Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a directive mandating the playing of the complete three-minute-10-second version of “Vande Mataram” at official state functions, including flag-hoisting ceremonies, the arrival of the President, and Governors’ addresses. The directive also instructs audiences to stand at attention during the song and encourages mass participation in singing….
Bhubaneswar: Several farmers’ organisations, including Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), its non-political breakaway faction, and the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), have criticised the interim India–US trade agreement framework and announced nationwide protests next week. In a statement issued on Saturday, the SKM alleged that the proposed deal amounted to a “total surrender” of Indian agriculture…
Bhubaneswar: The 13th edition of the India–Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise KHANJAR commenced on February 4 at Missamari, Assam, and will continue until February 17, 2026. Exercise KHANJAR is an annual bilateral training event, conducted alternately in India and Kyrgyzstan. The previous edition of the exercise was held in Kyrgyzstan in March 2025. The Indian…
Bhubaneswar: Shatak, a film chronicling the 100-year journey of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), explores the organisation’s origins and evolution since its founding in 1925 by Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. Directed by Aashish Mall and subtitled Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Ke 100 Varsh, the film adopts a historical, documentary-style narrative to chart the RSS’s growth into…
Bhubaneswar: Indian authorities on January 9, 2026, enforced a comprehensive ban on the sale and delivery of non-vegetarian food and liquor within a 15-kilometre radius of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, citing concerns over religious sentiments and public order. The directive explicitly applies to online food delivery platforms such as Zomato and Swiggy, in…
Bhubaneswar: Political tensions in West Bengal intensified on January 10 after a clash broke out near Chandrakona Road in Paschim Medinipur involving the convoy of Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, triggering a late-night standoff at a local police station and sharp exchanges between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The incident occurred around 8:20…
Bhubaneswar: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to relocate its Group C matches from Kolkata and Mumbai, stating that there are no credible security threats to warrant a change of venues ahead of the February ICC tournament co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The decision was communicated during…
Bhubaneswar: The killing of Mani Chakraborty, a Hindu grocery trader in Narsingdi, is not merely another entry in Bangladesh’s crime statistics. It is the sixth fatal attack on Hindu men in less than three weeks, and together these killings form a troubling pattern that speaks less about individual acts of violence and more about a…
Bhubaneswar: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday asserted that India has every right to defend its people when faced with hostile neighbours, stressing that cooperation and goodwill cannot coexist with terrorism and sustained hostility. Addressing an event, Jaishankar said a neighbouring country cannot expect India to share critical resources such as water while continuing…
Bhubaneswar: Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who was recently bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, has been asked to be released from the franchise following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Mustafizur, 30, was snapped up by KKR for ₹9.20 crore at…
