A fishing boat carrying fishermen from Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh has gone missing at sea. The fishermen had set out for fishing from Odalarevu in Allavaram mandal on the third of this month and were expected to return within ten days. As they failed to return, their family members informed the authorities. Marine Police and Fisheries Department officials have launched search operations to trace the missing fishermen. State Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Minister K. Atchannaidu directed officials to intensify search and rescue efforts by using all available resources. Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan expressed concern over the incident and directed officials to continuously monitor the situation and keep the families of the missing fishermen informed about the search operations.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red colour warning for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Jharkhand today. Weather Agency forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, East Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and West Uttar Pradesh today. According to IMD, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Delhi, East Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Sikkim, North Eastern States, Karaikal, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Mahe will experience heavy rainfall till Thursday. The Met Department also predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds over Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the next two to three days. IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal till today.

Dr. Moumita Nandy is a distinguished clinical psychologist, researcher, entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and the Founder and Director of Haus of Calm. With more than 15 years of experience in clinical psychology, psycho-oncology, psychotherapy, research, mental health education, and community-based interventions, she has built a professional journey centered on making mental health and emotional wellbeing more accessible, inclusive, evidence-based, and socially relevant. Her work brings together clinical expertise, research, advocacy, education, and a wider vision of human wellbeing. Dr. Nandy’s professional journey reflects a sustained contribution to mental health, wellbeing, community engagement, and social development. Her work extends beyond conventional clinical practice to encompass research, public engagement, preventive mental healthcare, organizational wellbeing, and advocacy for underserved communities. These contributions form the foundation of her recognition in the Clinical Psychology category of the Tagore International Award. Dr. Nandy’s academic and professional preparation reflects a multidisciplinary approach to psychological care. She holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam University, Indore, and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pune University. She completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at IIT Delhi and an M.Phil in Psycho-Oncology from the Cancer Institute, Chennai. Her additional professional training includes an Advanced Diploma in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Profiling and an Advanced Diploma in Integrated Clinical Hypnotherapy. She has also undertaken specialized training and certifications in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Expressive Therapy, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness, and Emotional Freedom Techniques. Across more than 15 years of professional practice, Dr. Nandy has worked with individuals and communities facing a wide range of psychological, emotional, behavioural, and psychosocial challenges. Her clinical approach incorporates evidence-based psychological interventions while recognizing the importance of individual circumstances, culture, social environment, and lived experience. She is also a trained Narrative Therapist and has been mentored by internationally recognized narrative therapy practitioner David Epston. Her professional expertise further includes anger-management treatment and motivational interventions. Through her work as a motivational speaker with Santulan and through mental health workshops and awareness programmes, she has contributed to broader conversations around emotional regulation, resilience, self-awareness, and psychological wellbeing. A significant part of Dr. Nandy’s career has been associated with psycho-oncology and psychosocial care. Her professional exposure includes institutions such as Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, the Cancer Institute in Chennai, Tata Medical Centre in Kolkata, Serenity Psychiatric Care, Mind Vriksha Psychiatry Clinic, Door of Hope, Intro Spectrum Psychological Care, and Reach Out for Life Foundation in Pune. These experiences have allowed her to engage with patients, families, healthcare professionals, and multidisciplinary teams in settings where psychological support is an important component of comprehensive care. Her research interests demonstrate a particular commitment to the relationship between communication, psychological wellbeing, and healthcare outcomes. She has participated in studies related to depression, substance abuse, and psycho-oncology at the Cancer Institute, Chennai, and Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata. Her academic and research interests have included oncologists’ perspectives on barriers to cancer pain management, the impact of oncologists’ communication skills on cancer patients, psychosocial communication, patient-physician communication in oncology care, and perceptions of community-linked care. These areas of inquiry highlight one of the central themes of Dr. Nandy’s professional philosophy: healthcare is not only about medical intervention but also about communication, dignity, emotional support, trust, and the psychological experience of the individual receiving care. Her work in psycho-oncology has therefore explored the human dimension of illness and the importance of strengthening communication between patients, physicians, families, and care teams. Dr. Nandy has also contributed to professional education. She has served as Visiting Faculty for Expressive Arts Therapy at VIMHANS, sharing her knowledge with learners and professionals interested in therapeutic approaches that incorporate creativity and emotional expression. Her work in expressive therapy reflects her broader belief that mental healthcare can benefit from approaches that address the individual as a whole rather than focusing solely on symptoms. Dr. Nandy is also associated with the Men’s Mental Health Society – Best for Him, where she serves as a Senior Psychologist. Her work in this area contributes to the increasingly important conversation surrounding men’s mental health, emotional expression, help-seeking behaviour, and the reduction of stigma around psychological support. She has also conducted workshops for Voiceless India, an animal-activist organisation, demonstrating the breadth of her public engagement and mental health advocacy. Her workshops and awareness initiatives have been acknowledged for their impact and contribution to mental health advocacy. A major part of Dr. Nandy’s professional vision is embodied in Haus of Calm, the wellbeing and mental health initiative she founded. Through Haus of Calm, she has worked toward developing accessible and practical approaches to psychological wellness, preventive mental health, emotional literacy, mindfulness, trauma-informed care, and therapeutic support. The initiative reflects her belief that mental health should not be addressed only after a crisis occurs. Preventive psychological care, emotional education, resilience-building, and early intervention can play a significant role in helping individuals and communities maintain wellbeing. Her work particularly focuses on youth mental health, women’s wellbeing, workplace emotional health, and capacity-building for mental health professionals. Dr. Nandy’s vision has also expanded into the concept of “Human Sustainability.” The concept seeks to connect mental health, preventive healthcare, organizational wellbeing, longevity, and public policy within a broader framework for individual and societal wellbeing. Rather than considering wellbeing as an isolated personal concern, Human Sustainability places psychological health within the wider context of workplaces, communities, healthcare systems, policy, and social development. This approach is particularly relevant to a rapidly changing society where stress, isolation, workplace pressures, uncertainty, and social inequalities can affect psychological wellbeing. By linking mental health with preventive healthcare and organizational wellbeing, Dr. Nandy advocates for systems that support people not merely in times of crisis but throughout the different stages of life. Her work also emphasizes the importance of workplace mental health. Organizations increasingly recognize that employee wellbeing has implications for productivity, retention, leadership, creativity, interpersonal relationships, and organizational culture. Through her programmes and professional engagements, Dr. Nandy encourages organizations to approach psychological wellbeing as a fundamental component of sustainable development rather than simply as an employee benefit. Her vision is equally connected to social equity and health diplomacy. Dr. Nandy advocates for cross-border dialogue on mental health policy, psychosocial support within public health systems, and culturally adaptive models of psychological care. Such perspectives underline her belief that mental health solutions must account for cultural diversity, socioeconomic realities, accessibility, and the different ways communities understand emotional wellbeing. As a researcher and clinician, she has maintained an interest in translating psychological knowledge into practical interventions. Her professional journey has brought together clinical psychology, psycho-oncology, psychotherapy, expressive arts, mental health advocacy, research, education, and community engagement. This multidisciplinary orientation has enabled her to work across different professional environments and with diverse populations. Dr. Nandy is also an author in progress, currently working on a book intended to contribute to the destigmatization of therapy and mental health. The project reflects a continuing objective of her professional work: encouraging people to view psychological support as a legitimate and constructive component of overall wellbeing rather than something associated only with severe mental illness. Her professional recognition includes the Business World (BW) Award under the title “Wellbeing 40 Under 40,” acknowledging her contribution to the field of wellbeing. Such recognition complements her wider record of clinical practice, research, public engagement, workshops, and mental health advocacy. The Tagore International Award in Clinical Psychology recognizes Dr. Moumita Nandy at a point in her career where clinical expertise and social responsibility have become closely interconnected. Her contribution is not limited to individual psychological care. Through Haus of Calm, research, teaching, community initiatives, advocacy, and the development of Human Sustainability, she has sought to promote a more comprehensive understanding of wellbeing. Her professional philosophy places empathy, resilience, emotional literacy, accessibility, and inclusion at the center of psychological care. She continues to work toward reducing stigma, strengthening mental health awareness, supporting vulnerable communities, and encouraging healthcare and organizational systems to recognize psychological wellbeing as an essential part of human development. Dr. Moumita Nandy’s journey illustrates how clinical psychology can extend beyond the boundaries of therapy and contribute to larger social conversations about health, dignity, resilience, and sustainable development. Her work brings together professional knowledge and public purpose, with an emphasis on creating systems in which psychological wellbeing is treated as an essential component of healthy individuals, healthy workplaces, and healthy communities. The Tagore International Award is therefore a recognition of a professional journey characterized by sustained contribution to clinical psychology, research, education, advocacy, and community wellbeing. Through her continuing work, Dr. Nandy remains committed to building a future in which mental healthcare is more accessible, preventive, culturally responsive, and free from stigma, while her Human Sustainability framework seeks to place human wellbeing at the heart of social progress.

