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The Hindu
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
In last 11 years, cleaning Ganga has become election jumla: Congress
The Congress claimed on Friday (June 20, 2025) that the Centre and the Bihar government have not fulfilled their promise of cleaning the Ganga and said in the last 11 years, the exercise of ridding the river of pollutants has become just an "election jumla". Also Read | Why Clean Ganga project has a long way to go Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh claimed that not only in Bihar, "Mother Ganga" has become more polluted than ever before throughput its stretch. "Most of the schemes launched in the name of Ganga cleanliness campaign have proved to be a black hole of corruption. After the foundation-stone laying, inauguration and heavy publicity, neither any work is visible nor any concrete result," he alleged in post in Hindi on X. Mr. Ramesh's attack came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in line with his commitment to the conservation and rejuvenation of the Ganga, inaugurated six sewage treatment plants (STPs) under the Namami Gange project, worth over Rs 1,800 crore. Mr. Ramesh said, "The advertisement-loving prime minister is once again on a tour of Bihar. No matter how many fake announcements the prime minister makes, no matter how many ribbons he cuts for free advertising, the truth is that the double-engine government in Bihar has completely failed to meet the expectations of the common people." The Congress leader claimed that oppression against the deprived classes is at its peak in Bihar, the law-and-order situation is extremely bad, criminals have become unbridled and the common citizens are helpless. Everyday, there are reports of killings, robberies and violence against women, he claimed. There is no employment opportunity for youngsters in the State, and they are forced to migrate from Bihar, the former Union minister said. "During this visit, the prime minister will also express his electoral concern about the pollution of Mother Ganga. But the truth is that in the last 11 years, 'Ganga cleaning' has become just an election jumla, which is suddenly remembered before every poll," he added. Also Read | Ganga water was fit for bathing during Maha Kumbh: Government tells Parliament The National Green Tribunal (NGT) itself is exposing the terrible condition of Ganga pollution in Bihar, Mr. Ramesh said. The Congress accused the BJP-led Centre and the JD(U)-BJP government in Bihar of not fulfilling their promise of purifying the Ganga and claimed that the condition of the river is such that its water is neither drinkable nor suitable for bathing. Addressing a press conference, party MP Manoj Kumar cited a report to claim that of the 13 STPs built for the Ganga and its tributaries in Bihar, only seven are working. He said the promise made to purify the Ganga water under the "Namami Gange" project has turned out to be false. "Narendra Modi and (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar together neither took any step towards flood control nor made the Ganga water drinkable. Even the NGT imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the Bihar government," he claimed. Mr. Kumar said that due to the high amount of faecal coliform (FC) bacteria, the NGT has stated that the river's water is neither fit for drinking nor for bathing.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Ola's Krutrim acquires BharatSah'AI'yak to scale AI-driven assistance in India
Ola Group's artificial intelligence arm Krutrim on Friday announced the acquisition of AI platform BharatSah'AI'yak from technology consultancy firm Samagra for an undisclosed amount. As part of the deal, Krutrim has also onboarded Samagra's core AI team. The AI-enabled chatbot KumbhSah'AI'yak was developed for Maha Kumbh 2025 to offer pilgrims round-the-clock guidance on rituals, navigation, accommodations, and attractions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo "Integrating BharatSah'Ai'yak into the Krutrim ecosystem widens its offerings. This integration enhances our ability to build AI that is inclusive, intuitive, and deeply rooted in the lived realities of India," Krutrim spokesperson said in a statement. Krutim had hosted open-source LLM services for the chatbot. Live Events "With this acquisition, Krutrim aims to leverage its own Large Language Models (LLMs) or artificial intelligence engine, cloud infrastructure and agentic platform powering Kruti to scale up BharatSah'AI'yak pan India," the statement said. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories
Economic Times
7 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Retail investors now the smart money, HNIs more prone to panic: Sandeep Tandon
If I have to see, look at in last one year redemptions at our end, just do a redemption analysis, majority of the money if I have to say, if I say, maybe two-third of my redemption is coming from HNI and family office; only one-third comes and that also very interesting within one-third majority of redemption which coming from real retail investor is come from direct line not through regular route, they also need handholding. "I can say with good amount of confidence, at least till 2047 when demographic cycle peaks out in India, till then India PE multiple remains elevated for maybe you are talking about another 22 years or so, so it is more than 16 years I am saying that India multiple remain highest, which means earnings will expand but PE expansion is very important. So, as long PE remain elevated, the probability that you make good returns from the market," says Sandeep Tandon, CIO, Quant Mutual Fund. We were just reminiscing in the last 16 years the markets have seen so much. The world has seen so much, yet you have made just phenomenal returns. If you just did nothing, that is all you had to do. Sandeep Tandon: Correct. Are the next 16 going to be like that? Sandeep Tandon: It is very difficult to visualise exact 16 years. But if I have to look at India, there is a very interesting data, I will show you, like a lot of people forecast earnings, what will be the earnings for 5 years, 10 years perspective generally look at in numbers. We as Quant from a behaviour perspective we try to forecast the multiples. How we define multiple? Through perception, analytics. It is again interesting thesis which we have built, India perception has changed, something has dramatically changed in last few years. And if I have to say that India perception has changed and which means the PE multiple of Indian stock market will remain