The Sports Ministry, led by Mansukh Mandaviya, has formed a five-member committee to develop a comprehensive roadmap for the financial viability and sustainability of the cash-strapped Hockey India League (HIL). This initiative follows concerns about the league's long-term future, which was revived last year after a seven-year hiatus. The committee will include representatives from Hockey India, franchises, and the Sports Ministry, tasked with presenting a report on governance, financial models, and league structure.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir has clarified that young batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will need to wait for his T20I debut, prioritising consistent performers like Sanju Samson. Gambhir also addressed the impact of the Asian Games on the ODI squad selection for the upcoming West Indies series, highlighting opportunities for new talent.
The Supreme Court has rejected pleas to reconstitute a high-powered committee investigating alleged police excesses against student protesters in Delhi, stating that the allegations against the panel were based on conjecture. The court emphasised the committee's role in ensuring fairness and transparency, and directed it to proceed with its inquiry into various issues including the use of pellet guns, targeted violence, and property destruction, while ensuring protection and confidentiality for vulnerable witnesses.
A Pakistani court has ordered the return of 21-year-old Hindu girl Shirimati Reeta to her parents after she was allegedly lured, pressured to convert to Islam, and marry a Muslim man. Reeta, who had gone missing from Sindh, was recovered by police in Punjab and stated in court her desire to return home, highlighting the ongoing issue of forced conversions among minority girls in Pakistan.
When contacted, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra said Suri's name was never removed from the electoral roll as his name is part of the draft electoral roll published on August 13.
Pakistan continues to offer a 7 million rupee reward for information leading to the arrest of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, who remains on the Federal Investigation Agency's "Red Book" of most-wanted terrorists. This development comes ahead of the Financial Action Task Force's plenary meeting, highlighting Pakistan's ongoing efforts against terror financing.
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.
Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant were not picked in Indian team for the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies, while Ruturaj Gaikwad made a return to the one-day team.
Tanya Chaudhary broke the women's hammer throw national record with a distance of 68.35m at the Indian Athletics Series Final. Avinash Sable also made a strong return to the 3000m steeplechase, winning his first race in over a year. The event served as a crucial tune-up for Indian athletes heading to the Asian Games, with several other notable performances including wins by Harita Bhadra, Animesh Kujur, Rohit Yadav, and Tajinderpal Singh Toor.
Amazon's ultra-fast delivery service, Amazon Now, has achieved $1 billion in annualised gross sales in India over the last three months, marking it as the fastest-growing e-commerce business in Amazon India's history, with orders doubling every quarter.
The Supreme Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a re-conduct of the NEET-PG 2026 exam, imposing a cost on the petitioner and criticising the advocate for misusing the legal process and soliciting cases on social media. The court noted that the petitioners were not affected by the exam disruption they cited.
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey has denied sanctioning an emergent Executive Committee Meeting called by secretary Bhola Nath Singh, intensifying an internal power struggle. The dispute stems from a jersey colour change controversy and the secretary's attempt to address various issues, including the Hockey India League's future and upcoming elections, which Tirkey claims is beyond his authority to convene.
Hockey India is embroiled in a significant internal dispute between President Dilip Tirkey and Secretary Bhola Nath Singh, primarily over a controversial jersey colour change and the authority to call emergent meetings. An upcoming Executive Board meeting aims to address these differences, discuss the future of the Hockey India League (HIL) including its restructuring into a joint venture, finalise election dates, and deliberate on hosting Asian Champions Trophy events.
A new study reveals that approximately 70 per cent of the year-to-year variation in winter air pollution across northern India can be explained by the frequency of western disturbances. These storm systems, originating from the Mediterranean, help clear pollution through precipitation and ventilation. The findings suggest that predicting the frequency of these disturbances could provide advance warning of severe pollution, allowing for better preparedness and implementation of control measures.
Former India cricketer Vivek Razdan has shared his preferred batting lineup for India's first T20I against Afghanistan, advocating for Shreyas Iyer to retain his number four spot and Sanju Samson to open the innings. Razdan emphasized performance over the left-right batting combination, highlighting Samson's recent T20 form. The series opener will also see a selection dilemma with multiple openers available and marks Iyer's first home series as captain.
Gurugram Police are set to summon two Punjab Police officials for questioning regarding their alleged involvement in arranging a "fabricated" forensic report for a controversial video linked to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The investigation follows the arrest of two individuals and a complaint alleging coercion to produce a predetermined forensic outcome. This development is part of a larger political controversy surrounding an alleged objectionable video of CM Mann.
Kerala's Mijo Chacko Kurian secured a gold medal in the men's 400m event and a silver in the 200m at the 15th leg of the Indian Athletics Series in Meerut. The event also saw other athletes like Adesh Garsa, Sandeep Singh, Avantika Narale, Harita Bhadra, and Priya Mohan clinch top honours across various track and field disciplines, showcasing a strong performance from national athletes.
Top-order batter Devdutt Padikkal discusses his new role as India A captain, viewing it as a valuable learning experience that will positively influence his batting ahead of the upcoming New Zealand tour. He also reflects on his recent good form and the challenges of adapting to different playing conditions.
