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The Surajkund International Crafts Mela is held every year for 15 days, usually during the first two weeks of February, in Faridabad. It is organised by the Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism, in collaboration with the Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture, and External Affairs. One of the largest crafts fairs in the world, the mela has been held since 1987 and will turn 40 next year.I have been visiting the fair for years now and have seen it in many forms. There were years when it felt quite lacklustre, and then there were years when I skipped it altogether because it seemed repetitive. But this year was different. The fair felt not only far more widespread but also noticeably more international and diverse. It was well-decorated and beautifully planned. Despite being extremely crowded, there seemed to be enough space for people to do what they liked. Yes, there were areas that drew heavier crowds than usual—especially the food courts—but even those felt relatively well managed, with food counters and joints spread across multiple locations.
However, the most attractive part of the fair was definitely the rides. They added an additional charm with their giant lights, speed, and energy. Around the rides, there was almost another mela of its own—food vendors everywhere, families and groups standing around, people laughing, chatting, and watching their loved ones enjoy the rides. There was a festive warmth in simply standing there and soaking it all in.This Saturday, I reached the mela late, towards the evening. After loitering around for a while, I stood at the edge of the stairs, watching the mesmerising rides. As I stood there, trying to click pictures from different angles, I couldn’t quite find the right one. The rides appeared too far. I climbed down the stairs, asking my husband and son to stay back till I returned. The rides were in a separate portion of the ground which was an extension of the mela. I walked a few steps towards the fateful Tsunami ride and looked around for a few minutes soaking in the festivities, the lights and the infectious joy around. I turned back and went a few steps ahead to position myself at a spot from where I could click the photos and then suddenly there was a deafening sound—almost like thunder. There was a band playing nearby, and it felt as though the sound was swallowed by the chaos, as if the wind had swept everything back.There was sudden confusion. I didn’t know what exactly had happened. After recovering from the shock, I moved a little closer and saw people running to help, some trying to hold the ride with their bare hands to allow people to escape. The ride carrying 18-19 people had crashed down! What! I was transfixed for a few moments; I did not know what to do. My first instinct was to run back, but then I could not ignore the loud cries of help. I ran forward, but an already assembled crowd stopped my way...and then there was another thud, followed by massive shrieks. I was close enough to notice blood and loud cries of pain. Someone pushed me from behind, and I retreated. But stood trembling for I don’t know how long.For a while, I couldn’t comprehend what had actually happened. It took time to understand. The ride I had been trying to capture at the perfect angle had collapsed. I never got that perfect shot—and I wondered how people manage to film accidents in moments like these.Later, I learned that a total of 13 people were injured in the swing collapse, and one person—an SHO who rushed in to help-lost his life when the second part of the swing collapsed. People at the fair said that the swing had earlier been banned because a similar accident had occurred years ago, and that it was being operated again for the first time when this happened. The vendor is based in Himachal Pradesh and had been chosen to run it.What stayed with me was not just the noise or the fear, but the sudden shift-from celebration to tragedy in a matter of seconds. One moment, people were laughing under bright lights; the next, they were running, screaming, trying to save strangers. The fair continued around us, but something had irrevocably changed. I walked away knowing I had witnessed not just an accident, but the fragile line between joy and disaster. Life changes…completely…in just a few moments!
Olympic double bronze medallist Manu Bhaker endured a heartbreakingly close finish at the Asian Championship on Monday, settling for silver in the women’s 25m pistol after losing a tense shoot-off, while compatriot Esha Singh added to India’s medal tally with a bronze. The final was one of the tightest contests of the championship, with Manu and Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuy Trang locked in a gripping duel. Both shooters finished regulation with identical scores of 35, forcing a shoot-off in which Trang held her nerve to clinch gold. The medal battle remained on a knife-edge throughout, with Trang, Manu, Esha and fellow Indian Olympian Rhythm Sangwan all in contention for the top spot for much of the final. Esha made a strong start, opening with a perfect five in the first series, while Manu and Trang managed four each. The standings kept shifting after every series, reflecting the intense pressure of the contest. A flawless sixth series gave Trang a crucial two-point cushion, but the door reopened when she faltered in the seventh, hitting just one target. Manu and Esha seized the opportunity to close the gap and reignite the contest. Esha briefly took charge and led with a score of 30 after the eighth series, but a dramatic turn followed in the ninth when she failed to register a hit, ending her gold hopes and consigning her to the bronze medal. In the decisive final series, Manu struck three targets and Trang two, levelling both shooters on 35 and setting up a nail-biting shoot-off. The Vietnamese shooter, however, prevailed in the sudden-death phase, leaving Manu to settle for silver