Maharashtra Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has urged state universities to establish a robust sports-friendly ecosystem to identify and develop exceptional sports persons capable of representing India. He highlighted the importance of sports in national development and student skill-building, advocating for greater participation from rural and tribal youth.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has assured the All India Football Federation of full government support to host India's biggest-ever international football fixture against five-time World Cup champions Brazil in Kolkata on October 3. This historic match will be India's first against a top-five FIFA-ranked nation, offering crucial exposure to the national team despite initial concerns over crowd management.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Tuesday warned of a fresh nationwide protest, alleging that the Centre was citing the Supreme Court's interim order in a batch of PILs related to its agitation to avoid giving a promised written assurance on withdrawing the FIRs against protesters.
Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has issued an apology for the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Facebook post, while company executives acknowledged significant content moderation failures, including issues with child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, and the paid boosting of certain content.
A 30-year-old man was killed and three Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel were injured during a firing incident following an alleged attempt to snatch a service rifle in the Jaie area of Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, officials said.
Dinesh Trivedi's success or failure in this fragile diplomatic equilibrium will have consequences extending well beyond the Indian high commission in Dhaka. It will shape India's eastern strategic environment for years to come.
Indian boxers Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), and Sachin Siwach (60kg) have advanced to the semifinals of the Commonwealth Games, guaranteeing at least a bronze medal each. Their victories showcased strong performances against international competitors, with Sakshi and Siwach winning by unanimous decisions, and Arundhati securing a hard-fought 3-1 win.
Mizoram has declared a full holiday for educational institutions and a half-day for government offices to allow residents to watch the FIFA World Cup final. Chief Minister Lalduhoma highlighted the state's passion for football and the importance of the sport to its youth.
Having registered a ninth-place finish in the 2023 edition held at Bhubaneswar, India will be aiming to bring the gold home, riding on the back of the momentum of two back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, an Asia Cup title win, two Asian Champions Trophy wins and an Asia Cup gold.
Senuja Wekunagoda's imposing unbeaten double hundred helped Sri Lanka Under-19 take control of the first Youth Test against India Under-19, posting a formidable 344/4 on the opening day in Galle.
The Sports Authority of India's Training Centre in Dimapur, Nagaland, will be upgraded to a National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) following an MoU with the state government. This multi-phase development will transform the 64-acre Multi-Disciplinary Sports Complex, providing enhanced facilities for athletes in various disciplines.
Educator-activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended his 26-day hunger strike, stating he received assurances from the government and MPs regarding examination reforms, compensation for NEET-UG paper leak victims, and protection for peaceful protesters.
The protest at Jantar Mantar against alleged paper leaks and irregularities in public examinations, initially led by students, has now entered its seventh week and is increasingly drawing support from senior citizens, who view it as a fight for the nation's future and education reforms.
Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is significant because it punctures, however slightly, the perception that the Modi government never retreats under pressure. Every long-serving government eventually reaches a point where every institutional failure is identified with the leader himself. Removing the minister may have prevented that political burden from falling directly on Modi. Whether it also resolves the underlying crisis is another matter, notes Ramesh Menon.
India concluded its campaign at the Asian U-19 and U-23 Boxing Championships with an impressive haul of five gold, 10 silver, and four bronze medals. The performance highlighted the strength of India's youth boxing programme, with notable gold medal wins by Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari, Prachi, and Nisha.
A 22-year-old youth was stabbed allegedly by his co-worker following a dispute in northeast Delhi's Harsh Vihar area, police said on Thursday. The incident took place on Wednesday evening near a paint factory in Pratap Nagar. The reasons behind the attack are yet to be ascertained, they said.
Union Minister J P Nadda has expressed the government's readiness for further talks with the protesting Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) regarding the NEET paper leak, offering his office or residence as venues. However, the CJP, leading protests at Jantar Mantar and demanding the Education Minister's resignation, insists on a neutral venue or the protest site itself for any future discussions, having previously rejected Nadda's invitations.
The BJP is significantly increasing its digital engagement with young people on Instagram, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers, in response to the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and subsequent student protests. This strategic shift aims to counter the narrative and communicate government actions on examination reforms.
The Delhi Lawn Tennis Association (DLTA) has strongly denied reports of violating land lease conditions for the R K Khanna Tennis Complex, asserting that all facilities comply with government norms. The association suggested that the allegations are "mala fide" and strategically timed to influence the upcoming All India Tennis Association (AITA) elections. DLTA also defended its commercial subletting practices, stating they are approved by the L&DO and are essential for generating revenue as it receives no government funding for maintenance.
