Author: Sharad Natani
In the dense, untamed wilderness of Uttar Pradesh’s tiger country, one woman walks with courage, compassion, and conviction. Khushboo Upadhyay, a name now synonymous with fearless forest protection, has become a living legend—rescuing 18 leopards and transforming human-wildlife conflict zones into safe havens for both. Nicknamed “The Tiger Woman”, this 2017-batch officer of the UP PCS has emerged as a beacon of hope—not only for the animals she saves but for countless young women daring to dream of serving in India’s toughest terrains. From Ayodhya’s Alleys to the Wilds of Amangarh Born in the sacred city of Ayodhya, Khushboo began…
The sacred town of Puri transformed into a sea of devotion today as Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025 began with unmatched fervor and faith. Over a million devotees from across India and abroad gathered to witness one of the world’s largest and oldest religious processions, celebrating the divine journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. A Journey of Faith and Liberation Held annually on the Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashadh, the Rath Yatra marks the ceremonial outing of the deities from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, their maternal home. Devotees believe that…
Great news for commuters and tourists! From mid-July, the travel time between Delhi and Jaipur will be slashed by nearly an hour, thanks to a new 67-km high-speed corridor connecting Bandikui to Jaipur as part of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project. Constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) at a cost of Rs 1,368 crore, this four-lane, access-controlled road is designed to bypass the heavily congested NH-44, offering a smoother and faster alternative. What Changes for Travelers? Current travel time: ~4 hours (Delhi to Jaipur) New travel time: 3 to 3 hours 15 minutes Time saved: Around 1 hour…
In a groundbreaking medical milestone, a six-year-old boy named Ayansh has become one of India’s first patients to undergo a Transcatheter Fontan procedure—a safer, minimally invasive alternative to traditional open-heart surgery for complex congenital heart defects. Ayansh was born with a rare heart condition where his right heart was underdeveloped. At just six months old, he underwent the Glenn procedure, which redirected blood flow from the upper body directly to the lungs, bypassing the malformed heart chamber. The final stage of treatment, known as the Fontan procedure, is typically performed at this age but carries high risks—open-heart surgery, chest re-operation,…
India is set to become a global potato powerhouse as the Union Cabinet, led by PM Narendra Modi, has greenlit the establishment of the South Asia Regional Centre of the International Potato Centre (CIP) in Singna, Agra. This cutting-edge research hub, often dubbed “India’s Potato Lab”, will focus on: High-yield, climate-resilient potato & sweet potato varieties Sustainable farming practices Integrated pest management Post-harvest innovation and value addition The Uttar Pradesh government has allocated 10 hectares of land free of cost, while the Centre will invest Rs 111 crore through the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. With India being the…
In a major step towards reducing exam stress and promoting a student-first approach, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that Class 10 board exams will be conducted twice a year starting from the academic session 2026. The new format aims to give students two chances to perform their best—without any pressure to get everything right in one go. What’s Changing? CBSE’s revised model, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, introduces: Two exam phases each year Phase 1: February 17 to March 6 (results in April) Phase 2: May 5 to May 20 (results in June)…