Nestled in the northern Himalayan foothill region, the state of Uttarakhand is also known as Devbhoomi Uttarakhand due to the presence of a number of holy shrines and pilgrimage sites. Earlier known as Uttaranchal, it was formed by carving out the northern hilly part of erstwhile Uttar Pradesh.
The state shares its boundaries with Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Nepal and China(Tibet). For administrative purposes it has been divided into two divisions of Garhwal and Kumaon respectively with a total of 13 districts. Dehradun, which is the largest city of the state, serves as its winter capital while Gairsain in Chamoli district is the summer capital.
Uttarakhand is most notable for the various holy sites found spread across the state. Pilgrim sites like Kedarnath, Badrinath as well as Gangotri and Yamunotri glacier systems, forming two of the holiest rivers Ganga and Yamuna and the towns of Haridwar and Hrishikeh are among the well known sites.
Apart from this, the Himalayan state is also quite rich in terms of flora and fauna. Jim Corbett National Park, Auli, Munsiyari, etc are a favourite amongst thrill seekers. The geography of the state has made it a preferred destination for adventure tourism with sites like Vasundhara Falls, Hrishikeh, Roopkund etc emerging as sites for trekking, river rafting and mountain climbing etc.
Forest officials in Uttarakhand have witnessed a rare and extraordinary sighting deep inside the forests of the Jim Corbett National Park. A wild elephant was spotted moving through the jungle accompanied by her twin calves.
The escalating West Asia conflict has driven crude oil prices above $110 a barrel, while the Indian rupee hit a record low of 96.35 against the dollar. This
This edition of News Today focusses on record voter turnout in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu assembly elections.
Amid escalating tensions, US President Donald Trump has threatened to obliterate Iran's energy infrastructure, including electric plants and oil wells, if the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately reopened.
In an interview, Gujarat's Deputy Chief Minister, Harsh Sanghvi, detailed the state's new Uniform Civil Code (UCC), positioning it as a law for gender justice. Following Uttarakhand, Gujarat has become the second state to pass a UCC bill, which aims to create a common legal framework for marriage, divorce, and succession for all communities. Sanghvi, who also manages the Home, Police, and Transport portfolios, noted that the legislation was drafted after the Justice Ranjana Desai Committee reviewed over 20 lakh public suggestions. Key provisions include the mandatory registration of marriages and live-in relationships, a measure intended to protect women from fraudulent relationships. The law also grants legitimate status to children born from live-in unions and allows deserted women to claim maintenance. Sanghvi clarified that while parental notification is required for marriage registration, their consent is not. He also defended the exemption of tribal communities from the UCC's provisions.
The government on Wednesday convened an all-party meeting to address the West Asia conflict's impact on the nation's energy security, assuring leaders that there is no oil or LPG crisis.
A Delhi special court has discharged former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 others in the 2021-22 excise policy case.
In two separate incidents from Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, attacks on minorities have raised concerns about growing intolerance. In Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, a man was assaulted while offering namaz on a vacant plot near his work site.
Uttarakhand gym owner Mohammad Deepak, who saved an elderly Muslim vendor from a mob attack, met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following widespread attention to his courageous act.
This is not a horror story.This is the Himalayas. From Uttarakhand to Lahaul-Spiti, villages are vanishing silently.
In this Get Real India segment, watch this story from Uttarakhand's Kotwar, where Bajrang Dal workers targeted a school uniform shop over its name, demanding that Baba be removed from the name.
A massive showdown erupted in parliament on Monday after Rahul Gandhi tried to quote from former army chief Naravane's unpublished memoir claiming the government showed no political will against Chinese incursions in 2020.
This news report details a distressing incident in Uttarakhand where Kashmiri shawl sellers were allegedly attacked based on their religious and regional identity. The victims claimed that while purchasing snacks, a shopkeeper made casteist and religious remarks, referenced the Pahalgam attack, and physically assaulted them. One individual was reported to be seriously injured during the confrontation. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has intervened, speaking with the Uttarakhand Chief Minister and describing the attack as 'unacceptable.' He further urged the Home Ministry to sensitize other states regarding such communal issues. The Congress Party condemned the assault, noting the irony of artisans who create shawls for high-ranking officials facing such harassment. Local police have since registered an FIR and arrested the main accused involved in the case. The programme highlights the growing concerns over the safety of Kashmiri traders and the 'abnormalization' of Kashmir's existence within the country as noted by political leaders.
This report focuses on the recent communication between Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami following a mob attack on Kashmiri shawl sellers in Uttarakhand. The incident occurred in the Vikas Nagar area, where a Kashmiri youth was injured and one individual was subsequently detained. During the conversation, Omar Abdullah emphasized that the 'Uttarakhand government and the centre should ensure the safety of Kashmiris' in the state. The attack reportedly involved a mob making objectionable comments against the youth. India Today's Ashraf Ghani provides details on the diplomatic outreach between the two state leaders. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister has raised serious concerns regarding the security of Kashmiri traders operating in Uttarakhand, urging the state administration to take proactive measures to prevent such communal incidents and ensure a secure environment for all citizens.
