President Droupadi Murmu on Friday expressed confidence that India would eradicate sickle cell disease well before its national target year of 2047, underscoring the need for concerted efforts to raise awareness about the genetic blood disorder, particularly among tribal communities.
She was addressing a state-level programme in Omkareshwar on the occasion of World Sickle Cell Day. Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav were also present on the occasion.
“I am confident that with the collective strength and active participation of all states, we will certainly achieve our national goal of eliminating sickle cell disease from the country much before 2047,” the President said.
Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder in which red blood cells become sickle-shaped instead of their normal round form. The condition affects the flow of oxygen in the body and can cause pain, anaemia, infections and other health complications.
Murmu said studies have shown that the prevalence of sickle cell disease among tribal communities in India is several times higher than that in the general population.
“I would like to appeal from this platform to all state governments and officials that this disease should not be taken lightly because it is passed on from one generation to another. Efforts should be made to eradicate it completely because treatment is possible. This disease can be eliminated. Such a claim has come to light,” she said.
Madhya Pradesh and Odisha are among the states with the highest prevalence of sickle cell disease among tribal populations in the country.
Observed annually on June 19, World Sickle Cell Day aims to raise awareness about the disease, promote timely screening and treatment, and improve the quality of life of those affected by the condition. (Agencies)

Senior IPS officer Dayal Gangwar was suspended over allegations of harassment levelled by the family of GRP constable Soumya Ranjan Swain, who was lynched on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar last month.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has ordered the suspension of Gangwar, who was serving as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Home Department, said a statement issued on Thursday.

Gangwar’s name had surfaced during the investigation into the lynching of Swain, who was allegedly tied to a pole and beaten to death in Bhingarpur-Kaja in the Balianta Police Station area on May 7.

The mob attack took place after a woman accused the constable of attempting to rape her following a collision between his motorcycle and her two-wheeler, according to police.

As the incident triggered a furore in the state, Swain’s family had alleged that he was subjected to both physical and mental harassment by Gangwar, who was then ADG (Communication), and demanded that he be brought within the ambit of the investigation.

The 1998-batch IPS officer was subsequently transferred and posted as OSD in the Home Department by the state government.

Following this, ADG (Railways) Arun Bothra was directed to conduct an inquiry into allegations that Gangwar had subjected Swain to mental harassment by allegedly compelling him to perform personal and domestic chores unrelated to official duties.

Bothra was also tasked with examining whether the stress described in Swain’s personal diary had any bearing on the circumstances leading to his death. The inquiry report was submitted to the DGP last month.

The opposition BJD had also raised questions over the alleged connection between the deceased constable and the senior IPS officer, who was ADG (Railways) two years back and supposedly knew Swain since then.

The party claimed that Swain had been engaged in work at Gangwar’s residence and gymnasium instead of performing official police duties.

As part of the probe into the mob-lynching case, the state government had earlier suspended four police personnel, disengaged two home guards and transferred the inspector-in-charge of Balianta police station over their alleged roles and conduct in the incident.

Police have so far arrested 18 persons, including the prime accused, in connection with the lynching. (Agenciese)

 The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to grant interim relief on a plea challenging the implementation of the CBSE’s three-language policy for Class 9 students from the 2026-27 academic session. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice V. Mohana ordered that the petition be tagged with similar matters already pending before the court.

The plea, filed by NGO Friends of People for Active Democracy, questioned the implementation of the policy rather than the three-language formula itself. During the hearing, the bench observed that no interim order could be passed at this stage, stating that the matter had already been argued extensively. The case has been listed for further hearing on July 14.

In a lighter moment, Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked on the NGO’s name, asking whether such nomenclature was intended to create fear among the court or the public. The counsel clarified that the trust was established in 2013 and informed the bench that CBSE was expected to issue detailed guidelines by June 15.

Earlier, on May 27, the apex court had issued notices to the Centre, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), seeking comprehensive responses. It had also directed the Centre to submit a report on the preparedness of the CBSE to implement the policy.

Under a circular issued by the CBSE, the study of three languages, including at least two native Indian languages, has been made compulsory for Class 9 students from July 1, 2026. The move is aimed at aligning the curriculum with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.

According to the board, students choosing a foreign language may do so only as a third language after studying two native Indian languages or as an additional fourth language. No board examination will be conducted for the third language at the Class 10 level, and all assessments for the subject will be school-based. The performance of students in the third language will, however, be reflected in the CBSE certificate.

The board has also provided for case-by-case exemptions for foreign students returning to India and relaxations for children with special needs under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Schools facing a shortage of qualified language teachers have been advised to adopt flexible arrangements, including inter-school resource sharing and virtual teaching support.

The three-language formula forms part of broader curriculum reforms announced by the CBSE, which also include the introduction of two-level systems for mathematics and science from the 2026-27 academic session.