A Young Voice that Captured the Nation

Esther Lalduhawmi Hnamte, a nine-year-old singing prodigy from Lunglei district, Mizoram, has emerged as a national symbol of youthful patriotism and cultural pride. Her soul-stirring rendition of “Vande Mataram” resonated across the country, earning her the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, India’s highest civilian award for children. At an age when most children are just beginning to explore their interests, Esther has already made a lasting mark on India’s cultural landscape.

Delhi Metro Celebrates 23 Years of Passenger Service

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) marked 23 years of passenger operations by running its first-ever metro train, TS#01, as a special commemorative service. The initiative paid tribute to the launch of metro services in December 2002, an event that transformed urban transport in the national capital and set new benchmarks for mass rapid transit in India.

US Strikes Mark Escalation in West Africa Counterterrorism

The United States has carried out military strikes against Islamic State (IS) operatives in north-western Nigeria, signalling a sharper turn in Washington’s counterterrorism posture in West Africa. President Donald Trump described the action as “powerful and deadly,” framing it as a response to militant violence and civilian casualties attributed to IS-linked groups operating in the region.

Tripura Strengthens Bonds with Its Global Diaspora

Tripura is preparing to host the second edition of the Prabashi Tripurabasi Summit 2025–26 in Agartala, marking an important initiative to reconnect with natives of the state living outside its geographical boundaries. The summit reflects the state government’s evolving approach to inclusive development by recognising the diaspora as a key partner in Tripura’s social, economic and cultural transformation.

UPI’s Next Challenge: Inclusion Beyond Scale

As the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) approaches a decade of operation, its scale is unprecedented. In November alone, it processed over 20 billion transactions and served nearly 500 million unique users, close to half of India’s addressable population. Yet behind these headline numbers lies a critical policy question: who remains outside the UPI ecosystem, and why?