Stay updated with the latest Other news, articles, and insights from trusted sources. Explore in-depth coverage and expert analysis on Other topics.
Srinagar: Before towering cranes and cutting-edge engineering transformed the Himalayan landscape, the monumental dream of connecting "Kashmir to Kanyakumari" by rail began with the plodding footsteps of humble mules. This extraordinary backstory underpins the official realization of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, a project crowned by the awe-inspiring Chenab Bridge. According to Afcons Infrastructure Limited, the company behind the Chenab Bridge, the earliest and most formidable hurdle wasn't just the design of the world's highest railway arch bridge, but simply reaching its remote and treacherous location. Surrounded by steep, ancient Himalayan slopes, the only viable option for transporting essential equipment and construction materials was initially by horses and mules. "Initially, mules and horses were used by the project team to reach the location," a company spokesperson revealed. This arduous, painstaking effort laid the groundwork for what was to come. Slowly, temporary roads were meticulously carved out, eventually extending 11 kilometers on the North bank and 12 kilometers on the South bank of the river, finally allowing heavier machinery to reach the site. The journey from rudimentary transport to engineering marvel epitomizes India's resolve. Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Executive Vice Chairman, Afcons, emphasized, "The Chenab Railway Bridge is more than just a marvel of engineering. It is a symbol of India's resolve to conquer the most formidable challenges with ingenuity and courage." With access secured, the colossal construction could truly begin. The project utilized the world's tallest crossbar cable cranes and specialized heavy machinery to tackle the daunting terrain. The very slopes that once necessitated mules were "tamed using massive consolidation grouting, making them sturdy for the colossal arch foundations." A moment of profound triumph arrived on April 5, 2021, when the single, majestic arch, constructed from both sides using a cantilever technique, met precisely at its crown. PTI reported that the subsequent viaduct construction presented further unique challenges, with its complex transition areas requiring a meticulously planned, four-section launching sequence. Giridhar Rajagopalan, Deputy Managing Director, Afcons, highlighted an Indian Railways first: incremental launching on both a transition curve and a longitudinal gradient simultaneously for the viaduct portion. This dedication to quality was upheld through the establishment of a NABL-accredited laboratory on-site - a first in Indian Railways' history - ensuring stringent quality monitoring at every stage. Rising 359 meters above the river, the Chenab Bridge stands 35 meters higher than the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris, truly earning its title as the world's highest railway bridge. After its inauguration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, holding the Tricolour high, walked across this incredible testament to human perseverance and engineering, having traveled to the spot in a rail engine coach - a fitting tribute to the journey from mules to high-speed rail.
IMPHAL, Nov 17: The NPP on Sunday withdrew support from the BJP-led Government in Manipur, even as violence continued to rock the state as offices of the Congress and the saffron party were ransacked in the hill district of Jiribam where an unidentified body was found earlier in the day, officials said. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp A BJP MLA's ancestral house was vandalised in Imphal Valley while a building owned by Ashab Uddin, the Independent legislator of Jiribam, was ransacked, officials said. The incidents occurred a day after irate mobs set fire to the residences of ...Read More >
nion Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje cited statistics in the Lok Sabha on Monday to show that youth unemployment rates in India were lower than global levels. The minister cited a report by the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Institute for Human Development (IHD) which states that the worldwide youth unemployment rate was 15.6 per cent in 2021. Further, as per World Employment and Social Outlook Trends, 2024 by ILO, globally, in 2023, the youth unemployment rate was 13.3 per cent. On the other hand, the latest annual Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS ...Read More >
The Cure SMA Foundation of India has praised the government’s recent efforts to address rare diseases, including Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), with over Rs 900 crore allocated for treatment procurement. The foundation urges swift action to implement the procurement process within 45 days, following the Delhi High Court’s directive. SMA, a life-threatening genetic disease, has limited treatment access in India. While the drug Risdiplam has brought hope, collaborative efforts are needed to ensure wider availability. Experts stress the importance of a holistic approach to SMA care, citing Kerala ...Read More >
Small-cap Stock: Krystal Integrated Services Limited (Krystal) share price rose 5 per cent to ₹779.3 on Tuesday, November 26 after the company announced receiving a ₹106.3 crore contract from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The contract, valued at ₹1,062.99 million ( ₹106.3 crore), covers three years and involves providing comprehensive attendant manpower services to BMC's Education and Security Departments. This initiative is aimed at improving public sector operational efficiency in Mumbai. Small-cap stock Krystal Integrated Services share was trading in the green, up 3.07 pe ...Read More >
