TVK has demanded the complete abolition of NEET and called for states to receive full authority over education, medical admissions and related policies. TVK Demands NEET Abolition and Greater State Authority Tamil Nadu’s ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has renewed its demand for the complete abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, saying its opposition goes beyond allegations of examination irregularities. The party said

TTD posting controversy has triggered questions after a report alleged that an employee who celebrated Chandrababu Naidu’s 2023 arrest received an AEE-level assignment. With no official order or response publicly verified, the claims require an impartial review. TTD Posting Controversy Over Alleged Anti-Naidu Remarks A controversy has emerged around an alleged personnel decision at Tirumala Tirupat

The Trump administration is considering a $100,000 green card bond for certain applicants completing consular processing abroad. The unconfirmed proposal would examine financial self-sufficiency but leaves eligibility, refund rules and implementation unclear. The Trump administration is considering requiring certain people applying for U.S. green cards through consulates abroad to post bonds of up to $100,000, according to

The National Council for Teacher Education has constituted a five-member committee to investigate alleged irregularities at four Madhya Pradesh B.Ed colleges. The inspection will verify approved locations, infrastructure, faculty strength and compliance with NCTE regulations before submitting a report within five working days. NCTE Constitutes Five-Member Committee In an order issued on July 15, the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), under the Education Ministry, constituted a five-member independent fact-finding and verification committee to investigate alleged irregularities at four B.Ed colleges in Madhya Pradesh. The inquiry follows reports that some institutions were not operating from their declared addresses and lacked the infrastructure required under NCTE regulations. The committee has been directed to complete its investigation and submit a detailed report, supported by documentary evidence, photographs and videographic records, within five working days. The committee is headed by H.C.S. Rathore, former Vice-Chancellor of the Central University of South Bihar. Its members include Ashima Mangla, Joint Secretary at the University Grants Commission (UGC); Bhagwati Prasad Kalal and J.P. Singh, Directors in the Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education; a nominee of the Madhya Pradesh government; and Wg Cdr Vijay Rana, Regional Director of the NCTE's Western Regional Committee. Inspection Expanded to Four Colleges The investigation was launched after media reports raised concerns about three B.Ed colleges affiliated with Barkatullah University. During the preliminary verification, officials found that another B.Ed college was operating from the same premises, increasing the total number of institutions under investigation to four. According to the NCTE, the committee reached Madhya Pradesh on July 17 and has already begun physical inspections. The regulator said the additional institution was identified during the initial study, prompting the expansion of the inquiry. Compliance With NCTE Norms Under Review The committee has been instructed to conduct on-site inspections using geotagged photographs and videos to verify whether the colleges are functioning from their approved locations. Officials will compare their findings with the institutions' recognition documents, Performance Appraisal Reports (PARs) and other official records submitted to the NCTE. The inspection will also assess whether the colleges comply with the provisions of the NCTE Act, 1993, NCTE Regulations and prescribed recognition standards. Areas under review include infrastructure, classrooms, laboratories, land availability, faculty strength and other academic and administrative requirements necessary for operating teacher education programmes. Strict Action Possible After Investigation The committee has been directed to submit its findings within five working days. Based on the report, the NCTE will conduct a comprehensive review before deciding on further action against the institutions. Describing the matter as a serious lapse, the regulator said strict punitive action would be taken against any institution found violating the NCTE Act, regulations or recognition norms after the completion of the 360-degree verification process.

A 16-year-old student in Rajasthan’s Dholpur district reportedly died by suicide after an alleged skin colour taunt by a classmate on Thursday, July 16, 2026. The case has raised concerns about school bullying, colour-based discrimination and student mental health. Rajasthan Teen Suicide Case A 16-year-old student identified as Rahul reportedly died by suicide in Rajasth

India’s first hydrogen train was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Jind railway station in Haryana. The fuel-cell train will operate on the Jind-Sonipat route, generating electricity on board while emitting water vapour and heat at the point of use. Hydrogen Train Launch Marks Indian Railways Milestone Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, July 17, 2026, flagged off India’s first h

Tirupati temple donations reached a record Rs 96.98 crore in 24 hours as 2,460 devotees contributed before TTD’s revised donor policy took effect. The rush was driven by the end of lifetime privileges, shorter benefit periods and new digital darshan rules. Record Donations Before New Policy Deadline Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams collected a record Rs 96.98 crore in donations within 24 hours on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, as devotees rushe

Wayanad landslide video shows tanker swept away, narrow escape Terrifying CCTV footage from Kerala’s Wayanad district has captured the dramatic moment a powerful landslide sent tonnes of mud, rocks and debris rushing downhill near the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel road project. The footage shows people running for their lives as a thick wave of slush crashes through the area near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi. W

Vijay government may function without Deputy CM Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s government could continue functioning without appointing a Deputy Chief Minister, according to reports circulating in political circles. The emerging speculation has triggered discussion about the leadership structure of the administration and whether Vijay intends to retain a highly centralized model of governance under the Chief Mini

Losing a bag while traveling can be stressful. But when the bag contains a passport, EAD card, driver’s license, visa documents, bank cards and other IDs, the situation can quickly become serious. For students, workers, visitors and immigrants in the United States, the first few hours are important. The affected person should create an official record, protect their identity, arrange safe domestic travel and begin the replacement process for

