Author: News Desk

More Indians are using long-distance carpooling for affordable intercity travel. Apps like BlaBlaCar allow users to share rides, cutting costs compared to taxis or private cabs. A 120-kilometer trip that could cost ₹1,500–₹2,000 in a cab can be done for about ₹500 through BlaBlaCar. India Becomes BlaBlaCar’s Largest MarketBlaBlaCar now estimates 20 million passengers in India this year, up almost 50% from last year. This makes India its biggest market, ahead of Brazil and France. The company, which had exited India in 2017 due to poor traction, saw renewed growth starting in 2022, driven by word of mouth and better mobile internet access. Digital Payments and Car…

As Chhattisgarh completes 25 years since becoming India’s 26th state, its new Legislative Assembly in Naya Raipur stands as a symbol of progress, heritage, and modern governance. Spread across 52 acres in Sector 19, the ₹324-crore complex blends modern architecture with traditional Chhattisgarhi and tribal art. Bastar and Surguja designs adorn the interiors, while a grand dome inspired by local palaces crowns the structure. The exterior subtly mirrors Rashtrapati Bhavan, connecting regional pride with national identity. The Assembly complex houses the main legislative chamber, a spacious secretariat, and a central hall, along with an auditorium, media lounge, art gallery, canteen,…

Hyderabad-based startup Skyroot Aerospace plans to launch India’s first private commercial rocket by January 2026. Founded by former ISRO engineers, the company aims to make satellite launches faster and more affordable for global clients. From test flights to full commercial missionsAfter the successful Vikram-S test flight in 2022, Skyroot is now preparing for its first full-scale commercial mission carrying small satellites for paying customers. This will mark the company’s shift from testing to regular launch operations. Building rockets for global demandCEO Pawan Chandana said each rocket takes about eight to nine months to build and costs $2–3 million, with expected…

Cochin Shipyard (CSL) is preparing to secure funding for its ambitious ₹6,000 crore expansion plan, set to unfold over the next five to six years. With a strong order pipeline and several new contracts in hand, the company is looking at multiple funding sources including government schemes, multilateral loans, blue bonds, and its own reserves. Officials say the investments will cover shipbuilding, ship repair, and other related projects. CSL plans to use the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance (SBFA) policy, which offers subsidies of 20–25 percent after contracts are signed — a major boost to project profitability. For example, a ₹3,000 crore project…

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced in the state assembly that the state is now free of extreme poverty, marking the declaration as part of Kerala Piravi celebrations. The claim, however, sparked immediate protest from the Congress-led UDF opposition, which dismissed it as “fraudulent” and boycotted the special session. Opposition Walkout Over CM’s Claim Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan accused the chief minister of violating assembly procedure by making the declaration under Rule 300. “We cannot be part of this deception,” he said, leading a walkout amid slogans denouncing the government’s announcement. Responding to the criticism, CM Vijayan…

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is bringing a major upgrade to the Aadhaar system, making updates faster, simpler, and fully digital. Starting November 1, 2025, Aadhaar holders will be able to update their name, address, date of birth, and mobile number online without visiting physical Aadhaar Seva Kendras or filling out paperwork. What’s changing from November 2025 UIDAI has announced a set of new rules designed to make the Aadhaar process smoother and more user-friendly. Here’s a quick look: Rule 1: Easy online updatesFrom November 1, you can update personal details such as your name, address, date of birth, and…

India’s drive to become a global maritime hub just picked up major speed. Dubai’s DP World and Denmark’s APM Terminals have announced new investments exceeding $7 billion to boost ports and logistics infrastructure across the country. The announcements came during India Maritime Week 2025, reflecting how foreign port operators are betting big on India’s long-term maritime reform plan — the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. DP World will pour in another $5 billion, taking its total investment in India to about $8 billion over thirty years. The funds will strengthen multimodal transport links, reduce logistics costs, and improve export efficiency.…

Anilkumar Bolla, a 29-year-old Indian expat living in Abu Dhabi, has become the first person to win the UAE Lottery’s record Dh100 million jackpot. He’s only been in the UAE for about a year and a half and beat odds of over 8.8 million to win the 23rd Lucky Day Draw held on October 18. In his first interview, Bolla shared how his winning numbers came from a mix of luck and sentiment. He used an Easy Pick for most numbers but deliberately chose 11 to mark his mother’s birth month,a choice that ended up changing his life. He bought…

The Kerala High Court has asked the State government to move beyond reports and studies and take practical steps to ensure pedestrian safety across Kerala. Justice Devan Ramachandran said that public spaces must become “pedestrian safe and pedestrian worthy” through visible on-ground changes. The court observed that most zebra crossings were poorly marked and failed to offer a continuous, safe route for pedestrians. Justice Ramachandran expressed concern that even now, authorities need judicial intervention to ensure such basic safety features. He criticised how vehicles routinely stop or park over zebra crossings, ignoring pedestrian rights and endangering lives. Earlier, the bench…

As temperatures continue to fall across northern India, the air quality in several cities has sharply declined. On Thursday, Indian cities filled nearly all of the top 40 spots on the global list of most polluted cities, though Delhi, unusually, did not make the top ten. Rajasthan Tops the Pollution Chart The worst air quality worldwide was recorded in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) touched a staggering 830 at 8:30 am, according to data from aqi.in. Siwani in Haryana followed with an AQI of 676, placing it second on the global chart. Delhi Still in the ‘Severe’…