Popular actor Madhavan has called director Raja Karuppasamy’s superhit Tamil film ‘Modha Rathiri’, starring Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar, a “brilliant” film and a “must watch”.

Madhavan took to Instagram to praise the film and its makers, describing the screenplay, visual storytelling and performances as outstanding. He also applauded the entire cast and crew for creating a film that made him laugh, cheer and clap after a long time.

Madhavan is not the first prominent personality to praise the film, which has emerged as a superhit.

National Award-winning actor and director Dhanush also praised the film and called it “heartwarming”. In a post on X, he applauded the team of newcomers behind the film and urged audiences to watch it in theatres with their families.

Directed by Raja Karuppasamy, ‘Modha Rathiri’ is a rural comedy entertainer starring Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar in the lead roles. The film hit theatres on August 21 and received a U/A certificate from the Censor Board before becoming a superhit.

Anishma Anilkumar plays Muthuselvi, while Rishikanth plays Maruthanayagam. The film follows an ordinary village wedding that turns into a hilarious series of misunderstandings, unexpected twists and emotional moments.

Set entirely over a single night, ‘Modha Rathiri’ builds its humour around one surprise after another. Rishikanth made his debut as a lead actor with the film, while Anishma Anilkumar, who earned appreciation for her performances in ‘Sirai’ and ‘Youth’, plays the female lead.

Producer Naveen Yerneni of Mythri Movie Makers had earlier said the team decided to make the film after the first narration made them laugh, smile and imagine the audience’s reaction in theatres. He said the film combines humour, emotions, relatable characters and entertainment, while praising Raja Karuppasamy and the cast and crew for their efforts.

Director Raja Karuppasamy said the film marked an ideal beginning to his filmmaking journey. He thanked producers Naveen Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar for backing his story and praised the actors, technicians and crew for their dedication. He said he hoped audiences would leave theatres smiling, laughing and remembering the characters.

Besides Rishikanth and Anishma Anilkumar, the film features Chetan, A. Venkatesh, Bucks, Abdool Lee, Shelly Kishore, Sangeetha Balan, Banupriya, Sumithra Devi L., Varshini Karmegham, Karthikeyan, Velan and Kowshik Kabilan, among others.

Surendran Paranjothi handled the cinematography, while Ashok Arjunan edited the film. Bharath Sankar composed the music, Poornima Ramaswamy designed the costumes and A. Balumahendra handled the art direction.

Hailey Pysadee, a 19-year-old law student representing Trinidad and Tobago, won the Miss India Worldwide 2026 title at the 33rd edition of the international pageant for women of Indian origin.

Neelam Saran, co-chairperson of Worldwide Pageants, presented Pysadee with the crown at the event held at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Trinidad and Tobago, according to a media release.

Contestants of Indian origin from several countries took part in the pageant, which organisers describe as the longest-running Indian pageant held outside India.

The event also awarded two other titles. Dr. Sridevi Manginani, representing the United States, won the Mrs. India Worldwide 2026 title, while Luna Jairam of the Netherlands won Miss Teen India Worldwide 2026.

Pysadee represented the host country and is pursuing a law degree.

Photographs from the event showed Pysadee wearing the Miss India Worldwide crown and sash alongside the other title holders.

Indian Americans Neelam and Dharmatma Saran organised the pageant through Worldwide Pageants, in association with Neha Karina Meena and Umesh Meena, the organisation’s national directors for Trinidad and Tobago.

The pageant brings together women of Indian origin from across the world and has evolved over more than three decades into an international platform for the Indian diaspora.

The 33rd edition brought contestants and organisers from across the global Indian community to Trinidad and Tobago.

The event at NAPA also highlighted Indian culture, traditions, performing arts and values alongside the pageant competition.

Pysadee, Manginani and Jairam represented three countries and different generations of the Indian diaspora, reflecting the pageant’s international reach.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the next phase of GST reforms will simplify compliance and improve the refund process, giving businesses greater confidence to invest and expand.

“These reforms will strengthen the foundation for a Viksit Bharat,” the Prime Minister said.

Modi was referring to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s article, in which she said the next-gen GST regime is making taxation simpler and more predictable while supporting businesses and households. The reforms aim to expand economic activity, strengthen revenues and create more opportunities for enterprises across India.

Sitharaman said in a post on X that next-gen GST is pursuing two objectives: providing relief to taxpayers and giving greater momentum to the economy. She said the next phase will simplify compliance across registration, returns, refunds, disputes and input tax credit.

