Sabastian Sawe's London Marathon shoe weighs less than 100 grams; target came from 'moonshot brief'Here's how Sabastian Sawe got the super shoe for the London Marathon. Know how the game-changing gear was developed. Published on: May 12, 2026 5:05 PM IST By Vishesh Roy Share via Copy link With
Guest Column| Punjab’s last defence against drugs is the motherLaw enforcement and political rhetoric are failing our youth; only a domestic revolution led by mothers can dismantle the social roots of addiction. Published on: May 12, 2026 4:38 PM IST By Khushwant Singh Share via Copy link The
Who is Yaoning ‘Mike’ Sun? Meet Arcadia mayor Eileen Wang's ex-fiancée sentenced to 4 years in prisonYaoning 'Mike' Sun received a 48-month prison sentence for acting as an undisclosed agent for China while advising a city council candidate. Published on: May 12
IIT Madras BS Admission 2026: Registration begins at iitm.ac.in, apply by May 31IIT Madras BS Admission 2026 registration has started. The application link will be deactivated on May 31, 2026. Published on: May 12, 2026 3:53 PM IST By HT Education Desk Share via Copy link Indian Institute of
Washing machines continue to remain among the more heavily searched home appliance categories during the ongoing Amazon Great Summer Sale as buyers look for larger capacities, inverter motors and lower-maintenance laundry setups before peak summer usage
NEET UG 2026: Opposition criticises govt after exam cancellation over paper leakThe Congress party in a post on X said NEET UG irregularities have become common and over “89 papers leaked in 10 years” Published on: May 12, 2026 4:49 PM IST By Ishita Bahl
Twenty years after their first partnership with designer Stella McCartney, fashion retailer H&M is all set to launch their second collaboration (on May 7) with the luxury label from the UK. It blends current signature styles such as oversized shirts
But, one thing’s for sure: the Oklahoma City Thunder are looking downright unstoppable right now. Led once again by a sensational Shai Gilgeous-Alexander masterclass, the defending champions defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 to complete a ruthless 4-0 playoff sweep and storm into the
PM Modi’s writes to nation: ‘GST Bachat Utsav’, Swadeshi call | Full text

PM Modi's open letter to nation: As Navratri begins, PM hails ‘GST Bachat Utsav’, pitches ‘Swadeshi’ | Full message
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote an open letter to the nation on Monday, September 22. He extended greetings on the first day of Navratri celebrations and hailed the GST reforms introduced by the government recently.
The new Next-Gen GST reforms came into effect on September 22. Under the revised structure, the previous four-tier GST slabs have been consolidated into two main categories: 5 per cent and 18 per cent.
“This festive season, let's celebrate the 'GST Bachat Utsav'! Lower GST rates mean more savings for every household and greater ease for businesses,” PM Modi posted on X on Monday, attaching with it a letter to the nation.
Here's full text of PM Modi's open letter:
"My Fellow Indians,Namaskar!
As the nation celebrates the beginning of Navaratri, I extend heartfelt wishes to you and your families. May this festival bring good health, happiness and prosperity to everyone.
This year, the festive season brings an added reason to rejoice. From September 22nd, the Next Generation GST reforms have begun to make their presence felt, marking the start of a 'GST Bachat Utsav' or 'GST Savings Festival' across the country.
These reforms will boost savings and directly benefit every section of society, be it farmers, women, youth, poor, middle class, traders or MSMEs. They will encourage greater growth and investments and accelerate the progress of every state and region.
An important feature of the Next Generation GST reforms is that there will mainly be two slabs of 5% and 18%.
Daily essentials such as food, medicines, soap, toothpaste, insurance and many more items will now either be tax-free or fall in the lowest 5% tax slab. Goods that were earlier taxed at 12% have almost entirely shifted to 5%.
It is greatly heartening to see various shopkeepers and traders putting up 'then and now' boards which indicate taxes pre-reforms and post-reforms.
In the last few years, 25 crore people have risen above poverty and formed an aspirational neo-middle class.
Further, we have also strengthened the hands of our middle class with the massive income tax cuts, which ensure zero tax up to the annual income of ₹12 lakh.
If we combine the income tax cuts and the Next Generation GST reforms, they add up to savings of nearly ₹2.5 lakh crore for the people.
Your household expenses will reduce and it will be easier to fulfill aspirations such as building a home, purchasing a vehicle, purchasing appliances, eating out or planning a family vacation.
