Chicago gov refuses to concede to ‘ultimatum’ as Trump prepares to send in 300 National Guard troops to city

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Donald Trump will deploy 300 members of the National Guard in Illinois, state governor JB Pritzker said on Saturday.

“In the coming hours, the Trump Administration intends to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard,” Pritzker said in a statement. He added: “They will pull hardworking Americans out of their regular jobs and away from their families all to participate in a manufactured performance, not a serious effort to protect public safety.”

“For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control,” Pritzker continued.

The Illinois governor called the Trump administration’s actions “outrageous and un-American.” He claimed that his state had been given an ultimatum: “Call up your troops, or we will.” Pritzker said there was “no need for military troops on the ground” in Illinois.

He also added, “This demand follows unprecedented escalations of aggression against Illinois citizens and residents.”

“Yesterday, Kristi Noem’s and Greg Bovino’s masked agents threw chemical agents near an elementary school, arrested elected officials exercising their First Amendment rights, and raided a Wal-Mart. None of it was in pursuit of justice, but all of it was in pursuit of social media videos,” Pritzker said.

On Tuesday, Trump said that his administration would be “going into Chicago very soon.” The US president made the remarks while addressing military generals and admirals in Quantico, Virginia. Trump said then about Pritzker: “That’s a big city with an incompetent governor. Stupid governor.”

The US president has long implied that he could mobilize the National Guard in Illinois. In September, Trump posted a graphic of himself with the words “Chipocalypse Now,” wearing a cowboy hat with explosions and military helicopters behind him. The Truth Social post said: “I love the smell of deportations in the morning. Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.”

Trump also warned the “weak and pathetic Governor” Pritzker to “straighten it out FAST.”

Previously, the US president sent the National Guard into Democrat-led Los Angeles and Washington, DC. Louisiana’s Republican governor, Jeff Landry, has asked for up to 1,000 Louisiana National Guard troops to be activated in his state.

Earlier this week, Pritzker said that the Illinois National Guard “received word that the Department of Homeland Security has sent a memo to the Department of War seeking the deployment” of troops to Illinois. The mobilization, Pritzker said, is for the “protection of ICE personnel and facilities.”

“What I have been warning of is now being realized,” Pritzker said. “One thing is clear: none of what Trump is doing is making Illinois safer.”

The National Guard’s deployment is just one of the Trump administration’s recent actions in Chicago. The Department of Homeland Security announced on Wednesday that ICE and US Border Patrol officers arrested “more than 800 illegal aliens,” including the “worst of the worst,” as part of Operation “Midway Blitz” in Chicago.

The operation started on September 8 and is intended to “target the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois because they knew Governor Pritzker and his sanctuary policies would protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets,” the DHS said in a press release.

On Friday, Office of Management and Budget director Russ Vought announced $2 [amount incomplete].

Pritzker’s announcement regarding the National Guard’s mobilization came on the same day officials reported that Border Patrol agents in Chicago shot a woman after officers were “rammed by ten cars.”

According to a statement released by the DHS, one of the drivers was a woman armed with a semi-automatic weapon, forcing officers to open fire. Their statement added that the woman in question was part of an internal threat bulletin circulated after allegedly doxxing and threatening law enforcement officials online.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said: “Unfortunately, JB Pritzker’s Chicago Police Department is leaving the shooting scene and refuses to assist us in securing the area. There is a crowd growing and we are deploying special operations to control a growing crowd.”

Images captured at the scene showed a large presence of federal agents, who blocked a road using their vehicles as a crowd of protestors formed.

A spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department told Daily Mail: “The Chicago Police Department responded to the 3900 block of S. Kedzie Ave Saturday morning for a call of a person shot. CPD responded to the scene to document the incident. CPD officers were also on-scene to maintain safety and traffic control for all living and working in the area.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15162619/chicago-governor-trump-national-guard-jb-pritzker.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

Chicago gov refuses to concede to ‘ultimatum’ as Trump prepares to send in 300 National Guard troops to city

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Donald Trump will deploy 300 members of the National Guard in Illinois, state governor JB Pritzker said on Saturday.

“In the coming hours, the Trump Administration intends to federalize 300 members of the Illinois National Guard,” Pritzker said in a statement. He added, “They will pull hardworking Americans out of their regular jobs and away from their families all to participate in a manufactured performance, not a serious effort to protect public safety.”

