LG flags off Ladakh U-17 Boxing Team for NSG
* Asks officials to identify, nurture young sporting talent across Ladakh Excelsior Sports Correspondent KARGIL, Oct 23: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, has called upon the youth of the Union Territory to inculcate a passion for sports and embrace discipline in all aspects of life. The Lieutenant Governor was speaking after flagging off the Ladakh Under-17 Boxing Team for the National School Games 2025, to be held at Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, from October 28 to November 3. He also [] The post LG flags off Ladakh U-17 Boxing Team for NSG appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
A call for Padora Music Festival Where Meadows Meet Melody
Apoorv Sharma apoorv2395@gmail.com. Not long ago, I journeyed to Arunachal Pradesh, where a music festival unfolded like a dream before me-the Ziro Music Festival in the Ziro Valley. The spark lit long before the first notes of music reached my ears. As the plane descended toward Itanagar, the mountains lay like ancient scrolls brushed with the ochre of dawn and the jade of forests. It seemed the sky had stooped to kiss the mountains, composing a quiet serenade that whispered [] The post A call for Padora Music Festival Where Meadows Meet Melody appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Arunachal govt announces 3 pc hike in DA for employees, pensioners
Itanagar, Oct 10 (PTI) The Arunachal Pradesh government announced a three per cent hike in DA (dearness allowance) from the existing 55 per cent to 58 per cent for its employees and pensioners. The increase will be effective from July 1. In a post on social media, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said the enhancement will benefit state government employees, pensioners, and AIS officers serving in the state. He said the arrears for three months July to September will be paid in cash, and the revised DA/DR (dearness relief) will be included in October salaries and pensions. This decision
Arunachal govt bans sale of Coldrif cough syrup
ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh government has banned the sale and use of Coldrif cough syrup in the wake of the death of 14 children in Madhya Pradesh, linked to consumption of the medicine, an official said on Wednesday. The Arunachal Pradesh Drugs Control has issued an advisory prohibiting the sale, distribution, and stock of Coldrif cough syrup, manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceutical, the official said. The advisory has been issued following reports linking the cough syrup to child deaths in other states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and a general advisory for rational use of the cough syrup in the paediatric population by the Director General of Health Services, Government of India, Arunachal Pradesh Drugs Controller Dr Komling Perme said. Cough syrup deaths: Punjab and HP governments ban Coldrif The Health Department has directed stockists/retailers that the product should not be purchased, sold, or stocked for public consumption. If the stockists/retailers are in possession of the product, they must report it to the local drugs control authority immediately, the official said. The advisory also directed physicians in both government and private hospitals to be on vigil while prescribing cough syrup to children. Meanwhile, the department has advised the general public to avoid consumption of the cough syrup.
Indian Army conducts exercise Drone Kavach in Arunachal
ITANAGAR, Sept 30: The Indian Armys Spear Corps under Eastern Command successfully conducted Exercise Drone Kavach in the forward areas of eastern Arunachal Pradesh from September 25 to 28. The exercise showcased the Indian Armys combat readiness for next-generation drone warfare while validating state-of-the-art drone technologies and counter-drone systems, a Defence spokesman said today. Spanning four days, the exercise was also attended by personnel of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) deployed in forward areas. As part of the exercise, a [] The post Indian Army conducts exercise Drone Kavach in Arunachal appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Buy & sell swadeshi for self-reliant India: Modi
GUWAHATI: PM Narendra Modi on Monday made a strong appeal to the people from Itanagar to buy Swadeshi and sell Swadeshi, underlining that self-reliance was the only way to make India a developed nation. At a public meeting in the Arunachal Pradesh capital after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of development projects worth over Rs 5,100 crore, the prime minister said the nation had entered a decisive phase. India will become developed only when it is self-dependent. For India to become self-dependent, the Swadeshi mantra is imperative. It is the call of time that we embrace Swadeshi. Buy and sell only that which is manufactured in the country. Garv se kahen, yeh swadeshi hai, he told the crowd. He said adopting this path would not only strengthen the nation but also accelerate the growth of Arunachal Pradesh and the entire Northeast. As part of his visit, Modi interacted with local taxpayers, traders and industry representatives to hear their views on the impact of GST rate rationalisation. He described the reforms as next generation, saying they were designed to ease lives and reduce financial burdens on families. Essential items, such as kitchen supplies, educational materials for children, and footwear and clothing, have become more affordable, he said. Modi said that despite challenges over the years, his government had consistently lowered income tax rates and expanded the range of goods exempted from taxation. Many items have become tax-free, and taxes on other goods have been significantly reduced, he said. He pointed out that building a home, purchasing a scooter or bike, eating out, and travelling had all become more affordable. He added that the GST Savings Festival will be a memorable milestone for the people. Turning to politics, the prime minister accused the Congress of having neglected Arunachal and the Northeast for decades. The longstanding tendency of Congress was to avoid difficult development tasks. This adversely impacted Arunachal and the entire region, he said. He added that terrains once written off as backward had been denied opportunities and resources, leaving tribal and remote areas to suffer. He said Congress governments had labelled villages near the international border as last villages in order to shirk responsibility and cover up failures. This neglect led to continuous migration from tribal and border areas, he said. In contrast, Modi said, the BJP-led government had reversed the approach. Districts once branded backward were now called aspirational districts and placed at the top of the development agenda.
