Studying Constitution strengthens commitment to national service: Om Birla
Jaipur (PTI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday said the Constitution is not merely a collection of laws but the soul of India and a guiding force for the nation's character.
Addressing a programme at a private university in Jaipur, Birla said justice, liberty, equality and fraternity form the foundation of India's democracy and it is essential for the youth to understand and practise these values.
The event was organised on the eve of Constitution day.
Recalling the journey of Constitution-making, Birla said it was an extension of the freedom movement.
"After independence, the bigger challenge was nation-building amid hundreds of princely states, diverse cultures and multiple ideologies. Leaders like B R Ambedkar, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel and Maulana Azad engaged in three years of extensive deliberations to frame a Constitution that assures justice and rights to every citizen," he said.
Birla said today, India is the world's largest and strongest democracy with growing public participation and deepening faith in constitutional values.
“Studying the Constitution strengthens commitment to national service," he added.
The speaker further said India's biggest strength in the coming years will be its youth, who are contributing to global solutions in climate change, medicine, disaster management and technology.
"Educational institutions must further cultivate constitutional values, duty-consciousness and national interest among students," he said, adding that the Parliament is working to strengthen the study of the Constitution across schools, colleges and universities.
"A strong India will emerge only when the younger generation understands its heritage and democratic traditions," he said.
Birla also called upon universities to become global centres of innovation and research to pave the way for a developed India.
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TN govt reaffirms 21-yr age limit for liquor sales
Chennai (PTI): Seeking to curb rising alcohol consumption among minors in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has reinforced the legal age requirement of 21 for all liquor purchases and consumption.
The government has also ordered the closure of 717 liquor outlets across the state and warned of strict action against those who violate the new directives.
The state-owned Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), the agency which holds a monopoly on sales of liquor, will be shutting 276 outlets near places of worship, 186 near educational institutions and 255 outlets near bus stations.
A senior TASMAC official on Thursday said that the staff at liquor shops have been instructed to check identity proof, including Aadhaar card, for all customers whose age is in question.
The official also said that the state government is considering a reduction in operational hours.
Currently, the liquor shops across the state operate from 12 noon to 10 pm.
"They are weighing a proposal to move the closing time to 8 pm," he added.
At present, the TASMAC operates a total of 4,765 liquor shops across the state. After the closure of 717 shops, it would come down to 4,048 outlets.
In 2025, the revenue from liquor sales stood at Rs 48,344 crore, which is the second highest after the registration department.
