VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Leo Horoscope Today, August 9, 2026: Invest with patience, and make time for one joyful outing with loved ones US Vice President JD Vance calls PM Modi to discuss boosting ties After bringing all crew members into the ‘citadel’, the master of the Golden Arsenal sought help from the Indian Navy, which responded swiftly to the distress call (Representative image) NEW DELHI: On July 1, an attack by pirates on an India-bound bulk carrier, Golden Arsenal, in the Gulf of Aden was foiled after the captain moved all crew members, including an Indian seafarer, into the vessel’s “citadel” and sought assistance from the Indian Navy.A citadel is a fortified safe room with essential supplies such as food and water, as well as communication equipment, where crew members can take refuge during a pirate attack. The pirates failed to breach the citadel and eventually fled the vessel.Sharing this incident at the National Port Security Conference this week, Captain Vikram Singh Manhas, deputy nautical adviser at DGMA (maritime regulator), urged all crew members and masters to remain vigilant and follow preventive measures prescribed under best management practices (BMP), amid a rise in piracy incidents.Four vessels are held hostage by Somali pirates at present, three of which have Indian crew members aboard.One of the vessels has one Indian seafarer, while the other two have five and 11 Indian crew, respectively.Highlighting the significance of prevention in such cases, Manhas said that once a vessel is held by pirates, everything is dependent upon the negotiations with the pirates and that the government is working to ensure the safe release of Indian seafarers.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIn the direction of ensuring their safety, the government is set to launch a dashboard on August 15 to track every Indian seafarer on any ship. Additionally, shipping and ports minister Sarbananda Sonowal Saturday launched e-Samudra, a digital platform integrating services for seafarers, shipping companies, ports and other maritime stakeholders, and said, “Every Indian seafarer must be safe, respected and supported as India strengthens its position as a global maritime power.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP ProtestsKashmir Tourist Security To Get Major Upgrade With CCTV, Command Centres And Security AuditsUS Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill, India Faces Potential 100% Tariff Over Russian Oil Purchases’Did We Fail To Listen’: Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’JPSC Protest Enters Day 14: Students Demand Exam Cancellation, CBI Probe After First Talks With Govt123PhotostoriesHow Sridevi turned the chiffon saree into Bollywood’s most iconic fashion statement10 unique baby girl names inspired by rare and lesser-known flowersFrom pig trotters to sprouting mushrooms: 5 bizarre luxury shoes breaking the internetOptical illusion personality test: What you spot first says everything about your hidden desiresRed or white patch in your mouth that won’t go away? Doctor explains the warning signs you should not ignore10 best monsoon snacks to enjoy on rainy daysFrom tiny forest jewels to giant river hunters: 12 kingfishers species to spot in IndiaDelhi must stay ahead of dengue this monsoon: Why rain, stagnant water and delayed diagnosis can turn a seasonal threat serious5 things stylish women always remove from their closetsDia Mirza’s mother’s maroon Banarasi saree is a generational love letter that fast fashion could never match123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingJapanese Quote of the dayNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeGujarat Mystery WellJPSC ProtestDelhi RainDelhi Wife MurderEknath ShindeTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case Scorpio Horoscope Today, August 9, 2026: Students should stay grounded and not let one bad result spoil the whole day Government appoints 30 judges to high courts of Calcutta, MP, Karnataka, Madras The Airbus A320 with 145 people on board had encountered severe turbulence near Odisha and then suddenly dropped 300 feet. NEW DELHI: The captain operating Air India’s turbulence-hit Phuket-Delhi flight on Tuesday (Aug 4) reportedly tested positive in a psychoactive substances (dope) test conducted on arrival, according to multiple sources. The airline did not confirm or deny it, saying that while the tests were conducted, the results have not been shared with it.“We are aware that a post-flight screening test was conducted on the pilots in accordance with applicable protocols. However, the results of the test have not been shared with Air India, and we are therefore not in a position to comment on any findings,” an AI spokesperson said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines“Air India undertakes regular drug testing of crew members in compliance with civil aviation regulations, independent of any specific flight or operational incident. We will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities as required,” AI added.The Airbus A320 with 145 people on board had encountered severe turbulence near Odisha and then suddenly dropped 300 feet. On arrival in Delhi, 13 passengers and four crew members were hospitalised. Sources say the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing the case from all angles, including whether the handling of this turbulence event was correct. It is also probing whether the event happened due to weather or some other reason, the likely impact on the aircraft — like did it suffer hydraulic failure due to impact — and whether it should have flown all the way to Delhi after the episode and not diverted to some nearby airport like Varanasi or Lucknow.Pending investigation, the flight crew is taken off flying duty as per protocol. Hence, the pilots of this flight are also not flying currently.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP ProtestsKashmir Tourist Security To Get Major Upgrade With CCTV, Command Centres And Security AuditsUS Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill, India Faces Potential 100% Tariff Over Russian Oil Purchases’Did We Fail To Listen’: Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’JPSC Protest Enters Day 14: Students Demand Exam Cancellation, CBI Probe After First Talks With Govt123PhotostoriesHow Sridevi turned the chiffon saree into Bollywood’s most iconic fashion statement10 unique baby girl names inspired by rare and lesser-known flowersFrom pig trotters to sprouting mushrooms: 5 bizarre luxury shoes breaking the internetOptical illusion personality test: What you spot first says everything about your hidden desiresRed or white patch in your mouth that won’t go away? Doctor explains the warning signs you should not ignore10 best monsoon snacks to enjoy on rainy daysFrom tiny forest jewels to giant river hunters: 12 kingfishers species to spot in IndiaDelhi must stay ahead of dengue this monsoon: Why rain, stagnant water and delayed diagnosis can turn a seasonal threat serious5 things stylish women always remove from their closetsDia Mirza’s mother’s maroon Banarasi saree is a generational love letter that fast fashion could never match123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingJapanese Quote of the dayNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeGujarat Mystery WellJPSC ProtestDelhi RainDelhi Wife MurderEknath ShindeTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case Proposed MDR for UPI transactions will be nominal, says government The scorecard concludes that, on average, countries are “moving away” from the public education expenditure benchmarks of at least 4% of GDP or 15% of total public expenditure. NEW DELHI: India remains just above Unesco’s minimum GDP benchmark for education, but the sector’s share in government spending has slipped below the prescribed threshold. Education accounts for 4.1% of GDP but 14.2% of total public expenditure, down from 15.7% in 2015 and below the 15% benchmark, Unesco’s 2026 SDG 4 scorecard has shown.The funding picture assumes significance because India continues to lag on secondary school completion. Its latest lower secondary (Classes VI-VIII) completion rate is 86% as against its 99% national benchmark for 2025, while upper secondary (Classes IX-XII) completion rate is 51% as against 84%. Unesco classifies progress at both levels as slow.Under the Education 2030 framework, countries committed to spending 4-6% of GDP and/or 15-20% of public expenditure on education. The scorecard uses the lower thresholds as minimum benchmarks. India meets one. Its spending on education has remained at 4.1% of GDP since 2015, but its share of public expenditure has declined 1.5 percentage points to 14.2%.Among major emerging economies, China too meets one benchmark, at 4% of GDP (11.9% of public spending), while figures for Brazil are 5.6% and 12.9%. South Africa meets both, at 6% and 19.1%, while Indonesia, Bangladesh and Pakistan meet neither.The pattern is common among developed economies too: the US, UK, Germany and France meet the GDP threshold but not the public expenditure benchmark, while Sweden and Switzerland meet both.Unesco noted that richer countries tend to meet the GDP benchmark but not the public expenditure threshold because they raise more revenue, while education often accounts for a larger share of budgets in poorer countries.Latest data show 39 of 205 countries, or 19%, meeting both benchmarks, while 72, or 35%, meet neither. Another 64 countries, including India, spend above 4% of GDP but below 15% of public expenditure. Among high-income countries, 11% meet both benchmarks and 50% follow India’s pattern.India, however, has larger unmet schooling needs. Lower secondary completion has risen from 81% in 2015 to 86% but remains 13 percentage points below its 99% benchmark. Even Unesco’s “feasible” 2025 benchmark of 90% is four points above the latest rate.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThis is despite programmes operating at scale. Unesco’s India profile says Samagra Shiksha supports about 15.6 crore learners, while PM-Poshan covers around 11.8 crore children in 11.2 lakh government and aided schools. The trend is part of a broader global concern. The scorecard concludes that, on average, countries are “moving away” from the public education expenditure benchmarks of at least 4% of GDP or 15% of total public expenditure.