A bipartisan US body claimed that religious freedom conditions in India remained on the downward trajectory in 2026, citing restrictions on activities of NGOs, censorship and transnational repression.
'The prohibition regime has been accompanied by concerns regarding the expansion of the illicit liquor trade, increased enforcement challenges and corruption, and the growing use of alternative intoxicants, including illicit drugs.'
The Indian junior men's hockey team is undergoing a preparatory camp in Dalian, China, playing three practice matches against the host country's junior team. This camp is crucial for fine-tuning their skills and strategy ahead of the Junior Asia Cup, scheduled from September 4 to 13 in Moqi, China.
India too can rise to the top if the 1.4 billion Indians back home are given better opportunities to use their innate talent and capacity to work hard, with right incentives in a more meritocratic rules-based system, asserts Ajay Chhibber.
Eighteen of India's 28 states exceeded the fiscal deficit ceiling of 3 per cent of GSDP in FY25, a deterioration comparable to the Covid year of 2020-21, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The report also noted a decline in states reporting a revenue surplus, with Bihar, Mizoram, and Telangana moving into deficit.
The FBI has arrested Indian national Nitish Kaushal in Vermont, a gangster allegedly involved in murder, kidnapping, and drug trafficking. Kaushal was added to the FBI's most wanted list days before his arrest, which was part of Operation Hard Ball targeting the India-originated Bhagwanpuria organised crime group.
The Indian women's wrestling contingent achieved significant success at the U-20 World Wrestling Championship in Bratislava, securing three medals. Mansi Lather earned a silver medal in the 68kg category, while Tanvi Magdum (57kg) and Komal (59kg) each contributed with bronze medals, showcasing India's growing prowess in junior wrestling.
Indian tennis player Sumit Nagal was defeated in straight sets by top seed Arthur Gea in the opening round of the US Open qualifying tournament, extending his streak of not reaching a Grand Slam main draw to seven events. Nagal will now focus on the upcoming Davis Cup clash.
Emami Group has officially concluded its role as an investor and manager in East Bengal Football Club, transferring all shares and voting rights back to the club. The group will, however, continue its association with East Bengal FC as a sponsor, reaffirming its commitment to Indian football. This transition follows a successful period for the club under Emami's ownership, marked by significant victories for both men's and women's teams.
Five Indian tennis players were excluded from the Asian Games squad because they did not meet the Sports Ministry's stringent international ranking criteria, a decision that has drawn criticism from veteran players like Rohan Bopanna but is being upheld by authorities to maintain administrative integrity.
Indian racing prodigy Atiqa Mir showcased remarkable talent at the Champions of the Future Euro Series Round 4 in Kristianstad, Sweden. Despite an untimely crash and penalties, the 11-year-old delivered strong qualifying and heat race performances, gaining valuable experience for the upcoming FIA European Championship.
A group of 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu faced a terrifying ordeal during a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash when flash floods and mudslides struck Timure, Nepal. Despite being trapped in a raging torrent, a combination of miraculous coincidences, quick thinking, and the selfless heroism of a couple, Ratnakumar and Poonguzhali, ensured their survival. Indian and Tamil Nadu officials coordinated a swift rescue operation, bringing them safely back home.
India has formally identified 27 places and features in Arunachal Pradesh by their standard names on the official Indian map, a move aimed at countering China's repeated attempts to rename locations in the state. This action reinforces India's stance that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country, despite China's "fictitious names" for the region it calls Zangnan.
The combined market valuation of four of India's top-10 most valued firms eroded by Rs 87,960.29 crore last week, with Bharti Airtel experiencing the largest decline, amidst a bearish trend in the equities market.
Indian golfer Diksha Dagar was the sole Indian player to make the cut at the Women's Scottish Open, finishing tied 35th after two rounds. While Pranavi Urs and Avani Prashanth missed the cut, Dagar's performance keeps her in contention and is crucial for her qualification for the AIG Women's Open. Korea's Jenny Shin leads the tournament.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has confirmed that the recent deadly flash floods in Nepal were caused by a glacial collapse and subsequent debris flow, not an earthquake as initially reported. The event, which originated in Tibet, led to 162 deaths and 750 missing persons, including 133 Indian nationals, in Nepal's Rasuwa and Dhading districts. The seismic event's magnitude was also upgraded to 5.2.
The All India Football Federation has disclosed the number of registered football players, coaches, and referees in India in response to an RTI application.
Two Indian-origin players, Aryan Sharma and Jason Sangha, are part of the Australian men's development squad heading to Chennai for the MRF Pace Academy program. The squad will undergo training and play multi-day matches on spin-friendly pitches from August 1-13, aiming to provide valuable development opportunities.
India's upcoming Davis Cup Qualifier against South Korea in Seoul will be streamed live for Indian viewers on VETO, an OTT platform. The winner of this tie will progress to the Davis Cup Finals in November.