S. Priya Natarajan’s journey is a remarkable example of how personal adversity can become the foundation for a larger mission of education, empowerment and social service. At the age of 16, while studying in Class 10, Priya’s education was abruptly interrupted when she was forced into marriage. At a stage of life when young people are generally encouraged to dream about higher education, careers and the future, Priya was instead confronted with responsibilities and circumstances that threatened to end her academic aspirations. Yet, the interruption did not become the conclusion of her educational journey. With determination and persistence, she eventually returned to education, acquired multiple qualifications, prepared for competitive examinations, and ultimately established Avvaiyar IAS Academy in 2022. Today, she is recognised as an educator, founder, motivational speaker and social service pioneer, working to make educational opportunities more accessible to students and aspirants from disadvantaged backgrounds. Her story is particularly significant because her commitment to education is not based merely on professional experience. It has emerged directly from her own struggle to obtain an education. Born into a farming family, Priya grew up in circumstances where financial resources were limited. Her parents owned two acres of agricultural land, and during school holidays she worked as a farm labourer to support her family’s modest income. These experiences gave her an early understanding of economic hardship and the challenges faced by rural families. Despite those difficulties, she wanted to pursue higher education and create an independent future. Her aspirations were disrupted when she was married at 16 while still in Class 10. However, Priya did not allow the situation to permanently determine her future. Determined to continue studying, she left her home in Padalur and enrolled in a government-aided school in Perambalur, where she stayed in a hostel and completed Class 11. This decision marked an important turning point. It demonstrated that, even after experiencing a major interruption, she continued to regard education as an essential part of her life. The circumstances after marriage remained challenging. Her in-laws were not supportive of her educational aspirations, but with the support of her husband, Priya pursued further studies through distance education. She continued learning while simultaneously handling family responsibilities and working full-time to support herself financially. Her academic progress eventually led to several qualifications, including a Master of Arts, Master of Education, Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga and Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications. Alongside her studies and employment, she began preparing for government competitive examinations. Her determination eventually resulted in success in several examinations, including TNPSC Group I, Group IIA and Group IV, as well as Sub-Inspector and Police Constable examinations. She also qualified in TNTET Paper II in 2026. These achievements demonstrated her ability to compete successfully despite the obstacles she had faced. However, Priya’s ambitions gradually moved beyond personal career advancement. Her own experiences made her increasingly conscious of the difficulties faced by students who possess ability and ambition but lack access to quality guidance or financial resources. Instead of simply pursuing a secure career for herself, she decided to create an institution that could help others navigate the competitive examination system. This vision resulted in the establishment of Avvaiyar IAS Academy in 2022. From a beginning with only 73 students, the academy has grown considerably. Over the subsequent years, more than 8,000 candidates enrolled in different courses, while nearly 3,000 candidates reportedly secured government jobs across various departments through competitive examinations. The growth of the academy represents more than an institutional achievement. It reflects Priya’s attempt to build an educational system that gives students a realistic opportunity to improve their social and economic circumstances. Avvaiyar IAS Academy provides online coaching for TNPSC and other competitive examinations, but its distinctive feature is its inclusive approach. Priya offers free coaching to candidates who have lost one or both parents, students raised by single parents, widows, women abandoned by their husbands, persons with disabilities and transgender aspirants. Students from farming families receive a 25 per cent fee concession, while other candidates are able to access coaching at a nominal fee of Rs 5,000 for multiple competitive examinations. This model is rooted in the principle that financial limitations should not automatically exclude talented candidates from professional opportunities. Priya understands this issue personally. She knows that the difference between a student who succeeds and one who gives up is not always ability. Sometimes it is the availability of guidance, financial support, encouragement and a suitable learning environment. Through the academy, she seeks to address these barriers and help aspirants remain focused on their goals. Her approach to education also extends beyond examination preparation. Priya works as a motivational speaker and mentor, addressing students on self-discipline, goal setting, career guidance, examination preparation and personal development. She has been invited as chief guest at school and college events and has participated as a resource person in academic workshops and awareness programmes. Her areas of expertise include youth motivation and awareness, yoga and holistic development, educational guidance, social service, community development, student development training and examination guidance. These activities demonstrate her understanding that education should develop the whole individual rather than simply prepare someone to pass an examination. Her own life provides an example of the importance of discipline and persistence. She studied through difficult circumstances, worked while preparing for examinations and continued building her qualifications even after her formal education had been interrupted. Her experiences now influence the way she guides students who are facing their own obstacles. For Priya, one of the most meaningful rewards of her work comes when students succeed. A government appointment represents far more than a job for many candidates from disadvantaged families. It can provide stable income, dignity, independence and the ability to support parents, children and other family members. Priya has expressed the sentiment that receiving news of a student securing a government job gives her greater happiness than receiving an appointment herself. This reflects the central purpose behind her educational work: creating opportunities for others. Her commitment to social development extends far beyond the academy. Priya has also focused on empowering women, particularly widows and economically disadvantaged women, by helping them establish sources of income. Since 2020, she has distributed 97 sewing machines to widows and economically disadvantaged women. The initiative is significant because it seeks to provide more than immediate financial assistance. A sewing machine can enable a woman to start tailoring work, develop a customer base and gradually create a sustainable income. Such support can strengthen economic independence and improve the ability of women to provide for their families. The experience of S. Surya from Padalur is an example of how this assistance has influenced an individual life. After the death of her husband, Surya faced difficulties raising her two children without a regular income. Priya initially provided her with a sewing machine, enabling her to begin tailoring work. As the business developed, Priya provided a second machine. Surya was subsequently able to increase her earnings and support her children’s education. Stories such as this demonstrate the practical nature of Priya’s social-service philosophy. Her approach is not simply to provide temporary relief but to create pathways towards self-reliance. This principle of empowerment also informs her work with children and young people. Priya has adopted 100 underprivileged school students and taken responsibility for their educational expenses. For families struggling financially, the cost of schooling can become a significant burden and can sometimes result in children discontinuing their education. By supporting these students, Priya is helping to protect their access to education and the opportunities that may follow from it. She has also contributed Rs 2 lakh to her alma mater towards renovation and improvement. Her willingness to invest in the institution where her