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 MediaVideosWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP ProtestsKashmir Tourist Security To Get Major Upgrade With CCTV, Command Centres And Security AuditsUS Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill, India Faces Potential 100% Tariff Over Russian Oil Purchases’Did We Fail To Listen’: Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’JPSC Protest Enters Day 14: Students Demand Exam Cancellation, CBI Probe After First Talks With Govt123PhotostoriesHow Sridevi turned the chiffon saree into Bollywood’s most iconic fashion statement10 unique baby girl names inspired by rare and lesser-known flowersFrom pig trotters to sprouting mushrooms: 5 bizarre luxury shoes breaking the internetOptical illusion personality test: What you spot first says everything about your hidden desiresRed or white patch in your mouth that won’t go away? Doctor explains the warning signs you should not ignore10 best monsoon snacks to enjoy on rainy daysFrom tiny forest jewels to giant river hunters: 12 kingfishers species to spot in IndiaDelhi must stay ahead of dengue this monsoon: Why rain, stagnant water and delayed diagnosis can turn a seasonal threat serious5 things stylish women always remove from their closetsDia Mirza’s mother’s maroon Banarasi saree is a generational love letter that fast fashion could never match123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingJapanese Quote of the dayNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeGujarat Mystery WellJPSC ProtestDelhi RainDelhi Wife MurderEknath ShindeTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case Gurgaon, Delhi under water: 10 videos that capture rain chaos Badal’s announcement conveyed the government’s efforts to realign the numbers in its favour this time round, after a similar exercise was defeated in the last session by a joint opposition, which has since been considerably weakened NEW DELHI: A day after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday reversed his party’s earlier opposition to the rollout of the women’s reservation law from 2029 with an increase in the Lok Sabha’s strength by 50% and supported any fresh move to implement the two together, signalling the possibility of the govt reviving the Constitution amendment bill soon.Akali Dal had walked out of the BJP-led NDA government in September 2020, ending a 23-year-old alliance, due to the Centre’s passage of the three farm bills. DMK, another opponent being eyed by the government as a potential supporter of its renewed bid, snubbed governing TVK’s all-party meeting on delimitation. NDA is also banking on NCP(SP) to support the measure.Government likely to bring back delimitation bill, but timing not clear yetWhile Sukhbir Singh Badal’s party has only one MP — his wife Harsimrat is a Lok Sabha member — his announcement conveyed the government’s efforts to realign the numbers in its favour this time round, after a similar exercise was defeated in the last session by a joint opposition, which has since been considerably weakened.While DMK called it a diversionary tactic and wondered why CM Vijay did not summon the meeting on a pressing issue like the Mekedatu dam row, the party clearly did not want to be part of an exercise to frame delimitation as damaging to the interests of the state, with TVK ally Congress up in arms against it.Developments in governing BJP-led NDA and opposition camps are a clear indication that the government is bringing back the bill, which will need two-thirds support in Parliament. Its timing, however, remains uncertain, with a section of lawmakers being of the view that Parliament can be summoned after Independence Day to debate it.The ongoing monsoon session is scheduled to end on Aug 13, leaving the government with not much time to pursue its ambitious agenda that seeks to raise Lok Sabha’s maximum strength from the existing 550 to 850.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesSukhbir demanded implementation of one-third reservation for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies. He said, “SAD also demanded a fair and equitable delimitation.” Incidentally, his wife had made a fiery speech against a similar bill last time, flaying the government for linking reservation for women to delimitation.The changed political environment and the fact that the government may write into the new bill all the assurances it has made verbally may have persuaded his party and DMK to consider a rethink.NCP MP Supriya Sule had earlier suggested that if the bill proposes a rise in Lok Sabha seats of every state by an equal proportion, it would not create any problem, though she had added that they will be part of opposition consultations before making a final decision.