PM Modi hails GST reforms, slams Congress for ignoring Northeast
GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the next-generation GST reforms, stating that the benefits will significantly impact the lives of people. PM slammed the Congress for ignoring the Northeast when it was in power. Addressing a crowd in Arunachal Pradesh's capital, Itanagar, after laying the foundation stone and inaugurating various development works worth over Rs 5,100 crore, Modi said families would now experience substantial relief in their monthly budgets. Essential items, such as kitchen supplies, educational materials for children, and footwear and clothing, have become more affordable, he said. The PM said that despite facing major challenges over the years, his government consistently reduced income tax rates. He announced that GST had been simplified to just two slabs5 per cent and 18 per cent. He emphasised that many items have become tax-free, and taxes on other goods have been significantly reduced. He highlighted that building a home, purchasing a scooter or bike, dining out, and travelling have all become more affordable. He affirmed that the GST ' Savings Festival' would be a memorable milestone for the people. The PM criticised the Congress for its longstanding tendency to avoid difficult development tasks, stating that it adversely impacted Arunachal and the rest of the Northeast. He said challenging terrainsmountainous regions, forested areaswere often declared backwards and neglected by the Congress, and the tribal regions and districts in the Northeast suffered the most. He said the Congress had dismissed the villages near the international border as last villages to evade responsibility and conceal its failures. He said this neglect led to continuous migration from tribal and border areas. The PM said the BJP-led government at the Centre transformed the earlier approach towards regional development. He mentioned that districts previously labelled as backward had been redefined as aspirational districts and prioritised for growth. Border villages once dismissed as last villages have now been recognised as the nations first villages, Modi said, highlighting the positive outcomes of this shift, such as the accelerated pace of development in border areas. He said the success of the Vibrant Villages Programme had significantly improved the quality of life. In Arunachal, he said, over 450 border villages have witnessed rapid progress, with essential infrastructure like roads, electricity, and internet now reaching these regions. While migration from border areas to cities was once common, these villages are now emerging as new hubs of tourism, he added. He expressed satisfaction that the number of tourists visiting Arunachal has doubled over the past decade. He emphasised that Arunachals tourism strength goes beyond nature and culture, pointing to the global rise of conference and concert tourism. In this context, he announced that the upcoming modern convention centre in Tawang will add a new dimension to the states tourism landscape.
Itanagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived on a day-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Monday morning. He landed at the Donyi Polo Airport in Hollongi and flew to the Raj Bhavan in Itanagar on a helicopter, officials said. Governor KT Parnaik and Chief Minister Pema Khandu received him at the Raj Bhavan helipad. Also ReadA Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Inherent Habit Of Congress To Abandon Any Development Work Thats Difficult: Modi
Itanagar, Sep 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday alleged that the Congress has an inherent habit of abandoning any development work that is difficult, and this caused significant harm to the Northeast. Addressing a rally at the Indira Gandhi Park in Itanagar after unveiling development projects worth over Rs 5,100 crore, Modi said he knew that the Northeast couldnt be developed from Delhi, and so, he sent ministers and officers more frequently to the region, and he himself came [] The post Inherent Habit Of Congress To Abandon Any Development Work Thats Difficult: Modi appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
'Congress Mindset Caused Harm To Arunachal': PM Modi Attacks Oppn In Itanagar
PM Modi laid the foundation stone of two major hydropower projects worth over Rs 3,700 crore in Itanagar today.
