Mizoram is seeking to promote tourism by easing regulations during upcoming winter and Christmas festivals. The state reported significant growth in tourist arrivals during the first eight months of 2026. Investments in tourism-related infrastructure are expected to support the sector's development in the coming years. A series of cultural festivals and initiatives aim to extend visitor engagement beyond Aizawl.
Jyotiraditya M. Scindia discussed significant banking developments at the North East Bankers Conclave 2.0 in Agartala. He outlined future targets including opening new bank branches and increasing ATM installations in unbanked areas. Collaborative efforts between banks and government were emphasized to enhance development in the Northeast region. The Chief Minister of Mizoram, Lalduhoma, highlighted the importance of banks in creating economic opportunities for citizens.
6,905 of 9,479 identified villages in Northeast linked to banking, postal services: Scindia
Digital Desk | Aizawl, Oct 13 (IANS) Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Tuesday that 131 new bank branches had been opened and 126 new ATMs installed across the Northeastern region between December 2024 and March 2026. He added that 6,905 of the 9,479 villages identified for connectivity through banking and postal services had already been covered. Addressing the 'North East Bankers' Conclave 3.0' in Aizawl, the DoNER Minister announced that to ensure more people benefit effectively from banking services, the existing guideline requiring a minimum population of 3,000 to establish a brick-and-mortar branch has been lowered to a population threshold of 2,000 specifically for the Northeastern states. He also noted that 90.2 per cent of non-branch transactions in the Northeastern states are conducted through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Along with these positive developments, Scindia stressed the need to accelerate efforts to quickly connect the remaining 2,574 villages that lack bank or postal service links. Targets have been set to increase the Credit-Deposit (CD) Ratio of banks from 47 per cent to 60 per cent for Tripura, 60 per cent for Arunachal Pradesh, and 67 per cent for Mizoram, he said. The Union Minister noted that raising the CD Ratio increases the circulation of money within the state, making it a vital tool for development, and remarked that the acronym CD Ratio could even stand for 'Credit for Development'. Scindia highlighted that the Northeastern states possess a large working-age youth population, high literacy rates, and abundant natural resources. He shared that this marks his 35th visit to the Northeastern states during his tenure of 2 years and 8 months as the DoNER Minister. He emphasised the crucial importance of collaboration between banks and the government for the development of the region. The DoNER Minister said that during the North East Bankers' Conclave 2.0 held in Agartala (Tripura), various targets were set, including opening new bank branches, installing more ATMs, and connecting unbanked rural villages to banking systems. He added that the DoNER Secretary Katikithala Srinivas held individual consultations with representatives of each state to set specific targets. Scindia lauded Mizoram as a state successfully implementing digital payments, as well as the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) schemes. At the same time, he stressed the importance of boosting efforts for registration under the PM Jan Dhan Yojana and PM Vishwakarma, noting that banking operations must place greater emphasis on expanding credit and lending. Scindia said that the deliberations at Tuesday's NE Bankers' Conclave 3.0 were divided into four session themes: Last Mile, Loans, Livelihoods, and Lifelines. These encompass connecting unbanked villages to banks, Business Correspondents, or the India Post Payments Bank; intensifying loan disbursements to MSMEs and women entrepreneurs; undertaking initiatives to ensure sustainable livelihoods for farmers; and building better connectivity and infrastructure. The Union Minister urged the gathering to formulate ten recommendations from each of the four sessions on Tuesday, along with forty (40) actionable paths to fulfill them. He asked them to set timelines and clear metrics to execute these proposals, expressing his hope that the North East Bankers' Conclave 4.0 will showcase even greater progress. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma in his address said that the most important function of a bank is not merely safeguarding the public's money, but creating opportunities for human upliftment and empowerment. He described banks and financial institutions as crucial drivers of state development, catalysts for various businesses, pillars of support for entrepreneurs, avenues for wealth creation, and vital tools for establishing sustainable livelihoods. He said that during the 2025-26 fiscal year, while Assam's Credit-Deposit Ratio stood at 73.52 per cent, Nagaland's at 61.1 per cent, and Tripura's at 61 per cent, Mizoram lagged behind at 55.83 per cent. The Chief Minister added that this highlights the urgent need to step up efforts, with a target set to scale it up to 67 per cent by the 2028-29 fiscal year. Lalduhoma stressed that banks must expand their footprint beyond Aizawl into other districts and rural areas to remain easily accessible to those in need. Given that Mizoram boasts a high loan recovery rate, the Chief Minister urged banks to leverage this positive trait effectively.
Mizoram targets year-round tourism as visitor numbers surge 51%
Guwahati: Mizoram recorded more than 6.7 lakh visitors in the first eight months of 2026, a 51% increase over the same period last year, as the state seeks to turn its growing tourism appeal into a year-round economic opportunity. The states tourism ambitions took centre stage on Tuesday with the opening of Mizoram Travel Fest [] The post Mizoram targets year-round tourism as visitor numbers surge 51% appeared first on NorthEast Now .
We Want To Be Like Bhutan, Mizoram Minister Hmar Says As State Eyes HighValue Tourism Model
Aizawl, October 13: Mizoram aims to follow Bhutans tourism model over the next five to 10 years by attracting high-value, responsible visitors while imposing stricter restrictions on tourism, state Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar said on Tuesday. Speaking at a press conference during the Mizoram Travel Fest 2026, Hmar said the government would engage Mizoram University... The post We Want To Be Like Bhutan, Mizoram Minister Hmar Says As State Eyes HighValue Tourism Model first appeared on Northeast Today .
Mizoram Governor Felicitates U-17 Girls
Aizawl, Oct 13: Mizoram Governor General (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh on Tuesday felicitated the NCC U-17 Girls Football Team of Springfield Higher Secondary School, Aizawl, for finishing as runners-up in the 65th Subroto Cup 2026 Junior Girls (Under-17) Football Tournament. The felicitation ceremony was held at the Durbar Hall of Lok Bhavan, where the Governor... The post Mizoram Governor Felicitates U-17 Girls Football Team For Subroto Cup 2026 Runners-Up Finish first appeared on Northeast Today .
Scindia calls for faster tailored credit flow to Northeastern states at bankers' conclave
During a recent gathering at Mizoram University, Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia urged financial institutions to provide credit solutions that address the specific needs of the Northeast region. He criticized generic banking products as insufficient, emphasizing customization for each state. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma shared initiatives requiring investment, hinting at potential economic drivers for the area that could facilitate sustained growth and enhance public welfare.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Attends Inaugural Session Of North East Bankers
Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region and Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia participated in the inaugural session of the North East Bankers Conclave 3.0 at Mizoram University in Aizawl. The event was attended by Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma; Prof. Lalnilawma, Minister of Rural Development, Horticulture and Public Health Engineering, Government of Mizoram; Srinivas Katikithala,... The post Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Attends Inaugural Session Of North East Bankers Conclave 3.0 In Mizoram first appeared on Northeast Today .
Mizoram: DoNER Minister Scindia launches 10 development projects worth Rs 331 crore
Aizawl: Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on Monday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 10 development projects worth approximately Rs 331 crore in Aizawl, as the Centre seeks to accelerate infrastructure development and investment across the Northeast. Speaking to reporters after arriving at Lengpui Airport, Scindia said [] The post Mizoram: DoNER Minister Scindia launches 10 development projects worth Rs 331 crore appeared first on NorthEast Now .
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia discusses Viksit Bharat with students at Mizoram University
The News Mill
He is watching from above: Lalremsiamis emotional tribute to her late father
Lalremsiami Hmarzote made history by clinching gold at the Asian Games in women's hockey, a pivotal accomplishment for her and her team. She scored vital goals, particularly in the final against China. Remembering her late father, who was her source of motivation, Hmarzote is now determined to inspire young girls in Mizoram to take up hockey and chase their sporting dreams as the Indian women's team eyes the Olympics.
Mizoram: MNF only party capable of safeguarding Mizo interests, says D. Thangliana
Aizawl: Mizo National Front (MNF) vice-president and former legislator D. Thangliana on Monday asserted that the MNF remains the only political party capable of protecting the interests, security and welfare of the Mizo people. Addressing a meeting at Mizo Hnam Run, the MNF headquarters, Thangliana recalled the challenges the party faced following the signing of [] The post Mizoram: MNF only party capable of safeguarding Mizo interests, says D. Thangliana appeared first on NorthEast Now .
NTPC Bongaigaon Signs MoA for 13.28-Crore Archery Academy in Mizoram
NTPC Bongaigaon, Salakati, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Mizoram State Sports Council (MSSC) to establish an Archery Academy at Lengpui in Mamit district, Mizoram, under its Corp
Human Trafficking Attempt Foiled at India-Nepal Border; Two Minors Rescued
A major human trafficking attempt was thwarted at the India-Nepal border, leading to the rescue of two minors from Mizoram. Human Trafficking Attempt Foiled at India-Nepal Border; Two Minors Rescued
Bengal: SSB rescues two minors from Mizoram in human trafficking attempt
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 12 (IANS) Troops of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) foiled a human trafficking attempt across the India-Nepal Border. Two minor girls were rescued, and two accused were taken into custody. One of those arrested is suspected to be the key conspirator. Around 5 pm on October 11, personnel of the Border Intelligence Team (BIT), 41 Bn, SSB, who were deployed on the New Bridge, Panitanki, in West Bengal, intercepted a silver-coloured Toyota Hyryder proceeding from India towards Nepal. There were three persons travelling in the vehicle. One of them was Mahesh Bhuralal Tanna (61), a resident of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. The second was Navin Kumar (34), from Muzaffarpur in Bihar. He was driving the vehicle. The third occupant was a 17-year-old girl, a resident of Mizoram. During an on-the-spot preliminary inquiry, the minor girl revealed that she was travelling to Nepal with Tanna, an acquaintance of her father, supposedly for shopping and visiting a casino. She further stated that she had been staying with him at a rented flat near Salugara, Siliguri, lured by promises of employment at his spa centres in Mumbai and Goa, a senior SSB official said. The officials at the site sensed something amiss and alerted the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of Sector Headquarters, SSB, at Ranidanga and NGO partner Kosi Lok Manch, Siliguri. Teams immediately rushed to the SSB post at Panitanki for joint counselling and questioning. During sustained interrogation, Tanna confessed that an agent based in Mizoram had sent the minor girl to him about ten days earlier. He claimed that as she was underage, he engaged her as domestic help for Rs 4,000 until she attained majority. However, inspection of the suspect's mobile phone (iPhone) revealed compromising photographs and videos of the minor girl and another unidentified female stored in the 'Recently Deleted' folder, indicating gross sexual exploitation under the guise of employment, the official said. On being shown this evidence, Tanna was forced to admit that a second minor girl had been kept at his rented accommodation near Salugara, Siliguri. The SSB team immediately got into action and sent the information to the local police and NGO team in Salugara. Help was sought from the police as the area in Salugara was beyond the jurisdiction of the SSB. A police team, accompanied by members of the Kosi Lok Manch, raided the rented flat in Salugara in Siliguri and successfully rescued the second minor girl, the official said. Both rescued minors were taken to Kharibari Rural Hospital, where mandatory medical examinations were conducted in coordination with 41 Bn SSB personnel and the NGO team members. Subsequently, the girls, along with Tanna and Kumar, as well as the seized vehicle, were handed over to the Kharibari Police Station. An FIR was registered with the active assistance and coordination of 41 Bn SSB personnel for further investigation and prosecution under relevant statutory provisions. The NGO is coordinating with child welfare bodies for safe institutional care, counselling, and family repatriation of the two minors. Senior officials have appreciated the role played by the SSB personnel at Panitanki. It was their alertness and prompt action in coordinating with other agencies that resulted in the rescue of both girls and the arrest of the person behind the racket. Human trafficking is a major issue along the India-Nepal Border. Recently, six girls from Tripura, including three minors, were rescued while being taken to Nepal to work at a dance bar. The SSB has sensitised its troops and has strengthened intelligence gathering to prevent such crimes. It also works with NGOs working in this field to help the innocent victims.
