New Delhi, June 26: Passport applicants in India will have to pay higher fees from July 1, 2026, as the government has revised charges for fresh passports, reissues and replacement of lost or damaged passports. Under the revised rules, a fresh or reissued ordinary 36-page passport will cost Rs 2,500, while the Tatkal fee for the same category has been increased to Rs 5,000.                  

The recent clarification that an Indian passport is not legally considered conclusive proof of citizenship has sparked widespread discussion and confusion among citizens. For decades, passports, Aadhaar cards and voter ID cards have been widely accepted as the primary documents that establish a person's identity and nationality. However, under India's legal framework, these documents may not always serve as final proof of citizenship in certain legal or administrative si

Two workers killed in factory fire At least two workers were killed after a major fire broke out at a chemical manufacturing unit in Paravada Pharma City near Visakhapatnam early on Tuesday, Jun 23, 2026. The accident took place at Dakshin Energy Chemical Factory in Anakapalle district, triggering panic in the industrial area as flames spread through the premises. The deceased workers have been identified as Trinadh and Venkatesh, both reportedly from Ac

Lucknow fire: 2016 demolition order under scanner The deadly fire at a three-storey building in Lucknow’s Aliganj area has raised serious questions over building safety, enforcement failures and the use of residential properties for commercial activity. The blaze, which broke out on Monday afternoon on Usha Mehta Marg, killed 15 people and injured several others, with many victims reportedly trapped inside the building as smoke spread rapid

Indian Army sniffer dogs joined their handlers for International Yoga Day activities on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at the Siachen Glacier, where troops operate at elevations above 18,000 feet. Indian Army Sniffer Dogs Join Yoga Day at Siachen Known as the “Siachen Sniffers,” the specially trained dogs stood alongside personnel from the Fire & Fury Corps as yoga sessions were held amid deep snow, icy winds and thin air on the world’s highest battlef

PM Modi Leads International Yoga Day 2026 From Kolkata’s Red Road Kolkata became the national focus of India’s global wellness message on Sunday, June 21, 2026, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 12th International Day of Yoga celebrations at the city’s historic Red Road. The event marked one of the biggest public gatherings for Yoga Day 2026, with the theme “Yoga for Healthy

Ram Mandir Donation Records Under SIT Scanner Over Missing 60 kg Silver Ayodhya, June 20, 2026: The ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in Ram Mandir donation records has widened after 60 kg of silver bars donated during the consecration ceremony were reportedly found missing from official records. The silver bars were said to have been offered to Ram Lalla during the Pran

Andhra Pradesh’s Jonnagiri Gold Mine Emerges As A Major Mining Milestone Andhra Pradesh’s Jonnagiri gold mine in Kurnool district has become a major focus after officials estimated nearly 50 tonnes of gold reserves in the area. With commercial production already underway, the state is aiming to emerge as one of India’s leading gold suppliers in the coming years.

Misra seeks overhaul of Ram Mandir management Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Misra has called for a major restructuring of the Ram Mandir management system amid the ongoing controversy over alleged misappropriation of donations in Ayodhya. His remarks have added weight to growing concerns over how offerings, cash, jewellery and other valuables are being handled at one of India’s most important religious sites. Misra said

Content note: This report discusses suicide and student mental health. NEW DELHI — The NEET retest crisis deepened after three medical aspirants in Coimbatore, Dehradun and Delhi were rNEET Retest Crisis: Three Aspirant Deaths Raise New Questions neet ug 2026, neet retest, student mental health, india education, nta, paper leak, pm modi, telegram restriction, medical entrance exameported dead by suicide in the days befor

Students Pressure And System Stress Highlighted At a large student gathering in Kota, Rahul Gandhi criticised India’s education framework, stating that it places excessive pressure on young learners and often leaves them mentally exhausted. The Congress leader made the remarks during the “Chhatron Ki Goon

Student-focused rally in Kota Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is set to address the “Echo of Students” rally in Kota, a major coaching hub in Rajasthan. The event is being positioned around concerns raised by students and competitive exam aspirants, particularly issues li

Telegram restriction ahead of NEET raises WhatsApp question India’s decision to restrict Telegram ahead of the NEET re-test scheduled for June 21 has triggered a wider debate on digital platform regulation and why similar action has not been taken against WhatsApp. The move, taken on the recommendation of the National Testing Agency (NTA), is linked to concerns over exam-related fraud and the circulation o

The G7 summit 2026 opened in Évian-les-Bains, France, with leaders gathering for discussions on global economic pressure, trade stability, artificial intelligence, energy security, climate action and geopolitical tensions. India’s participation has drawn major attention as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to present New Delhi’s priorities before some of the world’s most influential economies. Although India is not a G7 membe

Noida International Airport in Jewar began commercial flight operations on Monday, June 15, 2026, marking a major milestone for Uttar Pradesh’s aviation network and the wider National Capital Region. The first commercial flight from Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport landed at the new airport at 8:05 am, officially opening passenger movement at the greenfield aviation hub. The inaugural Lucknow-Noida service was ope

A tragic railway accident in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district killed four passengers on Sunday around 4:15 pm after panic spread inside the Khajuraho-Udaipur Intercity Express following a rumour of fire. The incident occurred between Hetampur and Dholpur railway stations in the Jhansi Division, according to preliminary information shared by North Central Railway. Train No. 19665 Khajuraho-Udaipur Intercity Express had come to a halt afte

Kerala’s Priyadarshini free bus travel scheme is expected to help women students, daily workers, low-income commuters and transgender persons reduce regular transport expenses from June 15. The scheme allows eligible passengers to travel free of cost on selected KSRTC ordinary bus services. The government has introduced the move as a welfare measure to improve public transport access and support daily mobility across the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bratislava on a landmark visit to Slovakia, becoming the first Indian prime minister to travel to the country since it became independent in 1993. The visit is part of his three-nation European tour and comes at a time when India is working to deepen its political, economic and technology partnerships across Europe. During his two-day stay, Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Slovak Pre