elevated from longer term perspective. I can say with good amount of confidence, at least till 2047 when demographic cycle peaks out in India, till then India PE multiple remains elevated for maybe you are talking about another 22 years or so, so it is more than 16 years I am saying that India multiple remain highest, which means earnings will expand but PE expansion is very important. So, as long PE remain elevated, the probability that you make good returns from the 16 years we have had magical moments -- jam trinity, financial inclusion, made in India, startup, Maha Kumbh. Which really could be the big factor at play, what could be that secret ingredient or secret sauce which in a sense will bind Indian market forward? Sandeep Tandon: I think what has changed in last maybe, if I have to say in this Modi's decade, it is about same thing, India perception. The young people, not only their risk appetite is clearly visible, they believe they can demonstrate few things. The neglected people, they are coming back and that is a big force to reckon. Like, people talk about China is about their government, they are doing it. Here the entrepreneurship and we are seeing for the first time this level of entrepreneurship even from the institute, people wants to start their own companies not join the companies, so that is something has changed. And financial inclusion has played a very important role in this whole journey. I will say even 2020 remember as a covid issue, but something got changed in 2020. A lot of people were sitting at home, first time they analysed their investment and actually the expenses was not there, I think that was a change moment where people started focusing on investment and the wealth got created. Now, that that M2M gains which retail investor sitting is very meaningful and that is actually driving. So, I always say every bull run is driven by some leadership, this time leadership is retail and retail base is very large. So, if you can say maybe a decadal opportunity from a returns perspective, maybe we have seen just five years or so for the current decade. Since you are so much into psychology of the markets and market participants, retail also comes with panic. Retail also comes with every news flash and reacting to every news flash. I am not talking about the mutual fund corpus money, but I am talking about more active participants. Sandeep Tandon: I always try to refer, this is some interesting work which we have done, when you talk about retail investor, it is actually jumbled up. Anything which is in non-institution is considered as retail actually. Actually, it is not. You have to differentiate that component from a HNI, family office, ultra-HNI and I always said that we can always see exactly at the bottom of the cycle, actually they are buyer, they are not getting panic. Who is getting panic? The people who are doing business. When I differentiate investor versus business, anybody who looks at their M2M on daily basis, for them this is the business and hence even market fall 10% if they believe that market can fall another 10%, they will exit, where retail investor is not. So, you have to differentiate the type of investor. Investor do not panic so easily. BUT somebody is doing business, which is the case for large family office, ultra-HNI, and HNIs, that segments panic. If I have to see, look at in last one year redemptions at our end, just do a redemption analysis, majority of the money if I have to say, if I say, maybe two-third of my redemption is coming from HNI and family office; only one-third comes and that also very interesting within one-third majority of redemption which coming from real retail investor is come from direct line not through regular route, they also need handholding. So, what is the mood in the market right now because the news flow, the noise around geopolitics, domino effect on crude, tariffs, it is so high. But if I just look at the index in the last 28 days, the index has done nothing. We have moved in just a 600-point band. Sandeep Tandon: So, one way of looking at the turmoil or geopolitical volatility. Other way of looking at, look at we have seen India-Pakistan tension, we have seen trade war, we have seen now Middle East issue further escalating. Market has actually given you some positive returns. And the confidence is coming back. If you really look at September, October, and particularly January, February first quarter where some amount of capitulative move we saw in the market, I think that is changing and confidence is coming back and then market realised that India is the most safest place. In fact, three months back we made this call not only from India, India is a risk-on rally and globally is a risk-off. But what is very important is the decoupling process for India has begun. We believe India has now decoupled from global market, that is a cycle which we have been talking about in 2025 it begins, and we have seen now the decoupling process has begun. You look at the impact what happened in the US market, we are hardly any impact out here. And the turmoil which we are seeing, the first country used to get affected purely from a crude perspective. And if you really look at this time also, crude has also spiked very recently, it has only because of very recent phenomena we have seen the impact. Otherwise, crude also has been pretty stable. So, we are jumping from long-term to short-term. We have got a short-term view. Let us talk about the long-term view. Long-term view is that the PE multiples will remain elevated. India becomes what could be called as a special situation stock. What could be the next aha thing for India? For example, coming back by the SIP investor has been the aha moment. Digitisation has been the aha moment. Make in India has been the aha moment. What is the next aha moment for India now? Sandeep Tandon: Very difficult to visualise in at this point in time, but only thing the way I look at from a regulations point of view, sebi has include the, we can talk about our industry, sif, the specialised investment fund, a new category. And obviously it is like we were the first to get that approval, but what is very important is that new segment is coming where it really help you from a diversification perspective. Like globally when you talk about hedge fund criteria, people trade or the prop desk or the high frequency algo, with route a short-term investment thesis will also gather momentum that is how you can make money in the short-term perspective also, how you better manage your returns also, how diversification through sif route also you can create better