National News
Will the changed rules of the Election Commission affect transparency? Understand every point

New Delhi: On the recommendation of the Election Commission, the rules have been clarified regarding the electronic records sought by the Law Ministry in the form of documents. The amended rules say that common people will not be able to take the footage of CCTV cameras installed in polling booths and webcasting. The opposition, including the Congress, is strongly opposing these amendments.
Amidst the commotion in the matter, spoke to the Election Commission. An attempt was made to find out whether the new amended rules will have any effect on the transparency of elections? Can there be any possibility of malpractice due to this? Or any other kind of manipulation? In this entire matter, a senior official of the Election Commission clarified about the amended rules.
Question: Congress has strongly opposed the amended rules and has questioned the transparency of the amendment.
Answer: Election Commission official says that this is completely baseless. There will be no reduction in transparency in the new amended rules. We are not hiding anything from anyone nor are we trying to hide anything, through amendment, Rule 93 (2) (A) of the old rule Conduct of Election Rule, 1961 has been amended to make it clear and unambiguous that there is no mention of CCTV cameras and webcasting footage in seeking records.
For those who ask for this record, it should not be construed as giving the footage of CCTV cameras and webcasting installed inside the polling booths. The new amended rules make it clear that these electronic records will not be given to the general public. This includes footage from CCTV cameras, webcasting and videography.
Question: Where did the case start?
Answer: It started with the case of Advocate Mehmood Pracha, in which on his petition, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on December 9 ordered the Election Commission to give a copy of the videography, CCTV footage and documents related to votes of a polling booth during the Haryana Assembly elections to Advocate Pracha. Only after this, on the recommendation of the Election Commission, the Law Ministry made these changes in the rules. Officials say that in the old rules, electronic data was also being sought under 17 (C) by citing Rule 93 (2) (A). There is no clear mention of this in the old rules, because at that time there was no provision for CCTV cameras, webcasting and videography at polling stations.
Question: So will the candidate also not be able to get CCTV footage?
Answer: This is not so, if the candidate wants, he will still be able to get electronic records like CCTV cameras through the court as before. This restriction will be only on common people. But here it would be right to clarify that the candidate will also be able to get electronic data of only that assembly or Lok Sabha constituency from where he has contested the election. It is not that he will be able to get CCTV records of any electoral area. In this too, this electronic record will be available only to the candidate, not to his political party.
Question: What is the problem in providing electronic records?
Answer: The Commission official says that there are major problems on two fronts. First, the safety of voters and second, its misuse by mischievous elements through AI. The Commission said that if such CCTV footage records in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Chhattisgarh and many other states including Naxal-affected states fall into wrong hands, it can pose a threat to the safety of voters. Secondly, it can be misused through AI. Especially during elections.
People can misuse this on social media by creating polling booths of different states through AI on the day of voting and can make fake news viral by giving wrong messages to voters as per their wish. If this is stopped, the voting will be over and the wrong people can succeed in their nefarious intentions. Electronic data can also be sold outside the country.
National News
Bakra Eid: UP Police on high alert, proactive measures in place to ensure communal harmony

New Delhi, June 6: Ahead of Bakra Eid celebrations on Saturday, the Uttar Pradesh Police are on high alert, taking proactive steps to maintain communal harmony and ensure peaceful festivities across the state. Security arrangements have been tightened in districts like Meerut, Aligarh, Etawah, and Ghazipur with the deployment of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), and Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) teams.
In Meerut, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vipin Tada said: “Meerut police are on alert for Bakra Eid. A control room has been set up for real-time monitoring. Both the SSP and the District Magistrate will oversee the operations. Central Peace Committee have been held with members of all communities. PAC, civil police, and LIU teams have been deployed for security arrangements. Social media activity is being closely monitored, and strict action will be taken against those spreading misinformation. Prayers in public places, sacrifice of banned animals, and open-air sacrifices are prohibited.”
In Aligarh, similar measures are being enforced.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mayank Pathak said: “We are making stringent security arrangements for Bakra Eid. Additional forces, including two companies of RAF and PAC, are being deployed. Personnel from various police stations and Circle Officers (COs) will also be present on the ground. Surveillance is being conducted to monitor criminal or mischievous activities. Drone cameras will be used to monitor key areas. Intelligence and LIU are providing moment-to-moment updates. Those posting inflammatory or objectionable content on social media will face strict action.”
In Etawah, the police have finalised their strategy for smooth celebrations.
SSP Brijesh Kumar Srivastava said: “We have convened a Central Peace Committee meeting involving key stakeholders from both communities. The district has been divided into zones and sectors, with responsibilities assigned to police personnel and magistrates. All officials will remain on patrol to ensure the festival is celebrated peacefully.”
In Ghazipur, Superintendent of Police Iraj Raja said: “During the Central Peace Committee meeting, clear instructions were given: sacrifices must not be carried out in open spaces, and prayers should not be offered in public areas. The sacrifice of banned animals is strictly prohibited. Anyone violating these guidelines will face action as per government directives. Security arrangements have been completed across both urban and rural areas. Magistrates and police officers will be deployed from the morning prayers until late at night to ensure the safety of the celebrations.”
Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakra Eid, Bakrid, Eid Qurban, or Qurban Bayarami, is one of the most significant festivals in Islam. Observed in the month of Zul Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar, it commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
National News
Rahul Gandhi meets family of ‘Mountain Man’ in Bihar

