July 23, 2026

India

PM Modi at G20 NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi Saturday proposed a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative, saying for global growth, sustainability and clean energy are essential, and critical minerals have a huge role to play.“Under this, innovations such as re-cycling, urban mining and second-life batteries can be promoted,” said Modi, addressing a G20 meeting in Johannesburg. This comes amid concerns China is leveraging its chokehold over supply of rare and critical minerals to further its strategic goals.At G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For Future“If there is investment in circularity, then dependence on primary mining will be less. This will also reduce the pressure on the supply chain, and it will also be good for nature. This initiative can support joint research, technology standards and pilot recycling facilities in the Global South,” Modi said.Resilience cannot be built in silos, stressed the PM. “The G20 should promote comprehensive strategies that combine nutrition, public health, sustainable agriculture, and disaster preparedness, to create a robust global defence,” he said.PM Modi also suggested a G20 open satellite data partnership saying India believes that the entire humanity should benefit from space technology.“This will make satellite data and analysis of space agencies of G20 countries more accessible, interoperable and usable for countries in the Global South,” he said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesMorning walk vs evening walk: Which one is better for weight loss?5 easy and smart tips to make long-distance relationships workFeeling the winter blues?: 6 mind-clearing habits to try at home5 style lessons to take from Italy’s PM Giorgia MeloniHansika Motwani’s rise shows her steady mix of hard work and charmFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glass123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingAuston Matthews InjuryKim KardashianBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

PM Modi at G20 NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi Saturday proposed a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative, saying for global growth, sustainability and clean energy are essential, and critical minerals have a huge role to play.“Under this, innovations such as re-cycling, urban mining and second-life batteries can be promoted,” said Modi, addressing a G20 meeting in Johannesburg. This comes amid concerns China is leveraging its chokehold over supply of rare and critical minerals to further its strategic goals.At G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For Future“If there is investment in circularity, then dependence on primary mining will be less. This will also reduce the pressure on the supply chain, and it will also be good for nature. This initiative can support joint research, technology standards and pilot recycling facilities in the Global South,” Modi said.Resilience cannot be built in silos, stressed the PM. “The G20 should promote comprehensive strategies that combine nutrition, public health, sustainable agriculture, and disaster preparedness, to create a robust global defence,” he said.PM Modi also suggested a G20 open satellite data partnership saying India believes that the entire humanity should benefit from space technology.“This will make satellite data and analysis of space agencies of G20 countries more accessible, interoperable and usable for countries in the Global South,” he said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesMorning walk vs evening walk: Which one is better for weight loss?5 easy and smart tips to make long-distance relationships workFeeling the winter blues?: 6 mind-clearing habits to try at home5 style lessons to take from Italy’s PM Giorgia MeloniHansika Motwani’s rise shows her steady mix of hard work and charmFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glass123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingAuston Matthews InjuryKim KardashianBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi Saturday proposed a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative, saying for global growth, sustainability and clean energy are essential, and critical minerals have a huge role to play.“Under this, innovations such as re-cycling, urban mining and second-life batteries can be promoted,” said Modi, addressing a G20 meeting in Johannesburg. This comes…

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Representative AI image MARGAO: Two women’s organisations in Goa have voiced strong opposition to a proposed ‘Tales of Kamasutra & Christmas Celebration’ event on December 25-28 and called on authorities to investigate and block the festival.Goa Women’s Forum (GWF) and Bailancho Ekvott have lodged separate complaints against the event, which they claimed would damage state’s reputation as a familyfriendly tourist destination and promote sex tourism.In a letter to tourism director Kedar Naik, GWF said the event was being promoted by an organisation identifying itself as ‘Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Foundation’ and allegedly charging participants Rs 25,000 for accommodation and food. “We seek your immediate intervention by filing an FIR, launching a full-fledged investigation to determine the antecedents of this ‘Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Foundation’ and identifying the venue for this proposed programme.”Bailancho Ekvott said the event was an abuse of religious freedom and assault on Catholic tradition. “To take the focus away from worship, prayers, this sort of tantrism is uncalled for.” It also said the festival was “a culture crisis for Goan Catholics” and called it a blow to Catholicism in Goa.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFeeling the winter blues?: 6 mind-clearing habits to try at home5 style lessons to take from Italy’s PM Giorgia MeloniHansika Motwani’s rise shows her steady mix of hard work and charmFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over time123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Representative AI image MARGAO: Two women’s organisations in Goa have voiced strong opposition to a proposed ‘Tales of Kamasutra & Christmas Celebration’ event on December 25-28 and called on authorities to investigate and block the festival.Goa Women’s Forum (GWF) and Bailancho Ekvott have lodged separate complaints against the event, which they claimed would damage state’s reputation as a familyfriendly tourist destination and promote sex tourism.In a letter to tourism director Kedar Naik, GWF said the event was being promoted by an organisation identifying itself as ‘Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Foundation’ and allegedly charging participants Rs 25,000 for accommodation and food. “We seek your immediate intervention by filing an FIR, launching a full-fledged investigation to determine the antecedents of this ‘Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Foundation’ and identifying the venue for this proposed programme.”Bailancho Ekvott said the event was an abuse of religious freedom and assault on Catholic tradition. “To take the focus away from worship, prayers, this sort of tantrism is uncalled for.” It also said the festival was “a culture crisis for Goan Catholics” and called it a blow to Catholicism in Goa.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFeeling the winter blues?: 6 mind-clearing habits to try at home5 style lessons to take from Italy’s PM Giorgia MeloniHansika Motwani’s rise shows her steady mix of hard work and charmFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over time123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna01 mins mins

MARGAO: Two women’s organisations in Goa have voiced strong opposition to a proposed ‘Tales of Kamasutra & Christmas Celebration’ event on December 25-28 and called on authorities to investigate and block the festival.Goa Women’s Forum (GWF) and Bailancho Ekvott have lodged separate complaints against the event, which they claimed would damage state’s reputation as a…

