Latest news with #MinistryofMinorityAffairs
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Vijayawada reinstated Haj embarkation point
In a major relief for the Muslim community in Andhra Pradesh, the Ministry of Minority Affairs has officially reinstated Vijayawada as a Haj embarkation point. The announcement follows a formal request by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju. Responding positively, the Ministry issued official orders declaring Vijayawada an embarkation point for Haj pilgrims. This means that pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh will no longer have to travel to other States to begin their sacred journey, significantly reducing both travel strain and associated costs. Welcoming the decision, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board and member of the State Haj Committee, expressed gratitude, and described the move as a 'great relief' for Muslim pilgrims. 'Reinstating the embarkation point in Vijayawada is a long-awaited and much-needed step. It allows our brothers and sisters to start their Haj journey directly from our State,' he said. Mr. Abdul Aziz added that the State Haj Committee, along with the Chief Minister, would work towards improving infrastructure and amenities at the Vijayawada embarkation point to better serve the needs of the pilgrims in the coming years, a press release said.
The Hindu
19-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Centre organises national workshop on Jain Manuscriptology at Gujarat University
In a landmark initiative highlighting India's civilisational depth and inclusive cultural policy, Ministry of Minority Affairs organised a National Workshop on the significance of Jain Manuscriptology at Gujarat University. Held under the aegis of varsity's Department for Validation of Indic Knowledge through Advanced Research and funded by the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), the workshop brought together distinguished scholars, Jain monks, academicians, and officials to explore and celebrate the profound intellectual and spiritual legacy embedded in Jain manuscripts. This is part of a larger vision under the PMJVK to uplift and empower all six notified minority communities — Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jains — by supporting academic research and heritage conservation. A similar initiative is already underway in collaboration with Mumbai University to preserve the Avesta and Pahlavi languages of the Parsi Zoroastrian tradition, further underscoring the government's inclusive and pan-Indian approach. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, who was the chief guest of the event, shared the government's unwavering commitment to the preservation, revival, and dissemination of traditional knowledge systems and minority heritage languages. 'Honours our past' 'The Government of India is proud to support initiatives that bring to light the vast and diverse intellectual traditions of our minority communities. Preserving these traditions not only honours our past but also strengthens the foundation for a culturally enriched future,' said Deputy Secretary of the ministry, Sravan Kumar. The officials said that the workshop serves as a testament to the government's strategic push to integrate ancient wisdom into contemporary educational and cultural frameworks, ensuring that traditional knowledge systems are not only conserved but also made accessible and relevant for future generations. The Ministry in a communique stated that institutions like Gujarat University are playing a vital role in collaborating are creating new academic pathways that bridge tradition and modernity, fostering pride, preservation, and progress among India's diverse communities.
Hans India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Final hearing in Ajmer Dargah dispute today
The final hearing in the high-profile Ajmer Dargah dispute case will take place in the Ajmer Civil Court on Saturday, with both sides scheduled to present their concluding responses. The court is expected to deliberate on the maintainability of the petition filed by Hindu Sena National President Vishnu Gupta, who claims that the revered Sufi shrine was built over a demolished Hindu temple. During the last hearing held on May 31, the court indicated it would decide whether Gupta's petition is legally sustainable. Prior to that, Gupta had submitted a stay application requesting that all government departments be barred from offering chadar at the Dargah. In response, the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) filed their replies before the court. The case stems from a petition filed by Gupta, asserting that the Ajmer Dargah occupies the original site of a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. In turn, the Dargah Committee filed a plea seeking the dismissal of the case. The Anjuman Committee, affiliated with the Dargah, has also moved the Rajasthan High Court on the matter. Gupta's argument rests on three main claims. He contends that the architectural style of the Buland Darwaza within the Dargah complex strongly resembles Hindu temple design, particularly its carvings and ornamentation. He also points to architectural remnants resembling temple structures seen in the domes and upper