PM Modi unveils infra projects worth over Rs 5,100 crore in Arunachal Pradesh
ITANAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,125. 37 crore in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday. From a function at the Indira Gandhi Park in Itanagar, he virtually laid the foundation stones for two major hydropower projects in Shi Yomi district, and a convention centre in Tawang. The Tato-I project, with a capacity of 186 mw, will be developed jointly by the Arunachal Pradesh government and the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) at Rs 1,750 crore. It is expected to generate around 802 million units of electricity annually. The 240-mw Heo project will also be developed by the state government and NEEPCO at Rs 1,939 crore. It is expected to produce 1,000 million units of electricity each year. These projects, to be developed on the Yarjep river, are part of a larger effort to expand Arunachal Pradesh's hydroelectric capacity, contributing significantly to regional energy security, officials said. Modi also laid the foundation stone for a convention centre in Tawang, to be built under the PM-DevINE scheme at Rs 145.37 crore. With a capacity to host over 1,500 people, it will meet global standards and support the tourism and cultural potential of the region, they said. The PM also launched several other infrastructure projects worth over Rs 1,290 crore, catering to various sectors, including connectivity, health and fire safety, they said. Governor KT Parnaik, Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju were present at the programme.
PM Modi to Visit Arunachal Today, Flags Off Major Infrastructure Initiatives
The PM is scheduled to arrive at the Donyi Polo Airport in Hollongi around 9 am, after which he will fly to the Raj Bhavan in Itanagar on a helicopter, officials said.
Modi to launch 5,100 cr projects in Arunachal, Tripura
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura on Monday, where he will lay the foundation stones for 13 development projects in Itanagar, totaling over Rs 5,127 crore. He will also virtually inaugurate the Tato-I and Heo hydroelectric projects, along with a convention center in Tawang.
PM to visit Arunachal on Monday, unveil infra projects worth Rs 5,000cr
ITANAGAR, Sep 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Arunachal Pradesh on Monday, during which he will unveil infrastructure projects worth nearly Rs 5,000 crore. The PM is scheduled to arrive at the Donyi Polo Airport in Hollongi around 9 am, after which he will fly to the Raj Bhavan in Itanagar on a helicopter, officials said. He will then travel to Indira Gandhi Park, where he will unveil the development projects and address a rally. Modi will lay the [] The post PM to visit Arunachal on Monday, unveil infra projects worth Rs 5,000cr appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Narendra Modi will visit Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura. He will inaugurate development projects worth over Rs 5,100 crore in Itanagar. Modi will lay foundation stones for hydropower projects. He will also lay the foundation for a convention center at Tawang. The PM will inaugurate the Mata Tripura Sundari Temple Complex development work.
PM Modi To Visit Arunachal, Tripura Tomorrow, Launch Projects Worth Over Rs 5,100 Crore
PM Narendra Modi will visit Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura on Monday and lay foundation stones of multiple development projects worth over Rs 5,100 crore in Itanagar and inaugurate the development work of Mata Tripura Sundari Temple Complex.
