With 18 days remaining till the Amarnath Yatra‘s conclusion on August 9, more than three lakh Yatris have participated in the event, surpassing the official projection of 3.50 lakh this year. The Yatra began on July 3.

According to the administration, 3.07 lakh pilgrims had received “darshan” inside the sacred cave site as of Sunday.

In two protected convoys, another group of 3,791 Yatris departed Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas today for the Valley. At 3.33 a.m., the first escorted convoy of 52 cars left for Baltal base camp with 1,208 Yatris, and at 4.06 a.m., the second guarded convoy of 96 vehicles left for Pahalgam base camp with 2,583 Yatris, according to officials.

The chairman of the Shri Amarnath ji Shrine Board (SASB) and J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid a visit to the Baltal base camp on Sunday.

A meeting of officials was presided over by the L-G to examine the plans put in place to ensure the Yatra ran smoothly.

He and the Yatris ate lunch at one of Baltal’s “Langars,” or community kitchens. The L-G engaged with the Yatris as well.

The security and other preparations made for the Yatra were praised by the L-G.

On July 10 of this year, Pahalgam hosted the Bhumi Pujan of “Chhari Mubarak,” or Lord Shiva’s Holy. From its location at the Dashnami Akhara Building in Srinagar, a group of seers led by Mahant Swami Deependra Giri, the Chhari Mubarak’s only caretaker, transported it to Pahalgam.

The Bhumi Pujan was held in the Gauri Shankar temple in Pahalgam, where the Chhari Mubarak was brought. After that, the Chhari Mubarak was returned to its location at the Dashnami Akhara structure. The Yatra will officially come to an end on August 9 when it arrives at the sacred cave shrine after making its last trek from the Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar on August 4.

Because this year’s Amarnath Yatra follows the barbaric attack of April 22, in which terrorists backed by Pakistan massacred 26 civilians after separating them based on faith in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, authorities have prepared substantial multi-tier security arrangements.

To supplement the current Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police forces, 180 more CAPF companies have been added.

More than 8,000 fully trained commandos have been sent out by the Army to ensure the Yatris’ safe passage.

The Yatra this year began on July 3 and will conclude on August 9, which falls on Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan, after 38 days.

Yatris go either the shorter Baltal path or the more traditional Pahalgam way to reach the sacred cave shrine, which is located 3888 meters above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas.

To get to the cave shrine, those who choose the Pahalgam path walk 46 kilometers through Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni. To reach the cave shrine, a pilgrim must journey for four days. The 14-kilometer walk to the cave shrine requires those who choose the shorter Baltal path to return to the base camp the same day after receiving darshan.

For security concerns, Yatris will not have access to helicopter services this year.

An ice stalagmite structure inside the cave shrine waxes and wanes in accordance with the moon’s phases. The ice stalagmite structure, according to devotees, represents Lord Shiva’s legendary abilities.

In the next two months, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) plans to start a statewide campaign to speed up the biometric update of children’s Aadhaar cards via schools. Over 7 crore youngsters whose biometric information has not yet been updated are to be covered by the scheme.

According to Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO of UIDAI, the agency is now testing the technology and anticipates having it available in 45 to 60 days. The project will be implemented gradually, starting with schools and then moving on to universities for the second set of updates, which are necessary for kids who become 15 years old.

UIDAI guidelines state that after a child turns five, biometric updates are required. Aadhaar is issued to children under five without biometric information. The Aadhaar number may be deactivated if the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) is not finished by the age of seven. Updates between the ages of 5 and 7 are free, however beyond the age of 7, there is a price of Rs 100.

“Aadhaar is essential for providing benefits under a number of government programs.” We want kids to benefit from everything at the appropriate moment. We are attempting to conveniently reach as many youngsters as possible through schools,” Kumar stated.

For children who have reached the age of seven but have not yet updated their biometrics in Aadhaar, UIDAI has emphasized the significance of completing the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU). This is a current Aadhaar requirement, and parents or guardians can update their child’s information at any designated Aadhaar center or Aadhaar Seva Kendra.

To encourage these kids to finish the MBU exercise, UIDAI has begun sending SMS messages to the mobile numbers linked to their Aadhaar accounts.

Between the ages of five and seven, a child’s Aadhaar biometrics can be updated for free. A child under five years old registers for Aadhaar by submitting their name, address, date of birth, gender, photo, and supporting documentation. However, according to an official declaration, a child’s fingerprints and iris biometrics are not taken for Aadhaar enrollment if they are younger than five years old because they are not yet grown.

Therefore, when the child turns five, it is mandatory to update his or her fingerprints, iris, and photo in Aadhaar in accordance with current regulations. According to the statement, this is the first Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU).

