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New Delhi, Apr 27 (BNP): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting, a key multilateral forum focused on regional security and defence cooperation.

Ahead of the visit, Singh said he looks forward to representing India at the meeting and will underscore the country’s commitment to global peace amid ongoing security challenges worldwide. He also reiterated India’s consistent policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and extremism.

The SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting brings together member states to discuss critical issues such as counter-terrorism, regional stability, and enhanced military cooperation across the Eurasian region. This year’s discussions are expected to focus on emerging security threats and coordinated responses to extremism.

During his two-day visit on April 27–28, the Defence Minister is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with counterparts from participating countries to strengthen defence ties and expand strategic cooperation. He will also interact with members of the Indian community in Bishkek.

India has consistently used the SCO platform to advocate stronger global action against terrorism and radicalisation, while promoting trust-building and peaceful regional engagement. In previous meetings, India has emphasised the need for clearer and more robust language on terrorism-related concerns.

The visit reflects India’s ongoing effort to deepen defence diplomacy while reinforcing its position on global security issues through multilateral engagement

New Delhi, Apr 27 (BNP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Prof. Gobardhan Das, a newly inducted member of NITI Aayog, in New Delhi, where discussions focused on his role in contributing to India’s evolving policy and development priorities.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister acknowledged Prof. Das’s background in public health and immunology, noting that his academic experience could help strengthen evidence-based policymaking in key sectors such as healthcare and scientific research.

Prof. Das recently joined NITI Aayog as part of efforts to bring domain expertise into national planning and has expressed his commitment to supporting India’s long-term development goals, including the vision of a developed nation by 2047.

He has highlighted the need to improve healthcare and education systems, particularly in underserved regions, and stressed that reducing regional disparities will be essential for balanced national growth.

He also pointed to the importance of boosting industrial and manufacturing capabilities to create employment opportunities and support economic resilience. Strengthening local economies, he noted, would help address migration pressures and improve living standards.

The meeting comes as the government continues to emphasise expert-driven policymaking and inclusive development, with a focus on innovation, sustainability, and equitable growth across states.

New Delhi, Apr 17 (BNP): Commuters in Bengaluru received significant relief as the city’s first double-decker metro flyover at the Central Silk Board junction became fully operational with the opening of Flyovers D and E.

With this development, all five flyovers forming part of the structure are now open to traffic, marking a major milestone in easing congestion at one of the city’s busiest and most traffic-heavy corridors.

 The project, built by Afcons Infrastructure Limited, is part of a larger elevated metro and road infrastructure initiative along the Outer Ring Road–Central Silk Board stretch. The structure is also notable for being South India’s first combined road-and-rail (metro) double-decker flyover system.

The newly operational flyovers are expected to significantly reduce travel time and ease daily traffic bottlenecks for thousands of commuters who regularly navigate the junction, which has long been considered one of Bengaluru’s most congested points.

Officials said the project aims to improve urban mobility by integrating metro rail infrastructure with road transport, offering a more seamless and efficient commuting experience.

Overall, the completion of the full flyover system marks a key step in Bengaluru’s ongoing efforts to modernise transport infrastructure and address chronic traffic congestion in the city.

New Delhi, Apr 27 (BNP): As heatwave conditions intensify across India, a major platform workers’ union has called for legally enforceable protections for gig workers exposed to extreme outdoor working conditions.

The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers has written to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, urging the government to introduce binding safeguards under the Code on Social Security, 2020 to protect delivery personnel, ride-hailing drivers, and other platform-based workers.

 The union has proposed a range of measures, including paid cooling breaks during severe heat alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department, along with protection from penalties, account blocks, or loss of incentives if workers pause duties due to extreme heat conditions.

It has also recommended basic welfare provisions such as access to drinking water, oral rehydration solutions, and designated cooling shelters for workers operating in high-temperature environments. Additionally, it has called for emergency in-app distress features and public compliance monitoring systems to ensure accountability from digital platforms.

Highlighting growing occupational risks, the federation noted that gig workers continue to operate in harsh summer conditions without adequate safety measures, increasing their vulnerability to heat-related illnesses.

The body also cited international examples, pointing to countries such as South Korea, Singapore, France, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States (California), where similar heat protection frameworks for outdoor and platform workers have already been introduced.

It emphasised that heat protection should be treated not as a discretionary benefit, but as a fundamental labour right and a public health necessity, given the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves.