PMI NEWS HIGHTLIGHTS -24 Sept’

1. Supreme Court dismisses Danam Nagender’s plea

The Supreme Court dismissed former Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender’s petition challenging the Telangana High Court’s decision to disqualify him under the anti-defection law. The Court held that the High Court had correctly interpreted the law. Nagender had won the 2023 Assembly election on a BRS ticket and later contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election as a Congress candidate while continuing as an MLA. The High Court had declared him disqualified from April 23, 2024, and the Khairatabad seat vacant. (pressmediaoffibdia.com)

2. Danam Nagender welcomes SC verdict

Danam Nagender welcomed the Supreme Court decision upholding his disqualification and said he was prepared to contest the Khairatabad by-election. He described the verdict as an opportunity to return to the electorate and said he would seek a fresh mandate from voters. He also acknowledged that he had expected legal difficulties following his decision to contest the Lok Sabha election.

3. Telangana to host Raksha Expo 2026

Telangana will host Raksha Expo 2026 as part of the Invest Telangana Global Summit from December 7 to 9 at Bharat Future City. Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju invited aerospace and defence companies, manufacturers, MSMEs and startups to participate. The expo will focus on B2B meetings, technology partnerships, vendor development and investment opportunities. The government highlighted Telangana’s aerospace and defence ecosystem, including growth in exports and capabilities in drones, avionics, advanced materials, propulsion and aircraft maintenance.

4. Harish Rao moves defamation case over black magic allegations

Former Minister T. Harish Rao said he had filed a defamation case against Congress leaders Mahesh Kumar Goud and Addanki Dayakar over allegations that he practised black magic. Speaking outside the Nampally court, Harish Rao said the petition was supported by evidence and that the court had directed him to appear for recording statements. He maintained that his temple visits and prayers were being misrepresented and accused the ruling Congress of diverting attention from issues such as irrigation, power supply and election promises.

5. Safety audits ordered for government hospitals

Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha directed officials to complete fire, electrical and structural safety audits in all government hospitals within a month. He stressed that identifying deficiencies alone was insufficient and ordered corrective measures within fixed deadlines. The review examined earlier audit findings, completed repairs and pending works, with emphasis on accident prevention, emergency evacuation and continuous safety compliance.

6. IJU to observe nationwide Demands Day

The Indian Journalists Union will observe October 2 as a nationwide “Demands Day” focusing on press freedom and the socio-economic security of journalists. The union plans to submit memoranda to the President and Chief Ministers seeking a new Media Commission, a national law for journalist safety, restoration of statutory protections for working journalists and a fresh Wage Board. The IJU said the changing media environment requires updated regulation covering television, digital platforms, ownership, monetisation and journalistic ethics.

7. SCR to run special trains for festival rush

South Central Railway will operate 16 special trains between Secunderabad and Kakinada Town during October to manage the expected festival rush. The services will stop at several major stations, including Charlapalli, Nalgonda, Guntur, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Samalkot. SCR will also extend eight other special train services, including the Jalna-Yelahanka route, with stops across Telangana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

8. Tourist bus catches fire in Meerpet

A private bus carrying 39 passengers caught fire near Gayatrinagar in Meerpet shortly after midnight, but all passengers escaped unharmed. The passengers were among around 150 employees of a Nagole-based real estate company travelling in three buses to Srisailam for a Ganesh immersion programme. The fire reportedly started in the engine compartment of the parked bus. Police and fire personnel reached the spot and brought the blaze under control.

9. Tiruchanoor Brahmotsavams from December 5 to 14

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has begun preparations for the Karthika Brahmotsavams of Sri Padmavathi Ammavari at Tiruchanoor from December 5 to 14. Officials expect the number of devotees to rise by 15–20% compared with last year. Arrangements will include queue lines, barricades, holding points, LED screens, signboards, medical camps, security and traffic management, particularly for Panchami Theertham.

10. Hyderabad housing registrations fall 9% in August

Hyderabad recorded 5,937 residential property registrations in August 2026, a 9% year-on-year decline, according to Knight Frank India. The total transaction value stood at Rs.4,576 crore, down 2% year-on-year but up 3% month-on-month, indicating relatively steady demand for premium homes. From January to August, registrations increased 2% to 50,095 units, while cumulative transaction value rose 6% to Rs.35,423 crore.

11. ACB searches 10 locations in DSP assets case

The Anti-Corruption Bureau conducted searches at 10 locations in Hyderabad and Zaheerabad as part of a disproportionate assets investigation involving DSP Sankireddy Bheem Reddy. The searches covered properties linked to people suspected of acting as benamis. The ACB said documents and other material allegedly connected with assets were seized and Rs.1.35 crore in cash was found at one residence. Foreign currency and about 14 litres of foreign liquor were also recovered. The investigation is continuing.

12. GITAM conducts hands-on data science workshop

GITAM School of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Hyderabad, launched a two-day hands-on data science workshop for students. The programme covers data analysis and preprocessing, machine learning, Tableau visualisation, real-world case studies and industry applications. B.Tech and M.Tech students are receiving practical training from resource person Devanshu Tayal, with faculty members coordinating the programme.

13. BRS protests over Telangana power and coal situation

BRS leaders staged a protest at the Singareni Head Office in Hyderabad, alleging that the Congress government had failed to properly address power and coal supply issues. Former minister Koppula Eshwar alleged that power cuts were affecting households and industries and claimed inadequate coal supplies were affecting power generation. He also raised questions about alleged government dues to Singareni and declining coal production. These were presented as allegations by BRS leaders during the protest.

14. Tummala opposes reduction in palm oil import duty

Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao criticised the Centre’s decision to reduce the import duty on crude palm oil from 16.5% to 11%, saying it could put pressure on domestic oil palm prices. He argued that cheaper imports could affect farmers who make long-term investments in oil palm cultivation. According to the minister, more than 88,000 farmers in Telangana are cultivating oil palm across about 3.20 lakh acres.