2 Mizoram minors rescued from suspected trafficking bid in Bengal
Sr Men Hockey Nationals: Kerala, Jharkhand held to draw; Rajasthan beat Gujarat 6-2 on Day 3
Digital Desk | Jhansi, Oct 12 (IANS) Two draws in Division B and a last-quarter turnaround in Division C, where Bihar (BSSA) edged past Hockey Andhra Pradesh, were the highlights of Day 3 in the 16th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2026 in Jhansi. The day also saw Rajasthan and Mizoram record victories. The two matches in Division B produced draws, with Kerala Hockey held by Chhattisgarh in Pool A while Hockey Jharkhand and Telangana Hockey were locked 1-1 at the end of the game. Kerala, beaten 0-9 by Odisha on Day 2, fought back to earn a point. Anoop Kumar Maurya put Kerala ahead with a field goal in the 29th minute. Chhattisgarh equalised through captain Sandeep Kumars penalty corner in the 45th minute and went ahead when Sonu Nishad scored from open play in the 48th. Sandeep Yadav converted a penalty corner in the 59th minute to level the match. In the Pool B clash, Dilbar Barla gave Jharkhand the lead with a penalty corner in the 26th minute. Telangana captain Shiva Kumar Shivangi equalised from a penalty corner in the 56th minute. Jharkhand are unbeaten after a 4-1 win over Goa on Day 2, and Telangana picked up their first point after losing to Arunachal on Day 1. In Division C, Bihar (BSSA) prevailed over Hockey Andhra Pradesh 4-3 in a Pool B match. Andhra Pradesh, 8-0 winners on Day 1, led twice through Metta Sai Kumars penalty corners (11', 38') and a field goal from captain Lekkala Hitesh Rao (25'). Bihar replied through Jony Kumars penalty corner (26') and Md Sidiks penalty corner (29') to level at 2-2 and 3-3 after Jony scored a field goal in the 43rd minute. Jony completed his hat-trick and scored the winner with a penalty stroke in the 53rd minute. It was Bihars first win of the championship after their 2-3 loss to Rajasthan on Day 1. In a Pool B match in the same division, Hockey Rajasthan defeated Hockey Gujarat 6-2 on Day 3. Prathambhai Patel put Gujarat ahead in the 8th minute, but Kunal Koundal equalised with a penalty corner in the 22nd. Rajasthan scored three times in the third quarter through Pawan Kumar Yadav (36', 39') and Ankit Rawat (42'), and Rawat added another in the 48th minute. Patel pulled one back for Gujarat in the 54th minute, and Rawat completed his hat-trick on the stroke of full time (60'). Rajasthan have now won both of their matches. In a Pool A match in the same division, Hockey Mizoram edged Hockey Jammu & Kashmir 2-1. Captain Karanjit Singh gave J&K the lead in the 9th minute. Dharmendra Pal turned the match with two penalty corners in the 15th and 28th minutes, and Mizoram defended the lead for the rest of the game. Mizoram bounced back from their 2-4 loss to Himachal on Day 2, and J&K lost for the first time after their 6-3 opening win.
Bankers conclave will unlock new opportunities for Mizoram: Scindia
Mizoram To Get New Archery Academy Via NTPC Partnership
State-run power major NTPC has partnered with the Mizoram government to establish an archery academy in Lengpui, Mamit district, at an estimated cost of Rs 13.28 crore. The project, part of NTPC's CSR initiatives, aims to provide professional training and infrastructure for aspiring archers over three years, with the Mizoram State Sports Council responsible for its operation.
Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia Unveils Projects Worth Rs 350 Crore In Mizoram
Aizawl, Oct 12: Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia on Monday unveiled projects worth approximately 350 crore in Mizoram, underscoring the central governments commitment to advancing the Northeast under Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision. After arriving at Lengpui airport, Scindia told reporters that the initiatives would significantly contribute to... The post Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia Unveils Projects Worth Rs 350 Crore In Mizoram first appeared on Northeast Today .
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Meets Mizoram CM Lalduhoma During Two-Day State Visit
Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia met Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Monday during his visit to the state. Sharing the update, Scindia described the meeting as a pleasure and expressed his hope for a productive day dedicated to the people of Mizoram. Scindia arrived in Mizoram on... The post Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Meets Mizoram CM Lalduhoma During Two-Day State Visit first appeared on Northeast Today .
Mizoram: DoNER Minister Scindia to launch 10 development projects, attend North East Bankers
Aizawl: Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia will undertake a two-day visit to Mizoram on October 12 and 13, during which he will inaugurate projects and lay foundation stones for 10 development initiatives, officials said on Sunday. Scindia will also attend the North East Bankers Conclave 3.0 [] The post Mizoram: DoNER Minister Scindia to launch 10 development projects, attend North East Bankers Conclave appeared first on NorthEast Now .
Census 2027: Mizoram to enumerate refugees separately
Mizoram has more than 38,000 refugees from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Manipur, but local organisations put the figure at over 60,000
Ranji Trophy: Arunachal Pradesh forfeit opener against Nagaland amid association crisis
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) Arunachal Pradeshs domestic cricket campaign has suffered another setback, with the state forfeiting its Ranji Trophy Plate Group opener against Nagaland amid an administrative deadlock that has left its cricket association without a functioning authority to manage team selection and other operations. The match was scheduled to begin on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, coinciding with the start of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. The forfeiture follows Arunachal Pradeshs failure to field a team for their Vinoo Mankad Trophy fixture against Sikkim in Bhubaneswar earlier this week, highlighting the growing impact of the dispute on players across age groups. The crisis stems from a legal battle over the Arunachal Cricket Associations (ACA) September elections, in which Nabam Vivek was elected president. Several district associations subsequently challenged the polls, alleging irregularities and seeking fresh elections. The matter is pending before the Itanagar bench of the Gauhati High Court, which has reserved its order. The court proceedings have effectively paralysed the association, preventing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from intervening to establish an alternative administrative arrangement while the matter remains pending. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had earlier told IANS that the legal impasse had already disrupted Arunachal Pradeshs participation in junior domestic competitions, with the absence of a functioning state body making team selection and preparation impossible. There are two factions in the Arunachal Cricket Association, and they are having a litigation issue in the Guwahati High Court-Itanagar Bench. There was some stay order from the High Court about a couple of months ago on the boards functioning. So, due to the issue present in front of that bench, there is no functionary in the Arunachal Cricket Association. The matter was finally heard in the first week of September, but the judgment is yet to be delivered by the bench. So no board is in place there for quite some time, and therefore, there was no preparation to constitute a team for this Vinoo Mankad Trophy, Saikia had told IANS. At the time, Saikia had also expressed uncertainty over the states participation in the Ranji Trophy, with the opening fixture against Nagaland approaching and the court yet to deliver its verdict. As a result, they could not field the team in the junior mens levels. I dont know what will happen over them playing in the Ranji Trophy, starting on October 11. Everybody is waiting for the outcome of the courts verdict. As the matter is sub-judice, the BCCI cannot also step in. Nobody is governing there because of this matter there in the court, added Saikia. The forfeiture of the Ranji Trophy fixture has now turned those concerns into a setback for the states senior mens team. The dispute has also raised questions about Arunachal Pradeshs ability to participate in the remainder of the domestic season if the administrative vacuum continues. The associations September elections became contentious after six district bodies, Lower Siang, Upper Subansiri, Kamle, Tawang, West Siang and Papum Pare, alleged violations of rules during the electoral process. Their challenge led to the courts interim stay on the functioning of the association, leaving competing factions claiming legitimacy without a settled administrative structure. The consequences have extended beyond administrative functioning, with young cricketers missing opportunities to compete at the national level. Arunachal Pradesh has already been unable to field teams in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the Under-19 Womens T20 Trophy, raising concerns over the development of players across the states mens and womens programmes. Arunachal Pradesh finished at the bottom of the Ranji Trophy Plate Group standings last season after losing all five matches. The Plate Group also features Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Sikkim.
Mizoram aims to become first state to complete Census 2027
Aizawl: Mizoram has set its sights on becoming the first state to complete Census 2027, with preparations for the crucial population enumeration exercise taking centre stage at a state-level conference here on Saturday, officials said. Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena chaired the one-day conference, where officials discussed preparations for Phase II of the census, including [] The post Mizoram aims to become first state to complete Census 2027 appeared first on NorthEast Now .
