Author: Sharad Natani
Amit Kataria, an IAS officer from the 2004 Chhattisgarh cadre, stands out not just for his administrative achievements but also as India’s wealthiest IAS officer, with a reported net worth of Rs 8.90 crore. But what makes his journey extraordinary is his selfless commitment to public service—opting to draw a token salary of just Rs 1 during certain phases of his career. From IIT to IAS Glory Born in Gurugram, Haryana, Kataria completed his schooling at DPS RK Puram and earned a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Delhi. His academic brilliance helped him crack the UPSC exam with an…
In a significant move to ease highway travel and improve toll collection efficiency, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has announced the launch of a FASTag-based Annual Pass priced at Rs 3,000, effective from August 15, 2025. This initiative is set to transform the travel experience for lakhs of private vehicle owners across India by offering a simple, affordable, and time-saving alternative to conventional toll payments. Key Features of the FASTag Annual Pass This newly introduced Annual Pass will be valid for a period of one year from the date of activation or for 200 highway trips, whichever…
This is the incredible journey of Joshuva Daniel Putti, a 37-year-old solo biker from Andhra Pradesh, lovingly known as ‘Rider Josh’. What started as a road trip dream turned into a globe-trotting mission of compassion and hope. From the dusty trails of Kashmir to the bustling streets of Malaysia, Joshuva has ridden thousands of miles—not for adventure alone but for a cause that touches lives wherever he halts. A Ride Fueled by Kindness, Not Horsepower With only his trusty bike, four sets of clothes, basic tools, and a ‘Carnet de Passages’—the passport for bikes—Rider Josh has ventured into the most…
In a shining example of grit and determination, 12 out of 25 girls from Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Marihan, Mirzapur, have cracked the highly competitive NEET 2025 exam, paving their way to medical careers that once seemed impossible. What makes this achievement extraordinary is that these young aspirants come from some of Uttar Pradesh’s most economically challenged families — daughters of farm laborers, small shopkeepers, and daily wage workers from SC, ST, and OBC backgrounds. Their triumph is not just personal but a collective win for Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, a government-run residential school offering free education and NEET-specific coaching, thanks to the…
In an extraordinary breakthrough under the banner of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, have unearthed a 24-million-year-old fossil surprise buried deep within Assam’s Makum Coalfield—reshaping our understanding of India’s ancient plant life. The team identified fossilized leaves belonging to the Nothopegia genus, a plant group now found solely in the rain-soaked forests of the Western Ghats, located thousands of kilometers away. This marks the world’s oldest record of Nothopegia, pushing the evolutionary history of this plant lineage back by millions of years. A Glimpse into Ancient Assam’s Climate Using state-of-the-art tools…
In a miraculous medical case, a two-year-old child from Chhatarpur was saved from undergoing surgery after accidentally swallowing a Rs 5 coin. While a renowned hospital in Delhi had advised immediate surgery, doctors at the District Hospital Chhatarpur successfully removed the coin without any surgical procedure, astonishing the child’s family and the medical fraternity alike. The Shocking Incident The toddler had unknowingly swallowed a Rs 5 coin while playing. The family rushed the child to a nearby hospital, where X-rays revealed the coin lodged dangerously in the esophagus. Fearing complications, the family was referred to a leading hospital in Delhi,…