Odisha govt to provide free travel for school students under Mukhyamantri Bus Seva scheme
In a piece of good news for the students, the Odisha government will provide free travel for school students in government-run buses under the Mukhyamantri Bus Seva (MBS) scheme, a move aimed at reducing dropouts, officials said. A notification by the state transport department has stated that the provision will replace the earlier 50 per cent fare concession for students in both AC and non-AC bus services.
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Good news for travellers: Indian Railways plans to double train capacity in major cities in next 5 years
The Indian Railways is gearing up for one of its biggest infrastructure expansions as rising passenger demand continues to push major city networks to their limits. To address this surge, the Railways has outlined a comprehensive plan to double the originating capacity of trains in major urban centres over the next five years, with the full-scale upgrade targeted for completion by 2030. As per an official release, the plan aims to significantly strengthen existing infrastructure while creating new terminals to handle the rapid growth in travel demand. Each major city will see an assessment of current limitations and potential for expansion.
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On-duty police inspector touches Dhirendra Shastri’s feet at Raipur Airport, action taken as video goes viral
A surprising incident at the Raipur Airport in Chhattisgarh has sparked an administrative response after an on-duty police inspector touched the feet of Bageshwar Dham head Dhirendra Shastri. The video of the incident went viral on social media, leading to immediate disciplinary action. The said police inspector was identified as Manish Tiwari, who has now been attached to the police lines. According to the information received, when Dhirendra Shastri arrived at the airport, the on-duty station in-charge first saluted him and then bent down to touch his feet. Someone recorded the sequence and shared it online. As the clip spread, questions were raised about the conduct of the uniformed officer.
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Pakistan: Nine children injured as drone strike hits madrasa during classes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
A drone strike on a madrasa in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province left nine children injured, officials said on Friday. As per reports, the incident took place at a religious seminary located in Shadikhel village of Tank district, where the drone targeted the premises at a time when children were in their classrooms. Among the injured were three girls and six boys.
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Avatar: Fire And Ash becomes most successful Hollywood film of 2025, breaks F1’s record
James Cameron’s directorial venture, Avatar: Fire and Ash, has become the highest-grossing film of the year in India. It achieved this feat in just seven days. Avatar 3 has surpassed the lifetime India collection of the Hollywood film F1, featuring Brad Pitt, securing the top spot among foreign films this year.
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India condemns violence against minorities in Dhaka, supports free and fair polls in Bangladesh
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday condemned the violence against minorities in Bangladesh and expressed deep concern over what it described as “unremitting hostilities” against Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists at the hands of extremist elements.
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Harry Brook scripts history, breaks Adam Gilchrist’s record to achieve major Test milestone
The Boxing Day Test match of the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 was quite an eventful one for both Australia and England. The two sides locked horns at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26, and the clash began with Australia coming in to bat first.
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J-K: LeT terrorist spotted in Anantnag market, security forces launch joint operation to nab him
A major security alert was triggered in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district after Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammad Latif was spotted at a local market. Following this, Jammu and Kashmir Police along with CRPF personnel launched a coordinated operation to track him down. Latif had joined the terror outfit in November and is reportedly active in the South Kashmir region.
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Census 2027 Phase-I pre-test concludes as India targets April 2026 rollout for landmark digital exercise
With less than three months left for the launch of the first phase of the Census of India 2027, the government has begun detailed groundwork for what officials describe as one of the world’s largest administrative exercises. Extensive discussions have been held with stakeholders at sub-district, district and state levels to finalise the roadmap for the Houselisting and Housing Census, which begins in April 2026. The preparations gained momentum after the successful completion of the Pre-Test exercise for Phase I earlier this month. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Mritunjay Kumar Narayan appreciated all stakeholders for their efforts, noting that this was a crucial step in India’s first digital census.
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Bangladesh remains on edge as another Hindu youth lynched over ‘extortion’ claim in Rajbari district
A disturbing case of mob violence has once again emerged from Bangladesh, where a 29-year-old Hindu man was beaten to death by a violent group. As per reports, the incident took place on Wednesday (December 24) in the Pangsha area of Rajbari district and has intensified concerns over rising mob attacks in the country. The victim has been identified as Amrit Mandal, who was killed after locals accused him of demanding extortion.
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