“For Donald Trump, this has never been about safety. This is about control,” Pritzker continued, calling the Trump administration’s actions “outrageous and un-American.”

The Illinois governor claimed that his state had been given an ultimatum: to “call up your troops, or we will.” He also stated, “There is no need for military troops on the ground” in Illinois.

Pritzker further condemned recent actions, saying, “This demand follows unprecedented escalations of aggression against Illinois citizens and residents.” He referenced incidents involving masked agents allegedly throwing chemical agents near an elementary school, arresting elected officials exercising their First Amendment rights, and raiding a Walmart store. “None of it was in pursuit of justice, but all of it was in pursuit of social media videos,” he added.

Earlier in the week, President Trump announced that his administration would be “going into Chicago very soon” while addressing military generals and admirals in Quantico, Virginia. Trump referred to Pritzker as “a big city with an incompetent governor. Stupid governor.”

The U.S. president has long hinted at mobilizing the National Guard in Illinois. In September, Trump posted a graphic of himself wearing a cowboy hat, surrounded by explosions and military helicopters, with the words “Chipocalypse Now.” The accompanying Truth Social post read, “I love the smell of deportations in the morning. Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.”

Trump also warned the “weak and pathetic Governor” Pritzker to “straighten it out FAST.”

Previously, the president sent National Guard troops into Democrat-led cities such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. In Louisiana, Republican Governor Jeff Landry has requested up to 1,000 Louisiana National Guard troops to be activated in his state.

Earlier this week, Pritzker announced that the Illinois National Guard “received word that the Department of Homeland Security has sent a memo to the Department of War seeking the deployment” of troops to Illinois. The mobilization, according to Pritzker, is for the “protection of ICE personnel and facilities.”

“What I have been warning of is now being realized,” the governor said. “One thing is clear: none of what Trump is doing is making Illinois safer.”

The National Guard’s deployment is just one of the Trump administration’s recent actions in Chicago. On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that ICE and U.S. Border Patrol officers had arrested “more than 800 illegal aliens,” including the “worst of the worst,” as part of Operation “Midway Blitz” in Chicago.

The operation began on September 8 and aims to “target the criminal illegal aliens who flocked to Chicago and Illinois because they knew Governor Pritzker and his sanctuary policies would protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets,” according to a DHS press release.

On Friday, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought announced further funding actions related to immigration enforcement.

Pritzker’s announcement about the National Guard mobilization came on the same day officials reported that Border Patrol agents in Chicago had shot a woman after officers were allegedly “rammed by ten cars.”

According to a DHS statement, one of the drivers was a woman armed with a semi-automatic weapon, forcing officers to open fire. The woman was reportedly part of an internal threat bulletin after allegedly doxxing and threatening law enforcement officials online.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, “Unfortunately, JB Pritzker’s Chicago Police Department is leaving the shooting scene and refuses to assist us in securing the area. There is a crowd growing, and we are deploying special operations to control a growing crowd.”

Images from the scene showed a large presence of federal agents blocking off a road with their vehicles as a crowd of protesters gathered.

A spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department told the Daily Mail, “The Chicago Police Department responded to the 3900 block of S. Kedzie Ave Saturday morning for a call of a person shot. CPD responded to the scene to document the incident. CPD officers were also on-scene to maintain safety and traffic control for all living and working in the area.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15162619/chicago-governor-trump-national-guard-jb-pritzker.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

Why is a spectre of empty classrooms looming? | Explained

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**Tamil Nadu Seeks Review of Supreme Court Judgment on Teachers Eligibility Test**

The State of Tamil Nadu has sought a review of a recent Supreme Court judgment mandating in-service teachers from Classes 1 to 8 in non-minority schools across India to clear the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) within two years, failing which they face compulsory retirement. Several other States have also expressed concerns over the September 1 judgment, highlighting its harsh impact on lakhs of teachers employed validly in government, aided, unaided, and private schools covered under Section 2(n) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. These States are likely to follow Tamil Nadu’s lead and approach the top court.

### The Situation in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu alone employs 4,49,850 teachers in government and aided schools, of whom 3,90,458 are not TET-qualified. The States have argued that implementing the Supreme Court ruling risks the collapse of the entire school system. This is due to the potential mass disqualification of teachers, which could lead to millions of children being denied classroom instruction.

