More than 40,000 madrasa students in Uttarakhand will now be part of the mainstream educational system after the recent abolition of Uttarakhand Madarsa Board by the Pushkar Singh Dhami government. Religious education will be allowed after regular classes.

The Minority community students belonging to 452 disbanded madrasas in the state will now join the mainstream education system under Uttarakhand Education Board curriculum soon to be implemented in these institutions. Once their affiliation with the state education board is formalised, certificates of the students graduating from madrasas will now be valid for government jobs.

This will benefit more than 40,000 students enrolled in nearly 452 madrasas registered with Uttarakhand Madarsa Board rendered dysfunctional after formation of Uttarakhand State Minority Education Authority (USMEA) recently by Dhami government.

What is notable is that nearly 43,000 students have completed their Islamic education courses, Munshi, Moulvi, Alim (Arabic-Persian), Kamil, and Fazil from madrasas legally operational in the state. However these courses were not recognised by the state education board. Consequently, the madrasa students were not qualified for government jobs.

Efforts of Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board set up in 2016 to obtain the sanctity of its certificates at par with mainstream school education boards were unsuccessful. Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, Chairman Uttarakhand Madrasa Board, stated that want of parity between two boards prevented the students of minority institutions from using their educational certificates for employment. “However, once affiliated to the State Education Board, madarsa certificates will also be qualified for employment in government departments and establishments.

Meanwhile, Parag Madhukar Dhakate, special secretary to state minority welfare department, said that madrasas seeking affiliation with the Uttarakhand Education Board will be required to meet its standards and parameters in all forms. “Madrasa managements claiming to impart primary and secondary level education must satisfy their respective benchmarks and standards as set by the state education board” said Dhakate.

Dhakate informed that madarsa students will have to study mainstream subjects in regular classes as prescribed in the curriculum of Uttarakhand board. They will however be allowed to seek religious education after regular classes are over. According to Dhakate, the content of the religious education will be determined by the USMEA.

In Delhi NCR, Bijwasan Fee Plaza has emerged as the top location for FASTag Annual Pass usage, with around 57 per cent of total car crossings at the plaza now being made through the pass.

In the NCR, Mundaka Fee Plaza and Jhinjholi Fee Plaza in Sonipat follow closely, both recording around 53 per cent of non-commercial vehicle crossings via the Annual Pass.

Smoothening ‘Ease of Commuting’, the FASTag Annual Pass has attained a significant milestone by crossing 50 lakh users with over 26.55 crore transactions recorded within six months of its launch on 15th August 2025, informed the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, on Friday.

The milestone reflects the growing acceptance of the Annual Pass among private vehicle owners for providing a seamless and economical travel option on the National Highways and Expressways.

Highlighting the increasing preference for the FASTag Annual Pass among National Highway users, around 28% of total car transactions recorded on the National Highway network are now being carried out through the FASTag Annual Pass.

The region-wise analysis shows that Chandigarh leads in terms of usage, accounting for 14% of total Annual Pass transactions across the country, followed by Tamil Nadu at 12.3% and Delhi at 11.5%. These figures demonstrate widespread adoption of the annual pass across diverse geographies from Northern urban centers to Southern States.

Applicable on about 1,150 fee plazas on National Highways and National Expressways, the Annual Pass eliminates the need to frequently recharge FASTag through a one-time fee payment of Rs 3,000 for one year’s validity or 200 toll plaza crossings.

The pass is applicable for all non-commercial vehicles with a valid FASTag. The annual pass gets activated within two hours on the existing FASTag linked to the vehicle after payment of a one-time fee through the Rajmargyatra App or NHAI website.

The growing uptake of the FASTag Annual Pass reinforces its effectiveness in promoting seamless and economical travel on National Highways across the country.

Indore reported its 33rd death, allegedly due to the consumption of contaminated Narmada river water supplied by the Indore Municipal Corporation through household taps in the city’s Bhagirathpura locality, after an elderly man admitted to a hospital succumbed late on Thursday night.

The latest fatality was identified as Algu Choudhary (70), who was admitted to Aurobindo Hospital on January 9 after suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhoea. He later developed respiratory complications and passed away during treatment.

His family members claimed that he had no prior ailments.

Locals claim that at least 33 people have died so far due to contaminated water.

However, the official death toll remains at 16, leading to a continuing dispute over the actual number of deaths due to contaminated water.

The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court heard the matter on 27 January, during which the state government submitted its report saying that 23 deaths had been reported till then, but only 16 were related to contaminated drinking water.

In a fresh incident of unrest, thousands of members of the Inquilab platform today held a protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh and attempted to march towards Jamuna, the official residence of the Chief Adviser, Dr Muhammad Yunus.

#WATCH | Bangladesh | Members of the Inqilab Mancha hold a protest in Dhaka, demanding justice in the killing of Osman Hadi, a key leader in the protests against Sheikh Hasina, who died on 18 December.

The protestors are marching toward the police and attempting to reach the… pic.twitter.com/aSs3DbMFZW

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2026

The protestors organised the march to demand justice in the Osman Hadi case. A prominent leader in the protests staged against Sheikh Hasina, Hadi was shot in the Paltan area of Dhaka on 12 December last year. For his medical treatment, he was airlifted to the Singapore General Hospital on 15 December, where he died three days later. Hadi’s death had escalated violent unrest across the nation. Several media houses, political and cultural sites, and diplomatic missions were targeted.

#WATCH | Bangladesh | Members of the Inquilab platform hold a protest in Dhaka, demanding justice in the killing of Osman Hadi, a key leader in the protests against Sheikh Hasina, who died on 18 December.

The protestors are marching toward the police and attempting to reach… pic.twitter.com/V9hk0RkuIG

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2026

Police use water cannons, tear gas to disperse protestors

While the protestors demonstrated a march towards the main advisory office, police blocked their way with barricades. Also, police and paramilitary units (BGB) used water cannons, tear gas, and sound grenades as part of a coordinated dispersal operation against the protestors.

Heavy police deployment was seen across the city, to ensure law and order is maintained.

#WATCH | Bangladesh | Members of the Inquilab platform hold a protest in Dhaka, demanding justice in the killing of Osman Hadi, a key leader in the protests against Sheikh Hasina, who died on 18 December.

The protestors are marching toward the police and attempting to reach the… pic.twitter.com/GXWyhrIAhl

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2026

Notably, the national elections are scheduled to take place in Bangladesh on 12 February 2026. This will be the first elections in the country since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in 2024.

Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Dr. Rajeshwar Singh described politics as the most challenging form of management. He explained that an MLA simultaneously performs multiple roles — visionary leadership, execution oversight, crisis management, stakeholder engagement, and grievance redressal—often on a 24×7 basis.

He also referred to the management of development works across 42 government departments, monitoring over 100 Central and state schemes, and personally overseeing thousands of public grievances, letters, calls, and messages.

The BJP MLA was speaking at the prestigious Leaders’ Express session organised under Manfest–Varchasva, the annual flagship festival of the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow( IIM-L) here on Friday.

On the future of the state and the nation, Dr. Singh highlighted digital education, youth empowerment, and technological readiness as key priorities. He spoke about rapid technological change, the impact of artificial intelligence on future jobs, and the need to skill youth accordingly.

Referring to initiatives in Uttar Pradesh, he mentioned large-scale implementation of smart classrooms, ICT labs, and the distribution of laptops and tablets to millions of students to prepare them for the digital economy.

On grievance redressal by an MLA, Dr. Singh underlined that public leadership demands constant engagement with the ground reality. He spoke about systematic follow-ups, continuous coordination with departments, and the importance of sensitivity in governance. Sharing anecdotes from daily public life, he illustrated how leadership extends from large infrastructure projects to resolving everyday civic issues faced by citizens.

Sarojini Nagar MLA Dr. Rajeshwar Singh remarked that IIM Lucknow is a forge of ideas and global leadership, shaping minds that are India’s pride and the world’s respect.

He referenced the institute’s consistent performance in national and international rankings—being ranked 5th in NIRF 2025, 4th among all IIMs, 57th globally in the Financial Times Masters in Management, and its AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS accreditations—as evidence of excellence at every level.

The session went far beyond theory, as Dr. Singh shared his own life journey—from engineering to policing, from the Enforcement Directorate to public life—emphasising how uncertainty, pressure, and responsibility became his greatest teachers. Reflecting on his professional evolution, he noted that life does not follow fixed plans, but rewards adaptability, integrity, and continuous learning.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday launched a sharp attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his speech in the Rajya Sabha, accusing him of lacking the courage to answer questions raised by the Opposition and deliberately undermining democratic functioning of Parliament.

Kharge also questioned the Prime Minister’s claim that the Congress had insulted the Sikh community, questioning whether a conversation between two individuals was labelled as an insult to the Sikhs “The Congress party has always respected Sikhs. Under a Congress government, Dr. Manmohan Singh served as Finance Minister and later as Prime Minister,” he pointed out, adding, “Narendra Modi respects neither Sikhs, nor Dalits, nor Adivasis. His only concern is how to belittle others.”

The Congress chief also took aim at Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who on Thursday said he had advised the Prime Minister not to attend the House amid intelligence inputs suggesting a possible inappropriate incident near the Speaker’s chair. “If your intelligence is so strong, where was it during terror attacks like Pulwama? Lynchings are happening across the country, and attacks on Dalits and Adivasis continue. Where does this intelligence disappear then,” he asked.

Kharge said repeated disruptions and the stalling of Parliament for days at a stretch reflected a failure of democracy and blamed the government for the ongoing deadlock in the Lok Sabha. Speaking to the media, he accused the Prime Minister of “repeating falsehoods” and said that during Modi’s 97-minute reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, not a single issue raised by the Opposition was answered.

Referring to former Army Chief M.M.Naravane’s book, Kharge said the government’s denial of its existence in Parliament was misleading. “When we managed to access the book, how could those in power not have it? Ministers kept saying the book wasn’t published, but it does exist. The truth is that Narendra Modi does not have the courage to answer our questions,” he alleged.

Kharge also defended India’s public sector legacy, crediting Jawaharlal Nehru with laying its foundations. “At a time when nothing was manufactured in the country, the public sector stepped in. Instead of strengthening it, Modi has worked to dismantle it. He has no ideology and no vision for the country,” he said.

Claiming the Prime Minister’s “sparkle has faded,” Kharge accused the Prime Minister of avoiding Parliament out of fear of questions from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. “The truth is that over the past few days, Narendra Modi has been troubled because matters related to him have come up in the Epstein files. After that, Narendra Modi surrendered before Trump and struck a trade deal. He sacrificed the country’s farmers. Modi is making our people poor and making America’s farmers rich,” Kharge alleged, a day after Prime Minister Modi accused the Congress of insulting the President of India by resorting to disruptions in the Lok Sabha during the debate on her address.

To extend the rail connectivity of the existing Srinagar-Baramulla section, a survey for Sopore to Kupwara (34 km) New Line has been sanctioned and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared, the government informed the Parliament on Friday.

“However, the project has been dropped because it was found to be infeasible. To further improve rail connectivity, in the Border region, the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of projects – Qazigund-Srinagar-Budgam doubling (118 km) and Baramulla to Uri new line (40 km) – have also been prepared,” Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

After the preparation of DPR, sanctioning of the project requires consultation with various stake-holders including state governments and necessary approvals viz. appraisal of NITI Aayog, Ministry of Finance etc. As sanctioning of projects is a continuous and dynamic process, exact timelines cannot be fixed.

The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project of total length 272 Km has been recently commissioned. It covers the districts of Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Srinagar, Anantnag, Pulwama, Budgam and Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir.
The project has made substantial socio-economic contributions to the region, with employment generation being a significant aspect of its impact. The project has generated more than 5 Cr. man-days of employment.

Another crucial facet of the USBRL Project’s socio-economic development efforts has been the construction of over 215 km of approach roads, which include construction of a tunnel and 320 small bridges. This road network has helped the local population in improvement of their connectivity with other areas and also improvement in socio-economic states.

With the all-weather, reliable and comfortable rail connectivity of the valley portion with the rest of the Indian Railway network, tourism will get a big boost.

Samajwadi Party (SP) National President Akhilesh Yadav has said that the symbolic movement of ‘PDA Pathshala’ should now be transformed into a real and grassroots mass movement. “Only then will the future generations of the exploited and deprived sections of society be able to get an education and progress,” he added.

He alleged that government schools are being closed in the state due to the BJP’s anti-education mindset.

In a statement here on Friday, Yadav said that the BJP knows education brings awareness and scientific consciousness among the people, which is a threat to its outdated, conservative, and narrow-minded ideology. This is why the BJP is against education and science, and its associates want to mold children into a single, negative ideology.

He said snatching away the right to education from children is a serious social crime, the brunt of which will be borne most by the PDA community. If the government education system is weakened, the future of children from poor, backward, and deprived classes will become bleak.

The SP president claimed that the upcoming election will be historic, in which education will be the decisive issue in defeating and removing the BJP. He said that even the poorest person, and especially every mother, wants to educate their children, and this time, women will determine the BJP’s defeat.

Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP will pretend to deposit money into accounts, but the truth has spread to every village, street, and neighborhood that if government schools are closed, private schools will start looting people. The exorbitant fees of private schools, along with the costs of uniforms, books, notebooks, transportation, and other expenses, will consume the entire income of ordinary families.

He said that no matter what temptations the BJP offers, this time the public will not fall for its tricks. People are still demanding an account of the promise of Rs 15 lakh, and this is why many people are now hesitant to identify themselves as BJP supporters. Akhilesh Yadav warned that if government education is abolished, people already struggling with inflation and unemployment will be unable to educate their children. Even those who try to send their children to school will find their entire income consumed by private school fees, uniforms, books and stationery, transportation costs, projects, picnics, and other expenses.

A delegation from the Union Territory of Ladakh, led by former Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Tashi Gyalson, met Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh in New Delhi to discuss key development and administrative issues concerning the region.

During the meeting, the delegation highlighted the progress and preparatory work related to the proposed Agham Hydroelectric Project on the Shyok River. They outlined the project’s background and the technical groundwork already undertaken, including earlier studies and preparatory exercises.

Emphasising its importance for strengthening local power infrastructure, the delegation said the project would play a crucial role in meeting Ladakh’s growing development needs and had reached a significant stage, requiring coordinated follow-up for further advancement.

Dr Jitendra Singh heard the delegation’s submissions and acknowledged the importance of hydropower development in view of Ladakh’s unique geographical and climatic conditions. He noted the issues raised and stated that they would be examined within the appropriate institutional framework, keeping technical and procedural requirements in mind.

The delegation also raised concerns related to aspirants from Ladakh appearing in the Civil Services Examination, including matters previously discussed with the Department of Personnel and Training and the Union Public Service Commission. The Minister took note of the representation and the broader issues flagged during the interaction.

The meeting reflected ongoing engagement between Ladakh’s representatives and the Union Government on development priorities and region-specific challenges. Discussions on initiatives such as the Agham Hydroelectric Project were seen as part of broader efforts to bridge infrastructure gaps and promote sustainable development in the high-altitude Union Territory.

The T20 World Cup begins on Saturday across venues in India and Sri Lanka, but for a tournament that has expanded to 20 teams and promises a scale like never before, the build-up has been anything but cricket-centric. Instead of conversations around contenders, match-ups, or players to watch, the spotlight has firmly remained on an extraordinary intersection of politics and sport.

India, the defending champions led by Suryakumar Yadav, enter the tournament as overwhelming favourites. Yet, even before a ball has been bowled, the event has been overshadowed by diplomatic tension and controversy. Bangladesh have been ousted from the competition after refusing to travel to India, citing security concerns, while Pakistan have announced a boycott of their scheduled February 15 clash against India in what they described as a show of solidarity with Bangladesh.

Both Bangladesh and Pakistan have publicly pointed fingers at India for the chain of events, which began when Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released from an IPL contract following instructions from the BCCI. Rahman’s exit was seen in Bangladesh as a slight to national pride, and it ultimately became a trigger for their refusal to play matches on Indian soil. The fallout has been dramatic, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) replacing Bangladesh with Scotland, who are set to face the West Indies in Kolkata on Saturday.

