After NDTV Report, Children Finally Get Steel Plates For Midday Meals

Two days after NDTV's report revealed that students at Hullpur Government School in Sheopur were being served their midday meals on sheets of waste paper, the district administration swung into action. On Saturday, the same children who had been eating food on crumpled newspapers were finally served meals on steel plates.

The development followed a sharp reaction from Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who took to social media platform X on Thursday after reading NDTV's story.

Tagging NDTV's reporter, Gandhi wrote, "I'm going to Madhya Pradesh today. Since I saw the news that children there were being served midday meals on newspapers, my heart is broken. These are the innocent children whose dreams depend on the country's future and they don't even have a plate of dignity. More than 20 years of BJP rule, and even children's plates were stolen. Their 'development' is just an illusion; the real secret to power is 'system'. Such a Chief Minister and Prime Minister should be ashamed."

आज मध्य प्रदेश जा रहा हूं।

और जब से ये खबर देखी है कि वहां बच्चों को मिड-डे मील अख़बार पर परोसा जा रहा है, दिल टूट सा गया है।

ये वही मासूम बच्चे हैं जिनके सपनों पर देश का भविष्य टिका है, और उन्हें इज़्ज़त की थाली तक नसीब नहीं।

20 साल से ज्यादा की BJP सरकार, और बच्चों की थाली... pic.twitter.com/ShQ2YttnIs

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 8, 2025

His post titled "Children's plates stolen" went viral, prompting swift administrative response in Sheopur.

The Madhya Pradesh government was quick to counter the Congress leader's criticism. School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh issued a statement asserting that corrective steps were already underway before Rahul Gandhi's post.

"Even before his tweet, the sensitive government under Dr Mohan Yadav had acted against the self-help group and school teacher responsible. Monitoring teams have been formed to ensure such negligence is not repeated."

Singh also hit back politically, questioning the Congress's record.

"We ask why, in November 2024, about 50 students in Telangana's Narayanpet district were hospitalised after eating a midday meal made with rotten grains. Is the Congress chief minister of Telangana and Rahul Gandhi ashamed of that? Has any action been taken there?"

The minister said the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh "remains committed to good governance" and "takes strict action wherever errors occur."

Following the controversy, former Forest Minister Ramnivas Rawat and subdivisional magistrate Abhishek Mishra visited Hullpur School on Saturday, joining the children for lunch to review the food's quality and cleanliness. "Such negligence will no longer be tolerated," they said.

The officials confirmed that the school in-charge Bhogiram Dhakad had been suspended and that the self-help group's contract for supplying food had been cancelled.

The controversy began on November 4, when a video surfaced showing children eating their midday meal off discarded paper sheets. The visuals, which quickly went viral, drew widespread criticism for the administration's apathy.

Following the video's circulation, District Education Officer Harishankar Garg visited the school and filed a detailed report. The self-help group responsible consisting of five women claimed that only three workers were available that week and that they had used paper to "avoid dishwashing." Parents had reportedly not filed any complaints before the video came to light.

Collector and District Magistrate Arpit Verma has now ordered a strict review of the midday meal scheme across the district. He directed all school principals and panchayat officials to ensure hygienic conditions and adequate utensils for every child.

"Negligence in providing food to children will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken against any official or group found responsible," Verma said.

What began as an NDTV's story has now forced the system to act and for the first time in weeks, the children of Hullpur didn't have to eat off scraps of paper, but from plates of dignity.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/XtiLj9w

Bihar Saw Remarkable Growth, Now Stagnating Somewhat: Ruchir Sharma To NDTV

The first phase of voting is done in Bihar and, with just days to go for the second phase and the results, NDTV spoke to Ruchir Sharma about what the state needs to do to be on the fast track for growth and what investors would like to see the next state government do to attract global investment.

In an edition of 'Walk The Talk' straight from the hinterland of the state, including a makhana farm and a factory where it is processed, the global investor and author told NDTV's CEO and Editor-in-Chief Rahul Kanwal that the state saw remarkable growth between 2005 and 2015, but now appears to be struggling to take the next step.

He also spoke about the dangers of a welfare trap and how putting too much money into such schemes doesn't leave enough to invest in infrastructure and long-term growth.

Asked about what he had seen on his current trip to Bihar during the election season and how the state has changed, Sharma said, "I have been in Bihar for four days on this trip. My first trip was in 2005 and there has been a dramatic shift since then. Between 2005 and 2015, we saw a remarkable change in the state. Since then, Bihar has begun to stagnate somewhat. The kind of poverty I have seen on this trip has been heartbreaking. Even in places close to Patna, we saw young children trying to get fish from a pond filled with filth."

"I have consistently said about India that it is a country that disappoints both the optimist and the pessimist. After the optimism that I felt for Bihar, this trip has been a bit dispiriting. The change (in the past 10 years) has not been as dramatic as it should have been for what is the poorest state in India," he emphasised.

The investor said Bihar was "terrible in every way" in 2005 and things changed a lot in the next two terms of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the BJP. There was a massive improvement in roads, infrastructure and law and order from 2005 to 2010, he said, and then in electrification in the next five years till 2015.

"After 2015, the next step should have been the creation of new industries and employment. I think that's where the state is stalling and struggling to find its next growth model," he said.

Delving into numbers, Sharma said Bihar's per capita income began to close the gap to the rest of India between 2005 and 2015, rising from roughly 30% to about 35%. But it has begun to widen again in the past 10 years.

"Bihar's per capita income today, at about Rs 70,000 a year, is less than 30% or approximately 30% of India's per capita income, which is about Rs 2 lakh," he pointed out.

