VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Dolly Parton and Carl Dean to John Cena and Shay Shariatzadeh Gaza peace plan: 8 nations condemn Israel’s rejection of US roadmap Princess Iman welcomes twin daughters Talia and Rania with husband Jameel Alexander Thermiotis, names newborns after Queen Rania; Jordanian royal family celebrates Updated: Aug 16, 2026, 21:31 IST Why England flats have no takers despite price cuts US cleaning business owner faces scrutiny over racial profiling NEW DELHI: Railway ministry on Sunday ordered corrective measures to ensure safe drinking water at railway stations following a CAG report on drinking water quality.After a whole-day review by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and other senior officials, the ministry ordered the installation of a “Tank to Tap” water filtration system at railway stations. The ministry said water coolers and a comprehensive water filtration and monitoring system will be installed at 20,000 locations across the railway network.The government also ordered the replacement of water tanks and strict compliance with water testing, accountability and scheduled cleaning.”This is a top priority area and will be monitored directly at the Board level. Progress and water quality reports will be published periodically to ensure transparency,” the railway ministry said.”This action is part of a larger drive to address all CAG observations and improve the overall travel experience,” it added.This comes after a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India said E. coli bacteria, some strains of which can cause food poisoning, diarrhoea and kidney failure, had been detected in drinking water samples collected from water coolers at several railway stations.The CAG study assessed passenger services at 512 non-suburban grade railway stations across all Indian Railway zones. It found that water samples from coolers tested positive for E. coli at eight railway stations across four zones.”Water sample from water cooler was positive for E. coli at two stations (Coimbatore and Palakkad Junctions) in SR (Southern Railway), one station (Hyderabad) in SCR (South Central Railway), four stations (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Bhiwandi Road, Kalyan and Lonavala) in CR (Central Railway) and one station (Madhupur) in ER (Eastern Railway),” the report said, according to PTI.The audit also found that 458 of the 512 selected stations – more than 89% – were deficient in providing Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA). At these stations, MEAs were either not provided or were available below the prescribed norms.”In April 2018, RB (Railway Board) issued comprehensive instructions prescribing Minimum Essential Amenities (MEA), Recommended Amenities (RA) and Desirable Amenities (DA) for stations categorised as NSG 1 to NSG 6. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesRB stipulated that MEAs were to be ensured at all stations by 31 August 2018,” the report stated.Among its key recommendations, the CAG urged the Railways to “ensure compliance with prescribed protocols for inspection of water supply systems and comprehensive testing of drinking water quality, including all parameters under the Uniform Drinking Water Quality Protocol.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Process Vitiated…’: Bangladesh Links Tarique Rahman’s India Visit To Sheikh Hasina Extradition‘Will Never Be Forgiven’: Amit Shah Slams Sonia Gandhi; BJP Lodges Complaint Over Vande Mataram RowAir India Express Passenger Booked After Pistol Goes Off At Varanasi Airport During Security Check‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? Viral Vande Mataram Video Sparks Political Firestorm In New DelhiIndia Signs ₹1,577 Crore Drone Deals As Army Powers Up Precision Strikes And Unmanned WarfareAjit Doval Breaks Silence On Operation Sindoor, Reveals PM Modi’s Immediate Response After PahalgamPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing Surge123PhotostoriesDengue fever is finally coming down, but why can this be the most dangerous phase of the illness? Doctor explainsHow did samosa become an Indian favourite despite not originating in India?Crocodiles survived an era that wiped out the dinosaurs: What makes them such unusual survivors?8 foods that attract insects in your kitchen without you realising itHow to remove Rahu’s negative energy according to your birth date5 things parents should never let others do to their child at a social gatheringInside Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash’s opulent Dubai home: Large balconies, a private pool and moreVaani Kapoor goes full maximalist in Mayyur Girotra’s Kutch-embroidered suit, leaving us completely obsessedHimanshi Khurana on battling depression, traumatic childhood and breakup with Asim Riaz over religious differences; says ‘I felt I was betraying God’10 unusual foods from India that tourists are often afraid to try123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke FPIs turn buyers again, pump Rs 16,621 crore into Indian equities in August Weekly Horoscope, August 17 to August 22 2026: Read weekly astrological predictions Rs 6,400-crore IPO rush: 7 companies set to tap primary market next week 8-year-old boy catches a piranha while fishing with dad at Pennsylvania lake NEW DELHI: National Testing Agency (NTA) on Sunday acknowledged that the UGC-NET papers in English, Commerce and Sociology had multiple errors and repeated questions, and said the defects were too extensive to be addressed simply by dropping questions after the answer-key challenge process. It has ordered fresh examinations for all three subjects.The re-tests will be held on September 9 and 10. English will be conducted from 9am to noon on September 9, Commerce from 3pm to 6pm the same day, and Sociology from 9am to noon on September 10. No additional examination fee will be charged.The decision came hours after NTA released provisional answer keys for 84 of the 87 UGC-NET subjects but withheld the keys for these three papers, nearly seven weeks after the June examination.NTA said a committee set up after receiving “several complaints” found “many factual, typographical, translation errors”, including misspelt names of prominent scholars, garbled book titles, wrongly worded questions, grammatical and punctuation mistakes and non-standard terms used for established concepts. The committee also found repetition of a “significant number” of questions previously asked.The agency said papers carrying defects of this extent did not meet the standards of a fair and error-free examination and that the problems could not be corrected merely by dropping questions after challenges were received.TOI had on July 1 reported complaints over the Sociology and English papers. Sociology candidates alleged that the June 30 paper contained spelling and grammatical errors, mangled names of well-known thinkers, poor Hindi translations and questions apparently unrelated to the prescribed syllabus. Some also alleged that parts of the paper appeared AI-generated.Candidates had pointed out that “Ritzer” appeared as “Putzer”, “Parsons” as “Parsow”, “Ghurye” as “Ghunye” and A R Desai as “A K Desai”, among several other errors.The English paper had also come under scrutiny after candidates alleged that 67 of its 150 questions were identical to questions asked in the 2024 examination, with even the sequence of answer options reportedly unchanged. Complaints over repetition were subsequently raised in Commerce as well.