Why clean drinking water is an election issue in West Bengal this time
India Today
Data shows 91 out of every 100 houses in rural Bengal do not have tap water connection. Major political parties are promising to address this.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised clean drinking water for everyone in West Bengal in the BJP manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections. The Trinamool Congress has also given significance to the same as the word “water” appeared 26 times in its manifesto. So what is making water an election issue in Bengal? The state is reeling under severe clean drinking water crisis due to scarcity of tap water, combined with the prevalence of arsenic and saline water in major regions. West Bengal is placed among the bottom three states, after Assam and Ladakh, in the list of functional tap water connections in rural households. More than 91 out of every 100 rural households do not have tap water connection. While the national average for tap water connections in rural households is 37.28 per cent, the same for Bengal is only 8.63 per cent, according to the Centre’s department of drinking water and sanitation .
For years, Ram Setu has been invoked as "national heritage" in political discourse. But an RTI response reveals that, in official records, its status remains "nil".
Two LPG tankers tracked by India Today's OSINT team have taken the new route via Larak-Qeshm to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
What began as an abuse complaint has snowballed into a massive scandal involving rape allegations, hidden camera evidence, fraud and even murder claims, as more victims come forward against a Nashik godman.
From April 2026, the Delhi government is planning to recover over Rs 38,000 crore in dues to discoms.
The bill could increase total Lok Sabha seats to 816, reserving 273 for women, marking a major push to enhance female representation in Parliament based on the 2011 census.
Students told the Mahila Congress that the LPG shortage had disrupted their daily meals. They said the hostel administration had altered the menu, reduced one meal and discontinued evening tea in recent days.
India's consumer courts promise quick justice, but rising backlogs and staff shortages tell a different story. As cases pile up, the gap between what the system offers and what it delivers is widening.
A second patient died within 72 hours at RG Kar Hospital, with his family alleging that a lack of stretcher and basic facilities forced the critically ill man to walk 100 metres, leading to his death.
As Parliament prepares to bring amendments to the Transgender Act, activists warn the proposed changes risk rolling back years of hard-won rights.
A high-speed boat crash in the Maldives has left two Indians missing, including a celebrated rally figure, even as Gautam Singhania returns home. Search teams continue efforts amid mounting concern and unanswered questions.
A prominent seer, Pranavananda Swamiji, alleged that mutts backing Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to take over the top post were denied any allocation in the state budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He reiterated his support for Shivakumar to take over as the chief minister.
India's original Dhurandhar, Ravindra Kaushik, rose from acting at college theatres, to infiltrating the Pakistan Army as a RAW Agent. He provided critical intelligence on Pakistani troop movements and the country's nuclear programme, but died a lonely death after his betrayal and subsequent capture by the ISI.