A severe heatwave with record-breaking temperatures has swept across many parts of Asia affecting normal life.

India has surpassed China to become the world’s most populous nation with 142.86 crore people, as per the latest UN data released Wednesday. China now has a population of 142.57 crore and hence it has slipped to second spot.

According to a UNFPA’s ‘State of the World Population Report’ (SWOP) 2023, about 25 per cent of India’s population is in the age group of 0-14 years, 18 per cent in 10 to 19 years group, 26 per cent in the age bracket of 10 to 24 years, 68 per cent in 15 to 64 years age group and seven per cent above 65 years.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked universities to allow students to write exams in local languages even if the course is offered in English medium, while arranging evaluators and encouraging the translation of textbooks, according to chairman M Jagadesh Kumar.

Extreme heatwave conditions continued to grip the state Wednesday with mercury breaching the 40 degrees Celsius mark at 30 places in Odisha. However, there is some hope for relief with the IMD stating that some parts of Odisha may receive rainfall April 22 onwards for a few days.

Giving new hope to the differently abled people of the state, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday inaugurated a new center of famous Jaipur Foot – ‘Biju Mahaveer Jaipur Foot Centre’in Khurda.

 The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023 that has provisions to curb transmission of pirated film content on the internet, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said.

In view of upcoming festivals like Eid and Akshay Tritiya, the Uttar Pradesh government Wednesday issued directions regarding holding programmes in the state and ordered that no religious event be held by obstructing roads and traffic.

Alcohol abuse is the major cause of increase in liver disorders in the country, experts pointed out at the second edition of the India Liver Health Summit organised Wednesday.

The CBI registered an FIR against Oxfam India and its office-bearers for alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act and carried out searches at its office here, officials said Wednesday.

Prithvi Shaw, Delhi Capitals’ blue-eyed boy till last season, could become the first casualty of the team’s floundering IPL campaign as they prepare to take on Kolkata Knight Riders here Thursday.

The Centre on Tuesday directed local bodies to ensure only recognised organisations carry out the animal birth control programme in stray dogs as per the recently notified rules.

The Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on Wednesday recommended the appointment of chief justices of five high courts. The five high courts for which the Collegium, also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph, proposed new chief justices are: Madras High Court, Kerala High Court, Bombay High Court, Himachal Pradesh High Court and Rajasthan High Court.

Taking firm action against the private schools over expensive books and uniforms, the Delhi government has sent show-cause notices to 12 schools, and also initiated an enquiry against six other schools, according to an official statement.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has put plans in place to maintain the pace of highway development and construct 12,500 km of highways in the current financial year, a senior official on Wednesday said.

The Assam government on Wednesday announced that it will give a monthly pension of ₹ 15,000 to over 300 people jailed during the Emergency period.

The National Green Tribunal also formed a 10-member joint committee to plan and oversee remedial action and said the compensation amount has to be utilised for restoration of the environment.

Arjun Tendulkar, son of cricket great Sachin Tendulkar, had a night to remember on Tuesday as he picked his first wicket in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 for Mumbai Indians against SunRisers Hyderbad

The Centre on Tuesday directed local bodies to ensure only recognised organisations carry out the animal birth control programme in stray dogs as per the recently notified rules.

More than 80 people were killed and hundreds injured in a crush at a charity distribution event in war-torn Yemen on Thursday, Huthi officials said, one of the deadliest stampedes in a decade.