VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Libra Horoscope Today, August 29, 2026: Engaging day ahead; meaningful conversations open doors to love and success Power reversal: Nepal may import from India The panel, headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, was announced by PM Modi last month. NEW DELHI: The high-powered task force set up by Centre to overhaul India’s public examination system opened a nationwide consultation on Friday, seeking suggestions from students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders on making high-stakes tests more secure, transparent and student-friendly.The panel, headed by Infosys co-founder and technology expert Nandan Nilekani, was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month amid heightened scrutiny of the examination system following NEET-UG paper leak controversy and youth protests over alleged lapses in the test’s conduct.The announcement had come a day after Centre accepted the demands raised by the youth-led CJP, whose protests over NEET leak included calls for then education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and withdrawal of FIRs against protesters. “The High-Powered Task Force (HPTF) on Reforms in Public Examinations wants to hear from students, parents, teachers — every citizen,” a senior official said on Friday.The task force’s mandate “to examine and recommend comprehensive reforms relating to conduct, security, design and governance of public examinations, including examinations conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA), the ministry of personnel said. HPTF, which seeks “to benefit from the experience, knowledge and perspectives of stakeholders”, said the suggestions may dwell on the conduct and security of public exams as well as the examination design and assessment methodology.Stakeholders may give inputs on better governance, accountability and institutional arrangements; as also systems to prevent, detect and redress examination malpractices, the ministry said. The public consultation will remain open till Sept 13, with citizens allowed to send suggestions through WhatsApp, a dedicated website, email and a toll-free number.Officials said the task force is examining reforms across the examination chain — from institutional processes and question-paper security to use of technology and strengthening of examination infrastructure.It will also look at measures to improve accessibility and inclusion, while factoring in student well-being during the examination process.“The objective is to develop a public examination system that is robust, secure, transparent, equitable and future-ready,” the official said. The exercise assumes significance after repeated controversies surrounding national-level entrance and eligibility examinations raised questions over paper security, examination management and the ability of testing agencies to respond quickly to irregularities.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines Apart from Nilekani, the task force includes former Isro chairperson S Somanath, former Intelligence bureau director Tapan Deka, IIT Madras director V Kamakoti, former education secretary Anita Karwal and logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena.The panel is expected to recommend both immediate safeguards and longer-term structural changes in the way public examinations are designed, administered and secured.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch’Willing & Keen’: Penguin Random House Denies Dropping Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir Over Editorial ChangesGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In Focus123Photostories10 vintage baby girl names that still sound fresh todayJungkook style evolution: From bold eyeliner to quiet luxury, how BTS’ star transformed his fashion5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash National Testing Agency gets three senior officers amid exam overhaul CJI Surya Kant said clean energy push unfair on developing nations NEW DELHI: CJI Surya Kant Friday told Commonwealth countries it was unfair that industrialised nations, who took two centuries to adopt clean energy, were asking nations in the process of industrialisation to move towards renewable energy within decades.Speaking at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, CJI Kant said, “Countries that are finally industrialising are being asked to move rapidly towards renewable power, and are often made to bear the brunt of criticism when they cannot move fast enough.”“The challenge, therefore, is to reconcile the urgency of the clean energy transition with the principles of fairness and shared responsibility that must underpin it,” the CJI said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch’Willing & Keen’: Penguin Random House Denies Dropping Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir Over Editorial ChangesGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In Focus123Photostories10 vintage baby girl names that still sound fresh todayJungkook style evolution: From bold eyeliner to quiet luxury, how BTS’ star transformed his fashion5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash Nashville airport to be renamed after Dolly Parton, Tennessee’s governor announces days after singer’s demise Road transport ministry plans to tighten norms for e-cycles & e-bikes with max speed of 25kmph and motor power below 600 watt. NEW DELHI: The road transport ministry has proposed to tighten technical and safety norms for low-speed electric cycles and e-bikes with a maximum speed of 25 kmph and motor power below 600 watts. Manufacturers of these would have to get vehicles certified by authorised testing agencies before they can qualify for exemption from the Motor Vehicles Act to be treated as “motor vehicle”.At present, electric two-wheelers that have motor power below 250 watts are not treated as “motor vehicles” and hence don’t need registration. This definition is now being expanded to vehicles that have motor power up to 600 watts, which officials said is “realistic”.