The Indian government launched the Rs. 1,435 crore PAN 2.0 project. Announced by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the project aims to establish the PAN number as a common business identifier across all government digital systems. PAN 2.0 Project Launch The Rs. 1,435 crore PAN 2.0 the project aims to establish the PAN number as a common business identifier across all government digital systems. CCEA Approval The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the project under the Income Tax Department. As per Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaish ...Read More >
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (November 26, 2024), indicated a level of hypocrisy attached to criticism about Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), saying ""EVMs are tampered when you lose and fine if you win". The oral remark was made by Justice Vikram Nath before dismissing a petition filed by evangelist K.A. Paul, who urged for a judicial order to return to paper ballots. Also read:EVM-VVPAT case | Cannot disclose 'source code' of EVMs, will result in misuse: Supreme Court Justice Nath, during the hearing, asked Mr. Paul whether he wanted to turn the court into a political arena. Mr. Paul sa ...Read More >
Travellers on Schengen visas can add two more countries to their Europe itinerary from 2025On your next trip to Paris, make sure to add one more iconic stop to your itinerary -- Notre Dame, as the beloved cathedral reopens after five years of restoration following the devastating 2019 fire. The tragedy that nearly destroyed the iconic church in April 2019 sparked an outpouring of global emotion. Now, the cathedral -- described by historian Jacques Hillairet as "the house of the people" -- is set to open its gates on December 7, following an immense restoration effort involving a thousand skil ...Read More >
Constitution Day, known as Samvidhan Divas, is observed annually on November 26. This day commemorates the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1949. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the chairman of the Drafting Committee, played a pivotal role in shaping this foundational document. The Constitution officially came into effect on January 26, 1950, marking a transformative chapter in India's history. Why Do We Celebrate Constitution Day? Constitution Day is celebrated to remind citizens of their rights and responsibilities as outlined in the Indian Constitution. It serves as an opportunity to appreciate ...Read More >
Mumbai Indians (MI) made strategic moves in the IPL 2025 mega-auction, securing New Zealand pacer Trent Boult for ₹12.50 crore. MI owner Akash Ambani praised Boult’s invaluable skill in swinging the new ball, acknowledging the team’s struggles when he wasn’t playing for them in recent years. The franchise also acquired England’s Reece Topley for ₹75 lakh and New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner for ₹2 crore. MI further strengthened their spin department by signing young Afghan talent Allah Ghazanfar for ₹4.80 crore, who has impressed with his performances in international cricket. ...Read More >
This is a Mint Premium article gifted to you. Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. New Delhi: The debate on laboratory-grown meat, dairy, and egg products may soon be settled, with the issue reaching India's apex food regulator, three people aware of the development said. The development comes in the backdrop of concerns about public health, food security and ecological sustainability. While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has put in place a regulatory framework for plant-based protein products, manufacturers and sellers of fermentation-derived and cultivated protein ...Read More >
ess than 24 hours after he asserted in Nigeria's Abuja that stepping out of the comfort zone, innovating and creating new paths has now become the very essence of today's India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told the gathering of world's most influential leaders converged in Rio de Janeiro for the G20 Summit that the main reason for India's success lies in his government's 'back to basics' and 'march to the future' approach. Addressing the G20 session on 'Social Inclusion and the Fight Against Hunger and Poverty' at the bayside museum of modern art during the two-day 19th G20 Summit, ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India] November 18 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party MP K Laxman slammed Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, accusing the Congress party of 'misleading' people. He further said that the people of Maharashtra know "how to teach a lesson" to Congress. "Revanth Reddy as a CM of Telangana and as a Congress leader is misleading the public. Maharashtra people are clever enough they know how to teach a lesson to these Congress people and Revanth Reddy you will come to know what has happened in Haryana that is going to be repeated in Maharashtra, and Jharkhand also," K Laxman ...Read More >
