29, Jul 2026
Sensex Surges 889 Points, Nifty Crosses 24,250
Mumbai, July 29: Indian equity markets witnessed a strong rally as benchmark indices surged on Wednesday, with the Sensex gaining 889 points and the Nifty crossing the 24,250 mark, supported by broad-based buying across key sectors.
The positive momentum reflected improved investor sentiment, with strong participation from large-cap stocks helping lift the overall market mood. Buying interest was seen in sectors such as information technology, banking, and financial services, contributing to the sharp rise in benchmark indices.
Market experts said the rally was supported by a combination of favourable global cues, optimism over corporate growth prospects, and renewed confidence among investors. The gains indicate continued resilience in Indian equities despite ongoing global uncertainties.
The upward movement provided relief to investors and strengthened expectations of sustained market momentum. However, analysts advised caution, noting that global developments, economic data, and upcoming corporate results will continue to influence market direction.
The strong market performance highlights the confidence of investors and reflects the underlying strength of India’s equity markets as they navigate evolving domestic and international conditions.
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- By Neel Achary
29, Jul 2026
India Moves to Tighten Exam Security with New Anti-Paper Leak Legislation
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha has passed the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, marking a major step towards strengthening the security and credibility of public examinations across the country.
Pic Credit: https://x.com/DrJitendraSingh
The legislation aims to tackle the growing challenge of examination malpractice, including paper leaks and unfair practices, by introducing stronger safeguards and improving accountability within the examination system.
During the discussion in the Lok Sabha, the government said the amendments are focused on protecting the interests of millions of students who appear for competitive and recruitment examinations every year. Union Minister Jitendra Singh highlighted the need for a robust framework to ensure transparency, fairness, and trust in the examination process.
The bill was passed through a voice vote amid disruptions and a heated debate in the House. Despite the political differences, the government maintained that preventing exam-related fraud remains a priority to safeguard students’ hard work and ensure merit-based selection.
The move comes after concerns over examination irregularities in recent years, with students and aspirants demanding stronger measures to prevent leaks and ensure a fair opportunity for all.
With the new amendments, the government aims to build a more reliable examination ecosystem where transparency, accountability, and student confidence remain at the centre of the process.
29, Jul 2026
RAKEZ partners with Control Risks to initiate a comprehensive framework for workers’ welfare, wellbeing and happiness
Ras Al Khaimah, July 29: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) has signed an agreement with Control Risks Middle East Limited to develop a comprehensive framework aimed at enhancing workers’ welfare, quality of life, and accommodation standards across labour accommodations in the economic zone.
This initiative reflects the economic zone’s commitment to fostering standards of safety, health and wellbeing within labour accommodations, while supporting employers in adopting leading practices that contribute to workforce satisfaction and sustainable business growth.
The agreement was signed by RAKEZ CFO Alida Helena Scholtz and Control Risks Global Head of Business and Human Rights, Dr James Sinclair at RAKEZ headquarters.
As part of the partnership, Control Risks will work closely with RAKEZ’s Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) department to conduct a detailed assessment of labour accommodation practices, benchmark them against regional and international best practices, engage relevant stakeholders, and develop a structured framework that provides a long-term roadmap for improving accommodation standards and promoting continuous improvement.
RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said, “Responsible growth is built on creating an environment where businesses and the people behind them can thrive. This collaboration will help us establish a clear and consistent approach to worker wellbeing, strengthening the wider RAKEZ community and supporting sustainable progress across our ecosystem.”
Control Risks Global Head of Business and Human Rights, Dr James Sinclair said, “We are pleased to partner with RAKEZ on this important initiative. Our role will be to translate recognised regional and international practices into a framework that is practical, measurable and suited to the economic zone’s business environment. By engaging relevant stakeholders and assessing current practices, we aim to provide clear guidance that supports meaningful and lasting improvements.”