risk adjusted book. So, new instrument which is coming, which is not the case… Let us say some of these instrument was the part of only the HNI, family office, or the large ticket customer, I think now real, real retail customer will also be able to participate through SIF route and some more products will come. So, I am more excited that you will see innovation coming through product. Technology is obviously playing a very important role. Cost is coming down drastically. And what is very important when I talk about perception has changed, India, like people, retail investors are more convinced this time and I am saying they have become much more mature than as compared to what I have seen in 10, 20, 30 years. This time something is very different. Retail has not panic. If you really look at, they are not getting capitulated so easily. It is the more sophisticated investor they are panicking much earlier because they are more smart and they are more educated and leveraged. So, it is a phenomena something which we have to really respect the real retail investor is coming and they have patience now. So, what falls into your buy and hold category for next five years, 16 years is a long time, for next five years? Sandeep Tandon: Yes, I agree. So, five years let us say given the geopolitical turmoil, we also believe that beginning of the year say next five years also going to be challenging from a global perspective. Hence, I like to be more focused on the domestic economy. So, power is the theme. Power remains buy on dips. It is a decadal opportunity. So, if next five year, I think by 2032, power stocks should do well. All energy basket should do very well. Then, I will more bullish on the India infrastructure space, not just EPC companies, large infra plays whether ports, airports, even you can say EPC company, also large infra names which should be a biggest beneficiary because we have seen irrespective of state government also the infra spending has not cut down. I think we are in a massive investment phase in India, so that is a space which we like. And obviously if infra does well, then logically materials should also follow. So, I am saying first infra. And consumption as a theme is also coming back. The tax benefit which government has given, the RBI recent cuts will also boost the consumption. So, a lot of consumption stock which have been neglected territory or they were erstwhile admiring territory stock, those are the names one should look at. Hospitality space we still like, whether you talk about hotels, hospitals. So, those are the area. Services industry also. We want to see something new now. Like all those names which has been in admired territory for last few years may or may not give you that sort of returns going forward, so I will look for under ownership, I look for attractive valuation and research or I say uncovered.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
UPSRTC to expand E-Atal bus service for Ayodhya
Prayagraj: Authorities of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC), Prayagraj division, will soon be operating the eco-friendly E-Atal bus service for commuters wishing to visit Ayodhya. Major cities like Varanasi and Kanpur will also be soon connected with this bus service. After Lucknow and Robertsganj, and the E-Atal bus facility will be available for Ayodhya as well, said regional manager, UPSRTC, Prayagraj division, Ravindra Kumar. Recently, this service was introduced between Sangam city and Lucknow and Robertsganj. Currently, two buses are being operated for these two routes, each with a seating capacity of 40 passengers. The bus going to Lucknow stops at Unchahar and Rae Bareli, while the bus for Robertsganj stops at Vindhyachal and Mirzapur. Commuters are availing the service running smoothly due to the installation of charging stations in both the cities. Additionally, E-Atal buses are running from Prayagraj to nearby places like Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Unchahar, Gopiganj, Khaga, Muratganj, Kunda, and Handia. Before the Maha Kumbh, 24 E-Atal buses were allotted to the Prayagraj region of UPSRTC, which were used as a shuttle service during the mega religious event. These buses were operated for places within a radius of 100 km. Now the corporation has decided to extend this service to the cities with a distance of up to 200 km, as these buses can travel up to 200 km on a single charge.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
On Rahul Gandhi's 55th birthday, check out the secret to his fitness: From martial arts to avoiding carbs
Rahul Gandhi celebrates his birthday on June 19. The Leader of the Opposition of the Lok Sabha turns 55 in 2025, and even at this age, his fitness routine never fails to inspire many. Also Read | Citing BBC report, Rahul Gandhi accuses UP govt of suppressing Maha Kumbh toll : 'This is the BJP model' In 2023, during a conversation with travel and food channel Curlytales while on the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Rajasthan, Gandhi had opened up about his diet and workout. He had revealed the different forms of workouts he does to stay healthy and fit, and what he eats to maintain a good physique. In the interview, shared by the official X handle of Congress, Rahul Gandhi revealed his workout regimen. The Congress parliamentarian said that he has always been into some form of physical activity. For the uninitiated, Rahul Gandhi is a black belt in martial arts. Apart from martial arts, he knows diving. Moreover, during the Bharat Jodo Yatra too, he took up regular martial arts classes, he said. On diet, he said he avoids carbohydrates, but if he has to eat rice or roti, he would prefer roti. As a non-veg lover, his favourite dishes are chicken tikka, seekh kebab and a plain omelette. He prefers one cup of coffee in the morning, he said. To mark Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 55th birthday on Thursday, the party's Delhi unit and Indian Youth Congress will be jointly organising a mega job fair at Talkatora Stadium — an event that aligns closely with one of Gandhi's central political themes: unemployment. Additionally, social media is flooded with wishes for the congress leader. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also extended birthday wishes to Rahul Gandhi. In a post on social media X, Singh wrote, 'Greetings to the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Shri @RahulGandhi on his birthday. May he be blessed with good health and a long life.' Tamil Nadu CM MK stalin and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot also posted their wishes on X.