15. GITAM lecture focuses on nano and quantum materials

GITAM Hyderabad organised a guest lecture on emerging nano and quantum materials and indigenous technology development. CSIR-National Physical Laboratory scientist Dr Bipin Kumar Gupta discussed nanomaterials, two-dimensional materials and quantum materials and their potential applications in healthcare, biomedical imaging, pharmaceuticals, communications and security. He encouraged students to connect fundamental research with practical innovation and contribute to indigenous technology development.

16. KTR reacts to Supreme Court verdict

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision upholding Danam Nagender’s disqualification and criticised the Congress leadership over defections. He alleged that Congress had attempted to gain political advantage through defections and said the Khairatabad electorate would get an opportunity to respond in the upcoming by-election. KTR also indicated that his party expected further legal developments involving other defecting legislators.

17. FTCCI announces Telangana photography contest winners

The FTCCI Tourism Committee announced the winners of “Telangana Through the Lens–2026”, a photography contest showcasing lesser-known tourism attractions. More than 1,400 entries were received from 554 photographers. Shravan Thadanla won first prize for a photograph featuring Cheriyal painting, while Mahimala Kyadhar Reddy and H. Satish secured second and third places. The initiative aims to promote Telangana’s heritage, rural landscapes, cultural traditions and unexplored tourist destinations.

18. Governor advises SSC toppers to dream big

Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla advised SSC toppers to view Class 10 examinations as the beginning of their higher ambitions. At a Shriram Group recognition programme, 632 government-school SSC toppers were honoured with incentives totalling Rs.2.27 crore. The Governor encouraged students to pursue excellence while developing curiosity, discipline and good character and acknowledged the role of parents and teachers in their success.

19. BRS MLA raises issue of alleged restrictions on KCR songs

BRS Huzurabad MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy alleged that police were preventing local youth from playing songs associated with former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao during Ganesh immersion celebrations. He claimed that officials were threatening to register cases against those playing political songs and issued strong remarks directed at Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar. The allegations were made by the BRS MLA during a media interaction.

20. BJP announces organisational changes in Telangana

Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao welcomed the appointment of Madhukar as State General Secretary (Organisation) and Dasharath as State Joint General Secretary (Organisation). Madhukar will oversee Andhra Pradesh and Telangana with Hyderabad as his base, while Dasharath will handle Telangana from Warangal. Rao said the appointments would strengthen the party’s organisational work at the grassroots level.

21. Maheshwar Reddy calls SC verdict a constitutional victory

BJP Legislature Party leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy described the Supreme Court decision upholding Danam Nagender’s disqualification as a victory for the Constitution. He criticised defections and demanded that legislators who changed parties resign and face fresh elections. He also said the BJP would continue its legal and public campaigns on issues it considers related to constitutional governance.

22. Kishan Reddy welcomes SC verdict

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Danam Nagender’s disqualification under the anti-defection law. He said the judgment underlined the importance of respecting voters’ mandates and criticised defections by political parties when in power. With the Khairatabad seat vacant, he said voters would have an opportunity to elect a new representative and stated that the BJP would contest the by-election.

23. Revanth Reddy selected for Aryadan Muhammed award

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has been selected for the Aryadan Muhammed–2026 Best Public Servant Award instituted by the Aryadan Muhammed Foundation. The foundation said the award recognises his leadership and welfare initiatives for farmers, backward classes and other communities in Telangana. He will receive the award at a ceremony in Nilambur, Kerala, along with a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, citation and memento.

24. CM mourns SI’s death during Ganesh immersion duty

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy expressed condolences over the death of K. Venkanna, a Sub-Inspector from Kothagudem Two-Town Police Station. Venkanna died after being struck by an unidentified speeding vehicle while performing Ganesh immersion bandobust duty at NTR Marg in Hyderabad. The Chief Minister directed senior police officials to speed up the investigation, identify the driver and take legal action, while assuring support to the bereaved family.

25. Telangana BJP welcomes Danam Nagender verdict

Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao welcomed the Supreme Court ruling upholding Danam Nagender’s disqualification and described it as significant for constitutional governance. He criticised political defections and demanded that MLAs who switched parties resign and contest fresh elections. Rao also criticised Congress leaders over their handling of defections and said the BJP would continue legal and public campaigns on the issue.

26. BRS raises employee DA and PRC issues

BRS leader A. Rakesh Reddy accused the Congress government of neglecting Telangana government employees and delaying resolution of their demands. He said six Dearness Allowances remain unpaid and that Pay Revision Commission recommendations have been pending for nearly 1,100 days. He also alleged that employee associations were being discouraged from protesting and compared expenditure on employee salaries under the previous and current administrations.

27. Telangana orders probe into land irregularities

The Telangana government has constituted a high-level committee to investigate alleged land irregularities in villages across different districts following Assembly discussions on Section 22-A of the Registration Act. The committee will examine government, assigned, ceiling-surplus, Jagir, Bhoodan, Inam and forest lands, as well as water bodies, land acquisition and land records. It has been authorised to obtain records from departments and district authorities and recommend action wherever violations are established.

28. Counterflow BRT proposed for JNTU–HITEC City corridor

Cyberabad Police reviewed a proposal for a counterflow Bus Rapid Transit system along the congested JNTU Junction–HITEC City–Raidurgam Metro Station–Waverock corridor. A traffic survey found the 7-km route operating close to capacity, with peak-hour travel times of about 45–50 minutes. The proposed dedicated bus lane could reduce travel time by up to 20 minutes and increase passenger capacity. Officials have called for a further feasibility study and cost-effective short-term traffic measures before implementation.