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe episode comes two years after the June 2024 UGC-NET was cancelled a day after it was held following inputs received by UGC from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit under the home ministry indicating that the integrity of the examination may have been compromised. The test was subsequently conducted afresh.The current re-examination will, however, not hold up results in the other 84 subjects. NTA said their results would be declared as scheduled and JRF allocation and certificates for Assistant Professor and PhD eligibility would not be delayed.For assistant professor eligibility, NTA said the number qualifying would be 6% of candidates who appeared in the June test or the re-test, whichever is higher.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.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 MediaVideos‘Process Vitiated…’: Bangladesh Links Tarique Rahman’s India Visit To Sheikh Hasina Extradition‘Will Never Be Forgiven’: Amit Shah Slams Sonia Gandhi; BJP Lodges Complaint Over Vande Mataram RowAir India Express Passenger Booked After Pistol Goes Off At Varanasi Airport During Security Check‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? Viral Vande Mataram Video Sparks Political Firestorm In New DelhiIndia Signs ₹1,577 Crore Drone Deals As Army Powers Up Precision Strikes And Unmanned WarfareAjit Doval Breaks Silence On Operation Sindoor, Reveals PM Modi’s Immediate Response After PahalgamPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing Surge123PhotostoriesDengue fever is finally coming down, but why can this be the most dangerous phase of the illness? Doctor explainsHow did samosa become an Indian favourite despite not originating in India?Crocodiles survived an era that wiped out the dinosaurs: What makes them such unusual survivors?8 foods that attract insects in your kitchen without you realising itHow to remove Rahu’s negative energy according to your birth date5 things parents should never let others do to their child at a social gatheringInside Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash’s opulent Dubai home: Large balconies, a private pool and moreVaani Kapoor goes full maximalist in Mayyur Girotra’s Kutch-embroidered suit, leaving us completely obsessedHimanshi Khurana on battling depression, traumatic childhood and breakup with Asim Riaz over religious differences; says ‘I felt I was betraying God’10 unusual foods from India that tourists are often afraid to try123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke Can new US housing law finally ease affordability pressure? In 1953, Emma Gatewood tried hiking the Appalachian Trail, got lost and was rescued; two years later, at 67, she walked all 2,190 miles alone and made history CJP seeks re exam of Bombay HC clerk exam NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has demanded Bombay HC clerk recruitment exam to be conducted afresh after alleged technical glitches triggered concerns among candidates.While talking to reports, Dipke said candidates informed him that several computers developed problems soon after they began the test, with some reporting non-functional mice while others faced faulty keyboards.”Students just informed me that they had a High Court exam this morning. As soon as they sat down to take it, they discovered that for some, the mouse wasn’t working, and for others, the keyboard was faulty,” Dipke said.He claimed that within around 10 minutes, a majority of the candidates were logged out and subsequently declared failed.Calling the incident a “failure of the system and the government”, Dipke questioned the authorities’ preparedness to conduct online examinations.‘Students’ futures are at stake’Dipke alleged that when candidates raised complaints at the examination centre, they were told that they lacked the “sense” to take an examination properly.”If the authorities possessed so much more wisdom than these students, they should have used it to install better computers and functional keyboards, and to ensure the servers were working correctly beforehand,” he said.He also claimed that a District Court judge was present at the centre and demanded a written assurance that the examination would be conducted again.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”The District Court judge should come out and give a written assurance that the exam will be re-conducted, and not on the same faulty computers used today. Such a situation must not happen again; the students’ futures are at stake,” Dipke said.He further questioned the continued use of online examinations despite recurring complaints about technical failures.”If you lack the necessary infrastructure and cannot conduct online exams properly, why are you holding them in the first place? What is the purpose?” he asked.”This isn’t the first time, across the country and in Maharashtra, that online exam servers have crashed or hardware like keyboards and mice has failed to function; this happens with every exam,” Dipke added.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Process Vitiated…’: Bangladesh Links Tarique Rahman’s India Visit To Sheikh Hasina Extradition‘Will Never Be Forgiven’: Amit Shah Slams Sonia Gandhi; BJP Lodges Complaint Over Vande Mataram RowAir India Express Passenger Booked After Pistol Goes Off At Varanasi Airport During Security Check‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? Viral Vande Mataram Video Sparks Political Firestorm In New DelhiIndia Signs ₹1,577 Crore Drone Deals As Army Powers Up Precision Strikes And Unmanned WarfareAjit Doval Breaks Silence On Operation Sindoor, Reveals PM Modi’s Immediate Response After PahalgamPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing Surge123PhotostoriesDengue fever is finally coming down, but why can this be the most dangerous phase of the illness? Doctor explainsHow did samosa become an Indian favourite despite not originating in India?Crocodiles survived an era that wiped out the dinosaurs: What makes them such unusual survivors?8 foods that attract insects in your kitchen without you realising itHow to remove Rahu’s negative energy according to your birth date5 things parents should never let others do to their child at a social gatheringInside Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash’s opulent Dubai home: Large balconies, a private pool and moreVaani Kapoor goes full maximalist in Mayyur Girotra’s Kutch-embroidered suit, leaving us completely obsessedHimanshi Khurana on battling depression, traumatic childhood and breakup with Asim Riaz over religious differences; says ‘I felt I was betraying God’10 unusual foods from India that tourists are often afraid to try123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke Govinda says Sunita Ahuja wanted him on Lock Upp: ‘Not leaving any chance to get me defamed’ ‘He said it was unloaded’: 2 screeners recall Varanasi airport ‘accidental’ firing incident Iran moves to criminalise interviews with US, Israeli media, with prison terms up to 30 years “I am observing mourning for my elder brothers Rahul and Hemant Ji,” the protestor said. NEW DELHI: A Jharkhand protester, in a unique show of symbolism, shaved his head after burning the effigies of chief minister Hemant Soren, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, calling himself their “younger brother”, who is “mourning” the “dead” leaders.Amid the deadlock between the students protesting against irregularties in the state examination and its selection process, Baha Linda, who shaved his head, said: “These people are like the dead. They only develop their own families; they are trapped in dynastic politics. They garner votes from Jharkhand but develop only their own families, so one cannot expect much from the dead… I shaved my head.”Targeting CM Hemant Soren and Rahul Gandhi, whose Congress is the part of the Jharkhand government, the protestor said: “I am the younger brother of Rahul Gandhi and Hemant Soren. It is my duty to dedicate my body, mind, and resources to their final rites… Once their cremation is over and the ashes remain, I will be the one who has to stand up and immerse them in the Swarnarekha Ghat to fulfill a younger brother’s duty. You cannot expect anything from the dead.””I am observing mourning for my elder brothers Rahul and Hemant Ji,” he further told news agency ANI.Earlier, students protesting against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations burned the effigies of CM Hemant Soren, Lok Sabha leader of opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, and Tejashwi Yadav.The protest by students and job aspirants over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations entered its 23rd day on Sunday, with the protesters, under the banner of JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, accusing the ruling JMM-Congress alliance of failing to take “concrete action” on their demands.