National

ECI to Develop a Cohesive IT Architecture for Enhanced Stakeholder Collaboration

Published

11 months ago

March 5, 2025

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Wednesday plans to create a unified IT architecture complete with a tailored dashboard to support various stakeholders. This decision was made during a two-day conference for the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of all States and Union Territories, held at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM).

In a communiqué, the ECI stated, “Aligned with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s vision to leverage technology for greater efficiency in elections, we are set to develop a unified IT architecture with a customized dashboard to assist different stakeholders. This single-window platform will enhance the flow of information, providing role-based access.”

This initiative aims to improve communication among officials, incorporating built-in cross-verification features to reduce human errors. Additionally, the ECI has decided to adopt a modern approach to capacity building by creating a series of animated video capsules tailored for each stakeholder, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all election-related aspects. These videos will facilitate self-paced, continuous learning for stakeholders.

On the final day of the conference, CEC Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, reviewed actionable points presented by each CEO concerning the timely execution of key deliverables, assigning a unique stakeholder to each CEO.

Kumar emphasized the necessity for all officials to operate within the current constitutional and legal frameworks, including the Representation of the People Acts of 1950 and 1951, the Registration of Electors Rules of 1960, the Conduct of Elections Rules of 1961, and instructions provided periodically by the ECI.

“The conference sessions also fostered renewed energy aimed at enhancing communication between CEOs and District Election Officers (DEOs) to swiftly address misinformation and local challenges within their jurisdictions. There was a collective agreement among CEOs on the need to bolster their presence on social media for ongoing engagement with voters amid the rapidly evolving media landscape,” the ECI stated.

National

Three Burned Alive as Car Falls from Bridge in Gujarat’s Rajkot

Published

2 weeks ago

January 31, 2026

Namma Kudla

Gujarat: A tragic accident claimed the lives of three people in Gujarat’s Rajkot district on Monday.A car fell from a bridge and caught fire, killing all occupants on the spot.

The incident occurred on the Gondal–Atkot highway.The car was travelling from Chhota Udepur towards Gondal.

According to reports, the vehicle hit the bridge’s safety barrier.After the collision, the car fell nearly eight feet into a small stream below the bridge.

Soon after the fall, the car caught fire.The occupants were trapped inside the vehicle and were unable to escape.All three were burned alive and died at the scene.

Police and fire personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information.The fire was later brought under control.The bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.

The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Further details are awaited.

National

Girl Records Reels Inside Jail, Video Sparks Debate

Published

2 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bhopal: A young woman has come under public attention after recording reels inside a jail while meeting her boyfriend.

The incident happened at Raipur Central Jail in Chhattisgarh, which is known for high security. Mobile phones are strictly not allowed inside the jail. Despite this rule, the woman carried her phone into the visitor room.

She recorded videos while talking to her boyfriend during the meeting. In the video, she speaks emotionally about visiting him on his birthday. She says she feels sad because she cannot stay with him on his special day.

After the meeting, she uploaded the video on her social media account. The video quickly went viral on different platforms. The inmate seen in the video is identified as Tarakeshwar.

He is currently lodged in Raipur Central Jail. He is an accused in a case under the NDPS Act. The incident has raised serious questions about jail security.

People on social media are criticising jail staff and officials. Many users are asking how a mobile phone was allowed inside the jail.

They are also questioning the checking process at the jail entrance. So far, jail authorities have not given any official reaction.

National

MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

Published

4 months ago

October 6, 2025

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.