PM Modi will visit Tripura and perform a puja and 'darshan', and inaugurate the development work of 'Mata Tripura Sundari Temple Complex' at Matabari
Jain appointed ARC Chairman in Arunachal
Excelsior Correspondent Itanagar/ Jammu, Sept 6: Pramod Jain, former senior IAS Officer of Jammu and Kashmir cadre has been appointed as Chairman of the Arunanchal Pradesh Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC). Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp A son of the soil, he has earlier held several important positions in J&K as well as at the Centre. Post-retirement, he worked also as Chairman of the J&K Water Resources Regulatory Authority. Till recently, he was Chairman of the high-powered New Districts [] The post Jain appointed ARC Chairman in Arunachal appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
AIZAWL : With the completion of the 51.38-km broad-gauge line from Bairabi to Sairang, Mizoram becomes the fourth Northeastern state to gain direct train connectivity to its capital. This marks a milestone in Indian Railways ambitious plan to link the capitals of all eight Northeastern states with the national rail network. The line, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, connects Bairabi on the AssamMizoram border to Sairang, located 20 km from Aizawl and 12 km from Lengpui Airport. The new Sairang railway station will serve as the key railhead for Aizawl. The project, for which approval was granted in 2008 and construction began in November 2014, has been built at a cost of 8,071 crore. Engineering feat The 51.38-km line, passing through the Kolasib and Aizawl districts, is an engineering feat, with over half its length running through tunnels and bridges. It includes 48 tunnels spanning 12.85 km, 55 major and 87 minor bridges, five road overbridges, and six road underbridges. The line has three intermediate stations at Hortoki, Kawnpui, and Mualkhang. Among the bridges, Bridge No. 144 over the Kurung River near Sairang has earned the distinction of being the worlds second-tallest pier bridge, rising 114 metres above the ground. The tallest is the Noney Bridge in neighbouring Manipur, standing 141 metres tall, which is being built as part of the under-construction 111-km JiribamImphal railway line. World's second tallest pier bridge over Kurung river at Sairang station Challenges faced The railways faced huge challenges in building the BairabiSairang line due to its rugged Indo-Burmese tectonic terrain, marked by steep slopes, deep valleys, and fragile, clay-like soil prone to erosion. Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction), the agency which executed the project, with design and safety aspects reviewed by IIT Guwahati and IIT Roorkee, had to build 223 km of approach roads as well. Reaching construction sites for hill excavation and pier construction was extremely difficult, as there was no road access. NFR (Construction) built 223 km of approach roads, which have since benefitted several villages in Kolasib and Aizawl districts, a railway official explained. In addition to the topographical challenges, the project encountered other obstacles as well, including opposition to workers brought in from other states and the non-availability of construction materials in Mizoram, which meant they had to be transported from Bihar and Jharkhand. To address local resistance, the Railways eventually engaged local people from Mizoram in the construction work. The project progressed at a slow pace due to the regions short working season of just 67 months a year. Despite higher wages, many labourers left the project because of the remote location and lack of internet connectivity at worksites, the official added. Tunnel in BairabiSairang line Expectations Locals in Dawrpui told TNIE that the railway line will help tackle the high cost of road travel from Silchar to Aizawl, which currently costs between Rs 1,200 and Rs 2,000 along the hilly two-lane highway. During the monsoon season, which lasts for more than five months, landslides frequently cut off road access. Flights, too, are unreliable as they often get cancelled due to bad weather, and there are no departures after 4 pm, said Anthony Zohmingliana, a resident. M. Sathish Kumar, a project associate at Mizoram Central University and a resident of Aizawl for 15 years, noted that over 8 lakh of Mizorams 14 lakh population live in and around Aizawl. This project will benefit a large section of the population, reducing dependence on flights and cabs, he said. Joel Lalengmawii of Lengpui said, My family often travels via Silchar to reach Manipur, Punjab, and Kerala. But the 154-km journey to Silchar takes 910 hours by road. We have been told train fares will be cheaper, but only when services begin will we know how much difference it really makes. S. S. Ajin, a PhD student at Mizoram University, said, We mostly rely on flights or road transport. There are times when vegetables and other essentials do not reach the city for a few days due to landslides on the national highways, and there are no other public transport options. Train connectivity will greatly benefit people from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and other states traveling to Mizoram. Once the line becomes operational, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) will be able to transport freight for the public distribution system by train, significantly reducing the cost of transporting goods, vegetables, and other items from other states. Initially, passenger services may run