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesAll these vehicles will be required to use only lithium-ion batteries instead of lead-acid batteries.As per draft amendments to Central Motor Vehicles Rules, such vehicles will have to be fitted with “suitable brakes and retro-reflective devices” for visibility. The draft notification said for pedal-assisted electric bicycles, the motor assistance must progressively reduce and cut off once the vehicle reaches 25 kmph or when the rider stops pedalling.The proposal is significant considering that low-speed electric two-wheelers have witnessed rapid growth as affordable urban mobility options, but many models have operated with limited regulatory oversight.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch’Willing & Keen’: Penguin Random House Denies Dropping Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir Over Editorial ChangesGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In Focus123Photostories10 vintage baby girl names that still sound fresh todayJungkook style evolution: From bold eyeliner to quiet luxury, how BTS’ star transformed his fashion5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash Las Vegas Valley converted 250 million sq ft of lawn to save water, saving 203 billion gallons; researchers found turf removal can raise summer land-surface temperatures about 20°C An aerial view of damaged structures covered in thick mud and debris following the flash floods at Devighat in Nepal’s Nuwakot NEW DELHI: The Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) disaster in Nepal Wednesday has renewed discussion on India’s own strategy and preparedness to mitigate such risk with the presence of approximately 200 high-risk glacial lakes in the Himalayan regions.According to govt’s survey of these glacial lakes, Himalayan ranges are host to as many as 7,500 of them – with 10% in Sikkim and of which 25 are considered very high-risk. The study found 4,700 of these glacial lakes situated in Ganga river basin with a catchment area estimated at over 2.5 lakh sqkm, projecting a colossal scale of devastation a single breach could cause.India suffered one of the worst GLOF disasters in recent times when on Oct 3, 2023, glacial rocks of 14.7 cubic meter collapsed in South Lhonak Lake in Sikkim, close to midnight, “generating a 20-m high displacement wave”, wiping out several hydro power assets and settlements on its way downstream.Krishna Vatsa, member of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), said the Nepal event illustrates a new dimension of Himalayan disaster risk, though the precise sequence of events is still being scientifically established. “These are cascading hazards: an ice or rock failure can become a debris flow, create a temporary lake and then generate a flash flood. Such events can develop extremely rapidly and may provide very little warning time downstream.””India’s National GLOF Risk Mitigation Programme has marked 195 at-risk glacial lakes and follows five key priorities (assessment, monitoring, early warning, mitigation, community awareness). It needs to be speeded up and scaled up immediately as a priority for national security,” said Syed Safi Ahsan Rizvi, an ex-NDMA member.As a response to the Sikkim disaster, Centre had set up a high-level coordination committee on GLOF disaster risk reduction. The initiative, spearheaded by PM’s principal secretary PK Mishra, was tasked to host multi-agency deliberations and surveys of such lakes and identify the high-risk ones. Govt also allocated Rs 150 crore for the National GLOF Risk Mitigation Programme for four Himalayan states having high-risk glacial lakes.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe first meeting of the coordination committee on DRR was held in Nov 2024, when PM’s principal secretary expressing his satisfaction on the group’s “tri-focal lens: assessment, monitoring, and mitigation”. The committee hosted regular meetings and received feedback, which were then formed as part of joint strategy between states and Centre. However, not much is known on follow up actions.Earlier, govt had claimed that multi-agency expeditions were conducted to assess all “A-category” lakes. The teams comprised scientists and officials from NDMA, Central Water Commission, Geological Survey of India, Centre for Development of Advance Computing, ITBP and the Army.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch’Willing & Keen’: Penguin Random House Denies Dropping Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir Over Editorial ChangesGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In Focus123Photostories10 vintage baby girl names that still sound fresh todayJungkook style evolution: From bold eyeliner to quiet luxury, how BTS’ star transformed his fashion5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash Leo Horoscope Today, August 29, 2026: Experiences a surge of support and proposals; family and alliances bring positivity Who is Milo Yiannopoulos, far-right British commentator, detained by ICE? Former Trump supporter faces deportation FSSAI agrees to red hexagonal warning labels on junk food packages for high salt, sugar and fat content. NEW DELHI: Junk foods will soon carry warning labels highlighting high levels of salt, sugar and fat, with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) telling Supreme Court on Friday that it has agreed to red-coloured hexagonal warnings on the front of food packages to help consumers identify products high in specified nutrients of concern.FSSAI conveyed its