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Two recent deaths at the National Defence Academy (NDA) have sparked urgent introspection into cadet selection and training. The tragic loss of two first-term cadets, one by suicide and another in a drowning incident, highlights immense adjustment pressures. Experts call for systemic reforms in physical and psychological assessments to ensure cadet safety without compromising toughness. File pic of PT display during an NDA convocation ceremony NDA’s training regimen takes cadets beyond mental and physical limits of endurance. For some, however, the going gets really tough and the road ends not in a quiet withdrawal, but in tragedy. Two recent deaths at the premier military training academy have forced deep introspection into selection and trainingIt was DLTGH 50 (days left to go home) at National Defence Academy (NDA). Morning announcements at squadrons were now beginning with this cheerful count. Mid-term had passed. Termbreak — and home — were only a few weeks away when the Oct 10 morning muster in Charlie Squadron reported a missing firsttermer, Cadet Antriksh Kumar Singh.The 18-year-old was found dead in his cabin. It was the third suicide in NDA since 2014. The Lucknow boy had cleared Services Selection Board (SSB) in his first attempt and was by all accounts a very bright student. What drove him beyond the edge?Less than two weeks later, tragedy struck again. This time in the swimming pool. Bravo Squadron first-termer Aditya D Yadav, a weak swimmer, was being put through extra lessons to clear his mandatory test when he drowned. Just how he died in the presence of six instructors, other cadets and officers is not known yet.Police investigations are on into both incidents. NDA is holding a court of inquiry. Both families have alleged a conspiracy and demanded ‘impartial investigations’.Deep look withinThe back-to-back deaths at India’s premier military academy have triggered a deep introspection within defence and training circles about SSB, the training regimen and the psychological resilience expected of boys and girls fresh out of school.Selection for NDA is one of the most gruelling in the world — some 6 lakh sign up for just 406 seats. After clearing a UPSC written exam, candidates have to undergo an SSB interview process that lasts four days for those that clear screening. Then, there are medical tests. It’s after this multi-layered filtering that cadets earn the right to wear the Ashoka emblem on their NDA beret.Then comes training. Often, night merges into sleepless night after the day’s soul-sapping ‘ ragda ’ for first-termers. “Forget the drill square or PT grounds, merely surviving from reveille to lights-out in the squadron was a challenge in my ‘ Ikki ’ (first-termer) days,” recalled an NDA alumnus, who later joined as an instructor. “The process of forging boys into soldiers needs to be hard on mind and body. Unfortunately, sometimes tragedies happen. My heart goes out to the families of these cadets.”While the two deaths occurred under different circumstances, they are an indication of the immense adjustment pressures first-term cadets face.There have been nine deaths at NDA in the last two decades, three of them suicides. Cadets quitting training is also a major concern. A 2018 news report, quoting a report jointly prepared by Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters and NDA, revealed that between Jan 2008 and Nov 2017, as many as 1,256 cadets quit NDA, or a good 16-20% of intake every year.So, what’s going wrong?TOI spoke to former SSB assessors, NDA instructors and former commandants and deputy commandants and a common voice emerged: the need to introduce systemic reforms that can ensure cadet safety without compromising on toughness.Change must start with SSBA consensus among several former SSB presidents and instructors is that the problem begins much before cadets even reach NDA. They point out that while the SSB process rigorously tests the mental makeup of a candidate, there is a need for a more uniform and scientific physical assessment system during the selection process itself.Candidates who fare poorly on the individual obstacle course may still get recommended if they are found fit otherwise — but the physical weakness shows up in NDA’s gruelling pace. Many candidates can’t cope with the sheer physical demands and drop out or get injured or worse.On Feb 11, 2022, defence minister Rajnath Singh informed Lok Sabha that 211 cadets had been discharged from NDA, IMA (Indian Military Academy in Dehradun) and OTA (Officers Training Academy, in Chennai and Gaya) in the previous 10 years as disabled and medically unfit for service.Experts suggest that like soldier recruitment rallies, a standardised physical test — based on measurable, uniform parameters — should be introduced for officer aspirants as well. Additionally, they recommend that cadets undergo comprehensive physical fitness assessments upon reporting to NDA. “Without a scientific baseline, how can the academy know if a cadet has weak leg muscles or poor endurance?” asked a retired physical training officer. “Instead of asking a new cadet to run a few kilometres within days of joining, the academy should build endurance gradually. Those who fail to meet standards after progressive training can then be screened out,” he suggested.“The individual obstacle test at SSB includes activities like ‘Tarzan jump’, vertical rope climbing or Burma bridge-crossing — things most civilian students have never done. Candidates from non-military schools find this difficult because it’s completely new to them,” said Brigadier Laxmicharan Patnaik, former president of an SSB centre.Brigadier Jay Konnur, former president of SSB Centre-Bangalore, acknowledged that physical standards often receive less attention during selection.“Candidates are asked to complete 10 obstacles in three minutes. We observe determination, not absolute physical capability. If a candidate manages even six, we tend to overlook the shortfall. That may not reflect the actual physical preparedness required for NDA training,” he said, adding that SSB’s focus on leadership and group dynamics often overshadows baseline fitness.“Once they reach NDA, every shortcoming becomes magnified in a far more demanding environment,” he pointed out.It’s all in the mindThey are equally vocal about the need for improved and sustained psychological evaluations. “Psychological tests at SSBs are not foolproof,” said Patnaik, who was also chairman of Odisha Public Service Commission. “Repeated and deeper assessments at the academy are essential.”He feels NDA should appoint a dedicated team of psychologists to conduct regular evaluations and build a psychological dossier for each cadet.“These young men are future leaders of the armed forces. Understanding their emotional and mental resilience early can prevent breakdowns later,” Patnaik pointed out, adding that psychological counselling should be made a “normal and de-stigmatised part” of cadet life. “If we normalise counselling, first-termers will open up more. Confidential sessions can help them regain confidence and adjust to the demanding environment,” he said.“Cadets from civilian backgrounds face a stunning culture shock in the first term. They are not accustomed to the regimentation, physical demands or the sheer mental toughness that’s asked of them,” said an NDA alumnus. The academy has a system of counselling but what it needs is professional counsellors, said another alumnus.According to Major General Shukla, former commandant of SSB centre-Bhopal, the problem is compounded by interpersonal challenges within squadrons.“First-term cadets are often under immense pressure to prove themselves. Some seniors, driven by tradition or competition, unintentionally humiliate or overburden them. Sensitising senior cadets about mentorship is essential. They must handhold, not intimidate,” he said, remarking that effective mentorship and emotional support from senior cadets can ease this transition provided it is guided and monitored by officers. “Else, the same system that is meant to help may break them,” he cautioned.Pushy buddy?The “buddy system” — where every fresher is mentored by a senior cadet (overstudy) — has come under sharp scrutiny after recent incidents. Several parents, including serving officers, allege the system often crosses ethical and physical boundaries.“There are cases where seniors ask juniors to perform dangerous activities in the name of maintaining squadron honour,” said a source. “A second-term cadet suffered serious neck injuries when a senior asked him to perform a dive roll — a test the senior himself had not passed. The case is under consideration and the injured cadet is likely to board out on medical grounds.”Antriksh’s parents have alleged that his overstudy ragged him relentlessly. That is yet to be borne out in the police probe.The ‘fauji’ father of a medically boarded-out cadet said, “Each squadron competes fiercely in swimming, cross-country, or equestrian events. Seniors push juniors to unrealistic limits to maintain their reputation. This is neither scientific nor fair. This practice needs to be stopped.”However, former NDA commandants defend the mentorship tradition, insisting that when implemented correctly, it helps cadets adapt to a tough environment.Lt Gen Asit Mistry (retd), a former NDA commandant, said, “The buddy system has existed for decades and works effectively. Senior cadets help newcomers cope with the rigours of training. It’s unclear what went wrong in these cases, but the concept is sound.”Another former commandant added, “There is no scope for ragging or unscientific practices. Each squadron has officers specifically responsible for cadet welfare, who personally monitor stress and morale. Deviations must be dealt with seriously.”Balancing tradition with accountabilityEx-NDAs fiercely defend the academy’s ethos, and its emphasis on physical and mental toughness, pointing out that the system has produced three Param Vir Chakras, 12 Ashoka Chakras, 32 Mahavir Chakras and 160 Vir Chakras.But officers have also acknowledged the existence of what they term “unscientific traditions” — informal endurance practices not sanctioned but culturally ingrained. “These sessions are not officially part of the training schedule. But they are often conducted by senior cadets in the name of toughening them up. It can lead to injuries or psychological breakdowns,” said a former physical training officer.Another veteran observed that while the intention may be to foster toughness, such practices must be replaced with structured, scientific endurance programmes. “We must stop romanticising suffering as character-building. A soldier’s resilience should be built through method, not shock,” he suggested.Another alumnus recalled his own early struggles: “In my first term, I felt completely out of place. I couldn’t meet the standards and thought of quitting. It was only in the third term that I regained confidence. The system is harsh — but it shouldn’t break you before it builds you.”An officer who was part of the TriServices Committee, which tried to reform practices at training academies in 2003, said barracks punishments are the reasons for suicides and should be stopped immediately. “Most armies have changed it. Punishments can be military-ways, but harassment during night or odd hours should end immediately,” he told TOI on the condition of anonymity. “The academy must evolve with the times,” said Major General Shukla. “We cannot afford to lose bright young minds to outdated systems. The goal is not to dilute training, but to make it safer, smarter, and more humane.”As the investigations into the two deaths continue, the hope is that the tragedy will become a catalyst for long-overdue change — one that ensures no more dreams are extinguished in the process of building the nation’s defenders.The human costFar from the institutional debate lies the anguish of devastated families. Rubikumari Yadav, mother of first-termer Aditya Yadav, said her life has been shattered. “My son dreamed of serving the nation, and now I am left with nothing. The academy says there was no fault. Who is responsible for my son’s death then?” she asked.Antriksh’s family says he faced intense pressure and humiliation from a senior cadet. “He topped his school and was full of dreams,” said his uncle, A P Sengar. “But he couldn’t bear the pressure. This is not training — it’s trauma.”Reacting to the allegations levelled by Antriksh’s parents, then NDA commandant Vice-Admiral Gurcharan Singh told TOI, “It is a regrettable incident. He was a good cadet and performing well. We are in touch with the family and extending all possible assistance. A court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the facts.”But that’s little consolation for Rubikumari. “At the end of the day, I lost my son — and they lost one of the nation’s best,” she said.Deaths in training this yearOct 23 NDA | Cadet Aditya D Yadav dies during swimming sessionOct 10 NDA | Cadet Antriksh Kumar Singh dies by suicideSept 10 IMA | Gentleman Cadet S Balu dies during a swimming sessionJuly 6 OTA-Gaya | Gentleman Cadet Kumbhar Atharv Sambhaji dies during cross country runMay 19 OTA Chennai | Gentleman Cadet Umang Khar dies from a heat strokeMarch 28 Naval Academy | Cadet R Rabijith dies during trainingWhat NDA saysMentorship | Cadets follow a clear hierarchy within each squadron, ensuring continuous guidance. Five officers are assigned to every squadron, with officers on site, regularly interacting with cadetsConfidential grievance redress | To ensure that cadets can raise concerns without fear, NDA runs a confidential Cadet Suggestion Forum — overseen by highest Academy authorities, monitored dailyPsychological support | Each squadron has two dedicated counsellors, along with service officers who provide additional guidance. This process is monitored by the battalion commander (a colonel-rank officer)Scientific Training | Training is scientific and progressive, designed for gradual physical and mental conditioning. The routine for first-term cadets is engineered with flexibility to facilitate a smooth settling-in period and reduce stress. Cadets needing extra physical support receive bespoke trainingAbout the AuthorAjay SuraAjay Sura is Senior Assistant Editor with The Times of India Chandigarh. He covers news concerning the State of Haryana, Punjab & Haryana High Court and Defence & Military Affairs. He likes to analyse political developments and decoding judicial pronouncements. His hobbies include travelling, mountaineering and trekking.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFeeling the winter blues?: 6 mind-clearing habits to try at home5 style lessons to take from Italy’s PM Giorgia MeloniHansika Motwani’s rise shows her steady mix of hard work and charmFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over time123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Two recent deaths at the National Defence Academy (NDA) have sparked urgent introspection into cadet selection and training. The tragic loss of two first-term cadets, one by suicide and another in a drowning incident, highlights immense adjustment pressures. Experts call for systemic reforms in physical and psychological assessments to ensure cadet safety without compromising toughness. File pic of PT display during an NDA convocation ceremony NDA’s training regimen takes cadets beyond mental and physical limits of endurance. For some, however, the going gets really tough and the road ends not in a quiet withdrawal, but in tragedy. Two recent deaths at the premier military training academy have forced deep introspection into selection and trainingIt was DLTGH 50 (days left to go home) at National Defence Academy (NDA). Morning announcements at squadrons were now beginning with this cheerful count. Mid-term had passed. Termbreak — and home — were only a few weeks away when the Oct 10 morning muster in Charlie Squadron reported a missing firsttermer, Cadet Antriksh Kumar Singh.The 18-year-old was found dead in his cabin. It was the third suicide in NDA since 2014. The Lucknow boy had cleared Services Selection Board (SSB) in his first attempt and was by all accounts a very bright student. What drove him beyond the edge?Less than two weeks later, tragedy struck again. This time in the swimming pool. Bravo Squadron first-termer Aditya D Yadav, a weak swimmer, was being put through extra lessons to clear his mandatory test when he drowned. Just how he died in the presence of six instructors, other cadets and officers is not known yet.Police investigations are on into both incidents. NDA is holding a court of inquiry. Both families have alleged a conspiracy and demanded ‘impartial investigations’.Deep look withinThe back-to-back deaths at India’s premier military academy have triggered a deep introspection within defence and training circles about SSB, the training regimen and the psychological resilience expected of boys and girls fresh out of school.Selection for NDA is one of the most gruelling in the world — some 6 lakh sign up for just 406 seats. After clearing a UPSC written exam, candidates have to undergo an SSB interview process that lasts four days for those that clear screening. Then, there are medical tests. It’s after this multi-layered filtering that cadets earn the right to wear the Ashoka emblem on their NDA beret.Then comes training. Often, night merges into sleepless night after the day’s soul-sapping ‘ ragda ’ for first-termers. “Forget the drill square or PT grounds, merely surviving from reveille to lights-out in the squadron was a challenge in my ‘ Ikki ’ (first-termer) days,” recalled an NDA alumnus, who later joined as an instructor. “The process of forging boys into soldiers needs to be hard on mind and body. Unfortunately, sometimes tragedies happen. My heart goes out to the families of these cadets.”While the two deaths occurred under different circumstances, they are an indication of the immense adjustment pressures first-term cadets face.There have been nine deaths at NDA in the last two decades, three of them suicides. Cadets quitting training is also a major concern. A 2018 news report, quoting a report jointly prepared by Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters and NDA, revealed that between Jan 2008 and Nov 2017, as many as 1,256 cadets quit NDA, or a good 16-20% of intake every year.So, what’s going wrong?TOI spoke to former SSB assessors, NDA instructors and former commandants and deputy commandants and a common voice emerged: the need to introduce systemic reforms that can ensure cadet safety without compromising on toughness.Change must start with SSBA consensus among several former SSB presidents and instructors is that the problem begins much before cadets even reach NDA. They point out that while the SSB process rigorously tests the mental makeup of a candidate, there is a need for a more uniform and scientific physical assessment system during the selection process itself.Candidates who fare poorly on the individual obstacle course may still get recommended if they are found fit otherwise — but the physical weakness shows up in NDA’s gruelling pace. Many candidates can’t cope with the sheer physical demands and drop out or get injured or worse.On Feb 11, 2022, defence minister Rajnath Singh informed Lok Sabha that 211 cadets had been discharged from NDA, IMA (Indian Military Academy in Dehradun) and OTA (Officers Training Academy, in Chennai and Gaya) in the previous 10 years as disabled and medically unfit for service.Experts suggest that like soldier recruitment rallies, a standardised physical test — based on measurable, uniform parameters — should be introduced for officer aspirants as well. Additionally, they recommend that cadets undergo comprehensive physical fitness assessments upon reporting to NDA. “Without a scientific baseline, how can the academy know if a cadet has weak leg muscles or poor endurance?” asked a retired physical training officer. “Instead of asking a new cadet to run a few kilometres within days of joining, the academy should build endurance gradually. Those who fail to meet standards after progressive training can then be screened out,” he suggested.“The individual obstacle test at SSB includes activities like ‘Tarzan jump’, vertical rope climbing or Burma bridge-crossing — things most civilian students have never done. Candidates from non-military schools find this difficult because it’s completely new to them,” said Brigadier Laxmicharan Patnaik, former president of an SSB centre.Brigadier Jay Konnur, former president of SSB Centre-Bangalore, acknowledged that physical standards often receive less attention during selection.“Candidates are asked to complete 10 obstacles in three minutes. We observe determination, not absolute physical capability. If a candidate manages even six, we tend to overlook the shortfall. That may not reflect the actual physical preparedness required for NDA training,” he said, adding that SSB’s focus on leadership and group dynamics often overshadows baseline fitness.“Once they reach NDA, every shortcoming becomes magnified in a far more demanding environment,” he pointed out.It’s all in the mindThey are equally vocal about the need for improved and sustained psychological evaluations. “Psychological tests at SSBs are not foolproof,” said Patnaik, who was also chairman of Odisha Public Service Commission. “Repeated and deeper assessments at the academy are essential.”He feels NDA should appoint a dedicated team of psychologists to conduct regular evaluations and build a psychological dossier for each cadet.“These young men are future leaders of the armed forces. Understanding their emotional and mental resilience early can prevent breakdowns later,” Patnaik pointed out, adding that psychological counselling should be made a “normal and de-stigmatised part” of cadet life. “If we normalise counselling, first-termers will open up more. Confidential sessions can help them regain confidence and adjust to the demanding environment,” he said.“Cadets from civilian backgrounds face a stunning culture shock in the first term. They are not accustomed to the regimentation, physical demands or the sheer mental toughness that’s asked of them,” said an NDA alumnus. The academy has a system of counselling but what it needs is professional counsellors, said another alumnus.According to Major General Shukla, former commandant of SSB centre-Bhopal, the problem is compounded by interpersonal challenges within squadrons.“First-term cadets are often under immense pressure to prove themselves. Some seniors, driven by tradition or competition, unintentionally humiliate or overburden them. Sensitising senior cadets about mentorship is essential. They must handhold, not intimidate,” he said, remarking that effective mentorship and emotional support from senior cadets can ease this transition provided it is guided and monitored by officers. “Else, the same system that is meant to help may break them,” he cautioned.Pushy buddy?The “buddy system” — where every fresher is mentored by a senior cadet (overstudy) — has come under sharp scrutiny after recent incidents. Several parents, including serving officers, allege the system often crosses ethical and physical boundaries.“There are cases where seniors ask juniors to perform dangerous activities in the name of maintaining squadron honour,” said a source. “A second-term cadet suffered serious neck injuries when a senior asked him to perform a dive roll — a test the senior himself had not passed. The case is under consideration and the injured cadet is likely to board out on medical grounds.”Antriksh’s parents have alleged that his overstudy ragged him relentlessly. That is yet to be borne out in the police probe.The ‘fauji’ father of a medically boarded-out cadet said, “Each squadron competes fiercely in swimming, cross-country, or equestrian events. Seniors push juniors to unrealistic limits to maintain their reputation. This is neither scientific nor fair. This practice needs to be stopped.”However, former NDA commandants defend the mentorship tradition, insisting that when implemented correctly, it helps cadets adapt to a tough environment.Lt Gen Asit Mistry (retd), a former NDA commandant, said, “The buddy system has existed for decades and works effectively. Senior cadets help newcomers cope with the rigours of training. It’s unclear what went wrong in these cases, but the concept is sound.”Another former commandant added, “There is no scope for ragging or unscientific practices. Each squadron has officers specifically responsible for cadet welfare, who personally monitor stress and morale. Deviations must be dealt with seriously.”Balancing tradition with accountabilityEx-NDAs fiercely defend the academy’s ethos, and its emphasis on physical and mental toughness, pointing out that the system has produced three Param Vir Chakras, 12 Ashoka Chakras, 32 Mahavir Chakras and 160 Vir Chakras.But officers have also acknowledged the existence of what they term “unscientific traditions” — informal endurance practices not sanctioned but culturally ingrained. “These sessions are not officially part of the training schedule. But they are often conducted by senior cadets in the name of toughening them up. It can lead to injuries or psychological breakdowns,” said a former physical training officer.Another veteran observed that while the intention may be to foster toughness, such practices must be replaced with structured, scientific endurance programmes. “We must stop romanticising suffering as character-building. A soldier’s resilience should be built through method, not shock,” he suggested.Another alumnus recalled his own early struggles: “In my first term, I felt completely out of place. I couldn’t meet the standards and thought of quitting. It was only in the third term that I regained confidence. The system is harsh — but it shouldn’t break you before it builds you.”An officer who was part of the TriServices Committee, which tried to reform practices at training academies in 2003, said barracks punishments are the reasons for suicides and should be stopped immediately. “Most armies have changed it. Punishments can be military-ways, but harassment during night or odd hours should end immediately,” he told TOI on the condition of anonymity. “The academy must evolve with the times,” said Major General Shukla. “We cannot afford to lose bright young minds to outdated systems. The goal is not to dilute training, but to make it safer, smarter, and more humane.”As the investigations into the two deaths continue, the hope is that the tragedy will become a catalyst for long-overdue change — one that ensures no more dreams are extinguished in the process of building the nation’s defenders.The human costFar from the institutional debate lies the anguish of devastated families. Rubikumari Yadav, mother of first-termer Aditya Yadav, said her life has been shattered. “My son dreamed of serving the nation, and now I am left with nothing. The academy says there was no fault. Who is responsible for my son’s death then?” she asked.Antriksh’s family says he faced intense pressure and humiliation from a senior cadet. “He topped his school and was full of dreams,” said his uncle, A P Sengar. “But he couldn’t bear the pressure. This is not training — it’s trauma.”Reacting to the allegations levelled by Antriksh’s parents, then NDA commandant Vice-Admiral Gurcharan Singh told TOI, “It is a regrettable incident. He was a good cadet and performing well. We are in touch with the family and extending all possible assistance. A court of inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the facts.”But that’s little consolation for Rubikumari. “At the end of the day, I lost my son — and they lost one of the nation’s best,” she said.Deaths in training this yearOct 23 NDA | Cadet Aditya D Yadav dies during swimming sessionOct 10 NDA | Cadet Antriksh Kumar Singh dies by suicideSept 10 IMA | Gentleman Cadet S Balu dies during a swimming sessionJuly 6 OTA-Gaya | Gentleman Cadet Kumbhar Atharv Sambhaji dies during cross country runMay 19 OTA Chennai | Gentleman Cadet Umang Khar dies from a heat strokeMarch 28 Naval Academy | Cadet R Rabijith dies during trainingWhat NDA saysMentorship | Cadets follow a clear hierarchy within each squadron, ensuring continuous guidance. Five officers are assigned to every squadron, with officers on site, regularly interacting with cadetsConfidential grievance redress | To ensure that cadets can raise concerns without fear, NDA runs a confidential Cadet Suggestion Forum — overseen by highest Academy authorities, monitored dailyPsychological support | Each squadron has two dedicated counsellors, along with service officers who provide additional guidance. This process is monitored by the battalion commander (a colonel-rank officer)Scientific Training | Training is scientific and progressive, designed for gradual physical and mental conditioning. The routine for first-term cadets is engineered with flexibility to facilitate a smooth settling-in period and reduce stress. Cadets needing extra physical support receive bespoke trainingAbout the AuthorAjay SuraAjay Sura is Senior Assistant Editor with The Times of India Chandigarh. He covers news concerning the State of Haryana, Punjab & Haryana High Court and Defence & Military Affairs. He likes to analyse political developments and decoding judicial pronouncements. His hobbies include travelling, mountaineering and trekking.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFeeling the winter blues?: 6 mind-clearing habits to try at home5 style lessons to take from Italy’s PM Giorgia MeloniHansika Motwani’s rise shows her steady mix of hard work and charmFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over time123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna011 mins mins