Tamil Nadu further contends that the judgment directly conflicts with Article 21A of the Constitution — the fundamental right to free and compulsory education for children aged six to 14 years. The State seeks a balanced approach that ensures quality education while safeguarding children’s right to education.

### What Did the Judgment Mandate?

The two-judge Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan, aware of the ground realities, authored the September 1 judgment. Justice Datta acknowledged the contributions of non-TET qualified teachers who were appointed before the RTE Act came into force.

The court recognized that dislodging elementary school teachers might be too harsh since many have taught students for decades without significant complaints. Therefore, invoking Article 142 of the Constitution, the court exempted teachers with less than five years remaining before retirement from taking the TET. However, these teachers must qualify the TET if they seek promotion.

On the other hand, teachers with more than five years of service remaining must mandatorily clear the TET within two years from the date of the judgment. Failure to do so will result in compulsory retirement with terminal benefits. From now on, future appointments or promotions in non-minority schools will require TET qualification.

Additionally, the Bench referred the question of whether minority educational institutions should fall under the RTE Act to a larger Bench. The court observed that minority status has been misused by some school managements to avoid the RTE Act’s mandate for TET-qualified teachers in elementary education.

The judgment, based on appeals challenging the insistence on TET qualification even in minority institutions, criticized a 2014 Constitution Bench decision in the *Pramati Educational and Cultural Trust* case. That ruling had excluded minority institutions from the RTE Act’s ambit entirely.

The Supreme Court emphasized the need to bring minority-run schools, whether religious or linguistic, within the RTE fold to uphold the universal elementary education vision. It stated that exempting minority institutions fragments the common schooling vision and weakens the idea of inclusivity and universality envisaged by Article 21A.

### Arguments Presented in the Review Petitions

Review petitions filed by Tamil Nadu and Kerala-based teachers’ union Deseeya Adhyapakha Parishad (NTU) argue that while enhancing teaching quality is a legitimate objective, forcing pre-RTE Act appointees to pass the TET under threat of disqualification is disproportionate.

Tamil Nadu has recommended less intrusive alternatives such as:

– In-service training,
– Capacity-building workshops,
– Refresher courses,
– Bridging programmes

These approaches, the State contends, can improve teaching quality without destabilizing the education system.

### The Core Legal Issue: Interpretation of Section 23 of the RTE Act

At the heart of the controversy lies the interpretation of Section 23 of the RTE Act. According to Section 23(1), the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) prescribed minimum qualifications for appointment as a teacher for Classes 1 to 8 through its August 23, 2010 notification. An essential qualification is passing the TET conducted by the appropriate government.

The rationale behind including the TET is to introduce national standards and benchmarks of teacher quality in the recruitment process.

However, Tamil Nadu in its review petition contends that Section 23(1) applies only to future recruitments. The State points to Section 23(2), which empowers the Centre to relax minimum qualifications through notifications for a limited period (not exceeding five years) to address situations like teacher shortages.

Furthermore, a proviso attached to Section 23 clarifies that any teacher who, at the commencement of the RTE Act, did not possess the minimum qualifications (including TET) must acquire them within five years.

Tamil Nadu argues that Section 23 does not mandate a blanket TET requirement, nor does it allow retrospective disqualification of teachers who were validly appointed before the minimum qualifications notification.

The State warns that enforcing the September 1 judgment as it stands will result in empty classrooms and cause immense distress among teachers struggling to secure their livelihoods over the next two years.

—

The evolving situation highlights the tension between maintaining teacher quality standards and protecting the rights of current educators and students’ access to education. As Tamil Nadu and other States push for a review, the Supreme Court’s response will be closely watched by stakeholders across the country.
https://www.thehindu.com/education/why-is-a-spectre-of-empty-classrooms-looming-explained/article70125871.ece

Premier League 2025-26, Arsenal overcome West Ham 2-0: Key stats

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**Premier League 2025-26: Arsenal Overcome West Ham 2-0 – Key Stats**

*By Rajdeep Saha | Oct 04, 2025 | 10:27 pm*

Arsenal secured a convincing 2-0 victory over West Ham United on Matchday 7 of the Premier League 2025-26 season at the Emirates Stadium. Declan Rice broke the deadlock in the first half, while Bukayo Saka extended the lead with a penalty in the second half, sealing the win for the Gunners.

### Arsenal Go Top of the Table

With this win, Arsenal climb to the top of the Premier League standings, accumulating 16 points from 7 games with a record of 5 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. Their impressive goal difference now stands at +11.

