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.
Jamshedpur: The auspicious four-day festival of Chhath, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God (Surya Dev) and Chhathi Maiya, began on Saturday with the traditional ritual of Nahay Khaay. The day marked the beginning of one of the most spiritually significant and environmentally rooted festivals of the region, celebrated with deep devotion, purity, and discipline across Jharkhand. From early morning, devotees thronged rivers, ponds, and water bodies across Jamshedpur to take the sacred bath and commence the ritual observance. At Domuhani ghat, Swarnarekha ghat, Hudco Lake, and other traditional sites, men and women could be seen offering prayers to the Sun before returning home to prepare the sanctified meal marking the first day of Chhath. The Nahay Khaay ritual involves devotees -- particularly women, known as vratees -- bathing in holy water and preparing a single meal made with utmost purity. The traditional menu includes rice, bottle gourd (lauki), and gram dal cooked in clay or bronze utensils on a clay stove using mango wood. The food, cooked without salt, onion, or garlic, is first offered to the deity and then consumed by the vratee, signifying purification of the body and mind and readiness for the rigorous fasting ahead. Throughout the day, homes were cleaned and decorated, and the aroma of traditional food filled the air. Markets in Sakchi, Bistupur, Mango, and Baridih witnessed heavy rush, as devotees purchased daura, soop, bamboo baskets, fruits, coconuts, sugarcane, new clothes, and other essentials for the upcoming rituals. Sweet shops also saw brisk business, with demand for thekua, malpua, and jaggery-based delicacies rising sharply. Meanwhile, the district administration has geared up to ensure safe and smooth celebrations. The Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee and local municipal bodies have started cleaning drives and lighting arrangements at major ghats including Domuhani, Swarnarekha, Baroda Ghat, and Subarnarekha Bridge area. Adequate security personnel, divers, and NDRF teams are being deployed to prevent mishaps. Barricades, medical camps, and temporary toilets are also being set up for devotees' convenience. District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Karn Satyarthi reviewed preparations at prominent ghats earlier this week and directed officials to ensure cleanliness, proper lighting, drinking water, and crowd management. He also instructed that volunteers and disaster response teams remain alert throughout the four-day celebration. Religious organizations and local committees have taken up voluntary work at ghats, distributing food and water to devotees and assisting in maintaining order. The spirit of community participation was visible everywhere as local residents joined hands with civic bodies to prepare the ghats and surroundings.
Sarnobat claimed top honours in the women's 25m pistol T4 final, while Ghosh and Kumar topped the women's 10m air rifle and the men's 50m rifle 3 position events, respectively. Indian shooters Rahi Sarnobat, Mehuli Ghosh, and Niraj Kumar all came up trumps in their respective events at the National Shooting Trials at Dehradun on Saturday. Sarnobat claimed top honours in the women's 25m pistol T4 final, while Ghosh and Kumar topped the women's 10m air rifle and the men's 50m rifle 3 position eve ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 8 (ANI): The cost of home-cooked meals eased in June as compared to the same month last year, driven by a sharp correction in vegetable prices, according to the Crisil Intelligence report. In the monthly report titled 'Roti Rice Rate', the average cost of a vegetarian thali (Plate) declined by 8 per cent year-on-year (YoY), while the cost of a non-vegetarian thali was down nearly 6 per cent. The decline in vegetarian thali prices was primarily attributed to a significant drop in key vegetable prices, which had spiked the previous year due to adverse weather and crop d ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Telangana continues to be among the states with the highest number of forest fire incidents in the country, with most fires attributed to human activities rather than natural causes. Negligence and, in some cases, deliberate acts have led to repeated and widespread fires, even within critical tiger reserves. Between November 2023 and January 2024, Telangana reported 13,479 forest fire incidents, including large and recurring fires. The numbers are consistent with previous years -- 13,737 in 2021-22 and 13,117 in 2022-23. According to the EnviStats India 2025, a survey by the Forest ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Monsoon covered the entire country on Sunday, nine days before the normal date, advancing into the remaining parts of Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, west UP and Haryana, IMD said.This is only the fourth time in the past 25 years that monsoon covered NCR and remaining parts of northwest India the same day. The last time this happened was on July 13 in 2021, whereas the earliest date on which such an event took place was June 16 in 2013 -- the day Kedarnath witnessed a major disaster due to cloudburst and flash floods.It has taken monsoon 37 days to cover the entire country this time since its ...Read More >