File pic of PT display during an NDA convocation ceremony NDA’s training regimen takes cadets beyond mental and physical limits of endurance. For some, however, the going gets really tough and the road ends not in a quiet withdrawal, but in tragedy. Two recent deaths at the premier military training academy have forced deep introspection…

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When Carnatic vocalist Bombay Jayashri Ramnath suffered a brain haemorrhage in March 2023, the singer was unable to sit, stand, or move. Involuntary neck and jaw tremors made even speech, an uphill task, forget singing. Traditional physiotherapy, with its repetitive routines, felt painful, monotonous and dispiriting. Recovery seemed distant, and she shut herself from social circles. Then came Jerry — not a real person, but a lively, animated coach inside a virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation program.Restoring mobility with cartoonsIn one of the games, “Save the Jerry”, set on a sunlit beach, the avatar nudged her to stand up and walk. Through immersive sessions, each small motion made Jerry dance and cheer, turning therapy into play. Other games targeted different challenges — like restoring neck mobility, controlling her left shoulder, or helping her relax and reduce involuntary movements. They were set in storylines featuring forests and snowy mountains, where she rescued birds and gathered fruit for penguins, or prayed peacefully at a temple.“I looked forward to these sessions. Recovery became less about gruelling effort. It was about play, progress, and hope,” said the 60-year-old singer, who has sung in multiple languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, and English.A year later, in Dec 2024, Jayashri, the fourth generation of artistes in her family and trained by legends like Lalgudi Jayaraman and T R Balamani, stood on stage once again, this time to receive the Music Academy’s Sangita Kalanidhi award. “I haven’t done a fullfledged concert yet. But I’ve begun recording again. It may not be this Dec, but I plan to restart my kutcheries (Carnatic concerts) soon,” she said.After undergoing brain surgery in the UK, Jayashri returned to India for therapy. She chose to continue most of her physiotherapy at home. The immersive VR program tapped into neuroplasticity, helping her brain rebuild damaged motor pathways through visual and emotional feedback. “It was slow, but I gradually regained strength, coordination, and confidence. These sessions even encouraged me to perform better in speech therapy, too,” she said.While her therapy included the usual mix of physiotherapy and speech exercises, her therapists gradually increased the time spent on digitally prescribed routines to match her progress. Her physiotherapist, Raja from ReWin, a company using digital therapeutics to enhance rehabilitation, said that unlike conventional physiotherapy, the system integrates a wearable motion sensor that tracks joint movement with precision, eliminating human error.“It also gives us quick, repeatable measurements to monitor progress. Combining this technology with immersive VR creates a powerful tool for lower-limb and gait rehabilitation, allowing patients to visualise and experience leg movements for strengthening neuromuscular pathways,” he added.Exercising via virtual AartisPhysiotherapists point to research showing that engaging in virtual tasks stimulates dopamine release, enhancing motivation and speeding up neural recovery. Dopamine plays a key role in motor memory formation and motivation pathways, which means patients train more effectively and recover faster from neurological injuries. VR and gaming-style immersive tasks activate dopamine-driven reward circuits, improving motor and cognitive outcomes.Digital exercises also allow room for creativity. In one instance, a 66-year-old woman with a frozen shoulder was taken on a virtual journey to the Sai Baba temple in Shirdi. Her therapy involved reaching out to offer digital flowers and rotating her hands during a virtual aarti. These movements were designed to mirror the stretches she needed for recovery, without drawing her attention to the pain. After just one session, she said she felt so much better.“Places of worship are very popular with my patients with Parkinson’s and dementia,” said senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Thineshchandar Andiappan. “It helps them regain a wide range of hand movements.”Doctors say VR is here to stayDigital exercise prescriptions also ensure continuity of care through remote monitoring, progress tracking and consistent engagement. This is why hospitals and rehabilitation centres are increasingly integrating them into postsurgical routines. Dr Andiappan began briefly using the system a year ago, but has steadily increased its use.“Now patients do about half an hour of digital exercises along with traditional ones. Earlier, it was just 15 minutes of digital and 45 minutes of traditional,” he said. The digital format, he added, improves adherence, affordability and accessibility. “Quality of life improves for most patients. The sensors alert them when movements are incorrect or the range is insufficient. They can correct themselves in real time.”At least two govt hospitals in Chennai — the Government Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and the National Institute of Ageing — now combine traditional and digital therapy. “We cannot replace traditional exercises. They supplement traditional exercises well. We track patient movement range and make timely corrections, improving outcomes,” said physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Dr P Thirunavukkarasu. In the private sector, several companies are offering portable, interactive systems for home use, complete with real-time feedback and guided routines — bringing a new dimension to rehabilitation outside the clinic.How digital rehab worksWho designs games | Bio-engineers and physiotherapists, using inputs from doctors. Some modules are ready-made; others are customised for specific needs of patientsHow patients use it | Patients wear VR (virtual reality) headsets and are connected to motion sensors that track limb movement. Sessions last 20-30 minutes, extendable to 45 minutesCost | 400 to 1,500, depending on assessment and hospitals. In govt facilities where the system is available, sessions are freeAbout the AuthorPushpa NarayanPushpa Narayan, Editor (Health), The Times of India | Journalist whose stories have driven policy changes | Passionate about informing and engaging readers.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFeeling the winter blues?: 6 mind-clearing habits to try at home5 style lessons to take from Italy’s PM Giorgia MeloniHansika Motwani’s rise shows her steady mix of hard work and charmFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over time123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

When Carnatic vocalist Bombay Jayashri Ramnath suffered a brain haemorrhage in March 2023, the singer was unable to sit, stand, or move. Involuntary neck and jaw tremors made even speech, an uphill task, forget singing. Traditional physiotherapy, with its repetitive routines, felt painful, monotonous and dispiriting. Recovery seemed distant, and she shut herself from social circles. Then came Jerry — not a real person, but a lively, animated coach inside a virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation program.Restoring mobility with cartoonsIn one of the games, “Save the Jerry”, set on a sunlit beach, the avatar nudged her to stand up and walk. Through immersive sessions, each small motion made Jerry dance and cheer, turning therapy into play. Other games targeted different challenges — like restoring neck mobility, controlling her left shoulder, or helping her relax and reduce involuntary movements. They were set in storylines featuring forests and snowy mountains, where she rescued birds and gathered fruit for penguins, or prayed peacefully at a temple.“I looked forward to these sessions. Recovery became less about gruelling effort. It was about play, progress, and hope,” said the 60-year-old singer, who has sung in multiple languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, and English.A year later, in Dec 2024, Jayashri, the fourth generation of artistes in her family and trained by legends like Lalgudi Jayaraman and T R Balamani, stood on stage once again, this time to receive the Music Academy’s Sangita Kalanidhi award. “I haven’t done a fullfledged concert yet. But I’ve begun recording again. It may not be this Dec, but I plan to restart my kutcheries (Carnatic concerts) soon,” she said.After undergoing brain surgery in the UK, Jayashri returned to India for therapy. She chose to continue most of her physiotherapy at home. The immersive VR program tapped into neuroplasticity, helping her brain rebuild damaged motor pathways through visual and emotional feedback. “It was slow, but I gradually regained strength, coordination, and confidence. These sessions even encouraged me to perform better in speech therapy, too,” she said.While her therapy included the usual mix of physiotherapy and speech exercises, her therapists gradually increased the time spent on digitally prescribed routines to match her progress. Her physiotherapist, Raja from ReWin, a company using digital therapeutics to enhance rehabilitation, said that unlike conventional physiotherapy, the system integrates a wearable motion sensor that tracks joint movement with precision, eliminating human error.“It also gives us quick, repeatable measurements to monitor progress. Combining this technology with immersive VR creates a powerful tool for lower-limb and gait rehabilitation, allowing patients to visualise and experience leg movements for strengthening neuromuscular pathways,” he added.Exercising via virtual AartisPhysiotherapists point to research showing that engaging in virtual tasks stimulates dopamine release, enhancing motivation and speeding up neural recovery. Dopamine plays a key role in motor memory formation and motivation pathways, which means patients train more effectively and recover faster from neurological injuries. VR and gaming-style immersive tasks activate dopamine-driven reward circuits, improving motor and cognitive outcomes.Digital exercises also allow room for creativity. In one instance, a 66-year-old woman with a frozen shoulder was taken on a virtual journey to the Sai Baba temple in Shirdi. Her therapy involved reaching out to offer digital flowers and rotating her hands during a virtual aarti. These movements were designed to mirror the stretches she needed for recovery, without drawing her attention to the pain. After just one session, she said she felt so much better.“Places of worship are very popular with my patients with Parkinson’s and dementia,” said senior orthopaedic surgeon Dr Thineshchandar Andiappan. “It helps them regain a wide range of hand movements.”Doctors say VR is here to stayDigital exercise prescriptions also ensure continuity of care through remote monitoring, progress tracking and consistent engagement. This is why hospitals and rehabilitation centres are increasingly integrating them into postsurgical routines. Dr Andiappan began briefly using the system a year ago, but has steadily increased its use.“Now patients do about half an hour of digital exercises along with traditional ones. Earlier, it was just 15 minutes of digital and 45 minutes of traditional,” he said. The digital format, he added, improves adherence, affordability and accessibility. “Quality of life improves for most patients. The sensors alert them when movements are incorrect or the range is insufficient. They can correct themselves in real time.”At least two govt hospitals in Chennai — the Government Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and the National Institute of Ageing — now combine traditional and digital therapy. “We cannot replace traditional exercises. They supplement traditional exercises well. We track patient movement range and make timely corrections, improving outcomes,” said physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Dr P Thirunavukkarasu. In the private sector, several companies are offering portable, interactive systems for home use, complete with real-time feedback and guided routines — bringing a new dimension to rehabilitation outside the clinic.How digital rehab worksWho designs games | Bio-engineers and physiotherapists, using inputs from doctors. Some modules are ready-made; others are customised for specific needs of patientsHow patients use it | Patients wear VR (virtual reality) headsets and are connected to motion sensors that track limb movement. Sessions last 20-30 minutes, extendable to 45 minutesCost | 400 to 1,500, depending on assessment and hospitals. In govt facilities where the system is available, sessions are freeAbout the AuthorPushpa NarayanPushpa Narayan, Editor (Health), The Times of India | Journalist whose stories have driven policy changes | Passionate about informing and engaging readers.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFeeling the winter blues?: 6 mind-clearing habits to try at home5 style lessons to take from Italy’s PM Giorgia MeloniHansika Motwani’s rise shows her steady mix of hard work and charmFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over time123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna05 mins mins

When Carnatic vocalist Bombay Jayashri Ramnath suffered a brain haemorrhage in March 2023, the singer was unable to sit, stand, or move. Involuntary neck and jaw tremors made even speech, an uphill task, forget singing. Traditional physiotherapy, with its repetitive routines, felt painful, monotonous and dispiriting. Recovery seemed distant, and she shut herself from social…