Mizoram to count Myanmar, Bdesh refugees & Manipur IDPs in census
Mizoram: Police recover over Rs 1 crore in cybercrime cases, arrest nine suspects
Aizawl: Mizoram Police have recovered and returned more than Rs 1 crore to cybercrime victims this year, arrested nine alleged cybercriminals and resolved 28 complaints concerning the blocking of bank accounts, officials said on Friday. According to a statement issued by the police, Rs 1.06 crore was recovered through the Money Restoration Module (MRM) and [] The post Mizoram: Police recover over Rs 1 crore in cybercrime cases, arrest nine suspects appeared first on NorthEast Now .
Drugs, foreign cigarettes worth Rs 10 crore seized in Mizoram; two arrested
Digital Desk | Aizawl, Oct 10 (IANS) The Assam Rifles, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, seized methamphetamine tablets and foreign-made cigarettes worth around Rs 10 crore in three separate operations in Mizoram and arrested two alleged smugglers and drug peddlers, officials said on Saturday. A defence spokesman said that based on credible intelligence regarding transhipment of narcotics in Tlangsam areas in bordering Champhai District, troops of Assam Rifles launched a targeted operation. During the operation, the team carried out thorough checking of the suspected area and recovered 11 kg of methamphetamine tablets, a highly dangerous narcotic substance, packed in ten boxes. The recovered contraband has an estimated market value of approximately Rs 8.80 crore. The seized contraband was subsequently handed over to the Excise and Narcotics Department in Champhai for further investigation and requisite legal proceedings. The highly addictive methamphetamine tablets (also called Yaba tablet or party tablet) contain a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine and are misused as high-dosage drugs in neighbouring Bangladesh and neighbouring countries, besides India. This drug is banned in India. In the second operation, based on specific intelligence regarding smuggling of contraband items, Assam Rifles launched an operation in the Bethel areas of the same Champhai District. During the operation, the team recovered 30 Cases of illegal foreign-origin V Cigarettes, valued at approximately Rs 72 lakh. One individual was also apprehended during the operation. The seized contraband and the apprehended individual were subsequently handed over to the Legal Metrology Department in Champhai district for further investigation and requisite legal proceedings. In the third operation, based on specific intelligence regarding smuggling of cigarettes, Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with Aizawl District Executive Force, conducted an operation at Seling. During the operation, the team recovered 14 Master boxes and 249 boxes of foreign-origin cigarettes, containing a total of 1,89,800 cigarette sticks, valued at approximately Rs 47.45 lakh. One person was apprehended, and one car carrying the contraband was seized. The apprehended individual, along with the seized cigarettes and vehicle, was subsequently taken into custody by Aizawl District Executive Force for further legal proceedings. These successful operations reflect the continued commitment of Assam Rifles, in close coordination with civil agencies, towards curbing the smuggling of contraband and maintaining security in Mizoram, an Assam Rifles statement said. Mizoram and Manipur have emerged as major drug-trafficking corridors in the Northeast because of their long and porous international borders with Myanmar and their proximity to the Golden Triangle, one of the world's major illicit narcotics-producing regions. Six districts of Mizoram and five districts of Manipur share around 910 km of unfenced international border with Myanmar, making the region vulnerable to cross-border smuggling of narcotics and other contraband.
Mizoram aims to be first state to complete Census 2027
Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena chaired a State-level conference here to review preparations for the second phase of the census, including training and field arrangements
Mizoram aims to be first state to complete Census 2027
Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena chaired a State-level conference here to review preparations for the second phase of the census, including training and field arrangements
Mizoram: MNF accuses ZPM govt of violating RTI Act over healthcare agreements
Aizawl: Mizorams main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) on Friday accused the Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) government of undermining the Right to Information (RTI) Act and alleged that it was attempting to withhold agreements signed with private hospitals under the Mizoram Universal Health Care Scheme (MUHCS). MNF general secretary J Malsawmzuala Vanchhawng said the State [] The post Mizoram: MNF accuses ZPM govt of violating RTI Act over healthcare agreements appeared first on NorthEast Now .
Major Drug Haul In Mizoram By Assam Rifles
Assam Rifles seized methamphetamine tablets valued at Rs 3.55 crore in Mizoram's Champhai district. The seizure, weighing 4.4 kg, occurred near Zokhawthar along the India-Myanmar border on Friday, following a tip-off. The drugs have been handed over to the state's Excise and Narcotics Department for further legal action, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Assam Rifles Seized Drugs, Illegal Cigarettes Worth Over
Aizawl, Oct 10: The Assam Rifles seized methamphetamine tablets worth approximately 8.80 crore and illegal foreign-origin cigarettes valued at 47.45 lakh in two separate operations in Mizoram on October 8, 2026. One person was apprehended in connection with the cigarette seizure. In the first operation, Assam Rifles personnel recovered 11 kg of methamphetamine tablets concealed... The post Assam Rifles Seized Drugs, Illegal Cigarettes Worth Over 9 Crore In Mizoram first appeared on Northeast Today .
Mizoram Police Recover Rs 1.06 Crore In Cyber Fraud Cases, Arrest Nine
Aizawl, Oct 10: Mizoram police announced that they have successfully recovered and returned more than 1 crore to victims of cyber fraud this year, while also arresting nine individuals accused of involvement in such crimes. According to an official statement, the police retrieved 1.06 crore through the Money Restoration Module (MRM) and other lawful mechanisms,... The post Mizoram Police Recover Rs 1.06 Crore In Cyber Fraud Cases, Arrest Nine first appeared on Northeast Today .
Mizoram CM Lalduhoma seeks central aid to tackle areca nut pest infestation
Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Friday said the state government is exploring financial assistance and scientific interventions to strengthen areca nut cultivation, as the crop faces a serious pest infestation that has affected plantations since around 2021. Inaugurating a training-cum-seminar on scientific arecanut cultivation and pest management, Lalduhoma said arecanut plantations covered around 67,380 [] The post Mizoram CM Lalduhoma seeks central aid to tackle areca nut pest infestation appeared first on NorthEast Now .
Shillong, Oct 9: Meghalaya began their 2026-27 season of BCCI domestic cricket with a victory in the U-19 mens Vinoo Mankad Trophy plate group over Mizoram in Bhubaneswar today. The match went down to the wire, with Meghalaya coming through to win the one day fixture by 5 runs. Today also witnessed Meghalayas first match [] The post Meghalaya start BCCI U-19 Mens Vinoo Mankad Trophy with win over Mizoram first appeared on Highland Post .
SC seeks response of States, UTs on plea alleging prolonged vacancies in power regulatory bodies
New Delhi, Oct 9: The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from 15 states and the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on a PIL filed by NGO Energy Watchdog seeking directions to ensure that their state electricity regulatory commissions are properly constituted under the law. The bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana issued notice on the PIL filed by the NGO through lawyer Pranav Sachdeva. The petitioner has sought the apex court's directions directing the states and UTs to take all steps to comply with the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003, and with the directions of the apex court in a verdict of April 2018 regarding composition of State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs). The plea said there were several statutory infractions, such as prolonged vacancies in the offices of chairperson and members and the complete absence of a person of law on the Commission, across 230 SERCs in the 15 states and the UTs. In the 2018 ruling, the Supreme Court held that SERCs have the rappings of the court and must have a suitably qualified person of law as a member, the plea said. It said the commissions across several states, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland, continue to lack a person of law despite this ruling. The plea said in Tamil Nadu, all three offices are vacant, while in Andhra Pradesh, the chairperson and member (technical) posts are vacant, and the Commission functions with a sole member (finance). It said that in West Bengal, only the chairperson's office has been created, and the incumbent does not have the required legal background. The plea said the failure strikes at consumers' access to justice under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution and, without the mandated person of law, consumers cannot get lawful adjudication of complaints under the Electricity Act. Consumers' access to that remedy cannot be made dependent upon indefinite executive inaction, the plea said. It sought directions to the states of West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Sikkim, and to the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, directing the authorities concerned to file a reply disclosing the steps taken to ensure that their SERCs had been constituted in compliance with the Electricity Act provisions.
Mizoram Police's Cybercrime Success: Rs 1 Crore Recovered
Mizoram police have successfully recovered over Rs 1 crore for cybercrime victims this year and arrested nine alleged cybercriminals. The state has also established a dedicated State Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (S4C) to enhance its efforts in detection, investigation, and public awareness against cybercrime.
Assam Rifles Arrest Ten Smugglers in Mizoram, Seize Drugs Worth
Assam Rifles, in collaboration with law enforcement, arrested ten smugglers in Mizoram, seizing drugs valued at 2.86 crore during multiple operations. Assam Rifles Arrest Ten Smugglers in Mizoram, Seize Drugs Worth 2.86 Crore
From Mizoram To Karnataka, States Announce Crore-Worthy Rewards For Asian Games Champions
From cash incentives for medal winners to special recognition for athletes, states are celebrating Indias 85-medal campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.
Delhi-NCR likely to witness light rain, strong winds; AQI remains moderate to poor
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) The plains of North India, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana, may experience light rain, overcast skies, and strong winds over the next few days as weather conditions change amid the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon. Cyclonic activity associated with the retreating monsoon is expected to bring heavy rainfall over the next three days, particularly across Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued rain alerts for 14 states, warning of heavy showers in several regions. The effects of the retreating monsoon are likely to be felt across West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand over the next three to four days. Meanwhile, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal are expected to receive heavy rainfall between October 9 and 11. Delhi, Punjab and Haryana are likely to witness cloudy skies and light rain till October 14. Western and eastern Uttar Pradesh may receive rainfall from October 9 to 11. Light rain is expected in eastern Rajasthan on October 12, while Delhi-NCR may experience light showers accompanied by strong winds on October 10 and 11. Western Rajasthan is also likely to witness strong winds on October 11. According to the IMD, Uttarakhand is likely to receive heavy rainfall till October 14, while Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh may experience heavy showers on Friday and Saturday and again on October 13 and 14. In Uttarakhand, districts including Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Rudraprayag have been placed under a heavy rain alert. The department has advised pilgrims undertaking the Char Dham Yatra, particularly those visiting Kedarnath and Badrinath, to remain vigilant. In Himachal Pradesh, Chamba, Kullu, Manali and Shimla are likely to receive rainfall on October 13 and 14. Jammu and Kashmir may also witness significant weather changes, with thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds forecast in areas including Doda, Pulwama, Anantnag, Poonch, Udhampur and Srinagar. Bihar and Jharkhand are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall in some areas till October 11. Patna, Ranchi and Dhanbad are among the places where thunderstorms and lightning are possible. The IMD has also warned of heavy rainfall in Bihar and the Gangetic plains of West Bengal. Rainfall is expected to continue in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura until October 14. Eastern Madhya Pradesh may receive rain till October 11, while Chhattisgarh is likely to witness showers on October 14. Rewa, Satna and Shahdol in eastern Madhya Pradesh may experience rainfall accompanied by winds reaching speeds of up to 50 kmph. Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality remained in the moderate to poor categories, with monitoring stations recording varying levels of pollution. Dwarka Sector 8 recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 231, followed by R.K. Puram at 219, Punjabi Bagh at 211, Narela at 210, and Pusa and NSUT Jaffarpur at 203 each. Other stations, including Burari, Badarpur, Mandir Marg, Aya Nagar, CRRI Mathura Road, Chandni Chowk, JNU, Burari Crossing, Ashok Vihar, Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, Jahangirpuri and Rohini, recorded AQI readings ranging from 115 to 198.