The situation escalated further when Pakistan chose to wade into the controversy, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif himself defending the decision to boycott the India match, calling it “appropriate” under the circumstances. The ramifications are significant. The ICC and its broadcast partners are staring at potential financial losses, while Pakistan now risk sanctions that could have long-term consequences for their international cricketing engagements.

Indo-Pak clashes, regardless of form or context, or the lop-sided results in favour of India in recent times, remain among the biggest revenue drivers in global cricket.

Lost amid all this drama is the cricket itself, and on that front, India appear well clear of the chasing pack. Despite the expanded field, it is difficult to identify many teams capable of seriously challenging India’s dominance in this format.

If the much-anticipated India–Pakistan clash does eventually take place at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, it could pose a different kind of test for India’s young batters on a slightly tricky surface. Pakistan’s spinners Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed and the surprise element of side-arm bowler Usman Tariq, would have the best opportunity to ask questions.

Yet, more than India, it would arguably be Pakistan who stand to lose from missing out on the marquee encounter.

Pakistan begin their campaign against the Netherlands in Colombo on Saturday, a fixture they are expected to win comfortably. Overall, however, no team matches India in terms of depth, balance and current form.

While T20 cricket is notorious for its fine margins, India’s biggest threat appears to be self-inflicted collapse rather than opposition brilliance. If India go on to lift the trophy again, it would be viewed as a continuation of their dominance. If they fail, it would be a shock of considerable magnitude given the form and confidence coursing through the squad.

Australia remain a formidable presence in global tournaments, though they begin without Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Their bowling attack, featuring Ben Dwarshuis, Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis, looks slightly underpowered on paper. The batting, however, is anything but modest, with Travis Head, Josh Inglis, captain Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Tim David capable of dismantling any attack. Much will depend on how spinners Adam Zampa and Matt Kuhnemann deliver under pressure.

England, too, arrive with a batting-heavy lineup. Captain Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett and Phil Salt offer explosive potential, but their campaign may hinge on how they handle India’s spin trio of Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.

South Africa shape up as strong semi-final contenders, boasting arguably the second-best bowling attack after India. Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen provide pace, bounce and control. Their batting features a mix of flair and experience in Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Ryan Rickleton and Tristan Stubbs.

New Zealand, often understated but consistently competitive, could be dangerous. Having spent nearly a month in the region, they are likely better acclimatised than most. Finn Allen’s confidence is high after strong performances in the Big Bash League and against India, while Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell add solidity.

With Lockie Ferguson’s pace, Jacob Duffy’s variations and Mitchell Santner’s leadership, they should be tough opponents in the Super Eights.

Sri Lanka, playing at home, cannot be discounted. Their spin-heavy attack led by Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage, backed by the pace of Matheesha Pathirana and Dushmantha Chameera, makes them especially threatening in familiar conditions.

Two-time champions West Indies remain an unpredictable but fascinating prospect, capable of brilliance or collapse in equal measure. Among the Associate Nations, the USA, jokingly dubbed the United States of ‘Asia’ due to its expat-heavy composition, add intrigue.

Nepal, meanwhile, could be the surprise package, backed by massive fan support and the explosive Dipendra Singh Airee, holder of the fastest T20I fifty. Italy, better known for football, bring their own curiosity, led by Wayne Madsen, a rare double World Cupper with appearances in both cricket and field hockey.

Battling illness, Smriti Mandhana led from the front with a match-winning 87 off 41 balls to power Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title with a successful chase of 204 against Delhi Capitals in Vadodara.

After the six-wicket win, RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan revealed that the stylish left-hander was suffering from a 103-degree fever a day before, but showed the character when the situation demanded.

“Massive, massive flu,” Rangarajan said, with the WPL trophy beside him. “She was seriously unwell with a high fever. But to turn up, not even show it, nobody in the team (knew)…for one second also didn’t show it. That’s the person Smriti is. When I spoke to her this afternoon, she said, ‘Nahi, Malo, koi problem nahi (there’s no problem), I’ll be there.’ So that’s her with her work ethic.”

