Todays News

  In a groundbreaking decision that promises to reshape the educational landscape in India, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially approved the introduction of Open-Book Assessments (OBAs) for Class 9 students, effective from the academic session 2026-27. This transformative initiative, ratified by CBSE's Governing Body in June 2025, marks a significant departure from traditional examination methods and aligns with the progressive vision outlined in the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023. A Paradigm Shift from Rote Learning to Competency-Based Education The introduction of open-book exams represents more than just a change in assessment methodology—it's a fundamental shift in educational philosophy. As the NCFSE 2023 emphasizes, there's an urgent need to transition from rote memorization to competency-based learning, with OBAs serving as a powerful catalyst for this transformation. This move addresses a long-standing con...

  India's aviation industry has achieved another historic milestone, cementing its position as the world's fifth-largest aviation market in 2024. This remarkable achievement underscores the country's rapid economic growth, rising middle-class aspirations, and the transformative power of air connectivity in driving national development. The Numbers Tell a Compelling Story According to the latest World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) report released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), India handled an impressive 241 million passengers in 2024, marking an 11.1% year-on-year increase. This surge propelled India past Japan, which recorded 205 million passengers, securing its place among the world's aviation elite. The global aviation landscape now sees the United States maintaining its dominance with 876 million passengers, followed by China at 741 million. The UK holds third position with 261 million passengers, while Spain occupies fourth place with ...

  Breaking New Ground in Commercial Space India's space ecosystem is witnessing a pivotal moment as Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space prepares to launch its first commercial satellite mission aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. Scheduled for the third quarter of 2025, the LEAP-1 mission represents more than just another satellite launch—it symbolizes India's growing prowess in the global commercial space market and the maturation of its private space industry. From Technology Demonstration to Commercial Reality The LEAP-1 (Launch, Experiment, Analyze, Progress) mission marks a significant evolution for Dhruva Space, transitioning from experimental technology demonstrations to globally competitive commercial operations. This milestone builds upon the company's successful qualification of its P-30 satellite bus during the LEAP-TD mission on ISRO's PSLV-C58 POEM-3 mission in January 2024. The decision to partner with SpaceX's Falcon 9 for this inaugural commercial mission...

  Nature's Fury Strikes Again in India's Himalayan State In the early hours of August 5, 2025, the serene landscape of Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district was transformed into a scene of devastation as a sudden cloudburst triggered catastrophic flash floods and landslides. The disaster, centered around the catchment area of the Kheer Ganga river, has claimed at least four lives and left dozens of people missing, marking another tragic chapter in the state's ongoing battle with extreme weather events. The Disaster Unfolds The cloudburst struck the upper catchment area of the Kheer Ganga river near Dharali village in Uttarkashi district, unleashing torrents of water that quickly overwhelmed the region. The sudden and intense downpour created a deadly cascade of destruction, with massive streams of water and silt gushing through the village, sweeping away everything in their path. District Magistrate Prashant Arya confirmed the initial death toll of four people, while w...

  The artificial intelligence landscape has been shaken once again by a Chinese startup's bold move to democratize AI access through aggressive pricing and open-source innovation. Z.ai, formerly known as Zhipu, has launched its revolutionary GLM-4.5 model family, positioning itself as a formidable challenger to established players like OpenAI and even the recently dominant DeepSeek. The Cost Revolution Continues In a sector where pricing wars have become the new battleground, Z.ai has fired the latest salvo with GLM-4.5's remarkably competitive pricing structure. The model costs just $0.11 per million input tokens and $0.28 per million output tokens, significantly undercutting DeepSeek R1's pricing of $0.14 per million input tokens and $2.19 per million output tokens. This represents an impressive 87% cost reduction compared to DeepSeek's output token pricing, making advanced AI capabilities more accessible to businesses and developers worldwide. Technical Efficiency M...

  The hallowed turf of Lord's witnessed high drama both on and off the field as England clinched a nail-biting 23-run victory over India in the third Test, but it was Mohammed Siraj's fiery confrontation with Ben Duckett that dominated headlines and drew the ICC's attention. The Incident That Ignited Controversy India pacer Mohammed Siraj was fined 15% of his match fee following a heated altercation with England opener Ben Duckett during Day 4 of the ongoing third Test at Lord's. The incident occurred when Siraj dismissed Duckett for a run-a-ball 12, with England at 22/1 in their second innings chase of 193. "After the dismissal, Siraj celebrated close to the batter in his follow-through and made contact as Duckett began his walk back," the ICC stated in their official ruling. The confrontation saw both players engage in what appeared to be physical contact, with Siraj delivering an aggressive send-off that clearly crossed the line of acceptable on-field b...