Diversity, by itself, does not produce unity. A society may contain many languages, religions, customs and communities without granting them equal dignity or a meaningful place in common public life. Diversity becomes pluralism only when difference is accepted as legitimate, when communities encounter one another without seeking to erase one another, and when citizens recognise that their distinct identities can coexist within a shared national framework. That transformation requires more than cultural tolerance. It requires fraternitythe civic willingness to regard those who are different as fellow members of the same political community. And fraternity requires constitutionalism: the discipline that places every citizen, community and government under the authority of equal rights, lawful institutions and accountable public power. Indias diversity is visible everywherein its languages, religions, philosophies, customs, cuisines, dress, literature, music and regional traditions. But beneath this extraordinary variety lies a long, though uneven, history of accommodating difference. The Indian achievement is not that conflict or exclusion disappeared. It is that the subcontinent repeatedly generated cultural practices, intellectual traditions and political arrangements through which difference could be negotiated rather than permanently converted into separation. That is the foundation on which Indian pluralism must be understood. Diversity is a fact. Pluralism is a philosophy. Fraternity is its civic ethic. Constitutionalism is the rule that makes it durable. A diverse society may simply contain many communities. A plural society develops the ethical and institutional capacity to allow those communities to coexist with dignity, engage with one another and contribute to a common public life. Indias achievement has often been to turn diversity into a civilisational resource, although this achievement has never been complete or free from conflict. For thousands of years, the subcontinent has been a site of intellectual disagreement. Its philosophical traditions did not develop around a single universally authorised doctrine. Vedic and Upanishadic texts explored questions about existence, the self and ultimate reality. Buddhism and Jainism challenged established assumptions and developed influential alternative traditions. The schools commonly classified as Vedanta, Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya and Mimamsa, among others, developed distinct arguments and often debated one another. The Buddhist emperor Ashoka gave one expression to this principle in his edicts. In the 12th Rock Edict, generally dated to the third century BCE, he urged people not to disparage other sects and argued that honouring ones own tradition should not involve denigrating others. His message was not that all beliefs were identical. It was an appeal for restraint, learning and mutual respect in a religiously diverse society. The edict should be understood as evidence of an imperial ethical and political ideal, not as proof that all communities throughout the subcontinent practised equal tolerance. Yet disagreement itself became part of the intellectual culture. This is a significant feature of many Indian traditions. Truth was not always presented as something that could be exhausted by one formulation. The search for truth could proceed through dialogue, debate, experience and contemplation. The dialogues preserved in some Upanishads, Buddhist and Jain traditions of disputation, and the later debates associated with figures such as Adi Shankaracharya reflect the importance accorded to argument. They do not, however, prove that Indian society was uniformly tolerant or free from hierarchy and exclusion. Intellectual openness and social inequality often coexisted. That intellectual pluralism also found expression in Indias literary and cultural traditions. The Ramayana and Mahabharata travelled across the subcontinent, acquiring regional languages, interpretations and artistic forms. Kambans Tamil Ramavataram, Tulsidass Awadhi Ramcharitmanas and Krittibasis Bengali Ramayana are among the best-known examples of retelling. The many versions found across South and Southeast Asia demonstrate how a shared narrative could be adopted without being reproduced identically. Sanskrit interacted with Tamil, Prakrit, Pali and later with Indias many regional languages. Local traditions absorbed wider civilisational themes while retaining their distinctive character. The result was not cultural uniformity. It was a form of cultural federation. Indias diversity is therefore not merely the consequence of geography. It is also the product of centuries of migration, exchange, adaptation and political change. Kashmir provides a particularly important example. The Valley became a major centre of Sanskrit learning, philosophy, aesthetics and spiritual inquiry. Kashmir Shaivism is associated with thinkers such as Vasugupta, Utpaladeva and Abhinavagupta. Abhinavaguptas writings on aesthetics, including his interpretation of rasa, influenced later Indian thinking about drama and artistic experience. Lal Deds verses have been read across religious boundaries, while the teachings associated with Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani, or Nund Rishi, became an important part of Kashmirs spiritual heritage. The term Kashmiriyat is often used to describe an ideal of shared Kashmiri belonging across religious communities. Its meaning and historical application are debated, and the regions history includes periods of coexistence as well as conflict, displacement and political violence. Nevertheless, the ideal reflects an aspiration toward a common civic and cultural identity. It should not be presented as an uncontested description of all periods of Kashmiri history. The larger lesson is important. Civilisations can become richer when communities do not merely coexist but encounter one another. Indian pluralism has also been shaped by communities that arrived from outside the subcontinent. Jewish communities established settlements in places including Kerala and Maharashtra, preserving their religious traditions while participating in local society. The Bene Israel community in the Konkan region and the Cochin Jews in Kerala are examples of communities that made India their home over many centuries. Parsis, members of the Zoroastrian faith, migrated to western India from Iran over successive periods, particularly after the Arab conquest of Persia, although the precise chronology and scale of these migrations are matters of historical study. A well-known Parsi tradition recounts that a local ruler symbolised the limits of his kingdom with a vessel filled with milk, and that the Parsi leader responded by adding sugar to it, suggesting that the newcomers would blend into society while enriching it. The story is best treated as cultural memory rather than independently verified history. It nevertheless captures an important element of Parsi self-understanding. Parsis later made major contributions to Indias industrial, philanthropic and public life. The Tata family helped build important enterprises and supported scientific, educational and cultural institutions. Parsi figures such as Dadabhai Naoroji, the first Asian elected to the British House of Commons, played a significant role in public life and the freedom movement. Their history shows how a small community can preserve its identity while contributing substantially to a wider national project. Christianity also has a long history in India. The Saint Thomas Christian tradition in Kerala traces its origins to the early centuries of the Common Era, although the precise historical details of its earliest beginnings remain debated. Christian communities and institutions have contributed significantly to education, healthcare, printing and social reform. Institutions such as St. Xaviers College in Mumbai and Christian Medical College in Vellore are prominent examples, alongside numerous schools, hospitals and charitable organisations serving people of many faiths. Indias Muslim communities have likewise shaped the countrys shared identity in countless ways. Urdu poetry, Hindustani music, qawwali, architecture, cuisine, crafts and scholarship are not external additions to Indian culture; they are part of its living inheritance. Bhakti and Sufi traditions sometimes created spaces of spiritual exchange, although the relationship between them varied across regions and periods. Figures such as Kabir, Guru Nanak, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and Amir Khusrau are remembered across community boundaries, even though their historical contexts and religious affiliations should not be collapsed into a single syncretic narrative. The cultural histories of Bengal, Punjab, the Deccan and Kashmir show how interaction produced new forms of language, music and devotion. The Indian experience demonstrates that national identity need not require cultural erasure. One can preserve ones language and still be Indian. One can practise ones faith and still be fully committed to the Republic. One can celebrate ones regional heritage while embracing a larger national identity. This layered belonging is not a weakness. It is one of Indias greatest strengths. The Constitution gave this aspiration a modern democratic and legal framework. It did not simply codify an uninterrupted ancient tradition; it also responded to colonial rule, social inequality, Partition and the demands of a modern republic. The Preamble commits the Republic to justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. Fundamental Rights protect equality and several forms of individual and collective freedom. Article 14 guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws. Article 15 prohibits discrimination by the State on specified grounds, including religion, race, caste, sex and place of birth, subject to constitutionally permitted affirmative-action provisions. Article 16 guarantees equality of opportunity in public employment, again subject to specified exceptions and reservations. Article 17 abolishes untouchability and makes its practice an offence. Article 25 protects freedom of conscience and the freedom to profess, practise and propagate religion, subject to public order, morality, health and the other provisions of Part III. Articles 29 and 30 protect certain cultural and educational rights, including the rights of sections of citizens with a distinct language, script or culture to conserve it, and the rights of religious and linguistic minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice, subject to constitutional interpretation and regulation in the public interest. These provisions are not abstract declarations. They have shaped public life, although their implementation has been uneven and contested. In Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala, decided in 1973, the Supreme Court held that Parliaments power to amend the Constitution does not extend to destroying its basic structure. The judgment did not provide a single exhaustive list of basic-structure features, but later decisions have treated principles such as constitutional supremacy, judicial review, democracy and secularism as part of that doctrine. In S.R. Bommai v. Union of India, decided in 1994, the Supreme Court treated secularism as a basic feature of the Constitution and held that the exercise of Article 356 is subject to judicial review. The judgment also addressed the constitutional limits on the use of state power in circumstances involving partisan or communal politics. Its precise holdings should not be reduced to a general judicial prohibition on all political appeals based on religion, but it remains a major authority on secularism, federalism and constitutional accountability. In cases concerning minority educational institutions, including T.M.A. Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka and subsequent decisions, the Court has examined the scope of minority rights, the meaning of minority, and the extent to which educational autonomy may be regulated to maintain academic standards and prevent maladministration. The law in this area is detailed and continues to evolve. The constitutional framework has also enabled affirmative action for historically disadvantaged communities. Reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were provided from the beginning of the constitutional order, while reservations for Other Backward Classes in central educational institutions and public employment followed later constitutional, legislative and judicial developments. These measures seek to advance substantive equality, although their design, scope and effects remain subjects of public debate. The Constitutions Fifth and Sixth Schedules provide different forms of protection and autonomy for Scheduled Areas and tribal communities. The Sixth Schedule establishes autonomous district and regional councils in specified areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. These arrangements do not amount to unrestricted self-government, but they recognise that national unity can accommodate differentiated forms of local governance and cultural protection. These constitutional guarantees should not be misunderstood as instruments of fragmentation. They are among the means through which a diverse nation can preserve unity without demanding uniformity. But constitutionalism is the rule that gives pluralism its durable form. It means that no community, majority or minority, stands above the Constitution; that public power must be exercised within legal limits; that rights cannot depend solely on the goodwill of those who govern; and that institutions must protect citizens against arbitrary authority. Constitutionalism converts the moral aspiration of coexistence into an enforceable discipline of government. Without it, pluralism may remain a cultural ideal, vulnerable to the changing preferences of rulers and majorities. With it, diversity can become a foundation for equal citizenship, accountable power and democratic unity. The constitutional idea of India is therefore neither majoritarianism nor competitive communalism. It is equal citizenship under a constitutional order. This distinction is increasingly important. A democracy cannot survive merely by counting numbers. It must also protect the dignity and rights of those who are numerically smaller. The majority has the right to govern through constitutional procedures; it does not have the right to diminish the equal citizenship of others or to disregard constitutional limits. Indias public life offers many reminders of this principle. Citizens from minority communities have served as Presidents, Vice-Presidents, judges, ministers, diplomats, scientists, artists and military leaders. Dr. Zakir Husain and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed served as Presidents of India. Justice M. Hidayatullah served as Chief Justice of India and later as Vice-President. Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Buddhist, Jain and Muslim citizens have held high constitutional and public offices and contributed to institutions across the country. These examples do not prove that discrimination has disappeared, nor do they by themselves establish equal social or economic outcomes. They do demonstrate that the constitutional imagination of India is larger than any single religious or cultural identity. That is why fraternity is such a profound constitutional value. Equality tells us that every citizen possesses equal civic worth. Liberty protects individual freedom. Fraternity asks citizens to recognise one another as members of a common national community. The Preamble links fraternity with the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation. Fraternity does not demand sameness. It demands solidarity despite difference. The freedom movement offered several examples of this solidarity, though it was never free of internal conflict or exclusion. Mahatma Gandhis campaigns drew participation from Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis and people of many regional and linguistic backgrounds. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad argued that Indian nationalism could not be reduced to religious identity. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan linked non-violent resistance with an Islamic ethical tradition. The Indian National Army brought together soldiers from different regions and communities under a common political objective, although its composition, political significance and historical legacy require careful study. The national movement contained competing visions, but one of its most influential strands was unmistakably plural. This is where Indias civilisational inheritance can speak powerfully to its constitutional future. Indias diversity, however, should not be romanticised. Pluralism is not automatic. Differences can become sources of mistrust, prejudice and conflict. Caste discrimination, communal tensions, linguistic antagonisms and regional rivalries have all tested Indias social fabric. The Partition of 1947 was accompanied by mass killings, abductions and the displacement of millions, although estimates of the death toll vary widely. The anti-Sikh violence of 1984, the communal violence in Gujarat in 2002, the violence against Christians in Kandhamal in 2008 and recurring violence in different parts of the country show that constitutional ideals require constant defence. The causes, legal findings and historical interpretations of these episodes differ, and each requires careful sourcing rather than rhetorical equivalence. The answer is not to deny these realities. It is to strengthen the institutions and civic culture capable of addressing them. Indias linguistic reorganisation after independence offers an instructive example. Many leaders feared that creating states on linguistic lines would encourage separatism. The States Reorganisation Act of 1956, together with subsequent legislation, reorganised much of the countrys internal boundaries and helped accommodate linguistic aspirations within the Union. Andhra State had already been created in 1953, and later changes created or reshaped states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Kerala. The process was neither simple nor uniformly peaceful, but it demonstrated that recognition of linguistic identity could, under appropriate constitutional conditions, strengthen rather than weaken the Union. The same principle can be seen in the constitutional accommodation of tribal and regional identities. The Sixth Schedule provides autonomous district and regional councils in specified parts of the Northeast, with powers that include aspects of local administration and, subject to constitutional limits, customary law and cultural affairs. The Eighth Schedule currently lists 22 languages. Its inclusion does not confer exclusive official status at the Union level, nor does it exhaust Indias linguistic diversity. Article 350A directs states and local authorities to provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage for children belonging to linguistic minority groups, while Article 350B provides for a Special Officer for linguistic minorities. Pluralism requires equal protection of law. It requires political restraint. It requires an independent judiciary, responsible public discourse, effective democratic institutions and an education system that teaches citizens to understand Indias diversity rather than fear it. It also requires political leaders to recognise that social divisions can be easy to exploit but difficult to repair. A nation of Indias scale cannot afford a politics permanently organised around the manufacture of the other. Indias civilisational genius is not that it has always expanded the boundaries of belonging. Rather, its history contains both expansion and exclusion. Its enduring promise lies in the capacity of its people and institutions to widen belonging and correct injustice. This is why Indias national identity should not be understood as a narrow cultural template. It is better understood as a constitutional and civilisational framework capable of accommodating multiple traditions, provided that all citizens remain equal before the law. The idea of Bharat has evolved through successive political and cultural formations. It has shown continuity, but that continuity should not be treated as unbroken or uniform. There is another dimension to this inheritance that deserves attention. Indian society has repeatedly absorbed external influences without becoming culturally indistinguishable from them. Persian, Central Asian, European and other influences entered Indian life in different periods. They changed Indian society, but Indian communities also adapted and transformed what they received. The Mughal period, for example, produced new forms of architecture, painting, administration, literature and cuisine through interaction among Persianate, Central Asian and Indian traditions. The Taj Mahal, the miniature-painting traditions associated with Mughal and Rajput courts, the development of Urdu and the evolution of Hindustani music all reflect complex cultural exchange rather than one-way influence. In the Deccan, Persian, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada and local Islamic traditions interacted in distinctive ways. Under colonial rule, universities, print culture, railways and legal institutions were introduced or expanded within an imperial framework and were subsequently appropriated, contested and reshaped by Indian actors. This is not cultural weakness. It can be a form of cultural confidence. A confident civilisation does not necessarily fear exchange. A contemporary example is Indias scientific and technological life. The Indian Space Research Organisation has conducted significant missions, including Chandrayaan and the Mars Orbiter Mission, and India is among the relatively small number of countries to have demonstrated substantial space-launch and planetary-mission capabilities. It is not possible to attribute these achievements to any single cultural group; they reflect the work of institutions drawing talent from across the country. Indias digital public infrastructure, including Aadhaar and the Unified Payments Interface, has also enabled large-scale participation in common national systems. These systems have expanded access in important ways, but they have also raised legitimate questions concerning privacy, exclusion, cybersecurity, regulation and accountability. Their existence therefore demonstrates institutional scale and integration, not an unqualified success. Indias cultural pluralism is also visible in its public celebrations. Diwali, Eid, Christmas, Gurpurab, Buddha Purnima, Mahavir Jayanti, Onam, Bihu, Pongal, Navratri and many other festivals are observed in different parts of the country, often with participation beyond the communities most closely associated with them. This does not mean that every festival is experienced identically or that social tensions disappear. It does show that Indian public culture has repeatedly created shared spaces around distinct traditions. The India of the 21st century needs precisely this confidence. As Bharat becomes an important economic power, a significant technological actor and an increasingly influential voice in world affairs, its greatest asset will not be its ability to project power alone. Its deeper strength will be its capacity to hold together an extraordinarily diverse population within a democratic constitutional framework. The world is becoming more interconnected, but it is also becoming more anxious about identity. Societies across continents are struggling with migration, religious difference, ethnicity, language and nationalism. India has something valuable to contribute to this global conversation. Its message should not be that differences do not matter. They do. The message should be that differences need not become divisions. The challenge before Bharat is therefore to modernise without homogenising, to strengthen national identity without narrowing it, and to pursue development without sacrificing social trust. This requires a renewed emphasis on fraternity. Economic prosperity cannot by itself create national cohesion. Infrastructure can connect cities; technology can connect people; markets can connect economies. But only mutual respect, equal citizenship and the credible rule of law can create a durable sense of belonging. The young generation must therefore inherit not only Indias achievements but also its civilisational confidence. They must learn that being Indian does not require them to surrender their linguistic, regional, religious or cultural identities. It requires them to place those identities within a larger constitutional and national framework, while respecting the equal rights of others. Indias unity should consequently be understood not as the disappearance of differences but as their coexistence within a shared constitutional order. That is perhaps one of the most distinctive ideas India can offer the modern world. The genius of Bharat is that unity can be spacious enough to accommodate plurality. Its civilisational strength lies not in having produced one way of being Indian, but in having made room for manywhile continuing to struggle over the boundaries of that belonging. The task of our generation is to preserve and deepen this inheritance while adapting it to the demands of a modern constitutional democracy. We should neither romanticise the past nor apologise for our diversity. We should build upon it. A Bharat that guarantees equal citizenship, protects freedom of conscience, encourages dialogue and celebrates its many cultural traditions will be strongernot weakerfor its diversity. For ultimately, diversity becomes pluralism only when difference is treated as legitimate, fraternity turns strangers into fellow citizens, and constitutionalism ensures that this fellowship is protected by rights, institutions and the rule of law. That is the genius Bharat must preserve and deepen: not diversity alone, but the continuing work of converting diversity into pluralism, pluralism into fraternity, and fraternity into constitutional national unity. That is not merely Indias inheritance. It can be Indias gift to the world. Author is a public intellectual and a noted Senior Advocate of Supreme Court of India.
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Mizoram PSC Tourist Officer Final Answer Key 2026 Released - Download PDF
Mizoram PSC Tourist Officer Final Answer Key 2026 has been released on 7 October 2026 for the Competitive Examination held from 14 to 16 July 2026. Candidates can check the final answers for General English, General Studies and Technical Papers in the official PDF at mpsc.mizoram.gov.in.
From Bees to Better Farms: Honeybees in Natural Farming
By Denisha Rajkhowa Introduction Agriculture in the North Eastern Region (NER) of India is closely associated with rich biodiversity, diverse agro-climatic conditions, traditional farming practices and abundant natural resources. The region comprises Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura, and supports a wide range of agricultural and horticultural crops. Fruits, vegetables, pulses, [] The post From Bees to Better Farms: Honeybees in Natural Farming first appeared on Highland Post .