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP ProtestsKashmir Tourist Security To Get Major Upgrade With CCTV, Command Centres And Security AuditsUS Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill, India Faces Potential 100% Tariff Over Russian Oil Purchases’Did We Fail To Listen’: Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’JPSC Protest Enters Day 14: Students Demand Exam Cancellation, CBI Probe After First Talks With Govt123PhotostoriesHow Sridevi turned the chiffon saree into Bollywood’s most iconic fashion statement10 unique baby girl names inspired by rare and lesser-known flowersFrom pig trotters to sprouting mushrooms: 5 bizarre luxury shoes breaking the internetOptical illusion personality test: What you spot first says everything about your hidden desiresRed or white patch in your mouth that won’t go away? Doctor explains the warning signs you should not ignore10 best monsoon snacks to enjoy on rainy daysFrom tiny forest jewels to giant river hunters: 12 kingfishers species to spot in IndiaDelhi must stay ahead of dengue this monsoon: Why rain, stagnant water and delayed diagnosis can turn a seasonal threat serious5 things stylish women always remove from their closetsDia Mirza’s mother’s maroon Banarasi saree is a generational love letter that fast fashion could never match123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingJapanese Quote of the dayNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeGujarat Mystery WellJPSC ProtestDelhi RainDelhi Wife MurderEknath ShindeTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case Libra Horoscope Today, August 9, 2026: Venus and Jupiter together can create confidence in money matters Nasa Perseverance rover finds Mars can have spring-like ground temperatures while the air above remains near freezing | Cancer Horoscope Today, August 9, 2026: Avoid taking every tone personally Elon Musk says Starship Flight 13 recovery ‘not looking good’ despite successful splashdown Gemini Horoscope Today, August 9, 2026: Business gains can come through practical work, not luck Hulk Hogan’s son Nick gives major family update one year after WWE legend’s death, spills beans on relationship with estranged sister, handling $5M+ worth assets and more Kash Patel plans Russia trip in October; Kremlin-friendly newspaper warns he better not come empty-handed if he has a favor to ask IN-SPACe moves to privatise operations of Rs 986 cr spaceport Quote of the day on love: ‘Find what you love and let it kill you’ Havildar Shere Thapa of the 2nd Battalion, Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, was credited with saving the Subansiri Valley during the 1962 Chinese aggression NEW DELHI: Sher-e-Thapa Memorial, set up in memory of 1962 China war hero Havildar Shere Thapa, is one of the 27 places in Arunachal that the Union government on Friday formally named by their standard names on the official Indian map.Havildar Shere Thapa of the 2nd Battalion, Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, was credited with saving the Subansiri Valley during the 1962 Chinese aggression. He was part of a team to delay the advance of the enemy. On Nov 18, 1962, undaunted by the advance of the Chinese troops, he continued to engage the enemy from his position despite his buddy succumbing to enemy action. The Chinese suffered heavy losses, and their advance was delayed by 72 hours. The Indian Army installed a memorial in his name.Another name, Jaswant Garh, which houses the memorial of Indian martyr Rifleman Jaswant Singh Rawat on Tawang Road, also figured in the list. Located at 10,000 feet on the highway to Tawang, it marks the site where he single-handedly fought Chinese forces for 72 hours during the 1962 war. The memorial has been built in honour of his extraordinary bravery at the Battle of Nuranang.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesJairampur, an important logistics hub in Changlang district which is known as the gateway to the eastern border region supporting movements of security forces towards eastern Arunachal and the Myanmar frontier, also figures in the list. One of the most strategically important high-altitude passes, Thag La, where one of the opening battles between Indian and Chinese forces took place in 1962, has also been formally identified. The list also includes Bisa village and strategically important high-altitude mountain passes in the region: Dzo La, Riza La and Pukur La.By formally naming some of the places, famous for the memorials of the Army war heroes, the government is paying homage to bravehearts who laid down their lives fighting for India in the northeastern state.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP ProtestsKashmir Tourist Security To Get Major Upgrade With CCTV, Command Centres And Security AuditsUS Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill, India Faces Potential 100% Tariff Over Russian Oil Purchases’Did We Fail To Listen’: Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’JPSC Protest Enters Day 14: Students Demand Exam Cancellation, CBI Probe After First Talks With Govt123PhotostoriesHow Sridevi turned the chiffon saree into Bollywood’s most iconic fashion statement10 unique baby girl names inspired by rare and lesser-known flowersFrom pig trotters to sprouting mushrooms: 5 bizarre luxury shoes breaking the internetOptical illusion personality test: What you spot first says everything about your hidden desiresRed or white patch in your mouth that won’t go away? Doctor explains the warning signs you should not ignore10 best monsoon snacks to enjoy on rainy daysFrom tiny forest jewels to giant river hunters: 12 kingfishers species to spot in IndiaDelhi must stay ahead of dengue this monsoon: Why rain, stagnant water and