FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session | India’s National Newspaper since 1818 Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR Empowered but powerless Russia: Talks on US peace plan for Ukraine ‘are proceeding constructively’ Page 7 Page 9 BRIEFLY Decisive victory for Mahayuti in Maha local body polls: Mumbai: The ruling Mahayuti alliance won a decisive victory in the Maharashtra local bodies, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party. Of 288 Maharashtra Nagar Parishad and panchayat seats whose results have been declared, the BJP has won 129. Thanking the people, Union minister and the BJP’s chief strategist Amit Shah said the victory is the “people’s blessing on the vision of the NDA central and state governments, led by Modi ji, for the welfare of all sections of society”. Polling for the 264 municipal councils and nagar panchayats of the state ~ held after a almost a decade ~ took place on 2 December. On 20 December, elections were held in around 20 municipal councils and nagar panchayats. Earlier report on Page 5 NORTH-EAST Transgender activist-cyclist completes peace mission Page 11 President gives nod to VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 December P resident Droupadi Murmu has given assent to the Viksit Bharat ~ Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB ~ G RAM G) Bill, 2025, paving the way for a new statutory rural employment framework that replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. The Act enhances the statutory wage employment guarantee to 125 days per financial year for rural households and seeks to advance empowerment, inclusive growth, convergence of development initiatives and saturation-based delivery, thereby strengthening the foundation for a prosperous, resilient and self-reliant Rural Bharat. The VB G Ram G Bill was passed in Parliament amid strong protests by the Opposition over the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the existing rural employment guarantee scheme, MGNREGA, and accusing the government of putting the financial burden on States. Among other features, the Act provides a statutory guarantee of not less than 125 days of wage employment per rural household in each financial year to households whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work (Section 5(1)). This enhancement over the earlier 100-day entitlement significantly strengthens livelihood security, predictability of work, and income stability for rural households. To facilitate adequate availability of agricultural labour during peak sowing and harvesting seasons, the Act empowers States to notify an aggregated pause period aggregating to sixty days in a financial year (Section 6). The full 125-day employment guarantee remains intact, to be provided during the remaining period, ensuring a calibrated balance that supports both agricultural productivity and worker security. The Act mandates payment of wages on a weekly basis or, in any case, within 15 days of completion of work (Section 5(3)). In cases of delay beyond the stipulated period, delay compensation shall be payable in accordance with the provisions laid down in Schedule II, reinforcing wage security and protecting workers from delays. Wage employment under the Act is explicitly aligned with the creation of durable public assets across four priority thematic domains: Water security and water-related works, Core rural infrastructure, Livelihood-related infrastructure, and Works to mitigate extreme weather events. The Act is implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, to be notified and operationalised by the State Governments in accordance with the provisions of the Act. 90 per cent of Aravalli range under protection: Bhupender Yadav AGENCIES South 24-Parganas, 21 December Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav (Photo) strongly rejected allegations that the Centre has diluted protections for the Aravalli hills on Sunday, asserting that nearly 90 per cent of the Aravalli landscape will remain under the protected zone. Mining will b e p ermitte d only in a minimal area, subject to strict Supreme Court scrutiny, he said. Addressing the controversy around the Supreme Court’s recent order on the Aravalli Hills, Mr Yadav said: “There are no relaxations on the Aravalli. The Aravalli range spans four states: Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. A petition regarding it has been pending in court since 1985.” Clarifying on the debated “100-metre” definition, the Union Minister said misinformation was being spread. “Some YouTube channels misinterpret the 100 metre range as the top 100 metres, which is not true. Monday, 22 December 2025 SPORTS WORLD PERSPECTIVE | The 100 metres refers to the spread of the hill from top to bottom, and a gap between two ranges will also b e considered part of the Aravalli range. With this definition, 90 per cent of the area comes under the protected zone,” he said. Mr Yadav underlined that mining would remain tightly regulated. “Mark my words, the total Aravalli area is about 1.47 lakh square kilometres. Only around 217 square kilometres, nearly two per cent, is eligible for mining. Even so, the Supreme Court has dire cte d that a Management Plan for Sustainable Mining be prepared. After that, permission from ICFRE will be required before any activity can proceed,” he said. He further stressed that mining in the Delhi Aravalli is completely prohibited. “All protected areas and forest reserves will remain as they are in Delhi. Our government has been running a Green Aravalli programme for the past two years. We are very considerate about the Aravalli, and a false narrative is being created,” Mr Yadav added. Echoing the Centre’s position, Rajasthan Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa said that around 98 per cent of the Aravalli area in Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat is already protected. “The remaining one to two per cent will not cause any harm to Rajasthan,” he said. Earlier on 20 November, the Supreme Court accepted the Centre’s definition of the Aravalli hills and approved re commendations for sustainable mining. The apex cour t also dire c te d the environment ministry to prepare a detailed Management Plan for Sustainable Mining to identify permissible zones, protect ecologically sensitive areas and prevent illegal mining across the Aravalli landscape. • More reports on Page 5 Ashes: Cummins, Starc & Lyon star as Australia win Adelaide Test Page 12 No attempt to breach security at