1. Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Schedule

Election Commission (EC) has announced that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases, spanning from April 19 to June 1. The counting of votes will take place on June 4. Simultaneously, Assembly polls will occur in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim, with results declared on the same day. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is now in effect.

2.  Admiral L Ramdas, Former Chief of Naval Staff, Passes Away at 90

Admiral Laxminarayan Ramdas, former Chief of Naval Staff, breathed his last on March 15 due to age-related ailments. Known for his heroic role during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, he later emerged as a leading peace activist, advocating for nuclear disarmament after retirement. The Indian Navy announced his passing with deep sorrow and respect.

3. Kejriwal Granted Bail in ED Summons Case

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appeared in court on March 16 in connection with the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) complaint. He faced allegations of not complying with the agency’s summonses related to the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy Scam. The court allowed bail upon furnishing a bond of ₹15,000 and a surety of ₹1 lakh.

4. Pharma Firms’ Electoral Bond Purchases Raise Questions

Around 37 pharma and healthcare companies collectively acquired electoral bonds worth approximately ₹903 crore. Notably, this constitutes about 7.4% of the total ₹12,155 crore released data. The top buyers include Yashoda Super-Speciality Hospital (₹162 crore), Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (₹80 crore), and Torrent Pharmaceuticals (₹77.5 crore). The MD of Aurobindo Pharma, a prime accused in the Delhi Excise Policy scam, also features in the list. 

5. J&K Assembly Polls Soon After Lok Sabha Elections

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced that Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will be held soon after the Lok Sabha polls. The region has not seen Assembly elections since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The Legislative Assembly was dissolved in November 2018, leaving the people without representation for the past five years.

6. Yasin Malik’s JKLF Ban Extended

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has prolonged the ban on separatist leader Yasin Malik’s Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF-Y) for an additional five years. The organization, deemed an “unlawful association,” continues to propagate anti-India activities. Yasin Malik, currently serving life imprisonment in a terror funding case, faces allegations of raising funds for separatist and terrorist endeavors in Jammu and Kashmir.

7. Modi Launches Karnataka Campaign

Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated the BJP’s Lok Sabha campaign in Karnataka, addressing a rally in AICC leader Mallikarjun Kharge’s home district Kalaburagi. He asserted that the BJP would secure over 400 seats this election, urging voters to prevent the Congress from winning even one seat. Modi criticized the cash-strapped Karnataka government, emphasizing rampant corruption and anarchy within the party. He called for effective representation by electing more BJP MPs from Karnataka.

8. Professional Dress Code for Maharashtra Teachers

The Maharashtra government has introduced a dress code for school teachers, aiming to promote professionalism and maintain a suitable learning atmosphere. Female teachers are recommended to wear traditional clothing such as sarees, salwar suits, or kurtas with dupattas, while male teachers are instructed to wear neatly tucked-in shirts and trousers. Informal attire like jeans and t-shirts is prohibited. Additionally, teachers now carry the prefix “Tr” before their names, acknowledging their pivotal role in shaping young minds.

9. Kavitha Remanded to ED Custody

BRS leader Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, faces money laundering allegations linked to the Delhi excise policy scam. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested her and secured custody until March 23. Kavitha is accused of being a key conspirator and beneficiary in the case. The ED cites her false evidence and a dramatic display of mobile phones during questioning as evidence.

10. Adani Group Faces US Bribery Probe

US prosecutors have expanded their investigation into India’s Adani Group, focusing on potential bribery and the conduct of the company’s founder, Gautam Adani. The inquiry examines whether Adani entities or individuals linked to the company paid officials in India for favorable treatment regarding an energy project. The US Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department’s fraud unit are handling the case, also scrutinizing Indian renewable energy firm Azure Power Global.

The post Mar 16, India Tonight: Admiral L Ramdas Passes Away, Adani Group Faces US Bribery Probe, LS Elections 2024, And More first appeared on The New Voice of India - Worldwide | Short Online Top Trending & Breaking News.