On the other hand, West Ham remain rooted in the bottom three after suffering their fifth defeat of the season. The Hammers have managed just 4 points from 1 win, 1 draw, and 5 losses so far.

### Player Highlights

**Bukayo Saka Marks 200th Premier League Appearance with a Goal**

In his milestone 200th Premier League appearance, Bukayo Saka opened up another chapter in his flourishing career by scoring his 55th goal for Arsenal. The winger has also contributed 45 assists, bringing his total goal involvements in the Premier League to 100 – a significant achievement that places him as the 8th Arsenal player and the third Englishman to reach this milestone.

**Declan Rice Nets His 22nd Premier League Goal**

Former West Ham star Declan Rice continues to shine for Arsenal, scoring his 22nd Premier League goal in his 284th appearance. Notably, 12 of these goals have come while wearing the Arsenal shirt, achieved in just 80 appearances.

### Match Stats Overview

– **Possession**: Arsenal dominated with 68% possession compared to West Ham’s 32%.
– **Shots**: The Gunners registered 21 shots, including 5 on target, while West Ham managed just 4 attempts, none of which were on target.
– **Touches in Opposition Box**: Arsenal had 47 touches inside the West Ham penalty area, in stark contrast to West Ham’s 7.
– **Corners**: Arsenal earned 8 corners; West Ham had 3.

### Match Summary

**First Half**

Arsenal started strong but were dealt an injury blow as Martin Odegaard had to leave the pitch. In response, manager Mikel Arteta pushed Declan Rice into a more advanced role, bringing on Martin Zubimendi. Rice capitalized on this tactical tweak, slotting home after Eberechi Eze’s shot was parried by West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

The Gunners maintained control throughout the first half, limiting West Ham’s attacking threats.

**Second Half**

Arsenal continued to dominate the match and secured the win late in the second half. In the 67th minute, Jurrien Timber was fouled by El Hadji Malick Diouf inside the box, awarding Arsenal a penalty which Bukayo Saka calmly converted.

This goal proved decisive, ensuring a hard-fought and well-deserved victory for Mikel Arteta’s side.

### Opta Stats and Records

– This match marked Mikel Arteta’s 300th game in charge of Arsenal across all competitions. With this win, he has now recorded 177 victories, alongside 56 draws and 67 defeats.
– Bukayo Saka’s 100 Premier League goal involvements place him among the elite at Arsenal, underlining his pivotal role in the team’s success.
– West Ham’s tally of 4 points after 7 league games matches their joint-lowest return at this stage in a Premier League season.

—

Arsenal’s triumph keeps their momentum going as they aim to challenge for the title, while West Ham face an uphill battle to climb out of the relegation zone. Fans will be hoping for a swift recovery from key injuries as the season progresses.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/arsenal-down-sorry-west-ham-in-premier-league/story

CF Montreal settles for 1-1 draw with Nashville SC after late goal from Surridge

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**Sam Surridge’s Late Header Secures Nashville SC a 1-1 Draw at CF Montreal**

MONTREAL — Sam Surridge’s 80th-minute header forced CF Montreal to settle for a 1-1 draw against Nashville SC in their final home game of the season on Saturday.

Dante Sealy, who has now scored seven goals in his last nine Major League Soccer games, opened the scoring for Montreal (6-17-10). Surridge’s equalizer stopped Nashville (16-11-6) from potentially falling into the play-in bracket.

From kickoff, both teams engaged in expansive and vertical play, creating excellent chances. Nashville’s Hany Mukhtar and Ivan Jaime were both played in alone, but neither could find the opening goal.

Montreal struck first just after the 10-minute mark. After Olger Escobar earned a free kick nearly 25 metres out, Sealy stepped up and unleashed a perfect strike into the top right corner—similar to his free kick goal against Charlotte FC the previous week.

Following the goal, Montreal dropped into a low block as Nashville controlled more than two-thirds of possession until the half-hour mark but were unable to break down an organized Montreal defense.

Just after 30 minutes of play, Montreal thought they had doubled their lead through Prince Owusu, but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) ruled the goal offside.

Nashville’s control of the ball continued into the second half as they probed around the outside of Montreal’s low block without much penetration. There were several half-chances, including a header from Surridge that struck the post, but Nashville struggled to sustain consistent danger.

With 10 minutes left, Nashville finally got their breakthrough when Surridge separated himself from Brendan Craig and converted a free header from point-blank range.

