Newstracker

This Week in Explainers: What Uttarakhand’s Uniform Civil Code means for live-in couples

Uttarakhand has become the first state in the country to adopt the Uniform Civil Code. What are the provisions for live-in relationships in this new legislation? We get you the answers on this and much more in our weekly roundup of explainers

Ram mandir consecration: Did Nihang Sikhs start the temple movement over a century back?

In November 1858, Nihang Baba Fakir Singh Khalsa barged into Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, conducted a hawan and wrote 'Ram Ram' on the walls of the mosque. Now, his descendant has decided to organise a two-month langar in the city for devotees who will visit the newly constructed Ram mandir

FirstUp: Ram Mandir consecration ceremony and more… What to expect today

It’s 22 January and today will see the grand and historic opening of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Over 8,000 guests, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present for the event. Away from the temple town, there’s other big news waiting to happen

PM Modi feeds Punganur cows on Makar Sankranti: Why this breed is special

On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, PM Modi fed Punganur cows at his residence. These cows are a rare breed of cattle native to Andhra Pradesh. The bovines, which are just 70-90 cm tall, are known for their high-quality milk rich in fat and medicinal properties

Disappearing Act: Why Kashmir’s Gulmarg is snowless this winter

The picturesque Gulmarg town is dry, with the lack of snow upsetting tourists. This comes as Kashmir valley reported a 79 per cent drop in rainfall and hardly any snow in December. But why is this happening?

Aditya-L1 enters final orbit: Why studying the Sun is essential

Aditya L1, India’s first mission to the Sun, reached its final destination on Saturday. It was successfully inserted into Lagrange Point 1, which is about around 1.5 million km from the Earth. It will now make observations of the Sun for the next five years

Taylor Swift the new Shakespeare? Why singer deserves a place in English literature

Several universities are offering classes on American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. The idea of reading the popular celebrity as literature has caught attention, with her name sometimes being juxtaposed with Shakespeare. Here’s why

Razorpay, Groww & more: Why startups want to shift base to India

Startups, including Razorpay, Groww and Pine Labs, are considering shifting their parent company back to India from abroad. PhonePe has already moved its domicile from Singapore to India. Why is India seeing a trend of reverse flipping?

Who is gangster Lakhbir Singh Landa, designated a ‘terrorist’ by MHA?

Lakhbir Singh alias 'Landa', a Canada-based gangster, has been accused of having a role in the rocket attack on the Punjab Police Intelligence Headquarters in Mohali last year. The 33-year-old is a leader of Khalistani group Babbar Khalsa International and has been booked in over 30 cases in Punjab

Who are the 8 ex-Navy officers, whose death sentence has been commuted by Qatar?

A court in Qatar has reduced the death sentences of eight navy veterans after an appeal in the case by India was accepted last month. These ex-naval officers include highly decorated personnel who once commanded Indian warships