The Navhind Times

Says no fees for consumers and small-time vendors New Delhi: Unified Payments Interface or UPI payments remain free for consumers, and any future merchant charges (MDR) will apply only to certain categories of merchant transactions, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. Allaying apprehensions in certain sections that charges may be []

Mumbai: Maharashtra police have safeguarded more than Rs 1,700 crore of citizens money through timely intervention and freezing of funds before the money could reach cyber fraudsters, while over two lakh cybercrime complaints have been handled during the first seven months of 2026, officials said. Police have registered 803 proactive FIRs against persons and entities []

Ayodhya: A court here on Monday extended the judicial custody of all the eight accused in the Ram temple donation theft case by 14 days, with the defence objecting to the sections invoked against them by police. Special Judge (Anti-Corruption) Rajat Varma extended the judicial custody of the accused till August 24, defence counsel Kulshekhar []

Vasco: Residents of Velsao on Monday removed construction material allegedly dumped on their traditional access road by a contractor engaged by Railway Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), clearing the way to around 25 houses affected by ongoing double-tracking work. A large number of villagers, activists and political leaders gathered at the site following a request from []

Panaji: The Centres in-principle Stage-I forest clearance for the Tamnar transmission project is set to face further scrutiny from environmental activists over forest rights, wildlife protection and statutory compliance. Goa Foundation founder Claude Alvares said the clearance was expected. They will have to give because there is a Supreme Court order, he said, referring to []

Shahin Bepari Lambe Panaji: From Alphonso and Kesar to lesser-known cultivars such as Arunika, HB-56 and Konkan Ruchi, 41 mango varieties grow side by side at the Government Agricultural Farm at Codar in Ponda as part of a heritage plantation aimed at conserving mango genetic resources. The one-hectare plantation brings together traditional, improved and hybrid []

Panaji: Stating that innovation and research provide practical solutions to real challenges, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said research institutions can become valuable partners of the government. He appealed to researchers and students to undertake research and innovation in various sectors in the interest of the state during a programme at Goa University (GU) []

Abdul Wahab Khan Panaji: Urban flooding in Panaji is likely to become more severe unless the city rethinks how it plans its drainage infrastructure, a new study has warned, adding that systems designed using historical rainfall data may no longer be adequate under changing climate conditions. The peer-reviewed study found that September rainfall has increased []

Seeks to reduce dependence on sensitive maritime chokepoints Moscow/New Delhi: Russia needs to create a railway route to the Indian Ocean to reduce dependence on strategically sensitive maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and Bosphorus Strait, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has said. His comments came amid the conflict in West Asia, which []

25% emoluments made after 15 days in FY25-26 Panaji: Goa is among the top five states/UTs in India in delayed MGNREGA wage disbursements with 25 per cent of payments due to workers during 2025-26, made beyond 15 days. At the all-India level, only 3.75 per cent of payment to workers under the scheme is beyond []

Navy officer wins bronze medal in Seniors 55+ Singles at World Racketlon Championship Panaji : Indian Navy officer Captain Ashutosh Pednekar has added yet another feather to his cap by winning a bronze medal in the Seniors 55+ Singles at the World Racketlon Championship in Rotterdam, Netherlands, held from August 5 to 9, 2026. Though []

26-year-old beats Chinas Han Qian Xi to secure her maiden BWF World Tour title Asan: Indias Ashmita Chaliha produced a gritty show to secure her maiden BWF World tour title with a fighting win over fourth seed Han Qian Xi of China in the womens singles final of the Korea Masters Super 300 badminton tournament []

Eugene: Basant Kumar Meghwal and Shahnavaz Khan became the first Indians to win a medal each in high jump and long jump at the World Athletics U20 Championships, clinching a silver and a bronze in their respective events on a memorable day for the country here. The 19-year-old Basant, the reigning Asian U20 champion, cleared []

Buyamayum impresses with a brace in their 2-1 triumph over Indian Navy FT Imphal: Afridi Buyamayum scored twice, including a spectacular second-half strike, as TRAU FC secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Indian Navy FT in their final Group D fixture of the Durand Cup here on Sunday. Despite being dominated for large periods and []

Their womens team beats Goa Guardians in final Panaji: Central Railways defeated Goa Guardians 76-67 to clinch the womens title at the Don Bosco Oratory Silver Jubilee Open Invitational Basketball Tournament powered by Goa Guardians in association with YMCA Panjim at the Don Bosco Oratory Indoor Stadium, Panjim, on Sunday. Central Railways were led by []

If our enchanting waterfalls are part of tourism, then safeguards cannot be ignored Goa witnessed another heartbreaking tragedy in its hinterlands when a 17-year-old Class XI science student from a higher secondary school in Headland Sada, Mormugao, drowned at the Tonir-Kajredhat waterfall in Savarde, Sattari. The school had organised a trekking expedition to Sattari as []

The battle is between the proprietary rights represented by American tech firms, which keep their technology guarded and protected, and the Chinese who follow open-source AI Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a hot subject as it highlights the growing race between the United States (US) and China in the frontier area of technology that stretches []