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Proposes Tutoring 1 Million Certified Trainers Over Next Decade As part of his focus on Africa at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the continent can benefit from skills transfer. He said Africa’s development and empowerment of its young talent are in the interests of the entire world and proposed a ‘G20-Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative’. This can operate under a “train-the-trainers” model across various sectors, and all G20 partners can finance and support this effort, he said.”Our collective goal will be to prepare one million certified trainers in Africa over the next decade. They, in turn, will help equip millions of young people with skills. This initiative will have a powerful multiplier effect. It will strengthen local capacity and significantly contribute to Africa’s long-term development,” he said.Batting for a global healthcare response team to bring together experts from G20 countries, Modi said it will ensure swift measures in case of health emergencies and natural disasters. The speech was marked by an unabashed advocacy of what PM Modi called India’s civilisational ethos. India’s civilisational values, he said, can offer ways to reevaluate development parameters.Turning his attention to the menace of drug trafficking, the Prime Minister singled out the “rapid spread of highly lethal substances like fentanyl”. “This has emerged as a serious challenge to public health, social stability and global security. It also serves as a significant channel for financing terrorism,” Modi further said.A G20 initiative to counter this global threat can bring together various instruments relating to finance, governance and security. Only then can the drug-terror economy be effectively weakened, he said.PM Modi lauded South Africa’s presidency for making commendable progress on key areas such as skilled migration, tourism, food security, AI, digital economy, innovation and women’s empowerment, noting that historic initiatives undertaken at the New Delhi G20 Summit have been carried forward.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to7 ways to enjoy Papaya for breakfast123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Proposes Tutoring 1 Million Certified Trainers Over Next Decade As part of his focus on Africa at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the continent can benefit from skills transfer. He said Africa’s development and empowerment of its young talent are in the interests of the entire world and proposed a ‘G20-Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative’. This can operate under a “train-the-trainers” model across various sectors, and all G20 partners can finance and support this effort, he said.”Our collective goal will be to prepare one million certified trainers in Africa over the next decade. They, in turn, will help equip millions of young people with skills. This initiative will have a powerful multiplier effect. It will strengthen local capacity and significantly contribute to Africa’s long-term development,” he said.Batting for a global healthcare response team to bring together experts from G20 countries, Modi said it will ensure swift measures in case of health emergencies and natural disasters. The speech was marked by an unabashed advocacy of what PM Modi called India’s civilisational ethos. India’s civilisational values, he said, can offer ways to reevaluate development parameters.Turning his attention to the menace of drug trafficking, the Prime Minister singled out the “rapid spread of highly lethal substances like fentanyl”. “This has emerged as a serious challenge to public health, social stability and global security. It also serves as a significant channel for financing terrorism,” Modi further said.A G20 initiative to counter this global threat can bring together various instruments relating to finance, governance and security. Only then can the drug-terror economy be effectively weakened, he said.PM Modi lauded South Africa’s presidency for making commendable progress on key areas such as skilled migration, tourism, food security, AI, digital economy, innovation and women’s empowerment, noting that historic initiatives undertaken at the New Delhi G20 Summit have been carried forward.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to7 ways to enjoy Papaya for breakfast123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

As part of his focus on Africa at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the continent can benefit from skills transfer. He said Africa’s development and empowerment of its young talent are in the interests of the entire world and proposed a ‘G20-Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative’. This can operate under a…

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Sets Aside Clean Chit To Accused’s Aide Representative image NEW DELHI”As per section 17 of PMLA, a search can be conducted on the premises of ‘any person’ who has committed any act which constitutes money laundering or is in possession of proceeds of crime, or is in possession of any records relating to money laundering, or is in possession of any property related to crime. Though as per proviso (since omitted), there was a pre-condition of there being a complaint or report, it was never the requirement of law that any such ‘report’ or ‘complaint’ should also be against the ‘same very person’,” a bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Manoj Jain noted Friday.The court noted that a person may be in possession of proceeds of crime but still may not be accused of any scheduled offence or offence of money laundering.”In a given situation, a person can be a recipient of proceeds of crime without having any criminal intent and, therefore, it is not necessary that any such person should be an accused in a prior complaint or report. Thus, a search was permissible once the conditions specified under Section 17 of PMLA were satisfied,” it pointed out, setting aside the clean chit given to an associate of a PMLA accused.While attachment under PMLA is made on account of urgency as there is also a likelihood of the proceeds being concealed or transferred, no such pre-condition, generally speaking, exists while conducting any search and seizure, the court said.The case stemmed from an appeal filed by ED against a tribunal’s direction to de-freeze cash and electronic devices seized during a 2016 search at the premises of one Amlendu Pandey, who was not an accused in the original prosecution complaint filed in 2011 against alleged hawala operator Hassan Ali Khan. Pandey later passed away.About the AuthorAbhinav GargAs legal editor for Delhi, Abhinav Garg handles coverage of courts and connected legal challenges shaping the capital. From breaking down complex law related jargon to simplifying how a particular verdict or development in courts may impact the readers, Abhinav brings with him over two decades of experience in the field.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Sets Aside Clean Chit To Accused’s Aide Representative image NEW DELHI”As per section 17 of PMLA, a search can be conducted on the premises of ‘any person’ who has committed any act which constitutes money laundering or is in possession of proceeds of crime, or is in possession of any records relating to money laundering, or is in possession of any property related to crime. Though as per proviso (since omitted), there was a pre-condition of there being a complaint or report, it was never the requirement of law that any such ‘report’ or ‘complaint’ should also be against the ‘same very person’,” a bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Manoj Jain noted Friday.The court noted that a person may be in possession of proceeds of crime but still may not be accused of any scheduled offence or offence of money laundering.”In a given situation, a person can be a recipient of proceeds of crime without having any criminal intent and, therefore, it is not necessary that any such person should be an accused in a prior complaint or report. Thus, a search was permissible once the conditions specified under Section 17 of PMLA were satisfied,” it pointed out, setting aside the clean chit given to an associate of a PMLA accused.While attachment under PMLA is made on account of urgency as there is also a likelihood of the proceeds being concealed or transferred, no such pre-condition, generally speaking, exists while conducting any search and seizure, the court said.The case stemmed from an appeal filed by ED against a tribunal’s direction to de-freeze cash and electronic devices seized during a 2016 search at the premises of one Amlendu Pandey, who was not an accused in the original prosecution complaint filed in 2011 against alleged hawala operator Hassan Ali Khan. Pandey later passed away.About the AuthorAbhinav GargAs legal editor for Delhi, Abhinav Garg handles coverage of courts and connected legal challenges shaping the capital. From breaking down complex law related jargon to simplifying how a particular verdict or development in courts may impact the readers, Abhinav brings with him over two decades of experience in the field.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI“As per section 17 of PMLA, a search can be conducted on the premises of ‘any person’ who has committed any act which constitutes money laundering or is in possession of proceeds of crime, or is in possession of any records relating to money laundering, or is in possession of any property related to…

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NEW DELHI: Continuing its attack on BJP and Election Commission through the “vote chori campaign”, Congress general secretary, organisation, KC Venugopal on Saturday said the party would be holding a ‘maha rally’ over the issue at Ramlila Maidan on Dec 14. This rally, he said, is “only the beginning of our fight to reclaim Indian democracy from the clutches of the vote chors”.”The spectre of vote chori is the biggest danger looming over our democracy today. To send a message across the nation against these attempts to destroy our Constitution, the Congress will be holding the Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod Maha Rally on December 14 at Ramlila Maidan,” Venugopal said in a post on X.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

NEW DELHI: Continuing its attack on BJP and Election Commission through the “vote chori campaign”, Congress general secretary, organisation, KC Venugopal on Saturday said the party would be holding a ‘maha rally’ over the issue at Ramlila Maidan on Dec 14. This rally, he said, is “only the beginning of our fight to reclaim Indian democracy from the clutches of the vote chors”.”The spectre of vote chori is the biggest danger looming over our democracy today. To send a message across the nation against these attempts to destroy our Constitution, the Congress will be holding the Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod Maha Rally on December 14 at Ramlila Maidan,” Venugopal said in a post on X.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna01 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Continuing its attack on BJP and Election Commission through the “vote chori campaign”, Congress general secretary, organisation, KC Venugopal on Saturday said the party would be holding a ‘maha rally’ over the issue at Ramlila Maidan on Dec 14. This rally, he said, is “only the beginning of our fight to reclaim Indian…

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The opening ceremony of the FISU World University Games Rhine-Ruhr 2025 was held on July 16 in Duisburg, Germany NEW DELHI: An interim inquiry into the Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) World University Games 2025 fiasco has uncovered a disturbing pattern of corruption, nepotism, regional bias, moral misconduct and procedural lapses within Association of Indian Universities (AIU). The lapses – including unauthorised foreign travel, suspicious financial transactions, misuse of authority, biased selections and failures to register qualified athletes – not only embarrassed India internationally but also denied student-athletes crucial competitive opportunities.The four-member committee headed by Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya vice-chancellor Alok Kumar Chakrawal, in its interim report accessed by the TOI, found strong evidence of dereliction of duty and possible financial misconduct by suspended joint secretary (sports) Baljit Singh Sekhon.”There appear to be instances indicative of dereliction of duties, failure to discharge duties, breach of responsibility, nonfeasance, negligence, failure to act,” the report noted. Multiple unexplained deposits were found in Sekhon’s bank account in June 2025 – transactions “potentially linked to his official capacity.” The committee also flagged conflicting statements regarding who funded his Germany trip. When contacted, Sekhon said since he is under suspension it would not be correct to make any comment. Another suspended official, Gaurav Rai, is accused of facilitating the inclusion of his PhD guide – a yoga expert – in the Indian contingent even though yoga was not part of the Games. He allegedly accepted travel sponsorship from KIIT University without approval, amounting to “unauthorised financial benefit.” The committee said “repeated non-compliance with established protocols… may be construed as gross disobedience, blatant insubordination,” recommending termination under AIU rules.The report also raised ethical concerns involving former joint secretary, AIU, Binu George Varghese, citing a complaint that he “shared a twin-room accommodation with a female official” during the 2023 Chengdu Games – behaviour termed “a case of moral turpitude.” It further noted that “officials from the South Zone were disproportionately appointed” as basketball coaches and managers, indicating “regional bias” and “neglect of national integration principles.” Varghese didn’t respond to calls and text message for his comments. According to AIU sources, the general council on Oct 24, 2025 decided to repatriate Varghese and terminate Rai.The inquiry followed nationwide outrage over India’s mishandled participation at WUG 2025 in Germany, where several selected athletes were unable to compete due to administrative lapses. In badminton, six players were barred after only half the names were submitted. India’s bronze-winning mixed team had just six of its 12 players on the podium. Athletes across sports called the fiasco “career sabotage,” prompting the Sports Authority of India to intervene.Operational failures included a Rs 1,000-per-match fine for jersey violations, no pre-booked practice courts and athletes borrowing shuttlecocks. AIU did not fund designated coaches, leaving players without support staff.While interim, the report warns of “multiple areas of concern that merit deeper investigation,” underscoring systemic failures that cost athletes their rightful place on the world stage.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

The opening ceremony of the FISU World University Games Rhine-Ruhr 2025 was held on July 16 in Duisburg, Germany NEW DELHI: An interim inquiry into the Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) World University Games 2025 fiasco has uncovered a disturbing pattern of corruption, nepotism, regional bias, moral misconduct and procedural lapses within Association of Indian Universities (AIU). The lapses – including unauthorised foreign travel, suspicious financial transactions, misuse of authority, biased selections and failures to register qualified athletes – not only embarrassed India internationally but also denied student-athletes crucial competitive opportunities.The four-member committee headed by Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya vice-chancellor Alok Kumar Chakrawal, in its interim report accessed by the TOI, found strong evidence of dereliction of duty and possible financial misconduct by suspended joint secretary (sports) Baljit Singh Sekhon.”There appear to be instances indicative of dereliction of duties, failure to discharge duties, breach of responsibility, nonfeasance, negligence, failure to act,” the report noted. Multiple unexplained deposits were found in Sekhon’s bank account in June 2025 – transactions “potentially linked to his official capacity.” The committee also flagged conflicting statements regarding who funded his Germany trip. When contacted, Sekhon said since he is under suspension it would not be correct to make any comment. Another suspended official, Gaurav Rai, is accused of facilitating the inclusion of his PhD guide – a yoga expert – in the Indian contingent even though yoga was not part of the Games. He allegedly accepted travel sponsorship from KIIT University without approval, amounting to “unauthorised financial benefit.” The committee said “repeated non-compliance with established protocols… may be construed as gross disobedience, blatant insubordination,” recommending termination under AIU rules.The report also raised ethical concerns involving former joint secretary, AIU, Binu George Varghese, citing a complaint that he “shared a twin-room accommodation with a female official” during the 2023 Chengdu Games – behaviour termed “a case of moral turpitude.” It further noted that “officials from the South Zone were disproportionately appointed” as basketball coaches and managers, indicating “regional bias” and “neglect of national integration principles.” Varghese didn’t respond to calls and text message for his comments. According to AIU sources, the general council on Oct 24, 2025 decided to repatriate Varghese and terminate Rai.The inquiry followed nationwide outrage over India’s mishandled participation at WUG 2025 in Germany, where several selected athletes were unable to compete due to administrative lapses. In badminton, six players were barred after only half the names were submitted. India’s bronze-winning mixed team had just six of its 12 players on the podium. Athletes across sports called the fiasco “career sabotage,” prompting the Sports Authority of India to intervene.Operational failures included a Rs 1,000-per-match fine for jersey violations, no pre-booked practice courts and athletes borrowing shuttlecocks. AIU did not fund designated coaches, leaving players without support staff.While interim, the report warns of “multiple areas of concern that merit deeper investigation,” underscoring systemic failures that cost athletes their rightful place on the world stage.About the AuthorManash Pratim GohainManash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage—both reflective and news-driven—adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

The opening ceremony of the FISU World University Games Rhine-Ruhr 2025 was held on July 16 in Duisburg, Germany NEW DELHI: An interim inquiry into the Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire (FISU) World University Games 2025 fiasco has uncovered a disturbing pattern of corruption, nepotism, regional bias, moral misconduct and procedural lapses within Association of…