The AM Green Indian Golf Premier League (IGPL) is set to host its second event in the UAE, resuming its season at Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah from September 23 to 25. This event, presented by Vimtra Chennai Lions GC, marks the league's return to the UAE after its debut in Dubai last December, featuring top golfers like Gaganjeet Bhullar.
The Indian Super League (ISL) is set to return to its traditional home-and-away format for an extended eight-month season from October 2026 to May 2027.
As the world's most populous country, India's economy looks large in the aggregate even as its average incomes stay modest.
Former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, injured in a 'kirpan' attack at a Nanded gurdwara, has vowed to prevent 'forces' from disturbing peace in Punjab and the country, asserting his party, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), will not be deterred.
Ricky Ponting and Ashish Nehra are reportedly the highest-earning coaches in the Indian Premier League, each commanding approximately Rs 9.5 crore per season for their roles with Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans, respectively.
Samsung India Electronics has initiated job cuts in its Consumer Electronics (CE) division, laying off 8-10 mid-to-senior-level employees with plans to let go of another 40-50 staff. This move is part of a cost-rationalisation exercise driven by rising input costs, muted consumer demand, and intense competition from rival Korean and Chinese players.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that all Sikh MLAs and cabinet ministers will appear before the Akal Takht on June 29 regarding the anti-sacrilege law. This decision follows a closed-door meeting in Amritsar, where Mann stated that representatives would present their views in writing. The Akal Takht had summoned Sikh legislators and ministers over objections to the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, which it claims was enacted without consulting the Sikh Panth. Mann also addressed accusations of challenging the Akal Takht's authority and criticised political appointees for one-sided decisions.
The Supreme Court has affirmed its decision not to alter the five-member high-powered committee, led by former Justice R Subhash Reddy, which is investigating allegations of police excesses against student protesters and violence against police personnel in Delhi. The court dismissed concerns about potential bias, stating the committee acts as its "extended hand" and will function under its supervision. It also noted the suspension of an executive magistrate who issued a show-cause notice to a student involved in protests.
The Revolutionaries never draws you into its world nor explains the mind and motivation of its heroes or even the mood within a nation they're going through so much trouble for, observes Sukanya Verma.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj has given the Punjab government one month to address objections regarding the anti-sacrilege law, the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, which he claims was enacted without consulting the Sikh Panth and interferes in religious affairs.
Punjab's Aryan Gupta and Haryana's Panshul Bansal topped the NEET-UG for medical admissions as 11.21 lakh candidates qualified the entrance exam this year, the National Testing Agency announced on Thursday.
Chandigarh police on Saturday used tear gas shells and water cannons to disperse protesters who tried to breach barricades during a march towards Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria's residence, seeking the release of Sikh prisoners, including Jagtar Singh Hawara, who is serving a life sentence for the assassination of then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995.
Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta has sent a fourth letter to CJI Surya Kant, reiterating and expanding allegations against Rajasthan High Court judge Sanjeev Prakash Sharma, accusing him of judicial interference, breaching confidentiality, and administrative abuse, further deepening a significant judicial controversy.
Shubman Gill, India's Test and ODI captain, celebrated his 27th birthday, marking a remarkable journey from a young prodigy to a dependable leader and cornerstone of the Indian batting line-up, with impressive records across all formats.
The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is considering moving its next edition to January to avoid clashing with the Indian Premier League (IPL). Media rights holders have expressed concerns over limited advertising revenues during the current April-May window, prompting discussions within the PSL Governing Council for an earlier schedule.
Congress MLA and former Haryana Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Sharma has urged Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to remove Rohtak MP Deepender Singh Hooda from the Congress Working Committee (CWC) over his remarks praising former party leader Sajjan Kumar.
Cricketer-turned-politician Harbhajan Singh revealed in a podcast interview that his decision to switch from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stemmed from the AAP government's alleged neglect of his concerns regarding drug abuse and sports promotion in Punjab.
Nagarmal Bajoria, a 97-year-old Bihar businessman known as "dharti pakad" for contesting nearly 300 elections, has passed away. A Partition refugee, Bajoria challenged prominent leaders including Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, aiming to raise public awareness about the electoral process rather than seeking power. His unique campaign style and unwavering spirit left a lasting impression.
The murder of a Jalandhar-based RTI activist has sparked outrage and political condemnation in Punjab, with opposition parties criticising the AAP government's handling of law and order.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has strongly refuted the 'Guru Dokhi' edict issued by the Sikh clergy, asserting that the controversial video at the heart of the dispute is not him and accusing religious bodies of political manipulation.
Punjab Police arrested two individuals in Bathinda, seizing two country-made .32 bore pistols and five live cartridges. The accused are linked to a criminal network operated by a jailed gangster and have a history of involvement in serious crimes, including attempt to murder and Arms Act violations. Further investigation is underway to establish broader network connections.
From Kareena Kapoor Khan's 'cop who wears lipstick' in Daayra to Rani Mukerji's relentless Shivani Shivaji Rao in the Mardaani series, Bollywood has seen a rise in powerful and nuanced portrayals of female police officers tackling brutal crimes and societal challenges.
