India has taken a significant step toward strengthening its rowing programme, with the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) inducting 22 rowers into the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Development Group as part of preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and future international competitions. The decision was approved during the MOC’s 174th meeting following the completion of annual national selection trials and crew finalisation by the Rowing Federation of India (RFI). The newly inducted athletes will represent six boat categories and form the core of India’s rowing squad for upcoming international assignments, including the Asian Games and the World Rowing…
Author: Pratyusha Mukherjee
Pratyusha Mukherjee
Ms Pratyusha Mukherjee, an Independent Sr. Broadcast Journalist working for British media with 25 years of experience in covering the east and northeast, with specialisation in Defence, Sports & Current Affairs. In her illustrated career she has covered many major events and achieved International and National media awards for Journalism.
4,000 yrs of climate history from world’s largest inhabited river island offer adaption insights: Majuli Island, perched between the Brahmaputra River to the south and east, the Subansiri River to the west, and a branch of the Brahmaputra to the north, has been severely affected by recurrent flooding and intense riverbank erosion. Despite its global importance in acquiring UNESCO tentative status for cultural significance, the region lacked any comprehensive long-term palaeoecological reconstruction based on palynological evidence resting on integrated modern and fossil pollen records. Pollen serves, as one of the most reliable indicators of past environmental conditions as they are…
India and Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening defence and security cooperation across the Indo-Pacific, with a strong emphasis on maritime security, defence industrial collaboration, and emerging technology research. The developments emerged during the second India–Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue co-chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. The high-level dialogue reviewed the significant progress achieved since the inaugural ministerial meeting in October 2025 and advanced the long-term strategic vision outlined by the two Prime Ministers. Both sides welcomed efforts to renew and strengthen the…
In a significant milestone for youth participation in national service, 540 Agniveers of Batch 07/25, including nearly 500 recruits from across the Kashmir Valley, were formally inducted into the Indian Army following a Passing-Out Parade at the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) Regimental Centre in Srinagar. The ceremony marked the successful completion of 44 weeks of rigorous military training under the Agneepath recruitment scheme and represented the transition of the recruits from civilian life to military service. Conducted with full military honours, the parade showcased the discipline, professionalism and combat readiness attained by the young soldiers during their training.…
FIFA has outlined a major expansion of its digital football strategy, reinforcing its commitment to the rapidly growing gaming and esports sector ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Under the strategy, FIFA is set to expand into various gaming categories. In addition, the institution will create new pathways for participation – from hyper-casual to competitive play – whilst ensuring that FIFA competitions and Member Associations, as well as gaming and esports partners, remain connected. This approach extends across football esports, in which FIFA continues to develop a structured, competition-driven ecosystem around the FIFAe brand, with low barriers to entry,…
India’s disappointing Unity Cup 2026 campaign came to an end with a 0-1 defeat against Zimbabwe in the third-place play-off at The Valley on Saturday, as the Blue Tigers finished the tournament without scoring a goal. A first-half penalty from Zimbabwe striker Prince Dube proved the difference between the two sides, handing the African nation third place and condemning India to a second successive defeat after their 0-2 loss to Jamaica in the semi-finals. Seeking a positive finish to the tournament, India head coach Khalid Jamil made four changes to the starting line-up, introducing Vikram Partap Singh, Rahim Ali, Macarton…
Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Saturday underscored the Armed Forces’ readiness to respond to future contingencies, stating that the Indian Army, along with the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, is fully prepared for a potential next phase of Operation Sindoor should the need arise. Addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the passing-out parade of the 150th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune, the Army Chief highlighted the importance of jointness and integration among the three services in addressing the challenges of modern warfare. “As far as Operation Sindoor is concerned,…
The inaugural edition of Multilateral Exercise PRAGATI 2026 concluded successfully at Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya on Friday, marking a significant step towards enhancing military cooperation and interoperability among regional partner nations. The exercise culminated in a comprehensive 72-hour validation exercise that demonstrated improved operational coordination, mutual trust and collective readiness among participating armed forces. More than 400 military personnel from 13 countries — India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam — took part in the exercise under the framework of the Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in…
Demonstrating its rapid response capability and commitment to supporting civil authorities, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted extensive aerial firefighting operations to contain a major forest fire in the Kasauli region of Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district. The IAF received information regarding the forest fire on 26 May and immediately deployed a Cheetah helicopter to assess the situation. Following the initial reconnaissance, Mi-17 V5 medium-lift helicopters were mobilised under the Aid to Civil Authorities framework to combat the rapidly spreading blaze. The fire, which engulfed nearly 10 hectares of forest in the Kasauli Beat area, posed a significant threat to…
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday lauded the Indian Navy’s high state of operational preparedness and its growing strategic role in safeguarding maritime security, asserting that secure sea lanes remain critical to ensuring global peace and economic prosperity. The Defence Minister made the remarks while jointly inaugurating the Nausena Shaurya Vatika with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow. Developed at a cost of ₹19 crore and spread across more than two acres, the open-air naval heritage museum commemorates the courage, professionalism and operational achievements of the Indian Navy. The facility prominently displays weapon systems and artefacts from the…