position through a compliance affidavit filed before Supreme Court in response to the court’s Aug 13 order on front-of-pack labelling (FoPL).The move comes after the court pushed Centre to act on the issue, saying, “If the Union does it on its own, well and good, otherwise we shall proceed to pass further directions.”Under the framework, products high in specified nutrients would carry prominent red hexagonal warnings reading “HIGH FAT”, “HIGH SALT” and/or “HIGH SUGAR”, as applicable.FSSAI has agreed to exempt single-ingredient foods such as ghee, edible oil, salt, sugar, jaggery and honey from the proposed warnings, subject to applicable food safety and labelling regulations.The regulator has agreed to implement FoPL in phases, giving the industry time to reformulate products. Phase I would cover products high in two or more specified nutrients, while Phase II would extend warnings to products high in any one specified nutrient.Do warning labels work?The framework is based on nutrient thresholds specified under the Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, issued by ICMR-NIN. The affidavit follows the Supreme Court’s observations on public health, particularly amid concerns over the rising prevalence of childhood obesity. The court said front-of-pack labelling could help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe case stems from a PIL filed by NGO 3S and Our Health Society, which approached Supreme Court through advocate Rajiv Shankar Dwivedi, seeking front-of-pack labelling to help consumers make informed choices.FSSAI said the system is intended to provide a “simple, prominent and easily comprehensible warning” to consumers about food products high in specified nutrients of concern. It also cited international examples, including Chile and Canada, where front-of-pack labelling has been adopted.Supreme Court had considered options including coloured indicators, interpretative words, numbers, letters, symbols and percentages for front-of-pack labelling and directed Centre to take a decision and place it on record.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.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 MediaVideosB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch’Willing & Keen’: Penguin Random House Denies Dropping Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir Over Editorial ChangesGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In Focus123Photostories10 vintage baby girl names that still sound fresh todayJungkook style evolution: From bold eyeliner to quiet luxury, how BTS’ star transformed his fashion5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash Cancer Horoscope Today, August 29, 2026: Tough day ahead; focus on self-care and communication to ease tensions Quote of the day by Michael Jordan: “You must expect great things of yourself before…” – a powerful reminder that great achievements begin with self-belief | World News At least 105 Indian tourists are among 384 travellers reported missing after flash floods swept through Nepal’s Rasuwa district, which borders Tibet Waves of distressing visuals and reports from flood-hit Nepal have spooked travellers, upended puja and winter holiday plans, sparked cancellations and left tour operators counting losses. Nepal is popular among Indian travellers for its affordability, proximity, cultural links and appeal as the first international destination.Kolkata businessman Naresh Parnani was to fly to Kathmandu next week for a six-day vacation with his elderly mother and children. The family has instead decided to travel to Dubai.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesA Darjeeling couple had planned a 15-day trip to Mansarovar via Kerung in Sept. The Rs 4.4-lakh tour package included permits for entering Tibet. They cancelled the trip after watching videos of Kerung being swept away. Kolkata travel agents Anil Punjabi and Anjani Dhanuka had furrowed brows over rising cancellations even as many sought updates on the safety of other Nepal destinations like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Patan and Lumbini.Ripples of anxiety also coursed through Jharkhand. Travel agencies reported 60-70% cancellations for late Sept and Oct. “Families do not want to risk safety,” Ranchi tour operator Amit Roy said. In Bihar, the number of tourists travelling to Kathmandu and Pokhara via Janakpur dropped to zero in the past two days. “Roads are impassable, forcing us to cancel bookings,” Sanjeev Kumar, of Bharat-Nepal Maitri Sewa bus, said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch’Willing & Keen’: Penguin Random House Denies Dropping Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir Over Editorial ChangesGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In Focus123Photostories10 vintage baby girl names that still sound fresh todayJungkook style evolution: From bold eyeliner to quiet luxury, how BTS’ star transformed his fashion5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash In 2024, a Minnesota dairy began turning manure from more than 2,000 cows into renewable gas; the project can produce up to 480,000 gasoline-gallon equivalents a year Gemini Horoscope Today, August 29, 2026: Affection blossoms in relationships; educational efforts yield positive results Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry’s foundation changes the lives of over 7,500 Oakland students through literacy programs ‘Frustrated’ with childcare, Faridabad woman slits 2-year-old’s throat; arrested Taurus Horoscope Today, August 29, 2026: Experiences a day of approval and pressure; navigate relationships and financial choices wisely Common mistakes to avoid while choosing the right housing scheme for you Harmeet Dhillon reacts to Ankit Gupta-YC controversy: American employers cannot discriminate against US citizens