Sensing an opportunity to clinch a win, Nashville redoubled their efforts to find a late winner, but both teams ultimately left the pitch with a point apiece.

**Up Next**

– **Montreal:** Will visit FC Cincinnati on Saturday, Oct. 18.
– **Nashville:** Will host Inter Miami on Saturday, Oct. 18.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Oct. 4, 2025.
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/soccer/2025/10/04/cf-montreal-settles-for-1-1-draw-with-nashville-sc-after-late-goal-from-surridge

Ford, GM Use Leasing ‘Loophole’ to Extend $7,500 EV Tax Credit

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Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is considered one of the best stocks to buy under $20.

On September 30, Ford and General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) launched programs with their car dealers aimed at effectively extending the benefits of the expiring $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit on electric vehicle (EV) leases.

This strategic move comes just ahead of the subsidy’s expiration date, providing additional incentives for consumers interested in leasing EVs from these automakers.
https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/ford-gm-leasing-loophole-extend-205455746.html

Robbie Williams forced to cancel final tour gig in Turkey over terror fears as hitmaker tells fans decision to axe performance ‘was beyond our control’

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Robbie Williams has been forced to cancel a planned performance in Turkey over terror fears, the singer revealed in a statement released on Saturday.

The Angels hitmaker, 51, took to Instagram to share with devastated fans that he had no option but to cancel his set in Istanbul. Robbie said, “I’m extremely sorry that I will not be able to perform in Istanbul next week.”

The former Take That frontman continued: “City authorities have cancelled the show, in the interests of public safety. The last thing I would ever want to do is to jeopardise the safety of my fans – their safety and security come first.”

“We were very excited to be playing Istanbul for the first time, and purposely chose the city as the final show of the BRITPOP tour. To end this epic run of dates in front of my Turkish fans was my dream, given the close connections my family have with this wonderful country.”

“To everyone in Istanbul who wanted to join the 1.2 million people who have shared this phenomenal tour this year with us, I am deeply sorry. We were so looking forward to this show but the decision to cancel it was beyond our control.”

Robbie was due to perform at Atakoy Marina on October 7, coinciding with the second anniversary of the terror attacks on Israel by Hamas. According to local publication Turkiye Today, organisers cited potential security risks and public backlash as the reasons behind the cancellation.

The singer has previously faced criticism for marrying wife Ayda Field, 46, who has Turkish heritage through her father, while her American mother is Jewish. The couple are proud parents to daughter Teddy, 12; son Charlie, 10; daughter Coco, six; and son Beau, four.

Robbie was also scheduled to release his latest studio album, *Britpop*, just days later on October 10. However, the release has now been pushed back to avoid clashing with Taylor Swift’s *Life Of A Showgirl* tour. Robbie previously told fans: “Due to scheduling changes, *Britpop* will now be released on February 6, 2026.”

In other news, it was revealed in August that Robbie is being sued by the co-writer of his smash hit “Angels,” who claims to have earned just £7,500 from the song.

Ray Heffernan is fighting for a third of the future royalties associated with the single, which had sold an estimated 1.8 million copies in the UK as of 2021, combining physical and digital sales. The Irish singer-songwriter, who penned the hit at age 22, aims to use the new “bestseller clause” recently passed by the EU.

The origins of the song date back to 1996 when Mr. Heffernan met Robbie Williams during a night out in Dublin over the Christmas holidays. Heffernan played the song to the former Take That star at his mother’s house, and the pair then recorded a first version of the single.

—

*Stay tuned for further updates on Robbie Williams and his upcoming projects.*
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15162651/Robbie-Williams-forced-cancel-tour-gig-Turkey-terror-fears-hitmaker-releases-statement.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

MGM Medical College Hosts PCR Workshop

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**MGM Medical College, Indore, Conducts Hands-on Training and Workshop on Real-Time PCR**

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): The Department of Microbiology and Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) Medical College successfully organised a “Hands-on Training and Workshop on Real-Time PCR.”

The workshop was inaugurated and concluded by Dr. Arvind Ghanghoria, Dean and CEO of the college. Dr. Ghanghoria emphasized that the workshop aimed to enhance technical proficiency and build confidence among future physicians and researchers in modern molecular diagnostics. He highlighted that such training contributes to establishing the highest standards of healthcare services at both national and international levels.