This news bulletin reports on the intense winter conditions across North India and North America. In India, the second snowfall of the season has commenced at Badrinath Dham, while an orange alert in Shimla has led to snow-covered hills and a surge in tourist inflow. The speaker notes that 'Visuals show the holy shrine wrapped in a thick white blanket as temperatures dip sharply.' In Jammu and Kashmir, heavy snowfall in the Pir Panjal mountains has impacted the Kotranka Subdivision, while children were seen enjoying the weather in other districts. Globally, a massive winter storm has left hundreds of thousands without power in the United States, with nearly 200 million Americans under extreme cold alerts. In New York and Toronto, schools remained shut and travel was severely disrupted, with many flights delayed or cancelled due to the icy conditions and heavy snow accumulation.
In this Special Report, Gaurav Sawant examines India's 77th Republic Day celebrations and the nation's evolving security paradigm. The program highlights European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s statement regarding India’s role in global stability and the progress of the India-EU security and defense partnership. A central focus is placed on 'Operation Sindoor' and a Swiss military think-tank report detailing India's air superiority over Pakistan. Experts Lieutenant General K.J.S. Dhillon and Air Marshal M. Mateshwaran analyze precision strikes on strategic targets, including Sargodha and Jacobabad airbases, which reportedly called Pakistan's nuclear bluff. The discussion covers reported casualties of 400 Pakistani soldiers in the Lipa Valley and the impact of Indian political will on regional dynamics. Additional coverage includes AI-enabled surveillance displays at Kartavya Path, the historic participation of women in military contingents, an internal purge within China's PLA, and the upcoming India-EU Free Trade Agreement. The report also addresses entry restriction controversies at Badrinath-Kedarnath temples.
In this episode of India First, host Gaurav Sawant leads a heated debate on the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee's proposal to restrict non-Hindu entry to protect Vedic culture. Gaurav Sawant notes that 'Devbhumi Uttarakhand is staring at a fresh flashpoint' as faith and politics collide. Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla argues against the move, stating that Hinduism is an inclusive way of life and that as someone from a Muslim family who worships Lord Shiva, such restrictions feel unfair. Conversely, author Shantanu Gupta supports the committee's right to set rules, citing global examples like Mecca and specific Christian monasteries where entry is restricted. The discussion explores whether these measures are necessary to maintain sanctity or if they represent a divisive agenda, especially following reports of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami backing the committee's decision-making authority.
On this Special Report, the focus is on the significant announcement by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) regarding entry restrictions. Hemant Dwivedi, Chairman of the BKTC, has stated that a resolution will be passed in the upcoming board meeting to prohibit the entry of non-Hindus into the world-renowned Badrinath and Kedarnath Dhams. Dwivedi emphasized that 'protecting the religious and cultural traditions of Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand are most important to them.' He noted that while such restrictions existed traditionally, they were not strictly enforced in the past. The move aims to ensure the proper observance of age-old traditions across the chain of temples from Kedarkhand to Manaskhand. The programme discusses the implications of this decision and the practical challenges of its enforcement at these sacred sites, which hold the faith of millions of Indians. India Today's Ankit Sharma provides further details on the plan and the historical context of these secular yet deeply revered shrines.
On this special broadcast of the 77th Republic Day celebrations, Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor (Retd), former Director General of the Indian Air Force, provides expert insight into the ceremonial protocols of gallantry awards. Explaining the significance of the presentation, he notes, 'The extraordinary achievement which any defence personnel gets... This is presented on the Republic Day by the President at the parade ground.' The discussion highlights the rare honour bestowed upon Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla, who was conferred the Ashoka Chakra, and Group Captain Nair, who received the Kirti Chakra. Air Marshal Kapoor draws a historical parallel to the 1985 awards given to Rakesh Sharma and Ravish Malhotra, noting that such marquee achievements are uniquely honoured at Kartavya Path as a mark of national respect. The bulletin also captures the musical prelude 'Vividhata me ekta' led by Sri Lokesh Anand, featuring folk artists from across India, setting a harmonious tone for the national narrative and the theme of 150 years of Vande Mataram.
On this Special Report, the focus is on the political row erupting in Maharashtra following the announcement of the Padma Awards. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has strongly criticised the decision to confer a Padma honour upon Bhagat Singh Koshyari, the former Governor of Maharashtra. The party alleged that the 'man who murdered democracy to install BJP-Shinde government in state is being honoured' by the Modi government. The transcript highlights the friction stemming from the 2022 political crisis when the Uddhav Thackeray-led government lost its majority. While the opposition views the award as a reward for enabling the current Eknath Shinde-BJP administration, the report also notes Koshyari's long political career, including his time spent in jail during the Emergency and his tenure as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. The programme explores the deepening divide between the Sena UBT and the ruling alliance over this controversial recognition.
