Manipur gets a govt: Khemchand is CM with two deputies

A day after the BJP elected him as the leader of the Manipur legislature party, Yumnam Khemchand Singh took oath as the Chief Minister of the strife-torn state in a ceremony in Imphal's Lok Bhavan.

Two leaders, one each from the state's Kuki-Zo and Naga communities, took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers in what appears to be an attempt at balance and outreach in the fractured and sensitive state. The two are Nemcha Kipgen, a Kuki-Zo MLA from the BJP representing the Kangpokpi constituency, and Losii Dikho, an MLA from NDA ally Naga People's Front representing the Mao constituency. 

'Be calm, empathetic; confiscating devices can backfire'

In cases like the Ghaziabad tragedy, where excessive online immersion appears to have intersected with family conflict, the risks become very visible.

Many teenagers use virtual spaces as a way to escape difficult emotions like anger, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, even academic pressure. This leads to irritability, mood swings, sudden outbursts, or emotional numbness.

These platforms offer repeated dopamine hits, feelings of achievement, validation, and reward. Crucially, the part of the brain responsible for judgement and impulse control, the prefrontal cortex, is still developing in teenagers.

Heavy immersion in virtual environments can further weaken restraint, making quick, poorly thought-out decisions more likely, especially during moments of distress. 

NDMA's first-ever guidelines for identification of disaster victims

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has released the country's first-ever Standard Operating Procedure, including guidelines, for the identification of victims in the event of "mass fatality incidents".

The document highlights critical gaps when it comes to handling such incidents currently, and recommends steps for the recognition, registration and dignified handover of human remains to families.

One of the most notable recommendations in the guide-lines is the creation of a 'National Dental Data Registry', so that teeth and jaws could be used to identify victims.

The guidelines also include the use of "forensic archaeology", to help identification of bodies months or years after a disaster. 

UGC regulations on caste are narrowly framed

If the Indian state is serious about addressing caste, it must confront it as an institution in its entirety. This requires pedagogical reform that teaches caste, including caste privilege, as a lived social reality.

For India-Pak, peace is not weakness, dialogue is not defeat

Ultimately, the goal is not to resume dialogue for its own sake, but to create conditions where dialogue is sustainable.

This means recognising that peace is not an event but a process. 

Why carbon capture is key to achieving net-zero goal

The Budget has alloted Rs 20,000 cr for carbon capture, utilisation and storage. The tech has been around for years, but scaling up is a challenge.

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) tech is relevant for industries such as steel and cement where CO₂ release is an intrinsic part of production.

In such sectors, just switching from fossil fuels to renewable electricity does not get rid of CO2.