These nations officially top the list when it comes to maximum number of official days off.
From Ikkis to Balan: The Boy, these are the 10 Indian films that truly deserved the loudest applause in the first half of 2026.
Anshul Kuncha, a 28-year-old Indian national from Hyderabad, was shot dead in Philadelphia after delivering pizza to a vacant home. Police are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, and the Consulate General of India is providing assistance to his family.
In a bizarre incident, Tamil Nadu's R Harshitha was made to re-run the women's 400m hurdles alone on Saturday due to a goof-up by race officials, and she eventually failed to qualify for the finals at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar.
India's rich culture and shared Commonwealth values will be prominently featured during the Glasgow Commonwealth Games closing ceremony's handover segment on August 2. This event will welcome Ahmedabad as the host of the 2030 centenary edition, showcasing India's biggest music and dance stars, including a tribute to Vande Mataram, a unique sitar-pipes Jugalbandi, and a grand finale celebrating Gujarat's heritage.
Birmingham Commonwealth Games silver-medallist judoka Tulika Maan has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for three whereabouts failures, leading to her withdrawal from the ongoing Glasgow edition. This comes after another judoka, Arun Kumar, was also withdrawn for a dope test failure.
Indian boxers delivered a flawless performance at the Commonwealth Games, with four more pugilists - Ankush Yadav, Sakshi Chaudhary, Arundhati Choudhary, and Sachin Siwach - advancing to the semifinals. This brings the total number of Indian boxers in the semifinals to nine, ensuring a minimum of nine bronze medals for the country.
India's women's hockey team defeated Uruguay 3-2 in a thrilling encounter at the FIH Women's Nations Cup in New Zealand, securing the top position in Pool A and advancing to the semifinals. Deepika scored two goals, including the winner, while Deepika Soreng added another.
Three Indian nationals were injured in a drone attack on the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone (FOIZ) in the UAE. The UAE has condemned the attack, attributing it to Iran.
Indian cricket captain Shubman Gill has called for compassion and mutual respect amidst ongoing student protests against exam paper leaks. In an Instagram message, Gill emphasised the importance of education and students' future, urging peaceful expression of views.
Olympic bronze medallist Aman Sehrawat won a gold medal in the men's 57kg freestyle category at the Polyak Imre, Varga Janos and Kozma Istvan Memorial Senior Ranking Tournament in Budapest. Deepak also secured a bronze in the 61kg category, with two more Indian wrestlers vying for podium finishes.
Veteran Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat lauded the nation's youth as the 'force that shapes the future' following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation amidst the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, stating that 'democracy won and fear lost'.
Indian boxers Sachin Siwach and rising youngster Ankush have successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of their respective weight categories at the Commonwealth Games. Both athletes are now just one victory away from securing a medal for India.
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.
'Coming from a small village in Bihar, I never imagined that the stories I would become a part of would one day travel across the world and be celebrated in this manner.'
India is sending a strong contingent of U-19 and U-23 boxers, including Asian Champion Vishvanath Suresh and World Boxing Futures Cup gold medallist Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari, to the Asian Boxing Championships in Jakarta. The championships will provide a crucial platform for young Indian talent to compete against the best in Asia.
Indian weightlifter Bindyarani Devi secured a bronze medal in the women's 58kg category at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, lifting a total of 199kg. This marks India's fifth weightlifting medal and sixth overall at the Games.
Rajesh Ramesh, a key figure in India's 4x400m relay teams, is set to make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, aiming to contribute to the team's success and make the nation proud.
Indian boxer Sakshi Chaudhary delivered a commanding 5-0 victory over Northern Ireland's Caitlyn Fryers in the women's 51kg quarter-finals at the Commonwealth Games, securing her spot in the semifinals and guaranteeing India at least a bronze medal. Chaudhary overcame an aggressive start from her opponent to control the bout with superior technique and composure.
Murali Sreeshankar has become the first Indian double medallist in Commonwealth Games long jump, securing a silver medal with a leap of 8.09 metres. This achievement marks an emotional comeback for the 27-year-old, who recovered from a career-threatening knee injury that forced him to miss his anticipated Olympic debut.
A 22-year-old Indian national has pleaded guilty to his involvement in a scheme to smuggle individuals from Canada into the United States, coordinating operations to illegally transport people across the US-Canada border into New York.
Heavyweight weightlifter Lovepreet Singh secured a record-breaking silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, while Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and two other Indian javelin throwers advanced to the final, marking an eventful day for India.
