Makar Sankranti, celebrated on January 14, marks the arrival of warmer days and the start of the harvest season. This festival is one of the most cherished in India, with each region observing it in a unique way. From kite flying in Gujarat to grand fairs in Uttar Pradesh, the festival is known for its jubilant atmosphere. The sun's journey northward signifies a positive change in the season, and it’s a time for family gatherings, rituals, and delicious food. This year, Makar Sankra

In an effort to curb excessive spending and reduce alcohol abuse, Ballo village in Punjab’s Bathinda district has introduced a unique initiative. The village panchayat has announced a cash reward of Rs 21,000 for families who choose not to serve liquor or play DJ music at wedding functions. Sarpanch Amarjit Kaur explained that such practices often lead to quarrels and disturbances, particularly when alcohol is involved, and loud music disrupts the studies of students. The init

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow has announced the commencement of the application process for its PhD program in management for 2025. Eligible candidates can submit their applications online via the official website, iiml.ac.in, with the deadline set for February 23, 2025. Steps to Apply: Visit the official website (iiml.ac.in). Click on the 'IIM Lucknow PhD Admission 2025' link. Register on the websit

The United States will soon allow highly skilled professionals, especially Indians working in specialized fields, to renew their H-1B visas without leaving the country. This change follows a successful pilot program launched a year ago, which involved approximately 20,000 participants. The new process, aimed at making visa renewals quicker and more convenient, eliminates the need for applicants to travel back to their home countries for a visa stamp. This has been a long-awaited relief for ma

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi was visibly emotional during a press conference today after BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri made controversial remarks about her father. Atishi, struggling to control her tears, expressed disbelief at the level of personal attack made against her elderly father. Bidhuri, a BJP candidate running against Atishi in the Kalkaji constituency, had targeted her over her surname and made unfounded accusations about her family’s past, including alleging their involvement wi

Infosys, the major IT company, has postponed its annual salary hike for the fourth quarter of FY 2024-25, following the last increase in November 2023. This delay highlights the ongoing uncertainties within the domestic IT sector. One of the key reasons cited for the slowdown is the lack of increased IT spending from clients, influenced by macroeconomic factors, including potential tariffs under the upcoming Donald Trump administration. Infosys is not alone in this move, as other large IT com

A court in Bangladesh has issued a second arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing her of enforced disappearances during her time in power. The new charges, which were announced by the chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), Tajul Islam, involve Hasina, her military adviser, and several law enforcement officials. Over 500 people were allegedly abducted by Bangladesh's security forces under her regime, with some of them detained in secret locati

On Monday, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna recused himself from hearing two significant pleas regarding the finalisation of the constitutions for the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF). These constitutions were drafted by former Supreme Court judge Justice L. Nageswara Rao. CJI Khanna informed the bench, which included Justice Sanjay Kumar, that he would not participate in the proceedings because of his prior involvement with the case in t

Rohit Sharma’s future in Test cricket has come under scrutiny after the Indian opener was left out of the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney. Officially, Rohit "opted to rest" from the game, but this decision has raised questions about his long-term role in the format. Sunil Gavaskar, one of India's cricketing legends, speculated that this might signal the end of Rohit's Test career, suggesting that the selection committee may look to younger players who can lead t

Manu Bhaker, India's twin-Olympic medallist, and D Gukesh, chess prodigy, are among the four recipients of the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The other two recipients are India's men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh and para-athlete Praveen Kumar.   This announcement comes after a week of controversy surrounding Bhaker's nomination, which was initially overloo

The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has opened applications for the 2025-27 MBA programme. Interested candidates can apply via the official websites acad.uohyd.ac.in and uohyd.ac.in. The deadline for submission is January 15, 2025. Applicants must have a minimum of a three-year first-class Bachelor's degree, with 60% marks or equivalent, and must have appeared for CAT 2024. Shortlisted candidates will undergo a Grou

India has officially declared 2025 as the "Year of Defence Reforms" with the goal of modernizing its military and enhancing synergy between the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh outlined a nine-point reform plan that includes the creation of integrated theatre commands to improve collaboration and resource utilization among the three services. These reforms will ensure a technologically advanced, combat-ready force capable of operating across multiple domains

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has postponed the release date for the GATE 2025 admit cards. Initially scheduled for January 2, the admit cards will now be available for download starting January 7, 2025. Registered candidates can access their admit cards by visiting the official GATE 2025 website, gate2025.iitr.ac.in, using their login credentials. The GATE 2025 exam is scheduled for February 1, 2, 15, and 16, 2025, and it will be conducted in a computer-based test (CBT) mo

The sporting year of 2024 felt as though it was scripted by a suspense writer with a flair for unpredictability. Major events were marked by false leads and dramatic twists, leaving punters disappointed, pundits confounded, and fans anxiously biting their nails. Nothing unfolded as expected. It was a year where emotions ran high—joy and heartbreak ambushed fans like sly muggers in the shadows. For Indian sports, August 13 during the Paris Olympics was particularly unforgettabl

In 2024, the collective wealth of the world’s top 500 billionaires surged to a staggering $10 trillion, marking an unprecedented milestone. The year saw tech giants Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jensen Huang dominate the wealth rankings, with their fortunes significantly boosted by a rally in US technology stocks. Tesla, Meta, and Nvidia stocks performed exceptionally well, contributing heavily to the increase in wealth. Musk, the wealthiest individual, saw his fortune soar to $442.1

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has launched its recruitment drive for 89 Junior Assistant (Fire Services) positions across India. Candidates interested in applying for these positions must meet the educational qualifications, which include being a 10th pass with a three-year approved diploma in Mechanical, Automobile, or Fire disciplines, or having completed their 12th standard (regular study). The online registration for the recruitment will close on January 28, 2025, and applicants ca

The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially announced the date for the SSC CPO 2024 Paper 2 examination. Scheduled for March 8, 2025, Paper 2 will be an essential part of the selection process for Sub-Inspector (SI) positions in Delhi Police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Candidates are advised to regularly check the SSC official website for any updates or changes to the exam schedule. The SSC CPO selection process consists of four stages: Paper 1, Physical Stan

The highly anticipated OnePlus Watch 3 is expected to launch soon as the successor to the OnePlus Watch 2, which debuted at MWC 2024. Recent reports have revealed several features of the smartwatch, but a new update has introduced the possibility of a Pro variant. According to a report, the "OnePlus Watch 3 Pro" was discovered in the source code of the OHealth app, alongside the Oppo Watch X2 series monikers. This suggests that the OnePlus Watch 3 Pro and Oppo Watch X2 could share s

Tonight, skywatchers will be treated to a rare and exciting astronomical event: a black moon, which is the second new moon to occur in December. While blue moons, or two full moons in a month, are relatively well-known, black moons are much rarer and are often misunderstood. A black moon occurs when the second new moon of the month takes place, and the new moon’s natural invisibility is further enhanced. As a result, this phenomenon makes it difficult to spot with the naked eye, but it

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, follows the lunar calendar and is one of the most significant cultural celebrations for the Chinese people. In 2025, Chinese New Year will begin on January 29, ushering in the "Year of the Wood Snake." The Chinese zodiac, which consists of 12 animals, assigns one animal and one element (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) to each year. In 2025, the Snake is paired with the element Wood, which symbolizes adaptability and creativity. T