The Finance Minister outlined the government’s case for the next phase of Goods and Services Tax reforms ahead of the GST Council meeting on October 7.

In her article, Sitharaman said the proposed process reforms will focus on registration, returns, refunds, dispute resolution and the flow of input tax credit. The measures aim to reduce the time and cost businesses spend on compliance.

She also highlighted GST collection trends and taxable supplies following the rate rationalisation that took effect on September 22, 2025.

The GST Council may also consider removing the standalone provision that allows tax officials to arrest taxpayers during GST investigations, a senior official said. The government is considering the move after instances of alleged misuse came to light.

The proposal forms part of broader recommendations from the GST Council’s Law Committee on decriminalising GST offences. The committee has noted that taxpayers may sometimes fail to pay tax without deliberately intending to evade it.

If the Council approves the proposal, tax officials would no longer have the power under Section 69 of the CGST Act to arrest taxpayers during GST investigations.

Under the current framework, Section 69 allows the Commissioner to authorise an arrest when there are reasons to believe that a person has committed specified serious offences under Section 132.

Under the proposed approach, authorities could pursue serious cases involving fake invoicing, fraudulent input tax credit and fake refund claims under the general criminal law provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The GST Council’s Law Committee comprises officials from the Centre and state governments. It examines legal provisions under GST laws and recommends statutory amendments and clarifications to the GST Council.

Industry participants said on Monday that they expect the GST Council to address input tax credit (ITC) issues and introduce statutory safe-harbour protections for bona fide recipients.

The industry chamber PHDCCI listed several expectations, including an amendment to Section 16(2)(c) to ensure that a recipient who holds a valid invoice, has received the supply, paid through banking channels and acted without collusion can retain the ITC. Industry wants authorities to first recover the tax from the defaulting supplier.

Industry also seeks relaxation of the blocked-credit provisions under Section 17(5) for motor vehicles, food and beverages, outdoor catering, beauty and health services, club memberships and travel benefits. It wants businesses to claim credit for all expenditure incurred for business purposes and recorded in their books, the report noted.

Industry also wants the Council to reduce litigation and provide clear transitional provisions covering interest- and penalty-only demands, as well as recoveries under Rule 142 and DRC-07.

It also wants authorities to classify amounts paid through voluntary settlements as charges, thereby removing the stigma and collateral consequences associated with such payments.

Ashok Kumar Batra, Chair of the Indirect Taxes Committee at PHDCCI, called for a time-bound mechanism to utilise or refund cess balances stranded after the discontinuation of the cess.

Industry also wants the government to ease the movement of credit across GSTINs linked to the same PAN, particularly to address credit accumulation in registrations with low output tax liability.

It has also proposed barring notices where the tax demand falls below ₹10,000, a threshold that could cover about 20% of cases by number. The proposal would also apply to cases pending adjudication and appeals.

For the GST Appellate Tribunal’s functioning, the industry chamber expects practical measures such as uniform e-filing, clarity on pre-deposit adjustments, clubbing of appeals under Rule 18 of the GSTAT Rules and a monetary threshold for departmental appeals.

The Union Finance Minister has publicly stated that the meeting will consider only process reforms under “Next-Gen GST”. The government does not expect any further rate proposals following the two-slab rationalisation that took effect on September 9, 2025.

The proposed India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced at the G20 summit in 2023, includes plans for digital and electricity cables, a pipeline to export clean hydrogen, and a railway link, according to a new report.

The railway project could take longer to implement, but developers could establish the digital cable network much faster, according to a report in Gulf News.

The article argues that securing investment for a cable and establishing a useful connection would constitute an achievement in its own right. It also notes that developers could pursue the cable independently of the railway project.

A digital cable and a freight railway face different requirements. A cable needs connections at both ends and customers willing to pay for access. A freight service, by contrast, needs ships, trains, ports and border crossings to work together whenever a shipment moves.

The article says the digital project, which supports IMEC’s broader objectives, appears viable because it would connect customers at both ends who are willing to pay for the service.

An EU Global Gateway document places the planned 9,000-km Blue Raman subsea cable within IMEC’s digital framework and lists €400 million in investment, including €37 million from the EU, the article states.

The article argues that policymakers should assess IMEC one project at a time. If the digital link secures customers, developers can move ahead while governments continue working through the railway-related issues. The same approach could apply to an electricity connection or hydrogen pipeline if either secures funding and buyers. Such progress would remain meaningful even without a fully operational freight route, it states.

