Times of India

Syed Majid Ali, a medical practitioner in Ayodhya, dedicates six weeks each year to manage the Mumtaz Nagar Ramlila. This event involves both Hindus and Muslims, promoting communal harmony. While Hindus perform lead roles, Muslims participate in other capacities, ensuring sensitivity towards religious sentiments. The Ramlila highlights the unity and cultural legacy of the community.

Heavy security was deployed outside the Samajwadi Party headquarters and Akhilesh Yadav's residence in Lucknow as he announced plans to visit the Jai Prakash Narayan International Centre to pay tribute to the socialist leader on his birth anniversary. Authorities restricted his entry by erecting steel sheets, prompting Akhilesh to challenge the BJP government's motives.

Infosys has changed its hiring process, requiring new recruits to access job details via the company's internal system rather than through email offers.

A couple in Muzaffarnagar was arrested for allegedly sacrificing their one-month-old daughter during a ritual suggested by a tantrik to exorcise an evil spirit from their house. The mother claimed recurring dreams urged her to make the sacrifice. Police are still searching for the infant's body despite recovering her clothes.

Congress lost to BJP in Haryana, including in Kumari Selja's native village of Parbhuwala. Senior leader Selja had aimed for seats in Uklana and Narnaund but did not get tickets, leading to her discontent. Internal factionalism and sidelining of leaders like Selja contributed to Congress's poor performance against BJP.

Posters accusing Tejashwi Prasad Yadav of theft and academic failures appeared in Patna, prompting the RJD to blame the BJP for a smear campaign. Allegations include missing items from a vacated official bungalow. Tejashwi’s governance, according to RJD, left a positive public impression.

After its Haryana election loss, Congress shifts focus from blaming EVMs to addressing internal factional feuds and weaknesses. Congress chief Kharge held a review meeting, deciding to investigate EVM discrepancies with a technical team. Key figures like Hooda and Selja were excluded to avoid bad optics. Rahul Gandhi emphasized party unity for future success.

Uttarakhand's government has launched a Rs 3.6 crore project to revive Jadung, an abandoned village in Uttarkashi. The initiative promotes astro-tourism, trekking, and homestays to boost local tourism. Developments include viewing points at Hawabend and Sri Kantha, costing Rs 1.4 crore and Rs 1.5 crore respectively, and transforming six houses using vernacular architecture.

India and ASEAN emphasize mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity amid maritime disputes, with PM Modi proposing initiatives for enhanced connectivity. Leaders highlight the role of Unclos and call for a substantive South China Sea Code of Conduct to ensure regional peace and stability.

A 48-year-old grandfather was unexpectedly arrested for allegedly kidnapping his wife 27 years ago. Despite living happily with four daughters and two grandchildren, the outdated charges resurfaced when police in Mehsana recognized him, leading to his brief incarceration before being granted bail.

A 47-year-old security guard was arrested for murdering his colleague after a dispute over cooking duties in their shared room in Tamil Nadu. The altercation, fueled by alcohol consumption, escalated when one guard stabbed another, leading to the latter's death the following morning.

Hyderabad's Enforcement Directorate has imposed a Rs 2,146 crore penalty on PC Financial Services for Fema violations linked to Chinese and Norwegian entities. The NBFC ran a loan app called 'CashBean'. The investigation revealed fraudulent remittances and usurious interest rates, leading to the cancellation of its registration by the RBI and property seizures worth Rs 252 crore in India.

The Maharashtra state cabinet has decided to recommend increasing the non-creamy layer income cap for OBCs from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 15 lakh annually. This proposal aims to enable more OBC families to benefit from government schemes. An ordinance granting statutory status to the Maharashtra State Commission for Scheduled Castes will also be presented in the next assembly session.

PM Modi and newly appointed Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen India-Japan strategic partnership through enhanced trade, defense, and cultural cooperation at the Asean-India Summit. They emphasized their indispensable partnership for a peaceful Indo-Pacific region.

Baby, a software engineer, traveled with her family to Mumbai to honor Ratan Tata, who passed away. Thousands, including business leaders and citizens, gathered for the farewell. Tata's contributions to society were widely remembered. His last rites followed Parsi tradition with political leaders and the public paying their respects, reflecting his enduring impact.

The All-Himachal Muslims' Organisation (AHMO) plans to contest the Shimla municipal court's order mandating the demolition of the top three floors of Sanjauli mosque, asserting that the agreement given by some individuals does not reflect the community's stance. Concurrently, a campaign promoting economic boycott of Muslim vendors emerges.

Launched in October 2022, India's Tele-Manas mental health helpline has received over 3.5 lakh calls, with primary complaints related to disturbed sleep cycles, sadness, stress, and anxiety. Most callers are males aged 18-45. Instances of suicide-related complaints are below 3% according to a recent government report.

The average monthly income of rural households in India increased by nearly 58% over five years, reaching Rs 12,698 in 2021-22. Salaried employment remained the largest income source, notably for non-agricultural households. Additionally, rural household expenditure rose significantly, while financial savings also showed considerable improvement.

A Kasganj court sentenced Ghamandi Singh, his three sons, and two relatives to life imprisonment for the fatal beating of Bacchu Singh in 2021. The judge also imposed a Rs 72,000 fine on each convict. The crime stemmed from a family dispute, and despite seeking leniency, the court upheld the life sentences based on solid evidence and witness testimonies.

The Allahabad high court directed an investigation by the Ghaziabad district judge into how two contradictory orders were uploaded in a defamation case, one of which was unsigned. A young magistrate involved apologized for the error, citing it was unintentional.