Once completed, the framework will provide businesses with practical guidance for managing and continuously improving labour accommodation standards. It will also support the UAE’s broader efforts to enhance workers’ quality of life and promote responsible, sustainable labour accommodation practices.
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29, Jul 2026
Indian Tourists Get Easier Access as UPI Payments Reach Burj Khalifa Bookings
Dubai, July 29: Travelling to Dubai has become more convenient for Indian visitors, with UPI payments now available for online bookings at Burj Khalifa, one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions.
The new payment option allows Indian travellers to use familiar UPI-enabled apps to purchase tickets and services, making the booking process faster, simpler, and more seamless while visiting the UAE.
The move marks another milestone in the global expansion of India’s digital payment ecosystem. With UPI gaining acceptance in international markets, Indian travellers are increasingly able to use a trusted and secure payment method while shopping, dining, and accessing tourist services abroad.
The initiative is expected to benefit the large number of Indian visitors travelling to Dubai each year by reducing payment-related challenges and improving the overall travel experience.
The growing adoption of UPI across global destinations highlights the rising influence of India’s digital finance infrastructure and reflects stronger technology and economic cooperation between India and the UAE.
As digital payments continue to expand worldwide, the availability of UPI at major international attractions like Burj Khalifa showcases India’s progress in building a globally connected and convenient payment network.
29, Jul 2026
Thodi Si Umeed Thoda Sa Aasman Actress Aarti Birajdar on Vaidehi’s New Chapter: Marriage Should Never Mean Giving Up on Your Dreams
Talking about the ongoing track, Aarti Birajdar, who plays Vaidehi, says,
“In the current track of Thodi Si Umeed, Thoda Sa Aasman, Vaidehi is getting married while also preparing for her exams, and she is trying to balance both these important phases of her life. While I am portraying this on screen, in reality, there are so many girls who are managing their studies, careers, marriages and responsibilities at the same time. It is not easy to take care of a home and family while also working towards your dreams, but so many women continue to do it every single day.I have even come across stories of girls who have appeared for their exams in their wedding outfits, attended their exams, and then gone back to their own wedding ceremonies. Just imagining the strength and determination it takes to do something like that is truly inspiring. I have immense respect for all the girls who are balancing their responsibilities while refusing to give up on their dreams. They may be ordinary girls, but the way they manage their lives and dreams makes them truly extraordinary. Marriage should never mean giving up on your dreams. A huge salute to every such girl who continues to believe in herself.”
29, Jul 2026
Nepal’s Tiger Conservation Success: Population Climbs to 429 in 2026
Kathmandu, July 29: Nepal has achieved a major milestone in wildlife conservation, with its tiger population increasing from 121 in 2009 to 429 in 2026, marking significant progress in protecting one of the world’s most endangered big cats.
The rise in tiger numbers reflects years of dedicated conservation efforts, including stronger wildlife protection measures, improved habitat management, anti-poaching initiatives, and greater involvement of local communities in preserving forest ecosystems.
Wildlife experts said the steady growth in the tiger population is a positive indicator of Nepal’s successful conservation strategy and highlights the importance of long-term efforts to protect natural habitats and maintain biodiversity.
The increase has also strengthened Nepal’s position in global tiger conservation efforts, demonstrating how coordinated action between government agencies, conservation groups, and communities can help revive threatened wildlife populations.
Authorities continue to focus on protecting tiger habitats, managing human-wildlife interactions, and ensuring sustainable conservation practices to support the long-term survival of the species.
Nepal’s achievement serves as an encouraging example of wildlife recovery and shows the impact of consistent conservation efforts in safeguarding the country’s rich natural heritage.
29, Jul 2026
India’s Youth Take Centre Stage in Drive to Build a Drug-Free Future
New Delhi, July 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch the ‘Nasha Mukta Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan’ on August 2, a nationwide initiative aimed at encouraging young people to stay away from substance abuse and promoting a healthier, stronger future for the country.
