Author: Sharad Natani
Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit Tiger Reserve—home to one of India’s richest tiger populations—has found an inspiring way to reduce human-tiger conflict. A group of trained local volunteers, known as Bagh Mitras, are quietly transforming the relationship between villagers and wildlife, proving that coexistence is possible when communities lead from the front. Launched in 2019 by WWF-India, the Bagh Mitra programme trains villagers living near forests to act as first responders whenever a tiger is sighted or a conflict arises. Their job is simple but critical—calm the crowd, inform the forest department, guide villagers to safety, and ensure the tiger finds its…
In a significant move to protect one of India’s most sensitive wildlife zones, the Supreme Court on Monday issued strong directions to the Uttarakhand government to restore damaged areas of the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve and demolish all unauthorised structures within three months. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai, along with Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria, delivered a firm ruling aimed at ending illegal construction, reckless tourism, and administrative failures that have harmed the iconic reserve. Eco-Tourism Only, No Exploitation: SC’s Clear Message The apex court made it clear that promotion of tourism cannot come…
Delhi woke up to another day of suffocating smog on Saturday, with the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) plunging deep into the “severe” category despite emergency restrictions under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). As visibility dipped and medical complaints surged, the national capital continued to battle one of its toughest pollution phases of the season. At 8 am, Ashok Vihar reported an alarming AQI of 426, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. The 24-hour average AQI stood at 387, placing most regions of Delhi in the “very poor” to “severe” bracket. Residents reported irritation…
In a first-of-its-kind move for Uttar Pradesh, Noida has officially rolled out Google’s real-time Speed Limit integration on Maps, giving commuters instant access to accurate speed limits right on their navigation screens. The initiative, led by IPS Dr. Rajeev Narain Mishra, Additional Commissioner of Police, Noida, is being hailed as a breakthrough in digital traffic management and public safety. A Simple Fix to a Complicated Problem For years, drivers across India have relied on guesswork due to missing or outdated speed limit boards. Google Maps could show vehicle speed — but not the actual legal limit. Noida’s new integration fixes…
India’s digital consumer grievance platform e-Jagriti has emerged as a transformative force in consumer justice, resolving over 1,27,000 complaints since its launch in January 2025. With more than 2 lakh registered users, including NRIs across multiple countries, the portal is setting new benchmarks in accessibility, transparency, and digital governance. According to fresh data from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the platform has successfully addressed 1,27,058 cases as of November 13, 2025, reflecting a significant improvement in dispute resolution speed and user satisfaction. NRIs Can File Complaints from Anywhere in the World A major highlight of e-Jagriti is its ability to…
In one of Uttar Pradesh’s biggest pharmaceutical crime crackdowns, authorities have uncovered a massive racket involving the purchase and sale of 8.9 million bottles of banned codeine-based cough syrup, valued at nearly ₹100 crore. Investigators have identified Shubham Jayaswal as the alleged kingpin behind the illegal network that operated across several districts. The Food Safety and Drug Administration, along with state intelligence units, revealed that 28 medicine traders were part of the supply chain that diverted restricted cough syrup into illegal markets between 2023 and 2025. These bottles were reportedly sold for recreational and addictive use in multiple cities. Fake…