after coming within touching distance of the top step. Earlier in the day, Esha had topped the qualification round, which included the precision and duelling stages, with an impressive 589. Manu followed closely with 584 as three Indian shooters progressed to the eight-athlete final. India also dominated the team event, with Esha, Manu and Sangwan combining for a total of 1,751 to claim gold, ahead of Chinese Taipei (1,735) and Vietnam (1,729). There was further success in the junior category, where Naamya Kapoor clinched gold in the 25m pistol junior final after another tense shoot-off. Kapoor, already the youngest Indian to win a World Championship medal, tied with Indonesia’s Rihadatul Asyifa on 29 in regulation before producing three hits in the shoot-off as her rival missed all. Anjali Bhagwat secured the bronze with a score of 24, while the Indian junior team also finished atop the podium in the team event.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday termed the siphoning of over Rs 54,000 crore through digital arrests as nothing short of “robbery or dacoity” and directed the Centre to formulate a standard operating procedure (SoP) to tackle such offences.A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and NV Anjaria, noted that the money lost to digital fraud exceeds the annual budgets of several small states.“These offences may occur due to either collusion or negligence on the part of bank officials. This necessitates prompt action by the RBI and banks,” the bench observed, according to PTI.The top court pointed out that the Reserve Bank of India has already framed an SoP requiring banks to temporarily block debit cards to prevent cyber-enabled fraud. It directed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to examine the RBI’s SoP, along with similar protocols or decisions taken by the Department of Telecom (DoT), and prepare a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) within four weeks to effectively address such crimes.The bench also instructed the CBI to identify cases involving digital arrests and directed the Gujarat and Delhi governments to grant sanction to the agency to proceed with investigations in these matters.Further, the Supreme Court asked the RBI, DoT, and other stakeholders to hold a joint meeting and develop a framework for compensating victims of digital arrest scams. Emphasising the need for a “pragmatic and liberal approach” in awarding compensation, the court posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks and asked authorities to submit fresh status reports before the next date.Earlier, on December 16 last year, the bench had asked the Centre to consider suggestions made by the amicus curiae on ensuring compensation for victims, while expressing concern over the massive sums siphoned out of the country by cybercriminals. On December 1, it had directed the CBI to conduct a unified pan-India probe into digital arrest cases and questioned the RBI on why artificial intelligence was not being used to trace and freeze bank accounts linked to such crimes.Digital arrest is an emerging form of cybercrime in which fraudsters impersonate law-enforcement officials, court authorities, or government personnel to intimidate victims through audio or video calls, hold them virtually hostage, and coerce them into transferring money.
By Dr. Arun Raste, MD and CEO, NCDEXIndian agriculture has always had the backing of strong public policy support. Systems like MSP, procurement and buffer stocking have played a stabilising role for decades. They give confidence to farmers and ensure food security for the country. These safeguards remain important. But agriculture today operates in a very different environment. Climate events are more frequent. Global prices move faster. Trade flows shift suddenly. In such a world, income stability for farmers depends not only on post-harvest support, but also on pre-harvest price visibility.Farmers make sowing decisions months before they sell. What they need most is an early signal of where prices may move. This is where commodity derivatives markets play a role. Futures and options markets do not replace existing systems. They complement them. They convert uncertainty into manageable risk.
Globally, this approach is normal practice.Price Risk Systems Across the WorldDuring the COVID period, global crude oil prices briefly turned negative. Many oil-exporting countries faced extreme volatility. Yet their economies did not collapse. One reason was structured hedging by producers, institutions and governments. Risk was transferred through exchanges instead of being absorbed suddenly by public finances.China offers another example. The Dalian Commodity Exchange has grown manifold over the past two decades. Agricultural contracts there guide production, trade and processing decisions. Government-linked and institutional entities participate in these markets within defined frameworks. Their presence adds liquidity, credibility and continuity. Farmers and cooperatives trust the system because it does not disappear during volatility.Several countries follow similar models where public institutions hedge commercial exposures transparently. This does not mean speculation. It means professional risk management. When credible institutions participate, markets become deeper, price signals improve and confidence rises across the value chain.India’s farmers and FPOs can benefit from the same ecosystemWhen exchanges are active and predictable, FPOs can aggregate produce and hedge prices before harvest. This helps them negotiate better with buyers. It improves access to credit because revenues become more predictable. It reduces distress selling. Over time, it builds a culture of planned farming instead of reactive selling.This becomes even more important in the context of expanding global trade.India on the Global PlatformThe recent India–US trade engagement signals deeper agricultural trade integration ahead. As markets open further, Indian farmers