The campaign seeks to create awareness about the harmful effects of drug addiction while bringing together youth, families, educational institutions, and communities to support prevention and rehabilitation efforts.
Through this initiative, the government aims to inspire young citizens to become active participants in the fight against substance abuse by promoting awareness, responsible choices, and positive lifestyles.
Officials said the campaign will focus on reaching communities at the grassroots level and encouraging greater public participation to address the challenges linked to drug addiction. Special emphasis will be placed on empowering young people with knowledge, support systems, and opportunities for personal growth.
The initiative reflects the importance of protecting India’s youth population and creating an environment where young citizens can focus on education, careers, and nation-building without the impact of substance abuse.
With the launch of the campaign, the government hopes to strengthen collective efforts towards building a healthier, more aware, and drug-free India.
29, Jul 2026
Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach Strengthens Leadership Team with Four Strategic Leadership Appointments
Mumbai, July 29: As India’s hospitality sector continues to evolve with growing demand across leisure travel, MICE, weddings, and destination dining, hotels are increasingly investing in experienced leadership to drive business performance and enhance guest experiences. Reflecting this strategic direction, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach has announced four key leadership appointments across its commercial, operational, and guest experience functions, further strengthening its management team.
The hotel has elevated Amartya Chakraborty as Director of Operations, while welcoming Abhijit Masurkar as Director of Sales & Marketing, Chander Joshi as Assistant Director of Revenue Management, and Harshwardhan Dhavale as Food & Beverage Manager, bringing together more than five decades of collective hospitality experience across some of the industry’s most respected brands.
Having served as Director of Sales & Marketing at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach since 2022, Amartya Chakraborty has been promoted to Director of Operations, marking a significant leadership transition for the hotel. With nearly two decades of hospitality experience and over a decade with Accor. His journey within Accor includes the successful completion of the Leadership Master Program and a strategic task force assignment at Mercure Kathmandu. He will oversee the hotel’s overall operations with a focus on enhancing service excellence, operational efficiencies, employee engagement, and seamless guest experiences across accommodation, food & beverage, weddings, banquets, and events.
Leading the commercial function, Abhijit Masurkar joins the hotel as Director of Sales & Marketing with over 20 years of experience in hospitality sales and business development. Having held leadership roles with IHCL, The Leela Palace, and Hilton, he brings deep expertise in market strategy, stakeholder engagement, and revenue generation. In his new role, he will focus on strengthening the hotel’s market positioning, driving commercial performance, and expanding opportunities across corporate, leisure, weddings, and MICE segments.
Further strengthening the hotel’s commercial capabilities, Chander Joshi has been appointed Assistant Director of Revenue Management. With over 14 years of experience, he has worked with leading hospitality brands including Holiday Inn, DoubleTree by Hilton, Le Méridien, The Lalit, and The Leela. His expertise in revenue optimisation, demand forecasting, pricing strategy, and distribution management will support the hotel’s continued focus on maximising performance across diverse business segments in an increasingly dynamic hospitality landscape.
Enhancing the hotel’s culinary and guest experience offerings, Harshwardhan Dhavale joins as Food & Beverage Manager. Bringing 16 years of experience, he has worked with renowned brands including Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Mumbai, DoubleTree by Hilton, ibis, Grand Mercure Bengaluru, Della Adventure, and Taj Residency. His extensive operational experience and guest-centric approach will play a key role in further elevating the hotel’s restaurants, banqueting operations, and destination dining experiences.
Kunal Shanker, General Manager, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, said,
“The hospitality industry is evolving rapidly, with guest expectations extending far beyond traditional hotel stays. Success today depends on creating seamless experiences across accommodation, dining, celebrations, events, and every guest touchpoint. These leadership appointments reflect our commitment to building a future-ready team that combines commercial expertise, operational excellence, and a guest-first mindset. Amartya’s elevation, alongside the addition of Abhijit, Chander, and Harshwardhan, brings diverse strengths that will further enhance our business performance, service standards, and innovation. Together, they will play a pivotal role in shaping the next phase of growth for Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach while delivering exceptional value to our guests, partners, and associates.