parts of the shrine. Gupta further claims that the site contains water features commonly associated with traditional Shiva temples, supporting his contention that the location was once the Sankat Mochan Mahadev Mandir. Gupta says he is prepared to submit in court a Sanskrit manuscript titled 'Prithviraj Vijay', dated to 1250 AD, along with its Hindi translation. He claims the text contains historical references to Ajmer's religious history. He has also cited arguments made by advocate Varun Kumar Sena in the Supreme Court, insisting that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act does not apply to the Ajmer Dargah, as it is a religious site and not covered under the Act's purview. Security for Gupta has been provided on the instructions of Superintendent of Police Vandita Rana, following a formal request from the petitioner. The petition was accepted by the Ajmer Civil Court on November 27, 2024. Subsequently, the court issued notices to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Dargah Committee, and the ASI. Several others have moved applications seeking to be included as parties in the proceedings, including the Anjuman Committee, Dargah Diwan Ghulam Dastagir (Ajmer), A. Imran from Bengaluru, and Raj Jain from Hoshiarpur, Punjab. Gupta also referenced the 1911 publication Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive, authored by retired judge Harbilas Sarda, which allegedly mentions that debris from a Hindu temple was used during the construction of the Dargah. The petition additionally suggests that a Jain temple may have once stood in the sanctum sanctorum of the site.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
PM-VIKAS skill development programme launched at IIIT Kottayam
Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian on Thursday inaugurated the PM-VIKAS Skill Development and Women Entrepreneurship Programme at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Kottayam. The initiative is part of the Government of India's flagship Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM-VIKAS) scheme, which focusses on empowering minority communities through skill-based training and entrepreneurship development. On the occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Minority Affairs and IIIT Kottayam. Ankur Yadav, Deputy Secretary, signed on behalf of the Ministry, while M. Radhakrishnan, Registrar, represented IIIT Kottayam. Following the formal signing, the Minister handed over the MoU to Prasad Krishna, Director of IIIT Kottayam. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, also presented the official allotment letter to Mr. Radhakrishnan. An official statement said IIIT Kottayam was the third institution in the country selected to implement this initiative and the first from the higher education sector. As part of the programme, 150 youth will undergo hands-on training in the emerging field of Internet of Things (IoT), while 300 women will receive training in leadership and entrepreneurship development. Upon completion, participants will be supported with employment or self-employment opportunities through industry partnerships and dedicated mentoring support.
India Today
15-07-2025
- India Today
Rs 1.35 crore minority scholarship scam using forged papers exposed in Bengaluru
A case has been registered in connection with a Rs 1.35 crore fraud in the minority student scholarship scheme operated by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The FIR was filed at the Central Division's Cyber Crime (CEN) Police Station in complaint was lodged by Pradeep Simha, District Officer of the Department of Minority Welfare. According to the FIR, the scam involved submission of fake documents for 643 students to fraudulently claim scholarships via the National Scholarship Portal (NSP).advertisementThe alleged fraud pertains to pre-matric, post-matric and merit-cum-means scholarships disbursed between 2021 and 2023. The misappropriated amount totals Rs 1,35,73,212. The FIR names principals of private schools and colleges, nodal officers and students as accused. The irregularities came to light during record verification, which revealed that false entries and documents were uploaded to secure scholarship funds have registered the case and begun an discovery of this fraud comes almost two years after India Today reported the biggest minority scholarship scam in India. The August 2023 report stated that about 53 per cent of institutions active under the minority scholarship programme were found to be fake. An internal enquiry conducted by the Ministry of Minority Affairs revealed deep-rooted corruption in 830 such institutions, leading to a scam of Rs 144.83 crore in five another scam in Karnataka, 10 individuals, including a Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) staffer, were arrested in December 2024, for seat-blocking for payment during the 2024-2025 undergraduate engineering admissions. The scam involved using candidates with no intention of attending college to make fake option entries, thereby blocking government quota seats at colleges like BMS Engineering College, Akash Institute of Engineering and Technology, and New Horizon College of Engineering. This scheme benefited private colleges and deprived eligible students.- Ends