Our nation's GST journey, which began in 2017, was a turning point in freeing our citizens and businesses from the web of multiple taxes.
GST united the nation economically. 'One Nation, One Tax' brought uniformity and relief. The GST Council, with the active participation of both Centre and States, took many pro-people decisions.
Now, these new reforms take us further, simplifying the system, reducing rates and putting more savings in the hands of the people.
Our small industries, shopkeepers, traders, entrepreneurs and MSMEs will also see greater Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Compliance.
Lower taxes, lower prices and simpler rules will mean better sales, less compliance burden and growth of opportunities, especially in the MSME sector.
Our collective goal is Viksit Bharat by 2047. To achieve it, walking on the path of self-reliance is imperative. These reforms strengthen our local manufacturing base, paving the way towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
On a related note, this festive season, let us also resolve to support products that are Made in India. This means buying Swadeshi products that have the sweat and toil of an Indian involved in their making, irrespective of the brand or the company that makes them.
Every time you buy a product made by our own artisans, workers and industries, you are helping many families earn their living and creating job opportunities for our youth.
I appeal to our shopkeepers and traders to sell products that are Made in India. Let us proudly say - what we buy is Swadeshi.
Let us proudly say - what we sell is Swadeshi.
I also urge state governments to encourage industry, manufacturing and improvement of the investment climate.
Once again, I wish you and your families a joyous Navaratri and a season full of happiness and savings through the 'GST Savings Festival'.
May these reforms bring greater prosperity to every Indian household.
Narendra Modi"
Source: LiveMint
Related Posts: Daniel Radcliffe wrote supportive letter to new Potter cast Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cast first vote in Vice Presidential polls Google CEO Sundar Pichai meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Bhutan during November 11-12 AAP minister Sanjeev Arora sent to seven-day ED custody in alleged money-laundering case PM Narendra Modi to address the nation at 5 pm today Al Falah Group chaiman Jawed Siddiqui in ED custody for 13 days in money laundering case McDonald's Japan postpones toy promo after Pokémon complaints Know the last day of the sacred Magh bathing ritual after the Magh month ends
Another football ‘Spygate’ controversy has erupted — and this time, Southampton find themselves at the centre of the storm. The Saints have been accused of sending a club analyst to secretly observe and potentially film Middlesbrough’s training sessions just two days before the sides played
1 days ago
Across industries, businesses are moving from AI experimentation to measurable enterprise impact. The Most Innovative AI product awards 2026 recognise organisations building intelligent solutions that are transforming sectors such as healthcare, FinTech, cybersecurity, retail and more
1 days ago
'Kab ayega CBSE 12 class ka result?’: Internet flooded with memes as students await scoresInternet flooded with memes as students waited anxiously for the CBSE Class 12 results announcement. Published on: May 12, 2026 3:36 PM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share via Copy link As lakhs of students
1 days ago
Rumours surrounding television’s beloved couple Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash have once again taken over social media. This time, a video of actor Abhishek Kumar has grabbed everyone’s attention, in which he is allegedly seen confirming that the duo may have already tied the knot
1 days ago
Liquor ban question engulfs J&K politics as CM Omar Abdullah cites free will, revenueCM Omar Abdullah on Sunday said that people consume alcohol of their own will and the government was not forcing anyone to visit liquor shops. Updated on: May 12
1 days ago
The Indigenous traditional owners of land in north-western Australia have been awarded a record A$150.1 million ($108.3m; £79.9m) payout after a court ruled one of the country's most well-known billionaires mined their land without permission
1 days ago
Sir Keir Starmer is fighting to stay on as prime minister, as he stares down calls from Labour critics, including some of his own ministers, to quit Downing Street. It comes amid a revolt among Labour MPs and calls from ministers for him to draw up an exit timetable after a disastrous set of
1 days ago
A mayor of a southern Californian city has resigned after the US Department of Justice (DoJ) charged her with acting as an illegal agent of China. Eileen Wang, 58 - the mayor of Arcadia - agreed to plead guilty to the felony count and Arcadia City Council said she resigned from her post on Monday
1 days ago
The cancellation of a crucial exam held earlier in May for admission to medical colleges over allegations of a paper leak has sparked protests in the Indian capital, Delhi. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), known as NEET-UG
1 days ago