own educational journey took place demonstrates a continuing connection with the importance of accessible schooling. Another important initiative emerged from her concern for the public library in Padalur. In November 2025, after observing the dilapidated condition of the existing library, Priya donated two cents of her own land towards establishing a new public library. She also helped more than 1,000 students become library members, encouraging reading and learning within the community. The initiative reflects her understanding that education does not end when a student leaves school. Libraries provide access to books, information and independent learning, and they can become important community spaces for children and young people. In a rural environment, such facilities can be particularly valuable to students who may not have extensive educational resources at home. Priya’s contribution therefore represents an investment in the intellectual development of the wider community. Her work has also expanded into leadership and organisational responsibilities. She serves as the Founder of Avvaiyar IAS Academy, Director of Avvaiyar Public Charity Trust and President of Vaasagar Vattam, a readers’ circle. She was appointed Tamil Nadu State President of the World Buddhist Federation on 19 May 2026. These positions reflect the broader scope of her involvement in education, community development and social initiatives. Her professional profile also identifies her as a world record holder in Yoga. Her academic background in Yoga and her interest in holistic development form another dimension of her approach to student welfare. She considers personal development, discipline and well-being important components of a successful educational journey. This philosophy complements her work in motivational speaking and student mentoring. Priya’s contribution has received recognition through several awards and honours. Her listed recognitions include an Honorary Doctorate – Doctor of Education (Honoris Causa) from the American University for Leadership and Excellence, Chennai, dated 17 May 2026, along with a Certificate of Recognition from the same institution. She has also been associated with the Ratan Tata Visionary Icon Award 2026 – Global Visionary Honour, the All India Women Excellence Award 2026 under the theme “Women Leader: Empowering Change, Inspiring Generations,” and the Star Awards 2026 – Best Social Service Award from Golden Entertainments, Coimbatore. Other recognitions listed in her profile include SIWAA 2026 – Certificate of Recognition in the category of Outstanding Leader, the Best IAS Academy Award 2026 from the TN Professional Educational Society and the Young Achievers Award 2026 from the Tamil Nadu State Council of Professional Education. Her profile additionally lists the Nari Shakti Awards 2026 – Inspiring Women Leadership Award. These recognitions span education, leadership, social service and women’s empowerment, reflecting the different areas in which Priya has been active. Nevertheless, the story of her achievements is not primarily a story about awards. The deeper significance lies in how she has used her own experience to influence the lives of others. Her journey began with a situation in which she was denied the opportunity to continue her education at the expected stage of life. Instead of allowing that experience to permanently define her, she reclaimed her education and subsequently created an organisation designed to make educational opportunities available to others. Her life therefore illustrates the transformative power of education in a particularly direct way. Her parents’ attitude towards education has also changed over time, adding another important dimension to her story. The same family that once stopped Priya’s education and married her while she was still in Class 10 now encourages families in their village not to marry girls before the age of 18 and instead to support their daughters’ education. Priya has described this change in mindset as one of her greatest sources of happiness. It represents a form of social change that cannot easily be measured through statistics or awards. Her own journey has influenced the attitudes of people closest to her and has contributed to a broader discussion about girls’ education and early marriage. This transformation demonstrates that social reform can sometimes begin with one person’s experience and gradually influence a family and community. Priya’s work with women, students and rural communities similarly reflects a commitment to practical empowerment. Whether she is helping an aspirant prepare for a government examination, providing a sewing machine to a widow, supporting the education of an underprivileged child or contributing land for a library, her objective remains consistent: to create opportunities through which individuals can become more capable of shaping their own futures. Her work is therefore best understood not as isolated acts of charity but as part of a larger educational and social philosophy. The growth of Avvaiyar IAS Academy provides the clearest example of this philosophy in action. Beginning with 73 students and eventually reaching more than 8,000 candidates, the academy has developed into a platform for competitive-examination preparation and student mentoring. The reported success of nearly 3,000 candidates in securing government employment illustrates the potential impact of accessible guidance and preparation. For Priya, each successful student represents an individual who has overcome barriers and moved closer to financial and professional independence. The significance of government employment is particularly strong for candidates from rural and economically disadvantaged families. A stable job can change not only an individual’s life but also the economic circumstances of an entire household. It can provide opportunities for younger siblings, improve access to education for children and reduce financial insecurity. Priya’s contribution therefore has consequences that extend beyond the immediate student. Her academy’s model also reflects the importance of inclusion in education. By offering free coaching to vulnerable groups and concessions to students from farming families, she has created a system that recognises that different students face different starting conditions. Equality in education does not always mean treating everyone identically; sometimes it requires providing additional support to those who face greater barriers. Priya’s initiatives are based on this understanding. Her professional identity as an educator is closely connected with her social-service activities. She does not separate teaching from community responsibility. Her work suggests that an educator can influence society not only through classroom instruction but also by helping students access opportunities, supporting families and strengthening community resources. The public library initiative, the support for underprivileged students and the women’s empowerment programme all reinforce this broader concept of education. Her own story also provides credibility to her motivational message. When Priya speaks about discipline, persistence and the importance of continuing one’s education, she does so as someone who has experienced educational disruption firsthand. She understands the frustration of having aspirations restricted by circumstances and the effort required to restart a journey after a setback. Her life therefore becomes part of the message she delivers to students. The central lesson is that a difficult beginning does not necessarily determine the final outcome. Priya’s journey is not one of effortless achievement. It involved financial hardship, interrupted schooling, early marriage, family resistance, work responsibilities and the challenge of pursuing education through distance learning. Her accomplishments emerged gradually through sustained effort. This makes her story relevant to students and young people who may feel that their own circumstances are preventing them from progressing. Her life shows that progress may sometimes require taking an unconventional route, returning to education later, balancing work and study or seeking opportunities outside traditional pathways. What distinguishes Priya’s journey is that she did not stop at personal achievement. After rebuilding her own educational and professional path, she chose to build pathways for others. That transition from survivor of educational barriers to creator of educational opportunities is the defining feature of her story. Today, her work encompasses competitive examination coaching, student mentoring, motivational speaking, women’s empowerment, rural education, community development and social service. Her guiding philosophy, “Empowering Minds, Transforming Lives, Building a Better Tomorrow,” is reflected in these