IBTimes

The unions are demanding a five-day working week, withdrawal of the performance-linked incentive system and resolution of pending wage and pension-related issues. The UFBU has also warned of an indefinite strike from October 26 if its demands are not addressed. ATM and digital banking services may continue depending on individual banks.

New SIM card rules came into effect in India on Monday, limiting individuals to nine mobile connections, or six in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North-East. Telecom operators must block excess connections and move to real-time checks by November 30, 2026.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has shared captivating visuals from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, showcasing Ram Lalla seated on a beautifully decorated swing during the Sawan celebrations. The temple has taken on a festive and devotional atmosphere, with traditional Kajri songs being performed before the deity

Onion prices have surged up to 40 percent in a week, with retail rates reaching Rs 50-60 per kg in major cities as delayed crop arrivals tighten supplies.

Rishabh Pant smashed Lahiru Kumara for a huge 95m six at SSC Stadium in Colombo, sending the ball onto the roof. The six landed on a solar panel in spectacular fashion with broadcast showing the extent of damage. The shot was impressive given Pant had to retire hurt playing the same shot on Day 1 of the IND vs SL 1st Test.

Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Monday, supported by gains in IT stocks, with Infosys and HCL Technologies among the top performers. The Sensex rose 0.27% while the Nifty gained 0.18%. However, elevated crude oil prices, West Asia tensions and volatility concerns limited the market's early gains

The probe involves allegations that candidates seeking veterinary officer posts were asked to pay bribes of Rs 70 lakh to Rs 80 lakh. Kumar, who served as KPSC Controller of Examinations until March, was not present during the search as he had reportedly travelled to Uttar Pradesh due to his father's illness.

Ajay Devgn's much-awaited Drishyam 3 has been officially titled 'Drishyam: The Conclusion', signalling the possible final chapter of the crime-thriller franchise. The makers unveiled the title along with a poster featuring Devgn, while confirming the film's theatrical release for October 2, 2026.

He criticised what he described as the Manusmriti mindset for keeping women under male control and questioned societal restrictions on women's independence, education, employment and ambitions. Gandhi also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on the Jantar Mantar protests.

Anushka Ranjan and Aditya Seal welcomed twin daughters, Vira and Mahi Ranjan Seal, on August 23, 2026. The couple shared the happy news on Instagram.

Welcome Ravi Kishan as Babban Babua, Mohitt Malik as Birju Lohar, Sushant Singh as Bhairav Singh Karnawat, and Sonal Chauhan as Mumtaz Bibi from Mirzapur: The Movie! New Posters Out Now!

LIC Jeevan Umang offers whole-life cover and annual survival benefits after premiums end. Here's how a Rs 5,000 monthly premium example could work.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has mandated medical device manufacturers that outsource sterilisation to mention the licence number of the sterilisation facility on their device labels.

A Sadya is a traditional Kerala vegetarian meal served on a banana leaf, featuring an elaborate spread of curries, vegetables, pickles, chips, rice and payasams. This year, several restaurants across Bengaluru are putting their own spin on the festive meal while retaining its traditional flavours.

From the elaborate Onasadya and colourful pookalams to the excitement of Vallam Kali and Pulikali, Onam brings together Kerala's food, folklore, art and traditions. The festival continues to be a celebration of community, prosperity, generosity and togetherness, with the story of King Mahabali remaining at its heart.

A six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the alleged sexual assault, illegal termination of pregnancy and death of a 12-year-old tribal girl and her stillborn child in Kishtwar's Chatroo. Meanwhile, the Tribal Gujjar Bakarwal Welfare Foundation has demanded protection for the victim's family and strict action against those allegedly attempting to hush up the case.

The JERC's decision to raise electricity tariffs in Jammu and Kashmir by an average 6.83 per cent from September 1 has triggered a political storm, with opposition parties accusing the National Conference government of betraying its promise of 200 units of free electricity. BJP, Apni Party, Peoples Conference and PDP leaders have criticised the hike, while trade bodies have warned that it could add to the financial burden on consumers and further strain the region's economy.

