Is India Winning the War Against Rising Non-Communicable Diseases? The latest health statistics paint a concerning picture: diabetes, heart disease, and cancer rates are climbing, impacting millions across the country. From rural healthcare access to the burgeoning urban health crisis, challenges remain significant. This week, we delve into the crucial initiatives underway – government policies, technological advancements in telemedicine, and the rising role of preventative healthcare – that aim to address this national health emergency. Experts weigh in on the effectiveness of current strategies and the critical need for increased public awareness campaigns targeting lifestyle diseases. Are these efforts enough? Explore Abtak.com's in-depth coverage on healthcare in India and discover the vital information you need to protect your well-being and the future of public health. Stay informed; stay healthy.
Indoor plants are a wonderful addition to any home, offering more than just visual appeal. They purify the air, promote relaxation, and can even improve overall well-being. Whether you live in a small apartment or a spacious house, there is a wide range of low-maintenance plants suited to your space. Look for plants that require minimal care and can thrive in indoor environments, even in low light. Many plants also help reduce stress and improve air quality by removing toxins. For a stylish and healthy home, choose plants that suit your lifestyle and space, ensuring they are both easy to maintain and beneficial for your health. With the right selection, you can enjoy a fresh, calming atmosphere in your home all year round. The Nurturing Green Lucky Bamboo 2 Layer is a beautiful and low-maintenance plant that adds a touch of green to any space. It requires minimal care and can thrive in low light conditions. This plant is perfect for homes and offices. The Ugaoo Golden Money Plant is an indoor plant that not only looks beautiful but also purifies the air. It is easy to care for and can survive in low light conditions. This plant is perfect for homes and adds a touch of greenery to any room. The CAPPL Stunning Spathyphyllum is an elegant and easy-to-care-for plant that is perfect for homes. It comes with a pot and fertilizer, making it a convenient choice for anyone looking to add a touch of greenery to their space. The Brazil Healthy Brazilian Plant is a unique and beautiful indoor plant that enhances any space. It is low maintenance and can thrive in various light conditions, making it a versatile choice for homes. Also reads:Best indoor plant pots: Top 10 picks to enhance your home decor with greenery to create a welcoming atmosphere The HOMES Spider Plant is a popular choice for homes due to its air-purifying properties and easy maintenance. It is perfect for beginners and adds a touch of green to any room. The Amulya FARMS NURSERY Purifying Plant is an air-purifying plant that is perfect for homes, kitchens, and balconies. It is easy to care for and adds a touch of freshness to any space. Also reads:Best house plants: Top 10 picks to transform your home into a lush indoor jungle for some additional positive vibes The Amulya Purifying Indoor Plant is a versatile and low-maintenance plant that is perfect for homes, kitchens, and balconies. It is easy to care for and adds a touch of greenery to any space. The Bedroom Plants Better Air-purifier is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an air-purifying plant. It is perfect for bedrooms and adds a touch of freshness to the air. Also reads:Best terrace garden products: Top 10 options to revamp and transform your outdoor space without spending much The Ugaoo Golden Money Plant is the best value for money due to its air-purifying properties, easy maintenance, and ability to thrive in low light conditions. It offers the perfect combination of beauty and functionality for a reasonable price. Also reads:Best plant stands: Elevate the appearance of your garden with the top 10 picks The HOMES Spider Plant stands out as the best overall product in the category due to its air-purifying properties, easy maintenance, and suitability for beginners. It is an excellent choice for anyone looking to add a touch of green to their home. Light requirements: Consider the amount of natural light your space receives. Some indoor plants thrive in bright, indirect light, while others do well in low light. Maintenance needs: Choose plants based on the level of care they require. Some plants need frequent watering and attention, while others are more low-maintenance. Size and space: Take into account the available space in your home. Select plants that fit comfortably in your rooms without overcrowding. Air-purifying benefits: Opt for plants known for their air-purifying properties to enhance indoor air quality. Aesthetic appeal: Choose plants that match your interior style, adding visual appeal and creating a calming atmosphere. Best garden chairs: 10 options to transform your garden to a lounging space at home Best artificial plant for office: Top 10 choices for a lively workstation and positive vibes Best house plants: Top 10 picks to transform your home into a lush indoor jungle for some additional positive vibes
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season has barely begun, but it has already delivered its first major controversy. Following Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) six-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium, a pointed remark from captain Ajinkya Rahane has triggered a wider debate - forcing Cricket Australia (CA) to step in with a clarification. At the centre of the storm is Cameron Green, KKR's high-profile signing worth INR 25.20 crore, who did not bowl a single over despite MI's dominant chase of 220. KKR seemed in control after posting a commanding 220/4, but the script ...Read More >
