India has reopened its embassy in Kabul after the Taliban took over Afghanistan. India has so far focused only on isolating the Taliban. However, beyond a point, this option will yield less benefit, as many other countries are now starting to engage with the Taliban, and India is a significant stakeholder in Afghanistan. The Taliban…
(Need to recognize the “First Ladies” who broke the male bastion.) Women are in the driver’s seat in the Railway Board for the first time with the latest round of appointments approved by the Cabinet. Breaking the glass ceiling, the Railway Board, already headed by a woman, now has a woman member in charge of…
The number of government schools is increasing, but student enrollment is declining. In Haryana, the enrollment in government schools in 2023-24 was 22.30 lakh, down from 24.64 lakh in 2022-23. Also, the total enrollment in the state in 2023-24 was 56.41 lakh, while it was 57.76 lakh in 2022-23. The enrollment of girls (secondary) was…
Decreasing number of daughters: Their breaths are being snatched away in the womb itself. The sex ratio in Haryana has reached an eight-year low in 2024. The sex ratio at birth in Haryana has fallen to 910 in 2024, the lowest since 2016, when the ratio was 900. The state has never achieved the ideal…
Playing the national anthem at important government events reinforces a sense of collective identity, unity, and patriotism among citizens. It is a symbolic reminder of shared national values and aspirations beyond regional, linguistic, and cultural differences. Under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, deliberate insult or contempt of the national anthem is…
Human metapneumovirus, part of the Pneumoviridae family, is a respiratory virus that causes illnesses ranging from mild colds to more severe lung infections such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis. Although less recognized than flu or respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus is an important cause of respiratory illnesses worldwide, especially during winter and spring. The virus poses…
Bureaucrats face toxic work environments, verbal abuse, and constant multitasking, which significantly impact mental health. Most IAS officers suffer from insomnia and burnout due to the long hours they spend managing relief operations. Rapidly evolving stakeholder demands and limited training add to bureaucrats’ stress and reduce adaptability. Fatigue and mental stress increase the risk of…
Under the no-detention policy, no student from class 1 to 8 could be failed. However, now these students can be failed. Also, the failed students will get the opportunity to take the exam again within 2 months. If they fail in this too, they will not be promoted to the next class. According to the…
Experts say the year 2025 will be even more technology-driven and present even greater challenges. People will have far fewer friends, as relationships are diminishing due to the lack of regular personal contact. I think the somewhat neo-traditionalist intense focus on the couple and the nuclear family will be stifling. Life will be even more…
(New year, new beginning) At midnight on December 31, we will bid goodbye to 2024, and the calendar will turn a new page to New Year’s Day, January 1, 2025. The ups and downs, the fun moments, and the not-so-great moments will all be a thing of the past. We are standing on the threshold…