For 2026, the Raksha Bandhan thread ceremony time is from 5:57 AM to 9:48 AM in New Delhi, according to Drik Panchang. The Purnima Tithi begins at 9:08 AM on August 27 and ends at 9:48 AM on August 28.

Kriti Sanon was featured in a Raksha Bandhan advertisement. She wore an off-white bralette-style blouse paired with a cape and a draped skirt. The modern outfit drew criticism from some social media users, who questioned her choice for the festive campaign.

In the past few months, the FSSAI said it has taken action against various food business operators (FBOs) for serious violations of its laws and regulations.

The Gaganyaan programme, with a revised outlay of Rs 20,193 crore, plans eight missions, including an uncrewed test targeted for Q4 2026 and a crewed mission by 2027. India is also developing the five-module Bharatiya Antariksh Station, with the first module planned for 2028 and the station targeted for operation by 2035

. The Nifty rose 0.53% to 24,334.30, while the Sensex gained 0.75% to close at 78,151.45. More than 250 companies are expected to announce Q1 FY27 results, with investors closely watching demand, margins, capital expenditure and growth outlook

Punjab Police has busted an alleged arms-smuggling module in Amritsar, arresting two suspects and recovering 10 sophisticated pistols, magazines and live ammunition. The action comes amid an NIA probe into suspected Pakistani and Australian links to a June drone-based arms drop near the Punjab border in June this year.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the latest US economic pressure as a recurring form of ullying and urged Washington to engage respectfully with Iran. Meanwhile, senior security official Mohsen Rezaei warned neighbouring countries against joining the US economic pressure campaign, saying Tehran could consider such states enemies.

States have been asked to appoint a district-level nodal officer to work with PNG Coordination Committees and assist with consumer outreach, housing society permissions, LPG-to-PNG transitions and grievance resolution

The Delhi Police has remained at the centre of controversies as the national capital continues to see massive protests. Several actions and reactions of the police personnel have been caught on camera and gone viral in this age of social media and memes, specially after the Jantar Mantar protests. To counter this, the police department has issued guidelines on how personnel must conduct themselves in public.

Two students were injured after a sound system or floodlight pole collapsed during Yash's Toxic event in Hyderabad. Several people had reportedly climbed onto the structure. Yash had urged them to get down and later repeatedly asked whether they were safe. According to reports, the sound box, or floodlight box, allegedly crashed onto students standing near the stage.

Two people were killed and five others injured after the Bhuleshwarcha Raja Ganesh idol reportedly lost balance and fell on devotees during an arrival procession in Mumbai's Bhuleshwar late Saturday night. Viral visuals showed panic as devotees rushed to rescue those trapped beneath the idol. Authorities are investigating the cause and safety arrangements.

Bollywood actress Mouni Roy visited the revered Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi during the holy month of Sawan and shared glimpses of her spiritual trip on Instagram. She explored the streets of Varanasi in a rickshaw with a friend and expressed her happiness after having darshan of Lord Shiva, while also joking about missing her flight.

Gehlot claimed that diverting sugarcane towards ethanol production has affected sugar availability and contributed to a rise in sugar prices.

The NIA on Saturday conducted simultaneous searches at five locations in Kupwara and Anantnag districts of J&K as part of an ongoing probe into a suspected Over Ground Worker (OGW) network and possible links between drug trafficking and terror financing. The searches led to the seizure of electronic devices, including a mobile phone, as investigators examined suspected links to the wider terror-support network.

The Special NIA Court in Jammu has rejected the bail plea of Insha Jan, an accused in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack case, observing that the charges against her appeared prima facie true. The court also cited the bar on bail under Section 43-D(5) of the UAPA and expressed concern over the possibility of influencing key witnesses.