For the second consecutive day on Monday (December 2, 2024), Delhi's air quality showed a slight improvement although it remained in the 'poor' category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 273 in the morning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's 24-hour average AQI on Sunday stood at 285, an improvement to the 'poor' category and a welcome relief following 32 consecutive days of 'very poor' and 'severe' air quality (AQI over 400). The city's air quality was last recorded in the 'poor' category on October 29 with an AQI of 268, according to the CPCB. Farm fires ris ...Read More >
New Delhi: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given the final nod to Delhi govt for cloud seeding in the city. However, the govt said that, based on suggestions from meteorologists, trials would now take place between Aug 30 and Sept 10, instead of the previously declared July 4 to 11.Delhi govt has also finalised a tentative flight plan with a map of the area over which the cloud seeding experiment will be conducted. The sorties have been planned over Alipur, Bawana, Rohini, Burari, Pavi Sadakpur and parts of Eastern Peripheral Expressway. A fully equipped aircraft, VT-IIT (Cess ...Read More >
Dehradun, Dec 17 (PTI) As Delhi virtually disappears behind its annual smog and toxic air chokes its residents, many heading for a sojourn in Dehradun seeking clean air may have to think twice. In the past two days, the Air Quality Index in Dehradun, nested in the mountain ranges of the Himalaya, slipped into the 'poor' category -- indicating that pollution is not limited to the plains. According to experts, the main reasons for the increasing pollution in Dehradun include the growing volume of vehicular traffic and the burning of waste. In addition, forest fires are also considered a major ...Read More >
On February 14, the country's capital had seen past the cold days and it was, in fact, a warm day for this time of the year. And yet, when the maximum temperature in the city crossed 25 degrees Celsius, its air quality index (AQI) was at a level that was "hazardous"- a figure above 300. Summer arrived early this year in India, but even when temperatures have hit 35 degrees Celsius in Delhi NCR, bad air quality refuses to go away. The air we breathe continues to choke us silently, even though it ...Read More >
Gurgaon: For a brief moment on Thursday, city residents could breathe a little easier. The city's average air quality index (AQI) dropped to 208, down from 281 the previous day, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).The improvement, however, is only a temporary reprieve. The air will remain in the 'poor' category -- still dangerous for children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory issues.Officials said the short-lived relief was due to stronger surface winds and clearer skies, which helped disperse some of the lingering pollutants. However, meteorologists warned that thi ...Read More >
Delhi schools are shifting to fully online classes for students up to Class V due to severe air pollution. This directive follows the invocation of Stage-IV of GRAP, with AQI levels reaching 'Severe+' in the capital. Neighbouring Noida and Ghaziabad have implemented similar measures for younger students. The Delhi government on Monday directed all schools in the capital to shift from hybrid learning to fully online classes for students up to Class V, citing a sharp deterioration in air quality a ...Read More >
Aero O2 restores up to 90% oxygen, detoxifies, and revitalizes homes New Delhi, Delhi, India - Business Wire India Orient Electric Limited, part of the USD 3 billion CKA Birla Group, today unveiled Aero O2, a first-of-its-kind lifestyle innovation that evolves the ceiling fan from simple air movement to active air revitalization. Powered by patented Bio-Oxy Plasma ION+ Technology, Aero O2 is India's first oxygen-enriching fan designed to create a fresher, more energizing indoor atmosphere for m ...Read More >
Kolkata: The Kolkata Traffic Police is facing a new challenge in managing vehicle parking for the upcoming Shahid Diwas rally on Monday, as persistent rainfall threatens to render designated parking fields unusable. The fresh spell of rain on Friday, with more occasional rain predicted even on Saturday, has left cops worried as they believe the Maidan area can be filled with slush.The traffic department, which initially planned to utilise various fields across the city for parking buses and cars of parade attendees, is now frantically searching for alternative solutions on the main roads, stre ...Read More >
Guwahati, Dec 17: With an eye firmly on the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, the ruling BJP is set to intensify its political and development outreach in the state as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are scheduled for a series of high-profile visits to Assam later this month. Announcing the itinerary, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on a live feed, said the visits will showcase transformative infrastructure projects, and boost economic confidence. The Prime Minister will arrive in Assam on December 20 and inaugurate the new terminal at Lokpriya Gopinath B ...Read More >
Dehradun, Dec 17 (PTI) As Delhi virtually disappears behind its annual smog and toxic air chokes its residents, many heading for a sojourn in Dehradun seeking clean air may have to think twice. In the past two days, the Air Quality Index in Dehradun, nested in the mountain ranges of the Himalaya, slipped into the 'poor' category -- indicating that pollution is not limited to the plains. According to experts, the main reasons for the increasing pollution in Dehradun include the growing volume of vehicular traffic and the burning of waste. In addition, forest fires are also considered a major ...Read More >