activities. Her work demonstrates that empowerment is strongest when people are provided with the tools and opportunities needed to become independent. A sewing machine can become an income. A library can become a gateway to knowledge. Affordable coaching can become a government career. Educational support can allow a child to remain in school. Encouragement can help an aspirant continue preparing after repeated setbacks. Each initiative represents a different form of opportunity. The larger impact lies in how these opportunities accumulate across individuals and communities. S. Priya Natarajan’s story is ultimately a story of transformation. At 16, she was a student whose education was interrupted by circumstances beyond her control. Today, she is helping thousands of students pursue competitive careers and encouraging communities to recognise the importance of education. The contrast between those two stages of her life illustrates how profoundly persistence can change a person’s direction. Yet her greatest achievement may not be the qualifications she earned, the competitive examinations she cleared or the awards she received. It may be the decision to ensure that other young people do not have to experience the same loss of opportunity. Through Avvaiyar IAS Academy and her wider social initiatives, she has turned personal hardship into a commitment to public service. Her work with women, children, students and rural communities demonstrates a consistent belief that education and economic independence can provide people with greater control over their futures. Her journey from a farming family and an interrupted Class 10 education to becoming an educator, founder, mentor and social-service leader is therefore more than an individual success story. It is an example of how adversity can be transformed into purpose and how personal experience can become a source of social responsibility. Priya Natarajan’s continuing work stands on the idea that education should open doors rather than close them. By providing access, guidance, encouragement and practical support, she is helping others move through those doors. Her story demonstrates that the most meaningful form of success is often not reaching a destination alone, but making the path easier for those who follow. Priya Natarajan Padalur 6385853341

Manoj Kumar, a transformation coach, master trainer, author and learning entrepreneur from Chennai, has been honoured with the Indian Literature Award for his noteworthy contribution to contemporary non-fiction through his book The Power of MORE. Drawing upon more than three decades of professional experience across hospitality, retail, healthcare, IT and IT-enabled services, Manoj Kumar has created a work that goes beyond conventional motivational writing. The Power of MORE is a collection of fifty true stories that explores the importance of going beyond expectations, demonstrating how small acts of responsibility, care, discipline and initiative can create meaningful results in workplaces and in everyday life. The recognition of Manoj Kumar with the Indian Literature Award reflects the relevance of literature that connects directly with human experiences. His work does not depend on fictional characters, dramatic inventions or abstract theories. Instead, it draws its strength from ordinary people and real situations. The central characters in his stories are waiters, cashiers, security personnel, sales associates, housekeepers, mechanics and other frontline workers who may rarely receive public recognition but whose actions can have a significant impact on customers, colleagues, organisations and communities. At the heart of The Power of MORE is a simple but powerful idea: excellence often begins when an individual decides to do slightly more than what is expected. The “more” in the title is not necessarily about working longer hours or making extraordinary sacrifices. It represents a mindset of observing more carefully, listening more attentively, caring more sincerely, taking greater ownership and contributing beyond the minimum requirement. Through his stories, Manoj Kumar demonstrates that professional excellence is frequently built through small and consistent choices rather than through dramatic gestures. The book is particularly significant because it places everyday employees at the centre of its narrative. In many discussions about organisational success, attention is naturally given to founders, senior executives, business leaders and celebrated professionals. Manoj Kumar takes a different approach. He looks at the people who interact with customers, maintain operations, solve problems, support colleagues and keep businesses functioning every day. His stories highlight how a small decision by a frontline employee can sometimes influence an entire customer experience or contribute to the success of a team. This perspective reflects Manoj Kumar's own professional journey. An alumnus of the Institute of Hotel Management, Chennai, he has spent more than three decades working across diverse sectors. His experience in hospitality, retail, healthcare, IT and ITES has allowed him to observe organisations from multiple perspectives. Over the years, he has worked with managers, business heads, frontline employees and teams, helping them improve their capabilities and strengthen their performance. His professional career has been closely connected with people development. As a transformation coach and master trainer, Manoj Kumar has worked to bridge the gap between knowledge and execution. His approach focuses not merely on what people know but on how effectively they translate that knowledge into behaviour and results. His training philosophy emphasises practical learning, measurable improvement, ownership and continuous development. This philosophy is clearly reflected in The Power of MORE. Rather than presenting success as something achieved overnight, the book encourages readers to understand excellence as a continuing process. A person does not necessarily become exceptional because of one extraordinary action. Instead, excellence develops through repeated choices: paying attention when others overlook something, helping when help is not formally required, listening before responding, taking responsibility for mistakes, supporting colleagues and finding better ways to complete everyday tasks. The fifty stories in the book emerge from more than three decades of experiences in hotels, restaurants, retail outlets, cafés, petrol stations and other workplaces. Their settings may be ordinary, but their lessons are universal. A customer interaction, a workplace challenge, an unexpected act of kindness or an employee's willingness to take initiative can become an opportunity to understand larger principles of leadership and human behaviour. One of the notable strengths of Manoj Kumar's writing is its accessibility. The Power of MORE is not written only for corporate executives or management professionals. Its lessons can be understood by students, young professionals, frontline employees, entrepreneurs, managers and anyone interested in personal development. The stories encourage readers to examine their own habits and ask whether they are simply fulfilling responsibilities or actively looking for ways to create greater value. The book also offers a distinctive perspective on customer service. In today's competitive environment, customer experience can determine whether an individual returns to a business or chooses another organisation. Technology can support service delivery, but human behaviour remains central to the experience. A thoughtful interaction, an attentive employee or a willingness to solve a problem can leave a lasting impression. Through real-life examples, Manoj Kumar illustrates how service excellence is often created through details that may appear insignificant at first. The same principle extends to leadership. Effective leadership is not restricted to people occupying formal positions of authority. Leadership can be demonstrated by anyone who takes responsibility, supports others, identifies a problem and works towards a solution. The stories in The Power of MORE challenge readers to look beyond job titles and recognise leadership potential in everyday behaviour. Teamwork is another important theme within the book. Organisations function through the combined efforts of many individuals, and successful outcomes often depend on people who work quietly behind the scenes. Manoj Kumar's focus on unsung heroes brings attention to those contributions. A security guard who protects an establishment, a housekeeper who maintains standards, a cashier who remains patient during a difficult interaction or a mechanic who solves a technical problem can each play an important role in organisational performance. The book's message is therefore both professional