ED attaches properties worth Rs 8.12 crore in Myanmar-origin areca nut smuggling case
Digital Desk | New Delhi/Aizawl, Oct 7 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Aizawl Sub-Zonal Office, has provisionally attached 10 immovable properties worth Rs 8.12 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with an organised cross-border smuggling network involving dry areca nuts of Myanmar origin (Burmese betel nut), the central probe agency said on Wednesday. An official statement said that the ED investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Imphal and the subsequent chargesheet on August 29, 2025. The CBI investigation alleged large-scale smuggling of dry areca nuts from Myanmar into India through Mizoram by use of fraudulent e-way bills, forged documents and other means. According to the statement, the investigation revealed alleged smuggling of 3103 MT (approx.) of dry areca nuts, having an assessable value of about Rs 1,022.25 crore, resulting in alleged loss of Basic Customs Duty of Rs 408.90 crore (approx). Investigation has revealed that an organised network wherein Myanmar/Burmese suppliers smuggled areca nuts into India through the Tiau River and border areas around Zokhawthar in Champhai district. Local facilitators based in Mizoram procured the smuggled areca nuts, arranged their storage and transportation and facilitated their onward movement towards Assam and other destinations. Investigation also revealed alleged use of local persons as claimants/owners of intercepted consignments before Customs authorities and routing of substantial funds through bank accounts and money exchangers for settlement of payments with suppliers situated in Myanmar, the statement said. Earlier, during the search proceedings, various bank accounts maintained by the accused and other beneficiaries were frozen under the provisions of PMLA, wherein bank balances to the tune of Rs 1.20 crore (approx.) were found and frozen. Investigation under PMLA, scrutiny of bank accounts and examination of material seized during searches revealed substantial financial transactions, cash deposits and withdrawals and acquisition of immovable properties out of proceeds generated from the smuggling activities. The investigation revealed involvement of Zosangpuii, Thangkhanmunga, Zonsanga and Sangneihvela in procurement, transportation, storage and trading of smuggled areca nuts of Myanmar origin and generation of substantial monetary benefits therefrom. Further investigation has revealed that several immovable properties were acquired directly or indirectly out of such proceeds. Significantly, the attached properties include Hotel Jade situated at Bethel Veng, Champhai, together with the underlying land, which has been valued at Rs 6.29 crore (approx). Investigation revealed that Hotel Jade was constructed from the money generated through the illegal smuggling and trading of areca nuts of Myanmar origin. Accordingly, under the Provisional Attachment Order on September 4, 2026, ED provisionally attached 10 immovable properties having an aggregate value of Rs 8,12,74,399 comprising Hotel Jade, residential land and other landed properties situated in and around Champhai district in Mizoram. The properties have been identified as direct Proceeds of Crime and value thereof and have been attached under the provisions of PMLA, 2002. Thus, with the provisional attachment of immovable properties worth Rs 8.12 crore and freezing of bank balances of Rs 1.20 crore (approx.), the total value of Proceeds of Crime secured in the case stands at Rs 9.33 crore (approx.). Further investigation is underway.
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Sainik School Chhingchhip Recruitment 2026 - Apply Offline for Ward Boys and GE Posts
Sainik School Chhingchhip has released the Recruitment 2026 notification for 05 Ward Boys and GE (Ayah) posts. The offline application process will be close on 23-10-2026. Eligible candidates can apply through the official website, sschhingchhip.mizoram.gov.in.
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Mizorams hockey players Lalremsiami and Lalthanthluangi celebrated for their gold medal win at the 2026 Asian Games. Mizorams Hockey Stars Honored After Historic Asian Games Victory
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ED searches 16 places linked to smuggling of foreign-origin betel nut via the Indo-Myanmar border
Dried areca nut consignments were brought overland to the Indo-Myanmar border opposite Champhai in Mizoram, and ferried across the Tiau river at Zokhawthar in small lots, bypassing the Land Customs Station, in a well-organised racket, the ED alleges
ED busts Rs 1,000-crore betel nut smuggling syndicate across Northeast
Digital Desk | Guwahati, Oct 5 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday said it has unearthed a well-organised, multi-layered syndicate allegedly involved in smuggling foreign-origin areca nut into India through the India-Myanmar border and laundering the proceeds, with bank credits exceeding Rs 1,000 crore identified in accounts linked to the network. According to officials, the EDs Guwahati Zonal Office conducted searches on October 1 at 16 premises in Guwahati, Siliguri, Bagdogra, Phansidewa and Cooch Behar under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The investigation was launched based on 11 FIRs registered by the Assam Police and West Bengal Police under various sections of the IPC/BNS and the NDPS Act against persons allegedly involved in smuggling, transporting and selling Indonesian, Thai and Burmese-origin areca nut. According to the ED, the consignments were brought into Mizoram through Myanmar and then transported to West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states using forged GST invoices, e-way bills and transport documents. The agency said dried areca nut was ferried across the Tiau River at Zokhawthar in small lots, bypassing the Land Customs Station. Agents on the Myanmar side allegedly sold the consignments to front firms in India. These firms were allegedly registered in the names of local residents of Champhai who had no real stake in the business. The GST registrations and bank accounts were allegedly controlled by persons based in Silchar, Assam. From Silchar, the consignments were allegedly moved to godowns around Guwahati, where they were re-bagged and re-documented before being transported through the Siliguri corridor to consuming states. The ED said the operation involved Bikaner Assam Roadlines India Ltd and associated concerns allegedly controlled by Sushil Daga. Their bank accounts showed credits of several hundred crores from areca nut traders. The agency also alleged that protection money was collected from transporters to ensure safe passage of smuggled consignments. Searches at the premises of DNG Biotech Pvt Ltd, Jai Karni Tradings Pvt Ltd, Purvottar Agro Pvt Ltd, N R Associates and others led to the seizure of approximately Rs 95 lakh in unaccounted cash, digital devices, property and investment documents and bank records. Fixed deposits worth approximately Rs 85 lakh were also frozen. Further investigation is underway.
SCERT Mizoram Driver (PE) Answer Key 2026 - Check Paper-I and Paper-II PDF
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Mizoram woman left teaching for farming; now she is being honoured by UN
Z T Lalrithangi hails from Sangau and initially struggled to secure a government job post-education. Redirecting her passion, she delved into strawberry farming, ultimately cultivating over 10,000 plants from her original 1,000 in just a few years. Her remarkable journey has earned her a spot among the FAO's 100 Women Heroes, highlighting her path to empowerment and financial independence through agriculture.
MHA Orders AGMUT Segments to Report FIRs, Arrests Against Officers Within 48 Hours
SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all segments of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre to report within 48 hours any FIR, arrest, adverse court order or action by an investigating agency against officers of the IAS, IPS, DANICS and DANIPS. The directions cover cases involving agencies including the Central Bureau of Investigation, []
Armys elite Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School conducts training for NCC cadets in Mizoram
Digital Desk | Aizawl, Oct 5 (IANS) The Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) at Vairengte in Mizoram conducted an intensive training programme for 83 NCC cadets, providing the young boys and girls an opportunity to undergo training in the professional environment of one of the Indian Armys premier training institutions, officials said on Sunday. The CIJWS is an elite Indian Army training and research establishment specialising in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations. It is regarded as one of the worlds premier institutions for such training, with military personnel from several countries undergoing specialised counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism training at the school. A defence spokesman said that the two-week programme (September 21 to October 4) was conceived to take the cadets beyond routine NCC training and expose them to the discipline, physical standards, field skills and team spirit of military life. The cadets underwent drill, physical training, firing, map reading, fieldcraft, survival training, first aid and team-building activities, while also receiving an introduction to jungle warfare, weapons, equipment and night-vision devices. An important part of the programme was exposure to the changing character of warfare, the spokesman said. The defence spokesman said that visits to the Information and Research Centre, IED Hall and Technovation Hall familiarised the cadets with technology, innovation and developments relevant to modern military training. The camp also provided a platform for motivational interaction, encouraging the cadets to develop confidence, discipline, leadership and a spirit of service. Training together in mixed groups further promoted camaraderie and a sense of collective identity amongst youth drawn from different parts of Mizoram, the spokesman said. The initiative assumes particular significance as CIJW School continues to deepen its engagement with the youth of the state. By bringing NCC cadets into the Schools training environment, the endeavour seeks to broaden their exposure, strengthen their connection with national institutions, and inspire them to participate more in nation-building and national service opportunities, the official stated. The programme reflects CIJW Schools sustained effort to invest in the youth and to use its professional training capabilities not only for military excellence, but also for character building, national integration and strengthening the bond between the Indian Army and the local community, the defence spokesman stated.
Gauhati HC quashes Mizoram recruitment ad
CIJWS trains 83 NCC cadets from Mizoram in jungle warfare skills
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BJP Aims to Form Govt in Mizoram in 2028, Says New State In-Charge Karad
Karad said the BJP's state and central units were connected and that problems faced at the grassroots level were also a concern for the party's central leadership.
Second water bodies census: Maharashtra records 4.74 lakh, UP 2.86 lakh; five states see decline
Maharashtra's water bodies rose to 4.74 lakh, nearly five times the first census total. Uttar Pradesh also recorded an increase, with over 2.86 lakh water bodies noted. In contrast, states like Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh showed significant declines in their water body counts. The second Census of Water Bodies aims to support water management and policy-making efforts.
Second Water Bodies Census: Maharashtra Records 4.74 Lakh, UP 2.86 Lakh; 5 States See Decline
Five states -- Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana and Rajasthan -- recorded a decline in the number of water bodies
Mizoram PSC Answer Key 2026 - Download Senior Horticulture Demonstrator
Mizoram PSC has released the final answer key for the Senior Horticulture Demonstrator and Subordinate Agriculture Service-I (SAS-I) exam held on 27-28 August 2026. Check Paper-I (Part-B), Paper-II (General Knowledge), Paper-III and Paper-IV answers, important dates and FAQs.
Doordarshan, PIB officials among three dead in Mizoram road accident
The vehicle they were travelling in plunged into a deep gorge near a village about 30 km south of Aizawl
Cachar driver caught between 2 vehicles, crushed to death on Mizoram highway
Mizoram bids farewell to officers killed in road accident
Tragic Car Accident in Mizoram Claims Lives of Three Media Officials
A car accident in Mizoram resulted in the deaths of three media officials, prompting condolences from local leaders. Tragic Car Accident in Mizoram Claims Lives of Three Media Officials
Press Information Bureau, Doordarshan Officials Killed In Mizoram Accident
Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the accident. Further details on the injured persons and the cause of the crash are awaited.
