In pictures | India celebrates Holi

Across India, millions gathered around and celebrated Holi on Friday (March 14, 2025), smearing each other with bright colours and dancing to music.  Amid tight security arrangements in view of the festival and Friday prayers, people danced to festive music and flung water balloons from balconies and rooftops at passersby. Traditional sweets were distributed as … Read more

Tamil Nadu to set up 25 Anbucholai centres for elderly

Tamil Nadu plans day care centres for elderly called Anbucholai. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Photo Library The Tamil Nadu government will set up 25 Anbucholai centres (day care centres for elderly) to ensure the overall well-being of senior citizens. “Old age is an inevitable stage of human life, and is often accompanied by challenges … Read more

Parliamentary panel recommends hike in wage rates under MGNREGA 

Representational image of women workers employed under the MGNREGA scheme | Photo Credit: L. Balachandar Parliamentary Panel on Rural Development headed by Congress MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka in its report reviewing the budgetary allocation of Department of Rural Development on Wednesday (March 12, 2025), strongly argued for revision of wages and uniform rates across the … Read more

History of the rupee symbol: how it came into existence?

Workers remove rupee symbol installed at mahim junction, Mumbai. Image used for representation only. | Photo Credit: Vijay Bate The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has decided to remove the official rupee symbol (₹) from the state’s Budget 2025, replacing it with the Tamil script. This marks the first time a state has rejected the national … Read more

CBI probing suspected role of public servants in large-scale smuggling of gold from UAE to India

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the suspected role public servants in the large-scale smuggling of gold from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India, based on the inputs shared by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which recently arrested Kannada actor Ranya Rao allegedly with smuggled gold. According to the First Information … Read more

Adopt innovative measures to counter security challenges: Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. File | Photo Credit: ANI Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), has underscored the need to adopt innovative measures to counter the increased security challenges. Addressing the Commanders’ Conference of the Southern Air Command (SAC) in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday … Read more

Jaishankar meets fishermen from Tamil Nadu, promises ‘full support in consular cases’

S. Jaishankar. | Photo Credit: ANI External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met a delegation of fishermen from Tamil Nadu on Thursday (March 13, 2025). The meeting acquires significance as it comes against the backdrop of India’s “strong protest” against the January 28 firing by the Sri Lankan Navy on 13 Indian fishermen. Subsequently, Sri Lanka … Read more

Prepare and finalise guidelines before announcing schemes in Budgets: Parliamentary panel to Urban Affairs Ministry

Proceedings of the Lok Sabha underway during the Budget Session of Parliament on March 12, 2025. | Photo Credit: ANI A Parliamentary Standing Committee has advised the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to hold consultations with stakeholders, and prepare documents and guidelines to schemes prior to announcing them in Budgets. “This would avoid … Read more