Mandhana’s match-winning innings also saw her end the WPL 2026 season as the tournament’s leading run-getter, finishing with 377 runs. “I think she saved one of her best innings for the final,” Rangarajan said.

“The way she batted was….inhuman? I don’t even know the word to use. So classy, so elegant…it didn’t feel… when you looked at her, you could see that she was in control of what she wanted to do. She was timing the ball, she was hitting, picking the pockets in which she wanted to attack.

“She trained two days prior to the game and we’ve been having a lot of chat about her batting, how she’s feeling and I reckon that her last training session (on Wednesday) was among the best she had batted.”

Offering insight into Mandhana’s preparation, Rangarajan described her as a batter driven by feel.

“She’s a nerd when it comes to her batting,” he said. “I guess that’s why she’s ended up achieving what she’s achieved in life, always looking to improve, always looking to get better at her skill.

“Whenever she’s batting, she’s like, ‘I’m going to try this, I’m going to try that.’ A little wide-base, something or the other, Smriti always tries. And I think, luckily and fortunately for us, she cracked the code two days back (against UP Warriorz) and she was very, very comfortable.

“She led the team by example, set the standards in every training session. I’d be doing a disservice even if I tried saying how good Smriti has been in these last months.”

With RCB now set to wear two stars on their jersey after their win, Rangarajan made it clear that the hunger remains intact. “We’ve won six games in the league, we’ve won the WPL; it’s a tremendous achievement. When we come back next season, there will be two stars on our jersey, and we’ll be chasing the third,” he concluded.

Four miscreants allegedly gang raped a minor girl after abducting her while she was on her way to appear in her Pre-Board exam for Class VIII in Mauganj town of Madhya Pradesh.

According to the police, the incident was reported on Thursday, and the victim was admitted in an unconscious state to a hospital.

The police have taken one person in custody in connection with the case.

As per information, the 14-year-old girl was going with her female friend to take the exam. On the way, the four accused on motorcycles allegedly accosted them and took the victim to a forested area, where they allegedly committed gang rape.

The miscreants fled the spot after the crime, and some hours later, some people informed the girl’s parents that she was lying unconscious in the jungle.

The parents immediately reached the spot and got her admitted to a hospital.

On receiving information, SP Dilip Soni and other officials reached the spot. The SP said a case of gang rape was registered and police began investigations.

The official said the victim was not in a position to record her statement, and it would be done soon.

On the basis of preliminary investigations, the police have detained one person in connection with the case. Further investigations are on.

Harshit Rana is facing a fitness scare ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, with doubts emerging over the bowling allrounder’s availability after he picked up a niggle during India’s warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on February 4.

Rana bowled just one over in the game before leaving the field and was later seen with his thigh heavily strapped. Speaking on the eve of India’s tournament opener against the USA in Mumbai, captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted the early signs were not encouraging, though the 24-year-old has not yet been ruled out.

“He is not ruled out yet. He’s being assessed by the physios. But I think, today we’ll know what’s going to happen. But it doesn’t look good, it’s not that great,” Suryakumar said.

Rana’s potential absence would deprive India of a valuable lower-order option, especially given the team’s emphasis on batting depth in the shortest format. However, with several other combinations available, his unavailability is not expected to derail India’s plans significantly if the rest of the squad remains fit.

Axar Patel is likely to slot in at No. 8, while Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are expected to spearhead the pace attack. “Don’t worry, we have 11 players for tomorrow,” Suryakumar said with a laugh.

“But it’s a big blow obviously because you make a squad of 15 players with a lot of combinations in mind. So we made it with the same thought. And if he is not available for us going forward, then we will set other combinations, however can we do it. But we have enough players, enough combinations, which we can make against all the teams for this tournament. But if we miss him, we will definitely miss him,” he added.

Rana featured in three of the five T20Is during India’s recent home series win against New Zealand. India did not name any reserve players when announcing their 15-man squad, given the home conditions for the tournament.