NC MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi announces resignation from Lok Sabha and party after Farooq Abdullah’s public dare to contest on his own. SRINAGAR: National Conference’s Srinagar MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi announced Friday that he would resign from both Lok Sabha and the party, taking up patriarch Farooq Abdullah’s public dare to quit and contest an election on his own instead of criticising the brass repeatedly over its alleged dilution of the campaign for restoration of Article 370.Mehdi said he would formally send his resignation to LS Speaker Om Birla on Nov 3, coinciding with the 26th death anniversary of his father Aga Syed Mehdi, who was killed by terrorists.In a letter to Farooq, who remains NC president, Mehdi flagged what he sees as a dichotomy in the party’s stand on constitutional guarantees for the region. “I remember that you were the chief minister of the very assembly that passed the autonomy resolution. That, too, must have required courage. Why, then, has the mere mention of constitutional guarantees for Jammu & Kashmir now become so offensive that you felt compelled to publicly demand my resignation?”The MP described Article 370, struck off on Aug 5, 2019, as part of the decision to revoke J&K’s special status, as “shorthand for the struggle to restore the dignity, honour, constitutional guarantees and liberties” of Kashmiris.“Nearly 65% of J&K’s population is young, and their future is increasingly uncertain, with no jobs and opportunities. Our land is up for grabs. Our resources benefit everybody but us. Our religious rights, traditions and language face constant pressure,” Mehdi wrote.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe MP has been increasingly critical of CM Omar Abdullah and NC for allegedly narrowing their fight to statehood and business rules for governance. Although a member of the party’s working committee, he hasn’t been part of crucial meetings.His rift with the party deepened after Dec 23, 2024, when he led a large student protest outside Omar’s Gupkar residence against the UT’s reservation policy. Omar engaged five student representatives in a long discussion but ignored Mehdi.Earlier this week, Farooq said Mehdi would not have won the parliamentary election without NC and accused him of trying to project himself as a powerful votary of Article 370 while being “on the wrong path”.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch’Willing & Keen’: Penguin Random House Denies Dropping Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir Over Editorial ChangesGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In Focus123Photostories10 vintage baby girl names that still sound fresh todayJungkook style evolution: From bold eyeliner to quiet luxury, how BTS’ star transformed his fashion5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash ‘It looked like a tsunami’: 21 Nepal flash flood survivors arrive in Chennai, recount horror Ladakh LG welcomes President’s nod for High Court bench in UT, calls it historic step for easier access to justice. SRINAGAR: Ladakh’s Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena Friday hailed the decision to set up a bench of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in the union territory.President Droupadi Murmu’s has given her nod for the bench and the notification to this effect was published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary on Aug 27, 2026.“The notification within just seven days of the Union Cabinet’s announcement reflects the Govt of India’s commitment to addressing the long-standing aspirations of the people of Ladakh,” Saxena said.The cabinet decision was taken on Aug 20.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines“I express my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji and Home Minister Amit Shah for this historic step towards bringing the High Court closer to the people of Ladakh,” the LG said.He said for a geographically challenging region like Ladakh, access to justice cannot be separated from physical accessibility. “This decision will substantially ease the difficulties faced by our people in accessing higher judicial remedies and will strengthen their faith in our justice delivery system. It is an important step towards ensuring that the people of Ladakh have easier, faster and more accessible access to justice.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch’Willing & Keen’: Penguin Random House Denies Dropping Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir Over Editorial ChangesGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In Focus123Photostories10 vintage baby girl names that still sound fresh todayJungkook style evolution: From bold eyeliner to quiet luxury, how BTS’ star transformed his fashion5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash Updated: Aug 29, 2026, 00:32 IST Aries Horoscope Today, August 29, 2026: Today’s investments can pay off: you are advised to approach finances with careful planning Travis Kelce turns childhood nostalgia into a $200 million business move with investment inspired by his Ohio upbringing Excavations for the second phase of the 2,000-year-old Buddhist site at Zehanpora in Baramulla to begin on Saturday ZEHANPORA (BARAMULLA): Excavations will begin Saturday on the second phase of Zehanpora, a Buddhist site in north Kashmir’s Baramulla. J&K chief secretary Atal Dullo will inaugurate the project.The presence of a 2,000-year-old Buddhist civilisation at the site was discovered last year by Mohamad Ajmal Shah, a professor at University of Kashmir. It gained prominence after PM Narendra Modi mentioned it during his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat on Dec 28 last year.The Prime Minister recalled that people had noticed tall mounds in