At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.

Gyaneshwari Yadav claims silver at Commonwealth Games 2026

India added another medal to its growing tally on Monday as weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav claimed the silver medal in the women’s 53 kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026.

It was the country’s third silver of the tournament so far.

With this result, India’s overall medal count at the Games has now risen to five, comprising one gold, three silver, and one bronze.

Interestingly, every single one of these medals has come from the weightlifting and para-powerlifting disciplines, underlining India’s continued dominance in the sport on the international stage.

Despite the strong showing in weightlifting, India currently find themselves in eighth position on the overall points table, just behind Malaysia, who edge ahead into seventh spot on the back of a superior gold medal count.

There’s more good news on the horizon too, with India already assured of at least one more medal in boxing after Sachin Siwach, competing in the 60 kg category, and Ankush, fighting in the 80 kg division, both booked their spots in the quarter-finals with strong performances.

Meanwhile, the day brought mixed fortunes for India on the athletics track and field. Gurindervir Singh, widely regarded as India’s fastest man, saw his campaign end early after failing to secure a place in the men’s 100m semi-final.

There was brighter news elsewhere, however, as long jumpers Murali Sreeshankar and Lokesh Sathyanathan both managed to punch their tickets through to the final of their event, while hurdler Tejas Shirse also impressed enough to book his place in the 110m hurdles final.

Earlier, veteran lifter Mirabai Chanu delivered one of the standout performances of the Games so far, clinching her third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal after lifting a combined total of 190 kg in the women’s 49 kg category.

Chanu’s road to gold wasn’t entirely smooth, though, as she actually failed her first attempt at 82 kg in the snatch, before bouncing back impressively on her second attempt to not only clear the lift but push further and set a new Games record with an 85 kg snatch.

She followed that up with a composed performance in the clean and jerk, successfully lifting 105 kg on her second attempt to comfortably secure the gold medal and add yet another chapter to her decorated career.

Rounding out the podium, Nigeria’s Ruth Asuquo Nyong took home the silver medal, while Malaysia’s Irene Jane Henry settled for bronze in what turned out to be a closely contested event overall.

Odisha reviews disaster preparedness ahead of deep depression landfall

Bhubaneswar: Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari chaired a high-level review meeting on Monday. The meeting assessed the state’s preparedness ahead of the deep depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal.

The meeting was held at the Revenue Conference Hall in Lok Seva Bhawan. Pujari reviewed preparedness district by district and directed all district administrations to maintain round-the-clock vigilance.

The minister stressed that protecting human life remains the government’s top priority. He instructed officials to ensure timely evacuation of vulnerable people wherever needed. He also asked for adequate arrangements for cooked food, dry rations, drinking water, and shelter. Close coordination among emergency departments was emphasized for swift ground response.

Collectors and senior officials from several districts joined via video conference. These included Mayurbhanj, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Kendujhar, Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Kalahandi and Sundargarh. They briefed the minister on preparedness steps taken locally. Pujari asked district administrators to stay in constant touch with field officials and monitor vulnerable locations closely.

According to the India Meteorological Department, the deep depression is likely to move north-northwestwards. It is expected to cross the West Bengal–North Odisha coast between Baleshwar and Canning.

A red warning has been issued for Sundargarh, Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj districts. An Orange Warning covers Baleshwar, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Subarnapur, Boudh and Kandhamal. A Yellow Warning applies to Nuapada, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha and Nayagarh.

The State Emergency Operation Centre continues monitoring the situation round the clock. It remains in close coordination with District Emergency Operation Centres and concerned departments. Odisha has received 517.6 mm of cumulative rainfall since July 1. This is 75.7% above the seasonal average.

The review noted that all major rivers are flowing below the warning level. No adverse incidents have been reported from any district so far. District administrations have already activated precautionary measures. These include evacuation preparedness, localized flood response, uninterrupted essential services and relief distribution. Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea till July 29.

Pujari reiterated the government’s commitment to public safety. He said all departments are working in coordination and every district stands fully prepared. He added that the situation is being monitored continuously on a 24×7 basis.

The meeting was attended by Additional Special Relief Commissioner Padmanav Behera and Joint Special Relief Commissioner Snigdha Champatiray. Officers on Special Duty from the Special Relief Commissioner’s office also attended. The Engineer-in-Chief of the Water Resources Department and other senior officials were present.