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The month-long ‘Ram Prahar’ exercise, involving 20,000 soldiers, simulated offensive operations across the Pakistan border in Punjab (ANI photo) DEHRADUN: In a significant show of combat readiness, Indian Army’s Western Command carried out a month-long integrated ground and air drill involving over 20,000 personnel, simulating offensive operations across the Pakistan border in Punjab. The exercise, which was first of its kind held in Uttarakhand by the Army, concluded near Haridwar on Saturday and was held in terrain mimicking the riverside plains of Punjab.The ‘Ram Prahar’ exercise was conducted by the Ram division of the Kharga Corps under Western Command. Though the location operationally falls under Central Command, army officials said it was chosen due to geographical similarities with the Punjab sector. The exercise included fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, Apache attack helicopters, amphibious armoured vehicles, tanks, drone-based surveillance, and night-time paratrooper deployment.General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Command, Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, who inspected and validated the final phase of the drill, said it focused on rehearsing responses to major provocations by Pakistan. “In the recent Operation Sindoor, we delivered a robust response, which resulted in extensive damage to Pakistani forces. But we doubt whether it has learnt any lesson. If there is another mischief by it, we are prepared to respond with far greater force, including entering Pakistan from Punjab,” he said. He added that the location was selected as it allowed simulation of riverine obstacles similar to those found in Punjab. “We conduct exercises in operational areas under other commands too to ensure readiness,” he said. A senior Army officer involved in the exercise told TOI, requesting anonymity, that the drill tested operational agility, multi-domain capabilities and real-time coordination across land, air and cyber domains.Lt Gen Mohan Bhandari (retired), former deputy director general of military operations during the Kargil war, told TOI the drill was vital to test preparedness for the Punjab sector. “Pakistan has constructed numerous canals in Punjab to act as barriers against our armoured and mechanised units. Exercises simulating such conditions enhance operational efficiency because ultimate victory comes under the boots of infantry on enemy land,” said Lt Gen Bhandari (retired)who conducted similar drills during his time in Western Command.About the AuthorKalyan DasPrincipal Correspondent at TOI Dehradun, covering crime, defence, power and off-beat human interest stories.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

The month-long ‘Ram Prahar’ exercise, involving 20,000 soldiers, simulated offensive operations across the Pakistan border in Punjab (ANI photo) DEHRADUN: In a significant show of combat readiness, Indian Army’s Western Command carried out a month-long integrated ground and air drill involving over 20,000 personnel, simulating offensive operations across the Pakistan border in Punjab. The exercise, which was first of its kind held in Uttarakhand by the Army, concluded near Haridwar on Saturday and was held in terrain mimicking the riverside plains of Punjab.The ‘Ram Prahar’ exercise was conducted by the Ram division of the Kharga Corps under Western Command. Though the location operationally falls under Central Command, army officials said it was chosen due to geographical similarities with the Punjab sector. The exercise included fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, Apache attack helicopters, amphibious armoured vehicles, tanks, drone-based surveillance, and night-time paratrooper deployment.General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Command, Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar, who inspected and validated the final phase of the drill, said it focused on rehearsing responses to major provocations by Pakistan. “In the recent Operation Sindoor, we delivered a robust response, which resulted in extensive damage to Pakistani forces. But we doubt whether it has learnt any lesson. If there is another mischief by it, we are prepared to respond with far greater force, including entering Pakistan from Punjab,” he said. He added that the location was selected as it allowed simulation of riverine obstacles similar to those found in Punjab. “We conduct exercises in operational areas under other commands too to ensure readiness,” he said. A senior Army officer involved in the exercise told TOI, requesting anonymity, that the drill tested operational agility, multi-domain capabilities and real-time coordination across land, air and cyber domains.Lt Gen Mohan Bhandari (retired), former deputy director general of military operations during the Kargil war, told TOI the drill was vital to test preparedness for the Punjab sector. “Pakistan has constructed numerous canals in Punjab to act as barriers against our armoured and mechanised units. Exercises simulating such conditions enhance operational efficiency because ultimate victory comes under the boots of infantry on enemy land,” said Lt Gen Bhandari (retired)who conducted similar drills during his time in Western Command.About the AuthorKalyan DasPrincipal Correspondent at TOI Dehradun, covering crime, defence, power and off-beat human interest stories.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

The month-long ‘Ram Prahar’ exercise, involving 20,000 soldiers, simulated offensive operations across the Pakistan border in Punjab (ANI photo) DEHRADUN: In a significant show of combat readiness, Indian Army’s Western Command carried out a month-long integrated ground and air drill involving over 20,000 personnel, simulating offensive operations across the Pakistan border in Punjab. The exercise,…

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Image used for representative purposes VADODARA: Alleged strain over EC’s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Gujarat flared Saturday after a 50-year-old booth-level officer (BLO) assistant collapsed and died in Vadodara, another BLO in Padra suffered severe chest pain, and a teacher in Godhra went live on social media threatening to end his life over “unmanageable demands” tied to the drive.Four BLO-linked deaths have been reported in Gujarat over the past four days – two allegedly from cardiac arrest, one by suicide, and the cause still under investigation in the latest case.Usha Solanki, a senior clerk at Gorwa Mahila ITI assigned as BLO assistant at Pratap School in Vadodara’s Kadak Bazaar, collapsed while waiting for her supervisor Saturday. She was taken to a state-run SSG hospital, where doctors declared her dead. An autopsy is pending, but she is suspected to have suffered a heart attack. Officials said she had been on SIR duty for three days.Her husband Indrasinh Solanki said she had chronic health complications and had repeatedly appealed against her assignment. Vadodara collector Anil Dhameliya rejected allegations of undue pressure, saying there was no formal leave request on record. He said the administration was trying to ease the load by avoiding night work and deploying extra staff for digitisation. BLO concerns have been conveyed to EC “to make the process more decentralised,” he said.At Padra town in Vadodara district, BLO and teacher Zulfikar Pathan was rushed to a Vadu primary health centre Friday night with severe chest pain. His relatives alleged he had been working extended hours and eating only one meal a day for the past fortnight. He was later shifted to a private hospital.In Godhra, BLO Vinu Bamaniya went live on social media urging colleagues to boycott SIR duties and alleging he had been threatened with “dire consequences” if he failed to return 200 filled forms by Saturday. Bamaniya alleged an official snapped her fingers at him. “I understand the seriousness of the work, but cannot tolerate insults,” he said. Panchmahal collector Ajay Dahiya said officials intervened and allowed the teacher to work at his own pace. To help each BLO, he said two assistants had been attached.About the AuthorPrashant RuperaPrashant Rupera Senior Assistant Editor with The Times of India in Vadodara for 22 years. He extensively covers dairy sector, co-operatives, environment, climate change, education, health, politics, aviation, railways, heritage and archaeology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s in journalism and communication. He has received awards for his campaigns and is a TOI Scribe Tribe awardee.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Image used for representative purposes VADODARA: Alleged strain over EC’s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Gujarat flared Saturday after a 50-year-old booth-level officer (BLO) assistant collapsed and died in Vadodara, another BLO in Padra suffered severe chest pain, and a teacher in Godhra went live on social media threatening to end his life over “unmanageable demands” tied to the drive.Four BLO-linked deaths have been reported in Gujarat over the past four days – two allegedly from cardiac arrest, one by suicide, and the cause still under investigation in the latest case.Usha Solanki, a senior clerk at Gorwa Mahila ITI assigned as BLO assistant at Pratap School in Vadodara’s Kadak Bazaar, collapsed while waiting for her supervisor Saturday. She was taken to a state-run SSG hospital, where doctors declared her dead. An autopsy is pending, but she is suspected to have suffered a heart attack. Officials said she had been on SIR duty for three days.Her husband Indrasinh Solanki said she had chronic health complications and had repeatedly appealed against her assignment. Vadodara collector Anil Dhameliya rejected allegations of undue pressure, saying there was no formal leave request on record. He said the administration was trying to ease the load by avoiding night work and deploying extra staff for digitisation. BLO concerns have been conveyed to EC “to make the process more decentralised,” he said.At Padra town in Vadodara district, BLO and teacher Zulfikar Pathan was rushed to a Vadu primary health centre Friday night with severe chest pain. His relatives alleged he had been working extended hours and eating only one meal a day for the past fortnight. He was later shifted to a private hospital.In Godhra, BLO Vinu Bamaniya went live on social media urging colleagues to boycott SIR duties and alleging he had been threatened with “dire consequences” if he failed to return 200 filled forms by Saturday. Bamaniya alleged an official snapped her fingers at him. “I understand the seriousness of the work, but cannot tolerate insults,” he said. Panchmahal collector Ajay Dahiya said officials intervened and allowed the teacher to work at his own pace. To help each BLO, he said two assistants had been attached.About the AuthorPrashant RuperaPrashant Rupera Senior Assistant Editor with The Times of India in Vadodara for 22 years. He extensively covers dairy sector, co-operatives, environment, climate change, education, health, politics, aviation, railways, heritage and archaeology. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s in journalism and communication. He has received awards for his campaigns and is a TOI Scribe Tribe awardee.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Image used for representative purposes VADODARA: Alleged strain over EC’s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Gujarat flared Saturday after a 50-year-old booth-level officer (BLO) assistant collapsed and died in Vadodara, another BLO in Padra suffered severe chest pain, and a teacher in Godhra went live on social media threatening to end his…

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KRISHNANAGAR: A 51-year-old from Nadia district became the second booth-level officer (BLO) to die by suicide in West Bengal within three days, swinging the glare on the immense pressure on these govt employees engaged for special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in various states. At least six suicides by BLOs have been reported from five states.Rinku Tarafdar, a para-teacher, was found hanging at her Krishnanagar home on Friday night. She left behind a two-page suicide note in Bengali, in which she held EC responsible for her death. “I do not support any political party. I am a very ordinary person. But, I cannot handle this inhuman work pressure,” she wrote, adding that despite being paid poorly, she was not given a break from BLO duty.Rinku wrote that she “wanted to live”, but feared that she would be “unable to handle” the “administrative fallout” of not completing her work. “I have completed 95% of the offline work, but I don’t know anything about the online work. Informing the supervisor also yielded no results,” she wrote.Her family confirmed she was struggling due to her lack of digital knowledge. “She distributed the forms on time, but didn’t know anything about uploading. This is not suicide, but murder by the EC,” her husband Ashim Tarafdar alleged.On Wednesday, a 48-year-old anganwadi worker appointed as BLO was found hanging at her home in Jalpaiguri. Her family had claimed that her inability to speak, read or write Bengali had made the SIR form-filling process and uploading of data extremely difficult for her.Besides the two deaths in Bengal, four other states – Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu – have reported suicides.CM Mamata Banerjee took to X to express her “profound shock”. She shared Rinku’s suicide note, and asked: “How many more lives will be lost? How many more need to die for this SIR? How many more dead bodies shall we see?” Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra posted a video reading out the suicide note in Hindi and English.While Bengal BJP expressed grief over Rinku’s death, it expressed doubts over the suicide note. Samik Bhattacharya, Bengal BJP chief, said: “The death has to be probed. It seems that any death from even a snake bite in Bengal will now be termed as a suicide due to EC. If any party thinks EC is working in connivance with some political outfit, they should knock on the doors of Supreme Court. EC wants to cleanse electoral rolls and that is against the interests of Trinamool Congress.”Pointing out that the BLOs had revealed they were unfamiliar with online work, BJP state general secretary, Agnimitra Paul, said TMC govt should take responsibility as it had been sitting on EC’s request to recruit 1,000 data entry operators.Bengal’s chief electoral officer Manoj Agarwal said he was yet to get a report from district authorities on the two deaths. “Once we get the report, we will send it to EC for consideration,” he said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

KRISHNANAGAR: A 51-year-old from Nadia district became the second booth-level officer (BLO) to die by suicide in West Bengal within three days, swinging the glare on the immense pressure on these govt employees engaged for special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in various states. At least six suicides by BLOs have been reported from five states.Rinku Tarafdar, a para-teacher, was found hanging at her Krishnanagar home on Friday night. She left behind a two-page suicide note in Bengali, in which she held EC responsible for her death. “I do not support any political party. I am a very ordinary person. But, I cannot handle this inhuman work pressure,” she wrote, adding that despite being paid poorly, she was not given a break from BLO duty.Rinku wrote that she “wanted to live”, but feared that she would be “unable to handle” the “administrative fallout” of not completing her work. “I have completed 95% of the offline work, but I don’t know anything about the online work. Informing the supervisor also yielded no results,” she wrote.Her family confirmed she was struggling due to her lack of digital knowledge. “She distributed the forms on time, but didn’t know anything about uploading. This is not suicide, but murder by the EC,” her husband Ashim Tarafdar alleged.On Wednesday, a 48-year-old anganwadi worker appointed as BLO was found hanging at her home in Jalpaiguri. Her family had claimed that her inability to speak, read or write Bengali had made the SIR form-filling process and uploading of data extremely difficult for her.Besides the two deaths in Bengal, four other states – Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu – have reported suicides.CM Mamata Banerjee took to X to express her “profound shock”. She shared Rinku’s suicide note, and asked: “How many more lives will be lost? How many more need to die for this SIR? How many more dead bodies shall we see?” Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra posted a video reading out the suicide note in Hindi and English.While Bengal BJP expressed grief over Rinku’s death, it expressed doubts over the suicide note. Samik Bhattacharya, Bengal BJP chief, said: “The death has to be probed. It seems that any death from even a snake bite in Bengal will now be termed as a suicide due to EC. If any party thinks EC is working in connivance with some political outfit, they should knock on the doors of Supreme Court. EC wants to cleanse electoral rolls and that is against the interests of Trinamool Congress.”Pointing out that the BLOs had revealed they were unfamiliar with online work, BJP state general secretary, Agnimitra Paul, said TMC govt should take responsibility as it had been sitting on EC’s request to recruit 1,000 data entry operators.Bengal’s chief electoral officer Manoj Agarwal said he was yet to get a report from district authorities on the two deaths. “Once we get the report, we will send it to EC for consideration,” he said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

