In answer to a question posed in Parliament, March 2025, details of India's forest cover, were highlighted, state-wise. Madhya Pradesh, with its enviable 11 national parks and plethora of flora and fauna, is the Indian state that boasts the most forest cover. Arunachal Pradesh, however, has the highest percentage of forest.
India comes second only to the US, according to World Population Review, in the length of its road network, boasting totally 6.37 million km. Which states have the best highways?
US states, including Delaware, New York, and New Jersey, are issuing proclamations to commemorate August 15 as 'India Day', recognising India's independence and the significant contributions of the Indian American diaspora to the American fabric.
India's Arjun Reddy Aluguvelli caused an upset by defeating eighth seed Adithya Kiran from the UAE at the Indian Junior International Grand Prix badminton tournament. Other Indian players, Jagsher Singh Khangurra and Vaibhav Singh, also secured hard-fought victories.
Indian Grandmaster Pranesh M secured a significant victory at the Kanizsa Open in Hungary, defeating Germany's Vadim Petrovskiy in the final round. The 19-year-old, currently ranked 44th globally, finished with seven points, earning congratulations from the Indian Embassy for his performance on the international chess stage.
Indian security forces have successfully dismantled the ISI-backed Shahzad Bhatti Network, arresting over 200 operatives across 14 states and preventing planned subversive attacks ahead of Independence Day.
An Indian student sustained minor injuries in a drone attack in Ufa, Russia, and is receiving treatment. The Indian Embassy in Moscow is providing assistance. The incident occurred amidst escalating drone strikes between Russia and Ukraine, with Ufa experiencing attacks on an oil refinery.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has affirmed that Indian electronic voting machines (EVMs) are manufactured by public sector companies and operate without internet, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi connectivity, ensuring their security and reliability.
Akshay Bhatia is the top-performing Indian-origin golfer at the BMW Championship, currently tied 16th and five-under par, securing his spot in the upcoming Tour Championship. Other Indian-origin players, Aaron Rai and Sahith Theegala, are struggling to qualify.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a 'Wanted' notice for Indian national Major Singh, alleging his involvement in a transnational criminal organisation engaged in racketeering and unlicensed firearms dealing, linked to the 'Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group' which originated in Punjab, India.
The Indian women's hockey team secured qualification for the second round of the Women's Hockey World Cup by drawing goalless against England in their final Pool D match. This result placed India second in their pool, behind China, with five points.
The Indian men's hockey team lost 1-3 to Olympic champions the Netherlands in a critical second-round match of the FIH World Cup in Amstelveen. The Netherlands scored three field goals in the second half, while India's sole goal came from a Harmanpreet Singh penalty corner.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has called for the state to become a hub for Indian futsal, producing players capable of leading the national team to the FIFA Futsal World Cup. Speaking at a felicitation for Tlangnuam Futsal Club, he emphasised nurturing talent for international success and highlighted government investment in sports infrastructure.
Indian benchmark equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed lower due to persistent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and elevated crude oil prices, with investors remaining cautious ahead of fresh US sanctions on Iran.
A study by Amazon Ads reveals that nearly 87% of Indian small and medium businesses (SMBs) believe AI has opened up new advertising opportunities, including streaming TV. The research indicates that 75% of surveyed SMBs attribute business growth to AI-enabled advertising, with 68% noting increased creativity. AI is also facilitating international trade for 59% of businesses, though human oversight remains crucial in decision-making.
The world motorsport body FIA has strongly endorsed 11-year-old Indian racer Atiqa Mir, highlighting her as a rising star redefining the future of the sport. Atiqa, the first Indian backed by the F1 Academy, has achieved significant success in European karting series, including a pole position and top-10 finishes in FIA European Championship rounds.
Mumbai Indians' cryptic Instagram post has ignited fresh speculation about Hardik Pandya's IPL future.
Celebrations marking India's 80th Independence Day in the New York tri-state area culminated in a world record, with more than 1,300 US flags surrounded by Indian tricolours arranged to form the number "250", in a tribute to America's semiquincentennial anniversary.
SAI has defended the exclusion of five Indian tennis players from the Asian Games squad, saying they failed to meet the prescribed continental ranking criteria.
India has asserted that the state of its border with China directly impacts the broader bilateral relationship, emphasising the critical importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Ministry of External Affairs also firmly rejected China's claims over Arunachal Pradesh, reiterating its status as an integral part of India. This stance was reiterated during a recent Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination meeting, where both sides agreed to continue using diplomatic and military channels to resolve outstanding issues.
Two commercial vessels, an oil tanker and a cargo ship, carrying a total of 22 Indian nationals, were hijacked by armed pirates in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia. All Indian crew members on both vessels are reported to be safe, according to the latest information from the shipping ministry and the External Affairs Ministry.
Lingam Ravindra Rao, 72, and his 17-year-old grandson, Anuraag Pokuri, have successfully scaled Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest peak. Rao is now the oldest Indian to achieve this feat, while Anuraag is the youngest Indian-origin person to climb both the West and East peaks back-to-back. This remarkable expedition highlights their shared passion for mountaineering and their ambition to complete the Seven Summits.
