Jaipur, Aug 26: In a major road-safety initiative aimed at reducing accidents and saving lives, the Jaipur Range Police has launched ‘Operation Safer Road’, a technology-driven initiative under which accident-prone zones on national and state highways in the Jaipur Range have been integrated with Google Maps.

The initiative is designed to alert motorists when they approach identified accident-prone locations, enabling them to reduce speed and exercise greater caution before reaching potentially dangerous stretches.

Jaipur Range IG Rahul Prakash said the black spots were identified through a scientific analysis of road accident and fatality data collected over the past three years. He said the objective was not only to identify accident-prone locations but also to use technology to provide timely warnings to motorists and promote safer driving.

Based on accident data from 2023 to 2025, police have identified 101 black spots across the Jaipur Range. The identified locations include Jaipur Rural: 28, Dausa: 24, Kotputli-Behror: 19, Alwar: 11, Sikar: 10, Bhiwadi: 5, Khairthal-Tijara: and Jhunjhunu: 1.

The classification of these locations has been based not only on the number of accidents but primarily on the severity of fatalities recorded at the sites during the three-year period. Under the initiative, motorists using Google Maps for navigation on highways within the Jaipur Range will receive a road-safety alert when approaching a designated accident-prone zone.

The advance warning is intended to encourage drivers to slow down, remain alert and adjust their driving according to road conditions. The Jaipur Range Police has also developed a QR code-based digital facility as part of Operation Safer Road. By scanning the QR code, users can access information about identified black spots through Google Maps.

The information includes the location, risk category, geographical coordinates and other relevant road-safety details. Police officials first conducted a detailed analysis of police records, traffic information and accident data collected from highways. Each identified accident-prone location was subsequently verified geographically and digitally mapped. Technical information related to the locations was then prepared for integration with Google Maps.

IG Rahul Prakash said the initiative represents an important step towards using technology to reduce road fatalities.

Following the pilot implementation in the Jaipur Range, the police have sent a proposal to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) seeking expansion of the system to highways across Rajasthan and eventually other parts of the country.

The Jaipur Range Police expects that timely digital warnings at accident-prone locations will help motorists exercise greater caution and contribute to reducing road accidents and fatalities.

New Delhi, Aug 26: The controversy surrounding Bollywood actor Kriti Sanon’s outfit in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement intensified on Wednesday, with Opposition and ruling party leaders getting into sharp exchange after the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi came out in support of the former and supported her in deciding her clothing choices.

Gandhi shared Sanon’s response to the controversy on his Instagram Story and wrote: “What a woman wears, what she does and where she goes – is her choice.” He also urged people to “Stop trolling women for exercising their freedom”, adding the hashtag “smash the patriarchy”.

Reacting to Gandhi’s intervention, Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC told media that the Congress leader has made it a habit to interfere in every issue.

“It has become Rahul Gandhi’s habit to interfere in everything and everywhere. Regarding students too, he projects himself as if he is a messiah. When an issue concerning women comes up, about women’s respect or women’s attire, he jumps into that as well,” she said.

“Perhaps this culture is acceptable to him, where one can wear a bikini and celebrate Raksha Bandhan. But in our Indian culture and civilisation, this will never be accepted,” Shaina NC added.

Haryana Minister Anil Vij also weighed in on the issue, saying that while individuals had freedom, religious traditions and sentiments should also be respected.

“It is freedom. But we also respect our religion and traditions. Rakhi is a sacred festival. It is a festival of love between brothers and sisters. What should be worn at that time, all the sisters of our country know,” he said.

JD(U) National General Secretary Shyam Rajak, however, struck a more balanced note, saying people should not judge or make allegations against an individual solely on the basis of their clothing.

“Regarding clothing, yes, it is part of Indian culture to present oneself in a manner that is pleasing to others. However, you cannot cast aspersions on an individual simply because of the kind of clothes they choose to wear,” Rajak told media.

