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The World Happiness Report 2025 reaffirms that happiness stems from trust, support, and freedom, beyond mere wealth. Finland’s lead exemplifies this, while India’s climb to 118th reflects progress tempered by challenges. China’s 68th rank highlights stability’s benefits, constrained by freedom. South Asia’s mixed rankings—Nepal (92nd), Pakistan (109th), Sri Lanka (133rd), Bangladesh (134th)—underscore social capital’s role. For India, China, and their neighbors, fostering community resilience and addressing systemic gaps will pave the way to happier societies.
ଜଳବାୟୁ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନର ସଙ୍କଟ ସନ୍ଦର୍ଭରେ ପ୍ରକୃତି ଓ ପରିବେଶର ସୁରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ଚାରିଆଡ଼େ ଉଦ୍ୟମ ହେଉଥିଲା ବେଳେ, ବିଡ଼ମ୍ୱନାର ବିଷୟ ଯେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ସରକାର ଆମ ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ୧୪୪ ଧାରା ଜାରି କରି ବିଶ୍ୱ ପରିବେଶ ଦିବସ ପାଳନ କରିବାକୁ ଆମକୁ ବାରଣ କଲେ । ତଥାପି ଆମର ଶହ ଶହ ଲୋକ ଲୋକ କଣ୍ଟାମାଳରେ ଏକତ୍ରିତ ହୋଇ ପରିବେଶ ଦିବସ ପାଳନ କଲେ । ଆହୁରି ନିନ୍ଦନୀୟ ଯେ ପରିବେଶ ଓ ପ୍ରକୃତିର ସୁରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ଆମକୁ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରୁଥିବା ବହୁ ବନ୍ଧୁ ଓ ସମର୍ଥକଙ୍କୁ ରାୟଗଡ଼ା ଜିଲ୍ଲା ପ୍ରଶାସନ “ଶାନ୍ତି ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳା ବ୍ୟାହତ ହେବା” ଆଳରେ ଜିଲ୍ଲା ଭିତରକୁ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ନିଷେଧାଦେଶ ଜାରି କରିଛି । ଅଥଚ ଯେଉଁ ବେଦାନ୍ତ ଓ ତା’ର ଠିକା କମ୍ପାନୀ ମୈତ୍ରୀର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକଳାପ ପାଇଁ ଆମ ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ଅଶାନ୍ତି ସୃଷ୍ଟି ହେଉଛି, ଜିଲ୍ଲା ପ୍ରଶାସନ ସେହିମାନଙ୍କୁ ହିଁ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ଦେଇଚାଲିଛି ।
A new directive by the Odisha government, allowing Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to recommend the transfer of up to 15 teachers within their constituencies, has ignited a fierce controversy. Opposition MLAs have demanded the immediate withdrawal of this policy, arguing that it not only exerts undue pressure on elected representatives but also undermines the authority of the Inter-District Transfer Committee and the principles of a transparent, policy-driven transfer process.
The world has lost one of its most fearless literary giants, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, who passed away on May 28, 2025, in Buford, Georgia, at the age of 87. A revolutionary novelist, playwright, essayist, and unrelenting advocate for African languages and decolonization, Ngũgĩ’s death marks the end of an era for global literature. His life was a testament to the power of words as weapons of resistance, and his legacy will forever echo in the halls of academia, activism, and art.
Kiran Rao’s “Laapataa Ladies” (released internationally as “Lost Ladies”) is a delightful blend of humor, heart, and sharp social commentary that marks a triumphant return for the director after a 14-year hiatus. Set in the fictional Nirmal Pradesh in 2001, this comedy-drama, produced by Aamir Khan Productions, weaves a deceptively simple tale of two young brides, Phool Kumari (Nitanshi Goel) and Jaya Tripathi (Pratibha Ranta), who are accidentally swapped during a train journey to their husbands’ homes. What unfolds is a charming narrative that balances laugh-out-loud moments with a poignant critique of gender norms and patriarchal structures in rural India.
Amazon Prime Video’s beloved comedy-drama Panchayat returns with its fourth season, premiering on July 2, 2025, and continues to weave its magic with a delightful blend of humor, heart, and rural authenticity. Created by The Viral Fever (TVF), directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra with co-director Akshat Vijaywargiya, and written by Chandan Kumar, this season picks up where the tense cliffhanger of Season 3 left off, diving into the heated Panchayat elections in the fictional village of Phulera, Uttar Pradesh. With its signature grounded storytelling and stellar ensemble cast, Panchayat Season 4 delivers another engaging chapter that balances laughter with poignant social commentary.
As of early 2025, nine journalists and one media worker remain behind bars. While there have been no reported journalist killings since January 2024, this does not suggest a safer environment. Rather, the focus has shifted to legal persecution, online harassment, arbitrary detentions, and economic pressure.
Subhash Ghai’s 30-minute short film, Gandhi: A Perspective, offers a poignant exploration of Mahatma Gandhi’s enduring relevance in contemporary society. Premiering at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2024 and later streamed on Doordarshan’s Waves OTT platform, the film marks Ghai’s debut in the short film format. Starring Manoj Bajpayee, the docu-drama aims to bridge generational gaps in understanding Gandhi’s philosophy, though it occasionally struggles to balance its ambitious scope within its concise runtime.
Mohan Charan Majhi, Odisha’s first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister and a tribal leader from the Santhal community, will complete one year in office on June 12, 2025. His tenure marks a historic shift after 24 years of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) rule under Naveen Patnaik. This assessment evaluates his governance, focusing on key initiatives like the Subhadra Yojana, farmer bonuses, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, tribal welfare, governance style, and challenges, including delays in filling corporation chairperson posts and reshuffling senior officers.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), tasked with shaping the curricula for millions of Indian students, finds itself at the center of a heated controversy over allegations of “saffronization” in its textbooks. The term, linked to the promotion of Hindu nationalist ideologies often associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its affiliates, has sparked debates about the role of education in India’s diverse society.
New Delhi, May 31, 2025 — India’s premier educational institutions, including Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Delhi University (DU), and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), are at the center of a heated controversy over alleged “saffronization.” The term, linked to the promotion of Hindu nationalist ideologies associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has sparked debates about the politicization of education, particularly through the appointment of vice-chancellors (VCs) with alleged RSS affiliations. Critics warn of eroding academic freedom, while supporters claim the changes restore India’s cultural heritage.