KRISHNANAGAR: A 51-year-old from Nadia district became the second booth-level officer (BLO) to die by suicide in West Bengal within three days, swinging the glare on the immense pressure on these govt employees engaged for special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in various states. At least six suicides by BLOs have been reported from…

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Representative image NEW DELHI: India has just four palliative-care centres for every 10 million people, leaving millions battling cancer, chronic illnesses and terminal conditions without timely pain relief or support, according to a new study published in cancer journal ecancermedicalscience. It also showed that people often travel nearly two hours to reach the nearest palliative-care centre, and only 23.7% of the population can access such services within 30 minutes.The study – conducted by the Association for Socially Applicable Research in collaboration with NGO Pallium India – stated that compact territories like Delhi, Chandigarh and Goa fare better due to stronger infrastructure and shorter travel distances. But most large states remain severely underserved, far from the WHO’s definition of qualitative palliative care.Lead author of the study, Dr Parth Sharma, said India can achieve near-universal palliative-care access without building new infrastructure. “If effectively leveraged, the existing public health system can deliver palliative care. Training more healthcare providers would be enough to meet population needs,” said Sharma.”The study highlights a critical gap in India’s healthcare system,” said Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant, internal medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. He said palliative care “is not an elective addition but the heart of humane, person-centred care”, and called for integrating services into primary health centres, scaling home-based models, expanding specialist training and ensuring district-level access to essential pain medicines.Dr Dinesh Singh, director of radiation oncology, Action Cancer Hospital, Delhi, said the findings expose “an urgent and deeply concerning gap”, with patients’ pain, dignity and quality of life compromised when palliative care is out of reach. He urged expansion of centres, integration of palliative services in all hospitals and strengthening of home-care models.Kerala is the standout model. With only 2.5% of India’s population, it hosts 44.5% of all palliative-care centres, giving 94.6% of its people access within 30 minutes. In contrast, Uttar Pradesh has just 12 centres for 17% of India’s population, with a median travel time of 111 minutes. In the North-east, mountainous terrain means long travel times even where centres exist. Rural-urban gaps are equally stark, with rural travel times ranging from nine minutes to 591 minutes, underscoring deep inequity. As India’s burden of cancer and chronic illness rises, the study warned that geography still decides whether a patient receives comfort – or suffers without care.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Representative image NEW DELHI: India has just four palliative-care centres for every 10 million people, leaving millions battling cancer, chronic illnesses and terminal conditions without timely pain relief or support, according to a new study published in cancer journal ecancermedicalscience. It also showed that people often travel nearly two hours to reach the nearest palliative-care centre, and only 23.7% of the population can access such services within 30 minutes.The study – conducted by the Association for Socially Applicable Research in collaboration with NGO Pallium India – stated that compact territories like Delhi, Chandigarh and Goa fare better due to stronger infrastructure and shorter travel distances. But most large states remain severely underserved, far from the WHO’s definition of qualitative palliative care.Lead author of the study, Dr Parth Sharma, said India can achieve near-universal palliative-care access without building new infrastructure. “If effectively leveraged, the existing public health system can deliver palliative care. Training more healthcare providers would be enough to meet population needs,” said Sharma.”The study highlights a critical gap in India’s healthcare system,” said Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant, internal medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. He said palliative care “is not an elective addition but the heart of humane, person-centred care”, and called for integrating services into primary health centres, scaling home-based models, expanding specialist training and ensuring district-level access to essential pain medicines.Dr Dinesh Singh, director of radiation oncology, Action Cancer Hospital, Delhi, said the findings expose “an urgent and deeply concerning gap”, with patients’ pain, dignity and quality of life compromised when palliative care is out of reach. He urged expansion of centres, integration of palliative services in all hospitals and strengthening of home-care models.Kerala is the standout model. With only 2.5% of India’s population, it hosts 44.5% of all palliative-care centres, giving 94.6% of its people access within 30 minutes. In contrast, Uttar Pradesh has just 12 centres for 17% of India’s population, with a median travel time of 111 minutes. In the North-east, mountainous terrain means long travel times even where centres exist. Rural-urban gaps are equally stark, with rural travel times ranging from nine minutes to 591 minutes, underscoring deep inequity. As India’s burden of cancer and chronic illness rises, the study warned that geography still decides whether a patient receives comfort – or suffers without care.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: India has just four palliative-care centres for every 10 million people, leaving millions battling cancer, chronic illnesses and terminal conditions without timely pain relief or support, according to a new study published in cancer journal ecancermedicalscience. It also showed that people often travel nearly two hours to reach the nearest palliative-care centre, and…

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PM Modi at G20 In his address at the G20 summit in Johannesburg on Saturday, PM Narendra Modi pitched for sustainable and inclusive growth and made four proposals, including a coordinated global effort to combat the drug-terror nexus, calling drug trafficking a threat to public health, stability and security and a source of terror financing.He pushed for reconsidering the parameters of growth, saying the existing framework has left a vast section of the population deprived of resources and led to overexploitation of nature.Modi, who was instrumental in getting the African Union as a permanent member of G20 at the New Delhi meet of the grouping two years ago, emphasised the continent has suffered the most because of skewed growth priorities. “Today, as Africa hosts G20 Summit for the first time, it is imperative for us to reconsider the parameters of development.”The PM mentioned “integral humanism”, an idea associated with BJP’s ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay, as a path forward. “We will have to look at the individual, society and nature as an integrated whole. Only then can we achieve true harmony between progress and nature,” he said.He proposed creation of a global traditional knowledge repository built on Indian knowledge systems’ initiative, saying this can preserve the collective wisdom of humanity for future generationsBatting for a global healthcare response team to bring together experts from G20 countries, he said it will ensure swift measures in case of health emergencies and natural disasters.The speech was marked by an unabashed advocacy of what Modi called India’s civilisational ethos. India’s civilisational values, he said, can offer ways to reevaluate development parameters.Focusing on Africa, PM said the continent can benefit from skills transfer. He said Africa’s development and empowerment of its young talent are in the interests of the entire world and proposed a ‘G20-Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative’. This can operate under a “train-the-trainers” model across various sectors, and all G20 partners can finance and support this effort, he added.“Our collective goal will be to prepare one million certified trainers in Africa over the next decade. These trainers will, in turn, help equip millions of young people with skills. This initiative will have a powerful multiplier effect. It will strengthen local capacity and significantly contribute to Africa’s long-term development.”PM Modi lauds South Africa’s presidencyTurning his attention to drug trafficking, PM Modi singled out the “rapid spread of highly lethal substances like fentanyl”. “This has emerged as a serious challenge to public health, social stability and global security. It also serves as a significant channel for financing terrorism,” he said.A G20 initiative to counter this global threat can bring together various instruments relating to finance, governance and security. Only then can the drug-terror economy be effectively weakened, he said. Modi lauded South Africa’s presidency for making commendable progress on key areas such as skilled migration, tourism, food security, AI, digital economy, innovation and women’s empowerment, noting that historic initiatives undertaken at the New Delhi G20 Summit have been carried forwardPM Modi on Saturday also proposed a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative, saying that for global growth, sustainability and clean energy are essential, and critical minerals have a huge role to play.“Under this, innovations such as re-cycling, urban mining and second-life batteries can be promoted,” said PM Modi. This comes amid concerns China is leveraging its chokehold over supply of rare and critical minerals to further its strategic goals.“If there is investment in circularity, then dependence on primary mining will be less. This will also reduce the pressure on the supply chain, and it will also be good for nature. This initiative can support joint research, technology standards and pilot recycling facilities in the Global South,” PM Modi said.Resilience cannot be built in silos, stressed the PM. “The G20 should promote comprehensive strategies that combine nutrition, public health, sustainable agriculture, and disaster preparedness, to create a robust global defence,” he said.PM Modi suggested a G20 open satellite data partnership saying India believes that the entire humanity should benefit from space technology. “This will make satellite data and analysis of space agencies of G20 countries more accessible, interoperable and usable for countries in the Global South,” he said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

PM Modi at G20 In his address at the G20 summit in Johannesburg on Saturday, PM Narendra Modi pitched for sustainable and inclusive growth and made four proposals, including a coordinated global effort to combat the drug-terror nexus, calling drug trafficking a threat to public health, stability and security and a source of terror financing.He pushed for reconsidering the parameters of growth, saying the existing framework has left a vast section of the population deprived of resources and led to overexploitation of nature.Modi, who was instrumental in getting the African Union as a permanent member of G20 at the New Delhi meet of the grouping two years ago, emphasised the continent has suffered the most because of skewed growth priorities. “Today, as Africa hosts G20 Summit for the first time, it is imperative for us to reconsider the parameters of development.”The PM mentioned “integral humanism”, an idea associated with BJP’s ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyay, as a path forward. “We will have to look at the individual, society and nature as an integrated whole. Only then can we achieve true harmony between progress and nature,” he said.He proposed creation of a global traditional knowledge repository built on Indian knowledge systems’ initiative, saying this can preserve the collective wisdom of humanity for future generationsBatting for a global healthcare response team to bring together experts from G20 countries, he said it will ensure swift measures in case of health emergencies and natural disasters.The speech was marked by an unabashed advocacy of what Modi called India’s civilisational ethos. India’s civilisational values, he said, can offer ways to reevaluate development parameters.Focusing on Africa, PM said the continent can benefit from skills transfer. He said Africa’s development and empowerment of its young talent are in the interests of the entire world and proposed a ‘G20-Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative’. This can operate under a “train-the-trainers” model across various sectors, and all G20 partners can finance and support this effort, he added.“Our collective goal will be to prepare one million certified trainers in Africa over the next decade. These trainers will, in turn, help equip millions of young people with skills. This initiative will have a powerful multiplier effect. It will strengthen local capacity and significantly contribute to Africa’s long-term development.”PM Modi lauds South Africa’s presidencyTurning his attention to drug trafficking, PM Modi singled out the “rapid spread of highly lethal substances like fentanyl”. “This has emerged as a serious challenge to public health, social stability and global security. It also serves as a significant channel for financing terrorism,” he said.A G20 initiative to counter this global threat can bring together various instruments relating to finance, governance and security. Only then can the drug-terror economy be effectively weakened, he said. Modi lauded South Africa’s presidency for making commendable progress on key areas such as skilled migration, tourism, food security, AI, digital economy, innovation and women’s empowerment, noting that historic initiatives undertaken at the New Delhi G20 Summit have been carried forwardPM Modi on Saturday also proposed a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative, saying that for global growth, sustainability and clean energy are essential, and critical minerals have a huge role to play.“Under this, innovations such as re-cycling, urban mining and second-life batteries can be promoted,” said PM Modi. This comes amid concerns China is leveraging its chokehold over supply of rare and critical minerals to further its strategic goals.“If there is investment in circularity, then dependence on primary mining will be less. This will also reduce the pressure on the supply chain, and it will also be good for nature. This initiative can support joint research, technology standards and pilot recycling facilities in the Global South,” PM Modi said.Resilience cannot be built in silos, stressed the PM. “The G20 should promote comprehensive strategies that combine nutrition, public health, sustainable agriculture, and disaster preparedness, to create a robust global defence,” he said.PM Modi suggested a G20 open satellite data partnership saying India believes that the entire humanity should benefit from space technology. “This will make satellite data and analysis of space agencies of G20 countries more accessible, interoperable and usable for countries in the Global South,” he said.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna04 mins mins

In his address at the G20 summit in Johannesburg on Saturday, PM Narendra Modi pitched for sustainable and inclusive growth and made four proposals, including a coordinated global effort to combat the drug-terror nexus, calling drug trafficking a threat to public health, stability and security and a source of terror financing.He pushed for reconsidering the…

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NEW DELHI: Noting that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act does not address ‘online grooming’ explicitly, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has recommended that a new clause be introduced in the law to clearly define it and provisions be incorporated for punishment, which should not be less than seven years and may extend to life imprisonment.The fine to be imposed on the offender should not be less than Rs 15 lakh, the NCW suggested in a report, which makes a strong pitch for protecting children from sexual exploitation online by clearly criminalising ‘online grooming’ and ensuring that the law keeps pace with emerging threats in the digital age.The recommendations on ‘online grooming’ is part of over 200 suggestions made by the NCW in its report on cyber laws related to women, aimed at addressing legal and institutional gaps in India’s response to cyber offences, according to sources. The report also recommended that ‘online grooming’ be defined as “any act of establishing an emotional connection with a child online through communication or interactions via digital platforms, with the intent of manipulating, coercing, or exploiting the child for sexual purposes”.NCW has also suggested a minimum jail term of 14 years and a fine not less than Rs 30 lakh for those found guilty of committing ‘online grooming’ repeatedly or in aggravated circumstances.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

NEW DELHI: Noting that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act does not address ‘online grooming’ explicitly, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has recommended that a new clause be introduced in the law to clearly define it and provisions be incorporated for punishment, which should not be less than seven years and may extend to life imprisonment.The fine to be imposed on the offender should not be less than Rs 15 lakh, the NCW suggested in a report, which makes a strong pitch for protecting children from sexual exploitation online by clearly criminalising ‘online grooming’ and ensuring that the law keeps pace with emerging threats in the digital age.The recommendations on ‘online grooming’ is part of over 200 suggestions made by the NCW in its report on cyber laws related to women, aimed at addressing legal and institutional gaps in India’s response to cyber offences, according to sources. The report also recommended that ‘online grooming’ be defined as “any act of establishing an emotional connection with a child online through communication or interactions via digital platforms, with the intent of manipulating, coercing, or exploiting the child for sexual purposes”.NCW has also suggested a minimum jail term of 14 years and a fine not less than Rs 30 lakh for those found guilty of committing ‘online grooming’ repeatedly or in aggravated circumstances.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: Noting that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act does not address ‘online grooming’ explicitly, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has recommended that a new clause be introduced in the law to clearly define it and provisions be incorporated for punishment, which should not be less than seven years and…