Higher Education Department releases PG admission timeline for 2026-27

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Higher Education Department has released the remaining timeline for e-Admission into Postgraduate (PG) courses under the Student Academic Management System (SAMS) for the academic session 2026-27.

The schedule applies to State Public Universities and Colleges participating under SAMS. Officials said any changes in the dates will be published in newspapers as well as on the official website, www.samsodisha.gov.in. The Common Prospectus for the course is available on the SAMS Portal.

Eligible applicants can update their graduation marks and lock their institution choices from July 27, 2026 (3:00 PM) to August 2, 2026 (11:45 PM).

The provisional allotment of seats for the First Round will be published on August 7, 2026 (4:00 PM). Students can select the Freeze, Slide, or Float option and complete online fee payment through the SAMS Student’s Account portal between August 7 and August 11, 2026 (4:00 PM).

Reporting at allotted institutions for the First Round will take place from August 8 to August 11, 2026 (5:00 PM), except on holidays. Institutions have been asked to update admitted students’ data in the e-space during the same period, up to 9:00 PM.

The provisional allotment for the Second/Final Round will be announced on August 17, 2026 (4:00 PM). The Freeze option and fee payment window will remain open from August 17 to August 20, 2026 (4:00 PM).

Reporting at institutions for the Second Round admission has been scheduled from August 18 to August 20, 2026 (5:00 PM), with institutions required to update admission data by 9:00 PM on the same dates.

The list of waitlisted applicants, based on remaining upper-choice institutions and actual vacancies as of August 20, will be published on August 25, 2026 (2:00 PM).

Interested waitlisted applicants must report in person at their respective institutions between August 28 and August 29, 2026 (4:00 PM) to submit their Common Application Form along with documents. A representative with valid ID proof may report on the applicant’s behalf, officials said.

The merit list among reported waitlisted applicants will be published on August 31, 2026 (2:00 PM), with selected candidates informed via phone call, SMS, email, or WhatsApp.

Final admission, document validation, and fee collection for waitlisted applicants will take place directly at the institutions from September 1 to September 2, 2026 (5:00 PM), through net banking, bank challan, NEFT, or UPI.

First-year PG classes will begin on August 21, 2026, a Friday. The Phase-II admission process will be initiated subject to seat vacancy.

Applicants seeking further information can contact the e-Admission Helpline (Toll Free) at 155335 or 1800-345-6770. The department has clarified that applicants must have completed their graduation or equivalent course from a UGC-recognized university to enroll in the PG courses.

Congress attacks PM’s exam reform panel, says move meant to divert attention

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday criticised the Centre’s decision to constitute a high-powered task force on examination reforms, alleging that the move was aimed at diverting public attention from the government’s handling of recent examination controversies.

The Opposition’s response came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a six-member panel headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani to recommend measures for making India’s examination system more transparent, reliable and technology-driven.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh questioned the need for a fresh committee, claiming that the government was yet to fully implement the 101 recommendations of the K. Radhakrishnan Committee, which was constituted in 2024 after alleged irregularities in several competitive examinations, including the NEET-UG examination.

In a post on X, Ramesh shared video clips of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announcing the Radhakrishnan Committee in 2024 and Prime Minister Modi unveiling the new task force on Sunday. He alleged that instead of implementing the earlier committee’s recommendations, the government had chosen to constitute another panel.

The latest task force was announced a day after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister following weeks of student protests over alleged examination irregularities. The Prime Minister said the new panel would recommend reforms aimed at strengthening the credibility of future examinations.

“Our examination system should be reliable, our examination system should be transparent, and our examination system should now have the maximum use of technology,” Modi said while announcing the initiative.

He said the government had decided to constitute a high-powered task force under the leadership of “world-renowned technology expert” Nandan Nilekani and assured that measures to improve the reliability of upcoming examinations would be implemented at the earliest based on its recommendations.

The six-member panel brings together experts from technology, education, science, administration, intelligence and logistics.

Nandan Nilekani, co-founder and non-executive chairman of Infosys and the founding chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), will chair the task force. Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath, who led the Chandrayaan-3 mission, is expected to contribute expertise in designing robust, error-free systems.

