Padma Shri awardee Harekal Hajabba has received an election notice due to a name mismatch in the electoral rolls. While his official documents identify him as "Harekal Hajabba," the 2002 electoral roll listed him simply as "Hajabba." He is confident the issue will be resolved after presenting his documents to local authorities.
Former Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has been conferred with the Padma Shri in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian cricket over the past decades.
Harmanpreet Kaur shared an emotional note after receiving the Padma Shri from President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, calling it a 'very big moment' in her life.
Baldev Singh, a hockey coach who transformed Shahabad Markanda into a hub for hockey talent, will be awarded the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu on May 25.
Padma Shri recipient and social worker Phoolbasan Bai Yadav was rescued from an alleged abduction attempt in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district. Police detained three individuals, including two women, in connection with the incident.
'It is truly the icing on the cake. I couldn't be happier. My family and I are celebrating. We've never been happier.'
Indian physicist Professor Ashoke Sen has been awarded the prestigious Oskar Klein Medal for 2026, making him the first Indian to receive this honour. Recognised for his groundbreaking work in string theory, including S-duality and black hole entropy, Sen delivered the memorial lecture at Stockholm University. He has previously received numerous accolades such as the Breakthrough Prize, Dirac Medal, and Padma Bhushan.
India women's captain Harmanpreet Kaur and former men's skipper Rohit Sharma headline the list of sportspersons to be honoured with Padma awards this Republic Day.
A dispute has emerged in Mumbai regarding the naming of the new East-West Vidyavihar bridge. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is advocating for it to be named after actor Nana Patekar, while BJP MLA Parag Shah proposed naming it after Captain Smit Machchhar, a pilot recognised for thwarting a hijacking. The controversy highlights differing views on honouring local figures and public service.
Vijay Amritraj gets Padma Bhushan; Rohit Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur receive Padma Shri
Indian physicist Ashoke Sen has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Oskar Klein Medal, making him the first Indian to receive this honour. Sen, a leading figure in modern string theory, was recognised for his pioneering work, including contributions to S-duality, black-hole entropy, and string field theory. He delivered a memorial lecture on October 22 in Stockholm.
Indian Hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia, known as the 'Wall of Indian hockey', expressed her desire for Priyanka Chopra Jonas to portray her in a biographical film. Punia, who recently led India to significant achievements, shared her inspiration from Priyanka's journey and her own life story, including early responsibilities and personal interests.
Nana Patekar has passed away in Goa after suffering a heart attack on Thursday morning.
For women's hockey goalkeeping stalwart Savita Punia, the Padma Shri is more than a national honour -- it is a quiet acknowledgement of years marked by sacrifice, resilience, and unwavering belief, both her own and that of a family that stood by her when the odds were firmly stacked against her.
The veteran leader founded several educational institutions in the state.
India announces Padma Shri awards for 45 individuals, recognizing 'unsung heroes' like a former bus conductor who created the world's largest free library and a pediatrician who established Asia's first human milk bank.
Ashwin retired from the game as the second highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 games, leaving him only behind Anil Kumble (619 wickets).
Nana Patekar's anger and intensity were as real in life as they were in his performances. He was as brutally honest as the characters he portrayed.
President Droupadi Murmu presented the honours to eminent personalities and posthumous awardees for their exceptional contributions.
No shade or genre was a roadblock for Nana Patekar. In fact, some of his movies only age well because we associate them with his terrific presence.
The Odisha government has rejected the remission plea of Ravindra Pal alias Dara Singh, who is serving a life sentence for the 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons. The Supreme Court has granted Singh's counsel two weeks to challenge this decision. Singh, 63, has been in jail for over 25 years and sought premature release, claiming repentance for his actions.
Union Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav has written to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, recommending Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu for the Arjuna Award. Despite having received higher honours like the Khel Ratna and Padma Shri, Chanu's childhood dream of the Arjuna Award remains unfulfilled, and Jadhav believes it would be a fitting recognition of her contributions to Indian sport.
