West Bengal and Assam have initiated high alert measures, including the evacuation of 12,000 people, following a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in Bhutan's Gasa region. The incident caused a significant rise in the Sankosh River's water level, prompting authorities to deploy disaster response teams and monitor vulnerable areas.
A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Bhutan's Lemthang has caused water to flow towards India's Sankosh River, leading to a high alert in North Bengal. Authorities have advised evacuations, activated disaster management teams, and relocated thousands of residents as they monitor the situation closely for potential flooding.
The Indian government has announced significant relaxations in passport and visa regulations for various foreign nationals residing in the country. These amendments, outlined in the Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) (Amendment) Order, 2026, benefit specific Pakistani citizens, minority refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, Sri Lankan Tamils, Tibetans, and people of Indian origin from Malaysia/Singapore. The new rules also streamline travel protocols for Indian, Nepalese, and Bhutanese citizens travelling between their respective nations, and provide exemptions for military personnel and foreign military vessel crews.
The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship is set to begin in Bangladesh on November 5, with India and Pakistan playing the opening match. Six teams will participate, and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will be implemented for the first time in South Asia during the semi-finals and final.
Engagement with neighbours has gathered pace, particularly as the conflict in West Asia has exposed their vulnerability to energy supply disruptions.
India has announced a 95-member athletics contingent for the inaugural BIMSTEC U23 Athletics Meet in Bhubaneswar from November 25 to 27. The team will be led by promising sprinter Neil Samraj, a double gold medallist and national record holder. Sprinter Abinaya Rajarajan is a key name in the women's section. Over 400 athletes from seven nations are expected to participate.
India defeated Maldives 1-0 in their Group B match at the SAFF Championships, securing a spot in the semifinals. Suhail Ahmad Bhat scored the winning goal from a penalty in the first half. India, fielding a young squad, needed a draw or win to qualify.
India's Shaurya Sharma shot a five-under 67 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead at the PGTI Qualifying School in Ahmedabad. He is now at four-under 212, with Md Siddikur Rahman and Arin Ahuja tied for second. Nim Dorji Tamang made history as the first Bhutanese player to make the cut.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that 24 foreign nationals, who had entered India illegally, were apprehended from various homestays across the state. The arrests followed tip-offs, with the CM emphasising stringent action against illegal immigrants while assuring vigilance by Assam Police.
The first thing you notice about Bhutan is not the mountains, but the silence.
A Royal Bengal Tigress, designated BT1, from West Bengal's Buxa Tiger Reserve, was safely captured in Assam's Raimona National Park after travelling over 100 km and nearing human settlements. The capture was a result of a coordinated effort between the forest departments of West Bengal and Assam.
The Cricket Association of Nepal apologised after its players got a Bhutan batter 'timed out' in Thursday's ACC Women's Premier Cup match, saying the dismissal was within the laws but did not reflect the spirit of the game it wanted to uphold.
India's second-string football team is set to kick off its SAFF Championship campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on Thursday in Dhaka. The main Indian squad is unavailable due to international friendlies and ISL club reluctance to release players outside the FIFA window. U-23 coach Naushad Moosa leads the team, which will gradually reach full strength after November 9.
Bangladesh's Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed will skip the first-ever BIMSTEC home ministers' meeting in New Delhi, with a senior bureaucrat leading the delegation. This absence underscores strained India-Bangladesh ties, particularly following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024 and Dhaka's request for her extradition from India.
The highlight of our eight-day trip to stunning Bhutan was getting to understand their cultural heritage through their traditional dances.
Indian tourists can now use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to book tickets online for Dubai's Burj Khalifa and major attractions in Singapore, including Universal Studios. This initiative, facilitated by NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL) through strategic partnerships, aims to simplify international travel payments for Indians and strengthen digital and economic links with these countries.
India has announced a 28-member U23 squad for the upcoming SAFF Championships in Dhaka, led by coach Naushad Moosa. The defending champions are sending a second-string team due to international friendlies for the main squad and ISL club reluctance to release players. India aims for its 10th title in the tournament, which runs from November 5 to 17.
India has significantly increased its diplomatic engagements with Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and the Maldives.
Indian men's and women's compound archery teams have successfully advanced to the semi-finals at the Asian Games after comfortable victories in their respective round of 16 and quarter-final matches. Both teams are set to face South Korea in the semi-finals on September 30, aiming to continue India's strong legacy in compound archery, following their clean sweep of gold medals at the previous Asian Games.
'Since there is no fence, the border is based on perception. China conducts its patrols along their perception line. India patrols along its perception line.'