will be more exposed to global price movements — both opportunities and risks. Export-oriented crops, oilseeds and pulses can see sharper swings based on international supply conditions. Domestic commodity exchanges help manage this transition. They allow Indian producers to benchmark prices, hedge risks and stay competitive in global value chains.Tariff structures also influence farmer incomes. For example, India’s tariff policy on US pulses is designed to balance domestic farmer interests with consumer needs. When global supplies change or trade terms evolve, price movements can be swift. Without hedging tools, farmers bear this volatility directly. With exchange-based risk management, part of this uncertainty can be smoothed.Stronger domestic exchanges therefore act as economic shock absorbers. They improve price discovery. They align expectations between farmers, traders, processors and exporters. They reduce sudden market surprises. They also help policymakers because forward prices reflect real-time supply and demand signals.Institutional participation can further strengthen this system. When government-linked agencies hedge commercial exposures in a transparent and well-governed manner, it builds market depth and long-term trust. It reassures farmers that markets will remain functional across crop cycles. It supports smoother procurement planning and reduces extreme financial swings.This is not about replacing existing farmer support structures. It is about strengthening them with modern risk-management tools. MSP provides a floor. Markets provide foresight. Together, they create resilience.Stronger Markets, Stronger FarmersAs Indian agriculture integrates more deeply with global trade, the question is no longer whether price volatility will rise. It is how well farmers are equipped to handle it. Reliable commodity exchanges, active institutional participation and accessible hedging tools can give farmers and FPOs greater control over their incomes.Stronger markets ultimately mean stronger farmers — and a more stable agricultural economy for the country.
KALYAN: The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) will soon inaugurate an Autism Village in Kalyan (West). The project, coming up at the Barave area near the Ring Road, is aimed at promoting inclusivity, therapy and recreation. Developed over an 12,772square-metre area, the Autism Village will have a zone dedicated to children with autism. The other zone function as a public garden for general citizens. KDMC’s Garden Supritendent Sanjay Jadhav said, “The special zone includes a sensory garden, sensory pathways, sensory-with-play equipment, a meditation centre, and a therapy centre.” Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder, estimatedto affect 1 in 100 children under the of age 10 in India. Children with autism have issues with communication. They may overwhelmed by sounds, lights, smells, tastes and textures–a sensory garden is known to calm them. KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goel with additional town planner Santosh Doiphode on Saturday inspected the site and directed officials to complete the project by April 2, World Autism Awareness Day. Goel said, “Once operational, the facility is expected to benefit children with autism not only from the KDMC limits but also from adjoining cities and the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region”.
KALYAN: Malang Gad hill, popularly known as Haji Malang, has witnessed a major transformation since the launch of India’s longest funicular railway last month. The new railway has resulted in a four- to five-fold increase in the number of devotees visiting the historic shrine as well as tourists exploring the scenic hill, giving a strong boost to religious tourism and the local economy.The sharp rise in footfall has benefited 2,500 to 3,000 residents living on the hill. Most locals earn their livelihood by selling flower garlands to devotees, running hotels, shops, and operating guest houses near the shrine. Around 72,000 passengers have used the funicular railway in the last three weeks. On average, 3,500 passengers use the service every day. On peak days, the number crosses 8,000. Officials from the company operating the railway have said that considering the growing public demand, plans are underway to increase the frequency of trips as they have capacity to carry up to 16,000 passengers aday.
The shrine, located at an altitude of 2,590 ft, holds immense religious importance. Muslims believe it to be the dargah of Sufi saint Haji Malang Baba, while Hindus regard it as the samadhi of Baba Machindranath. Although the matter is currently under legal consideration, devotees from both communities continue to visit the site in large numbers. In addition to pilgrimage, Malang Gad is also a well-known trekking destination, attracting adventure enthusiasts to nearby Balekilla (fort on top of hill), situated at a height of 3,200 ft.With the funicular railway now in operation, a journey that earlier took nearly two and a half hours on foot can be completed in just seven minutes. Despite this convenience, many tourists and trekkers still prefer the traditional route, climbing 2,600 steps to enjoy the trekking experience during a two-and-ahalf-hour ascent.The funicular railway project was implemented through the Public Works Department (PWD) and constructed by Supreme Infrastructure India Limited. Company Director Pankaj Sharma said the railway is 1,174 meters long, making it the longest funicular railway in India.Supreme Infrastructure’s Chief Operating Officer, Zaheer Sheikh Ahmed, who has been associated with the project for the past 13 years, said construction on the hill posed several challenges. The work had to strictly follow guidelines of the Forest Department, Matheran EcoSensitive Zone, Ministry of Environment and Forests, and the Central Empowered Committee. Construction materials were manually transported using local labour, often under difficult weather conditions.
