National

Devastating landslides and flash floods caused by unrelenting torrential rainfall in North Bengal's Mirik and Darjeeling hills killed at least 20 people, including multiple children, and injured many more. Hundreds of tourists were left stranded amid extensive destruction after the disaster, which was caused by more than 300 mm of rain in 12 hours, washed away residences and damaged important road connections. Casualties were recorded from a number of areas, including Sarsaly, Jasbirgaon, Mirik Basti, Dhar Gaon (Mechi), Nagrakata, and the area around Mirik Lake, according to reports from the district government and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The worst-hit locality, Mirik, had 11 fatalities, according to the NDRF, while seven injured people were pulled from the wreckag...

The Supreme Court has urged that sex education be implemented earlier rather than just for Class IX students. In order to help teenagers comprehend the hormonal and physical changes associated with puberty, a bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe emphasized that sex education should be taught in higher secondary schools. "Children should receive sex education at a younger age rather than in Class IX." The bench stated that authorities must take corrective action to ensure that minors are aware of the changes that occur after puberty and the safety precautions that must be taken. The comments were made after a 15-year-old boy was granted bail under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act on charges of rape, criminal intimidation, and aggravated penetrative s...

Aadhaar-based face authentication in UPI to enable Aadhaar-linked biometric authentication for setting or resetting UPI PIN, UPI with on-device biometric authentication for a smooth, safe, and user-friendly alternative to PIN-based UPI authentication, and the addition of a new mode for cash withdrawal through micro-ATMs using UPI at UPI cash points are just a few of the new offerings the government announced. At the Global Fintech Festival (GFF) 2025, Shri M. Nagaraju, IAS, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, announced the introduction of three new digital feature offerings. These new offerings include Aadhaar-based Face Authentication in UPI, which enables Aadhaar-linked biometric authentication for setting or resetting UPI PINs; UPI with On-Device Biomet...

According to RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, India has managed to emerge as a unique source of stability in a globe that is racked by geopolitical shocks and trade friction. According to Malhotra, who spoke at the fourth Kautilya Economic Conclave here, policy continuity, institutional resilience, and reform momentum have allowed India to stay out of serious financial crises and maintain its position as one of the largest economies with the fastest rate of growth. By February 2026, inflation is expected to return to the RBI's safe zone of 4%. In handling the aftermath of the US tariff crisis and other global economic worries, the RBI Governor emphasized the differences between India and the developed nations. With low inflation, robust foreign exchange reserves, a small current account d...

On the anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya's birth, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced the beginning of a 90-day nationwide campaign to promote Swadeshi and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The campaign will run from December 25, the anniversary of the birth of former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Arun Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP and the National General Secretary of the BJP, told reporters at the party's New Delhi headquarters that Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the campaign, which will center on turning "Vocal for Local" into a movement led by the people. BJP members nationwide will spread the word about "Swadeshi" to every household between September 25 and December 25. There will be 500 Sankalp Rath Yatras, 1,000 Swadeshi Melas, and around 20,000 Aatmani...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged all Indians to get involved in the "Swachhata Hi Seva" campaign, calling it an inspiring project that embodies the spirit of national pride and shared responsibility. "This cleanliness initiative is very encouraging," the Prime Minister said in a message posted on X. I implore more individuals to participate in this campaign and help it succeed. On the same day that the Prime Minister called for widespread support for the cleanliness effort, a number of Delhi's BJP leaders took to the streets with brooms to sweep the city's public areas. As part of the Delhi government's Seva Pakhwada, a 15-day campaign to honor the PM's birthday on September 17 by implementing social service and public welfare initiatives until October 2, the Delhi BJP leaders starte...

According to the government, nine Clean Plant Centers would be built nationwide as part of the recently sanctioned Rs 1,765.67 million Clean Plant Programme (CPP). According to an official statement, the program's goal is to increase India's horticultural industry by supplying planting material free of viruses. The Asian Development Bank loan of $98 million funds the project, which focuses on important fruit products such pomegranates, oranges, and grapes. At a cost of Rs 300 crore, three of the nine clean plant centers would be established in Maharashtra: one for pomegranates in Solapur, one for oranges in Nagpur, and one for grapes in Pune. The program will provide medium-sized nurseries with up to Rs 1.5 crore in support and large nurseries with up to Rs 3 crore apiece, resulting in...

The Indian Embassy in China had cautioned its residents to 'exercise necessary caution' amid the unrest in Nepal. India commended Chinese authorities for their timely help, ensuring a smooth passage for pilgrims of Kailash Mansarovar. Indian pilgrims participating in the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra can now securely and easily return to India via Nepal thanks to the opening of the border crossings, according to the Indian Embassy in Beijing. "We have learned that the border crossings are now operational and that Indian pilgrims participating in the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra can return to India via Nepal in a safe and easy manner," the embassy wrote in a post on X. We express our gratitude to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the local authorities in the Tibet Autonomous Region for the...

Over the past ten years, India's horticulture industry has grown impressively thanks to the government's strategy of diversifying into high-value agriculture in an effort to quadruple the nation's farmer income. Horticulture production climbed from 280.70 million tonnes in 2013–14 to 367.72 million tonnes as of August 2025 for 2024–25 (second advanced projections). This includes 219.67 million tonnes of vegetables, 114.51 million tonnes of fruit, and 33.54 million tonnes of other horticultural commodities. Fruit production rose by over 30% from 866 lakh metric tonnes in 2014–15 to 1,129.7 lakh metric tonnes in 2023–24. The production of vegetables also increased by 22% during the same time, from 1,694.7 lakh metric tonnes to 2,072 lakh metric tonnes. Additionally, productivity levels i...