29, Jul 2026
What Kids Watch on YouTube Isn’t Always What They Learn: ISB Study
India, July 29: Children have unprecedented access to digital video content, but identifying content that supports academic learning remains a challenge. A study by the Indian School of Business finds that the popularity of children’s videos does not necessarily translate into learning outcomes, highlighting a critical gap between what children watch and what they actually learn.
Introducing a novel AI-driven approach to assess the academic quality of children’s video content at scale, the research titled “Quantifying the Academic Quality of Children’s Videos Using Machine Comprehension,” authored by Professor Sumeet Kumar, Assistant Professor of Information Systems at the Indian School of Business, along with Mallikarjuna Tupakula and Ashiqur R. KhudaBukhsh of the Rochester Institute of Technology was published in the INFORMS Journal on Computing , and conducted in collaboration with the Rochester Institute of Technology.
The study analysed nearly 49,000 videos from 134 popular children’s YouTube channels drawn from a global pool of content, supported by a dataset of over 6,300 curriculum-based question–answer pairs and benchmarked against approximately 21,000 textbook questions spanning grades 1 to 12. The findings show that videos with higher viewership are not always those that deliver stronger educational value, pointing to a broader challenge in how digital platforms surface and prioritise content.
To address this, the researchers developed a machine comprehension-based model that evaluates videos using school curricula. By assessing whether a video can correctly answer textbook-aligned questions—using both its spoken content and visual elements—the model provides an objective way to measure its academic relevance. The approach achieved an accuracy of up to 77.5%, demonstrating its potential as a scalable evaluation tool.
“Parents today face a digital deluge of content, making it difficult to distinguish between what is educational and what is simply engaging,” said Sumeet Kumar, Assistant Professor of Information Systems at ISB. “Our research provides a systematic and scalable way to evaluate children’s videos using academic benchmarks. By aligning content with school curricula, we aim to help parents, educators, and platforms prioritise videos that genuinely support learning.”
The study also identifies gaps in content availability. While foundational topics such as basic measurement and language skills are relatively well represented, more complex areas—including scientific reasoning and advanced concepts—remain underrepresented. This points to the need for stronger alignment between digital content and curriculum requirements, particularly for higher-grade learners.
By providing a data-driven method to assess academic quality, the research offers practical implications for multiple stakeholders. For parents and educators, it enables more informed content choices. For digital platforms, it presents an opportunity to improve recommendation systems by incorporating learning value alongside engagement metrics.
As video continues to play a growing role in children’s learning environments, the study underscores the importance of moving beyond popularity as a measure of value. Strengthening the focus on educational quality will be critical to ensuring that digital content meaningfully contributes to learning outcomes at scale.
29, Jul 2026
Heavy Rain Disrupts Odisha Life as Seven Districts Close Schools and Colleges
Bhubaneswar, July 29 (UDN): Several parts of Odisha are facing disruption due to heavy rainfall and rising flood concerns, prompting authorities to temporarily close schools, colleges, and Anganwadi centres across seven districts as a safety measure.
Educational institutions in Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, and Deogarh will remain closed as continuous rainfall has caused river water levels to rise and increased the risk of flooding in vulnerable areas.
The precautionary decision aims to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff while local administrations continue to monitor the weather situation and prepare for possible emergencies.
Officials are keeping a close watch on affected regions, where rising water levels have impacted daily life in some areas. Residents in low-lying locations have been advised to remain cautious and follow safety instructions issued by authorities.
Emergency response teams and district administrations are working to manage the situation, provide assistance where needed, and minimize the impact of the ongoing monsoon conditions.
The temporary closures highlight the administration’s efforts to protect communities as Odisha continues to experience heavy rainfall and flood-related challenges.
