New Delhi, Nov 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday lauded the reduction in the incidence of tuberculosis in India since 2015, which was twice the global rate of decline and credited it to the expansion of treatment coverage.

India’s TB incidence, which refers to new cases emerging each year, reduced by 21 per cent, from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh population in 2024, according to the World Health Organisation’s Global TB Report 2025.

The reduction is almost double the pace of the decline observed globally at 12 per cent, the Health Ministry said.

“India’s fight against TB is achieving remarkable momentum. The latest WHO Global tuberculosis report 2025 highlights that India has recorded a commendable reduction in TB incidence since 2015 and it is nearly twice the global rate of decline,” Modi said in a post on X.

The Prime Minister said the decline in incidence of TB in India was one of the sharpest drops seen anywhere in the world.

“Equally heartening is the expansion of treatment coverage, the fall in ‘missing cases’ and the sustained rise in treatment success. I compliment all those who have worked towards achieving this success. We remain committed to ensuring a healthy and fit India,” Modi said.

Ahmedabad, Nov 13: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the punishment for those behind the blast in Delhi will send a message to the world that no one should ever dare to even think of such an attack again.

Shah was speaking, through video link, at the inauguration of Shri Motibhai R Chaudhary Sagar Sainik School and Sagar Organic Plant at Boriyavi village in Gujarat’s Mehsana district.

“All those who committed this cowardly act and those behind it will be brought before the law and given the strictest possible punishment. The Government of India and Ministry of Home Affairs are fully committed to ensuring this,” he was quoted as saying in an official release.

He also expressed deep condolences for the families of the victims of the blast, it said.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to ensure strict punishment for all those responsible for this terrorist act will definitely be fulfilled,” Shah said, as per the Press Information Bureau release.

“Punishment given to the perpetrators of the Delhi terror attack will send a message to the world that no one should ever dare to even think of such an attack in our country,” he added.

Under Modi’s leadership, the entire world has recognized India’s fight against terrorism over the past 11 years, and the prime minister is at the forefront of leading this fight globally, he said.

A high-intensity blast in a car near the Red Fort on Monday evening killed at least 13 persons.

New Delhi, Nov 13: Authorities on Thursday received a bomb threat message for Air India’s flight from Toronto to Delhi, and the flight landed safely in the national capital, according to sources.

In the morning, Delhi Police received a message claiming a bomb threat for the flight AI188. Subsequently, the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) was constituted at the Delhi airport and it was assessed that the threat was ‘non-specific”, the sources told PTI.

When contacted, an Air India spokesperson said a security alert was communicated regarding the flight AI188 during its cruise from Toronto to Delhi on Thursday.

“On board crew carried out all the laid down security drills keeping passenger safety & security as top priority. The flight has landed safely at Delhi and has been parked for the mandatory security checks by the security as per the protocol,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson also said that all passengers and crew have disembarked safely.

The flight landed at the Delhi airport at around 3.40 pm.

The duration of the Toronto-Delhi flight, operated with a Boeing 777 aircraft, was little over 15 hours, as per information available on flight tracking website Flightradar24.com.

Enhanced security measures, including compulsory secondary ladder point checking for all flights, are in place at all airports in the wake of the blast in the national capital.

At least 13 people were killed and several others injured after a high-intensity blast ripped through a slow-moving car near Gate Number 1 of the Red Fort Metro station in the national capital on November 10.

New Delhi, Nov 12: The government on Wednesday approved rationalisation of royalty rates of graphite, caesium, rubidium, and zirconium with an aim to boost domestic production and reduce import dependence.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The decision will promote the auction of mineral blocks containing caesium, rubidium and zirconium, thereby not only unlocking these minerals but also associated critical minerals found with them such as lithium, tungsten, rare-earth elements (REE) and niobium.

Moreover, it would also strengthen the country’s energy security and supply chain security.

I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said after the Cabinet meeting that there was a need to change the royalty structure of few critical minerals as a very high royalty was imposed on them.

The cabinet, he said, decided to reduce the royalty of caesium, graphite, rubidium and zirconium so that their production can be increased.

These elements have high usage in the country, specially in the electric vehicle, electronic manufacturing and strategic sectors, he explained.

Fixing of royalty rates of graphite on ad valorem basis will proportionately reflect the change in prices of the mineral across grades.

Increase in indigenous production of these minerals would lead to reduction in imports and supply chain vulnerabilities and also generate employment opportunities in the country, an official statement said.

These four are important minerals for high-tech applications and energy transition. Graphite and zirconium are also among the 24 critical and strategic minerals listed in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act).

Graphite is a crucial component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, primarily serving as the anode material, which enables high conductivity and charge capacity.

However, India imports 60 per cent of its graphite requirement. At present, nine graphite mines are working in the country and further 27 blocks have been auctioned. Further, GSI and MECL have handed over 20 graphite blocks that will be auctioned and around 26 blocks are under exploration.

Zirconium is a versatile metal used in various industries, including nuclear energy, aerospace, healthcare and manufacturing, due to exceptional corrosion resistance and high temperature stability.

Caesium is mainly used in high-tech electronic sector, particularly in atomic clocks, GPS systems, other high precision instruments, medical instruments, including in cancer therapy.

Rubidium is used in making specialty glasses used in fibre optics, telecommunication systems, night vision devices, etc.

Recently, the Centre came out with a notice inviting tender for the sixth round of critical mineral block auction. This also contains five blocks of graphite, two blocks of rubidium and one block each of caesium and zirconium .

“Today’s approval of the Union Cabinet on rate of royalty will help the bidders to rationally submit their financial bids in auction,” it said.