Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced new anti-narcotic campaigns in schools, coinciding with International Day Against Drug Abuse on June 26. The initiative, part of 'Operation Toofaan', aims to make Kerala drug-free, with police actively targeting drug networks and reporting significant seizures and arrests.
For its 80th year, Mumbai's Parelcha Raja Narepark pays tribute to Maharashtra's Warkari tradition of worshipping Lord Vitthal with a towering 23 feet Ganesha idol, for which water was brought in from Pandharpur's Chandrabhaga river.
A six-year-old UKG student tragically died at a private school in Visakhapatnam after allegedly being slapped by a teacher inside the classroom, an incident captured on CCTV footage.
For five Mumbaikars who were teenagers or in their 20s during the 1980s, the decade was not a sepia-toned Instagram filter. It was their everyday life, they tell Rediff's Rishika Shah. And while they remember its limitations, what they seem to miss most is something technology can't recreate -- the unhurried warmth of human connection.
Lalremsiami Hmarzote, Mizoram's first female Olympian and Asian Games medallist, is now India's offensive lynchpin, aiming for a first Asian Games hockey gold since 1982, after overcoming initial family resistance and training on dirt pitches.
Sculptor Akash Tirmal explains how he designed the 22 feet idol of Ganesh Galli's MumbaiCha Raja using Plaster of Paris, without any readymade moulds.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting expressed his belief that the growth of cricket in the United States has been slower than anticipated, but he remains optimistic about its potential, especially with the US national team's increasing competitiveness and the sport's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Tamil Nadu government has made physical education classes mandatory for students from Class 6 to 12 in all schools, including private institutions, starting this academic year. Detailed guidelines have been issued, and officials will monitor compliance, identify unused playgrounds, and promote special sports training.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director, Rahul Navin, has issued directives to intensify action against Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) frauds involving "large haircuts" and to address delays in police registering FIRs based on ED's requests. The agency also aims to fast-track high-profile trials under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and enhance internal coordination and efficiency.
A viral Rs 2.5 lakh school trip to Japan has exposed the soaring, extraneous costs of modern Indian education. From textbook monopolies to elite excursions, these hidden fees create intense classroom peer pressure even as parents face a financial spiral. We ask you, Dear Reader, to share your experience with us.
The Delhi government has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with the School Games Federation of India and the International School Sport Federation to host international school badminton and wrestling events next year, aiming to boost the city's sports ecosystem and provide international exposure to young athletes.
Following devastating floods in Nepal, families are facing immense challenges in identifying their missing relatives. Hospitals are overwhelmed with unidentified bodies, leading to disputed claims and a reliance on DNA testing, which can take months. Personal belongings and distinctive features are sometimes used, but forensic evidence is often the only conclusive method.
IIT Guwahati researchers have developed SH²RFSSM, a model inspired by how biological neurons communicate.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% transaction fee on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments exceeding Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15, marking the end of nearly six years of free service. Person-to-person transfers and small-value transactions below Rs 2,000 remain free. The new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) is capped at Rs 300 for transactions above Rs 75,000, with differentiated rates for essential sectors and investments, and safeguards to prevent costs from being passed to consumers.
A new study reveals that approximately 70 per cent of the year-to-year variation in winter air pollution across northern India can be explained by the frequency of western disturbances. These storm systems, originating from the Mediterranean, help clear pollution through precipitation and ventilation. The findings suggest that predicting the frequency of these disturbances could provide advance warning of severe pollution, allowing for better preparedness and implementation of control measures.
One week ago, on August 26, 2026, deadly flash floods and mudslides devasted Nepal. Powerful floodwaters and landslides tore through river towns, leaving behind widespread destruction and grief. Rescue efforts across the affected districts continue even as hopes fade of finding survivors.
India may have a vast coastline and a strategic location, but it will become a true maritime nation only when its people understand, value and actively participate in the maritime ecosystem, asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
'...in which our names are written with our phone numbers.'
A third generation murtikar and probably one of the first in her family, Manaswi Bagwe, a self-taught sculptor, is quietly pushing the boundaries of idol-making.
Local tennis sensation Shreeniti Chowdhury secured both the girls' singles and doubles titles at the KSLTA World Tennis Junior J30 Bengaluru. The 15-year-old defeated Aahida Singh in the singles final and partnered Riddhi Shinde for the doubles win. In the boys' category, Fazal Ali Meer won the singles, while Chukka Lakshya Vardhan and Parthiv Nallagundla took the doubles title.
