Author: News Desk

As summer temperatures rise, many travelers seek relief in the cool, green hills of South India. While popular destinations like Ooty and Kodaikanal remain favorites, several lesser-known hill stations provide equally stunning views and peaceful environments away from the crowds. Yercaud, Tamil Nadu Located in the Shevaroys Range, Yercaud is famous for its coffee plantations and orange groves. The mist-covered hills offer a calm retreat with scenic spots such as Yercaud Lake and Lady’s Seat, which is known for its beautiful sunsets. Kudremukh, Karnataka Kudremukh, meaning ‘Horse Face,’ is known for its rich biodiversity and lush mountains. It is popular…

The National Defence Academy (NDA) witnessed a historic moment as its first batch of 17 women cadets officially graduated alongside 300 male cadets during the 148th course Passing Out Parade at the Khetrpal Parade Ground in Khadakwasla, Pune. This milestone follows the 2021 Supreme Court directive that led to the inclusion of women in NDA admissions starting from 2022. Parade Led by Academy Cadet Captain The graduation parade was commanded by Academy Cadet Captain Udayveer Negi. General VK Singh, former Army Chief and current Governor of Mizoram, served as the reviewing officer. The cadets crossed the symbolic ‘Antim Pag’, signifying…

Paul Jose Mavely, a 60-year-old Indian expatriate living in Dubai, has won the Dubai Duty-Free Millennium Millionaire jackpot for the second time in less than ten years. This exceptional achievement is rare and has attracted significant attention and admiration. Longtime Dubai Resident and Lottery Participant Mavely, originally from Kerala, has been living in Dubai for 38 years. He works as a site supervisor at a construction firm and has been regularly participating in the Dubai Duty-Free lottery since it started in 1999. Collaborative Ticket Purchase Strategy Instead of buying tickets alone, Mavely pools resources with friends to increase their chances.…

Following a copyright dispute involving news agency Asian News International (ANI) and several YouTube creators, India’s top public broadcasters and government media bodies have made a vast range of their content freely or cheaply accessible. Agencies such as Prasar Bharati, Akashvani (All India Radio), Doordarshan National, and the Press Information Bureau (PIB) are now providing their archives for public use on social media platforms including YouTube. Press Trust of India Leads with Affordable Content Access The Press Trust of India (PTI) had earlier started a similar initiative, offering reasonably priced video content for creators to use across digital platforms. This…

After declaring the wreckage of MSC ELSA 3 off the Kerala coast a state disaster, the state government has initiated talks with the ship owner, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), for a financial settlement. The compensation being sought includes funds for damage assessment, risk management, restoration, and other remedial efforts. Seven-Member Negotiation Committee Formed A seven-member committee led by the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Finance Department has been formed to lead negotiations with MSC. The committee also includes: This committee is also tasked with coordinating state and district-level responses to coastal pollution threats. Two-Tier Pollution Control Mechanism At the…

The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-Kashmir) has successfully created India’s first gene-edited sheep, marking a major advancement in reproductive biotechnology. This achievement places India among a select group of countries capable of advanced genome editing in livestock. Gene Editing Using CRISPR-Cas9 The lamb was born after precise editing of the myostatin gene, which regulates muscle growth. This modification increased the animal’s muscle mass by around 30%, a characteristic similar to that of high-yield European sheep breeds like Texel, but not found in indigenous Indian breeds. The gene editing was performed using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, ensuring accuracy and…

Zerodha, the popular stock trading and investing platform, is set to invest between Rs 100 crore and Rs 125 crore (about $15 million) in its non-banking financial company (NBFC) arm, Zerodha Capital (ZCPL). This capital infusion, pending Reserve Bank of India approval, aims to grow its loan-against-securities (LAS) portfolio and broaden access to customers beyond Zerodha’s existing brokerage users. Measured Growth with Conservative Risk Approach The promoters’ investment will support ZCPL’s strategy to increase lending gradually while maintaining cautious risk management. The company has been steadily growing since launching retail lending operations in 2021. For fiscal year 2025, Zerodha Capital…

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of IT and Electronics, announced at the CII Annual Business Summit that India will roll out its first domestically manufactured semiconductor chip with a 28-90 nanometer (nm) process this year. He shared that six manufacturing units are currently under construction, with production having started in 2022. The 28-90 nm chips are vital for sectors like automotive, telecom, power, and railways. Smaller nanometer chips mean more compact designs, enabling better performance. Balancing Manufacturing and Services for GrowthVaishnaw stressed the importance of both manufacturing and services sectors in India’s economic growth. He emphasized the need for India to develop…

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore (62) and Suni Williams (59) have completed their rehabilitation following a prolonged nine-month stay on the International Space Station (ISS), far exceeding the planned eight-day mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule. They returned to Earth in March and spent 45 days undergoing post-mission recovery to regain muscle strength, balance, and adapt to Earth’s gravity. Both astronauts faced physical challenges. Wilmore experienced recurring neck pain that had vanished during his time in space, while Williams dealt with sluggish mornings as her body reactivated dormant muscle groups. They participated in two-hour daily rehabilitation sessions with NASA’s medical team. Resuming…

BSNL has reported consistent quarterly net profits for the first time in 17 years. Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that the state-run telecom company recorded a net profit of ₹280 crore in the January–March quarter of FY 2024–25. This follows a profit of ₹261 crore in the previous quarter (Q3 FY25). Significant Financial TurnaroundScindia emphasized that this marks the first instance since 2007 where BSNL has achieved net profit—not just operational or EBITDA profit—in consecutive quarters. He called it a result of the government’s focused, reform-driven strategy under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reduction in Annual…