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThey have also announced plans to gherao Soren’s residence in Ranchi on August 20 and demanded his resignation.“We will gherao the chief minister’s residence on August 20. We seek his resignation as both the JMM and the Congress are playing politics with us. We also demand that Rahul Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the CM is not listening to him,” Paswan said.The protesters are seeking cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and certain Jharkhand Public Service Commission examinations over alleged irregularities. They have also demanded a CBI probe or an inquiry by a panel of retired judges from outside Jharkhand.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Process Vitiated…’: Bangladesh Links Tarique Rahman’s India Visit To Sheikh Hasina Extradition‘Will Never Be Forgiven’: Amit Shah Slams Sonia Gandhi; BJP Lodges Complaint Over Vande Mataram RowAir India Express Passenger Booked After Pistol Goes Off At Varanasi Airport During Security Check‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? Viral Vande Mataram Video Sparks Political Firestorm In New DelhiIndia Signs ₹1,577 Crore Drone Deals As Army Powers Up Precision Strikes And Unmanned WarfareAjit Doval Breaks Silence On Operation Sindoor, Reveals PM Modi’s Immediate Response After PahalgamPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing Surge123PhotostoriesDengue fever is finally coming down, but why can this be the most dangerous phase of the illness? Doctor explainsHow did samosa become an Indian favourite despite not originating in India?Crocodiles survived an era that wiped out the dinosaurs: What makes them such unusual survivors?8 foods that attract insects in your kitchen without you realising itHow to remove Rahu’s negative energy according to your birth date5 things parents should never let others do to their child at a social gatheringInside Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash’s opulent Dubai home: Large balconies, a private pool and moreVaani Kapoor goes full maximalist in Mayyur Girotra’s Kutch-embroidered suit, leaving us completely obsessedHimanshi Khurana on battling depression, traumatic childhood and breakup with Asim Riaz over religious differences; says ‘I felt I was betraying God’10 unusual foods from India that tourists are often afraid to try123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke Aug 16, 2026, 20:32 IST ‘Old Emraan Hashmi nahi raha’: Fans react to no kissing scene in ‘Awarapan 2’ What does it cost to shift into a 3BHK in Bengaluru? Couple reveals ₹2.53 lakh bill Punjab Police foils terror plot, recovers 690 gram IED In 1933, Lincoln’s Crooked House was marked for demolition; work revealed a hidden timber-framed building behind its brick façade and saved it; today it is one of the Cathedral Quarter’s most photographed buildings Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks another term; Flyer’s pistol ‘accidentally’ goes off at Varanasi airport Two airport cargo screening employees were injured after a passenger’s licensed pistol accidentally discharged during a mandatory weapons check at Varanasi airport.Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud is trailing former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections, according to a new poll.Former TMC MLA and West Bengal Assembly deputy speaker Asish Banerjee was found dead at his party office in Birbhum, with police recovering a purported suicide note.Union minister Kiren Rijiju clarified that PM Narendra Modi’s “dimagi naxals” remark was not aimed at opposition leaders.Ravindra Jadeja reveals how being pushed down to No. 8 or 9 early in his India career affected his confidence despite averaging over 60 in domestic cricket. Here are top 5 stories of the day:Air India Express flyer’s pistol ‘accidentally’ goes off at Varanasi airport: How it unfoldedTwo ad-hoc cargo screening employees were injured at Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport after a passenger’s licensed pistol accidentally discharged during a weapons inspection. The incident occurred around 9.30 am when 55-year-old Kamlesh Rai was preparing to board an Air India Express flight to Mumbai. The injured employees, Suman Rani and Rohit Raj, sustained injuries to their thigh and finger respectively and were reported stable.Read full article Watch Air India Express Passenger Booked After Pistol Goes Off At Varanasi Airport During Security CheckIs Netanyahu headed for setback in Israel election? No Trump endorsement raises eyebrows A pre-election poll has put former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud, raising the prospect of a tough election battle for the Israeli prime minister. Yashar is projected to win 25 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, compared with 21 for Likud, while the anti-Netanyahu bloc is forecast to secure 58 seats against 50 for his allies. The setback comes as US President Donald Trump has so far stopped short of endorsing Netanyahu.Read full article‘Never got involved in corruption, stay away from politics’: Asish Banerjee’s suicide note surfacesFormer Trinamool Congress MLA and ex-deputy speaker of the West Bengal Assembly Asish Banerjee was found hanging at his party office in Birbhum on Sunday, police said. A purported suicide note recovered from the spot allegedly said he never got involved in corruption and that entering politics was a mistake, while also referring to alleged wrongdoings within the TMC and attempts to malign him.Read full article’Didn’t call opposition leaders dimagi naxals’: Rijiju on PM Modi’s I-Day remarksUnion parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday clarified that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “dimagi naxals” remark in his Independence Day speech was not directed at opposition leaders. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesRijiju said the term referred to those who support Maoists and reject the Constitution, back separatists and Article 370, or seek to separate the Northeast from the rest of India.Read full article’Team didn’t have confidence in me’: Ravindra Jadeja’s candid revelation that left him ‘disturbed’Ravindra Jadeja opens up about the early struggles that shaped him into a more assured Test batter, recalling how being repeatedly pushed down the order made him question his place as a batsman. Despite the setbacks, his strong domestic record kept his belief alive, and he eventually developed the temperament to convert starts into long Test innings.PollVote & Share your viewDo you believe stricter regulations are needed for passenger firearm checks at airports?Yes, definitelyNo, current regulations are sufficientNot sure3k+ users shared opinion today 5k+ users already voted today 3k+ users shared opinion today Share OpinionRead full storyGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Will Never Be Forgiven’: Amit Shah Slams Sonia Gandhi; BJP Lodges Complaint Over Vande Mataram RowAir India Express Passenger Booked After Pistol Goes Off At Varanasi Airport During Security Check‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? Viral Vande Mataram Video Sparks Political Firestorm In New DelhiIndia Signs ₹1,577 Crore Drone Deals As Army Powers Up Precision Strikes And Unmanned WarfareAjit Doval Breaks Silence On Operation Sindoor, Reveals PM Modi’s Immediate Response After PahalgamPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic Institutions123PhotostoriesDengue fever is finally coming down, but why can this be the most dangerous phase of the illness? Doctor explainsHow did samosa become an Indian favourite despite not originating in India?Crocodiles survived an era that wiped out the dinosaurs: What makes them such unusual survivors?8 foods that attract insects in your kitchen without you realising itHow to remove Rahu’s negative energy according to your birth date5 things parents should never let others do to their child at a social gatheringInside Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash’s opulent Dubai home: Large balconies, a private pool and moreVaani Kapoor goes full maximalist in Mayyur Girotra’s Kutch-embroidered suit, leaving us completely obsessedHimanshi Khurana on battling depression, traumatic childhood and breakup with Asim Riaz over religious differences; says ‘I felt I was betraying God’10 unusual foods from India that tourists are often afraid to try123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke Aug 16, 2026, 19:52 IST Vande Mataram row: Amit Shah takes ‘sin’ jibe at Sonia; Congress says minister ‘diverting attention’ NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in Bihar assembly Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday announced a protest march to Raj Bhavan on August 19 over the “complete collapse” of examination system and recurring paper leaks in the state.Speaking to reporters in Patna, Tejashwi labelled Bihar as the “worst performing” state in the education sector. He said that papers of recruitment examinations leak every time and a fair selection process has never taken place.”There isn’t a single exam or recruitment drive where the paper doesn’t get leaked. Whether it is the Class 10 exam, the Class 12 exam, or a recruitment test, the paper leaks every time, and a fair selection process has never taken place,” he said.”Bihar is the worst-performing state when it comes to education. You must have seen the incident that occurred in Siwan; an AK-47 was fired. Students are fighting for their rights, yet they are being fired upon. Who ordered the firing? In light of this, we have decided to hold a march to the Raj Bhavan on August 19 and present our grievances to the governor,” he added.Tejashwi also targeted Bihar government over the administrative action taken on officials after student protesters were fired upon in Siwan.”We had met the DGP previously as well, and we had asked the government who was responsible for this. No action has been taken so far. Only a single constable has been dismissed, but there has been no suspension of the SP, nor has any major action been taken. The government is protecting those responsible,” he alleged.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines”On the 19th, we will march to the Raj Bhavan to demand accountability and justice for the students of Bihar,” he added.Bihar’s Siwan witnessed clashes between student protesters and police personnel during protests on July 25 over examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak.Police used tear gas and lathi charge to disperse the protesters following reports of stone-pelting. An AK-47 firing incident was also reported during the unrest.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Will Never Be Forgiven’: Amit Shah Slams Sonia Gandhi; BJP Lodges Complaint Over Vande Mataram RowAir India Express Passenger Booked After Pistol Goes Off At Varanasi Airport During Security Check‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? Viral Vande Mataram Video Sparks Political Firestorm In New DelhiIndia Signs ₹1,577 Crore Drone Deals As Army Powers Up Precision Strikes And Unmanned WarfareAjit Doval Breaks Silence On Operation Sindoor, Reveals PM Modi’s Immediate Response After PahalgamPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic Institutions123PhotostoriesHow did samosa become an Indian favourite despite not originating in India?Crocodiles survived an era that wiped out the dinosaurs: What makes them such unusual survivors?8 foods that attract insects in your kitchen without you realising itHow to remove Rahu’s negative energy according to your birth date5 things parents should never let others do to their child at a social gatheringInside Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash’s opulent Dubai home: Large balconies, a private pool and moreVaani Kapoor goes full maximalist in Mayyur Girotra’s Kutch-embroidered suit, leaving us completely obsessedHimanshi Khurana on battling depression, traumatic childhood and breakup with Asim Riaz over religious differences; says ‘I felt I was betraying God’10 unusual foods from India that tourists are often afraid to try7 Food items naturally rich in vitamin D to add to your diet123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke What you see first reveals your hidden personality traits Four Renaissance masterpieces stolen from Sicily museum in art heist A Maine oyster farm is testing a solar-powered floating conveyor that moves oyster baskets through water and air; one raft is designed for 125,000 oysters a year Doctors strongly challenge the widespread belief that most mothers simply do not produce enough milk. The first thing a mother wants to do after bringing a baby into the world is often the simplest: hold the child close and feed it. But for some newborns, that first feed never comes.Their mothers may be critically ill, separated from them, unable to breastfeed immediately or, in the most heartbreaking cases, no longer alive.For a premature baby weighing just a few hundred grams, however, waiting for circumstances to change is not always an option.This is where another mother can step in.Human milk banks in India are built around a quiet act of generosity: a lactating mother donates milk her own baby does not need, and through a carefully regulated medical system, that milk reaches a newborn whose own mother cannot provide it.”Milk bank helps one mother save the baby of another mother,” said Dr Poonam Sidana, director of neonatology and paediatrics at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi.The idea may sound straightforward. But behind every bottle is a mother who has agreed to share something deeply personal and another family placing its trust in a system to provide their fragile newborn with the safest possible nourishment.When a mother is not thereDr Satish Tiwari, founder and convener of the Human Milk Banking Association of India and professor of paediatrics, has spent decades trying to expand that system.He traces the movement in India to 1989, when the first human milk bank in India and Asia was established at Sion Hospital in Mumbai by Dr Armida Fernandes. By the mid-1990s, Tiwari had begun exploring milk banking while working on maternal and child nutrition and malnutrition.”What we realised was that milk banks are needed not only in Mumbai or Surat or Udaipur, but it is a requirement all over India,” he said.The babies who need donor human milk, he explained, are often those who have been separated from their mothers for reasons beyond anyone’s control.A newborn may be admitted to a NICU at 500g or 700g, born at seven or eight months of gestation and too weak to breastfeed. The mother may have to return home while the baby remains in hospital.”Mother may not be available for months when he is admitted in a neonatal care unit,” Tiwari said.Then there are babies whose mothers have died.”There may be the death of the mother. So the mother herself is not available for the baby,” he said.There are also abandoned newborns and babies whose mothers are temporarily unable to breastfeed.In such situations, the conventional