Suryakumar indicated that if Rana is ruled out, the team would look at a replacement, preferably someone who can contribute with the bat, though that would not be a strict requirement.

“We will see which fast bowlers have done really well for the last one or two years,” Suryakumar said.

“And which bowler can bat as well. But there is no hard-and-fast rule that he has to bat. Because if you are expecting someone at No. 9 or 10 to come and hit a six, then what do you have the top eight for. But we will see whom to pick. We do have a few options but we will pick the best one,” he added.

Apart from Bumrah and Arshdeep, India’s pace-bowling resources include allrounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. Rana, meanwhile, has shown his value with the bat in recent months, notably scoring a boundary-filled 52 off 43 balls from No. 8 in the third ODI against New Zealand while chasing 338.

In an effort to connect the youngest generation with India’s cultural roots, the Uttar Pradesh Department of Culture organised a special educational visit for Gen Alpha students at the Uttar Pradesh State Museum, Lucknow, on Friday.

Nearly 700 students and teachers from private schools, studying up to Class 1, participated in the programme, which introduced children to Indian art, culture and heritage through interactive and activity-based learning.

The visit was curated to make history and culture accessible and engaging for young learners. Students explored museum galleries and took part in a quiz conducted through specially designed activity cards, allowing them to learn through play.

The focus remained on sparking curiosity, creativity and early cultural awareness. At the end of the programme, children were given light refreshments along with pencils, sketch pens and participation certificates.

State Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said the government is working with a long-term vision to nurture Gen Alpha as the next generation of cultural ambassadors.

He said that as children grow up in a digital-first environment, it is important to anchor them in India’s cultural values early on. Introducing them to art, history and heritage at a young age, he noted, helps build pride, responsibility and a deeper connection with the country’s civilisational legacy.

Director, Uttar Pradesh Museum Directorate, Dr Srishti Dhawan, said museums must evolve as active learning spaces rather than remain limited to static displays.

She said engaging children with heritage at an early age is essential to developing curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. The State Museum, she added, will continue organising such educational visits and activity-based programmes to strengthen cultural awareness among the younger generation.

The Uttar Pradesh State Museum, Lucknow—one of the oldest and most prestigious multipurpose museums in the state—houses an extensive collection spanning archaeology, natural history, decorative arts, painting and numismatics, and continues to play a key role in cultural education and public outreach.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has extended the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh by a month.

As over 3.26 crore voters would receive notices regarding their inclusion in the voter list, the ECI has extended the time for claims and objections from February to March 6.

Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa told media persons here on Friday that the final voter list for UP will be published on April 10 after the special revision campaign.

He stated that a comprehensive process of claims, objections, and mapping is underway to ensure the voter list is accurate, updated, and error-free.

The CEO informed that a total of 82,684 applications have been received under Form-7, while 37,80,414 applications have been received under Form-6.

He clarified that the number of Form-6 applications is continuously increasing as a large number of citizens whose names were not previously included in the voter list are now applying to have their names added. Eligible Indian citizens residing abroad can register their names in the voter list through Form-6A.

Providing information on the mapping process, he said that approximately 1.04 crore voters were found to have logical discrepancies. Due to these discrepancies, they have not been included in the voter list yet, and notices are being sent to all of them.

He stated that a total of 3.26 crore notices need to be sent to voters, of which 2.37 crore notices have already been generated. Of these, 86 lakh notices have been distributed to voters. Besides, hearings for 30.30 lakh voters have also been completed.

The CEO also informed that, keeping in mind the convenience of the voters, the period for filing claims and objections has been extended by one month to March 6.

The process for all notices related to mapping will be completed by March 27. After completing all formalities, the final voter list will be published on April 10. He said that the Election Commission’s objective is to ensure that no eligible citizen of the state is deprived of their right to vote and that the voter list is completely transparent, accurate, and reliable.

The number of voters in the draft electoral roll in UP during the SIR exercise was 12,55,56,025.

India’s teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed a record-breaking 175 off just 80 balls in the Under-19 World Cup final against England at the Harare Sports Club on Friday. The breathtaking knock not only powered India into a dominant 411/9 but also rewrote several records.