India, the five-time champions, are set to face Bhutan in the SAFF Women's Championship semifinal, aiming for a spot in the final after a dominant group stage performance.
The Noise-Free Nations Index is created annually by an award-winning African tour company, Go2Africa by assessing countries using seven measures, covering population and visitor concentration, rural landscapes, protected areas, road traffic, airports and railways.
Five-time champions India booked their place in the final of the SAFF Women's Championship with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a resolute Bhutan in the second semifinal in Margao on Wednesday.
Is Bhutan merely experimenting with digital finance -- or is the Himalayan kingdom punching far above its weight, quietly playing one of the most sophisticated strategic games in Asia today? asks Varun Arya.
Indian archer Neeraj Chauhan defeated compatriot Dhiraj Bommadevara to secure the bronze medal in the men's individual recurve event at the Asian Games. This historic win makes him only the second Indian male to achieve an individual recurve medal at the prestigious event.
Sunil Gavaskar has questioned men's T20I records involving Associate nations, proposing separate categories to account for differences in playing standards.
China and Bhutan held the 15th Expert Group Meeting to discuss boundary alignment, focusing on areas where there are no disputes, and agreed to maintain the momentum of negotiations.
Indian archers Dhiraj Bommadevara, Neeraj Chauhan, and Kumkum Mohod Anil have successfully advanced to the recurve quarterfinals at the Asian Games. Chauhan notably defeated a three-time Olympic gold medallist, while Bommadevara and Anil also secured impressive wins. Kirti, however, was eliminated.
Harikesh Patel, a former member of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), has been arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) for allegedly obtaining a second passport using forged documents. Patel had previously surrendered his original passport in connection with an ED money laundering case. He reportedly used the fraudulently obtained passport for international travel.
The Sports Ministry has granted provisional recognition to the Indian Unisports Federation (IUSF) for university sports development, relaxing affiliation conditions. This move casts doubt on the future of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), which has faced criticism and a show-cause notice for administrative lapses, including issues at the World University Games last year.
UPI transactions saw a 27% volume increase and 20% value increase in the first half of the current fiscal year. Despite a slight moderation in September, the digital payment system is set to implement a 0.4% merchant discount rate on transactions over Rs 2,000, aiming for a sustainable revenue model. Small merchants and person-to-person payments remain exempt, and UPI's global presence continues to expand.
India pumped five past Bhutan in the Under-23 men's Tri-Nation Football Championship 2026 at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh, on Saturday.
Indian Customs officials have arrested five individuals from West Bengal and Assam for their involvement in smuggling high-end used cars from Bhutan. The investigation revealed a widespread network of forged documents and illegal vehicle registrations.
The India Junior International Grand Prix badminton tournament is set to begin in Pune, featuring 304 players from nine countries, including top junior talents like Dev Ruparelia. The event, organised by the Poona District Metropolitan Badminton Association, offers a total prize money of USD 15,000 and concludes on August 30.
India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India desires positive, constructive, and forward-looking ties with Bangladesh and is ready to discuss all bilateral issues. This comes amidst queries regarding the state of relations following a change in Bangladesh's government and upcoming international engagements.
India's U20 team secured a spot in the SAFF Championship final after a decisive 5-0 victory over Bhutan, with Rohen Chaphamayum scoring twice.
Veteran Congress leader Karan Singh has called for the establishment of a Himalayan authority involving all Himalayan nations, including India, Pakistan, and Nepal, to protect the fragile mountain range from destruction. He also criticised the four-laning of highways in Uttarakhand's Char Dham region, deeming it "reprehensible" due to its environmental impact. His appeal comes as Nepal grapples with devastating flash floods, highlighting the region's vulnerability.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has endorsed the introduction of a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15. This move, which levies a 0.4 per cent fee on merchant payments above the threshold, aims to bolster the long-term sustainability and growth of India's digital payments ecosystem. The RBI clarified that person-to-person (P2P) transactions and small person-to-merchant (P2M) payments below Rs 2,000 will remain free for users, ensuring no direct charge on customers.
The Indian government has mandated that banks and payment providers cannot levy charges on UPI transactions up to Rs 2,000 or on payments made via RuPay debit cards. This directive follows an amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, aiming to sustain and expand the digital payments ecosystem.
Sony Sports Network has secured exclusive television broadcast rights for the upcoming three-match T20I series between India and Afghanistan, scheduled from September 13 to 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The series will feature India led by Shreyas Iyer and Afghanistan led by Ibrahim Zadran, with both teams showcasing aggressive T20 cricket. This acquisition strengthens Sony's sports portfolio and offers a platform for Afghanistan to demonstrate its talent against a top-tier team.