Indian long jumper M Sreeshankar has qualified for the Commonwealth Games final in Glasgow, achieving the 8.01m qualifying standard in his first attempt. This marks a significant comeback for Sreeshankar, who is recovering from a career-threatening knee injury and aims to improve on his 2022 silver medal.
Mohan Bhagwat shared his perspectives on the characteristics of 'Gen Z', the trajectory of the 'Stree Mukti Andolan', and the imperative for societal acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals, emphasising their integral role within Indian tradition.
India's Gulveer Singh secured a silver medal in the men's 10,000m race at the Commonwealth Games, finishing second with a time of 27:49.78. His strong final-lap sprint allowed him to surpass favoured runners from Kenya and Uganda.
Indian rally duo Naveen Puligilla and Musa Sherif secured a comfortable victory in the ARC3 class and an impressive fourth overall finish at the 2026 Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, moving up to second in the ARC3 championship standings.
CBSE exams and unemployment are divergent concerns for the middle class and the poor, and the idioms of protest don't speak to all of India's young people, points out Kanika Datta.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy congratulated badminton star PV Sindhu on her maiden Super 750 title win at the Japan Open in Tokyo. Sindhu defeated Akane Yamaguchi in straight games, marking a significant achievement for Indian sports and inspiring youth.
The Indian women's hockey team, having already secured a semifinal spot in the FIH Nations Cup, is set to face lower-ranked Uruguay in their final pool match. India aims to maintain their undefeated record and bolster confidence, especially as winning this tournament is crucial for their return to the elite FIH Pro League after being relegated last season. Coach Sjoerd Marijne hopes for improved field goal conversions and may experiment with combinations ahead of the World Cup and Asian Games.
Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu has hailed India's upcoming hosting of the BWF World Championships as a "landmark moment" for the sport in the country.
Indian athletes are set to compete across various disciplines including athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, swimming, and weightlifting on the seventh day of the Commonwealth Games, with several medal events scheduled.
Indian weightlifter Nirupama Devi faced a disappointing exit from the Commonwealth Games women's 63kg event after failing all three clean and jerk attempts, resulting in a Did Not Finish. Despite a strong snatch performance, her inability to complete the clean and jerk round ended her medal hopes.
Indian-American golfer Sahith Theegala is T-2 after the third round of the 2026 US Open, carding an even-par 70. He shares second place with Scottie Scheffler, Tom Kim, and Sam Stevens, positioning himself as a strong contender for the final round, though leader Wyndham Clark holds a six-shot lead.
Indian shooters Sonam Uttam Maskar and Elavenil Valarivan reached the women's 10m air rifle final at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, finishing fifth and sixth respectively.
Indian rally driver Naveen Puligilla and co-driver Musa Sherif are set to compete in the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally, the third round of the FIA African Rally Championship. The duo, known for their previous podium finishes in WRC3 and ARC3 categories, will drive a Ford Fiesta and aim for another strong performance on the demanding mountain stages.
Indian boxers Preeti Pawar (54kg) and Priya Ghanghas (60kg) have secured at least two bronze medals for the nation at the Commonwealth Games by advancing to the semifinals of their respective categories. Preeti dominated her quarterfinal bout with a unanimous 5-0 decision, while Priya overcame a tough challenge from local favourite Niamh Mitchell with a 4-1 split decision.
Indian boxers Sachin Siwach (60kg), Ankush (80kg), and Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg) have successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of their respective categories at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Sachin secured a 4-1 victory, while Ankush and Sakshi both won their bouts by unanimous 5-0 decisions, bringing them one win closer to securing a medal.
An Indian survivor of a boat tragedy near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island described the terrifying moments when a tourist boat carrying 32 Indian tourists capsized due to a sudden storm, killing 15. He praised the swift rescue but highlighted the lack of adequate medical facilities on the island, suggesting more lives could have been saved with better aid. Authorities are investigating the incident.
Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, who recently returned from a career-threatening injury, is confident of achieving a 'big jump' soon and aims to upgrade his silver medal to gold at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Sharmila Dhankar, overcoming polio and an abusive marriage, made history by winning India's first para-athletics gold medal in 20 years at the Commonwealth Games in the women's shot put F57 event. Her compatriot Shilpa Shyla also secured a bronze after a protest. Dhankar's inspiring journey from Haryana to international success, supported by her family and second husband, highlights her remarkable resilience and dedication to para-athletics.
