National

Education Experts Call for Implementation of Two-Language Policy in Karnataka

Published

1 year ago

March 21, 2025

Language activists and education experts in Karnataka are firmly opposing the three-language formula that mandates the inclusion of Hindi. This policy has resulted in 90,000 students failing the SSLC examinations, causing them to lose a year of their education. In Karnataka schools, Hindi is designated as the third language, prompting educators to question the necessity of making it compulsory to learn and pass.

The state should allow students the freedom to pursue any language they believe is more aligned with their future opportunities and career paths.

Educationist VP Niranjan Aradhya argues that Hindi is an unnecessary burden imposed solely due to the three-language policy. He points out that it neither enhances students’ understanding nor proves beneficial for their future endeavors. In Karnataka’s state boards, students are required to study Hindi as their third language starting from Class 6. This becomes problematic as it becomes a mandatory subject in Class 10 that students must pass.

Last year’s results spotlight the challenges faced by Kannada-speaking students, many of whom are unlikely to continue studying Hindi after school. Aradhya also notes that the additional stress of learning Hindi detracts from students’ abilities in their mother tongue, Kannada, and their second language, English. He advocates for prioritizing the teaching of Kannada and English, which are vital for students’ academic and professional futures.

Kannada activist Arun Javagal shares a similar view, stating that a two-language approach would better serve students and alleviate the stress associated with learning Hindi. “We are advocating for a two-language formula in Karnataka and recently held a significant program to highlight this issue. We urge the state government to adopt a two-language policy, making any additional language purely optional and not tied to exams or grades,” Javagal said.

The future of thousands of students who failed Hindi in the SSLC examinations now hangs in the balance, with many potentially dropping out. By making Hindi a compulsory subject for passing, the government is jeopardizing these children’s futures. “Who is responsible for the lost year of these students?” questions the activist. He cites that in Uttar Pradesh, children study only five subjects, questioning why Kannada students are required to master six. He adds, “What is stated in policy does not always align with the reality on the ground.”

National

Delhi Techie Found Dead During Honeymoon Trip

Published

1 day ago

June 17, 2026

Namma Kudla

National: A 27-year-old IT professional from Delhi was found dead at a homestay in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The woman, P Radha Gayatri, had gone on a honeymoon trip with her husband.

According to police, the couple checked into a homestay on June 14. Her husband said they had consumed alcohol and went to sleep late at night.

The next morning, he found Gayatri unconscious on the floor. Police said she was lying in a pool of urine, and blood was coming from her nose. She was declared dead at the scene.

The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. Police are investigating the case and waiting for the autopsy report to determine the cause of death.

National

Pakistan Ranked World’s Most Polluted Country in 2025

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Islamabad: Pakistan has been ranked as the most polluted country in the world in 2025, according to a new report released by Swiss air quality monitoring company IQ Air.

The report found that Pakistan’s average PM2.5 pollution level was 13 times higher than the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). PM2.5 refers to tiny harmful particles in the air that can enter the lungs and cause serious health problems.

IQ Air said that only 13 countries and territories met the WHO air quality guideline of less than 5 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air in 2025. This was an improvement from seven countries in 2024.

The report also revealed that 130 out of 143 monitored countries and territories failed to meet the WHO standard.

Bangladesh was ranked as the second most polluted country, while Tajikistan secured the third position. Chad, which was the most polluted country in 2024, ranked fourth in 2025.

Experts said that Chad’s lower ranking may be linked to missing pollution data. In March 2025, the United States ended a global air quality monitoring program due to budget cuts. The program had collected pollution data from US embassies and consulates around the world.

Christi Chester Schroeder, the lead author of the report, said that the loss of data makes it difficult to know the true pollution levels in some countries.

Because of data shortages, Burundi, Turkmenistan and Togo were not included in the 2025 report.

The report also identified Loni in India as the world’s most polluted city. The city recorded an average PM2.5 level of 112.5 micrograms per cubic meter. Hotan in China ranked second with 109.6 micrograms.

According to the report, the 25 most polluted cities in the world were all located in India, Pakistan and China.

Only 14 percent of cities worldwide met the WHO air quality standard in 2025. This was lower than the 17 percent recorded in the previous year.

The report noted that large wildfires in Canada increased air pollution levels across the United States and even affected parts of Europe.

Countries that met the WHO air quality guideline in 2025 included Australia, Iceland, Estonia and Panama.

Meanwhile, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia reported significant improvements in air quality. Experts said wetter and windier La Niña weather conditions helped reduce pollution levels in these countries.

Mongolia also recorded a 31 percent drop in average PM2.5 levels during the year.

Overall, 75 countries reported lower pollution levels in 2025, while 54 countries experienced an increase in air pollution, according to the IQ Air report

National

Indian Air Force AN-32 Transport Aircraft Crashes

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Dispur: An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, on Saturday. The aircraft caught fire after the crash.

According to reports, the AN-32 aircraft went down within the premises of the air base. A fire broke out immediately after the accident.

Rescue and firefighting teams rushed to the spot and launched an operation to control the flames. The fire was brought under control after their prompt response.

The exact cause of the crash is not known yet. Authorities are investigating the incident.

So far, there have been no reports of any deaths or injuries. The Indian Air Force has confirmed the accident and said that more details will be shared after a complete assessment of the situation.

Further information is awaited.