PRNewswire New Delhi [India], March 30: Sensodyne, Haleon's leading oral care brand, is strengthening its commitment to better oral health in India with the launch of its 'Know Your Dental Age' initiative, placing the concept of Dental Age at the forefront of proactive care. India continues to face a significant oral health gap, with 9 in 10 people experiencing dental issues and most seeking treatment only when symptoms become severe. To drive early awareness and encourage preventive habits, Sen ...Read More >
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh IT and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh on Friday hailed the successful implementation of the state-wide 'Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) 2.0' programme. Expressing gratitude to all stakeholders, he credited the collective efforts of government and private schools, colleges, education officials, staff, headmasters, teachers, students, parents, donors, alumni, public representatives, and officers from various departments for making the event a success. ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 15 (UNI) In view of the prevailing severe air pollution and persistently high Air Quality Index (AQI) levels, the Delhi Government has decided to discontinue physical classes for students from Nursery to Class 5 with immediate effect and until further orders. According to directions issued by the Directorate of Education, all government, government-aided and unaided private recognised schools in Delhi will conduct classes for students from Nursery to Class V exclusively in online mode during this period. The decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to safeguard the h ...Read More >
Times of India's Edit Page team comprises senior journalists with wide-ranging interests who debate and opine on the news and issues of the day. Over time, govts' failure to improve Delhi's air quality is bound to impact its economic primacy About three weeks ago, Delhi govt told NGT it was implementing its 21-point winter action plan involving about 30 govt depts to mitigate air pollution. It would be laughable were the situation not so serious. Yesterday, Delhi's AQI shot to over 490 on a scale of 500 at 26 of Delhi's 37 monitoring stations - even though personal diesel vehicles were off t ...Read More >
Nagpur: Development without ecology is not development it is devastation in disguise, remarked, environmentalist and member of the State Board for Wildlife Shrikant Tekade while addressing a World Environment Day programme organised by RTO Nagpur in collaboration with the Institute of Environment, Ecology, Health & Management (IEEHM).Speaking on this year's theme 'Beat Plastic Pollution and Deforestation', Tekade painted a grim picture of plastic misuse and its growing impact on both urban and forest ecosystems. He pointed out that Nagpur generates over 1,100 tonnes of municipal waste daily, o ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 10 (UNI) A recent large-scale Danish study has revealed that ultrafine particles in air pollution can cross the blood-brain barrier and may increase the risk of developing tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), particularly meningiomas --the most common type of primary brain tumor. The findings published in journal Neurology add to growing evidence that air pollution's harmful effects extend beyond respiratory and cardiovascular health, potentially affecting the brain as well. Given the high pollution burden in Indian metropolitan areas such as in Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolk ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Delhi Home and Power Minister Ashish Sood will on Tuesday boost the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign - inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi - by planting a sapling in the Janakpuri area, said an official. As part of the ongoing Van Mahotsav of the Delhi government, the Minister will plant a sapling at Municipal Corporation of Delhi park in A-2 Block Ram Vatika in Janakpuri, said the official on Monday. Sood's green initiative follows Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena's participation in the New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) special tree plan ...Read More >
In a significant step for agriculture in the Northeast, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has meticulously overseen the final preparations for Prime Minister Modi's highly-anticipated visit to Namrup on December 21. During this landmark event, the Prime Minister is set to inaugurate a monumental ₹11,000-crore ammonia-urea fertiliser project, widely viewed as a game changer for local farming. Dibrugarh: Union minister for ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday conducted a re ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], April 1 (ANI): In a landmark achievement that cements its legacy as India's leading maritime gateway, Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Kandla has crossed the historic 160 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) mark in cargo handling for the financial year 2025-26, achieving an unprecedented 160.11 MMT the highest-ever cargo volume handled in the history of Major Ports. The release stated that DPA has secured the position of India's number one major port. It is the best performer among all major ports in the country, leading in cargo throughput. The port has demonstrated unmatched growt ...Read More >