According to Dr. Ghanghoria, the workshop enabled participants to gain practical expertise, boost their confidence, and develop the ability to perform precise data analysis in molecular diagnostic techniques.

Dr. Manish Purohit, Head of the Department of Microbiology and Principal Investigator of VRDL, stated, “Our objective is not limited to technical training but also to develop scientific thinking, ethical laboratory practices, and excellence in data interpretation. Such workshops make our students and researchers globally competent in healthcare standards.”

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Nishat Khan, Associate Professor of the Microbiology Department, who elaborated on the various applications of PCR technology in disease diagnosis and research.

The expert team facilitating the workshop included Dr. Suman Kumar (Scientist-C), Dr. Sulekha Yadav (Scientist-B), and technical experts Nikhil Pandya, Mukesh Mandloi, and Narayan Solanki.

Faculty members, PhD scholars, and technical professionals from MGM Medical College also participated actively, making the workshop a comprehensive learning experience.

*Story By Staff Reporter*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/topnews/mgm-medical-college-hosts-pcr-workshop

MP News: Departments Not Giving Proper Info For Preparing Budget; Director Of Finance Wrote To Various Departments

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**Lack of Cooperation from Government Departments Hampers Budget Preparation in Madhya Pradesh**

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Director of Budget has raised serious concerns over the lack of cooperation from various government departments in the ongoing budget preparation exercise.

According to officials, many departments have either failed to submit key details or have shared incomplete information, which is hampering the drafting process. The first phase of budget discussions has already been completed, and the second phase is set to begin on October 8.

The Director of Budget has written to several departments highlighting that many have not provided information on crucial budget-related issues. A few departments have submitted incomplete data. For preparing the zero budget and rolling budget, it is essential to receive comprehensive information regarding departments’ plans of action, vacant posts, and other relevant matters.

Sources revealed that despite repeated reminders, several departments are yet to furnish data on important schemes and financial requirements. The Director has warned that without complete information, it will not be possible to proceed with accurate financial planning.

In response, principal secretaries of all departments have been instructed to ensure that officers attend the upcoming round of discussions equipped with complete details. The second phase of deliberations will continue until October 30.

Following this, the budget will be reviewed at the principal secretary and ministerial levels.

[Story by Staff Reporter]
https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/mp-news-departments-not-giving-proper-info-for-preparing-budget-director-of-finance-wrote-to-various-departments

Using Zoho Office Suite now must for Education Ministry officials

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**Education Ministry Mandates Use of Zoho Office Suite for All Official Work**

*By Dwaipayan Roy | Oct 04, 2025, 6:21 PM*

In a significant stride towards digital self-reliance, the Ministry of Education has issued a directive requiring all its officials to use the Zoho Office Suite for managing official documents. This initiative aligns with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s recent endorsement of Zoho’s messaging app, Arattai, and supports the government’s broader vision of promoting indigenous digital products.

### Embracing Atmanirbhar Bharat through Zoho

The decision reflects the government’s commitment to the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) campaign by reducing dependence on foreign software solutions. By adopting Zoho’s homegrown office productivity tools, the Ministry aims to strengthen India’s digital sovereignty and foster the growth of domestic technology companies.

### A Bold Step in the Swadeshi Movement

According to an official memorandum from the Department of Higher Education, this move represents a “bold step in the Swadeshi movement.” The circular emphasizes that embracing Zoho not only supports the nation’s self-reliance goals but also positions India more competitively in the global digital economy. The transition is seen as a critical shift from a service-based economy toward becoming a product-oriented nation.

### What is Zoho Office Suite?

Zoho Office Suite is an integrated online platform developed by Zoho Corporation, offering a comprehensive set of tools including Zoho Writer for documents, Zoho Sheet for spreadsheets, and Zoho Show for presentations. The Ministry has instructed all officers and staff to create, edit, and share official documents exclusively via this platform, integrated seamlessly with NIC (National Informatics Centre) mail.

### Training and Support for Smooth Adoption

To ensure a smooth transition, the circular advises all officials to familiarize themselves with Zoho’s collaborative features. For any technical assistance or onboarding support, staff are encouraged to reach out to the CMIS/NIC division.

The integration of Zoho Office Suite within the NIC mail ecosystem is designed to deliver a secure, user-friendly, and collaborative environment across government departments — marking a milestone in the digital transformation of India’s education sector.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/indian-government-going-all-in-on-zoho-s-tools/story