Drinking water facilities at railway stations under the South East Central Railway (SECR) zone have come under scrutiny after a CAG assessment found significant deficiencies in water quality and other passenger amenities. The Comptroller and Auditor General examined selected facilities at 512 stations across 16 railway zones. In the assessment of drinking water arrangements, SECR recorded a deficiency score of 93.35, the highest among the zones covered, indicating more shortcomings against the prescribed standards.

The report found that water samples at some railway stations contained E. coli and total coliform bacteria. The presence of E. coli can indicate contamination from faecal matter or sewage and raises concerns about the safety of drinking water supplied to passengers. The assessment also looked at chlorine levels and other aspects of the water supply system. At some locations, chlorine levels were reportedly found to be either below or above the prescribed limits.

The findings are important for passengers using stations across the Bilaspur railway zone, particularly because drinking water is one of the basic facilities expected to be available at railway stations. Contaminated water can increase the risk of water-borne illnesses, including diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal infections. What exactly caused the contamination at individual stations would depend on the local water source, storage and distribution arrangements, and the report’s findings point to the need for closer monitoring.

CAG prepared deficiency scores to compare the condition of passenger facilities across the 16 railway zones. A lower score indicates fewer deficiencies, while a higher score reflects greater gaps against the prescribed standards. South Central Railway recorded the lowest deficiency score for drinking water at 17.53, while SECR’s score of 93.35 placed it at the bottom of this particular assessment.

The overall picture, however, was not negative for SECR. The zone performed relatively well in facilities for passengers with disabilities and ranked second among the 16 zones in that category. Its deficiency score for facilities for persons with disabilities was 20.97. The assessment therefore showed a mixed picture, with some passenger facilities performing better while drinking water and other basic amenities remained areas of concern.

The CAG assessment covered selected stations and examined drinking water availability, quality and related arrangements along with minimum passenger facilities. The exercise was aimed at checking whether the facilities being provided at railway stations matched the prescribed standards. The findings have put renewed focus on the condition of basic passenger services at stations in the Bilaspur zone.

Following the report, railway authorities have said that steps are being planned to improve the drinking water arrangements. SECR Chief Public Relations Officer Sheikh Sami Ur Rahman said the Railway Minister was reviewing the CAG findings and that an action plan was being prepared for improving water facilities at stations in the Bilaspur zone.

The proposed measures include installing additional water coolers and tank-to-tap water filtration systems. Authorities have also indicated that cleaning and maintenance of water tanks will be carried out regularly, along with continued testing of water quality. The effectiveness of these measures will depend on how consistently they are implemented across stations.

For passengers, the immediate concern remains access to safe drinking water. The CAG findings have highlighted gaps that railway authorities will now have to address, particularly at stations where water quality did not meet the required standards.

Gill's case rests on a stretch of form that spanned formats. He opened June with a composed 126 in India's innings victory over Afghanistan in the one-off Test at New Chandigarh — his 11th Test century — before carrying that touch straight into the ODI series. He followed an 84 off 66 balls in the series opener at Dharamshala with a standout 154 from 110 deliveries in Lucknow, battling through cramps late in the innings to help India complete a 3-0 series sweep. He finished the month with 238 runs across just two ODI innings and picked up both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honours along the way.

Mosaddek Hossain's nomination comes with a genuine comeback story attached. Making his first international appearance in nearly four years, the all-rounder announced himself with an unbeaten 86, two wickets and a sharp running catch in the series opener, powering Bangladesh to just their second-ever ODI win over Australia in 23 meetings — and their first in more than two decades. He finished as Bangladesh's leading run-scorer in the series with 157 runs and was named Player of the Series as the team went on to win 2-1.

Nathan Smith's month looked different again — built entirely around the ball. Leading an injury-depleted New Zealand pace attack, Smith finished as the leading wicket-taker in a Test series against England that the Black Caps won 2-1, despite losing the opening Test at Lord's. His defining performance came in that very match, where three first-innings wickets were followed by a superb 6/70 in the second, and he continued picking up crucial breakthroughs as New Zealand fought back to seal the series.

The women's Player of the Month shortlist, announced alongside the men's nominees, features England's Danni Wyatt, India's Sree Charani and Scotland's Kathryn Bryce, each recognised for standout individual performances in international cricket during the same period.

Winners for both the men's and women's June awards are expected to be announced by the ICC in the coming days, based on a combination of fan voting and panel selection.

Radhakrishnan was speaking during a briefing on the NCC and Sainik Schools presented by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, alongside senior Defence Ministry officials. He suggested that every state should aim to have between three and five Sainik Schools of its own to keep pace with rising demand from students and parents, and floated the idea of expanding intake capacity at schools that already exist rather than relying solely on new construction. He also offered support in helping states navigate practical hurdles like land acquisition and training infrastructure, both of which have historically slowed expansion efforts.

The NCC's growth over the decades gives the push some scale to work with. Set up in 1948 with an initial strength of 20,000 cadets, the organisation has grown into what's described as the world's largest uniformed youth body, with more than 20 lakh cadets currently enrolled across over 750 districts. Roughly 6 lakh of that growth has come just since 2014. Radhakrishnan praised the NCC's community-facing work as well, singling out its role in campaigns like Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and welcomed the recent establishment of an NCC Alumni Association. He also spoke favourably of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat camps, calling them a strong tool for national integration.