Mumbai, November 26: The final allotment for the NTPC Green Energy IPO has been confirmed, and investors can now check their status through bank debit messages or online platforms such as the BSE, NSE, and Kfin Technologies. The shares of NTPC Green Energy, which opened for subscription on November 19 and closed on November 22, are set to be listed on the stock exchanges on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. The public offering received strong investor interest, with the issue oversubscribed by 2.42 times, according to the National Stock Exchange (NSE). Analysts maintain a positive long-term outlo ...Read More >
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 13-year-old cricket prodigy, becomes the youngest player signed for IPL, bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 1.10 crore. His achievement has sparked pride in his hometown, with family replaying a vital role in his journey. Vaibhav marks a new era for young talent in cricket. In a groundbreaking moment for Indian cricket, 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has made history by becoming the youngest player ever signed by the Indian Premier League (IPL). Acquired by the Rajasthan Royals for a staggering Rs 1.10 crore during the IPL 2025 auction, Vaibhav's remarkable achievement ...Read More >
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed further recovery of an outstanding tax demand from news portal NewsClick, directing the company's banker not to release any more money to the tax department based on a 2023 notice, and allowing the portal to use its two bank accounts for daily operations. The order was passed by a bench headed by justice BV Nagarathna on an application moved by PPK Newsclick Studio Limited, which alleged that ICICI Bank was not allowing the company to use its accounts despite a top court order to this effect passed on August 9. The tax department had raised the demand again ...Read More >
Severe air pollution in northern India has led to a surge in demand for respiratory medications, with Foracort becoming India’s top-selling drug in October. The inhaler, used to treat asthma and COPD, recorded Rs 75 crore in sales, surpassing popular medicines like Augmentin and Glycomet-GP. Manufactured by Cipla, Foracort combines budesonide and formoterol for effective dual-action therapy. Other respiratory drugs, Duolin and Budecort, also saw increased sales. With Delhi’s Air Quality Index reaching hazardous levels, the rise in respiratory issues underscores the urgent need for better healt ...Read More >
Infosys has announced an average 85% performance bonus for eligible employees in Q2 FY25, reflecting its strong financial performance. The bonus, paid to mid- and junior-level staff, will be credited with the November salaries, with individual payouts varying based on performance. This follows Infosys' impressive 4.7% rise in Q2 net profit and a revenue increase of 5.1%, leading to an upward revision of its FY25 revenue guidance. The bonus payout surpasses the previous quarter's 80%, with Infosys outpacing rivals like TCS. Employees are also awaiting salary hikes, with revisions expected from ...Read More >
The U.S. dollar continued its strong run on Monday, bolstered by soaring Treasury yields and expectations of limited Federal Reserve rate cuts. Meanwhile, the yen steadied ahead of a key speech by Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda, where he may hint at a possible rate hike in December, with markets pricing a 55% chance of such a move. Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato's warning on yen intervention caused a temporary pullback, while the dollar index touched a one-year high of 107.07. Analysts forecast further dollar gains as U.S. economic policies and performance outshine global peers. K ...Read More >
Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, has accused two top AAP leaders of backing separate candidates for the Barnala assembly bypoll on November 20. Bajwa claimed that while one leader is supporting the official AAP candidate, the other is backing a rebel candidate. He urged the public to reject both and vote for the Congress candidate. Bajwa also took a jibe at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, suggesting he could become Punjab's "Eknath Shinde" after reportedly being in contact with the Union Home Ministry through a Punjab-based Union minister. ...Read More >
SynopsisOn the technical charts, the RSI of the stock stood at 49.49.Shares of Bajaj Holdings & Investment Ltd. traded 1.41 per cent at Rs 10447.00 at 01:30PM (IST) on Tuesday, even as BSE benchmark Sensex 227.01 points to 79882.84. The stock had closed at Rs 10596.80 in the previous session. The stock quoted a 52-week high price of Rs 11348.50 and 52-week low of Rs 7212.00, respectively. As per BSE data, total traded volume on the counter till 01:30PM (IST) stood at 638 shares with a turnover of Rs 0.68 crore. At the prevailing price, shares of the company traded at 15.71 times its trailing ...Read More >
Samsung's facing a lot of crises and the company has unable to chart a clear path forward, particularly in the semiconductor market, where its foundry is lagging behind, its next-gen memory products are struggling to compete against SK Hynix, and legacy products are under pressure from Chinese companies. The company does a significant employee reshuffle across the entire organization every year. The process has started a bit earlier this time around as there's very much a sense of urgency to improve things. The reshuffle has reportedly seen some senior executives being fired as well. Samsung ...Read More >
