Blinkit 10-minute ambulance service: Goyal advises firm to follow law of land
New Delhi, Jan 3: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said quick-commerce companies like Blinkit, which is launching a 10-minute ambulance service, must make sure that they meet the law of the land.
Blinkit on Thursday launched a 10-minute ambulance service in select areas of Gurugram as a pilot project.
Users will be able to see the option to call for an ambulance on the Blinkit app, according to a company statement.
"As regards Blinkit doing ambulance services or medicines being delivered, my only submission would be that they have to make sure that they meet the law of the land and whatever the legal requirements should be properly taken care of. No laws of the land should be broken," Goyal told reporters when asked about the company's decision.
Asked about issues raised by small retailers about quick-commerce or e-commerce firms, he said the government is monitoring that and the CCI (Competition Commission of India) has already taken actions in some cases and wherever they found anti-competitive practices.
"As far as I know, investigative actions have also been taken on some companies, who have violated laws and misused them," he said.
Replying to a question about a sharp dip in valuations of certain unicorn startups, Goyal said there are very few such cases.
"We have been monitoring, but we did not find too many cases," he said.
He added that market forces determine the valuations and the government does not interfere in that.
"We neither interfered when Zepto becomes a unicorn in less than three years nor did we interfere if somebody's value fell...could be for mismanagement or lack of financial prudence," he said.
However, the minister added that in case of financial mismanagement or managerial incompetence, "we picked up those cases and asked the National Startup Advisory Council to study what has gone wrong and come up with some guidelines for auditors, or guidelines by which all the startups can be encouraged to be aware of such practices and investors to keep their eyes open and the council has done a good job on that".
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had constituted the council in January 2020 to advise the government on measures needed to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and start-ups in the country.
When asked about startups shifting bases in India, he said it is a welcome sign and also "very" satisfying that more and more startups want to come back home and register in India and possibly list in India.
It reflects on the government's decisive leadership, pro-active policies and stability.
It all has helped in making India an attractive destination, he said adding the stock market in India is one of the best performing in the world, having consistently given positive returns.
He invited feedback if any steps are required to make the journey of startups back home easier.
He informed that Startup India had several funds and budget provisions had already been made earlier and provided to SIDBI.
"So we do not need annual allocation. SIDBI is the operating agency and they keep disbursing the fund. SIDBI has also now started getting back money...Rs 1,600 crore started coming back into the SIDBIs corpus," he said.
He added that India can host more data centres because it has an ideal ecosystem to support those centres in the country.
"India is a choice of the world today because of government policies...huge investments have either come in or are on the way to come in...Everybody talks to invest in billions and not in millions," he said.
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KMES Institutions shine in SSLC result, continue four-decade legacy of education in rural Karkala
Karkala: KMES Institutions of Education at Kukkundooru in Karkala taluk has recorded outstanding results in the 2025-26 SSLC and PUC examinations, continuing a four-decade educational journey that began with just 22 kindergarten students and no building of its own.
The institution secured a 100 per cent result in the SSLC examinations, with all 43 students passing the examination this year.
Muhammad Arman Shahid emerged as the school topper by scoring 619 marks out of 625, securing 99 per cent and also ranking sixth at the state level. He scored full marks in Kannada, Hindi, Mathematics and Social Science.
Krithika V. Nayak secured the second position in the school with 607 marks and 97.12 per cent, while Arhan stood third with 605 marks and 96.8 per cent.
Out of the 43 students, 21 passed with distinction, 19 secured first class, two students obtained second class and one student passed in third class. Fourteen students scored above 90 per cent.
The institution also performed strongly in the PUC examinations. The Science stream recorded a 100 per cent result, with all 44 students passing, while Commerce secured a 98 per cent pass percentage.
Twelve students scored full marks in different subjects, including Mathematics.
In Commerce, Deeksha Acharya topped the college with 588 marks, while Harshitha H. Kini secured the second position with 581 marks.
In Science, Naveen B. Nayak emerged as topper with 586 marks, followed closely by Sameeksha Moily and Aifa Nidha, who both secured 585 marks.
Speaking about the achievement, High School head teacher Shrimati Patkar said the institution has always focused on supporting academically weak students through affordable education and free special classes.
“Our ambition is to provide quality education even to students who struggle in studies. The fees are very low, and free coaching classes are conducted. I have worked here for 28 years and have always found the atmosphere supportive of education,” she said.
Primary School head teacher Lolita Zeena D’Silva appreciated the dedication of the teaching staff and said the school encourages students not only to achieve high marks but also to become role models.
PU College Principal Balakrishna Rao said the institution focuses on value-based education and overall personality development.
“The aim is to help students succeed not only academically but also in cultural activities, sports and leadership. We encourage qualities such as patience, tolerance and discipline,” he said.
Rao also credited the institution’s growth to the support of founders K.S. Mohammed Masood and K.S. Nissar Ahmed, along with President K.S. Imtiaz Ahmed.
Speaking on the occasion, Imtiaz Ahmed said the institution was built on the dream of making quality education accessible to financially backward families in rural areas.
He said the guidance and encouragement of his elder brothers, Mohammed Masood and Nissar Ahmed, along with the contribution of teachers, students and parents, helped transform the institution into a model educational centre.
The KMES Institutions trace their roots back to 1984, when they were founded by senior social activists Haji P.M. Khan, K.S. Nazeer Ahmed and Haji A.S. Rashid Haider.
The institution initially functioned from the Government Urdu School premises as it did not have a building of its own. Classes began with only 22 students in lower kindergarten and two teachers.
Later, under the leadership of K.S. Mohammed Masood and with continuous financial and moral support from non-resident businessman K.S. Nissar Ahmed, the institution gradually expanded.
In 1993, the school shifted to its own building and began conducting classes from LKG to Class 5.
As student admissions increased, Nissar Ahmed personally funded the construction of three additional classrooms to address infrastructure shortages.
The institution’s new school building was completed in 1997, while the PU College building was constructed in 2001.
From humble beginnings in a borrowed building to producing state-level rank holders and consistent academic results, the KMES Institutions have grown into one of the prominent educational centres in the Karkala region.
