New Delhi, June 16: The Union Home Ministry on Monday issued the official notification for conducting the population census in the country.

The Census, which will also include humongous data collection, including the caste details, will be conducted in two phases.

The first phase will cover the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and two hilly states — Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand — beginning on October 1, 2016.

The second phase will kick off on March 1, 2027.

The Home Ministry notification issued under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948 (37 of 1948), said, “A census of the population shall be undertaken during the year 2027. The reference date for the said census shall be 00.00 hours of March 1, 2027, except for the Union territory of Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.”

“In respect of the Union territory of Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the States of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the reference date shall be 00:00 hours of October 1, 2026,” it added.

Notably, this is the first time that caste enumeration will be made part of the mammoth Census exercise. The Centre, in a recent cabinet meeting, had given clearance for caste enumeration in the Census, reasoning that it would enable the Central government to frame policies with better precision and also make it target-oriented.

The green light for caste-based Census also stirred political fight as the Congress claimed that the Modi government was forced to include its idea of social justice and social empowerment. The BJP mocked the Opposition, claiming that the latter only claimed to be champions for the Backward Classes, but it was the NDA government, which was effecting a decisive change at the ground level.

New Delhi, June 16: As tensions intensify between Iran and Israel, the Indian Government has initiated the relocation of Indian students, including those from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), from high-risk zones in Iran.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association (JKSA) has made an urgent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking immediate intervention for the evacuation of hundreds of Kashmiri students stranded in Iran.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Modi on Monday, the JKSA expressed “grave concern” over the deteriorating security situation in Iran following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and other key defence and energy infrastructure and retaliatory missile attacks by Iran.

The escalation has left Indian students — including those from Kashmir — vulnerable, scared, and exposed to life-threatening dangers.

“These students had gone to Iran to pursue professional education, especially MBBS, owing to its affordable infrastructure,” the letter read. “Now, they are caught in an active military zone, traumatised and desperate for safety.”

According to the JKSA, a recent drone attack near the Hujjatdost Dormitory of Tehran University of Medical Sciences left two Kashmiri students injured. Both are reportedly in a stable condition and have been shifted to Ramsar, a safer location, by university officials.

Students have described harrowing scenes of airstrike sirens, tremors, and intensified military activity near campuses and hostels.

The JKSA said students enrolled in various Iranian universities —especially in Tehran, Qom, and other high-alert regions — are “hearing continuous sounds of strikes and air defence systems.” Many are facing psychological distress, while their families in India remain anxious and fearful.

It is pertinent to note here that Tehran on Monday responded positively to India’s request for assistance in evacuating Indian citizens, particularly students stranded in Iranian cities.

While Iran’s airspace remains closed due to ongoing military action, the Iranian government has assured that all land borders are open and available for safe passage.

According to media reports, the Foreign Minister of Iran gave the green light to India’s diplomatic mission and extended help for the safe evacuation of diplomats and civilians.

“Given the current condition and the closure of the country’s airports, as well as the request of many political missions to transfer their diplomats and nationals abroad, we inform that all land borders are open for crossing,” it said.

Similarly, the Indian Embassy in Iran on Saturday said on X, “In view of the current situation in Iran, all Indian nationals and persons of Indian origin in Iran are requested to remain vigilant, avoid all unnecessary movements, follow the Embassy’s Social Media accounts and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities.”

The Indian Embassy has been putting up the advisory for all Indian nationals and Persons of Indian Origin currently in Iran and has been sharing the emergency contact numbers, for the safety of Indians residing in Iran.

Ahmedabad, June 16: After the second black box, which is a critical component in determining the cause of the crash, was recovered, the investigators have intensified the probe in the Air India crash case.

The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), commonly referred to as the second black box, was retrieved from the cockpit section of the wreckage.

This comes days after the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) was recovered from the tail end of the aircraft. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) captures all audio inside the cockpit, including conversations between pilots, radio transmissions, alarm sounds, and any background noise in the final moments before a crash.

It is a crucial tool for investigators, as it helps reconstruct the crew’s decision-making, identify possible human errors or mechanical warnings, and determine the sequence of events that led to an aviation incident.

Officials from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) confirmed the findings, noting that both devices are in the process of being analysed. The CVR is expected to provide crucial insights into the final moments of the flight, including pilot communication and cockpit sounds, which may help investigators piece together the chain of events leading up to the tragedy.

The recovery was also acknowledged by P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the crash site on Sunday. During his visit, he reviewed ongoing investigation efforts and later went to the Civil Hospital, where injured passengers and local residents are being treated.

The death toll from the catastrophic Air India crash in Meghaninagar has risen to 270, officials have said. Among the deceased are 241 passengers who were on board the ill-fated flight, as well as several others who were present in nearby hostels, mess halls, and the surrounding residential area when the aircraft went down.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat government has declared a one-day state mourning on Monday in the state as a mark of respect to former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who lost his life in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. All official functions and celebrations will remain suspended during the mourning period, and the national flag will be flown at half-mast across government buildings.