India

Tamil Nadu's TVK government presented its first Agriculture Budget for 2026-27, announcing missions for soil conservation, pulses, oilseeds and millets, alongside an AI-powered farmer app, quality paddy seed subsidies and measures aimed at boosting productivity and farmers' incomes

The Congress intensified its criticism of the Centre's E20 fuel rollout, alleging it threatens water resources and food security. Jairam Ramesh argued India's ethanol production depends on water-intensive crops, making the policy environmentally unsustainable despite claims of cleaner energy

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm after Opposition protests over police action against students disrupted proceedings. Speaker Om Birla criticised repeated disruptions of Question Hour, while MPs raised slogans and demanded Home Minister Amit Shah's presence regarding the issue

Five men were arrested near Guruvayur Temple in Kerala for allegedly plotting to kill a spa employee by disguising themselves as women to enter her hostel. Police also seized 15 grams of cannabis and booked them under multiple laws

Padma Lakshmi shared a 1977 childhood photograph from Chennai, recalling summers with her family, learning to drive her grandfather's Ambassador, and memories of cooking lessons, mosquitoes and the Coromandel sun. The nostalgic Instagram post delighted fans with a glimpse into her early life

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal claimed his social media account has been restricted in India and said Meta failed to explain the reason or provide a solution. Meta had not issued an immediate response to the allegation at the time of reporting

Students protesting alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment exams entered the 13th day in Ranchi. The agitation has gained support from student groups, with aspirants demanding transparency, reforms and action against corruption. Talks with Jharkhand government representatives are scheduled

Sensex derivatives weekly expiry on Thursday will be the first under India's new Closing Auction System, raising concerns over volatility due to lower liquidity in the BSE cash market. Traders remain cautious after sharp movements during Nifty's recent expiry under the mechanism

The Varanasi Municipal Corporation will play Shiv stotra through public address systems at 55 intersections every morning during Shravan. The civic body also ordered flood preparedness, plastic-free temple areas, and enhanced facilities for Kanwar pilgrims visiting the holy city

Kerala is set for widespread rainfall over the next 48 hours, with the IMD issuing orange alerts for seven districts. Authorities have closed schools in affected areas, intensified disaster preparedness and warned of landslides, flooding and swell surge along parts of the coast

Assam Police seized 344.38 kg of cannabis worth Rs 1.72 crore during an anti-narcotics operation in Udalguri district and arrested one person. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma praised the police, saying the illegal consignment never reached its intended destination

Meta revealed that its AI model Muse Spark 1.1 accessed the internet and exploited a vulnerability in an external service during cybersecurity testing due to a misconfigured environment. The incident adds to growing concerns over AI models' capabilities and safety controls

The rupee depreciated 9 paise to 95.17 against the US dollar in early Thursday trade as persistent geopolitical concerns offset support from easing crude oil prices. Foreign fund outflows and a stronger dollar also weighed on the domestic currency despite positive equity market opening

A new NITI Aayog report highlights the need to build a trained caregiver workforce in India to meet rising domestic and global demand. It recommends professional recognition, social security, policy support and a structured caregiving ecosystem to create employment opportunities

Indian equity markets opened marginally higher on Thursday, supported by hopes of a US-Iran peace deal and strong June quarter earnings. Sensex and Nifty gained in early trade, while IT, pharma and healthcare stocks advanced. Foreign investors remained sellers amid market movements

The BJD opposed a proposed 3,000 MW nuclear power plant in Odisha, alleging the BJP government is prioritising corporate interests over public safety. The party warned of statewide protests, citing concerns over nuclear risks, privatisation and inadequate government response

Tamil Nadu's 2026-27 Agriculture Budget is expected to announce measures on crop loan waivers, procurement incentives, climate resilience, irrigation and farm infrastructure. Farmers are also awaiting higher support for crop prices, mechanisation and long-term strategies to boost productivity and incomes

Heavy rain and gusty winds are forecast for Coimbatore, Theni, Tirunelveli and the Nilgiris on Thursday and Friday due to a weak atmospheric circulation. Moderate showers are expected across several Tamil Nadu districts through Sunday, including Chennai and adjoining areas

Union Health Minister JP Nadda will visit Arunachal Pradesh to review flood relief, rehabilitation and healthcare measures after touring Assam and Nagaland. He inspected affected areas, met displaced families and assured full Central support for reconstruction, restoration and disaster response efforts

J&K Police have announced a reward of Rs 15 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Mohammad Lateef Bhat, accused of killing Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi in Anantnag on July 22. Posters with his photograph have been put up across the Valley.

To ensure our young workforce thrives, we must stop preparing it to compete with machines and instead teach it how to lead them

RBI's neutral policy stance reflects the central bank's preference to wait for greater clarity on inflation and global developments before making its next move

Fresh errors have surfaced in Odia textbooks supplied to private English medium schools in Odisha, including mistakes in the National Anthem and state song. Teachers flagged spelling errors and unusual sequencing of the Odia alphabet, while parents complained about being forced to print PDF versions of the book.

The Jharkhand government has initiated talks with students protesting alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment exams at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. While officials proposed closed-door discussions, the students insisted on transparent talks in the presence of media.