Mumbai, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana joins names such as Kamal Haasan, Ariana Grande, and Jeremy Strong at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year. Ayushmann along with names such as Kamal Haasan Naomi Ackie, Gillian Anderson, Branford Marsalis, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Graham, Jodie Comer and Jason Momoa are among 534 individuals who were invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences on June 26. "We are thrilled to invite this esteemed class of artists, technologists, and professionals to join the Academy," said Ac ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 27: In a significant boost to India's horticultural exports, the Centre's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated the flagging off of the first consignment of one metric tonne of rose-scented litchi from Punjab's Pathankot to Doha in Qatar, according to an official statement issued on Friday. In addition, 0.5 metric tonne of litchi was also exported to Dubai, UAE, from Pathankot this week, marking a twin export achievement and reinforcing India's potential in global fresh fruit markets. This milestone initiative, undertake ...Read More >
Lucknow: Amid chants of 'Jai Jagannath', 'Jai Subhadra' and 'Jai Balabhadra', the city marked the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra on Friday with great fanfare.Children participated by donning costumes of deities while many walked the procession barefooted for several kilometres. Elderly people lined up on the streets to shower petals on the deities. At Chardham temple in Rani Katra, a silver palanquin (palki) adorned with flowers and lights was carried, promoting world peace. Devotees presented offerings of lassi, sharbat, kadhi chawal and samosas to Lord Jagannath at various locations.At Ravindra ...Read More >
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 5 (ANI): Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan attended the sixth convocation ceremony of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K), Srinagar, and conferred degrees upon the graduates. On the second day of his visit to Jammu & Kashmir on Friday, Shivraj Singh said, 'I've been in Srinagar since yesterday. The cool breeze, the fragrance of the soil, the natural beauty, and the warmth of the people have truly touched my heart. Jammu & Kashmir is the crown jewel of ...Read More >
Hisar, Jun 5 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini Thursday announced the establishment of natural and organic mandis in Gurugram and Hisar to promote natural farming on a large scale in the state. The Gurugram mandi will cater to produce such as wheat, paddy and pulses, while the Hisar mandi will focus on fruits and vegetables grown through natural and organic methods. Also Read | Delhi: High-Level US Team Arrives for Talks on Bilateral Trade Pact With India. In addition, a committee will be formed under the Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran to determine fair pricing for produce gr ...Read More >
Chittoor: Chittoor MP D Prasad Rao on Saturday underlined the need for strict adherence to the directives issued by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, whose top priority is the welfare of mango farmers. In a statement, the MP highlighted the importance of implementing the government's measures without deviation. He urged officials to ensure the reopening of mango pulp processing units and facilitate the purchase of Totapuri mangoes directly from farmers to prevent losses. The latter expressed his gratitude to Naidu for announcing a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs.12,000 per tonne for Tot ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
Ranchi, Jun 27 (PTI) Lord Jagannath's chariot along with goddess Subhadra and Lord Balbhadra are set to roll out on Friday evening on way to their annual nine-day sojourn to Mausi Bari in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi amid tight security. The chariots of the deities will start rolling around 4.30 pm from Jagannath temple in Dhurwa with traditional rituals. Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar and Chief Minister Hemant Soren extended their wishes on the occasion of Rath Yatra. "Heartfelt greetings to all devotees on the sacred occasion of Rath Yatra. May Lord Jagannath bless this auspicious ...Read More >
New Delhi: India has dispatched its first-ever consignment of rose-scented litchis to Qatar, marking a significant step in its push to expand exports of high-value horticultural produce, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said on Friday. The shipment, comprising one tonne of the premium litchis from Pathankot, Punjab, was sent to Doha on 23 June, with support from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda). A smaller, half-tonne batch was simultaneously exported to Dubai. The fruit -- known for its delicate floral aroma and juicy sweetness -- has lon ...Read More >