MUMBAI: Residents of several high-rise residential complexes in Sewri have announced a silent march this weekend to protest what they describe as years of civic apathy and unchecked illegal activity in the area. The protest focuses on unauthorised hawking, encroached footpaths, illegal parking and persistent noise pollution—issues residents say have made daily life increasingly unsafe and unliveable. The agitation follows repeated complaints to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), police and elected representatives. Residents allege that enforcement has been sporadic and largely cosmetic. Locals claim the situation has worsened to the point that confrontations between residents and hawkers have begun. Residents of Dosti Flamingo, a large housing complex with around 2,500 residents across multiple towers, say they have been most affected. Rajendra Ghag, secretary of the society, said the problems have continued for nearly a decade despite repeated follow-ups. “For the past 10 years, we have raised complaints. There is no proper footpath, roads are taken over by hawkers, and unauthorised parking leaves no space even to walk. On top of this, loudspeakers blare throughout the year at the BMC ground during kabaddi matches, cricket tournaments and community events. It has become impossible to live peacefully,” Ghag said. He added that the issues affect at least 15,000 people living in eight to ten high-rise buildings, including Ashoka Gardens, Celestia Spaces, Lodha Aria, Rishabh Garden, Crimpton Tower and Girnar Tower. Residents also flagged the unauthorised Ram Tekdi fish market and hawker clusters near Sewri market and along T J Road, alleging that these operate with local political patronage. “There is a perception that high-rise residents do not face civic problems. This protest is meant to break that myth,” Ghag said. Another resident, Minitha Saxena, said temporary action was not a solution. “Hawkers are removed for a few days and then return. We do not want token action. Either relocate them to a suitable place or enforce the law consistently,” she said. Saarthi Mukherjee, a local resident, said pedestrian safety had been severely compromised. “It has become impossible to walk on this road. Vehicles are forced to brush past pedestrians. Children cannot cross safely,” he said, adding, “We are peace-loving, tax-paying citizens. Hundreds of voters here have been deprived of basic civic rights.” Residents said they have submitted memorandums and met candidates across party lines, but enforcement has remained inconsistent. The silent march, scheduled for February 14, will be conducted in accordance with police guidelines. Ghag said that if authorities take firm and permanent action before then, residents are willing to publicly felicitate officials from the BMC, police and RTO as a gesture of appreciation. “This is not political. This is about basic civic order. Enough is enough,” he said.
NEW DELHI: India pacer Harshit Rana, who was ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to a knee injury, shared a positive update on Monday. Rana took to social media and posted a photo of himself following surgery.“Surgery done right, now focused on recovery and getting back to what I love,” Rana wrote.
Following Rana’s unavailability, Mohammed Siraj was named as his replacement in the squad.Rana had picked up the injury during a warm-up game earlier this week, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav admitting at the time that the pacer was “not looking good”.
The right-arm fast bowler managed to bowl just one over in the warm-up match against South Africa, conceding 16 runs before hobbling off the field with a knee issue.“Siraj, who has played 45 Tests, 50 ODIs and 16 T20Is, was named as a replacement after Rana was ruled out with an injury to his right knee that was sustained during the warm-up game against South Africa on 4 February,” the ICC said in a media release late on Friday.
Kritika Kamra and Gaurav Kapur made their relationship Instagram official in December last year. And now, according to the latest development, the couple is set to take their relationship to the next level. Reportedly, the duo will get married very soon. Let’s learn more about it.
According to the Hindustan Times, Kritika Kamra and Gaurav Kapur will probably tie the knot in the next two months. A source told the publication, “Kritika and Gaurav are in a happy space together and ready to take their relationship to the next level. They are planning to tie the knot in March end or in the first week of April.”As per the report, the couple will get married in Mumbai in the presence of their family and friends. Reportedly, the duo is finalizing the wedding festivities. The insider further told the website that Kritika and Gaurav will be hosting a reception for their industry friends in Mumbai.
Back in December 2025, Kritika Kamra took to her Instagram account to share pictures of them having breakfast together. She captioned the post “Breakfast with” and decided to leave it incomplete. Soon, fans figured out the message and congratulated her in the comment section of the post.Celebs like Angad Bedi, Pooja Gor, Anup Soni, Nakuul Mehta, Drashti Dhami, and more commented on the post congratulating the duo.
Kritika Kamra and Gaurav Kapur celebrated their New Year’s Eve together in Jaisalmer. The actress posted pictures from their short vacation with a caption that read, “Fell into ‘26 nicely.”On the work front, the actress was last seen in an OTT film, ‘The Great Shamsuddin Family’. It was premiered in the year 2025. She will next feature in the movie titled ‘Matka King’, The release date of the project is yet to be announced.
