Govt set to roll out twice-a-year board exam on optional basis

The government is set to roll out the twice-a-year board exam format on an optional basis from the 2024-25 academic session, officials aware of the matter said on Friday, adding that there is no plan to implement a semester system in schools for now.

Hry gives another parole to Dera chief; 7th in 2 yrs

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is serving a 20-year sentence for rape and two life terms for murders, has been granted a 50-day parole - the seventh time in nearly two years.

RLD inks pact with SP, alloted 7 seats

The Samajwadi Party will allot seven seats for the Rashtriya Lok Dal in western Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha polls, the two parties said on Friday, in the first seat-sharing pact struck in the state among members of the INDIA bloc.

Bilkis case convicts' plea seeking more time to surrender rejected

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected separate petitions filed by the convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang rape case seeking more time to surrender, saying that the reasons cited by the 11 men for the relief \"have no merit\".

Women to headline R-Day celebrations

For the first time, the Republic Day parade will be heralded by 100 women artistes playing Indian musical instruments instead of the traditional military bands, and the country's biggest ceremonial event will this year have the best representation of women including in the Indian Air Force flypast, marching contingents and the cultural show, defence secretary Giridhar Aramane said on fricontinued on day.

PM hands govt houses in Maha, gets emotional

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that putting India on the list of top three global economies and ensuring the upliftment of the poor through welfare is a \"Modi guarantee\", underlining that his government was inspired by Lord Ram's principles of governance and making a pitch for his party ahead of this year's general elections.

I DON'T WANT TO BE STUCK IN ONE IMAGE: RAGHAV

Raghav Juyal is consciously picking 'characters with different shades' to keep 'surprising' his audience

'I DON'T LOOK AT AI AS A THREAT'

Sunny Leone embraces the future by creating her own AI replica, emphasising larger interaction and emotional connection with fans

Samsung eyes AI to lift Galaxy phones to best sales year

Samsung Electronics Co. is pinning its hopes for a mobile revival on artificial intelligence.

Akasa Air orders 150 Boeing MAX jets, eyes overseas operations

Akasa Air said on Thursday it has ordered 150 Boeing 737 MAX narrow body planes, showcasing its confidence in the troubled planemaker as the budget carrier seeks to fly to more destinations at home and abroad.

RBI stresses need to sustain pace of growth

India must aim to sustain the current growth momentum and secure a real GDP growth of at least 7% next fiscal year in an environment of macroeconomic stability, the Reserve Bank of India said in its monthly bulletin released on Thursday.

Centre creates 3 new SFC posts; clears power plants

Sixteenth Finance Commission to have two joint secretaries, one economic advisor

Kallis fan Arshin hopes to make allround impact

Long before Arshin Kulkarni started making waves as an opening batter and medium-pacer for the India U-19 set-up, his teammates at cricket grounds in Solapur, Maharashtra, would refer to him as Kallis.

U-19 World Cup: Musheer aims to emulate his brother Sarfaraz

Musheer will hope to shine with bat and ball in South Africa; Sarfaraz was India's highest run-getter in 2016 in Bangladesh

Prannoy gets the better of Priyanshu, in quarters

HS Prannoy's celebration act at the end of a match can sometimes be reminiscent of football players celebrating their goals. The t-shirt can come off, the dance moves can feature too. But on Thursday, after the match against Priyanshu Rajawat, his reactions were decidedly subdued.

Medvedev battles past Ruusuvuori in epic contest, enters third round

At 3.40 am local time, nearly 17 hours after play on Day 5 at the Australian Open began, a relieved Daniil Medvedev shook hands with Emil Ruusuvuori at the net inside the Rod Laver Arena.

Nagal goes down to Shang in four sets in 2nd round

It had been a dream run until then. Straight-set victories in all three qualifying matches at the Australian Open, followed by a clinical win in the first round over a player ranked 110 spots higher.

Amid haze, brave India fall in tie-breaker against Germany

The hosts aren't quite out for the count yet to enter the Paris Games ring, but now stare at a must-win bout against Japan

Slick Uzbekistan punish sloppy India in Asian Cup

Igor Stimac had predicted that Uzbekistan would come hard from the start. What was not expected was that India would ship three soft goals in the first half in this Asian Cup group B game on Thursday.

British PM urges parliament's upper house to swiftly pass Rwanda plan

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak laid out a challenge on Thursday to members of parliament's unelected upper chamber to swiftly pass his controversial plan to send some asylum-seekers on a one-way trip to Rwanda.

'Oppenheimer' and 'Poor Things' lead the race for BAFTA awards

{ENTERTAINMENT} WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED ON FEB 18

Japan counts down to its 'moon sniper' landing mission

Japan aims to become the fifth country to put a spacecraft on the moon when it attempts a precision landing on Friday, in what would be a boost for a space programme that has suffered a wave of setbacks and been eclipsed by rival China.

US strikes Houthis again as attacks in Red Sea continue

The US launched more strikes on Yemen's Houthis overnight as the Iran-backed militant group continues to roil global shipping markets with attacks around the Red Sea.

Israeli strikes on Gaza kill at least 93 people

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says 24,620 people have been killed in the war between the Palestinian militant group and Israel that began on October 7

'1 nation, 1 election' panel may file its report before LS polls

Former president Ram Nath Kovind-led high-level panel, which is looking into the feasibility of holding simultaneous elections in the country, is planning to submit its report, which is in the final stages, to the Union government before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls are announced, people familiar with the matter told HT.

India unlikely to engage on agri issues at key WTO meet

India will not engage in any discussions on agricultural issues at the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) unless members first find a permanent solution to the issue of public stockholding, the core of country's public procurement system, which ensures the food security of 800 million poor people and guarantees minimum support price (MSP) to 95.3 million subsistence -level farmers, two officials aware of the country's position said.

SC asks state bar councils for lists of senior advocates to train students

The Supreme Court has asked all the state bar councils to explain if they have prepared a list of senior advocates willing to train law students when the courts are on vacation, observing that the 2008 Rules of Legal Education ought to be complied with the bar councils across the country.

Warship responds to drone attack on merchant vessel in Gulf of Aden

India's guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam on Thursday swiftly responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel that came under a drone attack in the Gulf of Aden, and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) specialists from the Indian warship boarded the ship to inspect the damage, the Indian Navy said on Thursday.

Marital rape issue may be listed on early date

{HEARING IN SUPREME COURT} 'IMPORTANT MATTER'

'Keeping eye on situation': India on Red Sea theatre

The ministry of external affairs on Thursday said that India is deeply concerned about the situation unfolding in the Red Sea and parts of the Arabian Sea as attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial vessels in the region impact not only the country's economic interests but of others too.