India's first Asian Games gold-winning heptathlete, Swapna Barman, has been provisionally suspended by NADA after testing positive for the banned substance Boldenone. This disciplinary action proceeds despite her recent retirement announcement. The case highlights ongoing efforts to combat doping in Indian sports, with other athletes also facing bans.
The Indian athletics team will undergo an acclimatisation camp at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo before the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. This follows an MoU between SAI and the University. Athletes are also returning from Czech Republic for a training stint and an event in Bhubaneswar, though Neeraj Chopra will not participate. The Athletics Federation of India has already submitted a list of over 72 athletes for the Games to the Indian Olympic Association.
The Supreme Court has emphasised the need for timely investigations and conclusions of criminal cases involving illicit money in elections. Observing that black money compromises democracy and the rule of law, the court issued several directives, including reporting seizures to competent authorities within 24 hours, completing investigations within a year, and submitting quarterly status reports to the Election Commission. The ruling also mandates High Courts to designate special courts for expeditious disposal of cases against candidates and requires High Court approval for withdrawing cases.
Indian shuttler Ayush Shetty caused a major upset on the opening day of the BWF World Championships by defeating world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi of China. Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu also comfortably advanced to the second round in women's singles, while other Indian doubles pairs, Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand and Hariharan Amsakarunan-MR Arjun, secured their spots in the next round.
The Indian Under-11 girls' chess team, featuring Varenya Lakshmi Vaka, Aligiri Amrutha Hemal, and Maya Siddharth Narula, secured a bronze medal at the ASEAN Chess Championship in Singapore, finishing with 14.5 points.
Indian Chain, an unfancied team, secured a dominant victory over favourites Formidables in the team event at the fifth Balarampur Chini East Zone Bridge Championship in Kolkata, also winning a significant prize purse.
The Sports Ministry has approved a 492-member Indian contingent, comprising 265 male and 227 female athletes, for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Athletics forms the largest group with 73 participants, including star athletes like Neeraj Chopra and Jyothi Yarraji. Other prominent sports like shooting, weightlifting, badminton, boxing, and wrestling also feature strong teams, with some adjustments made due to doping violations.
Indian IT companies have significantly reduced their fresh H-1B visa applications for US FY27, a direct consequence of soaring fees imposed by the Trump administration and new lottery system changes that prioritise higher-salaried employees, leading to a seven-year low in registrations.
Indian middle and long-distance runner Ankita Dhyani achieved a personal best time of 4:06.75s in the women's 1500m race at the Stumptown Twilight event in Portland, USA, finishing second. This performance is the fastest by an Indian this season and the fourth fastest ever, highlighting her consistent improvement and strong form.
Indian golfer Diksha Dagar has dropped out of the Top 10 in the Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit, now ranking 11th after missing the cut at the VP Bank Swiss Ladies Open. Other Indian golfers like Pranavi Urs, Avani Prashanth, and Aditi Ashok also feature in the rankings.
Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma ended his streak of missed cuts by making the weekend rounds at the Nexo Championship in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His second round was highlighted by a spectacular hole-in-one on the sixth hole, contributing to his even-par 72 and a tied 22nd position. This performance offers Sharma a crucial opportunity to regain momentum on the DP World Tour.
Indian hockey fans, including a significant diaspora presence and supporters from abroad, created a vibrant, festive atmosphere in Amstelveen for the World Cup opener against Wales on Independence Day, driven by increased expectations following recent Olympic successes.
Sumit Sarkar was never intellectually dismissive of the Hindutva project. He took it with deadly seriousness for he grasped the challenge it posed to the aspirations and ideals of the anti-imperialist movement that generated multiple imaginings of freedom and ways to attain it, recalls Pradeep Kumar Dutta.
An Indian national, Jay Sunilbharthi Goswami, has been arrested and charged in the US for his alleged role as a "money mule" in a multi-million-dollar internet and telephone fraud scheme targeting elderly victims. Goswami, a Gujarat native, was detained in Canada while attempting to flee to Qatar, facing charges including wire fraud and money laundering.
Indian squash player Sanya Vats was defeated by Australia's Rachael Grinham in a closely contested five-game semifinal match at the Bendigo Open, a PSA Challenger event. Vats, the top seed, had previously advanced by beating England's Zoe Tanner in the quarterfinals.
Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty, closed flat on Friday, with elevated crude oil prices due to geopolitical uncertainties and a rebound in US Treasury yields making investors cautious and preventing a decisive market rally.
The Trump administration has reinstated and expanded the "public charge" rule, making it harder for immigrants seeking green cards if they have used public benefits like Medicaid, food stamps, or housing assistance. This policy change, effective September 18, will impact many applicants, including those from India, by broadening the criteria for inadmissibility.
The Indian fencing team achieved remarkable success on the third day of the Commonwealth Championship in Lagos, Nigeria, securing three gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in senior individual events. This impressive performance boosted India's overall medal tally to 29, including 8 gold, 7 silver, and 14 bronze, showcasing the nation's growing dominance in the sport.