The Indian women's hockey team secured a spot in the FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup despite finishing as runner-up in the Youth Hockey5s Asian Championship in Muscat, losing 2-4 to China in the final. The team had previously defeated Kazakhstan 8-1 in the semi-final.
Massive flash floods in Nepal, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche, have devastated the border town of Timure and other central districts, leaving a rising death toll and hundreds missing. The disaster, described by witnesses as feeling like an earthquake, has claimed entire families and caused widespread destruction to infrastructure. Rescue efforts are underway, with a significant number of missing individuals identified as tourists, including nearly 300 Indian nationals.
IIT Delhi Director Rangan Banerjee has warned students of disciplinary action for "disrupting the peaceful functioning of the campus" with "threatening slogans" during protests over an alleged student suicide. The protests escalated to faculty residential areas, prompting the institute to reconstitute its probe panel into the student's death.
Indian fencers Taniksha Khatri and Prachi Lohan have made history by becoming the first Indian women's epee players to qualify for the main table of 64 at the Senior World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong. They advanced through the preliminary rounds and will compete in the direct elimination draw on July 25, marking a significant milestone for Indian fencing.
The number of individuals who declared a gross income of Rs 100 crore or more in their income-tax returns had risen to 301 in 2022-23, moderated slightly to 284 in 2023-24, then climbed to 415 in 2024-25.
Nepal is grappling with one of its worst disasters in recent years as massive flash floods, triggered by an ice avalanche, have claimed 270 lives and left thousands missing across multiple districts, prompting urgent rescue and relief operations.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Mumbai on September 18. Key agenda items include granting associate membership to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands cricket association, electing two posts for the IPL Governing Council, and appointing the BCCI Ombudsman and Ethics Officer.
A comprehensive schedule detailing the events and Indian athletes participating on the fifth day of the Commonwealth Games, covering athletics, boxing, gymnastics, lawn bowls, swimming, weightlifting, and wheelchair basketball.
Penguin Random House India has clarified that it is not the publisher of Sonia Gandhi's memoir, "Belonging: A Journey of Love," in India. This statement follows reports suggesting the publisher backed out due to Gandhi's refusal of editorial changes. The company maintains it was willing to publish but has a prerogative to fact-check authors. The book's India distribution remains uncertain, though an e-book version is available for pre-order from another publisher.
The task force's move to directly solicit views from students, parents and teachers marks a parallel effort to bring education stakeholders into the reform process.
Several Indian cities report a surge in influenza cases, prompting state governments to issue advisories asking people to mask up in public spaces and follow basic respiratory hygiene.
Indian football icon I M Vijayan has voiced his enthusiasm for the upcoming India-Brazil international friendly in Kolkata on October 3. He believes the visit by the five-time World Cup champions will provide invaluable experience and lasting memories for young Indian players, significantly boosting the sport's profile and attracting global attention to Indian football.
The administration has sounded a high alert in Maharajganj and Kushinagar districts of Uttar Pradesh, while stepping up the monitoring of the Gandak and other water bodies downstream of rivers in Nepal, following devastating flash floods in the neighbouring country that have killed more than 350 people and left thousands missing.
Unseeded Indian women's doubles pair Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand advanced to the pre-quarterfinals of the BWF World Championships after stunning 16th seeds Lauren Lam and Allison Quynh Lee of the United States.
Sashidhar Jagdishan, the managing director and chief executive of HDFC Bank, has opted out of being considered for reappointment after his current term ends on October 26, choosing to retire after nearly three decades with the lender.
The Indian women's hockey team lost 0-2 to reigning Olympic and world champions Netherlands in their second round match of the FIH World Cup. This defeat means India must now beat Australia in their upcoming match to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma finished tied 46th at the Nexo Championship in Aberdeen, Scotland, while Scotland's Scott Jamieson secured his second DP World Tour title with a final-round 67, overcoming a penalty to overnight leader Shaun Norris.
India's top men's doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, were eliminated from the BWF World Championships after a quarterfinal loss. However, the women's doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand secured at least a bronze medal by advancing to the semi-finals.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday said that hearings of applications for citizenship under the CAA will soon be over, and so far the state has issued certificates to 23,000 people out of 2.30 lakh applicants.
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has announced he will miss the remainder of the 2026 season, including the Asian Games, after sustaining a ligament tear in his ankle during training. This injury is a significant setback for India's athletics campaign.
The Indian Golf Union (IGU) has partnered with Golf New Zealand to enhance India's golf development and high-performance ecosystem. Gregg Thorpe, General Manager of High-Performance & Talent Development at Golf New Zealand, visited India to assess facilities and interact with stakeholders, aiming to build a strategy for future success, including potential Olympic hosting in 2036.
