In 1817, the Hindu College was established in Calcutta to provide what its founders demanded — a ‘liberal education’ for Bengal’s youth. About a decade later, in 1826, a 17-year-old Anglo-Portuguese aspiring poet, Henry Derozio, was appointed lecturer in the senior wing of the college. His teachings gained him a loyal following of students, who debated politics and challenged orthodoxy and Brahmanical supremacy in a caste-ridden society. Although Derozio was dismissed from the institution in 1831 and died later the same year of cholera, his legacy left a deep imprint on the minds of his students.

In her book, India’s First Radicals: Young Bengal and the British Empire, published by Penguin Random House India Pvt. Ltd. (2025), academic and author Rosinka Chaudhuri examines the subsequent activities of this group of students who, in the 1840s, came to be known as Young Bengal. Chaudhuri credits the group with many firsts, including forming India’s first political party — the Bengal British India Society — in 1843 in association with British orator and prominent abolitionist George Thompson. She further notes that Young Bengal generated a language of leftist politics in India, and they were among the earliest advocates of constitutional reform under colonial rule.

The Delhi High Court has ruled that a daughter-in-law, who becomes a widow after the demise of her father-in-law, is entitled to claim maintenance from the estate derived from his coparcenary property.

A division bench comprising Justice Anil Kshetarpal and Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar said that even if the father-in-law owns significant separate or self-acquired assets, the duty to maintain arises only from the coparcenary property which would subsequently form a part of his estate after his death.

The Court referred to Section 21(vii) of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956, and said that the provision provides that a widow is entitled to seek maintenance from the estate of her father-in-law.

Photography is more than just capturing images; it’s a powerful way of telling stories, preserving memories, and connecting people across cultures and generations. Every year on August 19, the world comes together to celebrate World Photography Day, honouring the art, craft, and science behind photography. It is a day to appreciate the photographers who use their lenses to inspire, document, and drive change.

Photography has the unique power to freeze moments in time, highlight unseen realities, and bridge gaps of understanding. From professional photojournalists to hobbyists with smartphones, this day is a reminder of how images influence the way we see the world.

Third-ranked Iga Swiatek captured the Cincinnati Open title for the first time by defeating No. 7 Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-4 on Monday night.

Swiatek had failed to advance past the semifinals in her six previous appearances at the Cincinnati Open. She reached the semifinals in Cincinnati each of the past two years, but lost to eventual champions Coco Gauff in 2023 and Aryna Sabalenka in 2024.

"It means a lot to me," Swiatek said. "This year, I really wanted it. I'm just very happy. It's nice to check off the list another tournament that I haven't won. I have friends here. It's a nice, relaxed tournament before New York."

Swiatek has won all six meetings against the Italian, dropping only one set in those matches.

Miss Universe India 2025 has finally been crowned, and Manika Vishwakarma from Rajasthan will now represent India at the global 74th Miss Universe competition to be held in Thailand later this year. Crowned by Miss Universe India 2024 Rhea Singha, she beat Tanya Sharma from Uttar Pradesh (the first runner-up), Mehak Dhingra from Haryana (the second runner-up), and Amishi Kaushik (the third runner-up) to win the coveted title.

The finale round saw Manika face a tough question: If she had to choose between advocating for women’s education or providing economic aid to poor families, what would she prioritise and why? She chose women’s education, calling it the key to breaking cycles of poverty. She said, “Educating women doesn’t just change one life, it transforms the future of families, communities, and nations.”

TikTok and the Nepal Tourism Board jointly announced a partnership on Tuesday to promote Nepal’s tourism sector through a creator-led campaign. The in-app experience is expected to help travellers discover the country’s must-see destinations and unexplored locations.

Nepal Tourism Board and TikTok will work jointly with both local and globally renowned travel creators, inviting and supporting them to explore Nepal and document their journeys through captivating short-form videos that showcase the country’s beauty and culture to audiences worldwide. Throughout the campaign, creators will publish content on TikTok, showcasing Nepal’s natural beauty and cultural heritage, including festivals, arts, cuisine, and community traditions. Rolling out through the remainder of 2025, the collaboration is expected to deliver a continuous flow of creator content on TikTok alongside a dedicated #VisitNepal in-app experience.

Tourism Minister Badri Pandey, at the launch of the lifetime experience campaign, expressed his view that with collaboration with TikTok, Nepal will have a wider reach to global travellers intending to visit Nepal. He expected that this campaign would enhance Nepal’s socio-economic status.

Press Registrar General of India (PRGI) Yogesh Baweja has said the Press Sewa portal has been introduced as a single-window solution to simplify the registration process for newspapers and periodicals. He said the initiative will enhance transparency, speed up approvals and improve the ease of doing business for publishers and resolve the issues faced by publishers. He was interacting with publishers at Vartalap, organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Hyderabad, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

PIB Hyderabad Additional Director General Shruti Patil highlighted that this was the first interactive session of its kind in Telangana, designed to clarify publishers’ queries and provide guidance on the new Registration of Periodicals Act (PRP Act). She also announced that PIB Hyderabad, with the support of PRGI, would soon establish a dedicated helpline for publishers.

Deputy Press Registrar Ashutosh Mohle explained that the entire registration process has transitioned online since March last year. He stated that applications will be deemed approved if there is no response within 60 days and emphasised the importance of publishers avoiding agents and using the PRGI portal directly.

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, through a voice vote, without any discussion, paving the way for IIM Guwahati to be recognised as an institute of national importance. The House was repeatedly adjourned amid disruptions before the Bill was finally passed.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan introduced the legislation, which seeks to include IIM Guwahati under the IIM Act of 2017. The move follows a Memorandum of Settlement signed between the Centre, the Assam government, and representatives of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) aimed at accelerating development in the region.

The Bill provides a corpus fund of Rs 555 crore over five years, from 2025-26 to 2029-30, after which the institute is expected to be financially self-sustaining through its internal accruals. “After five years, no additional support shall be extended to the Institute since it shall be generating enough revenue on its own,” the legislation states.

The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, aimed at promoting sustainable mining, zero-waste practices, and advancing the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission. The bill follows its earlier passage in the Lok Sabha last week amid opposition demands for debate on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.

Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, said the Modi government is committed to transparency in the mining sector, with production enhanced through the use of modern technology. He highlighted that critical minerals, vital for sectors including electric vehicles, batteries, LEDs, automotive parts, machines, and space applications, were largely neglected before 2014, leaving India dependent on imports.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Tuesday approved the construction of a six-lane, access-controlled Capital Region Ring Road (Bhubaneswar Bypass) in Odisha under the hybrid annuity model (HAM). The total project cost is ₹8,307.74 crore, a PIB release said.

Currently, the stretch from Rameshwar to Tangi on the existing National Highway faces severe traffic congestion. Heavy traffic flows through urban centres such as Khordha, Bhubaneswar, and Cuttack, causing delays and higher logistics costs.

To tackle these challenges, the new highway will be developed as a six-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor, which will help in diverting heavy commercial vehicles away from city centres. This will improve freight efficiency, reduce transport costs and drive economic growth in Odisha and neighbouring states.