transaction or authorisation of funds towards payment for any online money gaming service." The "OFFENCES AND PENALTIES" clause clearly terms real money gaming as a criminal offence which could lead to jail and humongous fine for the service provider. Clause 9. (1) reads "Any person who offers online money gaming service in contravention of section 5 shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to one crore rupees or with both. Clause 9. (2) reads: "Any person who makes or causes to make advertisement in any media, in contravention of section 6, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to fifty lakh rupees or with both. The government makes it clear that real money gaming is leading to a lot of social problems and it needs some kind of regulation. "....the parallel proliferation of online money games accessible through mobile phones, computers and the internet, and offering monetary returns against user deposits has led to serious social, financial, psychological and public health harms, particularly among young individuals and economically disadvantaged groups; "...such games often use manipulative design features, addictive algorithms, bots and undisclosed agents, undermining fairness, transparency and user protection, while promoting compulsive behaviour leading to financial ruin." Implications of the Bill =============== Cricket is one sport which has seen a huge influx of real money gaming with Indian team's title sponsor being Dream 11. My11Circle is the official fantasy sports partner of the money-spinning Indian Premier League. Dream11 brought the Indian team's title rights for about USD 44 million (Rs 358 crore approx). My11Circle brought IPL fantasy gaming rights for a fee of Rs 625 crore for five years (Rs 125 crore approx annually). Add to this the country's top cricketers -- former as well as current -- have hefty personal endorsement deals with various real money gaming platforms. Noted sports lawyer Vidushpat Singhania, who has a deep understanding of the subject, explained the consequences in a nutshell. "Cricket is huge in India and there won't be any dearth of sponsors for Indian cricket and its properties. However, personal sponsorship market can shrink because of this bill. "Also fan engagement will be affected," Singhania told PTI. He, however, explained that fantasy games can still run a subscription based model. "There will be a subscription fee and say you pay Rs 100 for a gaming app and test your skills in fantasy gaming. But real money gaming which is paying and earning money, that is prohibited as per this bill." The gigantic revenue stream of all these fantasy gaming apps will certainly diminish due to the ban and hence money flowing back into the sport will decrease markedly. Joy for Esports Market ============== Esports made its debut at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 and the International Olympic Committee will be conducting its first Esport Olympics in Riyadh in 2027. Sharing his thoughts on this development, Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, says, "The government's intent to recognise and promote esports, as highlighted in the recent bill, is an encouraging step towards building a structured and globally competitive ecosystem. "However, for this vision to truly materialise, it is critical that the terminology used in the bill, particularly the distinctions between esports, online gaming, online social gaming, and online money gaming be clearly defined and uniformly understood."
India Today
20 minutes ago
- India Today
How Mamata plans to make returning Bengali workers feel at home
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has unveiled a rehabilitation package, Shramashree, aimed at assisting Bengali migrant workers returning home from alleged oppression in BJP-ruled cabinet cleared the scheme on August 18, with the chief minister declaring that her government had a responsibility to restore the 'dignity and security' of those forced to abandon their livelihoods outside alleged the campaign against Bengali speakers in several parts of India had turned into systematic harassment. 'Bengali-speaking people are being attacked in 'double-engine' (BJP-ruled) states. Those speaking in Bengali are being treated like criminals, put in jail or pushed into Bangladesh. More than 2.2 million migrant Bengali workers and their families stay outside the state, but many are being forced to return because of this linguistic persecution,' she Shramashree scheme offers a one-time travel grant of Rs 5,000 to every worker who decides to return to Bengal. Each beneficiary will also receive a monthly rehabilitation aid of Rs 5,000 for up to 12 months or until employment is secured. The families will be provided with Khadya Sathi ration cards, Swasthya Sathi health coverage and an immediate cash relief of Rs 5,000 upon arrival in Bengal. Homeless workers will be offered meals through community kitchens while their children will be absorbed into local schools. District magistrates have been asked to proactively identify such workers and extend benefits at the underlined that this initiative was a continuation of the state's earlier efforts. 'During the Covid pandemic too, we brought back workers and helped them. This is a continuation of that responsibility,' she chief minister said those returning would be enrolled under the government's skill-building and employment programmes. 'We have Utkarsha Bangla, wherein we give skills training. Those who return will be assessed to identify the skills they may have and training will be given wherever required. They will be given job cards as well under the Karmashree scheme. Swasthya Sathi cards, too, will be provided, and if they do not have homes, community kitchens will be set up. Their children will be enrolled in state schools to ensure their education continues without interruption. The chief secretary will monitor the process,' she to government figures, the Karmashree scheme has already issued job cards to 7.8 million people and generated over 910 million man-days of work at a cost of Rs 19,000 of Shramashree will need to be registered on the existing migrant workers' portal, Karma Sathi. Those who are not currently enrolled will be allowed to register afresh. A dedicated Shramashree portal is also set to be launched to ease applications. Workers can additionally apply through the Migrant Workers' Welfare Board or at the ongoing grassroots grievance redressal camps of Amader Para, Amader pointed out that around 2,730 families—nearly 10,000 people—had already returned to Bengal in recent weeks, many of them alleging police excesses in states such as Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Maharashtra. She cited a recent case in Andhra Pradesh where a Bengali worker was killed and his body not handed over as an example of the dangers faced by Trinamool Congress amplified the announcement on social media, posting: Our Chief Minister, Hon'ble @MamataOfficial, has announced the 'Shramashree' scheme for migrant workers in Bengal. Under this welfare initiative, the following support will be provided: One-time assistance of Rs 5,000, including travel allowance support; monthly rehabilitation allowance of Rs 5,000 for up to one year, if unemployed; a total of 22.4 lakh migrant workers from Bengal will benefit from this scheme. A step forward in ensuring dignity, security, and support for every worker of Bengal.'Mamata claimed some migrant workers from Bengal had been pushed into Bangladesh and that her government had taken legal measures to bring them back. 'We will bring back those who want that,' she said, asserting that the new scheme was designed to provide 'mental peace' to returning announcement comes less than a year into assembly elections, a timing that is expected to add political weight to the initiative. Alongside the Shramashree rollout, the cabinet also approved the request for proposal for the Tajpur accused the Centre of using other means—such as the door-to-door mental health survey by AIIMS Kalyani—as indirect attempts to prepare the ground for a National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Bengal. Framing her government as a protector of both livelihood and linguistic identity, she said: 'It is our duty to ensure that Bengal's workers live and work with dignity and security.'Subscribe to India Today Magazine- Ends
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump's $3.7 billion blow on Harvard, Johns Hopkins and other top US universities: Who will be hit the hardest?