Former Indian hockey captain and Olympian Pargat Singh has been appointed the new president of the Punjab Congress, replacing Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. A three-time MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment, Singh's elevation comes amidst internal party wrangling and is seen as a strategic move to unite factions ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. His journey spans from a decorated sports career to a prominent political figure, having previously served as a minister and consistently winning his assembly seat.
'When I heard loud claps from the audience, I had goosebumps. I was told it was a standing ovation.'
Zoho has launched Zia Chat, a unified AI interface designed to streamline business operations across various functions by providing a single conversational platform for information, lead generation, and data analysis. Concurrently, the company has expanded into vertical SaaS with seven new industry-specific applications for sectors like retail, automotive, healthcare, and education, reinforcing its position as a homegrown alternative to global tech giants.
Homegrown software company Zoho has launched Zia Chat, a unified AI interface designed to streamline business operations across various functions. Alongside this, Zoho announced its entry into vertical SaaS with seven industry-specific applications for sectors like retail, automotive, healthcare, and education, reinforcing its position as a 'Swadeshi' alternative to global tech giants.
'She was always thinking of how to improve the scene and how to do better in each shot. Even at that age her passion and commitment was so inspiring.'
Padma Shri awardee educationist Dinesh Singh advocates for teachers to embrace artificial intelligence, viewing it as a tool to elevate their role rather than a threat. Speaking at the 4th STTAR Global Education Conference, Singh urged educators to use AI to become "gurus." Other leaders, including Shishir Jaipuria, emphasised that the future of education lies in human-technology collaboration, with teachers remaining crucial for inspiring students.
'I felt that this, the entire event, was like my temple.'
'It was because of this overwhelming feeling that I thought I should accept the award and walk up on the stage barefoot.'
Legendary South Indian actress Sowcar Janaki, a Padma Shri awardee with a career spanning nearly seven decades and over 400 films, has passed away at 94, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema.
President Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma awards upon 65 eminent personalities, including tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, actor Mammootty, and singer Alka Yagnik, in the second civil investiture ceremony. The awards recognised contributions across various fields, with Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri categories.
The Orissa high court on Tuesday issued notices to two persons with the same name, both of whom claimed to have been conferred the Padma Shri award in 2023, to appear before it to present their case on February 24.
Legendary Indian hockey player Harbinder Singh reminisces about India's historic first Asian Games gold medal in 1966, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan. He shares insights into the team's motivation, the challenging final match played with 10 men, and the evolution of hockey over the decades, including concerns about declining domestic spectator interest and India's prospects for future Asian Games.
President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Padma Awards 2026 upon a host of luminaries, including Mammootty, R Madhavan, and Alka Yagnik.
Dharmendra, Prosenjit Chatterjee and Arvind Vaidya were honoured with the Padma awards on Monday.
The Supreme Court has expressed strong displeasure with the Odisha government for delaying a decision on the remission plea of Ravindra Pal alias Dara Singh, who is serving a life sentence for the 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two sons. The court has directed the state to make a decision by September 17, warning of summoning officials if the delay persists. Singh, incarcerated for over 26 years, seeks premature release based on his time served and a 2022 state policy.
A new book, "The River That Remembers: Microbial Intelligence of Nature" by Padma Shri awardee Ajai Kumar Sonkar, claims that the Triveni Sangam at Prayagraj is a unique viral-bacterial laboratory. It suggests that the sacred dips taken by devotees lead to an intense microbial exchange, accelerating phage evolution, especially during events like Kumbh Mela, as diverse human microbiota interact with the river's existing microbiome.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the 'terahvin' rituals of legendary shooter Jaspal Rana in Dehradun. Dignitaries paid their respects to the Padma Shri recipient, who passed away on June 11 due to cardiac complications. Rana, a celebrated pistol shooter and coach, was instrumental in guiding Manu Bhaker to Olympic success.
On World Elephant Day, the story of Parbati Barua deserves to be remembered.
India has announced its 20-member women's hockey squad, led by Salima Tete, for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. The team aims to secure a gold medal to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with minor changes to the strike force from the FIH Nations Cup winning side.
