Why was Diljit Dosanjh's 'Satluj' taken down? Experts weigh in

Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu, including TVK, DMK, NTK, Congress, and VCK, boycotted an Election Commission meeting convened by Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik at the Chennai Secretariat over the Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls, demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation while only the AIADMK and BJP attended. Political developments continued as former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai questioned governance models, speculation emerged regarding actor Dhanush entering politics, and NTK leader Karthika secured bail while criticising the TVK administration. In Kerala, police invoked the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act against Ebbin Paul over the synagogue area arson case amid investigations into Telegram handlers and terror links. In Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore police booked four people after a 16-year-old Dalit student died by suicide over alleged caste harassment, heavy rains in Madurai and Virudhunagar caused waterlogging and a fatal wall collapse, and Thoothukudi police invoked POCSO sections after an attack, murder, and child kidnapping.

Gurugram faced severe power outages and an ensuing water crisis after electricity department employees initiated a three-day strike against the granting of a parallel electricity distribution licence to a private company for Gurugram and Nuh. Over 5,500 complaints were registered with Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam within the first 12 hours. Local residential areas and businesses suffered widespread disruption, with basic essentials, refrigeration, and water availability severely impacted. Employee unions raised concerns that private licensing jeopardises thousands of public sector jobs. In response, the Haryana government announced plans to challenge the regulatory commission's decision before the appellate tribunal, as authorities scheduled talks with striking employees to resolve the ongoing crisis.

High drama unfolded in the national capital as Left parties, student organisations, and civil society groups staged flash protests opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Demonstrators assembled at multiple spots in Central Delhi, including Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, carrying the national tricolour and placards while raising slogans against the poll body chief. Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat and social activist Anjali Bharadwaj joined the demonstrators, calling the stir a collective fight to defend constitutional voting rights after being prevented from assembling at Jantar Mantar. The protest march, backed by outfits such as DYFI, CPIM, SFI, and Samyukt Kisan Morcha, managed to reach the vicinity of the Election Commission of India headquarters, staging a sit-in barely 150 metres away. Delhi Police imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita in the area and issued announcements directing protesters to clear the streets amid heavy security deployment.

Under the Uttar Pradesh government's Atal Awasya Vidyalaya scheme, children of daily wage labourers and economically weaker families are gaining access to free quality education, hostel accommodation, and meals. At the residential school in Moradabad, 718 students study in smart classrooms and learn English, aspiring to careers as IAS officers, judges, and army doctors. Principal T.P. Singh and administrative officer Umesh Kumar Tripathi explain how the institution's infrastructure, free facilities, and supportive environment empower students to overcome financial barriers and achieve ambitious goals.