A young woman named Oleti Pushpa (22) was killed by her live-in partner Sheikh Shamma (22) in the Ambedkar Konaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, reported India Today. She was living with Sheikh for the past 6 months after she separated from her spouse. The incident took place in Siddhartha Nagar, B Savaram village of Rajolu mandal on 16th July. Shamma reportedly accused Pushpa of having affairs with other men. He forced her to engage in prostitution and frequently instigated fights with her when intoxicated. As per police, Shamma was addicted to ganja. On the fateful night, he against pressuri ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 17 (UNI) New Delhi witnessed reduced visibility on Wednesday morning as shallow fog and mist enveloped parts of the city, according to official observations. Safdarjung recorded the lowest visibility of 900 metres in shallow fog at 6:30 am IST, while Palam reported 1,100 metres in mist at 7:00 am IST. Westerly winds blowing at 7-10 kmph helped prevent a sharper deterioration in visibility. Flight and road operations remained largely unaffected, though the India Meteorological Department (IMD) advised motorists to exercise caution during early morning hours. Meanwhile, air qua ...Read More >
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday inaugurated summer annuals of Amrit Udyan, which will open for the public from August 16. This year, visitors will be able to see a unique Babbling Brook in the famed garden. The Babbling Brook is a new and serene retreat for the summer garden, where the gentle flow of water and vibrant greenery create a calming atmosphere. "President Droupadi Murmu graced the opening of Amrit Udyan Summer Annuals Edition 2025 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The summer annuals of Amrit Udyan will be open to the public from August 16 to September 14, 2025 between 10:00 AM ...Read More >
Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Bairabi-Sairang new railway line, valued at over Rs 8,070 crore, linking Mizoram's capital to the Indian Railways network for the first time. Mr Modi however failed to reach Aizawl due to inclement weather condition so inaugurated the projects virtually from Mizoram's Lengpui Airport, and addressed the gathering. Expressing his gratitude for warmth and affection of the people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "From today, Aiza ...Read More >
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], October 21: Diwali is the season of lights, celebrations, and home makeovers. What better way to elevate your festive mood than by gifting your family cleaner, fresher air? As air quality dips during the festive season, a high-performance air purifier can ensure your home stays healthy and comfortable. Also Read | Online Trading Scam in Mumbai: Fraudsters Dupe 83-Year-Old Cancer Patient of INR 82 Lakh via Fake Government-Endorsed 'Finadexa' Website in Chembur; Wife Files Complaint After Husband's Death. This Diwali, Bajaj Finserv is making it easier than ever to b ...Read More >
Noida: With the ban on firecrackers lifted for the first time in five years, Delhi-NCR experienced a sharp surge in pollution levels this Diwali, with both Noida and Ghaziabad recording 'very poor' air quality. This was also the worst Diwali AQI to be recorded in the two cities in the last three years, even though pollution levels didn't worsen after the festival.Experts said moderate winds of around 10 km per hour and warmer afternoons -- maximum temperature was recorded around 33 degrees Celsius -- aided dispersion, which is why air quality in Noida improved from 342 at 9am on Monday to 341 ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 28: Delhi Forest and Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that two attempts to induce artificial rain were made in the Capital on Tuesday with the help of IIT-Kanpur and similar efforts shall continue in the coming days. "Today, one attempt was made in the morning and another in the evening. The results are still to be collated," Sirsa told IANS, highlighting the government's efforts to use scientific measures to counter polluted air in Delhi. The experiment for inducing artificial rain comes close to a dip in air quality around Diwali. The Air Quality Index (AQI) i ...Read More >
Stage III restrictions include a ban on non-essential construction, demolition work, stone crushing and mining activities. The Commission for Air Quality Management on Saturday invoked stricter GRAP Stage-III restrictions, including shifting schools to hybrid mode up to Class 5 and restrictions on construction and demolition work, in Delhi-NCR after pollution levels rose sharply amid unfavourable meteorological conditions. The national capital's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at ...Read More >
CHANDIGARH: A portion of the frontal section of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira's house in Bholath, Kapurthala, was demolished on Monday by the office of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO). Khaira, a strong critic of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, condemned the move, calling it the dangerous introduction of "bulldozer (Pila-Panja) politics" in Punjab by Mann under directions from AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, aimed at silencing criticism and democratic dissent. As the demolition began, Khaira went live on social media, criticising the state government. Anticipating the ...Read More >
Delhi weather update: Delhi experienced a significant decline in temperature on Tuesday due to continuous overcast conditions and light intermittent rainfall. This resulted in Delhi recording its coldest April temperatures within three years. For residents, the weather was an unusual relief from early summer heat as maximum temperatures plunged well below average for this time of year. Maximum temperatures decreased dramatically on Tuesday from those measured on April 1, 2023, which showed the same pattern. The maximum temperature measured at the Safdarjung Observatory was recorded at 28.8°C ...Read More >