Video: Malayalam musician, violin maestro Francis Xavier serenades with iconic melodies

In a special Get Real India report from Maharashtra, 55-year-old teacher Jeevan Mithari travels daily from Kale in Kolhapur to Dhangarwada village, covering the final 2.5 kilometres on foot through a dense forest known for leopards and bisons. Mithari has taught at the Zilla Parishad Primary School for 13 years. The school has only one student, eight-year-old Swara Bodke, who is currently studying in the third standard. If the remote village facility were to shut down, Swara would have to travel 11 kilometres away to attend school in Dhundawade village. With three years of service left before retirement, Mithari continues his daily commute, maintaining that every single student matters.

A heated debate erupted between the Congress and the BJP over the integrity of the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Election Commission of India. Congress leader Salman Soz demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, claiming that opposition parties have lost confidence in the election watchdog. Salman Soz argued, 'The Election Commission of India has become a tool of the BJP and the RSS', raising serious concerns over voter deletions across states and questioning whether statutory procedures were followed. In sharp rebuttal, BJP national spokesperson Dr. Ajay Alok defended the Election Commission, accusing the Congress of persistent whataboutism and hypocrisy. He stated that the ongoing electoral roll revisions, including the removal of deceased and shifted voters, were legitimate administrative cleanup exercises conducted under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court.

A political controversy has erupted in the national capital following the deletion of 727 names from a list of 728 residents in the Bela Estate jhuggi cluster situated on the banks of the Yamuna. An India Today ground report from Bela Ghat reveals residents living in shanties under a bridge without proper electricity or water supply, displaying their voter identity cards and previous electoral rolls. The local booth level officer stated that she visited the addresses mentioned in earlier rolls but found no houses, alleging the shanties were erected to register names. The Election Commission maintains all deletions followed due norms and regulations.

Actor Amala Paul graced the first day of India Today South Conclave 2026 at Kochi on Tuesday. During her session, she spoke about breaking stereotypes, taking the least travelled path and navigating motherhood.