The Vice President's comments follow a broader expansion push the government has been signalling for months. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced in March that NCC cadet numbers would be increased from 17 lakh to 20 lakh, alongside plans for 100 new Sainik Schools to be established under a public-private partnership model — a structure that has already drawn some public criticism, including social media claims the government has pushed back against, arguing the PPP-run schools broaden access rather than privatise military training.

Not everything in the government's own assessment has been positive. A Comptroller and Auditor General report tabled in Parliament earlier this year found that both institutions have struggled to convert their scale into actual officer intake for the armed forces — noting that a sizeable share of NCC special-entry vacancies went unfilled between 2019 and 2022, and that Sainik Schools' contribution to National Defence Academy admissions had fallen well short of internal targets over the same period. The audit recommended more funding, better training-camp participation, and stronger infrastructure and manpower planning to close that gap.

Monday's briefing didn't directly address the CAG's findings, focusing instead on the expansion roadmap going forward. Whether the state-level involvement Radhakrishnan is calling for translates into the kind of results the audit flagged as missing remains to be seen.

The Delhi government is preparing to convert former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence at 6, Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines, into a state guest house for visiting ministers, senior officials and government dignitaries. According to official sources, the proposal has reached its final stage and is awaiting approval from the competent authority.

If cleared, the bungalow—popularly dubbed the "Sheesh Mahal" by the BJP during a political controversy—will be repurposed to serve official government functions instead of remaining vacant.

Guest House for Ministers and Officials

Under the proposed plan, the former Chief Minister's residence will function like other state guest houses across the country, offering accommodation to visiting ministers, bureaucrats and other government guests.

Officials said the project will also include additional facilities such as dedicated parking spaces, waiting lounges and other supporting infrastructure. Guests staying at the facility will reportedly pay accommodation charges as prescribed by the government.

Bungalow Remains Vacant

The residence has remained unoccupied since Arvind Kejriwal vacated the premises after leaving office.

Despite being vacant, the property continues to be maintained by government staff. Around ten personnel are reportedly deployed for routine maintenance, ensuring that air conditioners, refrigerators, electrical systems and other installations remain functional.

Renovation Triggered Political Row

The bungalow became the centre of a major political controversy during Kejriwal's tenure after the BJP accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of spending lavishly on its renovation.

The opposition highlighted several luxury installations, including premium chandeliers, imported furnishings, smart LED lighting systems, expensive marble and granite, a spa room, massage chairs, a gym and a high-end jacuzzi, referring to the residence as the "Sheesh Mahal."

CAG Report Flagged Cost Escalation

The controversy intensified after the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) released an audit report highlighting significant cost overruns.

According to the report, the renovation project was initially estimated at ₹7.91 crore, but the final expenditure reportedly increased to ₹33.66 crore, representing a cost escalation of nearly 342%.

The audit further noted that approximately ₹18.88 crore was spent on interior decoration, furnishings and decorative items.

CBI Investigation Still Underway

The renovation expenditure has remained under scrutiny since 2022, when then Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena directed the Vigilance Department to investigate allegations of financial irregularities.

The matter was subsequently handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following a complaint filed by then Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, who alleged irregularities in the renovation of the Chief Minister's residence.

The CBI investigation is ongoing, and no final findings have been announced.

Final Approval Awaited

While officials indicate that the proposal to convert the bungalow into a state guest house is close to receiving approval, the Delhi government has not yet issued a formal notification.

Once approved, the property is expected to be used for official government accommodation, marking a new chapter for one of Delhi's most politically debated residences.

Indore bench issues notices to Centre and state government over PIL highlighting infrastructure deficit, shortage of teachers and alleged misuse of funds; next hearing on August 17

The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has taken a strict view of the state's ailing education system, issuing notices to the central and state governments on a public interest litigation (PIL) that highlights severe deficiencies in government schools across the state.

The division bench of Justice Subodh Abhyankar and Justice Alok Awasthi, hearing the matter on Wednesday, directed both governments to file their responses by August 17.

The PIL was filed by social worker and advocate B.L. Jain from Sendhwa. Advocate Abhishek Tuganawat, appearing for the petitioner, informed the court that the state's education system is in a deep crisis, with millions of students being denied even the basic facilities guaranteed under the Constitution and the Right to Education Act.

According to the petition, out of the sanctioned 2.89 lakh teaching posts in the state, 1.15 lakh positions remain vacant — nearly 40 per cent of the total sanctioned strength. The situation is so dire that 1,895 schools in the state do not have a single teacher posted.

Citing the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report for 2025, the petition stated that out of 83,514 schools in the state, approximately 5,000 have dilapidated and unsafe buildings. Around 3,400 schools lack toilet facilities, while nearly 10,000 schools do not have electricity. Boundary walls are missing in 40,000 schools, and thousands of schools do not have access to clean drinking water. Several schools continue to operate in makeshift huts.

The petition further pointed out that more than 59,000 schools in the state do not have computer facilities, even as the government talks about digital education. Over the past decade, the number of students from Class 1 to Class 12 in government schools has declined by more than 22 lakh, even as the state's population has grown — a clear indicator of the declining trust in the government education system.

The petitioner also brought to the court's attention that the Supreme Court, in January 2026, had directed all government and private schools to ensure separate toilets for boys and girls and provide free sanitary pads for girl students. Despite these directives, many schools are yet to comply.

The PIL also raised the issue of alleged misuse of government funds, claiming that adequate expenditure is not being made on basic necessities like education and health, while large amounts are being spent on other heads. Corruption in construction and repair works was also flagged.

The court has sought responses from both governments by August 17, when the matter will be heard next.