delayed diagnosis can turn a seasonal threat serious5 things stylish women always remove from their closetsDia Mirza’s mother’s maroon Banarasi saree is a generational love letter that fast fashion could never match123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingJapanese Quote of the dayNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeGujarat Mystery WellJPSC ProtestDelhi RainDelhi Wife MurderEknath ShindeTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case Taurus Horoscope Today, August 9, 2026: There is room to heal strained bonds now Union minister Jitendra Singh dedicates to nation first-of-its-kind ‘eco-educational hub’ in Lucknow Jason Arday denies plagiarism and lying about his achievements; Cambridge is now reviewing the process that led to his appointment IAF wing commander ‘honey-trapped’ by Pak operatives; arrested, charged for allegedly leaking defence info Flight to Toronto canceled as child refuses seatbelt, stands on seat; passengers stranded for 24 hours: ‘Parents should be fined’ Aries Horoscope Today, August 9, 2026: This is a workday in the truest sense Quote of the day by Albert Einstein: “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Too far, too late: Why pregnant women are still dying en route to care Florida dumped millions of tyres into the ocean to build a reef. More than 50 years later, it is still cleaning them up | World News The spokesman said the surge in tourist arrivals during June and July has also been supported by a calendar of cultural, spiritual and experiential events organised across Ladakh SRINAGAR: Ladakh continues to witness a surge in tourist arrivals, with the union territory recording 330,332 tourists from Jan to July this year, already reaching 98.35% of the 335,872 tourists recorded last year, a govt spokesman said.Air travel remained the most popular mode of reaching Ladakh, accounting for 47.64% of the total arrivals. Among tourists arriving by road, the Kashmir route continued to be more popular than the Manali route, with 35.27% entering Ladakh through Kashmir compared with 17.09% through Manali, according to the latest figures released by the Ladakh govt.“The surge in tourism numbers has been particularly noticeable in June and July, when more than 2.12 lakh tourists visited Ladakh, accounting for nearly 65% of the total 3.30 lakh tourist arrivals recorded so far this year,” the spokesman said.He said the growth in tourism coincides with a major and rapid transformation in Ladakh’s connectivity infrastructure since the formation of the UT. “The total road network has increased from 1,799 km in 2019 to over 4,200 km in 2026, while the number of bridges has increased from 19 to 72,” he added.He said the period of seasonal disruption on key routes has also reduced substantially. Zoji La, the gateway to Ladakh from Kashmir, which earlier remained closed for around 127 days annually, now remains closed for only 16 days. “Similarly, the annual closure of the Kargil-Zanskar Road has declined from 154 days to 11 days, significantly improving near-year-round connectivity for tourists,” he said, adding that the number of homestays has increased from 128 in 2019 to 2,275 in 2026, creating new livelihood opportunities for local households.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe spokesman said the surge in tourist arrivals during June and July has also been supported by a calendar of cultural, spiritual and experiential events organised across Ladakh.Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, in a statement, attributed the growing tourist footfall, particularly domestic tourism, to the sustained infrastructure development in Ladakh and the appeal of PM Narendra Modi to citizens to visit tourist places in India and promote domestic tourism.“The fact that Ladakh has crossed the 1 lakh mark in tourist arrivals for two successive months and has already achieved more than 98% of the entire 2025 footfall by the end of July is a very encouraging milestone,” Saxena said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP ProtestsKashmir Tourist Security To Get Major Upgrade With CCTV, Command Centres And Security AuditsUS Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill, India Faces Potential 100% Tariff Over Russian Oil Purchases’Did We Fail To Listen’: Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’JPSC Protest Enters Day 14: Students Demand Exam Cancellation, CBI Probe After First Talks With Govt123PhotostoriesHow Sridevi turned the chiffon saree into Bollywood’s most iconic fashion statement10 unique baby girl names inspired by rare and lesser-known flowersFrom pig trotters to sprouting mushrooms: 5 bizarre luxury shoes breaking the internetOptical illusion personality test: What you spot first says everything about your hidden desiresRed or white patch in your mouth that won’t go away? Doctor explains the warning signs you should not ignore10 best monsoon snacks to enjoy on rainy daysFrom tiny forest jewels to giant river hunters: 12 kingfishers species to spot in IndiaDelhi must stay ahead of dengue this monsoon: Why rain, stagnant water and delayed diagnosis can turn a seasonal threat serious5 things stylish women always remove from their closetsDia Mirza’s mother’s