It was an exciting evening at Taj Palace, New Delhi this Sunday (March 22, 2026) as the audience witnessed a heart-warming celebration of Indian women writers on the occasion of AutHer Awards 2026 winner announcements. The AutHer Awards, a joint venture between JK Paper and The Times of India, celebrates women authors who have added value and creativity to the literary space. From authors, publishers, and academicians to book lovers, politicians, and artistes– the seventh edition of AutHer Awards was attended by some of the biggest names in the literary world.Veteran actor-author Kabir Bedi was the Chief Guest for AutHer Awards 2026.

The winners are…

The AutHer Awards 2026 winners were announced in four major categories, namely– Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children’s Literature, and Debut. A Lifetime Achievement award, a Prize in the Popular Choice category (based on an online poll), and a Best Manuscript Award were also given.The AutHer Awards 2026- Best Author Fiction was given to Kavery Nambisan for ‘Rising Sons’ (published by Penguin Random House India).The AutHer Awards 2026- Best Author Non-Fiction was given to not one but two women authors. The award was given to Vidya Rajan for ‘Rubber’ (published by Westland Books), and to Narayani Basu for ‘A Man For All Seasons’ (also published by Westland Books).The AutHer Awards 2026- Best Author Debut Award was awarded to two authors this time, namely: Swati Pandey for ‘Invisible In Plain Sight: Vpiceds Fro The Bylanes of Kamathipura’ (published by Juggernaut Books), and Subi Taba for ‘Tales From The Dawn-Lit Mountains’ (published by Penguin Random House India).The AutHer Awards 2026 for Best Children’s Authorwas given to Likla Lal for her book ‘Ganesh Haloi: Colours of Home’ published by Art1st.The Popular Choice Awardwas won by Astha Gill for her book ‘Blame It On The Hormones:The Divine Chemistry, The Daily Chaos’, for garnering the maximum number of votes online.Veteran Indian author Mrs Urmila Pawar was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award this year for her timeless contribution to Indian writing.And lastly, the AutHer Awards 2026 for Best Manuscript was given to Saanvi Shabeesh for ‘City of Doom’. The award recognises and inspires budding writers to let their imaginations soar.

The selection process

The Longlist, Shortlist, and Winners for AutHer Awards 2026 were chosen after multiple layers of screening, followed by detailed discussions among a panel of eminent jury. This year The Times of India received roughly 3000 entries, submitted by both publishers and authors, for the coveted women writers awards which is the first of its kind in India. The jury considered books by women published in India between December 2024 and November 2025.Check the complete Longlist for AutHer Awards 2026 HERECheck the complete Shortlist for AutHer Awards 2026 HERE

The Jury

The Jury for this year’s AutHer Awards 2026 in different categories included:1. Fiction: Manju Kapur, Sudeep Nagarkar, Kiran Manral2. Non-fiction: Ravikant Kisana, Amrita Shah, Dr Radha Kumar3. Debut: Soha Ali khan, Preeti Shenoy, Vasudhendra4. Best children’s literature: Nina Sabnani, Neil D’Silva, Zai WhitakerTalking about AutHer Awards, Jaya Bhattacharji Rose, Literary Director- AutHer Awards 2026, said, “Women have always been storytellers. From oral traditions whispered across generations to novels that challenge power structures, women writers have shaped how we see the world. They write under pseudonyms, between household duties, before or after their professional commitments, in the early hours of the morning or in stolen hours of the night. Their resilience is not just inspiring; it is foundational to literature itself.“As the biggest literary platform in the country for women writers, the AutHer Awards honours the writers who made the biggest difference, those who stood out for their originality, those who reached out to diverse audiences and those who spoke of, for and to India in the most interesting ways. AutHers Award 2026 represent the very best literature in Bharat.”For more details, log on to https://autherawards.in/

As the excitement builds ahead of IPL 2026, Gujarat Titans’ (GT) camp got a special boost when their batting coach Matthew Hayden made a fascinating revelation. The former Australian opener, known for his explosive batting during his playing days, named the player he would happily pass his iconic Mongoose bat to.