between Sairang and Silchar, the railway official added. Rail connectivity to northeast At present, the railway line through Assam's capital, Guwahati, serves as a gateway to the seven other Northeastern states. From Guwahati, branch lines extend to Bairabia station just 7 km inside Mizoram on the SilcharBairabi sectionwhere a passenger train currently runs daily between Bairabi and Silchar. This link to Silchar connects Mizoram with northern and southern states via Guwahati. Additionally, it provides connectivity to Manipur and Nagaland. Guwahati (Assam), Agartala (Tripura), and Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) are the other state capitals with rail connectivity. Work is under way to connect the capitals of Meghalaya, Manipur, Sikkim, and Nagaland. NFR officials said they expect these works to be completed by December 2029. It may be noted that Sikkim remains the only Northeastern state without rail connectivity, mainly due to local opposition. Extending to Myanmar Highlighting plans to develop Sairang station with state-of-the-art facilities, the railway official said the government is also exploring the feasibility of extending the line from Sairang to Myanmar. The proposed route would cover 230 km within Mizoram and the remainder in Myanmar. If realized, this would reduce freight transport from South India to Mizoram via Visakhapatnam and Kolkata ports from 2,000 km to just 500 km, the official explained. Fact File: BairabiSairang Broad Gauge Line New Line: BairabiSairang (51.38 km) Key Locations: Bairabi: Border station on AssamMizoram border Sairang: 20 km from Aizawl, Mizoram Project Cost: Rs 8,071 crore Railway Connectivity in the Northeast Guwahati (Assam): Only railway gateway for all eight Northeastern states Line from Guwahati runs to Bairabi (7 km from Assam border via Silchar) BairabiSilchar (105 km): Daily passenger train operational New Line: SairangSilchar (155 km), passenger services to be introduced Road Access Two-lane National Highway is the only mode of access to Aizawl Travel Cost: Rs 1,000Rs 1,600 per person (Silchar Aizawl) Travel Time: 89 hours by road; train will reduce it to 3 hours States with railway connectivity to capitals Assam Guwahati Tripura Agartala Arunachal Pradesh Itanagar Mizoram Sairang (to be inaugurated)
NEW DELHI: Inspiring narratives of teachers going beyond the call of duty to better the lives of their students and society at large emerged on Friday when 81 educators were conferred the National Teacher Awards 2025. There was stunned silence and awe among the audience when short video clips of each awardee were beamed on a giant screen to showcase their achievements. The TNIE caught up with a few of them who are playing a larger than life role in the lives of their students. Teachers from the primary, secondary, colleges and universities, apart from those in the skill development field were awarded on Friday. We are grateful to be recognised like this. The selection process by the government was transparent and the system of self-nomination for the award is a great move, many said. Nang Ekthani Mounglang, Headmaster at the Government Secondary School at Pachin in Arunachal Pradesh joined her school in November 2023. A fire accident had ravaged the school and destroyed all the infrastructure. I was literally told that I had to start from scratch, she recalled. The CBSE school had recorded a maximum pass percentage of 27% until then. In March 2025, the school recorded a 100% pass percentage with all its 92 students clearing the exam. The school was the only one in the Itanagar Circle to get cent percent. We repeatedly held mock exams for all the students. I used to hold training classes to train the teachers. I am an English teacher but whenever any other teacher was not able to make it to class, I would prepare the subject and teach the students, she recalls. Shaikh Mohammad Waquioddin, a teacher at Zilla Parishad High School at Ardhapur in Maharashtras Nanded district is a local celebrity. The Science teacher with 28 years of teaching experience assessed that girl students of the muslim community in his district did not attend school after completion of Class VII due to safety reasons. The high school was 3.5 km from their homes and in an isolated spot. We took a decision in 2015 to create temporary schools in the area by renting rooms so that their education continued without a break. A few of them have today pursued professional degrees and other courses, he says with pride. On hearing that 245 women in the area developed Uterine Cancer due to infection, Waquioddin and other teachers pooled in and decided to supply sanitary pads to the girl students in their school for their use and to be taken home so that other women in the family too use them. I also bought a sanitary pad machine to help the girls in my school from the Rs One lakh I got for my State Teacher award in 2017-2018. It is still functioning, he adds. Kishorkumar MS, a class IV teacher at the Government Corporation Higher Secondary School at Kallara in Trivandrum developed 40 teaching aids from 2019-2024 with the help of students to make them understand their subjects better apart from creating much e-content. I wanted students to develop their personality. During the one-hour lunch break, I would goad them to go on stage and take the mike and speak on some small topic. I wanted them to shed their inhibitions and become bold, he adds. Principal Karma Tempo Ethenpa of PM Shri Mangan Senior Secondary School in Mangan (earlier North Sikkim), a