maroon Banarasi saree is a generational love letter that fast fashion could never match123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingJapanese Quote of the dayNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeGujarat Mystery WellJPSC ProtestDelhi RainDelhi Wife MurderEknath ShindeTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case ‘Rajesh Khanna abused me, I was very upset,’ recalls veteran actor Tej Sapru: ‘I think his downfall came earlier because of that arrogance’ This food package can tell when meat is spoiling by changing colour from purple-red to yellow-green before the damage is obvious ‘My body’s organs unable to cope’: Jharkhand student leader’s health worsens after 15-day hunger strike ‘He did not make it’: Death of PhD student Vikram Mubayi after California hike leaves family seeking answers The forum also backed statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. SRINAGAR: The Forum for Human Rights in J&K has called for full restoration of statehood and repeal of 2019 Reorganisation Act, cautioning that linking statehood to the security situation and terrorist attacks could erode democratic rights in the Union territory.It presented its annual report “Seven Years Under Union Rule — With a Special Section on Ladakh & Pakistan-held Territories of J&K (Aug 2025–July 2026)” to National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, PDP president and former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti, CPM’s MY Tarigami and Congress’s J&K president Tariq Hamid Karra.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe forum said arguments that restoration of statehood is “not appropriate” because of security concerns and terrorist attacks are dangerous and could be used to undermine people’s democratic rights.It also backed statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.It praised J&K HC for a series of orders quashing detentions under Public Safety Act and granting bail under UAPA and PSA “…but we are constrained to note that its repeated strictures do not appear to have led to course correction by police,” the report said.The forum, an informal group of concerned citizens, is co-chaired by former Union home secretary Gopal Pillai and Radha Kumar, a former member of the group of interlocutors for J&K. The report also alleged a familiar backlash against Kashmiris after terrorist attacks, including the recent Red Fort blast in New Delhi, saying they faced housing discrimination, forced evictions, aggressive verification and hostility from neighbours, shopkeepers, and co-workers.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP ProtestsKashmir Tourist Security To Get Major Upgrade With CCTV, Command Centres And Security AuditsUS Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill, India Faces Potential 100% Tariff Over Russian Oil Purchases’Did We Fail To Listen’: Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’JPSC Protest Enters Day 14: Students Demand Exam Cancellation, CBI Probe After First Talks With Govt123PhotostoriesHow Sridevi turned the chiffon saree into Bollywood’s most iconic fashion statement10 unique baby girl names inspired by rare and lesser-known flowersFrom pig trotters to sprouting mushrooms: 5 bizarre luxury shoes breaking the internetOptical illusion personality test: What you spot first says everything about your hidden desiresRed or white patch in your mouth that won’t go away? 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Playing against him is not good, it is…” – a candid lesson that teaches about competition, pressure and respect | World News Anantnag: Security personnel conduct a raid to crack down on alleged terror-related activities , in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir. (PTI Photo) SRINAGAR: J&K Police’s Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) unit Saturday conducted searches at five locations across four districts of the Valley in a case involving allegations of posting content aimed at building an anti-national narrative.The searches were carried out at two locations in Baramulla district and one each in Bandipora, Anantnag and Shopian districts. Electronic and digital storage devices and other material linked to the case were seized during the raids, police said. No arrests have been made so far.The case was registered at the CIK police station under various sections of IPC and UAPA.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP ProtestsKashmir Tourist Security To Get Major Upgrade With CCTV, Command Centres And Security AuditsUS Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill, India Faces Potential 100% Tariff Over Russian Oil Purchases’Did We Fail To Listen’: Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’JPSC Protest Enters Day 14: Students Demand Exam Cancellation, CBI Probe After First Talks With Govt123PhotostoriesHow Sridevi turned the chiffon saree into Bollywood’s most iconic fashion statement10 unique baby girl names inspired by rare and lesser-known flowersFrom pig trotters to sprouting mushrooms: 5 bizarre luxury shoes breaking the internetOptical illusion personality test: What you spot first says everything about your hidden desiresRed or white patch in your mouth that won’t go