The mongoose bat and Hayden’s endorsement

The Mongoose bat holds a special place in IPL history, largely because of how effectively Hayden used it during his time with CSK. With its unique design – a longer handle and a shorter blade – it allowed players to generate incredible bat speed and hit the ball with immense power.

Hayden famously showcased its potential when he smashed a blistering 93 off 43 balls against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) back in 2010. That knock remains one of the most memorable examples of raw hitting in the tournament’s early years.

Now, years later, Hayden sees a similar spark in Rahul Tewatia. Speaking at GT’s “Shubharambh 2026” event in Ahmedabad, he said:

“If I had to hand my Mongoose bat to someone from GT, it would have to be Rahul Tewatia. He has the power. He does a very good job with the long bat. The margins in T20 cricket are five runs, 10 runs and to have that power at the backend and frontend is good. You will get it, mate.”

That statement perfectly captures why Tewatia stands out. In modern T20 cricket, where matches are often decided by the smallest of margins, having a player who can consistently deliver big hits in crunch moments is invaluable. Tewatia’s calm approach combined with his ability to accelerate makes him a natural fit for a bat designed purely for power.

Since joining Gujarat Titans, Tewatia has quietly become one of the most reliable finishers in the league. With 591 runs in 43 innings at a strike rate of over 150, his numbers reflect both consistency and impact. Whether it’s chasing tricky totals or finishing innings with a flourish, he has repeatedly shown that he thrives under pressure.

Also READ: Aakash Chopra points out the weakness of Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2026

“I am worried when an easy catch comes my way”: Glenn Phillips

The “Shubharambh 2026” event wasn’t just about Hayden’s endorsement. It also offered a glimpse into the mindset and personality within the Gujarat Titans squad.

New Zealand star Glenn Phillips shared an honest and slightly humorous take on fielding pressure. He said, “I am worried when an easy catch comes my way. Hard catches I know I will take, but easy catch, oh I am worried.”

It’s a relatable sentiment that highlights the mental side of cricket – sometimes the simplest chances can feel like the toughest.

Meanwhile, head coach Ashish Nehra reinforced the team’s competitive spirit with a strong message. He stated, “From day one, our mindset has been clear, we are not here to participate, we are here to compete and win.”

This clear and focused approach has been a defining trait of Gujarat Titans since their debut season. It reflects a culture built around confidence, clarity and a hunger to succeed.

Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction – Salary of Gujarat Titans (GT) players; check out how much Shubman Gill and Jason Holder earn

PM Narendra Modi (ANI image)

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed the impact of the ongoing West Asia war on India’s fuel supplies, assuring the country of sufficient crude oil storage and uninterrupted supply arrangements.Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi said the conflict has created a serious fuel crunch globally and India is also feeling its impact. “West Asian war has impacted us all. I want to express the government’s stance on this war in front of the House and the people of India. This war has been going on for over 3 weeks. It has created a serious fuel issue in the world. The situation in India is worrying too. This has impacted our ways of business,” he said.Highlighting India’s preparedness, PM Modi said that in the past 11 years, the country has created 53 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of strategic oil reserves, with work underway to add another 65 lakh MT. “The country is working on arranging over 65 lakh metric ton gas. Along with that, India’s refining capacity has also been increased in the past 10 years. I want to assure the country that India has enough crude oil storage and non-stop supply arrangements,” PM Modi said.He added that the Centre has started a Rs 70,000-crore project to manufacture ships. PM Modi further assured that his government is trying to procure gas and crude oil from all available sources.“Govt has constituted 7 empowered groups to evolve strategies on fuel, supply chains, fertilisers, among others,” he said. Asserting the stance of India in the ongoing conflict, PM Modi said that the nation wants peace in the region through dialogue and diplomacy.On the broader economic impact, the Prime Minister acknowledged the global disruption caused by the crisis, saying, “West Asia crisis has shaken world economy, will take a long time to recover. Govt making all efforts to minimise impact of West Asia crisis on India,” he said. PM Modi reaffirmed the commitment to maintain high economic growth. “Irrespective of crisis, maintaining high economic growth is our responsibility,” he said. The ongoing conflict in West Asia has entered its fourth week, disrupting trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz. The war started on February 28 with the killing of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Yash Dayal (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been dealt a massive blow ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 as the franchise confirmed that the fast bowler Yash Dayal will miss the entire tournament due to personal reasons. Yash Dayal was not seen in the RCB’s training sessions and also in the poster of RCB which sparked rumours of his absence from IPL 2026. Now RCB’s director of cricket, Mo Bobat, has cleared all the doubts over his absence. “So, just to confirm that Yash will not be joining up with the squad. As you know, he is going through a personal situation currently, and just to clarify, we’ve been very supportive of Yash to date and that’s reflected in the fact that we retained him when we had the opportunity to either retain or release players. We wanted to retain him, and he remains under contract and will continue in the short term to remain under contract,” Bobat told the media during a press conference on Tuesday. “We are communicating with him regularly. I spoke to him earlier today as well, but it has been decided that it is not in his best interest or the franchise’s best interest for him to join up with us at this point. He retains our support, and he remains under contract, and we’ll continue to speak to him as he goes through his personal situation,” he added.Earlier, TimesofIndia.com had reached out to multiple RCB officials for an update on Dayal, but they didn’t respond. It has been learnt that the BCCI Centre of Excellence contacted the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) last September to check on the bowler, but the officials could not establish contact with him.“The case was going on against him, so he wasn’t considered for selection. I remember there was a call from CoE checking on him in September, but we weren’t able to establish any contact with Yash Dayal. He has even changed his number. Even his childhood coach doesn’t know his whereabouts,” a UPCA official tells TimesofIndia.com.