The panel also includes former Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Kumar Deka, whose experience in intelligence and cyber security is expected to help strengthen mechanisms against paper leaks and organised examination fraud.

Other members are IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, former Education Secretary Anita Karwal and former Bihar Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena. Together, they are expected to recommend reforms relating to cyber security, examination governance, logistics, academic policies and secure handling of question papers.

The government has said the committee will recommend measures to future-proof the National Testing Agency (NTA), strengthen technological safeguards and restore public confidence in India’s examination system.

The announcement comes amid heightened public scrutiny of competitive examinations following allegations of paper leaks and irregularities, which triggered nationwide student protests and eventually led to the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Education Minister.

Esha Singh wins gold at ISSF World Cup

Indian shooter Esha Singh won the gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol event at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou on Monday.

Her compatriot and two-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker claimed the bronze medal by finishing third.

China’s Yueyue Zhang won the silver medal, according to issf-sports.org.

Esha topped the final with a score of 40 out of 50.

It was India’s first gold medal at the ongoing World Cup.

Manu finished with 28 points, while Yueyue secured silver with 37 points.

Meanwhile, India’s overall medal tally rose to three in Hangzhou. Earlier in the competition, Sainyam secured silver in the women’s 10m air pistol event.

Hosts China currently lead the medal standings with 14 medals, including six gold.

Two killed, five injured in shooting at Seattle food festival; suspect held

Seattle: At least two people were killed and five others were injured, including a two-year-old boy, after gunfire erupted during the popular Bite of Seattle food festival at the Seattle Center. Police have taken one suspect into custody as the investigation into the shooting continues.

The shooting occurred around 6 p.m. local time on Sunday at the Seattle Center, the sprawling public venue that is home to the iconic Space Needle and was hosting the annual food festival, which attracts thousands of visitors every year.

According to the Independent, the victims included a 56-year-old woman who was reported to be in serious condition, a two-year-old boy, two women aged 40 and 39, and a 23-year-old man. The Seattle Fire Department said four of the injured, including the child, were taken to hospital in stable condition, while another person was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson confirmed that one suspect had been taken into custody, revising an earlier statement in which she had said that two suspects had been detained.

“I want to thank the Seattle police officers who responded to the scene and took a suspect into custody,” Wilson said in an updated statement, while assuring the public that authorities were continuing to investigate the incident.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as gunfire rang out across the festival grounds.

“It was just pure chaos,” 25-year-old Estan Wakonabo told local media, recalling that he was attending the festival with his girlfriend when the shooting began.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the deceased or disclosed a possible motive behind the shooting. Police also have not said whether the suspect acted alone or if additional arrests are expected.

The Seattle Center remained under heavy police presence as investigators examined the crime scene and gathered evidence. Authorities have appealed to anyone with information or video footage of the incident to come forward to assist the investigation.

Odia singer Jyotirmayee Nayak wins Indian Idol 16

Bhubaneswar: Odisha singer Jyotirmayee Nayak has been crowned the winner of Indian Idol Season 16. She lifted the trophy at the grand finale held on Sunday, bringing the curtains down on a season that ran for over nine months.

The season saw contestants from across the country compete through months of performances. Judges and audiences praised Jyotirmayee for her consistency throughout the show, according to reports.

Two of her performances were particularly memorable. Her rendition of “O Jab Tak Hai Jaan Jaane Jahan Main Nachungi” received a standing ovation from veteran actor Hema Malini. Her performance of “Jaane Kyun Log Mohabbat Kiya Karte Hain” moved Leena Chandavarkar so deeply that she said she wanted to hear the classic song in Jyotirmayee’s voice again.

Jyotirmayee was already a familiar name in the Odia music industry before her television debut. She has also used music therapy to support cancer patients.

The grand finale was judged by Shreya Ghoshal and Badshah. Special appearances were made by Usha Uthup, Udit Narayan, Papon, Kumar Sanu, Shehnaaz Gill and Urmila Matondkar, who took part in performances and interactions during the celebrations.

This season of Indian Idol was themed ‘Yaadon Ki Playlist,’ with performances built around beloved songs from different musical eras.