away? Doctor explains the warning signs you should not ignore10 best monsoon snacks to enjoy on rainy daysFrom tiny forest jewels to giant river hunters: 12 kingfishers species to spot in IndiaDelhi must stay ahead of dengue this monsoon: Why rain, stagnant water and delayed diagnosis can turn a seasonal threat serious5 things stylish women always remove from their closetsDia Mirza’s mother’s maroon Banarasi saree is a generational love letter that fast fashion could never match123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingJapanese Quote of the dayNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeGujarat Mystery WellJPSC ProtestDelhi RainDelhi Wife MurderEknath ShindeTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case Horoscope Today: Daily astrological predictions for August 9, 2026 In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone, but an Italian inventor had already built the Telettrofono years earlier ‘Shouldn’t be exclusive club’: Pak minister seeks Nato-like Islamic military alliance Quote of the day by Marco Polo: ‘I did not write half of what I saw, for I knew I would not be believed’, and how reality could be much larger than human imagination (representative image) Based on the complaint, an FIR has been lodged against the accused for allegedly wrongfully restraining, abusing, and assaulting the men. JAMMU: Police have registered an FIR against 17 alleged cow vigilantes for assaulting four men transporting bovines in J&K’s Ramban on Aug 4 night, leaving one critically injured. This is the second such incident in the district in five months.Shakeel Ahmed filed a police complaint the next day, stating that he and his three associates, Gafoor, Altaf and Fika, were transporting bovines bought in a police auction from Ramban’s Kariya Post to Maitra Govindpura when some cow vigilantes intercepted their vehicle and assaulted them.Based on the complaint, an FIR has been lodged against the accused for allegedly wrongfully restraining, abusing, and assaulting the men.Earlier, on April 12, Tanveer Ahmad Chopan (23), transporting a milch cow and two calves from Jammu, died after he jumped into the fast-flowing Bishlari nullah in Ramban while trying to escape a group of alleged cow vigilantes.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosWATCH: Uttarakhand Innovator’s Electric Flying Vehicle Takes Maiden Test FlightUPI To Remain Free For Users, But Some Merchants May Face Nominal Fees In Future: GovtArunachal CM Rejects Chinese Encroachment As India Assigns Official Names To 27 Places‘If You Don’t Kill My Husband, I Will’: Telangana Man Uncovers Wife’s Shocking Chats With Lover‘Brahmins Joining BSP’: Mayawati SLAMS Akhilesh Yadav Over PDA’s ‘P Change’ From Pichhde To Pandit‘I Am Proud Of All Of You’: PM Modi’s Big Msg To Students At First Public Speech After CJP ProtestsKashmir Tourist Security To Get Major Upgrade With CCTV, Command Centres And Security AuditsUS Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill, India Faces Potential 100% Tariff Over Russian Oil Purchases’Did We Fail To Listen’: Tharoor Admits CJP Protest Resonated More Than Congress ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’JPSC Protest Enters Day 14: Students Demand Exam Cancellation, CBI Probe After First Talks With Govt123PhotostoriesHow Sridevi turned the chiffon saree into Bollywood’s most iconic fashion statement10 unique baby girl names inspired by rare and lesser-known flowersFrom pig trotters to sprouting mushrooms: 5 bizarre luxury shoes breaking the internetOptical illusion personality test: What you spot first says everything about your hidden desiresRed or white patch in your mouth that won’t go away? Doctor explains the warning signs you should not ignore10 best monsoon snacks to enjoy on rainy daysFrom tiny forest jewels to giant river hunters: 12 kingfishers species to spot in IndiaDelhi must stay ahead of dengue this monsoon: Why rain, stagnant water and delayed diagnosis can turn a seasonal threat serious5 things stylish women always remove from their closetsDia Mirza’s mother’s maroon Banarasi saree is a generational love letter that fast fashion could never match123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingJapanese Quote of the dayNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeGujarat Mystery WellJPSC ProtestDelhi RainDelhi Wife MurderEknath ShindeTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case Yash lauds Kiara Advani, calls her ‘tabahi’, tells her to not get bothered by what people say amid the controversy: ‘Don’t care, whatever you believe in, you should do’ In 1999, a dinosaur bone was found on Japan’s Fukushima coast and left unstudied; in 2026, scientists identified it belonged to a 3-metre iguanodontian that lived 90 million years ago Spain replaces its India ambassador after controversy over use of funds for cultural events: Report Indian-origin trans MSP Q Manivannan under fire after calling rape a ‘spectrum’ in viral podcast clip | World News Odd jobs that stars like Harry Styles and Christopher Walken used to do before their careers kicked-started Scientists uncover the aluminium shield that helps a tiny crustacean survive darkness, near-freezing water and crushing pressure in the Mariana Trench