Carlos Cordeiro, senior advisor to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, has resigned with immediate effect, protesting a proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup, which he labelled 'a bad deal for football'.
Political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party has secured its first seat in the Bihar Assembly, with Kishor winning the Bankipur bypoll in his electoral debut, stunning the BJP in its long-held bastion.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised Sachin Tendulkar's visit to the Bastar region, highlighting its inspirational impact on children and youth. Tendulkar's visit to Dantewada district, as part of a grassroots sports initiative, signifies the region's transformation from a Maoist stronghold to a hub of development and opportunity.
A Zero FIR has been registered in Noida against a woman, Ruchika Singh, for allegedly using abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The complaint, filed by Smriti Singh, alleges that the accused hurt the dignity of the constitutional office and intended to spread hatred. The case, registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, will be transferred to New Delhi for further investigation. The incident occurred during the Cockroach Janta Party's protests against competitive examination paper leaks, which led to the education minister's resignation.
Bhagwanrao Dipke, father of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, described Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Union Education Minister as 'a very good step' to soothe the growing anger among protesting students and their families across the nation.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar announced India's ambitious plan to rank among the top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and top five by 2047. He highlighted the central government's commitment to sports development through initiatives like Khelo India, increased budget allocation, and a special fund for sports equipment and technology, emphasising sports as a tool for nation-building and youth empowerment.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar announced India's ambitious plan to rank among the top 10 sporting nations by 2036 and top five by 2047. He highlighted the central government's commitment to sports development through initiatives like Khelo India, increased budget allocation, and a special fund for sports equipment and technology, emphasising sports as a tool for nation-building and youth empowerment.
Every day, the older men running our politics keep pushing Gen Z voters further away, observes Binu Alex.
Social media is abuzz with Gen Z protest survival tips, including how to navigate Internet shutdowns with offline maps and Bluetooth apps, and remedies for tear gas exposure, as 'cockroach movement' protesters continue their demonstrations at Jantar Mantar.
Bangladesh is actively pursuing a cricket series against India in September, utilising sports diplomacy to mend strained bilateral ties following a controversy involving Mustafizur Rahman and Bangladesh's subsequent T20 World Cup boycott.
Students intensified their protest over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in Jharkhand with five demonstrators joining an indefinite hunger strike, even as Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday said the question paper leak issues are a national problem and offered talks to resolve the impasse.
The Indian government has significantly altered its approach to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led agitation over the NEET paper leak, moving from dismissal to calibrated political engagement, including promises of fast-track courts, a new anti-paper leak law, and negotiations with key protest leaders.
Two police constables have been suspended for allegedly assaulting and abusing a youth over a dispute in Madhya Pradesh's Guna district, officials said on Wednesday.
The Rajya Sabha has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, making insult to the national song 'Vande Mataram' a criminal offence. The bill, which also covers other national symbols, was passed amidst protests from opposition parties regarding the NEET paper leak. Union Minister Nityanand Rai criticised the opposition's stance, emphasising the song's historical significance and its role in national unity.
A parliamentary standing committee on Information Technology has demanded a personal apology from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for the temporary removal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video from Facebook. The committee also discussed potential legal action and the withdrawal of safe harbour protection, while questioning Meta officials on algorithmic bias and accountability.
VK Vineeth's superb 131 went in vain as Sri Lanka recovered from early jolts to notch up a thrilling one-wicket win off the last ball in the third and final Youth ODI and clinch the three-match series 2-1 in Hambantota on Thursday.
Double Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker has voiced her concern over student protests against alleged exam paper leaks, advocating for every child's fundamental right to education, safety, and a fair chance at life. She emphasised that the issue transcends politics and demands greater accountability to protect the nation's future.
'It could be in IT, it could be in administration, it could be in legal, it could be in technical services, but entry level jobs are rapidly disappearing because AI is taking them over.' 'So, the big question what would happen if the bottom rung of the ladder is removed?'
Former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Akhil Kumar believes India's women pugilists are a stronger bet for an Olympic medal than their male counterparts and should be prioritised in the overall planning for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, following their record-shattering Commonwealth Games performance.
Arjun Singh and Veer Shah have been selected as captains for India's U-18 and U-14 pickleball teams, respectively, for the upcoming World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam. The squads were finalised after selection trials in Ahmedabad, with officials expressing confidence in the team's potential to perform well.
The Indian government has expressed willingness to hold a detailed discussion in the Lok Sabha regarding the NEET paper leak issue, while cautioning against street protests. The opposition, however, is demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and has staged protests, including wearing black clothes in Parliament, highlighting the widespread concern among students.