The article argues that IMEC should first prioritise projects with clear costs, customers and timelines. The corridor could establish useful connections before its trains begin operating.

Policymakers can better measure this progress by recognising what each completed link delivers while clearly distinguishing those achievements from projects that remain on the drawing board, the article observes.

Skippers often ask for the heavy roller after spending 50 overs in humid conditions, but Shubman Gill knew exactly what he wanted when he called for it at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati.

What followed over the next three-and-a-half hours turned into one of the most extraordinary run-chases in ODI history.

Gill smashed an unbeaten 223 off 133 balls, while Rohit Sharma produced a vintage 101 from 75 deliveries as India chased down the West Indies’ massive 406-run target with eight wickets and 39 balls to spare.

The victory gave India their highest successful men’s ODI run-chase. It also became the second-highest successful chase in 50-over cricket, behind South Africa’s pursuit of Australia’s 438 in 2006.

Earlier, the West Indies posted 405/7 after India elected to field. Amir Jangoo scored 114, captain Shai Hope made 104 and John Campbell struck 101 as the visitors produced a remarkable batting display.

A 400-plus target appeared daunting, but Gill and Rohit turned the chase into a one-sided contest.

India needed 8.12 runs per over, yet the opening pair attacked from the first over. Rohit and Gill repeatedly found the boundary against Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales and Alzarri Joseph, putting the West Indies bowlers under immediate pressure.

India reached 50 in seven overs and crossed 100 inside 12 overs. Rohit brought up his half-century from 32 balls, while Gill reached his fifty in 39 deliveries before accelerating dramatically. He completed his century from only 62 balls.

India reached 200 in 21.1 overs, setting a new record for their fastest 200 in men’s ODI cricket. A dropped catch also hurt the West Indies when Keacy Carty put down Rohit on 84 off Vitel Lawes.

The opening partnership eventually reached 255, the highest opening stand for India during an ODI chase. Jayden Seales ended the partnership when he trapped Rohit lbw with an off-cutter.

Rohit’s innings also took him beyond 12,000 ODI runs, adding another milestone to an already remarkable performance.

Virat Kohli then scored a quick 29 off 19 balls, hitting three fours and a six. Sherfane Rutherford and Shamar Joseph combined for an outstanding boundary-line relay catch to dismiss him. By then, India needed little more than a formality to complete the chase.

Gill continued his assault despite battling severe leg cramps in the intense Guwahati humidity. He struck 26 boundaries and eight sixes while maintaining a remarkable strike rate of 167.67.

He reached 150 from 89 balls before completing his double century from just 117 deliveries with a single off Lawes in the 39th over. That effort broke Ishan Kishan’s previous record of 126 balls for the fastest ODI double-century.

The double century also marked Gill’s second in ODI cricket. He became the first captain to score double centuries in both Tests and ODIs while leading his country.

Gill’s unbeaten 223 also surpassed Glenn Maxwell’s 201 not out against Afghanistan in 2023 for the highest individual score in an ODI run-chase.

Ruturaj Gaikwad provided steady support at the other end, finishing unbeaten on 31 from 37 balls. He hit the winning single to complete India’s historic victory and trigger celebrations inside the Indian dressing room and among the Guwahati crowd.

West Indies Produce Historic Batting Display

Earlier, the West Indies stunned the home crowd by posting their first-ever 400-plus ODI total. The innings featured three centuries, only the sixth such occurrence in ODI history.

Campbell set the tempo with an explosive start. He reached his fifty from just 29 balls and scored 101 from 65 deliveries, producing the fifth-fastest ODI century for the West Indies.

Captain Shai Hope anchored the innings with 104, while Jangoo added a powerful 114 from 77 balls. Hope also moved past Brian Lara with his 20th ODI century.

Campbell attacked from the powerplay and reached 69 from 39 balls. Prasidh Krishna conceded 22 runs in the seventh over as Campbell found the boundary repeatedly.

India debutant Auqib Nabi also faced a difficult introduction, conceding 17 runs in his fourth over.

Campbell completed his century from 65 balls before Brar dismissed him for 101 when he top-edged a pull to deep square leg.

Hope survived two dropped catches before reaching his century from 89 balls. Kuldeep Yadav eventually dismissed him for 104 after forcing him into a slog, with Nabi taking the catch at third man.

Jangoo maintained the momentum and moved from 59 off 54 balls to his century from 70 deliveries. He repeatedly found the boundary on the off side against Naman Dhir, Kuldeep and Ravindra Jadeja.