Yash Dayal for RCB in IPL

Yash Dayal has played two seasons (2024, 2025) with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), he has taken 28 wickets in 29 matches. He was a key figure in RCB’s bowling attack, notably helping the team reach the playoffs in 2024 and securing their first-ever IPL title in 2025. Dayal was the joint-highest wicket-taker for RCB in 2024 with 15 wickets. He has built a reputation as death over baller after conceding 5 sixes for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023, RCB backed him and made him one of the dependable for RCB. Dayal, recently tied the knot with social media influencer Shweta Pundir in a primate ceremony, has been at the centre of major controversies of late. He was denied anticipatory bail a few months ago after he was involved in a case where he allegedly raped a minor. The controversy started in July 2025 when a lawsuit was brought against him for allegedly exploiting a woman under the guise of marriage. Later, a new case under the POSCO Act surfaced in Jaipur.

N Rangasamy (left) and V Vaithilingam

NEW DELHI: Puducherry’s Thattanchavady constituency will see Congress MP and former chief minister V Vaithilingam take on incumbent CM N Rangasamy, marking the most high-profile contest in the upcoming assembly election.Rangasamy is also the current Thattanchavady MLA.

The Union territory will hold assembly polls on April 9. The counting of votes will be held on May 4, along with the four poll-bound states – Assam, Keralam, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal – which will vote around the same time.Rangasamy, a former Congress leader, floated his own party, the All India NR Congress (AINRC), in February 2011. He has served as chief minister twice as a Congress leader and twice more as the founder-president of the AINRC.

Rangasamy vs Vaithilingam

Vaithilingam is a two-term former CM and the sitting MP from the Union territory’s lone Lok Sabha seat, also called Puducherry, which he won in the 2019 general elections and retained five years later.Rangasamy is also contesting from a second constituency, Mangalam.The AINRC is contesting the polls in alliance with the BJP and will field candidates in 16 of the 30 seats that go to direct elections (the remaining three MLAs are nominated by the central government).Also Read | Puducherry polls: BJP names candidate for Karaikal South – check full listThe BJP will contest the remaining 14 constituencies, of which it has allotted two seats each to the AIADMK and the Latchiya Jananayaka Katchi.The Congress and the DMK will contest under a similar seat-sharing arrangement, with the Congress set to field 16 candidates and the DMK 14.Also Read | Puducherry assembly polls: Seat deadlock ends; Congress gets 16, DMK 14In the 2021 polls, the AINRC-BJP combine won 16 seats—the exact majority mark—to unseat the Congress, which secured just two seats, while its ally, the DMK, won six. The Congress had unseated the AINRC in 2011.