JAMMU, Nov 17: Maharashtra police along with Military Intelligence and Army have arrested nine persons hailing from the border district of Rajouri for taking up jobs as security guards in different cities in Maharashtra and carrying weapons with fake licenses. Nine 12-bore rifles and 58 bullets have been recovered from their possession. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The arrests were made during a joint operation of Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar) police in Maharashtra, Southern Command and Military Intelligence on the basis of tip off that some persons from Rajouri distric ...Read More >
Still, the ongoing U.N. climate talks have thrown a spotlight on their efforts to tackle global warming. While the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, is tasked with agreeing a goal to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars for climate, leaders of the Group of 20 major economies half a world away in Rio are holding the purse strings. G20 countries account for 85% of the world's economy and are the largest contributors to multilateral development banks helping to steer climate finance. "The spotlight is naturally on the G20. They account for 80 percent of global emissions," U.N. Secretary Ge ...Read More >
During Tuesday's trading session, the shares of a global leader in glass-lined equipment surged nearly 3 percent to Rs. 1,247.5 on BSE, after a foreign portfolio investor (FPI) bought shares worth a total of around Rs. 167.4 crores in the company via a bulk deal. With a market capitalisation of Rs. 5,524 crores, at 02:19 p.m., the shares of GMM Pfaudler Limited were trading in the green at Rs. 1,228.7, up by nearly 1.4 percent, as compared to its previous closing price of Rs. 1,211.3. As per the latest block deal available with the NSE, foreign portfolio investor Amansa Holdings Private Limi ...Read More >
ABUJA, Nov 17: Nigeria on Sunday conferred its second-highest national award - the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger - on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, making him the second foreign dignitary to receive the distinction. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp "Honoured to be conferred with the 'Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger' Award by Nigeria. I accept it with great humility and dedicate it to the 140 crore people of India and the friendship of India and Nigeria," Modi said after receiving the award from Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Click here to watch vid ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Singles, Doubles, and the Team Championship - the 18-year-old Chennai girl, the daughter of an auto driver from Kasimedu, left nothing for competitors from around the world at the sixth edition of the Carrom World Cup held in the US which Team India swept. The Women's Singles final was a hard-fought contest, where the 18-year-old M Khazima kept her nerves to defeat 12-time national and multiple World Cup winner Rashmi Kumari from Bihar. With this victory, Khazima became the youngest Carrom World Champion. Khazima, whose father Mehaboob Basha is an auto driver from Kasimedu, had been ...Read More >
Also Read: Indian Constitution at 75: Defending ideals amidst erosion "Today, we recall the tremendous contribution of the Constituent Assembly and its prolific members. We are forever indebted to their vision and wisdom," he said. Kharge said Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Rajendra Prasad, KM Munshi, Sarojini Naidu, Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur and several eminent personalities were not just revered national icons but inspiring personalities who became the torchbearers of hope for generations togeth ...Read More >
HYDERABAD, India, Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- IBSAT 2024, the proctored online aptitude test conducted by The ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education, is MBA aspirants' gateway to premier MBA, PGPM offered at nine ICFAI Business School (IBS) campuses. With applications closing in the third week of December, this is the perfect time for the candidates to secure their future with IBS and explore its Rs. 10 crore scholarship program. IBSAT is designed to reduce the stress on aspirants unlike CAT, XAT as the test does not have negative markings or sectional time limits, allowing candidates to foc ...Read More >
Delhi Capitals made a strong impression at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, assembling a well-balanced squad for the upcoming season. Key signings included former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis (Rs 2 crore), India pacer Mukesh Kumar (Rs 8 crore - RTM), and Sri Lankan bowler Dushmantha Chameera (Rs 75 lakh). The team also secured uncapped talents like Donovan Ferreira and Ajay Mandal. Co-owner Parth Jindal hailed the squad as “balanced,” while head coach Hemang Badani expressed confidence in their Indian core. Delhi Capitals’ full squad now includes big names like KL Rahul, Mitchell Starc, and T ...Read More >
The IPL 2025 mega auction, held on November 24-25 in Jeddah, saw a record-breaking total of Rs 639.15 crore spent by 10 teams on acquiring 182 players. Among the 577 players up for grabs, 13 Australians were sold, with pacer Josh Hazlewood fetching the highest bid at Rs. 12.50 crore from Royal Challengers Bangalore. Other notable signings included Mitchell Starc (Rs. 11.75 crore, Delhi Capitals), Marcus Stoinis (Rs. 11 crore, Punjab Kings), and Mitchell Marsh (Rs. 3.4 crore, Lucknow Super Giants). Punjab Kings made a significant splash, purchasing five Australian players, including Glenn Maxwe ...Read More >