Puducherry also known as Pondicherry is a union territory of India. It was formed out of four territories of former French India, namely Pondicherry (now Puducherry), Karikal, Mahé and Yanaon, excluding Chandannagar. It is named after the largest district, Puducherry. Historically known as Pondicherry, the territory changed its official name to Puducherry on 20 September 2006.
The Puducherry region is made of 11 such pockets, some of which are very small and entirely surrounded by the territory of Tamil Nadu. Mahé region is made up of three pockets. This unusual geography is a legacy of the colonial period with Puducherry retaining the borders of former French India.
The most widely spoken first language is Tamil. There are also speakers of Telugu, Malayalam and Urdu. Puducherry is one of the most popular tourist spots in India for national and international tourists. Puducherry was the residence of Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram still operates from Puducherry.
There are several temples, churches, monuments, parks, and mosques which attract tourists. The potential for fisheries is substantial in the Union Territory. The four regions of the Union Territory have a coastline of 45 km with 675 of inshore waters, 1.347 hectares (3.33 acres) of inland water and 800 ha of brackish water.
In Tamil Nadu, actor-politician Vijay’s TVK faces a political standoff as Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar demands proof of a 118-seat majority before government formation.
The political crisis in Tamil Nadu intensifies as Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar refuses to invite the TVK chief Vijay to form the government without proof of a majority.
Days after Congress severed its long-standing alliance with DMK to extend conditional support to the TVK, the DMK passed a resolution condemning the grand old party for betrayal and said the 'INDIA bloc is gone'.
The big focus of this episode 5 Live is on the political standoff in Tamil Nadu, where Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has paused the swearing-in of TVK chief Vijay asking to return only after securing signatures of 118 MLAs to prove majority support.
From TVK to AIADMK to LJK, three members of Santiago Martin’s family won Assembly elections across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
The BJP secured a historic victory in West Bengal by crossing the two-hundred seat mark, defeating the incumbent Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her own constituency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed Bharatiya Janata Party workers in Delhi on the party's superb performance in assembly elections, said that with a victory in West Bengal, 'lotus' has bloomed from Gangotri to Gangasagar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in Delhi dressed in traditional Bengali attire to celebrate the party's historic performance in West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry.
In West Bengal, Phase 2 of the assembly elections recorded a 92.10 percent voter turnout, driven by intense political mobilisation and high participation among women voters.
Axis My India exit poll numbers for Assam, Puducherry, Kerala and Tamil Nadu assembly elections are out. According to the Axis My India exit poll, the BJP alliance is set for a hat-trick in Assam.
The Axis My India exit poll predicts a clear victory for the National Democratic Alliance in the Puducherry assembly elections, projecting 16 to 20 seats out of 30 following a 90 percent voter turnout.
West Bengal enters the second and final phase of elections with 142 seats across seven districts, including Kolkata, Howrah, and South 24 Parganas.
This episode of News Today examines the fragility of the US-Iran ceasefire following Israeli strikes in Lebanon.
The big talking point of this episode of To The Point is the assembly elections. On Thursday, the fate of Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry assemblies were sealed with massive voter turnouts.
The top focus of this episode of 5 Live is on the fragile ceasefire in West Asia as Iran hardens its stance ahead of crucial talks in Islamabad.
US President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was to end.
The big talking point of this edition of News Today is the escalating West Asia crisis as US President Donald Trump issues a fresh threat to Iran as deadline approaches.
The conflict in West Asia has escalated as US military strikes under Operation Epic Fury destroyed the B1 bridge in Karaj, Iran, with President Donald Trump warning that electric power plants are the next targets.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a mega roadshow in Puducherry just days ahead of the crucial assembly elections.
This news report examines the critical economic and political landscape ahead of the Union Budget 2026. The speaker highlights that the Indian rupee has hit a 'new low for the rupee' by crossing the 91 mark per dollar, exacerbated by global uncertainties and a 50% US tariff imposition on India. The transcript details how these tariffs include a 25% additional levy linked to Russian oil purchases. Beyond economic volatility and the surge in gold and silver prices, the report outlines the opposition's strategy to challenge the government during the budget session. Key flashpoints include the G. Ramji law, the scrapping of MGNREGA, and new UGC 2026 norms regarding caste tensions. Additionally, the opposition plans to raise concerns over India-China bilateral ties and the alleged misuse of central agencies. With upcoming elections in four states and Puducherry, the bulletin underscores the high stakes of the fiscal announcements amidst ongoing trade talks with the United States and recent free trade agreements with the European Union.