3 central govt officials killed in Mizoram road accident
Presented by Mizoram Tourism in association with the Department of Horticulture, Government of Mizoram, the festival, being held from October 1 to 3, is designed to take visitors beyond a conventional flower festival into mountain trails, flower gardens, traditional games, local villages, food, crafts and the living cultural heritage of the State.
Heavy rain disrupts train services in Mizoram
Train operations along the Bairabi-Sairang railway line faced significant interruptions due to heavy rain, which led to waterlogging. Passengers stuck in the affected trains were promptly relocated via buses to Sairang and Aizawl. While some trains were halted prematurely, others faced cancellations as a precaution. The weather has greatly impacted Mizoram, triggering landslides and rockfalls, though no injuries have been reported as officials remain vigilant.
Dry weather to persist in Delhi with cooler nights ahead; AQI remains moderate
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 1 (IANS) The weather in the national capital has turned quite dry, with bright sunshine keeping daytime temperatures warm. However, a slight drop in night temperatures is likely. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted clear skies throughout the coming week, with no possibility of rain in Delhi. Bright sunshine was observed across most parts of Delhi from Wednesday morning. However, with northwesterly winds prevailing over the region, the weather has become increasingly dry. The maximum temperature at Delhi's standard observatory at Safdarjung was recorded at 34.2 degrees Celsius, which was 0.5 degrees below normal. The minimum temperature was recorded at 22.4 degrees Celsius. The IMD has said that the southwest monsoon season had ended with a 13 per cent rainfall deficit. However, monsoon rains continue to withdraw from different parts of the country. As the monsoon retreats, parts of southern and northeastern India are expected to receive rainfall on Thursday, according to the IMD. Heavy rainfall is very likely at isolated places over Kerala, South Interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal. In IMD's terminology, 'isolated' refers to rainfall occurring over a small proportion of locations, generally up to 25 per cent of weather stations in a region. Meanwhile, Kerala, coastal Karnataka and the southern parts of Karnataka are expected to receive rainfall at several places on Thursday. Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Lakshadweep are likely to receive rain at a few places. Karnataka has already experienced a wet spell during the 24 hours ending at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday. Kibbanahalli in Tumakuru district recorded 10 cm of rainfall, the highest recorded by the IMD during the period. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph are very likely at isolated places over Kerala and Mahe, Rayalaseema, and Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal. Winds of 30-40 kmph are expected over Andhra Pradesh, Interior Karnataka and Odisha, while strong surface winds may also prevail over parts of Andhra Pradesh. In the Northeast, thunderstorms and lightning are likely over Assam and Meghalaya, as well as Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. Similar conditions are also expected over East Madhya Pradesh. Scattered rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. The southwest monsoon normally begins withdrawing from northwest India in mid-September and completely retreats from the country by mid-October. This year, the withdrawal line currently passes through Gurdaspur (Punjab), Chandigarh, Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh), Aligarh (UP), Dholpur, Udaipur and Deesa (Rajasthan) before extending to Naliya in Gujarat. The IMD said conditions are likely to become favourable over the next two to three days for the withdrawal of the monsoon from the remaining parts of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Similar conditions are expected to develop over most parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, as well as the entirety of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Some parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra may also witness further withdrawal. Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality remained in the moderate category, with several monitoring stations recording elevated pollution levels. The AQI readings included Mandir Marg (150), Aya Nagar (135), CRRI Mathura Road (198), Pusa (22), Sirifort (171), IGI Airport T3 (155), Commonwealth Sports Complex (179), IIT Delhi (249), Anand Vihar (98), Najafgarh (144), Jahangirpuri (207), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (173), Sonia Vihar (151), Cantonment Area (106) and Narela (189).
Mizoram destroys seized drugs worth over Rs 11.82 crore in Aizawl
Digital Desk | Aizawl, Sep 30 (IANS) Mizoram on Wednesday destroyed seized narcotic substances worth more than Rs 11.82 crore in Aizawl as part of the states intensified crackdown on drug trafficking, officials said. An official said that the Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Department destroyed the seized drugs at Bethani Multipurpose Farm, Phunchawng, following disposal of cases before the courts and in accordance with Section 51A of the Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 and the NDPS (Seizure, Storage, Sampling and Disposal) Rules, 2022. The destruction included 5.356 kg of heroin, 19.430 kg of ganja, 1.985 kg of methamphetamine tablets, 89.9 kg of codeine-based cough syrup, 0.418 kg of alprazolam, 0.04 kg of nitrazepam and 6.830 kg of opium, with a combined estimated value of Rs 11,82,13,173. The substances came from 106 cases that had already been disposed of by courts. The national campaign has also placed particular emphasis on the Northeast frontier. Recent operations by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have resulted in major methamphetamine tablet seizures in Mizoram, including 15 kg in July and 20 kg in August on the AizawlChamphai route, with investigators indicating that the consignments had entered Mizoram from Myanmar through the ZokhawtharChamphai sector. According to the official, Mizoram has simultaneously strengthened its state-level response. On September 28, the state launched the State Action Plan to Combat Drug Menace 2026-2029, while Tlangmawi in Khawzawl district was declared Mizorams first drug-free village. Commissioner of Excise and Narcotics Z. Lalhmangaiha said the destruction reflected cooperation among the Mizoram Police, Central YMA, voluntary organisations and other agencies, while calling for continued public support in strengthening the fight against drugs. Mizoram and Manipur have emerged as major drug-trafficking corridors in the Northeast because of their long and porous international borders with Myanmar and their proximity to the Golden Triangle, one of the world's major illicit narcotics-producing regions. Six districts of Mizoram and five districts of Manipur share around 910 km of unfenced international border with Myanmar. The highly addictive methamphetamine tablets (also called Yaba tablet or party tablet) contain a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine and are misused as high-dosage drugs in Bangladesh and neighbouring countries, besides India, while various types of cough syrups containing Codeine Phosphate are used as common drugs illegally in Bangladesh. This drug is banned in India. Besides the methamphetamine tablets, heroin and other narcotic substances are smuggled from Myanmar through Mizoram and transported to other parts of India and abroad through clandestine routes.
Mizoram Public Service Commission has released the provisional answer key for the Group 'B' (Gazetted) General Services Combined Competitive Examination 2026 for Inspector of Excise & Narcotics and State Tax Officer. Check exam dates, papers covered, how to raise objections within 3 working days, and what is not mentioned in the notice.
Peace must come first for development, administrative processes, says Manipur CM
Digital Desk | Imphal, Sep 30 (IANS) Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, on Wednesday, while interacting with a delegation of the Hmar tribal community, stressed that peace must come first and said restoration of peace and stability was essential for taking forward development and administrative processes in the state. The Chief Minister assured the delegation that the issues raised by them would be looked into, and necessary action would be taken. Tipaimukh Assembly Constituency MLA Ngursanglur Sanate, along with representatives of various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from tribal-inhabited Pherzawl district, called on Khemchand Singh at the Chief Ministers Bungalow and apprised him of various issues and grievances concerning the people of the area. Manipurs Pherzawl district shares its inter-state borders with Assam and Mizoram and is predominantly inhabited by the Hmar tribal community. It may be noted that the peace initiative involving representatives of the Meitei and Hmar communities, held in Jiribam district in April in the presence of the Chief Minister, has contributed to maintaining peace and harmony between the two communities, who continue to live together peacefully since then. The MLA briefed the Chief Minister on issues relating to road connectivity, electricity and banking services, and sought his intervention to address the difficulties faced by the people. Regarding road connectivity, the delegation sought the upgradation of the Jiribam (along southern Assam)-Tipaimukh road, presently a district road, to National Highway status. They highlighted that the road would provide an important link between National Highway-37 and NH-2, thereby improving connectivity between Jiribam, Tipaimukh and adjoining areas. The delegation also raised issues concerning power connectivity in the area. Among the demands was the proposed power-line connection from Sipuikaun Power Station to Parbung. They also highlighted the need to extend power supply to other areas through the proposed power line connections. The delegation further apprised the Chief Minister of the need to establish a bank in the area, highlighting the difficulties faced by the people due to the absence of banking facilities. The members also raised matters concerning the Pherzawl Autonomous District Council (ADC) and conveyed their concerns and aspirations regarding its establishment. The delegation comprised representatives of ITAC (Indigenous Tribes Advocacy Committee), Pherzawl, and Jiribam, Hmar Inpui Hmarram Region and Hmar Inpui Vangai Region; Secretary, Hmar Inpui Hmarram Region and Rothangkhum, President, Hmar Inpui Vangai Region.
Army, BSF hold strategic seminar in Shillong to strengthen border coordination
Digital Desk | Shillong, Sep 30 (IANS) A crucial seminar between the Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) was held in Shillong for better operational coordination. The Army-BSF Synergy Seminar 2026 was hosted by the 101 Area of the Army's Eastern Command. Participants included senior officers from the BSF's Meghalaya, Guwahati, Mizoram, and Cachar and Tripura Frontiers. The BSF is in charge of managing the 4,096 km border with Bangladesh. Of this, 856 km lies in Tripura, 443 km in Meghalaya, 318 km in Mizoram, and 262 km in Assam. The remaining 2,217 km of the border is managed by the South Bengal and North Bengal Frontiers of West Bengal. The terrain through which the border runs makes management difficult. It comprises riverine, forested, and hilly stretches, where fencing is difficult. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, about 3,232.2 km, or approximately 78 per cent of the border, is fenced. There is little possibility of fencing the 174.5 km that has water bodies, marshes and dense forests. Apart from intensive patrolling, the BSF now uses advanced surveillance equipment to keep a check on criminal activities and illegal immigration. While the Army is not directly involved in management of the India-Bangladesh border, some of its vital installations and assets along the northeastern states lie close, requiring greater coordination with the BSF. Regular sharing of intelligence is key to effective border management. In the past, forces inimical to India's interests have used this border. It is a difficult border to manage, given the terrain, similarities in languages and cultures, and other factors. A coordinated effort is required for better handling of the situation, an official said. Espionage and sabotage are issues that both the Army and BSF are extremely concerned about. In the past, the border has been used by agencies of other countries to gather intelligence about Indian military assets and movements in the northeastern states. The 101 Area of the Army plays a crucial role in combat logistics and operational maintenance of units based along the northern border. It is keen to keep all movement details confidential. The seminar focused on enhancing operational coordination, strengthening joint synergy, improving information sharing and fostering an integrated approach to effective border management, the Eastern Command posted on X.