With ten games scheduled in the five host cities of Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Shillong, Kokrajhar, and Imphal, the 134th Durand Cup, which kicks off on July 23, is sure to be an exciting first week of football action, especially with well-liked home favorites hoping to get off to a fast start.

With at least three local derbies featuring other top local contenders like Mohammedan Sporting (former champions), Shillong Lajong FC, and Neroca FC (former finalists), leading Indian Super League (ISL) teams East Bengal FC (16-time former winners) and Jamshedpur FC (former ISL League Winners Shield winners) kick off one after the other on the first two match days. These derbies are expected to attract a lot of local interest.

Early three points will provide the early starters hoping to secure knockout berths a boost, especially with teams like ISL champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant, defending champions NorthEast United FC, and ISL side Punjab FC starting in week two.

The tournament’s first game, a difficult Group A opener at home at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata, pits Bengaluru League top division team South United FC against giants East Bengal in the two games played in the plains before heading up to the stunning hills of the Northeast.

The following day, Jamshedpur will play the Tribhuvan Army of Nepal at their home field, the JDR Tata Sports Complex in the Steel City. Nothing less than two victories will please the Red Miners’ expanding fan base as they meet the Malaysian Army team in their second Group C match of the first week.

Similarly, supporters of the Red & Gold brigade will expect nothing less than a resounding victory in their first game now that they have a new roster of international recruits in their camp.

This year’s 134th Indian Oil Durand Cup opener is a unique Kolkata rivalry, as century-old Mohammedan Sporting faces off against I-League 2 champions Diamond Harbour FC (DHFC), who are opponents in the Calcutta Premier Division League. With DHFC won one of their first two meetings, Mohammedan is seeking their first victory over the recently established and rapidly improving team.

With both teams aiming to reclaim lost glory, the second matchup will pit the perennially popular Shillong Lajong FC against Rangdaijed United, another Shillong team. Group E’s first game, the Shillong derby, will take place at the JLN stadium.

As the Durand Cup returns to the city of Manipur, the legendary Imphal derby between longtime rivals Neroca FC and TRAU FC will take place in the final derby of week one. Seeing the charming Khuman Lampak crowded with football fans once more would undoubtedly be a joy.

Additionally, some exciting talent from Durand Cup debutants will showcase their knowledge and abilities on the national platform for the first time during the first week. In addition to the aforementioned South United and DHFC, other teams hoping to make an impression include Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and their first Group D opponents and fellow debutants Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC at Kokrajhar’s SAI stadium on July 27.

In the last match of the first week, on July 30, Punjab’s Namdhari FC will make its Durand debut when they play South United FC. This will be the latter’s final and the Punjab team’s first Group A match.

The Sony Ten2 channel and the SonyLIV over-the-top platform will broadcast live coverage of all 43, 134th Durand Cup matches.

The highly anticipated teaser for the action series “Hunter 2 – Tootega Nahi Todega ” on Amazon MX Player was released by the creators on social media on Friday.

The trailer gave a compelling preview of the high-stakes thriller and was jam-packed with action-packed scenes, including a smoldering face-off between Jackie Shroff and Suniel Shetty. In the trailer, Suniel reprises his gritty role as Vikram Sinha, facing off against Jackie, who joins the series as Salesman, the enigmatic and dangerous enemy.

The interesting teaser was posted on Instagram by the “Dhadkan” actor, Suniel Shetty wrote, “Hunter se kuch bhi le lete, par uski family nahi – ab woh tootega nay todega? On July 24, #Hunter S2 will be available for free on Amazon MX Player exclusively.

“We’ve scaled up every aspect of the storytelling with Hunter 2 – Tootega Nahi Todega,” said Amogh Dusad, Head of Content at Amazon MX Player, in reference to the second season of the show. from the character arcs and emotional complexity to the global canvas and fast-paced action. The story is elevated to a whole new level with the return of Suniel Shetty and the arrival of Jackie Shroff, resulting in an intense and emotionally charged face-off. Our goal at Amazon MX Player is still to provide emotionally compelling content along with an engaging viewing experience.

“Season 2 of Hunter – Tootega Nahi Todega delves deeper into Vikram’s past, his pain, and what drives him,” said Suniel Shetty, who was thrilled to be returning to the show. This trailer is merely the beginning. This time, I really enjoy how intimate the action seems. It’s about the emotional stakes, not simply about firearms and chases. And every scene was more intense because of that emotional weight. We got a clear idea of how prepared people are for this next chapter by releasing the trailer in front of the media and fans.

“Jumping into Hunter 2 – Tootega Nahi Todega was a wild ride,” Jackie Shroff said in reference to his role. Before this salesman entered and completely changed everything, the planet had its own vibe. Playing him was peaceful but lethal, like holding fire in your hands. Bhidus, the trailer is out! It’s time to get in and have fun!

