Gurpreet Singh, Author at National Times

10 Mar

Government Confirms Steady LPG and LNG Stocks, Prioritises Households Amid Global Supply Disruptions

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, TrendingLPG

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Union government on Tuesday assured the public that India has sufficient LPG and LNG supplies, even as tensions in West Asia disrupted key energy shipping routes. Officials emphasised that there is no need for panic, and domestic consumers will continue to receive priority. A senior government source said, “Crude oil supplies are being rerouted through alternative channels, with about 70 per cent now coming from routes other than the Strait of Hormuz. The domestic LPG and LNG stockpiles are healthy, and additional imports are being arranged from multiple countries.” India’s dependence on the Strait of…

10 Mar

Centre Reviews LPG Supply Strategy as West Asia Conflict Disrupts Key Energy Route

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, TrendingIndia, LPG, Narendra Modi

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Union government has stepped up efforts to manage cooking gas supplies after tensions in West Asia disrupted shipments passing through a crucial maritime corridor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a high-level meeting with Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to assess the situation and discuss contingency measures. The review comes amid rising concerns over a potential shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) following escalating hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The conflict has affected maritime movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for…

10 Mar

Chandigarh Nears Universal Literacy, Records 99.93% Rate Under Adult Education Initiative

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingChandigarh

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Chandigarh has achieved an impressive milestone in education, recording a literacy rate of 99.93 percent and effectively reaching the status of a fully literate Union Territory. The achievement was marked with a special felicitation programme organised by the local administration to honour individuals who recently gained literacy through government initiatives. The event, organised under the ULLAS campaign, celebrated newly literate citizens in a ceremony titled Nav Saksharon Ka Alankaran Samaroh. Participants who successfully completed the literacy programme were recognised for their efforts in overcoming educational barriers and acquiring reading and writing skills. The ceremony was attended by…

10 Mar

Tension Builds in Punjab Mandis Ahead of Wheat Procurement as Commission Agents Warn of Strike

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabPunjab News

Gurpreet Singh :- A sense of uncertainty is prevailing across grain markets in Punjab as the wheat procurement season approaches, with commission agents warning of a possible strike that could disrupt the entire procurement process. The development has raised concerns for the Government of Punjab, which is already preparing for the large-scale purchase of wheat from farmers in the coming weeks. Commission agents, commonly known as arhtiyas, have expressed dissatisfaction over several pending demands and have cautioned that if their issues are not addressed in time, they may resort to a strike during the procurement season. Such a move could…

10 Mar

Punjab Politics Sees Major Shift as Amit Gosain Quits BJP, Joins Shiromani Akali Dal

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabPunjab News

Gurpreet Singh :- In a significant political development in Punjab, senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Gosain resigned from the party and soon after joined the Shiromani Akali Dal along with his supporters. The induction took place in the presence of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who formally welcomed Gosain into the party fold and appointed him as the in-charge of the Ludhiana Central Assembly constituency. Welcoming him into the Akali Dal family, Badal said Gosain has long been associated with public life and had actively supported the work of his grandfather, the late Sat Pal Gosain, who served as…

10 Mar

Khaira’s Remark on ₹1,000 Aid to Women Triggers Row; Punjab Women Commission Issues Notice

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabPunjab News, Sukhpal Khaira

Gurpreet Singh :- In a fresh political controversy has erupted in Punjab after Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira made a remark regarding the ₹1,000 financial assistance meant for women, drawing sharp reactions from several quarters. The statement sparked outrage in political circles, prompting the Punjab State Women Commission to take suo motu cognisance of the matter and initiate action. Taking the issue seriously, the commission issued notices to Khaira and also summoned Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. According to officials, the notices were sent through the Senior Superintendent of Police in Kapurthala, directing both leaders to appear in…

10 Mar

BSF shoots dead Pakistani intruder in Tarn Taran while foiling heroin smuggling bid

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabPunjab News

Gurpreet Singh :- Security forces along the India–Pakistan border in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district foiled a cross-border drug smuggling attempt late Monday night, killing an unidentified Pakistani intruder who was allegedly trying to smuggle heroin into India. According to officials, the incident took place in the border area of Khemkaran between the Kaliyan and Noorwala border outposts. Personnel of the 142nd Battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF) spotted suspicious movement near International Border and challenged the intruders. When the suspects ignored repeated warnings, BSF troops opened fire, resulting in the death of one Pakistani smuggler. However, some other suspected…

10 Mar

Punjab Assembly Witnesses Tension as AAP Moves Condemnation Resolution Against Sukhpal Khaira

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingPunjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The ongoing Budget session of the Punjab Assembly witnessed heightened tensions on Tuesday as the ruling AAP targeted Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira over remarks perceived as disrespectful toward women and Dalits. The dispute erupted during zero hour when Finance Minister Harpal Cheema accused the Congress of being anti-Dalit and anti-women, alleging that its leaders often resort to derogatory language. Khaira’s comments regarding women beneficiaries under the ‘Mukh Mantri Manwab Dhiyan’ scheme triggered protests from treasury bench MLAs, including Inderjit Kaur Mann, who walked into the well of the House, forcing a short adjournment. Leader of Opposition Partap…

10 Mar

Ludhiana Schools Evacuated Amid Bomb Threat Emails; Security Teams Sweep Premises

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingLudhiana

Ludhiana (Gurpreet Singh): Ten schools in Ludhiana were placed on high alert on Tuesday after receiving emails warning of potential bomb explosions, prompting swift action by police and security agencies. Journalists in the city were also reportedly targeted with similar messages. The threatening emails, sent from marammanoubi845@gmail.comand copied to multiple school addresses including info@drishtischool.com, pdavldh@rediffmail.com, and principal.mrisldh@mris.edu.in, contained alarming messages in Punjabi, referencing past incidents and warning of attacks on children. In response, school administrations evacuated students as a precaution while police, bomb squads, and dog squads conducted detailed inspections of classrooms, corridors, and school premises. A strong police presence…

09 Mar

India Becomes World’s Second-Largest Arms Importer; Russian Share Drops to 40% as Western Ties Surge

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, World NewsArms Imports, France, India, Pakistan, Russia, SIPRI Report

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh) — India has emerged as the world’s second-largest importer of major arms, accounting for 8.3 per cent of global imports between 2021 and 2025, according to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The report, titled ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2025’, released on Monday, March 9, 2026, reveals that India’s ranking is surpassed only by Ukraine, which claimed the top spot with a 9.7 per cent share due to its ongoing conflict with Russia. A significant takeaway from the 2025 data is the steady decline in India’s reliance on Russian military…