former athlete and footballer, taught students to embrace studies by using sports and music.My students began excelling in studies. Many of them have even gone on to play at the National level too, he said. It is very cold in our place. Instead of going home quickly, students started playing and exercising and becoming physically and mentally fit, he explained. Srivardhini K Jha, professor at the Entrepreneurship at IIM Bengaluru and Chairperson at IIM start-up Incubation Cell has played a pivotal role in fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among MBA students. Unlike other subjects, entrepreneurship cannot be taught using books, she said, adding she designed teaching material on her own. The Incubation Cell welcomes people from all over who have an idea and want mentoring and support of a network. Women entrepreneurs are a key focus area, she said. Professor Vineeth N Balasubramanian, who teaches Computer Science/Artificial Intelligence at IIT, Hyderabad, is a Ph.D holder from Arizona State University. He has designed an online course in AI which over 40,000-plus people have taken up. He has played a crucial role in providing quality content for National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), a project of the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
Schoolgirl on China border in Arunachal excels, thanks to Indian Army initiative
GUWAHATI: The Indian Army has emerged as a beacon of hope for the schoolchildren of the remote Sarli tribal village on the China border. This village in Arunachal Pradesh is located about 350 km from the state capital of Itanagar. Given its remoteness, schoolchildren always struggled with limited resources, infrastructure and educational opportunities. The Army came to their rescue last year by launching a mentorship programme. The initiative by the Armys 4 Corps headquarters has yielded results, transforming aspirations into achievements. Milli Yabi (12), daughter of a farmer and a homemaker, has become the first child from Sarli to secure admission into the Sainik School, East Siang. Her success a result of perseverance and Army mentorship serves as an inspiration for the border villagers. The Army had launched the programme, recognising the motivation of local children influenced by its personnel. Thirty-three students from Classes 5 and 8 across remote villages were identified and given structured support that included 88 classes, 18 mock tests, and extensive counselling between September 2024 and April 2025.Students also benefitted from an Integration & Motivational Tour, where they interacted with Governor KT Parnaik and visited key institutions. One day, Milli may go on to qualify for the prestigious NDA Khadakwasla and proudly serve the nation in uniform, a defence ministry statement said. The Army further assisted the students in documentation and escorted them to Itanagar for the entrance examination held in April 2025.The results were unprecedented: 32 of the 33 children qualified at the national level. With counselling still underway, Milli Yabi emerged as the first candidate to secure admission, achieving final selection to the Sainik School in August. The Army is hopeful that four to six others will gain admission in the upcoming rounds. The Indian Army takes immense pride in Milli Yabis achievement that symbolises the aspirations of border communities and the resilience of Arunachals youth. Her journey demonstrates that with mentorship and opportunity, even the most remote villages can produce future leaders. One day, Milli may go on to qualify for the prestigious NDA Khadakwasla and proudly serve the nation in uniform, a defence ministry statement said. It further stated that the programme not only helped children academically but also instilled discipline, confidence, and national pride among them.Milli Yabis success is more than personal triumphit is a symbol of resilience and a powerful reminder that with guidance and opportunity, even the most remote corners of India can nurture future leaders, the statement added.
Landslides in Arunachal's Tawang, BRO clears roads
ITANAGAR: Heavy rain-triggered landslides were reported near Jang town in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district, blocking key stretches of the strategic Balipara-Charduar-Tawang (BCT) road, a critical supply line to the frontier areas. However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) restored traffic movement by Wednesday midnight, ensuring uninterrupted movement of military convoys and essential supplies, a Defence spokesperson said on Thursday. The landslides took place on Wednesday evening, blocking key stretches of the strategic road. Personnel of the 42 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) launched clearance operations. Working under difficult conditions amid continuous rainfall, the teams cleared the stretches and traffic flow was restored within a short span of time, Guwahati-based Defence spokesperson Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said in a statement. The BRO personnel also reached out to the stranded tourists, providing them with food and drinking water until the roads were declared safe. The BCT road is of immense military significance, serving as the lifeline for troops deployed in the strategically sensitive Tawang sector and adjoining border areas. Quick restoration of this axis not only brought relief to civilians but also ensured operational preparedness of security forces guarding the Line of Actual Control (LAC), he said.