His remarks came after BCI Co-Chairman YR Sadasiva Reddy sought his resignation, citing concerns over transparency in appointments, Council funds, alleged donations from law colleges and the NALSAR controversy.

ax evasion involving GST, HSNS Cess and Central Excise duty has been estimated at around Rs 185 crore. The proprietor of the manufacturing firm was arrested on August 19 and remanded to judicial custody, while the investigation continues.

A young girl from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, has gone viral after firmly responding to someone who called her Chinese because of her appearance. Karga Tinkle Gongo said she was hurt by the comment and told the person to call her Indian instead

It is better that we bring the war to an end now as we are in a position of power and dignity, and the whole world acknowledges our victory and emphasises that America has attacked our schools, hospitals and infrastructure in violation of all regulations and is hated around the world, he said in a meeting with doctors.

Gold prices staged a sharp recovery in India on Friday, while silver also surged as investors moved towards precious metals amid a weaker US dollar. According to the Bullions website, gold was priced at Rs 1,59,870 per 10 grams and silver at Rs 2,44,410 per kg.

IndiGo's website faced another technical disruption on Friday, affecting passengers trying to book flights, complete web check-ins and access other online services. Some users also reported problems with the airline's mobile app.

The Sensex gained just 3.11 points to settle at 77,540.83, while the Nifty edged up 20.15 points, or 0.08 per cent, to close at 24,252.00.oth benchmarks declined for the second consecutive week, while mid- and small-cap stocks showed resilience.

The CBI alleged that Jhunjhunwala was part of a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain a Rs 1,200 crore term loan for RCom and Reliance Infratel, which was not repaid.

A viral video shows a Class 6 GK book featuring Italy PM Giorgia Meloni, prompting a humorous reaction: Bhai saab! Chapter hai inka GK ka. The page highlights her political journey, achievements and rise as Italy's first woman PM.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is set to replace manual counting of devotees' cash offerings with cash recycler machines at the shrine in Katra. Two machines have already been installed, with six more being added, and manual counting is expected to end within 15 days to improve transparency, security and efficiency.

The election was notable as Bangladesh's first contested presidential election in more than three decades, ending a practice of Presidents being elected unopposed since 1991. Fakhrul, a long-serving BNP Secretary General, has been one of the party's most prominent leaders and served as its effective number two for more than 15 years.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha took an apparent swipe at former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti over her past remarks on the Tricolour, saying the national flag is today being held high with pride across Jammu and Kashmir. He also called for a united societal effort to combat terrorism, narco-terrorism, substance abuse and corruption.

A 12-year-old tribal schoolgirl in Kishtwar's Chatroo area died while being rushed for treatment after her pregnancy was discovered allegedly the result of repeated sexual assault by her school's headmaster. He and his brother have been arrested as protests and a complete shutdown grip the area, with residents demanding justice.

Sub-Registrar Suraj Vernekar said the marriage was registered under Goa's Uniform Civil Code. Arjun and Gabriella arrived at the office around 4 pm and were dressed casually for the occasion.

The clearance has drawn attention because Toxic is positioned as a dark, violent action drama with mature themes. The film's treatment by the Indian censor board has also prompted comparisons with Dhurandhar, which underwent cuts before its release.

The Ladakh administration has announced the withdrawal of 24 FIRs registered in connection with the September 24, 2025, violence in Leh, days after veteran Ladakhi leaders Thupstan Chhewang and Tashi Gyalson met Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and sought the withdrawal of cases against youth. Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra said cases with no major evidence would be withdrawn, while the remaining cases would be reviewed by the police.

Central Railway said the crane also fell on overhead equipment of the Kurla-Trombay goods line but passenger services remained unaffected. No one was feared trapped, while MMRDA has launched an investigation into the collapse.

Arjun Kapoor appeared irked during a recent interaction with a fan in Mumbai. The actor initially obliged when the fan approached him for what appeared to be a photograph. However, after realising he was being recorded instead.