Sherfane Rutherford fell for a golden duck after Brar found the edge of his bat, while Jangoo later departed after cutting Jadeja to Ruturaj Gaikwad at backward point.

The West Indies then became only the sixth team in ODI history to produce three centurions in a single innings.

Kuldeep claimed Keemo Paul at long-on and completed his 200th ODI wicket in his 123rd match. Only Mohammed Shami, who reached the landmark in 104 games, has achieved the feat faster among Indian bowlers.

Jadeja dismissed Alzarri Joseph at deep mid-wicket, but Roston Chase and Shamar Joseph added 36 runs from the final five overs. Their late assault took the West Indies beyond 400.

India’s Bowlers Face Pressure

India’s bowling attack struggled to contain the West Indies throughout the innings. Nabi conceded 84 runs, recording the most expensive ODI debut by an Indian bowler and surpassing Karsan Ghavri’s previous mark of 83 against England at Lord’s in 1975.

Brar, Jadeja and Kuldeep claimed two wickets each, but the West Indies maintained a high scoring rate throughout the innings.

India will have concerns over the lack of penetration from their pace attack, particularly after another difficult outing. However, Gill and Rohit’s extraordinary opening partnership gave India complete control of the chase.

Speaking after the match, Gill acknowledged the physical demands of the humid conditions.

“I mean, I think every part of my body is cramping right now, and it was very hot in the afternoon. When we had about 13 overs, it was feeling like we had already fielded for 20-25 overs, the way they were batting. So great a game, I think,” Gill said.

Brief Scores:

West Indies 405/7 in 50 overs (Amir Jangoo 114, Shai Hope 104, John Campbell 101; Kuldeep Yadav 2-65, Ravindra Jadeja 2-75)
India 406/2 in 43.3 overs (Shubman Gill 223 not out, Rohit Sharma 101; Shamar Joseph 1-52, Jayden Seales 1-78) by eight wickets

India has cautioned G20 members against labeling legitimate national measures to protect food security as the “weaponisation” of food, as trade ministers began discussions on coercive trade actions involving food and agricultural supplies.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal made the distinction during a G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting session in Milwaukee focused on the “Weaponisation of Food through Coercive Trade Action”.

“Our shared objective must be to ensure that food remains a source of security, stability and cooperation,” Goyal said in a post on X after addressing the session.

Goyal also stressed the need to distinguish between coercive actions involving food supplies and government measures that address legitimate domestic requirements.

“We must clearly distinguish between the weaponisation of food supply chains and legitimate measures adopted by countries to pursue domestic policy objectives and address food-security needs,” Goyal said.

India raised the issue as the United States, host of the G20 Trade Ministerial, placed food weaponisation among four key issues for trade ministers to discuss during the two-day meeting.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said coercive trade measures involving food could create consequences that extend beyond conventional trade disputes.

“Coercive trade actions involving food, agricultural products, and agricultural inputs pose serious consequences for economies and the people in them,” Greer said in his opening remarks.

The US G20 presidency has identified four key workstreams for the meeting. Along with food weaponisation, the agenda covers structural excess capacity and production, the Most-Favoured-Nation principle and forced labour in global supply chains.

Greer urged G20 members to address difficult questions affecting the international trading system directly rather than leave them solely to discussions at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva.

“Typically, and too often, when difficult questions and topics arise in the G20, many around the room suggest that such discussions belong elsewhere. That they should take place in Geneva at the WTO. But Geneva is just another city on a lake. And so is Milwaukee. So, let’s talk candidly and constructively here,” Greer said.

The US trade representative argued that years of discussions had failed to adequately address structural challenges facing global trade.

“For more than a decade, the global economy has been beset by macroeconomic imbalances, structural excess capacity and production, forced labour, and economic coercion. And yet, the response by the world’s economies has been mostly talk,” Greer said.

Greer said the United States wanted the Milwaukee meeting to create greater urgency among G20 economies and encourage concrete action.

“Over the next two days, we will discuss these issues in depth, and it is my intent that we leave Milwaukee with a clearer sense of urgency and a recognition of the need for action,” he said.

The discussions place food security alongside industrial overcapacity, forced labour and MFN treatment in a wider G20 debate over the rules governing international commerce.

The United States has framed the food-related workstream around coercive trade actions involving food, agricultural products and agricultural inputs. India, meanwhile, has emphasized the need to distinguish such actions from legitimate national policies designed to address domestic food-security requirements.

Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot flying for flydubai, helped avert a potentially major mid-air disaster after a violent altercation broke out in the cockpit of flight FZ1073.

The Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight diverted to Saudi Arabia after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Machchhar during the incident.

The Boeing 737 carried more than 170 passengers. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the co-pilot attacked Machchhar and tried to interfere with the aircraft’s controls. Despite suffering injuries, Machchhar opened the cockpit door and allowed a crew member and passengers to enter. They then restrained the other pilot.

The struggle caused the aircraft to lose altitude sharply before the crew regained control. The flight then diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia and landed safely. Authorities reported that all passengers remained safe, while medical teams treated both pilots. India’s embassy in Riyadh later said Machchhar remained in stable condition.

Machchhar joined flydubai in June 2022, according to his LinkedIn profile, after spending more than a decade with Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet. Reports citing his professional profile state that he has more than 13 years of commercial aviation experience and nearly 10,000 hours of flying experience on Boeing 737 aircraft.

Before joining flydubai, Machchhar held several positions at SpiceJet, including line-training captain and senior commander. He joined SpiceJet in 2011 and moved to flydubai in 2022 as a direct-entry captain.

Machchhar initially pursued studies linked to his family’s textile business before choosing aviation as a career. During a podcast, he recalled discovering his interest in flying after attending an aviation-related seminar as part of a management course.

He later completed his pilot training in New Zealand. In the podcast, Machchhar said the training cost around Rs 16-17 lakh. He also recalled that his mother initially worried about his decision to pursue aviation, while his father supported his career choice.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Machchhar after the incident and called him a “hero” for demonstrating “immense courage” and “unwavering resolve” while protecting the lives of passengers and crew.

Machchhar faced the attack during the flight but continued to act to protect those on board. His actions helped the crew divert the aircraft safely to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Captain Smit Machchhar is a HERO. In the face of the gravest danger and despite being seriously injured, he showed immense courage and an unwavering resolve to protect the lives of others. His valour helped save hundreds of lives and avert a great tragedy.”

“India is proud of Captain Machchhar,” Modi added.

The Prime Minister also wished Machchhar a “speedy recovery, renewed strength and good health.”

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised Machchhar for what he described as “extraordinary bravery” during the incident. Netanyahu said the pilot continued to protect passengers and crew despite suffering serious injuries.

In a statement posted by the Office of the Israeli Prime Minister on X, Netanyahu said Machchhar displayed exceptional courage during the crisis.

“My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu said the co-pilot stabbed and seriously injured Machchhar during the incident. Despite his injuries, Machchhar resisted the attacker, opened the cockpit door and enabled passengers and crew members to overpower him.

Netanyahu said Machchhar’s actions prevented a potentially major aviation disaster.

“He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also wished Machchhar a “speedy and full recovery” and called him “a true hero.”

Women’s roles in agriculture and dairying across generations through films such as the multi-starrer Mother India (1957) and the crowd-funded Manthan (1976), among others.

However, society rarely recognised women’s real-life contributions, even as they managed multiple responsibilities, from cleaning and cooking to raising children and supporting agricultural and household activities.

Today, women play an increasingly visible role in strengthening their families’ economic conditions, managing farms, participating in decision-making, producing dairy products and supporting rural handicrafts. Against this backdrop, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) will hold its first-ever national conclave of women farmers on Wednesday, highlighting the growing recognition of women as central contributors to Indian agriculture.

According to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated farmers’ organisation, the conclave seeks greater representation for women in agricultural policymaking and recognition of their contributions to farming, livestock and fisheries.

BKS has noted that women undertake 60 to 80 per cent of agricultural activities in India, including sowing, planting, harvesting, weed control and animal husbandry. Yet women remain underrepresented in agricultural policy discussions, farmers’ organisations, market committees and cooperative leadership structures, according to various reports.

The conclave also comes as the United Nations observes 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026). The initiative aims to address persistent gender gaps in land rights, finance, technology, education and decision-making.

The UN and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) have highlighted women’s essential role across agrifood systems while pointing to structural inequalities that continue to restrict their access to resources and leadership opportunities.

FAO reported that women accounted for about 40 per cent of the global agrifood workforce in 2021. However, they continued to face disadvantages in productivity, wages and access to resources. IYWF 2026 therefore seeks to move the global conversation beyond recognition and towards concrete reforms.