Inflow into the Stanley Reservoir in Mettur increased to 80,984 cusecs on Saturday. Following an increase in inflow, the Water Resources Department (WRD) issued a flood warning to people living in low-lying areas on the banks of the River Cauvery. On Saturday, the dam's water level stood at 117.93 feet against its full capacity of 120 feet. The storage level stood at 90.20 TMC against its full capacity of 93.47 TMC. At 8 a.m., inflow into the dam increased to 73,452 cusecs from Friday's inflow o ...Read More >
Puri, Jul 4 (PTI) Thousands of devotees lined up in front of Shree Gundicha Temple here on Friday for 'Sandhya Darshan' on the auspicious occasion of 'Navami Tithi', the last day to offer obeisance to the sibling deities -- Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath -- at their birthplace before 'Bahuda Yatra.' Bahuda Yatra, scheduled for Saturday, marks the return journey of the deities to their original abode after the nine-day annual sojourn that began with Rath Yatra on June 27. DGP YB Khurania and top officials of the state administration supervised the proceedings to ensure a smo ...Read More >
DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami swapped his official duties for the humble task of a farmer on Saturday, personally participating in paddy sowing on his private farmland in Nagra Terai, Khatima. The rare gesture was a powerful tribute to the unwavering hard work, sacrifice, and dedication of the state's farming community. Embracing traditional agricultural practices, CM Dhami offered fervent prayers to Bhumiyan Devta (the deity of land), Lord Indra (God of rains), and Meghraj (God of clouds). These invocations were accompanied by the melodious, culturally significant ...Read More >
Hisar, Jun 5 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini Thursday announced the establishment of natural and organic mandis in Gurugram and Hisar to promote natural farming on a large scale in the state. The Gurugram mandi will cater to produce such as wheat, paddy and pulses, while the Hisar mandi will focus on fruits and vegetables grown through natural and organic methods. In addition, a committee will be formed under the Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran to determine fair pricing for produce grown using natural and organic farming practices. The Chief Minister made these announcements ...Read More >
Kolkata, June 28: A political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal after a woman accused Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, who is posted with the Murshidabad unit of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of allegedly raping her 12 times for six months in 2013. As per the police complaint lodged by the woman, Kartik Maharaj raped her multiple times 12 years ago promising her a job at a local school. The ruling Trinamool Congress is highlighting the issue in a major way and accusing the BJP of being silent on it since the accused monk had been reportedly close to the saffron party. The woman accusin ...Read More >
Agartala, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a bid to boost the farmers' income, in all 22 foreign improved varieties and 13 indigenous improved varieties of mango are being experimentally cultivated at the Horticulture and Research Centre, at Nagichara in West Tripura, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath said on Sunday. Addressing the Monsoon Mango Fiesta-2025 at Narikel Kunj in Gandatwisa under tribal inhabited Dhalai district, the minister said that since the BJP government came to power in 2018, around 706 hectares of new area have been brought under mango cultivation throug ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Vegetable prices at the Koyambedu Wholesale Market in Chennai recorded moderate fluctuations on June 7 (Saturday), with several items registering notable increases. According to traders, the price of carrots and bitter gourd rose by Rs 20. Carrots, which were priced at Rs 30 per kg on June 1, are now selling at Rs 50. Bitter gourd, earlier sold at Rs 25, is currently priced at Rs 40. Brinjal also recorded a sharp rise of Rs 15 per kg, increasing from Rs 25 to Rs 40. Additionally, the prices of small onions (shallots), Ooty beetroot, and chow chow increased by Rs 10. Small onions we ...Read More >
Gurgaon: MCG additional commissioner Yash Jaluka directed bulk waste generators (BWG) across the city to ensure proper disposal of waste by private agencies who are assisting them. Giving these instructions in a meeting held on Friday, he said it is often observed that BWGs hand over their waste to private agencies, which only sort valuable items and dump the remaining waste on roads, drains, vacant land or public places. This, he said, not only affects cleanliness of the city but also poses a threat to public health."Under the Solid Waste Management Rules-2016, it is the legal and moral respo ...Read More >