Trump's funding crackdown hits top US universities as DEI, protests draw fire In a nation where universities have long stood as both engines of innovation and arenas of ideological contestation, American higher education now finds itself at the centre of a calculated political offensive. President Donald Trump—now in his second term—has launched an aggressive campaign to defund, discipline, and decisively reshape academia. His latest salvo against American higher education amounts to more than ideology; it is a strategic demonstration of power. Under the banner of rooting out woke ideology, antisemitism, and liberal biases—from pro‑Palestinian protests to DEI programs—the Trump administration has weaponised federal funding, demanding institutions either conform or face financial obliteration. Through legal threats, frozen grants, and visa revocations, Trump's agenda has transformed academic governance into compliance theater. Several agreements have already been reached. Columbia University, after vital research funding was halted, agreed to pay around $200 million, overhaul admissions and disciplinary protocols, adopt tougher protest rules, and restructure Middle East–related academic programs in exchange for restored grants. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ₹6 Cr+ Max Estates 3 & 4 Bhk In Sector 36A Max Estates - Estate 361 Book Now Undo Brown University followed suit, accepting a $50 million deal tied to policy concessions and a pledge to fund workforce development programs. In the public sector, UCLA stands accused of indifference to Jewish students' safety amid campus unrest. The administration froze approximately $584 million in research grants and is demanding an unprecedented $1 billion settlement, suggest reports. This extortionate figure, critics say, would devastate the university. Meanwhile, Harvard is reportedly nearing a $500 million settlement with the Trump administration to restore access to tens of billions in federal research funding. The deal comes as the university battles to regain more than $2.3 billion in grants that were frozen amid a broader campaign against perceived campus liberalism. Amid this war‑like campaign, the Trump administration has unveiled sweeping proposed cuts, earmarking $3.7 billion in targeted federal research funding for elimination, finds a TNN report. The assault has implications far beyond individual campuses—it threatens the structural integrity of American scientific research, institutional autonomy, and academic freedom. Universities on the line: Who's losing what and why At the epicentre of Trump's funding purge lies Johns Hopkins University, slated to lose $245 million—by far the largest single proposed cut. As America's foremost recipient of federal research dollars, particularly in life sciences, defence, and public health, Johns Hopkins is also among the most federally dependent. The institution's prominence in pandemic research and defence contracts makes its targeting especially symbolic—an assault on the spine of U.S. biomedical leadership. Harvard University, though less dependent due to a $50+ billion endowment, is slated to face a $127 million slash, according to the TNN report. Harvard is both a cultural lightning rod and legal adversary to the administration, having refused settlement terms on DEI-related investigations and fought back through the courts. Arizona State University (ASU), a public institution with significant research in clean tech, AI, and immigration policy, is set to lose $125 million, likely a reflection of its progressive initiatives and border-state symbolism. Texas A&M and Columbia University are each marked for $100 million in cuts. Columbia, now infamous for its mass student protests, struck a $200 million federal settlement to avoid further punishment—yet remains a scapegoat. University of North Carolina (UNC) and Tufts College, each pegged for roughly $90 million, have been focal points in national debates around race, protest, and academic freedom. Rounding out the list: UC Berkeley, South Dakota State University, and Clemson University, all between $81–$87 million, represent a mix of red and blue state targets—proof that Trump's crackdown isn't just political theatre. Universities priced into silence In President Trump's second term, American universities are learning a harsh new lesson: Dissent comes at a price. This isn't a debate about academic freedom—it's a top-down power shift where compliance is rewarded and resistance punished. Research grants have become leverage; billion-dollar settlements, the cost of ideological deviation. Columbia has already paid. Brown followed. UCLA faces an unprecedented $1 billion demand. Harvard is fighting to unlock over $2.3 billion in frozen funds. But whether institutions pay up, lawyer up, or hold the line, the message is clear: the federal government is no longer just a funding partner—it's a political gatekeeper. Policies once crafted by faculty senates are now rewritten under federal scrutiny. DEI offices are under siege. Protests come with financial consequences. And the line between academic independence and executive oversight is quickly vanishing. This isn't McCarthyism redux—it's something quieter, colder, and arguably more effective. In this new order, universities aren't being silenced at hearings; they're being priced into submission. And if that sounds like a subtle erosion of the republic's intellectual bedrock—it's because it is. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