Zehanpora for years without knowing about their significance. What were first believed to be unusual rock formations were later found to resemble three Buddha stupas seen in photos in a French museum.According to Modi, the blurred photos, thousands of kilometres away, proved crucial as it showed three Buddhist stupas, helping archaeologists connect the dots and reconstruct Kashmir’s ancient past. The discovery reaffirms J&K’s rich cultural legacy.It all began in Oct 2023 when Shah was on a fellowship in France and came across the 100-odd old photos at Guimet Museum showing stupa domes in Baramulla. “I immediately realised I had visited the site. What struck me was the domes in the photos looked much larger than what we see now,” said Shah, attached to the varsity’s department of Central Asian Studies.Later, Shah requested J&K govt’s department of archaeology to fund the project and it agreed. Shah and his team started digging in Nov last year, initially discovering a hall identified as an apsidal (semi-circular) stupa.Shah and his team also found iron/copper artefacts, needles, decorated objects and other materials. “We identified wall alignments through drone images and excavated precisely at those points. There is a strong possibility that many structures and artefacts still lie preserved beneath the ground,” Shah said.Shah highlighted the possibility that the site was linked to the Fourth Buddhist Council (1st century CE). “Kashmir was a major centre of Buddhism in ancient times. It was here that Hinayana Buddhism evolved into Mahayana Buddhism, giving the religion a new philosophical and cultural form,” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesShah pointed out that the Chinese explorer Hiuen Tsang had mentioned Baramulla in his travel accounts. According to Shah, Tsang spent a night at Uskur, a Buddhist site near Baramulla town and visited several monasteries in the area. “This suggests Tsang must have visited the monastery at Zehanpora as well,” Shah said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch’Willing & Keen’: Penguin Random House Denies Dropping Sonia Gandhi’s Memoir Over Editorial ChangesGovt Taps EIL For Quality Checks On 5,000 Km Of Road Projects After Modi’s ‘4th-Party Audit’ Jibe469 Dead In Nepal Floods; 3 Bodies Found In Uttar Pradesh; Kathmandu Declines Foreign Rescue TeamsCongress Alleges ₹36,000 Crore ‘Sugar Scam’, Slams Modi Govt Over Festive Price RisePM Modi’s Central Asia Visit: SCO Summit, Uzbekistan Ties, Putin Meet In Focus123Photostories10 vintage baby girl names that still sound fresh todayJungkook style evolution: From bold eyeliner to quiet luxury, how BTS’ star transformed his fashion5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? Cardiologist reveals 5 home BP mistakes that can alter readings123Hot PicksNepal floodUPTET Result 2026Sunny LeoneKerala name changeRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderNEET PG 2026 admit cardTop TrendingAnkit Balyan MurderChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash Updated: Aug 29, 2026, 00:32 IST CNG price hiked by Rs 3.89/kg in Delhi-NCR amid rising LNG cost Jason Arday plagiarism accuser Nathan Cofnas faced doubts over expertise, ‘far-right agenda’ at Ghent | World News IGL has raised CNG prices in Delhi-NCR by Rs 3.89 per kg NEW DELHI: Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has raised CNG prices in Delhi-NCR by Rs 3.89 per kg amid rising import costs of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Effective Saturday, CNG will cost Rs 86.98 per kg in the capital.This is the fifth increase in CNG prices this year, and the first since May, when IGL raised prices by a total of Rs 6 per kg in four phases over a period of 10 days due to a global rise in energy prices amid the West Asia conflict.CNG is now priced at Rs 95.59 per kg in Noida and Ghaziabad, Rs 95.47 per kg in Meerut, and Rs 92.01 per kg in Gurugram. Like petrol and diesel, CNG prices vary across states due to different value-added tax structures. Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesRising CNG prices have impacted freight and passenger fares in Delhi-NCR, where a majority of auto-rickshaws, taxis and goods carriers run on the cleaner fuel.Sources said LNG prices have doubled globally since July this year compared with the pre-conflict period, due to the re-escalation of the West Asia crisis affecting cargo movements through the Strait of Hormuz. The Asia-JKM LNG benchmark has increased from nearly $11 per million British thermal units (MMBTU) in Feb this year to $23.4 in Aug, while the European TTF gas benchmark has also surged from about $11.3 per MMBTU to $23.3 per MMBTU.With the approaching winter season, Europe is storing large quantities of LNG, leading to a spike in prices.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.Here are more Raksha Bandhan wishes, Bhadra kaal and Shubh Muhurat from The Times of India.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 MediaPhotostories10 vintage baby girl names that still sound fresh todayJungkook style evolution: From bold eyeliner to quiet luxury, how BTS’ star transformed his fashion5 jewellery styling mistakes to avoid with traditional festive outfitsLock Upp 2 fame Akanksha Chamola’s luxurious Mumbai home: Elegant interiors, cosy living room and beautiful mandirH1N1 Or COVID-19? Symptoms may look the same, but the diagnosis can mean a very different treatment approachMakeup not lasting all day? Here’s why your base melts by noonThe ‘ick’ explained: 7 reasons attraction between partners can suddenly disappear (and how to bring the spark back)5 reasons people pull away even when they have feelings7 signs you like the idea of a romantic relationship more than your partnerCuff too tight, legs crossed or talking? 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