Rajonance

The Maha Kumbh Mela witnessed its third ‘Amrit Snan’ on Monday, February 3, which coincided with Basant Panchami. This was the first holy bathing ritual since the tragic stampede on Mauni Amavasya, which claimed at least 30 lives and inured many. The government, in response to the disaster, put in pace stricter security measures and protocols to ensure a smooth and incident-free snan (bathing event). Mela authorities, along with akhara groups, carefully coordinated a sequence for spiritual sects to take their dips at Sangam Nose, the site of last week’s fatal crowd surge. As the third ‘Amrit Snan’ unfolded, seers from various akharas began their holy dip at daybreak. By 4 AM, an estimated 16.58 lakh devotees had participated, with the Uttar Pradesh government expecting the number to reach 5 crore by the end of the day. Basant Panchami, celebrated on the first day of spring, falls on the fifth day of Magha and is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The festival also marks the begin...

Chinese fast fashion app Shein has returned to India after five years, partnering with Reliance Retail under a long-term licensing deal. Though Reliance has not officially announced it, a company official  confirmed that Shein will sell Indian-manufactured and sourced products on its platform. Shein's re-entry comes with strict conditions, including storing all data within India, as stated by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in December. The app was banned in 2020, along with TikTok and other Chinese apps, over data security concerns following border tensions between India and China. The app relaunched on Friday night, has already surpassed 10,000 downloads, and offers fashionwear starting at ₹199 ($2.30). Currently, deliveries are limited to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, with nationwide expansion planned soon. Once a top fast fashion brand in India, Shein's absence created a gap that local brands filled. Experts believe Reliance Retail, owned by Mukesh Ambani, is using Shein ...

Today, February 1, 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented India's annual budget, focusing on stimulating economic growth and providing relief to the middle class.  Key highlights of the budget include: Income Tax Reforms The income tax exemption threshold has been raised to ₹1.2 million (₹12 lakh) per annum, up from ₹700,000, offering significant relief to middle-class taxpayers. Individuals earning ₹1.2 million annually will benefit from a tax reduction of ₹80,000. Agriculture and Farmer Support A six-year program has been launched to boost the production of pulses and cotton, aiming to reduce import dependence. The budget introduces a national mission to develop high-yielding seed varieties to address challenges from shrinking farmlands and erratic weather. Economic Growth and Fiscal Management The government projects a fiscal deficit reduction to 4.4% of GDP for the fiscal year 2025-26. Capital expend...

  Microsoft has introduced artificial intelligence in one of its widely used programs MS Office. Named as Copilot 365, this AI-powered tool is designed to help users generate documents, emails, presentations, and much more in Microsoft 365 apps. It works alongside users in the apps they use every day. For example, in Word application it would write the documents, edit them wherever required, suggest changes, summarize the document as the user is working.  Similarly, it helps in creating professional-looking data, analyze your data, suggest best solution, identify issues, explore new trends, and generate model based on your problems, and all that in a fraction of time. In PowerPoint, Copilot, can help you create powerful presentations with best presentable way. In outlook, it can help in managing your emails properly.

The blockbuster track Naatu Naatu from the  hit Telugu-language film RRR  won Best Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards. The tempo and choreography of the song captivated the audiences not only in India but around the world. It was the first time that any Indian movie song was judged the best in this category leaving behind  many heavyweights such as Rihana and Lady Gaga.  India also won a second Oscar in this year. The film, The Elephant Whisperers, which is a documentary short film, won an Oscar in the Best Documentary Short film category.

In a car blast occured in the outskirts of Moscow on 21 August, the daughter, Darya Dugina, of the close ally considered as the right hand of Russia's President Vladimir Putin died in a car explosion. Darya Dugina was 29 and was the daughter of the Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin known in political circle as "Putin's brain".  Alexander Dugin considered as an ultra-nationalist ideologue and his dughter Darya Dugina had been at a festival near Moscow, where the philosopher gave a lecture on Saturday evening. The festival called "Tradition" describes itself as a family event for art lovers which takes place at the Zakharovo estate, where Russian poet Alexander Pushkin once stayed. Both the daughter and father were to leave the venue together but Alexander Dugin reportedly decided to leave the venue separately. Alaxander Dugin Darya Dugina, who was driving the car, died on spot where the scene ocurred, reported the investive agency. They said that an explosi...

External Affairs Minister of India, S Jaishankar, during a lecture in Bangkok said that an Asian Century cannot cease to exist if India and China do not join hands. Responding to it the  Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said,   "China and India are two ancient civilisations, two major emerging economies and two neighbouring countries. We have far more common interests than differences. Both sides have the wisdom and capability to help each other succeed instead of undercutting each other." External affairs minister S Jaishankar addressing in  Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok .[Photo Credit: PTI] Earlier, External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, had said that the relationship between India and China was going through an ‘extremely difficult phase’ after the issues that emerged at the border and emphasised that the Asian Century would not happen if the two neighbours could not join hands.  External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishshankar’s, remarks c...