Patna, June 6: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Dashrath Nagar village in Gaya district on Friday as part of his outreach efforts in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections.
During his visit, he met the family of the late Dashrath Manjhi, popularly known as the “Mountain Man” for single-handedly carving a path through a hill in Gehlor village to connect it with Wajirganj block in the district.
Rahul Gandhi was received warmly by Bhagirath Manjhi, son of Dashrath Manjhi, who welcomed him with traditional hospitality.
The Congress leader sat with the family, shared coconut water, and listened to their concerns, including their financial hardships.
According to sources, Bhagirath Manjhi also expressed his interest in contesting the upcoming Bihar Assembly election from the Bodh Gaya constituency, though no official announcement was made.
Following his meeting in Dashrath Nagar, Gandhi proceeded to Gehlor village, where he garlanded the statue of Dashrath Manjhi as a mark of respect.
He was accompanied by Bhagirath Manjhi and later departed for Rajgir to attend a scheduled programme.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi landed at Gaya Airport, where he was welcomed by Congress leaders and supporters.
This marks Rahul Gandhi’s sixth visit to Bihar in 2025, so far, signalling a renewed push to strengthen the Congress’ presence at the grassroots level in the run-up to the Assembly elections.
Rahul Gandhi’s recent engagements in the state reflect the Congress party’s strategy to reconnect with local icons, marginalised communities, and symbolic figures, in an attempt to regain political ground in the state
Following his visit to Gaya, Rahul is scheduled to travel to Rajgir in Nalanda district to attend a Samvidhan Sammelan and return to Gaya to attend a ‘Mahila Samvad’ (Women’s Dialogue) programme and visit Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, as part of his outreach to marginalised communities and women across the state.
National News
SC allows NBE to schedule NEET-PG 2025 exam on August 3

New Delhi, June 6: The Supreme Court on Friday allowed an application filed by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) seeking permission to schedule the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-PG 2025 on August 3.
A Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Augustine George Masih took note of the submission that August 3 was the earliest possible available date given by its technology partner for conducting the NEET-PG 2025 examination in terms of the recent apex court order.
Allowing the application filed by the NBE to conduct the NEET-PG 2025 examination on August 3, the Justice Mishra-led Bench clarified that no further time extension will be allowed by the top court.
In an order passed on May 30, the Supreme Court deprecated the practice of conducting the NEET-PG exam in two shifts and opined that holding the examination in two shifts leads to arbitrariness and cannot give a level playing field to the candidates.
It ordered the NBE to make necessary arrangements for holding the NEET-PG 2025 examination in one shift, duly ensuring that complete transparency is maintained and secure centres are identified and commissioned.
“The question papers in two shifts can never be of the same difficulty level. Last year, it (NEET-PG 2024) may have been held in two shifts in the facts and circumstances of that stage. But the examining body ought to have considered making arrangements for holding the examination in one shift,” the Supreme Court had remarked.
The apex court was dealing with a clutch of petitions challenging the lack of transparency in the conduct of the NEET-PG examination.
In their plea filed before the apex court, NEET-PG aspirants claimed that the introduction of two shifts, normalisation method, and change in the tie-breaker criterion affected medical students adversely. The petitioners said that NEET-PG had never been held in two shifts before and had always remained a single-shift and single-day examination to ensure a uniform examination standard and fairness of the national test.
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