‘Godzilla prn in Euphoria’: Viewers are not impressed by Sydney Sweeney's humiliating portrayal of sex workThe last episode of Euphoria aired recently and fan are divided. Viewers are criticising Sam Levinson's depiction of sex work through Sydney Sweeney. May 12, 2026
1 days ago
Actor Abhishek Bachchan expressed a desire to see retired Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the new European T20 Premier League. However, current BCCI regulations prevent active Indian cricketers from playing in overseas T20 leagues. Bachchan believes the league will still attract top global
1 days ago
Netflix has been sued in Texas over claims it collects data belonging to children and adults in the US state without their consent, and uses "addictive" design to keep them hooked. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton accused the streaming giant of "spying" on citizens saying it "records and monetises
1 days ago
In a city celebrated for its vibrant food culture—from spicy misal pav to street-style vada pav—one old-school bakery in Pune continues to win hearts with something much simpler: freshly baked ghee biscuits. Tucked away in the bustling Fergusson College Road area
1 days ago
When U.S. President Donald Trump meets Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing this week, the shadow the Iran conflict casts over the summit might appear to give China’s leader a clear advantage. Beijing has been relatively shielded from the effects of the conflict thanks to its oil reserves
1 days ago
Fifty years old this month, Kraftwerk's single Radioactivity was a groundbreaking track that morphed into the German electronic pioneers' most political protest song. From the tremulous opening seconds of Kraftwerk's Radioactivity – a pulsing Geiger counter; escalating synths; shrill morse code
1 days ago
In T20 cricket, the six is the shot that changes a match. It shifts momentum, lifts a crowd and alters the terms of a contest in a single stroke. In IPL 2026, the maximum has become the clearest measure of a team’s batting ambition, and more often than not
1 days ago
EBay on Tuesday rejected an ambitious $56 billion takeover bid from the much smaller GameStop on doubts over the financing of the deal, while underscoring its turnaround efforts that have boosted growth.Analysts and investors have doubted whether the half-cash
1 days ago
India Post GDS 3rd Merit List 2026 released at indiapost.gov.in, check hereIndia Post GDS 3rd Merit List 2026 has been released. The direct link to check the merit list is given here. Updated on: May 12, 2026 4:37 PM IST By HT Education Desk | Edited by Papri Chanda Share via Copy link India Post
1 days ago
At Tirupattur in Sivaganga district, the counting of votes for the Assembly elections played out like a Vijay film. During the final round of counting, election officials declared that the candidate belonging to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won by a single vote over his rival
1 days ago
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Modi government over the cancellation of the NEET (UG) 2026 examination, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi's so-called 'amrit kaal' has turned into a 'vish kaal' (poison-filled era) for the country
1 days ago
The Supreme Court will hear a plea from a TVK lawmaker who has challenged a Madras High Court order preventing him from participating in a floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The case pertains to a close election result and allegations of irregularities
1 days ago
Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi has been booked in Mahoba under charges of assault on a public official and promoting hate after he called Prime Minister Narendra Modi "anti-national," police said on Tuesday (May 12, 2026). Mr. Lodhi, the Lok Sabha MP from the Hamirpur constituency
1 days ago
Qatar’s premier and Foreign Minister said his recent visit to Washington sought to bolster mediation efforts seeking to end the U.S.-Iran war .“The visit focused primarily on supporting the Pakistani diplomatic efforts and ensuring a positive response to these efforts to reach a solution as
1 days ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently urged people to save fuel and avoid unnecessary spending amid rising global tensions and concerns over energy supplies. Just two days later, a BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh came under criticism after travelling with a convoy of nearly 50 vehicles during a
1 days ago
‘Indian students must be protected from the mafia’: Kamal Haasan as NEET exam gets cancelled over alleged paper leakThe National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday cancelled the NEET (UG) 2026 exam held on May 3 amid allegations of paper leak. May 12, 2026
1 days ago
Is your daily screen time putting your vision at risk? The hidden danger of delaying eye check-ups in working adultsDoctors highlight a growing concern among working adults where untreated eye strain from screens may slowly lead to serious vision-related problems Updated on: May 12
1 days ago
Elder Mark Bassett's cause of death: How did Latter-day Saint Leader die at 59?Elder W. Mark Bassett, a 59-year-old General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died on May 11. Published on: May 12, 2026 4:36 PM IST By Shweta Kukreti Share via Copy link Elder W
1 days ago