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PM Modi with Australian PM Anthony Albanese and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Johannesburg Modi said in a post on social media platform ‘X’ that he had an excellent meeting with Albanese and Carney on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg and that the leaders were delighted to announce an Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership.According to the Prime Minister, the initiative will deepen collaboration between democratic partners across three continents and three oceans in emerging technologies, support diversification of supply chains, clean energy and mass adoption of AI.”We look forward to working together to guarantee a better future for the coming generations,” he said.The initiative will draw on the natural strengths of the three countries and lay emphasis on green energy innovation and building resilient supply chains, including in critical minerals, said the three countries in a joint statement.”It will deepen their respective ambition and strategic collaboration towards net zero and drive further diversification of supply chains towards a secure, sustainable, and resilient future. The Partnership will also examine the development and mass adoption of artificial intelligence to improve the lives of our citizens,” said the statement, adding that they agreed that officials should convene in the first quarter of 2026 to take the initiative forward.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

PM Modi with Australian PM Anthony Albanese and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Johannesburg Modi said in a post on social media platform ‘X’ that he had an excellent meeting with Albanese and Carney on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg and that the leaders were delighted to announce an Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership.According to the Prime Minister, the initiative will deepen collaboration between democratic partners across three continents and three oceans in emerging technologies, support diversification of supply chains, clean energy and mass adoption of AI.”We look forward to working together to guarantee a better future for the coming generations,” he said.The initiative will draw on the natural strengths of the three countries and lay emphasis on green energy innovation and building resilient supply chains, including in critical minerals, said the three countries in a joint statement.”It will deepen their respective ambition and strategic collaboration towards net zero and drive further diversification of supply chains towards a secure, sustainable, and resilient future. The Partnership will also examine the development and mass adoption of artificial intelligence to improve the lives of our citizens,” said the statement, adding that they agreed that officials should convene in the first quarter of 2026 to take the initiative forward.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesFrom Bengal to B-town, actors who found fame in Hindi filmsLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

PM Modi with Australian PM Anthony Albanese and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Johannesburg Modi said in a post on social media platform ‘X’ that he had an excellent meeting with Albanese and Carney on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg and that the leaders were…

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NEW DELHI: After months of attacks against each other during the high voltage New York City mayoral election, Trump and Mamdani adopted a mutually warm tone during their first meeting at the White House in Washington DC. Reposting on X a video of a media interaction where Trump and Mamdani took questions on their meeting, Tharoor said, “This is how democracy should work. Fight passionately for your point of view in elections, with no rhetorical holds barred. But once it’s over, and the people have spoken, learn to cooperate with each other in the common interests of the nation you are both pledged to serve.””I would love to see more of this in India, and I’m trying to do my part,” the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram added.Reacting to Tharoor’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla in a post on X said, “Once again, Shashi Tharoor reminds Congress to put India first, not Parivar. To behave democratically and not like sore losers. But will Rahul Gandhi get the message? One more Fatwa loading against Shashi?” Poonawala posed in a post on X.On November 18, Tharoor’s praise for PM Narendra Modi’s speech at a media function triggered a social media storm with Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit asking Tharoor to explain how BJP’s policies, which are against Congress’s principles, are helping the country and why he is staying on in Congress if he agrees with BJP. AICC spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also said that she did not find find any reason to praise the PM’s speech.On Nov 9, Congress had “dissociated” itself from Tharoor’s statement praising veteran BJP leader L K Advani and made it clear that “like always he speaks for himself and the fact that he continues to do so as a CWC member reflects the party’s democratic and liberal spirit”.Congress’s remarks had come after Tharoor, reacting to criticism over his birthday greetings for Advani, said reducing the veteran BJP leader’s long years of service to one episode, however significant, is unfair. He also said that when the totality of Jawaharlal Nehru’s career cannot be judged by the China setback and Indira Gandhi’s by the Emergency alone, he believes “we should extend the same courtesy to Advaniji”.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to7 ways to enjoy Papaya for breakfast123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

NEW DELHI: After months of attacks against each other during the high voltage New York City mayoral election, Trump and Mamdani adopted a mutually warm tone during their first meeting at the White House in Washington DC. Reposting on X a video of a media interaction where Trump and Mamdani took questions on their meeting, Tharoor said, “This is how democracy should work. Fight passionately for your point of view in elections, with no rhetorical holds barred. But once it’s over, and the people have spoken, learn to cooperate with each other in the common interests of the nation you are both pledged to serve.””I would love to see more of this in India, and I’m trying to do my part,” the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram added.Reacting to Tharoor’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla in a post on X said, “Once again, Shashi Tharoor reminds Congress to put India first, not Parivar. To behave democratically and not like sore losers. But will Rahul Gandhi get the message? One more Fatwa loading against Shashi?” Poonawala posed in a post on X.On November 18, Tharoor’s praise for PM Narendra Modi’s speech at a media function triggered a social media storm with Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit asking Tharoor to explain how BJP’s policies, which are against Congress’s principles, are helping the country and why he is staying on in Congress if he agrees with BJP. AICC spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also said that she did not find find any reason to praise the PM’s speech.On Nov 9, Congress had “dissociated” itself from Tharoor’s statement praising veteran BJP leader L K Advani and made it clear that “like always he speaks for himself and the fact that he continues to do so as a CWC member reflects the party’s democratic and liberal spirit”.Congress’s remarks had come after Tharoor, reacting to criticism over his birthday greetings for Advani, said reducing the veteran BJP leader’s long years of service to one episode, however significant, is unfair. He also said that when the totality of Jawaharlal Nehru’s career cannot be judged by the China setback and Indira Gandhi’s by the Emergency alone, he believes “we should extend the same courtesy to Advaniji”.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to7 ways to enjoy Papaya for breakfast123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

NEW DELHI: After months of attacks against each other during the high voltage New York City mayoral election, Trump and Mamdani adopted a mutually warm tone during their first meeting at the White House in Washington DC. Reposting on X a video of a media interaction where Trump and Mamdani took questions on their meeting,…

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Wg Cdr Namansh Syal ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has offered condolences to the Indian Air Force and the family of the pilot who died in a crash during the Dubai Air Show, saying rivalry with the neighbouring country belongs “to the skies only.” A Tejas fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed in a ball of fire on Friday during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show killing the lone pilot, Wg Cdr Namansh Syal. “Pakistan Strategic Forum on the behalf of the whole nation offers sincere deep condolences to the Indian Air Force & to the family of the pilot of the Indian Air Force HAL LCA Tejas that crashed today at the Dubai Air Show 2025,” Asif said in an overnight message on X. Pakistan Strategic Forum is an agency of defence analysts from Pakistan and allied nations’ committees to provide tactical and military insights, according to the forum’s description on its X account. The minister sharing Forum’s message noted that “Unfortunately the IAF pilot wasn’t able to eject & hasn’t survived the crash.” The minister further clarified that rivalry with India’s air force was limited to skies. “Our rivalry belongs to the skies ONLY, & as per the teachings of Quran & Sunnah we do not celebrate any unfortunate incident,” he said, and ended the post with, “Over to the skies & beyond, RIP BRAVE HEART.” Asif’s message comes amid the strained ties after the conflict in May this year. The Pakistan Strategic Forum too in its X post offered condolences. “We extend our heartfelt condolences on the tragic loss of Wg Cdr Namansh Syal in today’s Tejas crash at the Dubai Air Show. An aviator’s passing is a loss to the entire aerospace community, beyond borders and beyond rivalry.” “Our rivalry belongs only to the skies not at air shows where we stand together on common ground, united by passion for flight and respect for those who dare to push the limits,” it added. “Our prayers are with his family and his squadron in this difficult hour.” PTI SH NPK NPKEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to7 ways to enjoy Papaya for breakfast123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Wg Cdr Namansh Syal ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has offered condolences to the Indian Air Force and the family of the pilot who died in a crash during the Dubai Air Show, saying rivalry with the neighbouring country belongs “to the skies only.” A Tejas fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed in a ball of fire on Friday during an aerial display at the Dubai Air Show killing the lone pilot, Wg Cdr Namansh Syal. “Pakistan Strategic Forum on the behalf of the whole nation offers sincere deep condolences to the Indian Air Force & to the family of the pilot of the Indian Air Force HAL LCA Tejas that crashed today at the Dubai Air Show 2025,” Asif said in an overnight message on X. Pakistan Strategic Forum is an agency of defence analysts from Pakistan and allied nations’ committees to provide tactical and military insights, according to the forum’s description on its X account. The minister sharing Forum’s message noted that “Unfortunately the IAF pilot wasn’t able to eject & hasn’t survived the crash.” The minister further clarified that rivalry with India’s air force was limited to skies. “Our rivalry belongs to the skies ONLY, & as per the teachings of Quran & Sunnah we do not celebrate any unfortunate incident,” he said, and ended the post with, “Over to the skies & beyond, RIP BRAVE HEART.” Asif’s message comes amid the strained ties after the conflict in May this year. The Pakistan Strategic Forum too in its X post offered condolences. “We extend our heartfelt condolences on the tragic loss of Wg Cdr Namansh Syal in today’s Tejas crash at the Dubai Air Show. An aviator’s passing is a loss to the entire aerospace community, beyond borders and beyond rivalry.” “Our rivalry belongs only to the skies not at air shows where we stand together on common ground, united by passion for flight and respect for those who dare to push the limits,” it added. “Our prayers are with his family and his squadron in this difficult hour.” PTI SH NPK NPKEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to7 ways to enjoy Papaya for breakfast123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has offered condolences to the Indian Air Force and the family of the pilot who died in a crash during the Dubai Air Show, saying rivalry with the neighbouring country belongs “to the skies only.” A Tejas fighter jet of the Indian Air Force crashed in a ball of…

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(File Photo) Wg Cdr Namansh Syal, who lost his life in the Tejas fighter aircraft crash at the Dubai Airshow, on Saturday. (@IAF_MCC on X) SHIMLA: Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who perished in the Tejas crash at Dubai Air Show on Friday, was a high flyer all his life – house captain in Sainik School, Academy Cadet Adjutant (ACC) at National Defence Academy (NDA), and an instructor with Indian Air Force (IAF), training the next generation of combat pilots.The air warrior will be cremated at his ancestral village, Patialkar, in Kangra district’s Nagrota Bagwan tehsil, on Sunday, his father Naib Subedar Jagan Nath (retd), an Army Medical Corps veteran, told TOI. In a tragic twist, the 71-year-old said he was searching for videos of his son’s aerial acrobatics at the air show when news reports of the crash popped up. Speaking to TOI over phone from Sulur, the grief-stricken father said, “Then, officers from my son’s squadron arrived to convey the tragic news.” When the family got the news, Namansh’s wife, Wing Commander Afshan, was in Kolkata on a training course. Their six-year-old daughter was with her grandparents in Sulur, where Namansh was serving with No. 3 Squadron. The high-achiever was an inspiration for hundreds not only in his hometown but also his alma mater, Sainik School Sujanpur Tira in Hamirpur district, and NDA. The school held a remembrance meet Saturday. He was part of the school’s 21st batch, passing out in 2005. Group Captain Rachna Joshi, the school’s principal, said: “Teachers here tell me he was exceptionally well in academics. Joining the school in Class IX and becoming the captain of Chenab House speaks volumes about him. He will continue to remain in our hearts forever as a braveheart,” said the principal. His ‘home’ at NDA – Hunter Squadron – also held a remembrance meet.After his Class XII, Namansh enrolled in National Institute of Technology , Hamirpur, but his heart was set on NDA. After his first semester, he cleared SSB and joined NDA 115th course in 2006. He was appointed academic cadet captain, and commanded NDA’s passing-out parade in Nov 2008, earning the President’s Silver Medal in overall merit. Commissioned as a fighter pilot in Dec 2009, he flew MiG-21 and Su-30MKI before getting into Tejas at Sulur AFS in Coimbatore. At Hakimpet, he was a flying instructor on the Kiran trainer.About the AuthorSanjeev VermaSanjeev Verma is a Senior Assistant Editor covering Himachal Pradesh for The Times of India. His journalism experience spans across multiple states, including Punjab and Haryana, in addition to covering the Punjab and Haryana High Court, after an initial stint in Delhi. He navigates the realms of politics, security, public policy, finance, industries and commerce, rural development, legal affairs, environment, defence services welfare, and NRI affairs, with a focus on investigative journalism.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to7 ways to enjoy Papaya for breakfast123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