India’s official Agriculture Census records more than 20.4 million agricultural holdings operated by women, representing about 14 per cent of the country’s total operational holdings. Women’s representation has also gained prominence in the national policy discourse following the passage of legislation providing for greater representation of women and the expansion of gender-focused government schemes.

The government has established several programmes that support women farmers and rural women. The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), for instance, focuses on mobilising rural women and strengthening self-managed, financially sustainable community institutions.

The Ministry of Rural Development reported that more than 10.05 crore women had joined over 90 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs). These groups have expanded women’s access to savings, credit, entrepreneurship and collective action. The Lakhpati Didi initiative builds on this network by helping SHG members achieve sustainable annual incomes of at least Rs 1 lakh.

The government has reported more than 1.48 crore Lakhpati Didis. The programme holds particular relevance for women farmers because it supports farm diversification, livestock, food processing, producer groups and value addition. Through Krishi Sakhis, community resource persons also help women access agricultural knowledge and adopt climate-resilient farming practices.

Other programmes also support women’s participation in agriculture. The Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centres (ACABC) programme provides agricultural training and offers higher subsidies to women entrepreneurs. The Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) supports women engaged in horticulture and provides higher subsidies for certain tools and equipment.

The National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) encourages oilseed cultivation and provides higher subsidies for women beneficiaries, while tractor subsidies can help women adopt mechanised farming practices.

Initiatives such as the Women Farmers’ Forum also seek to highlight women’s contributions and strengthen their participation across the agricultural value chain. Direct benefit transfers have further helped bring rural women into the formal financial system where land records enable their recognition as beneficiaries.

Women farmers have also gained greater access to Kisan Credit Cards, self-help group-bank linkages, producer organisations and institutional credit. According to the Ministry of Rural Development, these mechanisms have expanded women’s access to financial resources and economic opportunities.

The next step must focus on institutional participation. Policymakers and agricultural institutions need to create greater opportunities for women to participate in agricultural marketing boards, cooperative societies, water-user associations, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), district agricultural committees and policy consultations.

Cinema may have portrayed the strength and resilience of rural women for decades. The larger challenge now lies in translating that representation into institutional participation, economic opportunity and decision-making power. Recognising women farmers should extend beyond celebrating their contribution; it should also ensure that they have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of agriculture.

Kiran Pahal credited the collective effort of India’s women’s 4x400m relay quartet for turning individual performances into a gold-medal success as the team scripted history at the Asian Games 2026 on Tuesday.

Kiran, who ran the opening leg, teamed up with M.R. Poovamma, Prachi Choudhary and Vithya Ramraj to clock 3:29.69 and win gold. Bahrain finished second in 3:30.21, while China secured bronze in 3:31.02.

Kiran said the quartet had set its sights on gold even before the final.

“We had decided from yesterday itself that we only wanted to win gold. That was the only thing on our minds. I was given the starting baton, so there was a responsibility on my shoulders. I had decided that I would perform well, and I did. I gave my 100 per cent, but the team together turned it into 200 per cent,” she said.

Persistent rain made the track wet during the final, but Kiran said the conditions did not trouble the Indian quartet significantly because of their previous training experience.

“We did not face too much difficulty because the Athletics Federation of India had organised a camp for us in Poland for quite some time, where it used to rain. We became accustomed to running in the rain, so it was not a major problem for us,” she said.

Kiran, the youngest of her siblings, hails from Gummad village in Haryana’s Sonipat district. She credited her family and the Athletics Federation of India for supporting her journey.

“I am from Gummad village in Sonipat district of Haryana. I have my mother, elder brother, and elder sister in my family, and I am the youngest among the siblings. I have received a lot of support from my family. The most support came from the Athletics Federation of India, without which I would not have reached where I am today. I would also like to thank the government,” she said.

The 25-year-old dedicated the gold medal to her family, federation and government while recalling her father’s dream of seeing her win an international gold medal.

“I dedicate this medal to my federation, the government, my family and my father, because it was my father’s dream that I should win an international gold medal. He must be feeling very proud today. I am also very proud of this achievement, and the entire country is proud,” Kiran said.

She also highlighted the support Indian athletes receive through training camps, competitive opportunities and financial assistance.

“We get a lot of facilities at the camps and opportunities to compete in many competitions. We try to give our best from competition to competition. We are also receiving a lot of financial support, which is very important. We are also made mentally stronger,” she said.

The victory gave India its first Asian Games gold in the women’s 4x400m relay and improved on the silver-medal finish from the previous edition.