“Hunter Season 2,” which was directed by Prince Dhiman and Alok Batra, also features important roles for Anusha Dandekar and Barkha Bisht. Beginning on July 24, the series will be available for free on Amazon MX Player.

As the startup environment grows, particularly in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, India is poised to lead the global creative economy with AI-driven innovation, the government says.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is working to implement AI-based solutions that can overcome linguistic barriers in order to guarantee inclusive communication and last-mile information delivery in all languages throughout the nation.

Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, said the Ministry has established the WaveX Startup Accelerator Platform in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to support the nation’s creator economy during a meeting with incubators and startups at the T-Hub in Hyderabad.

According to him, the platform has started the “Kalaa Setu” and “Bhasha Setu” challenges, which are important for creating a digital ecosystem that is prepared for the future.

Leading AI startups in India were urged by Jaju to take part in the aforementioned challenges and provide domestic, scalable solutions that take into account the country’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

Through the WAVEX platform, startups can sign up and submit applications for the “Kalaa Setu” and “Bhasha Setu” challenges.

The WaveX webpage provides access to the challenges’ technical specifications and other information. The winner will receive an MOU for full-scale development, pilot support with AIR, DD, and PIB, and incubation under the WAVEX Innovation Platform, the Ministry said. The final shortlisted teams will showcase their concepts before a national jury in New Delhi.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s WAVES initiative established WaveX, a specialized startup accelerator platform designed to foster innovation in the media, entertainment, and language technology industries.

WaveX gave more than 30 potential businesses the chance to propose at the ‘WAVES Summit‘ in Mumbai in May 2025, allowing them to interact directly with investors, government organizations, and business executives. Through focused hackathons, incubation, coaching, and integration with national platforms, WaveX continues to foster innovative ideas.

Today marks the release of Mohit Suri’s romance drama “Saiyaara,” which has touched viewers on a profound emotional level.

Even with all the excitement around the movie, theater attendance on the first day was very low. The film, which stars debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has gotten great reviews for its powerful acting, emotive storytelling, and soulful music. The new duo, Mohit Suri’s comeback directing, and the movie’s capacity to resurrect the romanticism of classic Bollywood have all received high appreciation from viewers.

One viewer says, “I thought Saiyaara was a great movie. It’s really skillfully directed. After giving us Aashiqui 2 in 2013, Mohit Suri went on to make the poorly received Ek Villain. However, he has recently produced a powerful film once more after a long break. Everything depicted on screen is done perfectly, and the directing and screenplay are also outstanding.

“As I watched the movie, I had the impression that Ahaan and Aneet were seasoned actors who had previously acted in three or four movies. That was how naturally they performed. In particular, I felt that Ahaan Panday’s acting lacked a little amount of ferocity, which could have been subdued.

“No, it’s Aashiqui 3, not Saiyaara!” said another spectator. Mohit sir, I’m advising you to alter the title to Aashiqui! In a nutshell, the movie is a hit, despite the absence of a jacket scene. Mohit sir’s direction brings back the same vibe as Aashiqui 2. Even though I was disappointed with Ek Villain, I’m genuinely loving Mohit Sir’s return in this movie. Every song is good, and the music is great. Saiyaara is my favorite song; I’ve been playing it repeatedly.

Additionally, some viewers thought the film moved slowly in the first half. One moviegoer praised the film’s compelling plot and outstanding performances after finding the first half to be slow.

“The first part of the film takes a long time to build up, but the story of Saiyaara is good.” Given that the entire film is two hours and forty minutes long, they could have tightened up the first half. The tempo would have been better with a shorter first half. “The entire movie is captivating, and you won’t get bored,” he continued. It seems like a genuine love tale when you watch Ahaan and Aneet together on television, and I thought their chemistry was great. That message really shines through, as Ahaan’s character demonstrates how hard he strives to keep his love alive.

“In many ways, Saiyaara is the best love story to come out of Bollywood after Aashiqui 2,” said a fourth audience member. Bollywood seemed to have lost the ability to tell such poignant love stories. Instead, what were we getting? movies such as Aankhon Ki Gustakhiyan or Metro in the City. However, Mohit Suri has now made a strong return after 13 years. Beautifully filmed romantic scenes, soulful music, poignant narration, and his unique flair are all evident here. Both Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday had excellent debuts. They both really delivered.

Unsurprisingly, the movie’s soundtrack is becoming a definite highlight. One user commented, “The music is so good, it will move you to tears.”

Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda made their acting debuts in “Saiyaara,” which was directed by Mohit Suri and produced by YRF.

According to Ministry of Defense sources, India successfully tested two of its most important strategic assets on Thursday: the ballistic missile Agni-I and the short-range ballistic missile Prithvi-II. The Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, served as the site of the test firing.