Womens Safety Report : Fear runs deeper than nos
NEW DELHI: The NARI 2025 National Annual Report and Index on Womens Safety, released by the National Commission for Women, offers the telling reality of the urban safety landscape. The survey covered 12,770 women across 31 cities and yielded a national safety score of 65%, which implies that four in 10 women (40%) consider themselves unsafe despite government assurances. Around 60% of women reported feeling safe, while 40% admitted they felt not-so-safe or outright unsafe. The anxieties deepen among younger women: while public harassment was reported by 7% of all respondents in 2024, the figure rose to 14% for those under 24, indicating that students and young professionals are disproportionately targeted in educational and recreational spaces. The report shows low levels of faith in redressal mechanism. Only one in three victims of harassment filed a formal complaint, and confidence in the system is strikingly weak: 75% of women said they did not believe authorities would resolve their complaints. Even when incidents are reported, only 22% are formally registered, and action is taken in a mere 16% of those cases, highlighting a pervasive cycle of silence. Harassment hotspots reveal vulnerabilities, with 38% of cases occurring within neighbourhoods and 29% in public transport systems. Workplace safety presents a paradoxical picture. A large majority91%described their office environment as safe, but nearly half of the respondents admitted they were unaware whether their organisation had implemented the mandated Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) mechanism. Among those who were aware, most found it effective, suggesting that awareness is as critical as legislation itself. The report stresses that womens safety cannot be reduced to physical protection alone but must include psychological, financial, and digital security that collectively shape womens access to mobility, opportunity, and dignity. It frames safety as a developmental issue rather than a law-and-order question. The sense of safety also varies with time and place. Women reported relative comfort in offices and campuses during the day, but confidence collapsed after dark, where poor street lighting and unreliable public transport left them exposed. City-level disparities are equally stark: Kohima, Visakhapatnam, and Bhubaneswar topped the index, followed closely by Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, and Mumbai, where women expressed relatively higher perceptions of safety. In contrast, Patna, Jaipur, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar, and Ranchi occupied the bottom ranks. Ranchi recorded 44% feeling unsafe, while in Delhi and Faridabad the figure was around 42%. The numbers show a fractured urban landscape where geography shapes womens fears as much as governance.
NEW DELHI: Kohima, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar and Mumbai have emerged as the safest cities in the country for women, while Patna, Jaipur, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar and Ranchi were ranked the lowest, according to the National Annual Report & Index on Women's Safety (NARI) 2025. The nationwide index released on Thursday, based on a survey of 12,770 women across 31 cities, placed the national safety score at 65 per cent, categorising cities as much above, above, at, elow or much below this benchmark. Kohima and other top-ranked cities were associated with stronger gender equity, civic participation, policing and women-friendly infrastructure. At the other end of the spectrum, cities like Patna and Jaipur fared poorly due to weak institutional responsiveness, patriarchal norms and gaps in urban infrastructure. Kohima, Vishakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, Mumbai lead national safety rankings, often correlating with higher gender equity, infrastructure, policing, or civic participation while Ranchi, Srinagar, Kolkata, Delhi, Faridabad, Patna, and Jaipur scored lowest, correlating with poorer infrastructure, patriarchal norms, or weaker institutional responsiveness, the report said. Overall, six in ten women surveyed felt safe in their city, but 40 per cent still considered themselves ot so safe or unsafe. The study revealed sharp drops in perceptions of safety at night, particularly in public transport and recreational spaces. Educational institutions (86 per cent safe) especially in daylight, but safety perceptions fall sharply at night or off-campus. About 91 per cent of women reported safety, yet about half were unclear if their workplace had a POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) policy; those with such policies generally rated them as effective. Only one-fourth of women said they trusted authorities to act effectively on safety complaints. While 69 per cent said current safety efforts were somewhat adequate, over 30 per cent noted significant gaps or failures; only 65 per cent perceived real improvement over the years 2023-2024. Seven per cent of women said they experienced harassment in public spaces in 2024, with the figure doubling to 14 per cent among those under 24. Neighbourhoods (38 per cent) and public transport (29 per cent) were most often flagged as harassment hotspots. Yet, only one in three victims came forward to report the incidents. The report stressed that official crime data alone cannot reflect women's lived reality. Two out of three women do not report harassment, meaning NCRB misses the bulk of incidents, the study said, calling for integration of crime data with perception-based surveys like NARI. Launching the report, National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said safety cannot be seen merely as a law-and-order issue but as one that affects every aspect of a woman's life whether it is her education, health, work opportunities and freedom of movement. She added that when women feel unsafe, hey limit themselves, and women limiting themselves is not only for their own development, but also for the development of the country. She emphasised that a safe environment was crucial for building a developed and inclusive India, pointing to four dimensions of women's security of physical, psychological, financial and digital nature. It is our responsibility to protect women not just from crimes on the streets but also from cybercrimes, economic discrimination and mental harassment, Rahatkar noted. Highlighting positive measures, she praised the growing presence of women police officers and female drivers in public transport as effective confidence-building steps. In many Union Territories, 33 per cent of police personnel are now women, and this has made a decisive difference in building trust, she said. She also lauded initiatives such as women's helplines, CCTV coverage in smart cities, and improved safety networks at railway stations and bus depots. At the same time, Rahatkar urged society at large to share responsibility. We often blame the system, but we must also ask what we have done. Whether it is using helplines, supporting awareness drives, or simply keeping public toilets clean, society's role is equally important, she said. The NARI index has been conceived by The NorthCap University and Jindal Global Law School and is published by the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA).