(File Photo) Wg Cdr Namansh Syal, who lost his life in the Tejas fighter aircraft crash at the Dubai Airshow, on Saturday. (@IAF_MCC on X) SHIMLA: Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who perished in the Tejas crash at Dubai Air Show on Friday, was a high flyer all his life – house captain in Sainik School, Academy Cadet Adjutant (ACC) at National Defence Academy (NDA), and an instructor with Indian Air Force (IAF), training the next generation of combat pilots.The air warrior will be cremated at his ancestral village, Patialkar, in Kangra district’s Nagrota Bagwan tehsil, on Sunday, his father Naib Subedar Jagan Nath (retd), an Army Medical Corps veteran, told TOI. In a tragic twist, the 71-year-old said he was searching for videos of his son’s aerial acrobatics at the air show when news reports of the crash popped up. Speaking to TOI over phone from Sulur, the grief-stricken father said, “Then, officers from my son’s squadron arrived to convey the tragic news.” When the family got the news, Namansh’s wife, Wing Commander Afshan, was in Kolkata on a training course. Their six-year-old daughter was with her grandparents in Sulur, where Namansh was serving with No. 3 Squadron. The high-achiever was an inspiration for hundreds not only in his hometown but also his alma mater, Sainik School Sujanpur Tira in Hamirpur district, and NDA. The school held a remembrance meet Saturday. He was part of the school’s 21st batch, passing out in 2005. Group Captain Rachna Joshi, the school’s principal, said: “Teachers here tell me he was exceptionally well in academics. Joining the school in Class IX and becoming the captain of Chenab House speaks volumes about him. He will continue to remain in our hearts forever as a braveheart,” said the principal. His ‘home’ at NDA – Hunter Squadron – also held a remembrance meet.After his Class XII, Namansh enrolled in National Institute of Technology , Hamirpur, but his heart was set on NDA. After his first semester, he cleared SSB and joined NDA 115th course in 2006. He was appointed academic cadet captain, and commanded NDA’s passing-out parade in Nov 2008, earning the President’s Silver Medal in overall merit. Commissioned as a fighter pilot in Dec 2009, he flew MiG-21 and Su-30MKI before getting into Tejas at Sulur AFS in Coimbatore. At Hakimpet, he was a flying instructor on the Kiran trainer.About the AuthorSanjeev VermaSanjeev Verma is a Senior Assistant Editor covering Himachal Pradesh for The Times of India. His journalism experience spans across multiple states, including Punjab and Haryana, in addition to covering the Punjab and Haryana High Court, after an initial stint in Delhi. He navigates the realms of politics, security, public policy, finance, industries and commerce, rural development, legal affairs, environment, defence services welfare, and NRI affairs, with a focus on investigative journalism.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to7 ways to enjoy Papaya for breakfast123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

(File Photo) Wg Cdr Namansh Syal, who lost his life in the Tejas fighter aircraft crash at the Dubai Airshow, on Saturday. (@IAF_MCC on X) SHIMLA: Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who perished in the Tejas crash at Dubai Air Show on Friday, was a high flyer all his life – house captain in Sainik School,…

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IAF Hasn’t Yet Grounded Jets For Checks Tejas crash aftermathIAF Hasn’t Yet Grounded Jets For ChecksTejas crash aftermathIAF Hasn’t Yet Grounded Jets For ChecksTejas crash aftermath12 NEW DELHI: India has sent an IAF officer to Dubai to take part in the inquiry to be conducted by the aviation authorities there into the Tejas fighter’s crash Friday, with the ill-fated jet’s flight data recorder (FDR) or “black box” expected to provide key information about the cause of the accident.The IAF officer will be “a member in attendance” at the inquiry, as per protocol, into the mishap that saw the single-engine Tejas Mark-1 jet crash into the ground after failing to recover from a “negative G-turn” manoeuvre during a low-level aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow.The mortal remains of the pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal (37), were brought back to Sulur in Tamil Nadu on an IAF C-130J aircraft on Saturday night. “A dedicated fighter pilot and thorough professional, Wing Commander Syal served the nation with unwavering commitment, exceptional skill and an unyielding sense of duty,” IAF said.The IAF has not yet grounded its Tejas Mark-1 fighters in the ’45 Flying Daggers’ Squadron at Sulur and ’18 Flying Bullets’ Squadron at Naliya for safety technical checks. “The FDR, which would have recorded all critical flight parameters of the Tejas, such as speed, altitude, control inputs and other such things, will be crucial for reconstructing the sequence of events leading to the accident,” an officer said.While the exact reason for the crash will be determined by the inquiry, the pilot could have suffered a “blackout” or spatial disorientation due to “negative G-forces”, or there could have been a sudden loss of engine power or control malfunction in the fighter, as was earlier reported by TOI.”Pilots can suffer G-LOC or gravity induced temporary loss of consciousness during sharp turns or dives in supersonic fighters. That is why fighter pilots wear pressurised G-suits to counter the effects of gravity,” another officer said. The 13.5-tonne multirole Tejas, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics and powered by American GE-F404 turbofan engine, has had a stellar flight safety record ever since its first prototype took to the skies in Jan 2001, even as IAF wants a fighter with much better capabilities.Since IAF raised its first Tejas Mark-1 squadron at Sulur in July 2016, the crash at Dubai was only the second after a jet went down near Jaisalmer on Mar 12 last year. While the IAF court of inquiry report into that crash has not been declassified, the cause is attributed to an engine snag. While IAF has inducted 38 Tejas Mark-1 jets, the deliveries of 83 “improved” Tejas Mark-1A fighters contracted in Feb 2021 for Rs 46,898 crore will begin only in March next year, after a long delay. A Rs 66,500 crore contract for another 97 Mark-1A jets was inked with HAL in Sept this year.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to7 ways to enjoy Papaya for breakfast123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

IAF Hasn’t Yet Grounded Jets For Checks Tejas crash aftermathIAF Hasn’t Yet Grounded Jets For ChecksTejas crash aftermathIAF Hasn’t Yet Grounded Jets For ChecksTejas crash aftermath12 NEW DELHI: India has sent an IAF officer to Dubai to take part in the inquiry to be conducted by the aviation authorities there into the Tejas fighter’s crash Friday, with the ill-fated jet’s flight data recorder (FDR) or “black box” expected to provide key information about the cause of the accident.The IAF officer will be “a member in attendance” at the inquiry, as per protocol, into the mishap that saw the single-engine Tejas Mark-1 jet crash into the ground after failing to recover from a “negative G-turn” manoeuvre during a low-level aerobatic display at the Dubai Airshow.The mortal remains of the pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal (37), were brought back to Sulur in Tamil Nadu on an IAF C-130J aircraft on Saturday night. “A dedicated fighter pilot and thorough professional, Wing Commander Syal served the nation with unwavering commitment, exceptional skill and an unyielding sense of duty,” IAF said.The IAF has not yet grounded its Tejas Mark-1 fighters in the ’45 Flying Daggers’ Squadron at Sulur and ’18 Flying Bullets’ Squadron at Naliya for safety technical checks. “The FDR, which would have recorded all critical flight parameters of the Tejas, such as speed, altitude, control inputs and other such things, will be crucial for reconstructing the sequence of events leading to the accident,” an officer said.While the exact reason for the crash will be determined by the inquiry, the pilot could have suffered a “blackout” or spatial disorientation due to “negative G-forces”, or there could have been a sudden loss of engine power or control malfunction in the fighter, as was earlier reported by TOI.”Pilots can suffer G-LOC or gravity induced temporary loss of consciousness during sharp turns or dives in supersonic fighters. That is why fighter pilots wear pressurised G-suits to counter the effects of gravity,” another officer said. The 13.5-tonne multirole Tejas, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics and powered by American GE-F404 turbofan engine, has had a stellar flight safety record ever since its first prototype took to the skies in Jan 2001, even as IAF wants a fighter with much better capabilities.Since IAF raised its first Tejas Mark-1 squadron at Sulur in July 2016, the crash at Dubai was only the second after a jet went down near Jaisalmer on Mar 12 last year. While the IAF court of inquiry report into that crash has not been declassified, the cause is attributed to an engine snag. While IAF has inducted 38 Tejas Mark-1 jets, the deliveries of 83 “improved” Tejas Mark-1A fighters contracted in Feb 2021 for Rs 46,898 crore will begin only in March next year, after a long delay. A Rs 66,500 crore contract for another 97 Mark-1A jets was inked with HAL in Sept this year.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123PhotostoriesLaughter Chefs 3: From new jodis of Vivian Dsena-Eisha Singh, Gurmeet-Debina to Tejasswi Prakash-Karan Kundrra teaming up together: Highlights from the new season3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to7 ways to enjoy Papaya for breakfast123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna03 mins mins

NEW DELHI: India has sent an IAF officer to Dubai to take part in the inquiry to be conducted by the aviation authorities there into the Tejas fighter’s crash Friday, with the ill-fated jet’s flight data recorder (FDR) or “black box” expected to provide key information about the cause of the accident.The IAF officer will…

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The Leh Apex Body (LAB) has submitted a draft proposal to the Centre, demanding general amnesty for climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and other detainees following the Sept 24 violence. This amnesty is deemed crucial for smooth continuation of talks, alongside demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh. Sonam Wangchuk (File photo) SRINAGAR: A draft proposal submitted by Leh Apex Body (LAB) to the Centre says granting “general amnesty” to its member and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and other detainees over the Sept 24 violence is a must for talks to continue smoothly.LAB is an amalgam of social, political and religious groups spearheading an agitation over statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, which became a Union Territory in 2019. It submitted the 29-page draft proposal to the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) earlier this week.“The extension of such a general amnesty would serve as a huge confidence-building measure that would reinforce the spirit of dialogue and mutual trust between the people of Ladakh and the Government of India. Such a healing hand approach shall ensure Ladakh always remains the peaceful place it has been known for,” the draft states. Wangchuk has been charged and jailed under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).The document begins with references to the September 24 Leh violence in which four locals were killed, allegedly in the police firing, after the protesters demanding Sixth Schedule status turned violent.“What transpired on Sept 24, 2025, and the subsequent events, is unprecedented in a place like Ladakh, and those incidents have shaken the fabric of the people. Keeping in consideration the conduct of Ladakhis for the last many years and their peaceful means of protest, it is important to release all persons detained and withdraw cases against them unconditionally,” the draft states.Stressing that “extension of Sixth Schedule protection to Ladakh and granting it full statehood with appropriate constitutional safeguards under Article 371 of the Constitution are important at this juncture”, the draft said fulfilment of these “demands shall further help in restoring peace and build confidence”.The draft says the proposals are in accordance with an understanding at a meeting between Ladakhi leaders and a high-powered MHA committee on Oct 22 to have a “constructive framework for further deliberations”. LAB reiterated, however, that it remains “fully open to further discussions, suggestions and deliberations” with the ministry to reach a mutually acceptable constitutional solution to the demands of Ladakh”.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123Photostories3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to7 ways to enjoy Papaya for breakfastBigg Boss 19: From Gaurav Khanna, Tanya Mittal to Amaal Mallik: Net worth of Top 9 contestants123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

The Leh Apex Body (LAB) has submitted a draft proposal to the Centre, demanding general amnesty for climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and other detainees following the Sept 24 violence. This amnesty is deemed crucial for smooth continuation of talks, alongside demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh. Sonam Wangchuk (File photo) SRINAGAR: A draft proposal submitted by Leh Apex Body (LAB) to the Centre says granting “general amnesty” to its member and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and other detainees over the Sept 24 violence is a must for talks to continue smoothly.LAB is an amalgam of social, political and religious groups spearheading an agitation over statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, which became a Union Territory in 2019. It submitted the 29-page draft proposal to the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) earlier this week.“The extension of such a general amnesty would serve as a huge confidence-building measure that would reinforce the spirit of dialogue and mutual trust between the people of Ladakh and the Government of India. Such a healing hand approach shall ensure Ladakh always remains the peaceful place it has been known for,” the draft states. Wangchuk has been charged and jailed under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).The document begins with references to the September 24 Leh violence in which four locals were killed, allegedly in the police firing, after the protesters demanding Sixth Schedule status turned violent.“What transpired on Sept 24, 2025, and the subsequent events, is unprecedented in a place like Ladakh, and those incidents have shaken the fabric of the people. Keeping in consideration the conduct of Ladakhis for the last many years and their peaceful means of protest, it is important to release all persons detained and withdraw cases against them unconditionally,” the draft states.Stressing that “extension of Sixth Schedule protection to Ladakh and granting it full statehood with appropriate constitutional safeguards under Article 371 of the Constitution are important at this juncture”, the draft said fulfilment of these “demands shall further help in restoring peace and build confidence”.The draft says the proposals are in accordance with an understanding at a meeting between Ladakhi leaders and a high-powered MHA committee on Oct 22 to have a “constructive framework for further deliberations”. LAB reiterated, however, that it remains “fully open to further discussions, suggestions and deliberations” with the ministry to reach a mutually acceptable constitutional solution to the demands of Ladakh”.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTrump Says He Brokered Eight Peace Deals Including India And Pakistan During Mamdani MeetUP Gears Up For Biggest Crackdown Yet As CM Yogi Mandates Detention Hubs For Illegal ImmigrantsModi, Meloni Share Warm Laughter on G20 Sidelines in Johannesburg‘In memory of our brothers’: Russian Pilot’s Heartfelt Note For Indian Tejas Pilot After Dubai Crash’Objective Is To Destroy The Enemy’: Op Sindoor Echoes As Indian Army Vows Stronger Response to PakIndian Army Chief Reveals How A Trusted Orchestra Crushed Nine Targets in Operation Sindoor BlitzManipur Sangai Festival 2025- ThemeAt G20 Summit, PM Modi Proposes Global Knowledge, Skills, Health And Security Initiatives For FutureSangai Festival 2025 Opening CeremonyEx-VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Breaks Silence, Calls Out Narrative Traps With Cryptic Reference To His Past123Photostories3 Ayurveda-approved fruit rules to boost digestionFrom Harman Sidhu to Danish Zehen: Indian celebrities who died in tragic road accidents7 high-protein breakfast shakes with 20g per glassMillion-dollar executives: Meet top 5 highest-paid CXOs in India FY259 behaviours that slowly destroy relationships over timeTop 4 home remedies to reduce bloating and boost digestion naturallyKartik Aaryan to Sara Tendulkar: 5 best celebrity looks of the daySilent signs of bullying every parent should pay attention to7 ways to enjoy Papaya for breakfastBigg Boss 19: From Gaurav Khanna, Tanya Mittal to Amaal Mallik: Net worth of Top 9 contestants123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayBihar Minister List 2025Bihar CM Oath CeremonyGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingFantasy Football Injury ReportSavannah JamesBrittany MahomesTaylor SwiftTravis KelceChris Blake GriffithJosh Allen InjuryCharvarius WardFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedCade Cunningham

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins

Sonam Wangchuk (File photo) SRINAGAR: A draft proposal submitted by Leh Apex Body (LAB) to the Centre says granting “general amnesty” to its member and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and other detainees over the Sept 24 violence is a must for talks to continue smoothly.LAB is an amalgam of social, political and religious groups spearheading…

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