and human. It encourages readers to understand that every role has value and that every individual has an opportunity to influence the quality of an organisation through personal conduct. Doing “more” becomes a philosophy of ownership rather than merely an instruction to increase productivity. Manoj Kumar's own life reflects this philosophy. Throughout his professional journey, he has consistently emphasised the importance of pushing beyond limitations and maintaining performance standards. He describes his approach through the idea of the extra hour, the extra idea and the extra inch. Yet, while reflecting on his achievements, he acknowledges that individual success is rarely the result of one person's efforts. Behind every achievement are colleagues, teams and frontline employees whose contribution may remain unnoticed. This realisation forms the emotional foundation of The Power of MORE. The book can be viewed as a tribute to those quiet contributors whose efforts often remain outside the spotlight. Their stories demonstrate that professional success is not only about individual ambition but also about collaboration, trust, commitment and respect for the people who make organisations work. Manoj Kumar's work as the founder of Sympl Augmented Learning Technologies (SALT) further demonstrates his commitment to making learning practical and accessible. SALT is focused on people-first learning, particularly for blue-collar employees in hospitality and retail. Through its Skilld’Wise app, practical learning is delivered through short, accessible micro-lessons designed to improve workplace behaviour, service quality and business performance. This initiative reflects an important aspect of Manoj Kumar's professional philosophy: learning should not be restricted to classrooms or formal training programmes. Employees at every level should have access to relevant knowledge and practical development opportunities. In sectors where frontline employees directly influence customer experience, equipping people with appropriate skills can have a significant organisational impact. His work combines operational knowledge with training expertise and an understanding of human behaviour. Having worked across different industries, he has seen how organisational systems, employee attitudes, leadership practices and customer expectations intersect. This broad experience provides the foundation for his writing and coaching. As an author, Manoj Kumar brings this practical perspective into literature. The Power of MORE belongs firmly to the non-fiction category, particularly within inspirational, motivational and professional-development literature. Its stories are based on real experiences rather than fictional plots, and its purpose is to derive meaningful lessons from actual human behaviour and workplace situations. The book's literary value lies in its ability to transform everyday experiences into reflections on larger human values. It demonstrates that literature does not always need extraordinary characters or dramatic events to offer insight. Sometimes, a simple interaction between an employee and a customer can reveal important truths about dignity, responsibility, empathy and excellence. The work also carries social relevance because it gives visibility to people who are often overlooked in mainstream narratives of achievement. By placing frontline workers at the centre of his stories, Manoj Kumar reminds readers that society and organisations depend on millions of ordinary individuals performing their responsibilities every day. His approach is particularly relevant to India's rapidly changing professional environment. As businesses evolve and customer expectations increase, organisations require employees who are adaptable, responsible and willing to learn. At the same time, employees need workplaces that recognise their contributions and provide meaningful opportunities for growth. The Power of MORE approaches this relationship from a human perspective, encouraging both individuals and organisations to look for ways to improve. The book's central message can also be applied beyond professional life. The idea of doing a little more can influence relationships, education, community engagement and personal development. Listening a little more can strengthen relationships. Learning a little more can improve competence. Helping a little more can strengthen communities. Reflecting a little more can lead to better decisions. In this sense, the book extends beyond the workplace and becomes a broader reflection on personal responsibility. Manoj Kumar's ability to connect professional lessons with everyday human experiences is one of the defining characteristics of his work. His writing avoids presenting excellence as an unreachable ideal. Instead, it makes excellence practical. Readers are encouraged to begin with small actions that are within their control. The Indian Literature Award honour therefore recognises not only a book but also a distinctive approach to storytelling and learning. By transforming professional observations into accessible narratives, Manoj Kumar has created a work capable of reaching readers from different backgrounds. His stories demonstrate that meaningful lessons can emerge from places as ordinary as a hotel reception desk, restaurant counter, retail outlet, petrol station or workplace floor. His multilingual ability and experience working with people from varied professional and social backgrounds further strengthen his communication approach. He speaks four Indian languages and has developed learning content designed to resonate with audiences ranging from shopfloor employees to senior management. This ability to communicate across different levels of an organisation is reflected in the straightforward style of The Power of MORE. The recognition also highlights the growing relevance of non-fiction literature that addresses real-world challenges. In an age where professional life is increasingly shaped by technology, competition and rapid change, readers continue to seek practical wisdom rooted in genuine experience. Books such as The Power of MORE provide an opportunity to pause and reconsider the behaviours that influence success. For young professionals, the book can serve as a reminder that careers are built through habits as much as qualifications. For managers, it offers stories that encourage greater attention to employee behaviour and customer experience. For entrepreneurs, it highlights the importance of people and execution. For frontline workers, it reinforces the idea that their contribution matters. For educators and trainers, it provides examples of how simple stories can communicate complex professional lessons. Ultimately, The Power of MORE is a celebration of the human element behind professional excellence. Its stories suggest that extraordinary results can emerge from ordinary people when they choose to take ownership and make an additional effort. The book does not promise instant success; instead, it advocates consistency, responsibility and continuous improvement. Manoj Kumar's journey from hospitality education to transformation coaching, master training, entrepreneurship and authorship reflects the same philosophy. His career has been shaped by a sustained focus on people, performance and learning. Through his professional work and his writing, he continues to encourage individuals and organisations to move beyond minimum expectations and pursue meaningful improvement. The Indian Literature Award presented to Manoj Kumar for The Power of MORE recognises a book that combines real-life experience, professional wisdom and human stories. More importantly, it acknowledges the value of giving a voice to the everyday people whose contributions often remain unnoticed. Through fifty true stories, Manoj Kumar makes a simple argument with lasting relevance: excellence does not always require extraordinary circumstances. It can begin with one person choosing to observe a little more, care a little more, listen a little more, learn a little more and contribute a little more. In that sense, The Power of MORE is more than a collection of workplace stories. It is an invitation to rethink what “good enough” means and to recognise the potential that exists in everyday actions. Through his book, Manoj Kumar celebrates the quiet doers, acknowledges the teams behind success and encourages readers to discover their own capacity to go beyond expectations. His recognition with the Indian Literature Award marks an important acknowledgement of his contribution to inspirational non-fiction and people-focused writing. With his continued work as a transformation coach, master trainer, learning entrepreneur and author, Manoj Kumar remains committed to one enduring principle: meaningful change often begins when ordinary people decide to do just a little more.