Mizoram PSC Admit Card 2026 - Download Assistant and Other Posts Hall Tickets at mpsc.mizoram.gov.in
Mizoram PSC has released Admit Card Download Notification 6 of 2026-27 dated 25 September 2026. Check admit card download dates, exam dates for Soil Conservation Ranger (13-15 October), Assistant & UDC (2 November) and Veterinary Assistant Surgeon (3-5 November), and how to download from mpsconline.mizoram.gov.in.
Mizoram: Drugs worth over Rs 846 crore seized, 930 arrested in eight months
Digital Desk | Aizawl, Sep 30 (IANS) Security forces, including the Mizoram Police, have seized various drugs, including highly addictive methamphetamine tablets and heroin, worth over Rs 846 crore and arrested 930 drug peddlers in the state between January and August this year, officials said on Wednesday. A senior Home Department official said that of the 930 people arrested during the first eight months of this year in connection with drug-related cases, 111 were foreigners, mostly Myanmar nationals. He said a total of 635 cases were registered during the January-August period under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. According to the official, 45 people, including seven women, died in Mizoram due to drug consumption till August this year. In 2025, 118 people, including 18 women, died due to drug consumption in the state, he said. The official said the state government and security agencies have intensified their efforts to curb drug trafficking and consumption, particularly along the international border with Myanmar. Mizoram Home Minister K. Sapdanga, while addressing a drugs-related awareness campaign in Aizawl, said that the state recently renewed the pledge to safeguard the state and its people from the menace of drugs. Describing Mizoram as a 'gateway of drugs', he highlighted the severe suffering inflicted on many young people and stressed the need for collective action involving enforcement agencies, NGOs and churches. The Home Minister said that beyond targeting drug peddlers and carriers alone, all those associated with the trade must also be thoroughly investigated and dealt with. He called upon all stakeholders to give their best efforts starting today to ensure effective implementation of the State Action Plan, which was formally launched by Mizoram Governor General (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd) on Monday. Special emphasis, he noted, would be placed on intensifying operations along the borders to curb the inflow of drugs. While underscoring the need for strict legal action against drug offenders, Sapdanga also emphasised that those struggling with addiction must be approached with compassion and care so they can return to normal life. He further stressed the importance of intensifying drug awareness campaigns in educational institutions to protect the youth. The Minister praised the people of Tlangmawi village for their unity and courage in striving to make their village drug-free, describing their effort as an inspiring message for the entire state and a pure challenge to others. He called upon the youth to recommit themselves so that drugs do not destroy their future, urged parents to remain vigilant over their children, and appealed to NGOs, churches and community leaders to work together with unity in the fight against drugs. Mizoram and Manipur have emerged as major drug-trafficking corridors in the Northeast because of their long and porous international borders with Myanmar and their proximity to the Golden Triangle, one of the world's major illicit narcotics-producing regions. Six districts of Mizoram and five districts of Manipur share around 910 km of unfenced international border with Myanmar.
Mizoram PSC Group B Answer Key 2026 - Download Provisional Key PDF at mpsc.mizoram.gov.in
Mizoram PSC Group B Answer Key 2026 was released on 29 September 2026. Download the provisional key, check answers and submit objections within 3 working days.
Delhi-NCR likely to turn dry as rains ease; air quality remains in moderate category
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) Delhi-NCR is likely to witness a significant shift in weather from Wednesday, with the recent spell of rain and thunderstorms expected to give way to predominantly dry conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast mainly clear skies over the national capital and neighbouring areas, with dry weather likely to prevail across Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh through the first week of October. The change comes after showers on Tuesday brought a noticeable chill to Delhi, with temperatures briefly giving the national capital a winter-like feel. However, the latest weather forecast indicates that rainfall activity is likely to subside from Wednesday, particularly over northwest India. Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and parts of Uttar Pradesh are expected to remain largely dry as the recent rain and thunderstorm activity weakens. Delhi is likely to record a minimum temperature of around 24 degrees Celsius and a maximum temperature of nearly 33 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. While northwest India is expected to remain mostly dry, weather conditions across the rest of the country are likely to remain varied. Rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue over parts of southern, eastern and northeastern India. According to the IMD forecast, isolated heavy rainfall is likely over several areas of the Northeast and southern peninsula on Wednesday. The southern peninsula is expected to remain one of the major rain-affected regions, with some areas likely to receive heavy showers. The IMD has classified Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi as dry on Wednesday. Similar conditions are expected over Punjab, Rajasthan and most parts of Uttar Pradesh. The contrasting weather conditions across different regions are being influenced by several atmospheric systems currently active over the country. A depression over coastal Myanmar and the adjoining Bay of Bengal was moving rapidly north-northwestwards on Tuesday. The system was expected to weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area later on September 29 and continue moving towards southeast Bangladesh and adjoining northeastern parts of India. At the same time, a western disturbance and associated upper-air systems continue to influence parts of north India. Another circulation and trough are extending across southern India. The interaction and movement of these systems are contributing to the contrasting weather patterns being observed across the country. The IMD also recorded heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Haryana during the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning. The rainfall highlights the intensity of the recent spell over parts of north India, even as the broader weather pattern is now expected to turn predominantly dry. The southwest monsoon is also continuing its gradual withdrawal from the country as the rainy season approaches its conclusion. With the monsoon retreating, northwest India is expected to gradually transition towards predominantly dry weather. However, rainfall activity is likely to persist in several other parts of the country. Uttarakhand may experience isolated rain and thunderstorms through October 4, while Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh could witness similar weather conditions between October 2 and 4. Himachal Pradesh may also receive isolated showers during the period. In central India, rain and thunderstorms are likely over parts of Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh in the coming days. The Northeast is expected to remain relatively wetter, with rainfall forecast over Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura through October 4. Some areas may also receive heavy rainfall. Southern India is likely to remain another significant zone of rainfall. The IMD has forecast isolated heavy showers over parts of the southern peninsula during the next four to five days, with Tamil Nadu, Kerala and South Interior Karnataka among the areas likely to receive heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality remained in the 'moderate' category. The Air Quality Index (AQI) readings included Mandir Marg at 97, Aya Nagar at 79, Punjabi Bagh at 113, CRRI Mathura Road at 138, Pusa at 149, Sirifort at 105, IGI Airport (T3) at 101, Commonwealth Sports Complex at 122, North Campus at 122, R K Puram at 122, ITO at 86, IIT Delhi at 140, DTU at 100, Wazirpur at 134, Jahangirpuri at 153, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at 105, Anand Vihar at 105 and Cantonment Area at 105.
Mizoram launches bus services to Churachandpur amid Manipur strife
Centre sanctions Rs 1,200 crore to 10 states under PM Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday handed over financial sanction letters worth more than Rs 1,200 crore to agriculture ministers of 10 states under the Prime Minister Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY). The disbursement included Rs 290 crore for West Bengal, Rs 198 crore for Haryana, Rs 181 crore for Chhattisgarh, Rs 154 crore for Arunachal Pradesh, Rs 114 crore for Bihar, Rs 104 crore for Karnataka, Rs 75 crore for Mizoram, Rs 64 crore for Himachal Pradesh, Rs 58 crore for Jharkhand and Rs 43 crore for Punjab. Chairing a meeting attended by Agriculture Ministers and senior officials from various states, Chouhan said the Union Government was not only limiting itself to policy formulation, but also ensuring timely availability of resources to states so that implementation of schemes could begin on the ground without delay. Highlighting the countrys agricultural performance, Chouhan said that since 2015, the agriculture growth rate has increased from 3 per cent to 4.5 per cent. The average annual increase in foodgrain production has also more than doubled, rising from around 40 lakh tonnes earlier to 84 lakh tonnes per year. He further noted that in just two years, from 2023-24 to 2025-26, rabi foodgrain production recorded an unprecedented increase of 205 lakh tonnes. Announcing a new mechanism to further strengthen cooperative federalism, Chouhan said that, on the lines of weekly reviews conducted at the Centre, regular monthly virtual review meetings with states would now be held to continuously assess progress. At the state level, a strong State Agriculture Team will be constituted by bringing together the Agriculture Minister, Agriculture Secretary, state agricultural universities, ICAR institutions, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), ATMA and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). Monthly meetings will also be held at the district level. Emphasising the need to protect soil health and the environment, Chouhan called for a nationwide Khet Bachao Abhiyan from October 22 to November 30 this year. Scientists and all key stakeholders will actively participate in the campaign. Based on Soil Health Cards, the campaign will promote balanced use of fertilisers to protect soil fertility and beneficial insects. He also called for large-scale promotion of pulse cultivation in rice fallow areas of eastern India, particularly in Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal, after the paddy harvest. As part of preparations for the current rabi season, Chouhan stressed that recommendations on crops and improved seeds should be based on soil moisture and water availability. Stating that the availability of seeds and fertilisers in the country is adequate, Chouhan directed states to take strict legal action against fake fertilisers, spurious seeds and sub-standard pesticides. Chouhan said the government is pursuing a multi-dimensional strategy to ensure that farmers receive fair and remunerative prices for their produce. The strategy includes strengthening post-harvest management, scientific warehousing and marketing systems. He said that 100 per cent assured government procurement of tur, urad and masoor at MSP would be undertaken, with arrangements for payment within 48 hours. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision, he said India would also leverage the new market opportunities emerging from international Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to connect Indian agricultural products, fruits, vegetables and foodgrains with global markets. This, he said, would help farmers secure better returns for their produce and enable India to emerge as a major food basket for the world.
Weather today September 29: IMD has issued a heavy rain alert for South Interior Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam and the northeast states of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura for September 29. A deep depression over the Andaman Sea is crossing into Myanmar and moving towards the northeast Bay of Bengal.
Mizoram PSC Exam Schedule 2026 Released - Check Post-Wise Exam Dates at mpsc.mizoram.gov.in
Mizoram PSC Exam Date 2026-27 announced. Soil Conservation Ranger exam is scheduled for 13-15 October 2026. Check post-wise exam dates, vacancies and official schedule.
