Author: Deshwale National Desk

Ahead of high-profile visits by national and foreign leaders, Indian cities often undergo rapid cosmetic transformation. Roads are repainted overnight. Potholes are filled. Dividers are washed. Footpaths are cleared. Walls are freshly coated. Streetlights are repaired. The change is sudden and visible. Mumbai has seen this pattern repeatedly. Before the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, stretches of key routes were repaired and painted. Similar activity has been observed in other cities during diplomatic summits and political events. In 2025, before British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai, the surrounding area…

The body of 22‑year‑old Saketh Sreenivasaiah was found in Lake Anza near San Francisco days after he went missing. Saketh had been pursuing postgraduate studies in chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. His hometown was in Karnataka, and the Indian Consulate in San Francisco confirmed his death after a multi‑day search. The tragedy has shaken communities in India and abroad. Saketh’s death is one among many Indian students who have lost their lives while studying overseas. Official data from India’s Ministry of External Affairs shows that between 2018 and 2024, at least 842 Indian students lost…

Reports that Bill Gates’ name was no longer listed among expected attendees at a major AI summit in New Delhi have drawn attention, particularly amid renewed discussion in the United States around the so-called “Epstein files.” While there has been no official confirmation linking the two developments, the timing has prompted speculation about whether reputational considerations influenced the decision. The “Epstein files” broadly refer to court documents and disclosures connected to financier Jeffrey Epstein, whose associations with high-profile individuals have remained a subject of public scrutiny. Gates previously acknowledged meeting Epstein in the past, describing the interactions as a mistake…

झारखंड के पलामू ज़िले में लगा एक स्थानीय मेला, जो खुशी और आस्था का प्रतीक होना चाहिए था, अचानक चिंता का कारण बन गया। मेले में खाना खाने के बाद बड़ी संख्या में लोग बीमार पड़ गए। देखते ही देखते उल्टी, पेट दर्द और दस्त जैसी शिकायतें सामने आने लगीं। बच्चों और बड़ों को तत्काल नज़दीकी स्वास्थ्य केंद्रों में ले जाया गया। डॉक्टरों की त्वरित मदद से स्थिति काबू में आई, लेकिन इस घटना ने कई गंभीर सवाल खड़े कर दिए। हालांकि अधिकांश लोग इलाज के बाद स्वस्थ हो गए, फिर भी यह मामला केवल एक दुर्घटना भर नहीं है।…

Magarpatta City is a rare example of rural land transforming into a thriving urban township through collective vision and collaboration. Located near Hadapsar in eastern Pune, Maharashtra, this township sits on land once owned by about 120 farming families. Instead of selling their land to external developers, the families chose to develop it themselves. Decades later, Magarpatta has grown into a well‑planned urban community that blends residential spaces, commercial offices, technology parks, schools and green areas. The origins of Magarpatta date back to the late 1990s. The farmers, led by visionary leader Appa Bhole and supported by experts, decided to pool…

Several leading universities from the United States and the United Kingdom are now opening offshore campuses in Mumbai in areas such as Powai and Vikhroli. This move reflects the growing demand for international-standard higher education within India and aims to cater to students seeking global degrees without leaving the country. The programmes cover a wide range of disciplines, including business management, computer science, engineering, and liberal arts. One of the main advantages of studying at these Indian campuses is the lower overall cost compared to studying at the home campuses abroad. Tuition fees, admission charges, and accommodation costs are generally…

At least seven workers were killed and two others feared trapped after a massive fire broke out at a chemical factory in Bhiwadi’s Khuskheda industrial area in Rajasthan on Monday morning. Around 25 workers were present at the facility when the fire erupted at approximately 9:30 am. Thick smoke was reported around 10 am, and flames quickly engulfed the closed factory, which had stored large quantities of cardboard that intensified the blaze. Firefighters from Khuskheda and Bhiwadi RIICO stations battled the fire for over an hour, bringing it under control after extensive cooling operations. The tragedy prompted immediate attention from…

Mumbai’s public transport network reflects two contrasting realities. The suburban railway system, operated by Western Railway and Central Railway under Indian Railways, carries more than 7 million passengers daily. It is one of the busiest commuter networks in the world. By comparison, the Mumbai Metro network, overseen by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and private concessionaires on certain lines, serves a far smaller ridership base, estimated in the range of several lakh passengers per day across operational corridors. The difference in footfall is visible. So is the difference in cleanliness. At many suburban railway stations, platforms often show litter…

Mumbai’s Coastal Road was envisioned as a high-speed urban corridor along the city’s western shoreline. Phase 1 of the project, the 10.58 km stretch between Marine Drive and Worli, was opened to traffic in March 2024. The route runs largely on reclaimed land and is designed to ease pressure on key arterial roads in south Mumbai. Early traffic observations have indicated some decongestion on parallel routes such as Pedder Road and Worli Sea Face, particularly during evening rush hours. Supporters say the corridor offers a faster alternative to congested inner-city roads and improves overall connectivity in south Mumbai. The Coastal…

For the first time, the Indian Institutes of Technology will allow students to take courses at other IIT campuses and spend a semester away from their home institute. The change will begin from the upcoming academic year. It marks a significant shift in the structure of India’s premier technical education system. Until now, IIT students have largely completed their entire degree at the campus where they secured admission. The new arrangement introduces academic mobility within the IIT network. Students will be able to access specialised courses, research facilities and faculty expertise that may not be available at their parent campus.…