The launches were carried out as part of regular training and validation operations under the Strategic Forces Command’s auspices, according to the Ministry of Defence. According to a statement from the Ministry, both missiles effectively fulfilled all operational goals and technical specifications. The Ministry of Defence reaffirmed the accuracy and dependability of India’s nuclear-capable delivery systems by confirming that the tests validated key capabilities.

India has strengthened its defense capabilities and reached a major milestone with these test firings. The Indian defense system is strongly supported by the ballistic missile Agni and the indigenous missile system Prithvi.

India conducted a successful trial of the domestic ‘Akash Prime’ air defense system on Wednesday, about twenty-four hours prior to this one. The Indian Army tested the Akash Prime air defense system in the Ladakh region at an elevation of about 15,000 feet. Senior officers from the Army’s Air Defence wing and the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) attended the testing of the Akash Prime system.

Additionally, this test shot represented a significant step forward in India’s efforts to improve its independent defense capabilities. The system’s surface-to-air missiles demonstrated remarkable accuracy throughout the tests by registering direct strikes on two fast-moving aerial targets.

Even simple activities can be difficult in the rarefied atmosphere and harsh conditions of high-altitude terrain, where the test was carried out.

According to defense sources, the Indian Army’s third and fourth Akash Regiments would be equipped with the Akash Prime system, strengthening the nation’s total air defense. Notably, during Operation Sindoor, India’s Akash air defense system was instrumental in effectively thwarting aerial strikes by Pakistani military forces using Turkish drones and Chinese fighter jets.

This successful testing, according to defense analysts, not only demonstrates India’s domestic defense capabilities but also greatly improves the country’s readiness for aerial security.

Hockey fans from all over the world voted for Indian women’s hockey forward Deepika‘s incredible solo field goal against the Netherlands during the Bhubaneswar leg of the 2024–25 FIH Hockey Pro League season, making her the first Indian player to ever win the coveted Poligras Magic Skill Award.

The 21-year-old attacker gained international attention with her incredible run and finish in the 35th minute of India’s match against the Netherlands, the top-ranked team in the world, which they won in a shootout following a 2-2 tie.

Deepika broke through the Dutch defense along the left flank, dribbled along the baseline, dinked the ball over a defender’s stick, and completed it past the goalkeeper to give India the lead with a 0–2 deficit.

An overjoyed Deepika declared, “I am incredibly honored to have won this award,” after receiving it. It was a very meaningful moment for me to score that goal against a tough opponent like the Netherlands, and it means a lot to me today to have this recognition.

“I am grateful to my family, friends, coaches, and teammates for their unwavering support and motivation every day. This honor belongs to Indian hockey, not just to me. Together, let’s keep moving forward,” she continued.

Fans from all over the world vote for the Poligras Magic Skill Award, which honors the most inventive and talented moments in the FIH Hockey Pro League. Along with Patricia Alvarez of Spain and the Australian women’s team, Deepika’s goal was one of three women’s nominations.

A worldwide fan vote was used to choose the winner, and Deepika was the clear favorite, marking a significant milestone for Indian hockey.

Victor Wegnez of Belgium won the men’s award for his outstanding midfield play against Spain, which resulted in a team goal.

Experts hailed Wednesday’s official Tesla launch in India as a significant turning point for the nation’s sustainable mobility future, sparking excitement in the EV sector.

Leaders in the industry think that Tesla’s presence will change the EV ecosystem in India as a whole in addition to helping consumers.

According to Nikhil Dhaka, a Primus Partners car expert, Tesla’s debut represents a turning point in India’s transition to environmentally friendly transportation.

“With its global ambition, cutting-edge technology, and commitment to advancing innovation throughout the industry, Tesla isn’t just another automaker joining the Indian market,” he told.

Experts predict that even though Tesla’s vehicles would probably be priced in the entry-level luxury market, the brand will continue to appeal to a large number of Indian consumers.

Tesla has a technological edge and a strong brand appeal. To acquire a Tesla, many buyers may have to extend their finances by 20 to 25 percent, according to Dhaka.

According to the US EV behemoth, it is currently getting ready to open a new showroom in Delhi. The EV business also revealed that it will shortly install four additional charging stations in New Delhi.

According to its official announcement, these will comprise 15 destination chargers and 16 superchargers for EV consumers.

In addition to introducing its well-liked electric SUV, the Model Y, to Indian consumers, Tesla opened its first “l,, ” in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Also Read: India’s Top 5 Best Electric Scooters for 2023

The corporation stated in an official statement that it intends to develop a whole EV ecosystem in India.

Throughout the nation, these will comprise showrooms, service centers, delivery hubs, charging stations, logistical facilities, and office spaces.

Four significant charging stations have already been confirmed by Tesla in Mumbai, including Lower Parel, Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Navi Mumbai, and Thane.