Dont want sympathy, political reservation constitutional right Ponda: Political reservation for Scheduled Tribes (STs) is a constitutional right and the government should expedite the remaining process for reserving Assembly seats for STs, MLA Govind Gaude said on Sunday. We do not want sympathy from anyone. Political reservation for STs is our constitutional right, Gaude said. []

Curchorem: Over 150 residents on Sunday staged a demonstration outside the residence of Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai following the issuance of a notification regarding political reservation for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, demanding answers and opposing the reservation of the Sanguem constituency. Protesters said they had consistently supported the BJP and Phal Dessai while []

Pernem: Members of the Dhangar community from Pernem on Sunday called for continued efforts to secure inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category at an awareness meeting held at Dhangarwada, Torxem, in Pernem. Speakers discussed the history of the communitys demand and said they would continue their efforts until the demand for ST status was []

Curchorem: The Dhangar community has given the government an August 15 deadline to take a decision on its demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, warning that it would launch a statewide agitation after August 27 if the demand is not addressed. A special meeting was organised by the Gomantak Dhangar Samajonnanti Mandal, []

Software engineer turned beekeeper, Suprajit Raikar, founded Raika Honey- a home grown honey brand which has an online presence and is also available in stores, writes Shahin Bepari Lambe What began as a career change for an IT professional has grown into a community movement that is promoting beekeeping supporting rural livelihoods and producing natural []

Oil marketing companies (OMC) have reiterated the fuel quality of E20 petrol, pointing out that, chloride presence in petrol has remained consistently within the prescribed limits. After media reports on moisture and chloride in E20 petrol, OMCs carried out a nationwide intensive testing covering the entire EBMS supply chain. The testing at the refinery level []

Prof. DM Deshpande Not only higher education even the school education in India, is in disarray. In a recently released report, UDISE+Unified District Information System for Education Plus, there are some distressing trends. UDISE+ is an educational management system under the government of Indias Department of School Education and Literacy. Its annual report is a []

New Delhi: Former India batter VVS Laxman is emerging as the frontrunner to replace Ajit Agarkar as chairman of the BCCI selection committee after the latters extended tenure ends next month, according to a media report. Agarkar, whose original term ended in June, was given a three-month extension and was expected to continue until the []

They outclass FC Siolim 2-0 in the final; Joyson Gauncar shines with a brace Raia: Raia SC outclassed FC Siolim 2-0 to win the 53rd Custodio Memorial Cup, with Joyson Gauncar scoring both goals in the final. The hosts took the lead in the 15th minute when Joyson found the net with a neat finish []

Panaji: Goas International Master Ameya Audi produced a consistent run of performances during his European chess tour, registering three top-five finishes across tournaments in France and Spain. Ameya finished fifth with six points from nine rounds at the 400 Blows International Open in Montauban, France, and repeated the feat with six points at the 30th []

Roshan, Muhammed net a goal each in 2-0 win Imphal: Indian Navy registered their first win of the Durand Cup with a commanding 2-0 victory over NEROCA FC in a Group D encounter on Wednesday. The Sailors seized the initiative in the 23rd minute when Vijay Marandis chipped through ball sent Roshan Panna clear. The []

Open for coalition to defeat BJP: GPCC chief Panaji: Upset over the narrative that party chief and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai was not cooperating with the Opposition MLAs, Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of Goa Forward Party (GFP) on Wednesday suspended alliance talks with the Congress. The Goa Forward Party clarified that it has not severed []

Panaji: Goas co-operative sector continues to face severe financial distress despite ongoing recovery efforts, with 44% of the states 5,611 primary co-operative societies identified by the Ministry of Cooperation as non-functional or under liquidation. Central ministry statistics presented in Parliament reveal that while 3,165 of the states total co-operative societies remain functional, 2,337 are non-functional []

Margao: Archbishop of Sindhudurg Agnelo Pinheiro urged the Catholic faithful to pursue lives of holiness and blamelessness that are acceptable to God. Pinheiro was the principal celebrant at the feast Mass of Nossa Senhora das Neves (Our Lady of Snows), popularly known as the Konnsache Fest, at Raia church on Wednesday. He delivered the homily []

Team to investigate alleged violations in Dodamarg, Sawantwadi Pernem: The Maharashtra government has ordered a probe into land transactions in the border talukas of Dodamarg and Sawantwadi following allegations of illegal land banking and violations of land and zoning regulations linked to the development of Manohar International Airport at Mopa. Speaking to reporters at Manohar []

Tata Steel says decision is strategic and not linked to anything else New Delhi: Jamshedpur FCs withdrawal from the upcoming Indian Super League was planned long before the uncertainty over the leagues commercial future surfaced, with Tata Steel on Tuesday asserting that the decision was part of a long-term strategy to return to its grassroots []

NT Reporter Margao The sighting of the invasive Giant African land snail (Lissachatinafulica) in Chandor has left residents worried. They have sought immediate intervention from the Directorate of Agriculture and local self-government bodies to contain the spread of the invasive species. According to local sources, the nocturnal pests have been sighted over the past few []