Bangladesh mission: MEA STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 December India on Sunday rejected the “misleading propaganda’’ in sections of the Bangladesh media that there was an attempt to breach the security or create a security situation by some protesters who gathered outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Saturday. Responding to queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (Photo) sought to set the record straight. “The fact is that about 20-25 youth gathered in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on 20 December and raised slogans in protest against the horrendous killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, while also calling for the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh,’’ he said. The spokesperson said there was no attempt to breach the fence or create a security situation at any time. The police stationed at the spot dispersed the group after a few minutes. “Visual evidence of these events is available publicly for all to see. India is committed to ensure the safety of foreign Missions/Posts in its territory in accordance with the Vienna Convention,’’ he added. The spokesperson said India continues to keep a close watch on the evolving situation in Bangladesh. “Our officials remain in touch with the Bangladesh authorities and have conveyed to them our strong concerns at the attacks on minorities. We have also urged that the perpetrators of the barbaric killing of Das be brought to justice.’’ he said. Meanwhile, the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chittagong has announced the immediate suspension of all visa operations, effective Sunday, following a security incident at the Assistant High Commission of India (AHCI) in the port city. In an official statement, IVAC Bangladesh confirmed that services would remain halted for an indefinite period. “Due to a recent security incident at AHCI Chittagong , Indian visa operations at IVAC Chittagong will remain suspended from 21/12/2025 until further notice,” the statement read. The suspension follows reports of unrest and security concerns near the diplomatic mission earlier this week. The IVAC has clarified that the decision to resume services will depend on a thorough assessment of the local environment. “The announcement for reopening the visa centre will be made after reviewing the situation,” the IVAC Bangladesh added. Railways hikes train fares for AC, non-AC coach passengers STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 December Indian Railways has increased train ticket fare for AC coaches as well as non-AC passengers on Mail and Express trains for the second time in less than six months. Under the revised train ticket fare structure, passengers will now have to pay an additional 2 paise per kilometre for travelling in AC coaches and non-AC Mail and Express trains. As a result of the hike, a passenger travelling 500 km in a non-AC coach will have to pay Rs 10 extra on the ticket fare. The revised ticket fare will be effective from 26 December and is estimated to generate Rs 600 crore in revenue till 31 March 2026. However, the train ticket fare for suburban (local) services and Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) will remain the same. Similarly, train ticket fare has not been changed for journeys up to 215 km in ordinary class. “There is no increase in the monthly season tickets of suburban trains and up to 215 km travel in ordinary class of other trains,” said Railways officials. This is the second hike in train ticket fares in the current financial year. Earlier, the Indian Railways had hiked its fare in July this year. The July hike has generated Rs 700 crore in revenue for the Railways. The Railways has attributed this hike in train ticket fare to the increased manpower and expanded operations over the past decade. According to the Railways, its total manpower cost has increased to Rs 1,15,000 crore and pension cost to Rs 60,000 crore. Moreover, the Railways' total cost of operations has also increased to Rs 2,63,000 crore in 2024-25. Govt committed to protecting farmers’ interests, says PM; slams Cong for neglecting North-East STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 December Smog Siege Smog blankets roads in the capital on Sunday. SUBRATA DUTTA Emphasising that the nation’s farmers and annadatas have a crucial role in building a developed India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his government is working with farmers’ interests as the top priority and that farmer-friendly schemes are being extended to all. He highlighted that alongside agricultural welfare initiatives, it is essential to ensure a continuous supply of fertilisers to farmers. The PM was laying the foundation stone of Ammonia-Urea Fertiliser Project of Assam Valley Fertiliser and Chemical Company Limited at Namrup in Dibrugarh, Assam. Stating that today is a historic day for Assam and the entire North-East, Mr Modi remarked that the long-awaited dream of Namrup and Dibrugarh has been fulfilled, as a new chapter of industrial progress begins in the region. He highlighted that just a short while ago he performed the ‘bhoomi pujan’ of the Ammonia-Urea Fertiliser Plant, and before arriving in Dibrugarh, inaugurated the new terminal at Guwahati Airport. The PM noted that everyone is saying Assam has now caught a new pace of development. He emphasised that what is being witnessed today is only the beginning, and Assam must be taken much further ahead. Mr Modi also made a sharp attack on the Congress party, alleging that the Opposition party has always opposed the development of Assam and the North-east. “Congress insulted Assam’s icon Bhupen Hazarika when the music maestro was conferred Bharat Ratna by the BJP government. The Congress party even opposed our decision to set up a semiconductor manufacturing unit in Assam’s Nagaon district,” he said. The Prime Minister claimed that Congress has no love and respect for the Assamese people, and instead, they are biased towards the infiltrators. “Congress backed the infiltrators who have destroyed the demography of Assam because those infiltrators are the vote bank of the opposition party. The BJP, on the contrary, has always been protective about ensuring the rights of people of Assam,” he said, adding that the current dispensation has been working tirelessly to protect the indigenous people of the state. Earlier in the day, PM Modi paid homage to the martyrs of the historic Assam Movement at the Swahid Smarak Kshetra in Guwahati.