Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Orders Structural Audit of All PGs, Special Focus on Student Hubs

Himachal Pradesh is facing a severe shortage of teachers across its government primary schools. The issue was raised in the state assembly, where it was revealed that 12 primary schools in the Pachhad constituency are operating without any teachers. An India Today ground report found that in Kullu district, 314 primary schools are functioning with just one teacher each. At Banogi Primary School, a single teacher has been managing the entire school for two years. In response to the crisis, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has assured that the state government is expediting recruitment processes to address the shortage, even as students in rural areas continue to wait for adequate teaching staff.

Ayushman Sharma, a student at PGDAV College and friend of Akshat who died in the Satya Niketan building collapse, recounted the events following the disaster. Sharma said, 'I feel very devastated.' He described rushing to the collapse site with senior students after learning of the incident to check on affected peers. After the college administration confirmed Akshat was among those trapped, Sharma searched for him with photographs at the site and subsequently visited the AIIMS Trauma Centre. Sharma stated that after waiting alongside Akshat's family, officials confirmed the student had succumbed to his injuries. Sharma also highlighted that when he arrived at the location around 4:00 PM, local residents and Delhi Police personnel were actively carrying out evacuation efforts, while specialized disaster response teams were not initially visible.

In an interview, retired military officer and newly appointed Ram Mandir Chief Executive Officer Jeetendra Mishra addressed his new administrative role and future roadmap. Mishra stated that the announcement of his appointment was made on the second of the month and that he has only conducted preliminary introductory meetings so far. He explained that detailing concrete plans at this stage would fall into speculation and that he would be better positioned to answer after a month of taking over officially. Concluding his remarks on the responsibility entrusted to him, Mishra said, 'Jai Shri Ram.'

India's maritime security landscape covers 11,100 kilometres of coastline, 1,382 islands, and an Exclusive Economic Zone of 2.01 million square kilometres. Managing this vast area presents significant challenges amid evolving threats, including gray zone warfare, drug trafficking, illegal migration, and maritime terrorism. Unlike land borders, international regulations and the principle of freedom of navigation prevent sea borders from being fenced, making maritime routes naturally porous. In the wake of historical security breaches such as the 1993 Bombay bombings and the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, where sea routes were exploited for infiltration and smuggling, the Government of India has taken extensive steps to strengthen the Indian Coast Guard and enhance comprehensive coastal defence.