India is operating around 18,000 special trains during the 2026 festive season, against 12,000 last year, yet the scale of additional services and passenger facilities points to the continuing challenge of managing heavy seasonal demand across the railway network
With last year's experiment failing to produce rainfall, the Delhi government is preparing another attempt to artificially induce rain and tackle worsening air quality.
Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh are set for an IPL swap as Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings reach an agreement, pending player sign-off and IPL approval
JD Vance is carving out a political identity beyond Donald Trump after the Republican midterm defeat, as questions grow over his 2028 ambitions and MAGA support
Sresht Raju, 15, won equestrian gold for Team Asia at the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Diamniadio, Senegal, riding borrowed horse Crazy Horse Boop to two clear rounds
Indonesia's President Prabowo has dismissed his chief of staff Listyo Sigit Prabowo over alleged phone tapping, raising treason concerns and questions about his ties to Jokowi
Conflicting laboratory findings over ethanol levels in petrol have sparked a political and regulatory dispute over fuel quality, vehicle compatibility and consumer protection.
Yemen's government and Houthi rebels trade blame over a deadly attack on al-Hadara market in Taiz as fighting intensifies and government forces launch an offensive
BJP leaders hit back after Sonia Gandhi questioned the state of India's democratic institutions under the Modi government and discussed Indira Gandhi's decisions during the 1975 Emergency
Darren Lehmann has rejected Usman Khawaja’s claim that the Australia team knew about the 2018 ball-tampering plan against South Africa, while saying ball-tampering was a big part of cricket
Seven people were killed and 23 injured in a crackdown on protesters in Rawalakot, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, amid allegations of drone use and growing unrest
Vijay has urged the Centre to withhold approvals for Karnataka's proposed 67.16 TMC Mekedatu reservoir, citing concerns over Tamil Nadu's Cauvery water allocation
Vivek Oberoi has revisited the controversy that affected his Bollywood career, alleging that filmmakers who wanted to work with him received calls from the underworld
Every few years, the remote Himalayan ridge becomes a national headline. The script rarely changes—troops meet, officials explain, talks follow and attention moves on. A border issue both governments say they want settled remains unsettled. From Manmohan Singh to Modi, little has changed. Each time, the government has to huddle and act until the crisis temporarily fizzles out. Each crisis gives ammunition to the opposition camp to attack the government and question its foreign policy. China’s frequent military stand-offs have had a significant impact on India’s policymaking, pushing New Delhi to rethink its national security priorities, economic strategy, diplomacy and infrastructure development. China is no longer viewed merely as a neighbour with whom India has an unresolved boundary dispute, but as a long-term strategic challenge that influences decisions across several areas of governance. In a classic grey-zone fashion, Beijing is using these encounters to test India’s preparedness and gauge New Delhi’s response without a conventional war. China’s strategy is simple: advance strategic goals below the threshold of open conflict. India can no longer afford to be defensive, hesitant or overly cautious in dealing with China. It needs to be bold, assertive and strategically fearless in protecting its national interests. Beijing understands the language of power, not diplomatic niceties alone. India must be willing to impose economic and diplomatic costs whenever China violates its territorial integrity or undermines its interests. But being tough on China does not mean being reckless or rushing into conflict. It means building the economic muscle, military strength and political resolve to ensure that India is never bullied, never cornered and never forced to negotiate from a position of weakness. India must engage China when it serves Indian interests, confront it when necessary and never mistake restraint for weakness.
Millions of young Indians are stepping out of campus with degrees but no job offers. According to Niti Aayog, graduate unemployment stands at 13 per cent, higher than the national unemployment rate of 3.2 per cent. There is also the issue of mismatch between employment and degrees: only 8.25 per cent of graduates in India work in jobs that match their qualifications. Of the 3.4 crore students enrolled in undergraduate programmes, combined enrolment in B.A., B.Sc and B. Com exceeds two crore. However, degrees like these are not generating enough jobs. The problem is also systemic. Students have degrees, diplomas and certificates, but because of outdated curricula in many educational institutions, and higher and technical education failing to keep pace with changing industry requirements, they lack the required vocational skills and knowledge to keep pace with a demanding work culture. A large number of unemployable graduates in the country is likely to turn India’s demographic dividend into a liability.
Outlook magazine's latest cover story is a package based on a survey that we conducted with market-research platform Toluna. The Outlook-Toluna Survey on Women and Family throws up some surprising facts and demolishes a number of myths. Some of the interesting findings are: Urban women want greater policy focus on human development-health and education rather than cash transfers or tax benefits to be mothers. Women want to be mothers not because cultural or societal pressures but because they want to start their own families. Then we discuss why working women are postponing motherhood and what they expect from employers. These and more stories in the latest Outlook issue.
Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh are set for an IPL swap as Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings reach an agreement, pending player sign-off and IPL approval
Sresht Raju, 15, won equestrian gold for Team Asia at the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Diamniadio, Senegal, riding borrowed horse Crazy Horse Boop to two clear rounds
Darren Lehmann has rejected Usman Khawaja’s claim that the Australia team knew about the 2018 ball-tampering plan against South Africa, while saying ball-tampering was a big part of cricket
Towhid Hridoy hit an unbeaten 242 in Sylhet as Bangladesh recovered from 184 for 7 to 386 and took a 30-run first-innings lead against West Indies in the second Test
Dhanush has apologised to fans who were turned away despite holding valid tickets to the OM audio launch in Chennai, saying he takes full responsibility for the incident
Priyanka Chopra has announced Ventilator 2 as Purple Pebble Pictures marks a decade in film production, bringing back the director of the original Marathi film
Fourteen categories, 19 prizes and 84 nominated watches converge on one unforgettable evening in Geneva, where the finest creations of the year are crowned and a single timepiece takes the coveted Aiguille d’Or
TAG Heuer’s Monaco, Carrera, Aquaracer and Formula 1 collections arrive on Tata CLiQ Luxury’s TimeVallée, bringing Swiss precision and motorsport spirit to collectors across India
Slim cases, silk-smooth dials and classic proportions make dress watches the finishing touch for kurtas, sherwanis, sarees and every celebration of the festival of lights
Planning a festive break? Explore seven luxury Diwali getaways across India, featuring lakeside retreats, heritage palaces, wildlife resorts, beachfront escapes and indulgent city stays