New Delhi: Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra will face a formidable field led by Commonwealth Games champion Rumesh Pathirage of Sri Lanka at the Lausanne Diamond League on August 21, organisers announced on Tuesday. The meet will feature five javelin throwers who competed at the recently-concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, including Chopra, who claimed silver []

Kolkata: Mohun Bagan Super Giant thrashed South United FC 8-0 in a Group C match of the 135th Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangana on Tuesday. Manvir Singh starred with a hat trick, scoring in the 4th, 22nd and 80th minutes, while Suhail Bhat struck twice in the 89th and 90+1st minutes. Alberto []

Betalbatim: Sporting Club Davorlim advanced in the Betalbatim Villager Cup after defeating Canacona Sports and Cultural 5-3 in a penalty shootout following a 3-3 draw in regulation time. Canaconas Chaitan Komarpant scored twice, while Ronaldo Oliver added the other goal. Davorlim stayed level through a brace from Milton Colaco and a strike by Prince Figueiredo []

NT Reporter Sankhali The Water Resources Department (WRD) has warned riverside village panchayats and residents of a possible release of excess water from the Anjunem Dam in the coming days as reservoir levels continue to rise following heavy rainfall. Although this years monsoon arrived later than expected, the heavy rainfall received over the past few []

NT Reporter Panaji The High Court of Bombay at Goa has ordered a multi-departmental inspection under police protection in a land-related public interest litigation (PIL) concerning Survey No. 256/2 at Sodiem, Siolim, Bardez, after noting that an inspection ordered in June was not carried out. The High Court fixed August 12, at 3 pm for []

NT Reporter Panaji Following complaints by farmers over difficulties faced by them in using the newly introduced mandatory Framework for Fertilizer Sale (FFS) mobile application, the Agriculture Department has deployed its staff at fertiliser distribution centres across the state to assist them. The FFS application had been introduced to prevent the black marketing of subsidised []

NT Reporter Panaji The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has recommended the immediate release of pension and all post-retirement benefits to a former Goa Civil Service officer without recovering alleged excess salary paid during his service. It observed that withholding the pension and seeking recovery after retirement violated the complainants human rights and was contrary []

Amresh Parab Panaji Goa witnessed a 10% surge in road accidents during the first six months of this year, recording 1,324 mishaps compared to 1,196 in the corresponding period in 2025. Despite the overall rise, over 58% (775 cases) were non-injury accidents where only vehicles suffered damage. However, the state recorded 136 fatal accidents that []

National Organ Donation Day was observed on August 3 to honour the families who chose to donate the organs of their loved ones after brain death and to encourage more people to pledge their organs GABRIEL PEREIRA One deceased organ donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and improve the lives of []

MIGUEL BRAGANZA Climate change has become a reality, and this years prolonged dry spells between periods of rain have allowed insect populations to multiply. The white-winged caseworm moth lays its eggs on rice paddy leaves. The caterpillars that hatch feed on the leaves, rolling them into cigar-shaped cocoons or cases. They then cut themselves free []

Pronay Halder, Albino Gomes say closure will hurt Indian football New Delhi: India internationals Pronay Halder and Albino Gomes on Monday urged the Tata Group to reconsider its decision to pull Jamshedpur FC out of the Indian Super League (ISL), saying the clubs closure would be a setback for young footballers and Indian football. Jamshedpur []

New Delhi: A communication gap between the BCCI Centre of Excellences (CoE) sports science and medical team and the senior national selection committee has come under scrutiny after Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. It is learnt that the selectors were initially led to believe Bumrah would be []

Bambolim: Arsh Khan and Saish Sawant won medals for SS Dempo College of Commerce (Autonomous), Cujira, at the 57th Goa State Athletics Championship 2026, excelling in the U-20 category. TY BBA student Arsh Khan clinched silver in the U-20 mens long jump and bronze in the U-20 mens triple jump. He also finished with a []

VM Salgaocar Law College finish runner-up, Riyansha bags best judoka award Peddem: Don Bosco College, Panaji, were crowned overall champions in the Goa University Inter-Collegiate Womens Judo Championship 2026-27 at the SAG Multipurpose Hall, Peddem. VM Salgaocar College of Law, Miramar, finished runners-up, while Rosary College of Commerce and Arts, Navelim, claimed third place. Don []

Cong wins MPs Datia, saffron party retains Manjalpur New Delhi: The BJP on Monday faced embarrassing defeats in Assembly bypolls in Bankipur of Bihar, where Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor wrested the seat vacated by the ruling party chief Nitin Nabin, as well as in Madhya Pradeshs Datia, lending ammunition to the Opposition, which []

Panaji: Goa must adopt rainwater harvesting at the household and community level to deal with increasingly erratic monsoon patterns, former National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Chief Scientist Dr M R Ramesh Kumar said recently. Speaking on the Southwest Monsoon, El Nino, La Nina and climate change, Dr Kumar told The Navhind Times that the state []