fallback has often been formula or other substitutes. But for a vulnerable premature baby, doctors say human milk can make an important difference.”If you feed on mother’s milk, which is through the milk bank, then the child’s improvement or the child’s outcome as far as his life is concerned becomes much, much better,” Tiwari said.The babies for whom every feed mattersFor premature and low-birth-weight infants, the issue is not simply about calories.Their digestive and immune systems are still developing, making them especially vulnerable to infections and serious complications.Sidana said the strongest evidence for donor human milk is in premature and low-birth-weight infants, particularly in reducing the incidence of necrotising enterocolitis, or NEC, a severe condition that can damage the intestine and, in serious cases, lead to infection and death.”Donor human milk is believed to bring down the incidence of necrotising enterocolitis and some infections more than formula does in premature babies,” she said.Human milk also contains bioactive and immune components that formula cannot replicate.But Sidana is clear about the hierarchy: when a mother can breastfeed her own baby, that remains the ideal.”A mother’s own milk, preferably via breastfeeding, is the best option since it is optimal for her infant and has the required nutrients and immunity that facilitate his or her growth and resistance to infections,” she said.Donor human milk becomes the next option when that first choice is temporarily or permanently unavailable.Dr Sakshi Goel, senior consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at Madhukar Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Delhi, described it as a “transitional or supplemental resource” for newborns at risk.”It should not take away from the importance of establishing and continuing with lactation,” she said.The mother who givesThat distinction is important because milk banks do not exist simply to distribute milk. They also help mothers breastfeed and, when possible, produce enough milk for their own babies.Tiwari strongly challenges the widespread belief that most mothers simply do not produce enough milk.”The concept that mother is not able to make enough milk, basically we feel it is a misconception,” he said.In most cases, he explained, breastfeeding is a physiological process. Difficulties can arise because of delayed initiation, poor positioning, inadequate feeding or the early introduction of formula or bottle feeding.”If we start top milk or powder milk, then the mother’s milk, it goes on decreasing,” he said.That is why milk banks and lactation centres first try to understand why a mother believes she does not have enough milk.”If there is some fault, we try to manage that fault in the feeding,” Tiwari said. “And then we convince the mother that she has more milk as compared to the requirement of her child.”Only when a mother has enough milk for her own baby does the conversation turn to donation.”She cannot only feed her child, but she can also donate the milk,” he said.For many mothers, that can become an unexpectedly emotional decision.They are not donating something abstract. They are expressing, collecting and handing over milk their bodies produced to nourish their own child.But in a regulated system, they know where it is going: to a newborn who needs it.How does a mother donate?The process begins not with a bottle, but with a conversation.Goel said a mother who wants to donate should approach a reputable human milk bank or Comprehensive Lactation Management Centre rather than trying to donate informally.The centre counsels her, reviews her medical history and determines whether she is eligible.”After that, the mother goes through the essential screening and testing and is given instructions on how to express, collect and store her milk,” Goel said.The milk is then collected through the recognised channel and subjected to the necessary processing and safety checks.Tiwari said milk banks initially relied heavily on mothers delivering in the same hospital. But awareness has slowly widened the donor pool.”Now we have that type of mother also,” he said of women who hear about milk banks and voluntarily approach them.Some centres have even begun using milk collection vans to travel between hospitals and homes.There is no commercial transaction involved.”There is no monetary benefit to the mother who is donating,” Tiwari said. “Similarly, we do not charge any mother for getting milk also.””Neither we give money or monetary benefit to the donor nor to the recipient. It is totally voluntary.”That word — voluntary — is central to the idea. A mother is never expected to compromise her own baby’s nourishment. She gives only what is surplus.Medical journey before reaching babyThe emotional generosity of donation is matched by a rigorous safety system.Donors are screened for communicable diseases and other health risks. Their medications are reviewed, as are lifestyle factors that could make the milk unsafe.”We take three or four precautions,” Tiwari said.Mothers are screened for illnesses such as hepatitis B and C and other infections that could potentially be transmitted to a recipient. They are also assessed for medicines that could harm a baby.”If she is on some psychotropic drugs or some anti-cancer drugs or if she is on some habit-forming drugs, then we have to take care of that also,” he said.Smoking and alcohol consumption are also considered.”All these factors are considered, and screening is completed before collecting the mother’s milk,” he said.The donated milk then goes through processing and testing.According to Sidana, India’s standards include Holder pasteurisation, in which milk is heated to 62.5°C for 30 minutes and then rapidly cooled.Samples undergo microbiological testing, and pasteurised milk is released only when cultures do not show bacterial growth.Pasteurisation does mean that donor human milk is not biologically identical to fresh mother’s milk.”Pasteurization processes modify various parts of human milk, especially a number of heat-sensitive enzymes and immune factors,” Sidana said.But, she added, it preserves the nutritional composition and many of the biological qualities of human milk while significantly improving safety.For a highly vulnerable premature baby, that balance matters.Why informal sharing is not the same thingThe instinct to help another mother can be powerful enough to encourage direct sharing through friends, social networks or online groups.But doctors caution against confusing generosity with safety.”A regulated milk bank is run in accordance with a proper medical and quality-control system,” Sidana said.There is donor screening, testing, pasteurisation, storage and traceability.With informal sharing, those safeguards may disappear.”There might be doubts about the health condition of the donor, medications that were taken, how the milk was stored, and whether it comes from the right source or is contaminated,” Sidana said.The warning is particularly important for premature and sick newborns whose immune systems are already fragile.”The problem does not lie in people who generously donate the milk,” she said. “There is a problem of the lack of screening, control over the sources, storage practices, and testing for milk intended for very vulnerable neonates.”More needy babies than donor mothersThe need for donor human milk can be greater than the available supply.Tiwari said many milk banks are still unable to meet the complete requirements of the hospitals where they operate.Goel said there is no reliable real-time evidence pointing to a single nationwide shortage because availability differs considerably between hospitals and regions. But demand can exceed local supply, especially where large numbers of premature or medically fragile newborns are being treated.When that happens, the most vulnerable