New research from the University of Sheffield indicates that greenhouse gas emissions from petrochemical production could increase by 50 per cent by 2050 under a business-as-usual scenario. The study, published in Nature Sustainability, provides the first detailed global map of these emissions, identifying key sources and highlighting the challenge of decarbonising the sector.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that Iran will not succumb to "bullying" from the US and Israel, vowing to protect national interests amidst escalating West Asian hostilities. During his visit to New Delhi for the BRICS summit, Pezeshkian also discussed strengthening bilateral ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and advocated for local currencies in BRICS trade, positioning Iran as a strategic energy and transport partner.
'Earlier, Ganeshotsav was social. Now it is all about social media.'
A Kishore Kumar song, a birthday cake, a prince's break from protocol to thank his driver, a Persian painting on the ceiling of the presidential residence -- the BRICS Summit had many memorable moments.
India has had pathshalas, madrassas, monasteries, ashrams for centuries where the young were educated. But which were the earliest European-established schools, many English-medium?
Former Delhi chief secretary Rakesh Mehta, who served under ex-chief minister Sheila Dixit, has allegedly died by suicide at his Noida residence. Police recovered a suicide note citing 'mental and health issues' as reasons. Mehta, a 1975 batch IAS officer, was 74 and had been credited with significant infrastructure projects in Delhi during his tenure from 2007 to 2010.
A survivor of a recent ambush in Manipur's Kangpokpi district, which resulted in the deaths of four Naga civilians, has described the attackers as wearing full camouflage uniforms. Gaikamang Ringkangmai, who sustained a bullet injury, recounted how militants ambushed their vehicle, killing four colleagues. The United Naga Council has accused Kuki militant outfits of involvement, while the Chief Minister has ordered action against the perpetrators.
Pradhama Drishtiya Kuttakkar is a gripping cat-and-mouse game that benefits from smart writing.
IIT-Kanpur has developed an AI-powered "Family Score" system to identify households needing welfare support using existing government data. This system, demonstrated in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh government, aims to provide a faster and more cost-effective alternative to traditional surveys for assessing socio-economic conditions and ensuring targeted welfare delivery.
The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15. This move ends nearly six years of fully free UPI payments, though person-to-person (P2P) transfers and small P2M payments remain free. The charges aim to bolster investment in UPI infrastructure, with specific exemptions and caps for essential sectors.
Nearly 600 tribal students abandoned a government-run hostel in Amravati, Maharashtra, after some girls exhibited strange behaviour, leading to claims of spirit possession. Officials suspect mental stress or selective hysteria, while local beliefs attribute the incidents to angry spirits from a cut 'mahua' tree or an encroached temple. Counselling efforts are underway to bring students back.
Polio survivor Rupa Sahu has turned her disability into a mission to protect others and spent 20 years going door to door to vaccinate children against the dreaded disease.
Tara Sutaria's recent fashion streak feels like a very glamorous reminder of how the stylish '80s can inspire you.
The Supreme Court has urged the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to consider exempting Class 6 students from its three-language policy for the current academic year. The policy, which mandates the study of three languages including two native Indian languages, is challenged by petitioners who question CBSE's jurisdiction over classes 6-8. The court emphasized finding a solution that avoids student pressure and suggested a potential deferral for Class 6.
Torrential rains have caused widespread devastation across several Indian states, leading to at least 11 deaths in Assam and Uttarakhand, pushing rivers above danger levels, and disrupting daily life with landslides, floods, and school closures. States like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, West Bengal, and Jammu & Kashmir are also grappling with the monsoon fury, while Meghalaya faces an unusual rainfall deficit.
A parliamentary panel flagged staffing shortages at NCERT and CBSE, inadequate education spending, falling enrolment and poor internet connectivity in government schools.
A 60-year-old man was found dead in his Rohini home after a robbery. Police have detained his niece, a primary school teacher, and two associates, including a gym trainer and a student, suspecting her to be the mastermind behind the robbery-cum-murder. Stolen cash and jewellery have been partially recovered.
Indian steeplechaser Avinash Sable made an emotional and triumphant return to competition, winning the men's 3000m steeplechase at the Indian Athletics Series Final. This victory marks his first race in the distance since suffering a career-threatening ACL and meniscus injury in July 2025, which led to surgery and a challenging recovery period. Sable, a Commonwealth Games silver medallist, expressed the immense struggle he faced but is now confident of winning a medal at the upcoming Asian Games.
Survivors of the recent devastating floods in Nepal share their harrowing experiences of escaping the raging waters, losing loved ones, and witnessing widespread destruction, as thousands remain missing and families struggle to rebuild their lives.
A 15-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district allegedly died following an abortion attempt after being repeatedly raped by a school teacher, leading to the arrest of the teacher and his brother.