CHENNAI: In a letter addressed to the Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan, Member of Parliament from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Kanimozhi Karunanidhi has highlighted the problems faced by mango farmers in the country, especially in Tamil Nadu. She underlined the decrease in demand for mango produce by the beverage manufacturing companies and to cut down GST charges. The letter explained that the mango farmers have been facing consistent losses over the past few years due to a significant reduction in the quantity of mango pulp used by beverage manufacturers. Ac ...Read More >
Hyderabad, July 6 (Maxim News): In a major boost to employment opportunities in the banking sector, public sector banks (PSBs) are set to recruit around 50,000 personnel during the current financial year (FY2025), according to data compiled from various banks. The move is aimed at supporting expanding business operations, enhancing customer services, and strengthening digital and physical infrastructure. The State Bank of India (SBI), the country's largest lender, is leading the hiring wave with plans to employ nearly 20,000 people in FY2025. This includes both probationary officers and speci ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) In a significant boost to horticultural exports, India flagged-off the first consignment of one metric tonne of rose-scented litchi from Pathankot, to Doha, Qatar. Additionally, a separate consignment of 0.5 metric tonne of litchi was also exported to Dubai, UAE from Pathankot, marking a twin export achievement and India's growing presence in the global fresh fruit market, an official statement said. The initiative was facilitated by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry in association ...Read More >
New Delhi: India has exported 1.5 tonnes of litchi fruit, for the first time, from Punjab to Doha and Dubai this month, the commerce ministry's arm, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), said on Friday. To boost India's horticultural exports, APEDA has facilitated the flag-off of the first consignment of 1 tonne of rose-scented litchi from Pathankot in Punjab to Doha on June 23, and 0.5 tonne of the same fruit to Dubai, it said in a statement. This initiative was facilitated by the authority in association with Punjab's Department of Horticulture and ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 29 (SocialNews.XYZ) The 34th Mango Festival organised by Delhi Tourism witnessed a steady stream of visitors on its concluding day on Sunday, even as Minister Kapil Mishra used the event to join mango growers from across the country and tune into Prime Minister's monthly radio show 'Mann Ki Baat'. With more than 400 varieties of mango on display and daily competitions and magic shows, this year's Festival held at Thyagaraj Stadium struck a chord with mango lovers who also got a glimpse of a real mango orchard, displaying plants with fruits hanging from branches. Apart from th ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday announced the provisional attachment of assets worth approximately ₹131.45 crore in Spain, including a luxury yacht and immovable properties, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). These assets belong to Pavel Prozorov, a Spanish national and the alleged mastermind behind the unauthorised forex trading platform OctaFX. The attached assets comprise a commercial Italian-model luxury yacht cruising in the Western Mediterranean, a minijet boat, a luxury car, and two residential properties in Spain. The ED's probe was launched ...Read More >
Tirupati/Chittoor: After chilli and tobacco farmers, mango growers are now in focus as YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy looks to raise the political heat in the state. A bumper mango yield this year has brought little joy to farmers, who are struggling with falling prices. Despite the state government's swift action, announcing subsidies and deploying officials to assist distressed farmers, the issue has turned political. Looking to capitalise on the unrest, Jagan will visit Bangarupalem market yard on July 9 to console mango farmers. In fact, the government claims that Andhra Pradesh's pr ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Ayodhya Ram Mandir was open to the public in January last year. The first floor of the temple will have Raja Ram installed in his grand, kingly form. This step also involves performing Pran Pratishtha for several deities throughout the complex, including those in seven nearby shrines and seven additional mandapams. As the second phase of the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir has started, let us tell you about the beautiful golden top (Shikhar) and the new first floor of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. About the First Floor of Ayodhya Ram Mandir The Ram Mandir T ...Read More >
Guwahati: Horticulture and Research Centre at Nagichara in West Tripura has launched experimental cultivation of 22 foreign and 13 indigenous improved varieties of mango to help farmers increase their income, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath announced on Sunday. Speaking at the Monsoon Mango Fiesta 2025 held at Narikel Kunj in Gandatwisa, a tribal region in Dhalai district, Nath highlighted the government's continued efforts to transform Tripura into a hub for mango cultivation. Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge! He noted ...Read More >