The legal profession occupies a vital position in the functioning of a democratic society. It is a field where knowledge, reasoning, ethics, courage, and responsibility come together in the pursuit of justice. Lawyers do not merely interpret statutes or argue cases; they also contribute to the protection of rights, the strengthening of constitutional values, and the development of a society governed by fairness and the rule of law. Among the emerging legal professionals contributing to this important sphere, Adv. Anushree Pratikkumar Bhatt of Maharashtra represents a promising and accomplished voice. With professional expertise in Criminal Law and Family Law, experience in legal education and advocacy, and a sustained interest in contemporary socio-legal issues, she has built a professional journey centred on legal excellence, intellectual discipline, and the pursuit of justice. In recognition of her accomplishments and commitment to the legal field, Adv. Anushree Pratikkumar Bhatt is being recognised with the Tagore International Award in the field of Law. The recognition reflects her growing contribution to legal practice, academic scholarship, professional development, and the broader understanding of law as an instrument of justice and social transformation. Adv. Bhatt’s professional identity has developed at the intersection of advocacy, legal education, and research. Practising before the Bombay High Court, she has gained valuable exposure to the practical dimensions of law and the responsibilities associated with professional advocacy. Her work demonstrates an understanding that effective legal practice requires much more than familiarity with legal provisions. It demands careful analysis of facts, interpretation of statutory provisions, knowledge of judicial precedents, persuasive communication, professional ethics, and the ability to approach complex disputes with clarity and objectivity. Her principal areas of professional and academic expertise are Criminal Law and Family Law, two fields that have a profound impact on individuals, families, and society. Criminal law deals with questions of responsibility, liberty, public safety, punishment, rehabilitation, and justice, while family law addresses deeply personal matters involving marriage, family relationships, matrimonial disputes, personal laws, gender rights, and individual dignity. Through her engagement with these areas, Adv. Bhatt has developed an appreciation of the human consequences of legal disputes and the importance of approaching legal issues with both intellectual rigour and sensitivity. Her legal journey is supported by an impressive academic foundation. She holds an LL.M. in Criminal Law from the University of Mumbai, strengthening her specialised understanding of criminal jurisprudence and contemporary criminal justice. She completed her LL.B. from Lords Universal College of Law as a Gold Medalist, demonstrating exceptional academic performance in legal studies. Before entering the legal field, she completed her B.Com. (Honours) from R.D. National College, University of Mumbai, where she secured the position of topper. Her academic accomplishments have also been recognised through distinctions such as the Late Kanubhai M. Patel Gold Medal awarded by the University of Mumbai and a Certificate of Merit for securing the highest marks in Land Laws. This academic record is significant because it demonstrates the consistency with which Adv. Bhatt has pursued excellence. Her progression from commerce education to professional legal education and specialised postgraduate study reflects an evolving intellectual interest in the structure of law, governance, rights, and justice. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Law from SunRise University, Rajasthan, further extending her engagement with advanced legal research and scholarship. Adv. Bhatt’s legal career is particularly distinguished by her focus on advocacy. Legal advocacy requires the ability to understand complex factual situations, identify relevant legal questions, research applicable law, formulate arguments, prepare pleadings, and communicate legal positions effectively. Her professional training and experience have enabled her to develop skills in legal drafting, pleadings, case analysis, conveyancing, legal research, and advocacy-oriented training. These competencies form an important foundation for effective legal representation and professional practice. Her engagement with Criminal Law encompasses a wide range of subjects, including criminal jurisprudence, sexual offences, criminology, forensic science, scientific investigation of crime, criminal responsibility, and emerging dimensions of criminal justice. These areas are increasingly important in a rapidly changing legal environment where traditional approaches to crime and punishment are being reconsidered in light of scientific developments, technological advancement, changing social realities, and evolving understandings of individual rights. Her understanding of criminal law also extends to the changing framework of Indian criminal legislation. Her academic engagement includes the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, alongside broader areas of criminal justice. Such engagement demonstrates her interest in understanding the transition and evolution of India's criminal justice framework and the implications of legal reform for practitioners, students, and society. The importance of her expertise becomes even more apparent when considering her interest in sexual offences and gender justice. Cases involving sexual violence require careful attention to legal procedure, evidentiary principles, victim rights, constitutional protections, and the wider social context in which such offences occur. Through her academic and professional engagement with these subjects, Adv. Bhatt contributes to a more informed understanding of the challenges faced by the criminal justice system in addressing sensitive and complex offences. Her expertise in Family Law provides another important dimension to her advocacy profile. Family disputes are often among the most emotionally difficult legal matters individuals encounter. Matrimonial disputes, personal law questions, family relationships, gender rights, and issues concerning dignity can have lasting consequences for individuals and communities. Effective legal advocacy in this area therefore requires not only knowledge of statutory provisions and precedents but also an appreciation of the social and personal realities underlying legal disputes. Adv. Bhatt's approach to Family Law is connected with wider concerns relating to women’s rights, gender justice, matrimonial disputes, personal laws, and evolving family relationships. Her professional interests demonstrate an understanding that the development of family law must remain responsive to constitutional principles, equality, dignity, and changing social conditions. Her advocacy-oriented approach is strengthened by her academic engagement with Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Jurisprudence, Land Laws, Cyber Law, Intellectual Property Rights, Legal Language, Judicial Control Processes, and property-related legislation. This broad legal foundation allows her to approach specialised questions within a larger understanding of the Indian legal system. An important feature of Adv. Bhatt’s professional journey is her commitment to connecting theoretical legal knowledge with practical application. She has more than four years of experience in legal education and has developed expertise in helping learners understand the practical dimensions of law. Her approach recognises that legal education should not be limited to memorisation of provisions. Students and emerging legal professionals must learn how to interpret legislation, analyse judgments, conduct legal research, draft documents, develop arguments, and understand the functioning of courts and legal institutions. Her commitment to professional skill development is particularly relevant in contemporary legal education. The modern advocate must navigate a legal environment shaped by technological change, emerging legislation, evolving jurisprudence, and increasingly complex disputes. By combining doctrinal knowledge with practical legal training, Adv. Bhatt seeks to encourage critical thinking, analytical reasoning, professional discipline, and ethical decision-making among learners. Her legal research further complements her advocacy profile. She has contributed research papers to reputed national and international journals, including UGC CARE-listed journals, engaging with a wide range of significant legal and socio-legal issues. Her research interests include prisoners’ rights, sexual offences, communal violence, women’s political participation, media freedom, feminism and feminist jurisprudence, migration studies, surrogacy law, and gender justice. These subjects reveal the breadth of her understanding of law. Her research does not treat legal rules as isolated provisions but examines their relationship with society, human rights, constitutional values, gender, dignity, and social transformation. Such an approach is particularly valuable in legal scholarship because law is ultimately implemented within society and must respond to real human circumstances. Her scholarly accomplishments include Best Paper Awards for research addressing the impact of migration on female protagonists from a legal perspective and for an interdisciplinary study examining neuroscience, violent offending, and legal culpability. These recognitions demonstrate her ability to explore complex questions beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries. Her research into neuroscience and criminal responsibility, in particular, illustrates the growing importance of interdisciplinary legal scholarship. Modern criminal justice increasingly intersects with psychology, neuroscience, forensic science, technology, and behavioural studies. Questions concerning intention, responsibility, culpability, and criminal behaviour cannot always be examined adequately through a purely doctrinal lens. Adv. Bhatt’s engagement with such subjects reflects an openness to new perspectives in legal scholarship. Similarly, her research interests in migration, gender, feminism, surrogacy, and women’s political participation reflect a continuing concern with the relationship between law and social