Over 50 lakh highway car users have embraced the FASTag Annual Pass in six months, facilitating 26.5 crore toll payments. This scheme has spurred a 50% surge in trips for frequent travelers, with 28% of car transactions now utilizing the pass. Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi lead in adoption, paving the way for barrier-less toll collection.

Commuters using partially operational expressways like Delhi-Mumbai will now pay the same toll as normal national highways. This relief, effective for one year or until full operationalization, addresses concerns that higher tolls deterred usage of incomplete stretches. The decision aims to boost traffic on these corridors.

NEET PG cut-off reduction to zero in 2023 disproportionately benefited private medical colleges, especially for clinical specialties. General category candidates saw the largest gains, with a significant portion of these seats going to them. The analysis highlights admissions with extremely low scores, raising questions about data completeness.

Himachal Pradesh government has approached the Supreme Court. They are challenging a High Court ruling. The ruling prevented the withdrawal of 65 cases against politicians. These cases involve non-serious offenses. The government believes withdrawing these cases serves public interest. The Supreme Court has issued a notice and will hear the matter further.

The Union government has rejected the Supreme Court's suggestion to introduce a «Romeo-Juliet» clause for «genuine adolescent relationships» under the Pocso Act. Citing child safety concerns, the government stated that diluting the age of consent would increase exploitation risks and undermine child protection efforts.

India's tourism landscape is rapidly evolving beyond beaches and hills. A new generation is flocking to spiritual and heritage sites like Ayodhya and Varanasi, driven by religious revival, infrastructure growth, and social media influence. These destinations are now vibrant, year-round hubs attracting diverse travellers seeking cultural immersion and authentic experiences.

Seven Naxals, including top leader Prabhakar with a Rs 25 lakh bounty, were killed in an encounter with Maharashtra police in Gadchiroli. The operation, launched three days ago, also resulted in the death of a special force jawan, Deepak Chinna Madavi, while another jawan is out of danger. The anti-Naxal operation is ongoing.

Bhardwaj described the incident as a reflection of the government's and police's «shamelessness.»

A suicide blast at a crowded Shia Imambargah in Islamabad killed at least 31 people and injured over 160 during Friday prayers. Meanwhile, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's son stated no leadership change is expected.

The Supreme Court has permitted a 17-year-old to terminate her 30-week pregnancy, emphasizing a minor's right to decide against continuing a pregnancy. Justices Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan directed JJ Hospital to proceed with the termination, prioritizing the girl's reproductive autonomy and her clear unwillingness to carry the pregnancy to term.

Three Delhi Jal Board engineers were suspended after a 25-year-old motorcyclist died falling into an unbarricaded construction pit. The victim's family alleged gross carelessness by the police in their search efforts, claiming they received no timely assistance. Authorities are investigating the incident and safety protocols.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta noted that Delhi's transport agencies have historically functioned in silos, with limited coordination in route planning, infrastructure development and service delivery.

Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah expressed confidence that his father, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, will complete the full five-year term, citing a clear signal from the party high command. Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, however, responded sarcastically, suggesting the central leadership should clarify the matter. Speculation about a leadership change has intensified as the government nears its halfway mark

A gas leak at a factory in Sarigam, Valsad district, Gujarat, has led to four people being hospitalised. The incident that occurred at Cynax Metachem, caused eye irritation. Authorities quickly contained the leak and cordoned off the area. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the gas release.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with students nationwide in the 9th Pariksha Pe Charcha, offering guidance on exams, personal growth, and nation-building. He emphasized the importance of dreams, action, balance in life, and the equal significance of life and professional skills, urging students to avoid treating education as a burden and focus on holistic development.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government for denying facts surrounding former Army chief General MM Naravane’s memoir. Kharge accused the government of evading questions on national security and China, leading to an Opposition walkout from Rajya Sabha.

Unnikrishnan Potti, the key accused in the Sabarimala gold-theft case, has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate. This follows his statutory bail granted a day earlier, along with three others, due to the Crime Branch's failure to submit a final report within the stipulated time. Potti is accused of misappropriating gold from various parts of the temple.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey announced plans to establish a library documenting alleged «misdeeds, corruption and policy failures» of the Nehru-Gandhi family. He appealed for contributions of books and documents, aiming to create a consolidated resource for students and researchers on the Congress party's first family.

Artificial intelligence is facilitating the procurement of restricted drugs, including antibiotics and addictive medications, through AI-generated prescriptions. Investigations revealed that fake prescriptions, even with hospital logos, can be used to obtain medicines from online and offline pharmacies, raising significant patient safety and drug misuse concerns. Experts warn of escalating antimicrobial resistance and addiction risks due to weak verification.

A political row erupted in Parliament over Rahul Gandhi quoting former Army Chief General MM Naravane's memoir. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended the government's decision to keep the Henderson Brooks-Bhagat report on the 1962 war classified. He stated the report is a sensitive defence document and should not be used for political purposes.

India and Malaysia have an extradition treaty, but the case, as Malaysia maintains, will be resolved based on judicial consideration. The official said that Modi and his counterpart Anwar Ibrahim will review progress under the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, especially in priority areas of cooperation such as trade, investments, defence, security, semiconductors, digital technologies, renewable energy, education, healthcare, and people-to-people exchanges.

Possibility of a re-unification grew stronger after Pawar Senior took the lead to minimise tension within the family when he went to meet Sunetra and her sons at their Baramati residence for the second consecutive day on Thursday. Some senior NCP members, including Patel and state chief Sunil Tatkare, have refuted Sharad Pawar’s claim that his nephew had initiated steps for NCP’s merger.

SC rejected Bengal govt’s defence it lacked funds and said it is not open for the State to shirk its responsibility of paying DA on account of financial difficulty, given that it is an obligation arising out of a statute of its own creation. SC said the least that is expected of a State in a democracy is that it honours its obligations and commitments arising from a legislation or judicial decisions, for such obligations are not discretionary.

Finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya on Thursday had some cheer for state govt employees too, budgeting for a 4% hike in DA. Govt rechristened its Karmashree scheme as “Mahatma Shree” and hiked the minimum number of workdays from 75 to 100 in what is being seen as a nod to Trinamool Congress’s opposition to the Centre’s decision to replace MGNREGA.

According to the MEA, Jaishankar, in the meeting, highlighted the challenges of excessive concentration and the importance of de-risking supply, and also spoke about structured international cooperation. Jaishankar said on X that the deal opens up a new phase in India-US bilateral ties, with vast possibilities for the relationship, signalling renewed high-level engagements in the next few months.

​​The influential Kuki Zo Council declared a social boycott of any legislator from the community joining CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh’s govt. Protesters burned tyres and blocked roads in Kangpokpi district, and at least one group called for a shutdown in the hills. In Kangpokpi, roads littered with burning tyres signalled a return to unrest after a period of relative calm across the hills.

Asked how the directive will be implemented, additional chief secretary (home) Sanjay Prasad said, “We are working on a legal and procedural framework to ensure any death caused due to the use of banned Chinese manjha is treated as a case of murder. Clear instructions will be issued to the police so that strict action can be taken against all those involved in its sale, supply or use.”

West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose read out portions of the address highlighting law and order, including references to Kolkata being among the safest cities in the country. In a rare display of cordiality, he was even seen briefly holding hands and speaking with CM Mamata Banerjee after his address, prompting BJP legislators to sarcastically comment “well done”, as he exited the House.