babies are prioritised.”The main point is fair allocation of resources while at the same time helping mothers with the establishment and maintenance of their own milk supply,” Goel said.This is one reason awareness matters so much.At JIPMER, a July 2025 PIB release noted that the Amudham Thaipaal Maiyam’s average voluntary milk collection had grown from about 400ml a day in its early years to around 1,000ml a day, with at least 20 babies, particularly premature infants, benefiting every day.But Tiwari believes India still has a long way to go.He said his association reaches doctors, medical students and hospitals through conferences, talks and awareness campaigns. NGOs and organisations such as Rotary have also helped with equipment, infrastructure and publicity.”We are doing publicity on media. We are doing mouth-to-mouth publicity by the mother who has received the milk for her baby,” he said.Small act with enormous human meaningHuman milk banking is ultimately a story about mothers.One mother may be sitting beside her own healthy baby, expressing milk her child does not immediately need.In another ward, another mother may be sitting beside an incubator, watching a tiny chest rise and fall and wondering whether her baby will make it through the night.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesTiwari’s message is simple.”Mother’s milk is best for any newborn child,” he said.And for mothers who have more milk than their own babies need, he wants hesitation to give way to awareness.”Most of the mothers, they have more milk as compared to the requirement of her child,” he said. “Mother or the relatives or the grandparent, they should not hesitate in donating the milk.”There is no grand ceremony when a bottle of donor milk leaves a milk bank.It is labelled, tested, pasteurised, stored and eventually carried to a NICU.But inside that bottle is something much larger than milk.It is the generosity of one mother reaching a baby she may never see.And for a newborn who has arrived too soon, whose mother is too ill, or who has lost the person who was meant to feed them, that generosity can become a lifeline.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Will Never Be Forgiven’: Amit Shah Slams Sonia Gandhi; BJP Lodges Complaint Over Vande Mataram RowAir India Express Passenger Booked After Pistol Goes Off At Varanasi Airport During Security Check‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? Viral Vande Mataram Video Sparks Political Firestorm In New DelhiIndia Signs ₹1,577 Crore Drone Deals As Army Powers Up Precision Strikes And Unmanned WarfareAjit Doval Breaks Silence On Operation Sindoor, Reveals PM Modi’s Immediate Response After PahalgamPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic Institutions123PhotostoriesHow did samosa become an Indian favourite despite not originating in India?Crocodiles survived an era that wiped out the dinosaurs: What makes them such unusual survivors?8 foods that attract insects in your kitchen without you realising itHow to remove Rahu’s negative energy according to your birth date5 things parents should never let others do to their child at a social gatheringInside Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash’s opulent Dubai home: Large balconies, a private pool and moreVaani Kapoor goes full maximalist in Mayyur Girotra’s Kutch-embroidered suit, leaving us completely obsessedHimanshi Khurana on battling depression, traumatic childhood and breakup with Asim Riaz over religious differences; says ‘I felt I was betraying God’10 unusual foods from India that tourists are often afraid to try7 Food items naturally rich in vitamin D to add to your diet123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke Inside Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s love story: From fateful on-set encounters to being grandparents Meet Monica White: The woman who thought she’d found love, only to discover her date was a serial killer ‘Going to go back to bed now’: Devdutt Padikkal after career-best 167 in Galle Test New York City has a ‘grave of secrets’ where thousands of people come to share their innermost emotions and why Mines secretary Keshav Chandra sai.d the initial focus will be on lithium and nickel NEW DELHI: Aiming to bring greater transparency to the trading of major minerals and improve price discovery, govt has decided to allow their trading on an exchange, which is likely to become functional by the next financial year.The ministry of mines has notified the rules, and the Indian Bureau of Mines has been appointed the nodal agency and regulator to invite applications from companies willing to run the exchange. The exchange is initially likely to allow trading in some of the major minerals, including iron ore, bauxite, limestone and manganese.The ministry of coal has separately notified rules to set up an exchange for trading in coal and appointed the Coal Controller Organisation as the regulator. The CCO has invited applications from companies to set up an exchange.According to officials, the minerals exchange is expected to improve market access and reduce disputes over quality, pricing and contract terms. The rules require mineral quality to be verified by accredited assaying agencies and provide for market surveillance to check manipulation, cartelisation and insider trading. The exchange will operate through a centralised electronic platform and facilitate physical delivery-based contracts, providing a transparent and competitive mechanism for pricing and mineral supplies, officials said.Separately, govt has planned to set up four dedicated critical minerals processing parks in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy said the four states will provide land and announce incentives for companies to set up processing industries at the critical minerals parks, while the Centre will provide technical support.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesMines secretary Keshav Chandra said the initial focus will be on lithium and nickel, which are crucial for the battery sector. “Batteries are currently the most important component globally for future growth,” he said.The parks will focus on creating element-specific ecosystems and a complete value chain, from processing to downstream industries, at a single location.India is dependent on imports for about 95% of its critical mineral requirements. The Centre announced the National Critical Mineral Mission in 2025 with a financial outlay of Rs 34,300 crore over seven years to promote exploration within the country and at offshore locations.Critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements are essential raw materials for the growth of clean energy technologies.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘Will Never Be Forgiven’: Amit Shah Slams Sonia Gandhi; BJP Lodges Complaint Over Vande Mataram RowAir India Express Passenger Booked After Pistol Goes Off At Varanasi Airport During Security Check‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? Viral Vande Mataram Video Sparks Political Firestorm In New DelhiIndia Signs ₹1,577 Crore Drone Deals As Army Powers Up Precision Strikes And Unmanned WarfareAjit Doval Breaks Silence On Operation Sindoor, Reveals PM Modi’s Immediate Response After PahalgamPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic Institutions123PhotostoriesCrocodiles survived an era that wiped out the dinosaurs: What makes them such unusual survivors?8 foods that attract insects in your kitchen without you realising itHow to remove Rahu’s negative energy according to your birth date5 things parents should never let others do to their child at a social gatheringInside Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash’s opulent Dubai home: Large balconies, a private pool and moreVaani Kapoor goes full maximalist in Mayyur Girotra’s Kutch-embroidered suit, leaving us completely obsessedHimanshi