Sooryavanshi brought up his century off just 55 balls, making it the second-fastest hundred in Under-19 World Cup history. He went past Pakistan’s Qasim Akram (63 balls vs Sri Lanka in 2022), with only Australia’s Will Malajczuk ahead of him, who struck a 51-ball century against Japan earlier in the tournament.

In the process, the 15-year-old from Bihar became the fastest Indian to score a century in Under-19 World Cup history, eclipsing Raj Angad Bawa’s 69-ball hundred against Uganda in 2022. He also became only the third Indian to score a century in an Under-19 World Cup final.

Batting with fearless intent on the biggest stage, Sooryavanshi showed no signs of pressure as he tore into the England bowling attack. He raced to his half-century off just 32 balls and needed only 23 more deliveries to complete his second fifty, underlining the brutality of his assault. His innings was studded with 15 fours and 15 sixes and came at a staggering strike rate of 218.75.

The 175 is now the highest individual score in an Under-19 World Cup final, surpassing Unmukt Chand’s long-standing record of 111 not out against Australia in the 2012 final. It is also the highest score by an Indian in Under-19 World Cup history, going past Raj Bawa’s 162 not out against Uganda in 2022.

Overall, the innings stands as the ninth-highest individual score in Youth ODI history, with Ambati Rayudu’s 177 not out against England in 2002 the only higher score by an Indian.

Sooryavanshi’s power-hitting set another benchmark as he finished with 15 sixes in the innings, the most ever in a Youth ODI and an Under-19 World Cup innings, surpassing his own previous record of 14 against UAE Under-19 in Dubai last December. He also broke Dewald Brevis’ record for the most sixes in a single Under-19 World Cup edition. Brevis had hit 22 sixes in 2022, while Sooryavanshi, who had already struck 15 coming into the final, matched that tally in the title clash alone to finish the tournament with a remarkable 30 sixes.

The young opener stitched together crucial partnerships to set up India’s dominance. He added 142 runs for the second wicket with captain Ayush Mhatre (53) and followed it up with an 89-run stand alongside Vedant Trivedi (32). Sooryavanshi finally departed in the 26th over, having produced what will be remembered as one of the greatest innings in the history of the Under-19 World Cup.

The final capped off a stellar tournament for Sooryavanshi, who is currently India’s leading run-scorer in the competition with 264 runs at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 147.49.

Among the other notable contributors were wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu (40), Kanishk Chouhan (37 not out) and Vihaan Malhotra (30).

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will kick off in a spectacular fashion on Saturday evening with a vibrant opening ceremony at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, moments before co-hosts India take on the USA in the tournament opener.

Scheduled to begin at 6 pm, the ceremony will turn the Wankhede into a single, immersive performance arena, blending live music, large-scale choreography and cutting-edge visuals, before the spotlight shifts to the cricketing action.

The evening will open with a powerful musical medley by Rishab Sharma and percussion maestro Shivamani, setting the rhythm for the night. One of the show’s standout moments will follow, as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Trophy makes a dramatic entry into the stadium, carried in by a jetpack performer in a visually striking sequence aimed at thrilling fans in attendance.

The trophy will then be received by ICC Chairman Jay Shah and former India captain Rohit Sharma, who led the defending champions to title glory in 2024. Joined by 20 children representing each of the participating nations, they will officially declare the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 open.

Music and dance will take centre stage thereafter, with chart-topping rapper Badshah delivering a high-energy live performance. He will be followed by Bollywood star Nora Fatehi, headlining a dynamic dance spectacle supported by a large ensemble of performers. The ceremony will build towards a grand finale as both artists come together for a closing act.

Designed to mirror the speed and intensity of T20 cricket, the ceremony will use the field of play as a unified visual canvas, with the official tournament logo forming the centrepiece of the stage. A dazzling pyrotechnic display will bring the celebrations to a close, paving the way for the action on the field.

The fireworks will then give way to cricket, with India taking on the USA an hour later, to officially launch the tournament. Attendance at the opening ceremony will be restricted to ticket holders for the match, with fans advised to arrive early to ensure they don’t miss any part of the show.