transformation. These issues are central to contemporary debates about equality, representation, autonomy, family, identity, and human rights. Adv. Bhatt’s commitment to professional development is also evident from her participation in national and international conferences, faculty development programmes, workshops, seminars, and webinars. Her areas of engagement include research methodology, intellectual property rights, artificial intelligence in education, gender justice, mediation, consumer protection, professional ethics, leadership, and innovative approaches to legal education. Such continued professional development is particularly important in a profession where laws, technologies, judicial interpretations, and professional expectations constantly evolve. A successful advocate must remain a lifelong learner. Adv. Bhatt’s participation in academic and professional programmes reflects her willingness to continually expand her knowledge and remain engaged with emerging developments. Her advocacy philosophy is closely connected with professional ethics. Law provides practitioners with significant responsibility because legal professionals operate within systems that directly affect liberty, property, family relationships, reputation, livelihood, and fundamental rights. For this reason, professional competence must be accompanied by integrity and ethical reasoning. Adv. Bhatt’s professional outlook places importance on analytical skills, ethical conduct, critical thinking, and a research-oriented approach to legal practice. Her journey also demonstrates the value of women professionals making meaningful contributions to the legal profession. Her engagement with gender justice and women’s rights, alongside her professional experience in Criminal Law and Family Law, gives her work particular relevance in areas where legal questions frequently intersect with social inequality and individual vulnerability. At the heart of Adv. Bhatt’s professional journey is the belief that legal knowledge achieves its greatest purpose when it contributes to justice and human dignity. Advocacy, from this perspective, is not merely a professional activity. It is a responsibility to understand the law carefully, represent legal positions effectively, and contribute to the proper functioning of the justice system. The recognition through the Tagore International Award therefore represents more than acknowledgement of academic qualifications or professional experience. It recognises a developing legal career that brings together advocacy, education, research, and a commitment to contemporary questions of justice. Adv. Bhatt’s profile reflects the qualities expected of an emerging legal professional: strong academic preparation, specialised knowledge, professional discipline, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to continuous learning. Her work in Criminal Law and Family Law is particularly significant because both fields require advocates to deal with complex human realities. Criminal law involves questions of liberty, responsibility, evidence, punishment, and public interest. Family law involves relationships, dignity, equality, personal rights, and social structures. In both areas, effective advocacy requires a balance of legal precision and sensitivity to the circumstances of those involved. Adv. Bhatt’s broader academic engagement ensures that her professional perspective is not confined to a single area of law. Her knowledge of constitutional principles, administrative processes, jurisprudence, property law, cyber law, intellectual property, and contemporary legislation enables her to view legal problems from multiple perspectives. This breadth is an important asset in a profession where legal issues increasingly overlap across disciplines. As she continues her Ph.D. research and develops her professional practice, Adv. Bhatt has the opportunity to contribute further to legal scholarship and advocacy in India. Her academic record suggests a sustained commitment to excellence, while her research interests demonstrate a willingness to engage with emerging legal and social questions. Her professional journey also illustrates how legal education can become a foundation for broader contributions to society when combined with research, advocacy, and ethical responsibility. The story of Adv. Anushree Pratikkumar Bhatt is ultimately a story of continuous development. From achieving academic distinction to becoming a legal professional, from specialised study in Criminal Law to engagement with Family Law and constitutional issues, and from courtroom-oriented advocacy to research and legal education, her journey reflects a multifaceted commitment to the legal profession. Her achievements demonstrate that excellence in law is built through sustained effort. Gold-medal academic performance, specialised postgraduate education, research publications, professional advocacy, teaching experience, conference participation, and continuing professional development have together shaped a profile that is both academically accomplished and professionally focused. The Tagore International Award honours this trajectory and recognises Adv. Anushree Pratikkumar Bhatt as an emerging contributor to the field of Law from Maharashtra. Her work represents the constructive role that young legal professionals can play in strengthening legal awareness, advancing professional standards, encouraging research, and promoting a deeper understanding of justice. As the legal profession continues to evolve with technological developments, legislative reforms, new forms of crime, changing family structures, and increasingly complex questions of rights and responsibility, professionals such as Adv. Bhatt have an important role to play. Her interest in contemporary legal issues, interdisciplinary research, professional advocacy, and legal education positions her to engage meaningfully with these emerging challenges. Her journey also carries an inspirational message for aspiring legal professionals. Academic excellence provides an important foundation, but professional growth requires continuous learning, practical experience, ethical commitment, and the courage to engage with difficult questions. Adv. Bhatt’s career illustrates the value of combining these qualities in the pursuit of meaningful professional achievement. Adv. Anushree Pratikkumar Bhatt stands today as a promising legal professional whose work reflects the convergence of advocacy, scholarship, education, and social responsibility. Her expertise in Criminal Law and Family Law, combined with her academic accomplishments, courtroom experience, research contributions, and commitment to professional development, establishes a strong foundation for continued growth. Her recognition with the Tagore International Award is a celebration of her achievements and an acknowledgement of her contribution to the legal and academic sphere. More importantly, it represents encouragement for her to continue pursuing excellence in advocacy, legal scholarship, and professional education. With her continuing commitment to justice, constitutional values, human dignity, gender equality, and responsible legal practice, Adv. Anushree Pratikkumar Bhatt represents a dynamic emerging voice in the Indian legal community. Her journey demonstrates that the true measure of legal excellence lies not only in knowledge of the law, but in the ability to apply that knowledge with integrity, analytical depth, professional responsibility, and a genuine commitment to justice.

By Kinjal Chakraborty India's education system is undergoing one of its most significant transformations since Independence. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions schools that nurture creativity, critical thinking, inclusion, and holistic development. Simultaneously, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping teaching, learning, and assessment. Yet beneath this vision lies a difficult reality. Millions of Indian students continue to study in overcrowded classrooms, teachers struggle with administrative burdens, learning inequalities remain pervasive, and educational psychology—the scientific foundation of effective teaching—is still insufficiently translated into classroom practice. The future of Indian education depends not merely on technological advancement but on how successfully educational psychology informs educational reform. For decades, Indian schooling has been dominated by a behaviourist model of education inspired by the works of Skinner and Thorndike. Reward, punishment, repetition, homework, examinations, and memorisation have become the defining characteristics of classroom instruction. While behaviourist principles remain useful for developing foundational knowledge and classroom discipline, they become problematic when they suppress creativity, curiosity, and independent thinking. The pressure of board examinations, competitive entrance tests, and private coaching often transforms learning into preparation for examinations rather than preparation for life. Educational psychology advocates a different vision. Piaget's theory of cognitive development argues that learners actively construct knowledge according to their developmental readiness. Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development demonstrates that meaningful learning occurs through guided interaction and scaffolding. Bruner's discovery learning and Dewey's experiential education encourage students to investigate, question, experiment, and reflect. Unfortunately, these learner-centred principles often remain confined to policy documents and teacher-training manuals. In many classrooms, syllabus completion still receives greater priority than conceptual understanding. One of India's most persistent educational challenges is the examination-oriented culture. Success continues to be measured predominantly through marks rather than understanding, creativity, emotional intelligence, or problem-solving ability. This assessment culture encourages rote memorisation, increases student anxiety, and discourages intellectual risk-taking. From the perspective of Cognitive Load Theory, students are frequently overwhelmed by excessive curricular content, multiple coaching classes, and continuous examinations. Instead of promoting meaningful learning, cognitive overload often results in superficial memorisation and rapid forgetting. The widespread shadow education system has further complicated the psychological landscape of learning. Private tuition and coaching centres have become parallel education systems, often reducing schools to examination centres rather than environments for intellectual development. Students spend long hours memorising predictable examination patterns while opportunities for creativity, reflection, play, and emotional growth continue to diminish. This growing dependence on coaching has widened educational inequalities between economically privileged and disadvantaged learners. Educational psychology also emphasises motivation. Self-Determination Theory explains that students learn best when autonomy, competence, and meaningful relationships are nurtured. Unfortunately, many Indian learners experience excessive parental expectations, fear of failure, social comparison, and academic competition. Learning gradually becomes externally driven rather than intrinsically motivated. The alarming rise in examination stress, anxiety disorders, depression, burnout, and student suicides demonstrates that academic achievement cannot be separated from psychological well-being. The theory of Multiple Intelligences reminds educators that intelligence extends beyond linguistic and mathematical ability. Yet school assessments continue to reward only a limited range of cognitive skills. Artistic, musical, interpersonal, creative, vocational, and practical talents often remain neglected. Consequently, many capable students are incorrectly labelled as academically weak simply because their strengths fall outside conventional examinations. Inclusive education presents another significant challenge. Indian classrooms increasingly include children with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, dyslexia, learning disabilities, giftedness, and diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Educational psychology recommends differentiated instruction, Universal Design for Learning, and individualized support. However, many schools continue to face shortages of special educators, school counsellors, psychologists, and inclusive teaching resources. Teachers are frequently expected to manage highly diverse classrooms without adequate professional preparation. Teacher education itself requires urgent reform. Although educational psychology occupies an important position in B.Ed. and teacher-training programmes, its classroom application often remains limited. Many teachers receive theoretical knowledge about child development, learning theories, classroom motivation, and assessment but insufficient practical training to translate these concepts into effective pedagogy. Continuous professional development in educational psychology, neuroscience, digital pedagogy, and AI literacy remains inconsistent across states. The rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence has introduced both unprecedented opportunities and serious educational concerns. AI-powered tutoring systems, adaptive learning platforms, intelligent assessment tools, multilingual translation systems, and generative AI can personalise learning, reduce teacher workload, and improve accessibility for diverse learners. Students in remote regions may gain access to educational resources that were previously unavailable. However, AI also raises complex psychological, ethical, and pedagogical questions. Students increasingly depend on AI-generated assignments, essays, coding solutions, and examination preparation. This dependency threatens the development of independent reasoning, reflective thinking, metacognition, and creativity. Educational psychology consistently demonstrates that genuine learning emerges through productive cognitive struggle rather than effortless answer generation. The digital divide remains one of India's greatest barriers to AI integration. While many urban private schools experiment with AI-assisted classrooms, numerous government schools continue to struggle with unreliable electricity, poor internet connectivity, inadequate digital infrastructure, and limited access to computers. Without equitable technological investment, AI may unintentionally widen existing educational inequalities. Another growing concern involves academic integrity. Traditional homework and take-home assignments have become increasingly difficult to evaluate in the age of generative AI. Schools must therefore redesign assessment systems by emphasising project-based learning, classroom performance, oral examinations, collaborative inquiry, portfolios, authentic problem-solving, and reflective writing that demonstrate genuine understanding rather than AI-assisted reproduction. AI also presents ethical challenges related to privacy, algorithmic bias, misinformation, surveillance, and data security. Students require systematic instruction in digital citizenship, responsible AI use, critical media literacy, and ethical decision-making. Artificial Intelligence should augment human intelligence rather than replace human judgment. Educational psychology itself must now evolve. Emerging areas such as AI-assisted cognition, learning analytics, computational educational psychology, neuroeducation, human-AI collaboration, and digital metacognition require new theoretical frameworks. Bloom's Taxonomy, Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, Cognitive Apprenticeship, Constructivism, Positive Psychology, and Learning Engineering must all be reinterpreted within AI-supported learning environments. Ultimately, India's educational transformation cannot be measured solely by the number of smart classrooms, digital platforms, or AI applications introduced into schools. True educational reform will occur only when technology is integrated with sound psychological principles, inclusive educational practices, teacher empowerment, and equitable learning opportunities. Educational psychology reminds us that every learner is unique, every classroom is diverse, and every educational innovation must first serve human development. Artificial Intelligence may change how students learn, but educational psychology will continue to explain why they learn. India's greatest educational challenge is therefore not merely AI adoption, but creating schools where technology, psychology, innovation, equity, and humanity work together to nurture thoughtful, emotionally resilient, ethically responsible, and socially committed citizens.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra has said that the country’s economic growth continues to be supported by resilient demand and it remains the world’s fastest-growing large economy. He said the country’s economy has performed better than expected in the April-June quarter of this fiscal. Presenting Monetary Policy statement, Mr. Malhotra said, RBI has decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.25 percent. The RBI Governor said, West Asia conflict continues to challenge global economy by disrupting key trade routes. He said, RBI has lowered CPI inflation projection to 5 percent from an earlier estimate of 5.1 percent for financial year 2027.

Protests by students over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination have intensified in Jharkhand. Thousands of aspirants have been staging an indefinite protest for the past 12 days at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi. Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi has become a symbol of the anger and anguish of young aspirants protesting against the alleged irregularities in the JPSC examination. However, the protesters claim that despite braving the scorching sun and remaining at the protest site, they have been deprived of basic amenities such as drinking water, food and toilet facilities. Union Minister of State for Defence and Ranchi MP, Sanjay Seth, has criticised the Opposition for remaining silent on the issue. He alleged that the state government has shown complete insensitivity, claiming that no representative of the government has visited the protesting students so far. As the shortage of basic facilities at the protest site continues, Godda MP Nishikant Dubey has also targeted the Hemant Soren-led government. He has levelled serious allegations that seats in the examination were sold and questioned the government’s handling of the recruitment process. Describing the plight of the protesting students as a reflection of the state government’s insensitivity, former Chief Minister Arjun Munda said that the fight for the rights of the youth would not remain confined to Ranchi alone. With allegations of paper leak and lack of basic facilities at the protest site, the students say they are determined to continue their agitation. It remains to be seen how soon the administration responds to their demands.

In Libya, protesters stormed into a key energy complex near Tripoli amid anti-government demonstrations over prolonged power outages, raising fears of a nationwide blackout. The protesters entered the Mellitah Oil & Gas complex yesterday and closed the gas lines used to operate power plants to generate electricity. The Power company operating the complex warned that the disruption could trigger widespread blackouts and collapse the electricity grid. Demonstrations have spread across western Libya, including Zawiya, Tripoli, and Misrata, over hour long outages. Protesters are demanding improved electricity services and the resignation of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s Government of National Unity. Mr. Dbeibah leads the internationally recognised government in Tripoli, while Osama Hammad heads the administration in the east, where the powerful military commander Khalifa Hifter continues to hold sway. Libya has remained divided since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar extended greetings to the Government and people of Peru on their Independence Day today. In a social media post, Dr Jaishankar said that India looks forward to strengthening relations with Peru.

World Nature Conservation Day is being observed today globally. This day raises awareness about protecting nature and conserving natural resources to save the earth from the dangers of adverse impacts of climate change. In 1997, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared July 28th as World Nature Conservation Day. The purpose was to emphasize the significance of nature conservation and sustainable practices for the well-being of the planet.