Khurana on battling depression, traumatic childhood and breakup with Asim Riaz over religious differences; says ‘I felt I was betraying God’10 unusual foods from India that tourists are often afraid to try7 Food items naturally rich in vitamin D to add to your dietStop throwing away stale bread: 7 surprisingly useful ways to use it123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke Anurag Kashyap opens up about marrying 20-year-younger girlfriend Shubhra Shetty: ‘I’m very happy to be with her, I don’t want to lose this’ How did samosa become an Indian favourite despite not originating in India? Only nine such butterflies were found in US in 2022; 3 years later, over 1,300 were released South Africa is mining lithium for the green-energy transition; prospecting rights now cover 73,000 hectares, 117 farms and land supporting 30,000 jobs India’s power sector must comply with new cybersecurity rules (AI-generated image) NEW DELHI: Power sector entities will have to ensure that sensitive data, including information hosted on cloud platforms and historical records, is stored in accordance to the new cybersecurity regulations, amid greater reliance on interconnected networks and digital systems, and the need to protect the critical infrastructure from cyber threats.The power sector faces particular risks, as a cyberattack on critical systems can disrupt electricity generation, transmission or distribution, said a power ministry official, adding the sector faced nearly 2 lakh cyberattacks during Operation Sindoor last year, but all attempts were thwarted and the national power system remained operational.The regulations — notified by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) — also require such data to be stored in an encrypted, secure and protected environment. The requirement also extends to vendors, including cloud service providers, handling such data.Central Electricity Authority (Cyber Security in Power Sector) Regulations, 2026, notified recently and which will take effect from April 1 next year, will cover entities that own, operate or manage operational technology (OT) infrastructure associated with interconnected power system along with IT infrastructure physically or logically connected to it.For generating companies, captive generating plants and entities having energy storage systems, the regulations will apply to installations of 50 MW and above.Govt had earlier set up CSIRT-Power at CEA in April 2023 as an extended arm of CERT-In, the national agency for responding to cyber-security incidents, to help utilities detect, respond to and manage cyber incidents.The new regulations require entities to report cyber-security incidents to CSIRT-Power and CERT-In within six hours. An incident determined to be cyber sabotage involving critical systems will have to be reported within 24 hours.Power sector organisations will have to segregate IT and OT systems and ensure that OT equipment and services are procured from trusted sources. Remote operation of OT systems, where necessary, will have to be carried out within India through a dedicated communication channel isolated from the internet.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe regulations also require new critical systems to undergo cybersecurity audits, including vulnerability assessment and penetration testing, before commissioning. Critical and high-risk vulnerabilities found during audits will have to be addressed within one month, while medium- and low-risk vulnerabilities will have to be addressed within three months.Organisations will also have to appoint a chief information security officer (CISO) and alternate CISO, maintain a 24-hour information security function, conduct annual self-audits and maintain cyber-risk assessments, asset registers and incident-response plans.The framework also mandates cyber-security training for personnel involved in operating and maintaining critical systems, besides continuous monitoring of IT and OT systems and periodic cybersecurity exercises.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAir India Express Passenger Booked After Pistol Goes Off At Varanasi Airport During Security Check‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? Viral Vande Mataram Video Sparks Political Firestorm In New DelhiIndia Signs ₹1,577 Crore Drone Deals As Army Powers Up Precision Strikes And Unmanned WarfareAjit Doval Breaks Silence On Operation Sindoor, Reveals PM Modi’s Immediate Response After PahalgamPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing Surge123Photostories8 foods that attract insects in your kitchen without you realising itHow to remove Rahu’s negative energy according to your birth date5 things parents should never let others do to their child at a social gatheringInside Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash’s opulent Dubai home: Large balconies, a private pool and moreVaani Kapoor goes full maximalist in Mayyur Girotra’s Kutch-embroidered suit, leaving us completely obsessedHimanshi Khurana on battling depression, traumatic childhood and breakup with Asim Riaz over religious differences; says ‘I felt I was betraying God’10 unusual foods from India that tourists are often afraid to try7 Food items naturally rich in vitamin D to add to your dietStop throwing away stale bread: 7 surprisingly useful ways to use itLove quote of the day by Maya Angelou: ‘I sustain myself with the love of family’123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke Bizman climbs car bonnet to stop girlfriend leaving with friend, falls to death The rules require applicants to demonstrate financial, managerial and technical capabilities, including arrangements for assured fuel supplies, spent fuel and radioactive waste management, and to meet nuclear liability and decommissioning obligations. NEW DELHI: The government has proposed a detailed licensing and safety framework for expanding atomic power, including insurance or financial security or a combination of both, for nuclear damage, as it seeks to scale clean energy by allowing private and foreign participation in the nuclear sector under the SHANTI Act.The government released the draft SHANTI Rules, 2026 and SHANTI Regulations, 2026, on Friday for public consultation, providing separate but linked frameworks for licensing and safety authorisation. While the Rules deal with licensing of nuclear and related activities, the Regulations set out detailed safety requirements at different stages of a facility’s life.The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, enacted in Dec last year, replaced the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010, providing a new framework for safety, licensing and liability in the nuclear sector.India has set a target of 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, from 8.8 GW currently. The government has also targeted around 22 GW by 2031-32 as part of its Nuclear Energy Mission.Under the proposed Rules, prospective operators can seek an “in-principle approval” even before selecting a site or technology, allowing them to negotiate with reactor technology vendors and acquire land and other infrastructure. The approval would not amount to a final licence and can be revoked on grounds including public interest, national security, public health and safety, or misrepresentation or suppression of material facts.The rules also allow a single composite licence for building, owning, operating and decommissioning nuclear plants. The licence can cover electricity generation, captive generation, hydrogen production, research and other peaceful applications, with captive nuclear power specifically recognised for energy-intensive industries, data centres, semiconductor manufacturing and AI applications.For reactors based on foreign designs, the Rules require the design to be approved or certified by the regulatory authority in the country of origin and the reactor to be operational either there or in another foreign country. The country of origin must have a self-reliant nuclear reactor design and supply-chain ecosystem and globally trusted regulatory approvals.The rules require the licensee to obtain design approval and safety authorisation from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for siting, construction, commissioning, operation and decommissioning. The Regulations provide for detailed safety checks, including examination of plant design, accident analysis, safety systems, site characteristics, radiological impact, emergency preparedness, waste management and security.Before a plant gets operating authorisation, it will have to submit commissioning results, safety reports, technical specifications, radiation protection and emergency plans, besides obtaining waste authorisation.The rules require applicants to demonstrate financial, managerial and technical capabilities, including arrangements for assured fuel supplies, spent fuel and radioactive waste management, and to meet nuclear liability and decommissioning obligations. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesOperators will have to maintain insurance or financial security, or a combination of both, for nuclear damage, with the financial security remaining in place until spent fuel is removed from the relevant storage pool.The rules also provide for a Nuclear Liability Fund, to be funded through a levy on operators. The Centre will review the maximum limits of an operator’s civil liability for nuclear damage every five years through an expert group.Uranium and thorium mining, however, remains restricted, with mining above government-notified thresholds limited to state entities nominated under existing mining rules.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAir India Express Passenger Booked After Pistol Goes Off At Varanasi Airport During Security Check‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? Viral Vande Mataram Video Sparks Political Firestorm In New DelhiIndia Signs ₹1,577 Crore Drone Deals As Army Powers Up Precision Strikes And Unmanned WarfareAjit Doval Breaks Silence On Operation Sindoor, Reveals PM Modi’s Immediate Response After PahalgamPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing Surge123Photostories8 foods that attract insects in your kitchen without you realising itHow to remove Rahu’s negative energy according to your birth date5 things parents should never let others do to their child at a social gatheringInside Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash’s opulent Dubai home: Large balconies, a private pool and moreVaani Kapoor goes full maximalist in Mayyur Girotra’s Kutch-embroidered suit, leaving us completely obsessedHimanshi Khurana on battling depression, traumatic childhood and breakup with Asim Riaz over religious differences; says ‘I felt I was betraying God’10 unusual foods from India that tourists are often afraid to try7 Food items naturally rich in vitamin D to add to your dietStop throwing away stale bread: 7 surprisingly useful ways to use itLove quote of the day by Maya Angelou: ‘I sustain myself with the love of family’123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke Aug 16, 2026, 18:38 IST India 460/9 at stumps on Day 2 as Devdutt Padikkal’s 167 headlines rain-hit Test in Galle A rare Australian plant last recorded in 1967 has been found alive in remote Queensland after nearly six decades Actor Ananya Raj, known for ‘Ghost’ and ‘Thaggede Le’, passes away at 27 BJP MLA Sumitro Chatterjee, a descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi over ‘Vande Matram’ row NEW DELHI: The row over the full rendition of Vande Mataram at the Congress headquarters on Independence Day acquired a Bankim Chandra connection on, with BJP’s Naihati MLA Sumitro Chatterjee, a direct descendant of the national song’s author, writing to Sonia Gandhi on Saturday and demanding an unconditional apology to the country, particularly West Bengal.The controversy erupted after a video from the Congress’s August 15 function showed Sonia gesturing and speaking to party president Mallikarjun Kharge while the full version of Vande Mataram was being sung. BJP leaders alleged she was trying to have the rendition stopped after the opening stanzas. Congress rejected the charge, saying Sonia was only asking that a chair be brought for Kharge, who had been standing for some time.In his letter in Hindi, Chatterjee said the episode had left him with “deep pain, emptiness and anguish”, alleging that Sonia’s “physical gestures” reflected “unease, impatience and repeated attempts to stop” the song. He said the reaction hurt him not only as a citizen but as a direct descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesInvoking the song’s place in the freedom movement, Chatterjee referred to Sri Aurobindo, Khudiram Bose, Bipin Chandra Pal and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and said generations of freedom fighters had rallied around Vande Mataram.“Vande Mataram is not the ancestral property of any political party. It is the collective memory of the nation, Bankim Chandra’s eternal legacy and a sacred national symbol sanctified by the blood and sacrifice of lakhs of martyrs,” he wrote.Chatterjee also pointed to the full six-stanza rendition in Lok Sabha on August 13, attended by leaders from both government and Opposition, and asked why there should be “hesitation and discomfort” over the same song at the Congress headquarters. He sought an “unconditional and public apology” from Sonia.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.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 MediaVideosAir India Express Passenger Booked After Pistol Goes Off At Varanasi Airport During Security Check‘Derogatory’: PM Modi’s ‘Dimaagi Naxals’ Remark Triggers Row; Congress, CJP, Left Parties Hit BackActivist Devendra Mahto Stopped From Tiranga March As Jharkhand Student Protest Escalates On I-Day‘Came From The Top’: Mahua Moitra Alleges Late-Night Pressure, Seeks Speaker Om Birla’s InterventionDid Congress Leaders Signal Stop? Viral Vande Mataram Video Sparks Political Firestorm In New DelhiIndia Signs ₹1,577 Crore Drone Deals As Army Powers Up Precision Strikes And Unmanned WarfareAjit Doval Breaks Silence On Operation Sindoor, Reveals PM Modi’s Immediate Response After PahalgamPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing SurgeRahul Gandhi, Kharge Skip Red Fort Event Again As Congress Flags Threats To Democratic InstitutionsPM Modi From Red Fort: India’s Self-Reliance Push, Semiconductor Boom And Manufacturing Surge123Photostories8 foods that attract insects in your kitchen without you realising itHow to remove Rahu’s negative energy according to your birth date5 things parents should never let others do to their child at a social gatheringInside Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash’s opulent Dubai home: Large balconies, a private pool and moreVaani Kapoor goes full maximalist in Mayyur Girotra’s Kutch-embroidered suit, leaving us completely obsessedHimanshi Khurana on battling depression, traumatic childhood and breakup with Asim Riaz over religious differences; says ‘I felt I was betraying God’10 unusual foods from India that tourists are often afraid to try7 Food items naturally rich in vitamin D to add to your dietStop throwing away stale bread: 7 surprisingly useful ways to use itLove quote of the day by Maya Angelou: ‘I sustain myself with the love of family’123Hot PicksMartin Luther King JrRajasthan UCCDelhi trafficJharkhand protestEast Coast Railway GDCE recruitmentMP Class 10, 12 timetableIran warKarnataka bandhUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingPM ModiCM VijayBengaluru Namma MetroAsish BanerjeeManan KumarVirender Singh BasoyaJP NaddaWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoAbhijeet Dipke Aug 16, 2026, 17:53 IST