CBSE to establish six new regional, sub-regional offices to enhance governance
NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the establishment of six new Regional Offices, Centres of Excellence (CoEs), and Sub-Regional Offices to streamline its operations and improve governance of affiliated schools across the country. According to a notification issued by CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta, the decision was taken following the approval of the Finance Committee in December 2024, which was later ratified by the Governing Body and cleared by the Ministry of Education. The new offices are being set up in Gurugram, Lucknow, Raipur, Ranchi, Agartala, Itanagar and Gangtok. These will become fully functional between August and September 2025. Gurugram (Haryana) will cover 12 southern districts of Haryana, including Faridabad, Gurugram, Palwal and Sonipat, and is expected to function from 1 September 2025. Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) will oversee 30 districts, including Ayodhya, Etawah, Kanpur, Rae Bareli and Unnao, and will also become functional from 1 September 2025. Raipur (Chhattisgarh) will have jurisdiction across Chhattisgarh and became functional on 22 August 2025. Ranchi (Jharkhand) will cover Jharkhand and also became functional on 22 August 2025. Among the Sub-Regional Offices, Agartala (Tripura) will begin functioning from 15 September 2025. Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) became functional on 22 August 2025, along with Gangtok (Sikkim), which also started operations on the same date. The notification stated that all schools affiliated with CBSE will now fall under the jurisdictions of these newly established offices. This move will help strengthen administrative reach, ensure better coordination with schools, and enhance educational support services across these regions, the CBSE said.
Judiciary, legislature, executive united for speedy, affordable justice: CJI BR Gavai
CJI B.R. Gavai emphasized the judiciary, legislature, and executive's commitment to serving the people with speedy and affordable justice at the inauguration of the Gauhati High Court's Itanagar bench. He highlighted India's unity in diversity and the importance of preserving cultural traditions alongside progress.
CJI inaugurates new Gauhati High Court Itanagar Bench building in Arunachal Pradesh
Chief Justice of India inaugurated the new Gauhati High Court's Itanagar Permanent Bench building in Arunachal Pradesh, marking a significant advancement for the state's judicial infrastructure. The state-of-the-art facility, completed in under four years despite challenges, symbolizes hope and accessibility to justice. Arunachal Pradesh has significantly expanded its judicial presence, increasing the number of functional courts and implementing welfare measures.
WWII historical sites in Arunachal's Itanagar to get global recognition
Commonwealth War Graves Commission delegates inspected Arunachal Pradesh's WWII sites, aiming to transform them into world-class memorials. The mission, driven by local government support, focuses on restoring sites like the WWII Cemetery and Old Stilwell Road. This initiative promises to boost historical remembrance and heritage tourism, honoring the sacrifices of WWII soldiers.
Khandu Pays Tributes To Kargil War Heroes At Drass Memorial
ITANAGAR, Jul 26: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday paid tributes to the heroes of the 1999 Kargil War by laying a wreath at the war memorial in Ladakhs Drass, marking the 26th anniversary of Indias victory in the high-altitude conflict. Standing in the shadow of the mountains where the Indian Armed Forces etched one of their most valiant chapters in history, Khandu described the Kargil victory as not just a military triumph, but also a symbol of [] The post Khandu Pays Tributes To Kargil War Heroes At Drass Memorial appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Arunachal CM Pema Khandu Joins Dalai Lamas Spiritual Gathering In Ladakh
Itanagar, Jul 25: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday joined thousands of devotees at the revered Karsha Photang in Zanskar to participate in Yarchos Chenmo, the great summer dharma gathering, hosted by the Karsha Monastery in Ladakh. The sacred congregation witnessed the presence of nearly 30,000 spiritual seekers who assembled under the vast Ladakhi skies to receive teachings from the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Khandu, in a social media post described his encounter with the Dalai [] The post Arunachal CM Pema Khandu Joins Dalai Lamas Spiritual Gathering In Ladakh appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
