Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi was discharged from the city's Sir Ganga Ram hospital on Thursday, after receiving treatment for a stomach-related ailment.

Sharing an update about her health, Ganga Ram Hospital chairman Dr. Ajay Swaroop said that Sonia Gandhi is stable and has been discharged from the hospital.

The former Congress President was hospitalised on 15th June, over a stomach-related issue.

Doctors Dr. S. Nundy and Dr. Amitabh Yadav, who treated the 78-year-old leader, said that she was admitted for an abdominal infection and was treated with medication.

“Her condition has improved on conservative treatment, and she will continue further treatment as an outpatient and will be monitored closely,” they said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday boarded the Vande Bharat train at Srinagar to reach Katra in Reasi district.

Posting videos and pictures from the moving train, the CM said on X, “Time to head to Jammu”.

Last week, his father and former chief minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, travelled on the Vande Bharat train from Srinagar to Katra and back.

Dr Farooq Abdullah stayed for the night at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, where he joined prayers during the night and in the morning before heading back to Srinagar.

The Vande Bharat train takes three hours to reach Srinagar from Katra. In September this year, after work at the Jammu railway station is completed, the Vande Bharat train will run between Jammu and Srinagar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended warm birthday wishes to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, as the latter turned 55.

Gandhi was born on June 19, 1970, at Delhi's Holy Family Hospital, the eldest child of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi.

Taking to X, Prime Minister Modi wrote, "Birthday greetings to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life."

Several Union Ministers, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, also conveyed their greetings on social media.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh held a press conference today to address the recent baseless and defamatory allegations made against him by Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia. He was accompanied by AAP Punjab General Secretary Deepak Bali and AAP leader Tarandeep Sunny.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday told mediapersons that “Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas” as mandated by the Central government would not be observed in the state on June 25 this year.

Reacting to the Union government's communique to state governments on the observation of June 25 as the ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’, the Chief Minister said the decision of the Centre in the matter was nothing but a “mockery” of democracy and the Indian Constitution.

The Union Government has decided that June 25 every year would be observed as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas” to honour those who opposed and fought against the injustices during the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Late Indira Gandhi in 1975.

In a move to enhance voter convenience, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that will ensure Elector Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) are delivered within 15 days of any update in the electoral rolls.

The reform is part of a series of citizen-centric measures being rolled out by the ECI under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi.

The initiative is geared towards minimising delays, enhancing transparency, and delivering efficient, timely, and trackable voter services.

Under the new SOP, the entire process -- from the generation of the EPIC by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to its delivery at the voter’s doorstep -- will be digitally tracked. Voters will receive real-time SMS updates at every stage of the delivery process.

Jammu and Kashmir cabinet headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the cabinet sub-committee (CSC) report on reservations in government jobs.

The CSC finalised its report on June 10, and the same will be tabled before the cabinet to take its call on the contentious issue that has constitutional and legal implications.

The report finalised on June 10 by the CSC will be discussed, and a view will be taken on how to proceed on the sensitive issue.

Of the five cabinet ministers in J&K, except the CM, three ministers are members of the CSC.

There has been unrest among the open merit candidates as the reservations under various categories in the UT have reached almost 70 per cent, leaving just 30 per cent of seats for the open merit candidates to compete among themselves when applying for a government job.

The Karnataka government has announced that it is all set to host a grand event to mark International Yoga Day on June 21 this year.

Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced that International Yoga Day will be celebrated on June 21 at the Vidhana Soudha steps with the theme "Yoga for One Earth, One Health."

Rao further stated that, “This year, about five lakh people will be taught yoga across the state. The government plans to organise 10,000 yoga programmes state-wide, with a large-scale event specifically planned in Mysuru.”

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Governor, and other dignitaries are expected to participate in the event, with an anticipated attendance of five thousand people.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab showcased its strength and popularity in Ludhiana West with a massive roadshow led by AAP Punjab In-charge Manish Sisodia, Punjab President Aman Arora, senior Cabinet Ministers, and Ludhiana West candidate Sanjeev Arora. The roadshow witnessed an overwhelming response from the people, with thousands joining to express their support for AAP.

The event became a visual spectacle as hundreds of bikes and cars joined the convoy, making their way through the streets of Ludhiana West amidst loud cheers, slogans, and a sea of AAP flags. Enthusiastic supporters gathered in large numbers, reaffirming their faith in AAP's leadership and its promise of transparent and people-centric governance.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) received another boost ahead of the Ludhiana West by-election. On Tuesday, the Punjab Roadways PUNBUS State Transport Workers’ Union announced its support for AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora in the by-election.

Union President Parminder Singh Bhutta made the announcement, accompanied by State Vice President Sham Chaudhary, Depot President Vikas Maudgil, Depot Cashier Jagdeep Singh, Depot Secretary Arvinder Singh and Advisor Sarabjit Singh.