Author: Sharad Natani
Diwali 2025 brought not just lights and celebration but also a historic economic surge. According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), India’s total festive season sales touched an unprecedented Rs6.05 lakh crore, setting a new all-time record for retail and services turnover. Out of this, Rs5.40 lakh crore came from goods sales, while Rs65,000 crore was generated by the services sector — marking a staggering 25% jump compared to last year’s Rs4.25 lakh crore. ‘Vocal for Local’ Becomes the Festival Mantra CAIT National Secretary Praveen Khandelwal credited the phenomenal performance to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Vocal for Local”…
India, the world’s third-largest generator of electronic waste, is preparing to give discarded gadgets a second life — as power sources for the country’s booming electric vehicle (EV) revolution. In a landmark proposal, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has urged the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) to include recycling of old rare earth magnets (REPMs) under the government’s upcoming Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. The move aims to turn mountains of e-waste — from phones, laptops, and speakers — into valuable materials that can drive the next generation of EVs. Experts say this initiative could redefine India’s…
In a groundbreaking wildlife conservation effort, India has successfully deployed the Boma technique—a modern, low-stress animal capture method—for the first time to relocate 45 blackbucks in Madhya Pradesh’s Shajapur district. The operation, conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department (MPFD) with technical assistance from Conservation Solutions, South Africa, marks a major leap in the country’s approach to wildlife management. The technique, which involves guiding animals through funnel-shaped enclosures (Bomas) using barriers and sometimes helicopters, was executed on Deepavali day. Officials say it aims to reduce crop damage caused by blackbucks and nilgais, while maintaining ecological balance and minimizing human-wildlife conflict.…
In one of the most dramatic turns in French political history, former President Nicolas Sarkozy — once known as the “Iron President” — has begun serving his prison sentence. Confined to a solitary cell in La Santé Prison, Paris, Sarkozy’s fall from the Élysée Palace to incarceration has sent shockwaves through France and beyond. Before entering prison, Sarkozy posted an emotional statement on social media: “They are not imprisoning a former president — they are imprisoning an innocent man. I feel sorrow for a France humiliated by revenge.” His words captured the nation’s anguish — a mix of disbelief, shame,…
Maharashtra’s forests are facing a grave crisis. In just four years — from January 2022 to September 2025 — the state has lost 142 tigers and 537 leopards, according to shocking data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Nagpur. The data paints a worrying picture of India’s wildlife heritage under threat, with poaching, electrocution, and road accidents emerging as major killers of the state’s big cats. Rising Toll in 2025 Alone This year alone, 35 tigers and 115 leopards have died in Maharashtra till September. Of the tiger deaths, 21…
When life tested her with unimaginable loss, 16-year-old Rupam Sonali chose courage over despair. Orphaned as a teenager after losing both her parents, she promised her dying mother that she would “do something big in life.” Today, at just 22 years old, Rupam has fulfilled that promise — clearing the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) exam in her very first attempt, without any coaching or financial support. A Journey Born from Loss, Fueled by Love Rupam’s story begins in tragedy. Her father passed away when she was just 11. Years later, her mother succumbed to blood cancer within a week…