President Droupadi Murmu’s reference to the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Wednesday triggered protests from Opposition parties, which raised slogans demanding rollback of the law.

While addressing members of both Houses at the start of the Budget Session, the President said the VB-G RAM G Act would provide a guarantee of 125 days of employment, curb corruption and leakages, and give fresh momentum to rural development. Her remarks were welcomed by members of the treasury benches, who thumped their desks in approval.

However, Opposition MPs strongly objected to the reference, raising slogans such as “vapas lo” (roll back the Act), forcing President Murmu to briefly pause her address.

The VB-G RAM G Act is set to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Opposition parties have demanded withdrawal of the new law and restoration of MGNREGA in its original, rights-based form, including the guaranteed right to work and the authority of panchayats.

The government, meanwhile, has maintained that the VB-G RAM G Act will further strengthen the rural employment guarantee system and improve transparency and efficiency in implementation.

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday asserted that India has sent a clear message to the world that any act of terrorism will be met with resolute and decisive action, saying the valour of the Indian armed forces was evident during Operation Sindoor, when terror camps were destroyed using indigenous capabilities.

Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament to mark the beginning of the Budget Session, the President said India had demonstrated that power can be exercised with responsibility and wisdom. “The world has seen the valour and courage of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor. Our nation, on the strength of our own resources, destroyed terror camps,” she said, amid loud desk-thumping by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and members of the treasury benches.

Murmu said the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty was also part of India’s broader fight against terrorism. She added that the government is working on Mission Sudarshan Chakra to further strengthen national security, while security forces have also taken firm action against Maoist violence. Following Operation Sindoor, she said, trust in Indian defence platforms has increased globally.

Highlighting the government’s social agenda, the President said her government remained committed to “true social justice” and empowering the poor. She said nearly 95 crore citizens are now covered under social security schemes, and around 25 crore people have moved out of poverty over the past decade.

Murmu also said the government has succeeded in tackling corruption and scams, ensuring better utilisation of public funds. “In the last 10–11 years, India has strengthened its foundation in every sector,” she said, describing the period as one marked by major achievements and transformative experiences.

Referring to national commemorations, the President said celebrations marking the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur and the 150th birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda inspired the younger generation and strengthened the journey towards Viksit Bharat (Developed India). She also mentioned events linked to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Bhupen Hazarika, saying they reinforced the spirit of unity and Ek Bharat, Shresht Bharat.

However, her reference to the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) scheme triggered sharp protests from Opposition benches. Murmu said the scheme would guarantee 125 days of work, curb corruption and leakages, and provide a boost to rural development.

Opposition members raised slogans demanding rollback of the Act, forcing the President to briefly pause her address. The Opposition has sought restoration of MGNREGA in its original, rights-based form, while the government maintains that the new legislation strengthens the rural employment guarantee framework.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on Wednesday morning after a chartered aircraft carrying him and others crash-landed at Baramati airport, officials said. The tragic incident occurred around 8.45 am as the aircraft was attempting to land after departing from Mumbai.

According to initial reports from aviation sources and state officials, the plane veered off the runway during the landing approach. Visuals from the crash site showed wreckage near the landing strip, with smoke billowing from the aircraft.

Authorities confirmed that Pawar and several others on board lost their lives in the accident. Emergency response teams, including local police, fire services and medical personnel, rushed to the spot immediately. Victims were pulled out of the wreckage and taken to nearby medical facilities, where they were declared dead.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to launch a detailed investigation into the crash to determine its exact cause. Preliminary indications suggest that technical factors during the landing phase may have contributed to the accident, though officials said conclusions would be drawn only after a thorough probe.

Ajit Pawar, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and nephew of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, was one of the most influential figures in Maharashtra politics. He served as the Deputy Chief Minister and held key portfolios in the state government, playing a central role in governance and political strategy.

News of his sudden death sent shockwaves across Maharashtra and the country, with political leaders across party lines expressing grief and condolences.

Official statements from the Maharashtra government, the DGCA and the local administration regarding the exact number of casualties and details of the investigation are awaited.

Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh on Saturday said that more than 20 lakh long-pending promotions of government employees have been cleared over the last 11 years, ending a prolonged phase of stagnation in which many employees retired without a single promotion.

Delivering the welcome address at the 18th edition of the Rozgar Mela, the minister said the clearance of promotion cases reflects a wider transformation in government human resource management, marked by faster recruitment processes, transparency and improved career progression.

At the event, over 61,000 appointment letters were issued simultaneously across the country, with 49,225 appointments pertaining to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). Highlighting the growing role of women in security forces, Dr. Singh said policy reforms over the past decade have enabled greater participation of women, including their deployment along the zero line in the Border Security Force. He noted that for the first time, an all-male CRPF contingent at the Republic Day parade on January 26 will be led by a woman Assistant Commandant.

The minister recalled that the Rozgar Mela was conceptualised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 22, 2023, to accelerate government recruitment and make the process more efficient and equitable.

Citing recruitment data, Dr. Singh said appointments made through UPSC, SSC and Railway Recruitment Boards have increased significantly. While these agencies collectively made 7.22 lakh appointments between 2004 and 2014, the number rose to 10.96 lakh since 2014, an increase of nearly one-and-a-half times.

On backlog vacancies in reserved categories, he said appointments increased from 1.08 lakh earlier to 4.79 lakh over the last 11 years, helping address long-standing inequities in representation. He also pointed out that around 14.6 per cent of appointees at the current Rozgar Mela belong to the Scheduled Tribe category, nearly double the mandated reservation, indicating focused outreach to tribal communities.

Dr. Singh outlined several recruitment reforms aimed at improving candidate convenience. These include a new SSC digital portal offering flexible exam centres and dates, online access to answer keys and grievance redressal, a unified one-time registration system by UPSC integrated with Aadhaar and DigiLocker, and assured exam centre allotment nationwide for persons with disabilities. He also highlighted the “Pratibha Setu” initiative, which connects qualified but unselected candidates with alternative employment opportunities.

Emphasising that government jobs are part of a broader employment ecosystem, the minister cited initiatives such as Startup India, which has generated over 21 lakh jobs through 2.08 lakh start-ups, and the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, under which 56.03 crore loans have been disbursed, over 60 per cent to women. He also referred to benefits extended to street vendors under PM SVANidhi and artisans under the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma scheme.

Concluding, Dr. Jitendra Singh said policies are being framed with the vision of a developed India by 2047, adding that the youth receiving appointment letters today would be at the peak of their careers when the nation celebrates 100 years of Independence, playing a key role in shaping India’s future.