Vijay’s BJP-Centre Balancing Act Reshapes Tamil Nadu Politics Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is attempting to bring a new style to opposition politics by separating ideological rivalry from administrative responsibility. During the 2026 Assembly election campaign, Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam placed the BJP at the centre of their political attacks, strongly opposing Hindi imposition, the National Education Policy, centra

The Tamil Nadu horse-trading row intensified after the DMK, AIADMK and BJP separately met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, seeking his intervention over allegations against the TVK government. The parties raised concerns over alleged attempts to poach legislators, misuse of police machinery and the participation of private individuals in official government meetings. Opposition Parties Raise TVK Horse-Trading Allega

Delhi govt ends work from home, restores normal office timings The Delhi government has withdrawn its work-from-home arrangement and staggered office timings for employees, citing an improvement in the geopolitical situation in West Asia. The decision brings an end to temporary fuel-saving measures introduced earlier this year amid concerns over global energy supplies and rising uncertainty linked to the conflict involving the United States and Iran. Chief

Illinois drivers will not face the scheduled 1.3-cent motor fuel tax increase in 2026. The Illinois gas tax will remain at 48.3 cents per gallon through Thursday, December 31, 2026, before rising to 49.6 cents on Friday, January 1, 2027. Illinois Gas Tax Increase Delayed for Six Months The scheduled increase was suspended beginning Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The temporary pause does not reduce the existing gasoline tax. It postpones only the inflation-link

Chiranjeevi’s Wife Surekha Named In Yadagirigutta Temple Board The Telangana government has constituted a new board for the famous Yadagirigutta Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, also known as Yadadri Temple. The latest appointments have attracted public attention after Konidela Surekha, wife of Megastar Chiranjeevi, was named as one of the board members. Surekha Konidela’s Appointment Draws Attention Konidela Surekha’s i

Thiruvananthapuram, June 30: Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has distanced the Home Department from a reported Operation Toofan meeting linked to Congress MP K Sudhakaran, saying official meetings under the campaign can be convened only by senior police officers. Operation Toofan is Kerala’s police-led anti-drug campaign aimed at cracking down on narcotics networks, drug trafficking and substance abuse. The clari

Kochi, June 30, 2026: The Sabarimala gold theft probe has widened after the Special Investigation Team informed the Kerala High Court that it had collected material against seven persons, including former Travancore Devaswom Board president P.S. Prasanth. The SIT report points to alleged criminal breach of trust, forgery and criminal conspiracy in connection with the Dwarapalaka idols and related gold-plating work. Sabarimala Gold Thef

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is set to launch the state’s biggest-ever road infrastructure programme on June 28, with a ₹19,300 crore investment to reconstruct and upgrade 13,541 km of roads under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). Mega Road Programme to Be Launched in Nalgonda on June 28 The Telangana government is gearing up to roll out its most ambitious

Fresh diplomatic discussions around a proposed Gaza peace framework have exposed deep divisions over how the territory should transition after conflict. The draft outlines a multi-step roadmap covering security arrangements, reconstruction and political governance, but key stakeholders remain split on the order in which these steps should take place. At the center of the disagreement is whether armed groups should be required to disarm before any political transition begins, or whether political recognition and state-building guarantees must come first to ensure balance in negotiations. Disarmament conditions trigger political tension One version of the proposal places disarmament as a prerequisite for rebuilding efforts and formal governance structures. Supporters of this approach argue that long-term stability cannot be achieved without removing weapons from non-state actors first. Opponents reject this sequencing, warning that it could leave Palestinian authorities without leverage in future talks. They argue that political rights and institutional recognition must be secured alongside any security commitments, not after them. This divide has become one of the most sensitive issues in the ongoing talks. Aid and reconstruction tied to compliance terms Another contested element involves humanitarian aid and reconstruction funding. Some draft interpretations suggest that international assistance could be linked to compliance with security benchmarks under the proposed roadmap. Critics say this risks turning basic recovery needs into conditional political tools, potentially slowing down urgently needed rebuilding efforts. Supporters argue that conditionality is necessary to prevent renewed escalation and ensure accountability during the transition phase. Governance model and external oversight concerns The proposed framework also includes the idea of an international oversight structure to stabilize post-conflict Gaza. While intended to support security coordination and administrative rebuilding, the concept has raised concerns about long-term external control. Questions remain unanswered over who would lead local governance, how authority would be transferred over time, and what limits would be placed on external involvement. These unresolved issues continue to slow consensus-building. Trust gap widens between negotiating sides Beyond policy disagreements, a broader trust deficit is shaping the talks. Each side interprets the roadmap differently, particularly on what constitutes compliance and political progress. This lack of shared definition has made it difficult to establish a clear sequence for implementation. Analysts note that without agreed enforcement mechanisms, even minor disputes could delay or derail the entire process. Fragile outlook for ceasefire implementation While discussions continue, the overall outlook remains uncertain. The success of any ceasefire arrangement depends on whether both sides can align on sequencing, accountability, and political guarantees. Without that alignment, observers warn that the proposed roadmap risks remaining a draft framework rather than becoming an actionable peace agreement.

YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has questioned Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over the whereabouts of Gade Sai Krishna, a Vijayawada youth whose disappearance has triggered a major political row. Jagan Questions Naidu Over Sai Krishna Case Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has demanded answers from Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over the Sai Krishna case, asking w