Congress leaders defended Sanon and criticised BJP MP Kangana Ranaut over her remarks.

Congress leader Udit Raj said Ranaut should look at her own old photographs before commenting on others.

“Kangana Ranaut should look back at her own old pictures. After that, if she has even an ounce of sense, decency or honesty left, she should apologise to Kriti Sanon and to everyone,” he said.

Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput said Sanon had done nothing wrong and that Gandhi had consistently supported women’s rights and equality.

“What a woman wears or chooses to drape is her personal matter, a strictly personal matter. Foolish and frivolous people like Kangana Ranaut create discord in society by making such remarks,” he said.

Congress MP Pawan Khera added that Gandhi’s politics had always focused on ensuring justice and preventing discrimination.

The controversy erupted after Sanon faced criticism for wearing an Indo-Western outfit featuring a bralette and skirt in the Raksha Bandhan advertisement. The video showed the actor tying a Rakhi to her brother and her pet dog, triggering a wider debate on social media over women’s clothing, individual freedom and the portrayal of Indian traditions.

Meanwhile, jewellery brand GIVA removed the advertisement featuring Sanon, a day after the actor hit back at critics who questioned her choice of attire in the commercial.

New Delhi, Aug 26: India is not facing a sugar shortage as adequate stocks are available to meet domestic demand until the new crushing season begins in October, the government said on Wednesday.

It clarified that the share of sugar diverted for ethanol production has declined from around 12 per cent in 2022-23 to around 9 per cent in 2025-26. Moreover, nearly three-fourths of the ethanol produced in the country now comes from grains, particularly maize, it said, refuting claims that the diversion of sugar for producing ethanol was leading to the price rise of the sweetener.

Simultaneously, retail sugar prices for consumers have also remained broadly stable, increasing by only around 3 per cent annually between August 2024 and July 2026, according to the government factsheet.

Sugar prices have increased in recent weeks, from Rs 48.18 per kg on July 20 to Rs 55.70 per kg on August 20. This reflects an increase of around 15.6 per cent within one month. This suggests the current uptick largely reflects short-term supply and market factors, rather than a shift in the underlying price trend, the factsheet states.

The present increase in sugar prices is due to a combination of factors, including lower-than-expected domestic production, increased demand ahead of the festive season, and weather-related damage to the sugarcane crop. Besides, tightening global sugar supplies and rising prices, as well as speculation and hoarding by some sections of the industry, are other factors behind the price rise, the statement said.

Sugar production during the current season is expected to be around 306 LMT, compared to the initial estimate of around 343 LMT. Production has been affected by two factors: Red Rot and Top Borer disease, and waterlogging caused by excess rainfall. However, despite the lower-than-estimated production, adequate sugar stocks are available in the country to meet domestic demand. The new crushing season will begin in October.

The tightening of sugar supplies is a global phenomenon and is not limited just to India. The global sugar deficit for 2026-27 is estimated at around 33 lakh MT. As a result, international sugar prices have risen sharply from $474/tonnes on June 30, 2026 to $552/tonnes on August 20, 2026. This marks an increase of over 16 per cent in less than two months, the factsheet points out.

It also states that the ethanol programme has helped sugarcane farmers and strengthened sugar mills. On average, India produces around 300-340 lakh MT of sugar annually and its domestic sugar consumption is around 280-290 lakh MT each year.

In years of surplus production, excess stocks block the funds of sugar mills and delay payments to sugarcane farmers. Diversion of excess sugar towards ethanol has helped address this structural problem and improved the financial health of sugar mills. The area under sugarcane cultivation has also increased from 49.27 lakh hectares in 2015-16 to 58.87 lakh hectares in 2025-26.

As of August 20, 2026, 97 per cent of sugarcane dues for the 2025-26 sugar season have already been paid to farmers. The improved financial position of sugar mills has reduced their dependence on government support, the statement added.