Issues, Way Forward

To a question on what a new government would have to do to give global investors the confidence to invest in Bihar, the author said the state has a lot of talent, but the education system is still weak. He said finding talent that stays in the state is difficult, and real estate and construction have also not picked up.

"My big fear about Bihar is that the state seems to be getting stuck in a welfare trap. Even in this election, nearly 3% of GDP has been announced in pre-poll welfare schemes. When China was at a similar stage of development, it was investing everything in infrastructure and nothing in welfare, because it was practising ruthless capitalism. In India, we are still investing a lot in welfare," Sharma said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to shift the balance towards infrastructure, but it seems to me the amount being spent on welfare by states has gone up significantly. It is a welfare trap. A big factor in this election is the Rs 10,000 given to women by Nitish Kumar's government, but now Tejashwi Yadav is promising Rs 30,000. That's the kind of vicious loop states get stuck in," he cautioned.

Women Factor

Sharma said digitisation has ensured leakages have gone down significantly in welfare schemes and noted that while the election in Bihar seemed close three to four months ago, the NDA now appears to be in the lead. He said the leading reason for this is the Rs 10,000 given to women.

"Nitish Kumar's superpower has been how popular he has been with women and even the BJP has figured out that one possible way to cut across caste lines is to consolidate the women's vote," he said.

Sharma also said there is no visible anti-incumbency in Bihar this time and that he noticed more of it in the 2020 Assembly elections. "Nitish Kumar still enjoys a lot of goodwill," he said.

Prohibition

Asked about the ban on the sale of liquor and the move's popularity, Sharma said good politics is not always good economics.

"When we travelled, we realised drug abuse has gone up and the illegal liquor business has also picked up. In Bihar, hardly any revenue is being generated by state activity and, by implementing prohibition, you have taken another source of revenue away. This is a balance that every state has to get correct. It's one thing for a state like Gujarat to do it and another for Bihar, which does not have that much of a local economy," he said, adding that women still seem happy about the move.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/oSrLQeM

Network Is Now Streaming Online: Know Where to Watch the Telugu Action Web Series Online

Network, the new Telugu thriller on Aha, explores how digital addiction blurs the line between reality and control. Featuring Sriram, Priya Vadlamani, and Siddharth Menon, the show mixes emotional storytelling with intense suspense. With its realistic theme and strong performances, Network is a must-watch tech thriller of 2025. IMDb rating: 7.2/10.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/v5gSCs7

Man Robbed, Loses Leg. Cops Take Him To Hospital, Leave Limb Behind

A labourer was robbed of Rs 500 by four men and his leg was held on a railway track until a train ran over it, severing the limb, in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain on Wednesday. He lost consciousness after that and says personnel from the Government Railway Police (GRP) arrived a few hours later and took him to a hospital, but left the severed leg behind despite him pleading with them.

It was only the next morning that the man managed to convince a different set of personnel that the leg was near the tracks and it was fetched. Over 12 hours had elapsed by then and it was too late to even attempt a surgery to reattach it.

When senior GRP officials were asked about the incident, they denied the man was robbed but had no explanation for why they had left the leg behind or why it took half a day to get it.

From his hospital bed in Ujjain's Charak hospital, Lakha, a resident of Palduna village, recalled the horror: "I work as a labourer near the station. Around 8 pm, I was returning to Dewas Gate after buying food when four men stopped me, beat me and robbed me of Rs 500... When I opened my eyes, one leg was gone and the other was bleeding. I shouted, but no one came. The police came after two hours and put me in an ambulance. I begged them to take my leg too, but they didn't listen."

Lakhan was admitted to the hospital and spoke to a different set of GRP personnel on Thursday morning, telling them about the severed leg. It was only then that an assistant sub-inspector brought the limb back in a plastic bag.

GRP officials allegedly delayed registering a case, saying no robbery took place and they would do so only after speaking to Lakhan's sister. Asked why the leg was not recovered earlier and whether the crime was being downplayed, a GRP officer refused to reply.

When reporters pressed Superintendent of Police Padmavilochan Shukla about the incident and asked whether there was any negligence, he merely responded, "Provide proof, and we will take action."

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/m4adW3p

Gwalior Girl Fights Off 3 Men Who Tried To Kidnap Her Near Police Station

A shocking incident in Gwalior has once again raised alarming questions about women's safety. This time, right under the nose of the police. Three men in an autorickshaw allegedly tried to kidnap a first-year student in broad daylight, barely 50 steps away from the women's police station in Padav.

The incident was captured on CCTV. According to the police, it happened at 11 am when the girl was walking to college. An autorickshaw parked nearby suddenly pulled up behind her. One of the men inside grabbed her hand, while another jumped out and tried to lift her by the leg. The auto driver reportedly shouted at the others to force her inside the vehicle.

Showing remarkable courage, the minor fought back, freed herself from their grip, and ran toward the women's police station for help. However, before assistance could reach, the men abandoned the autorickshaw and fled on foot.

The girl, terrified and shocked, returned home and came to the police station later to file a complaint.

The police have seized the autorickshaw. They are searching for the accused.

The area where the incident took place is between a women's polytechnic college and a police station for women - a location that should have been the safest for any young student.

"We have filed a case against the unidentified men and are close to identifying them through CCTV footage. Arrests will follow soon," inspector Shailendra Bhargava of Padav police station said.

The incident has sparked outrage and fear among residents, with many questioning how such a brazen attempt could happen in one of the city's most crowded areas and so close to a police station.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/b9ofQge

IPL Champions RCB Put On Sale; Deal Likely To Be Finalised By March 31, 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 champion, has been put on sale. United Spirits Limited - the current owners of the side, which plays in both the IPL and the Women's Premier League (WPL) - have already initiated the sale process and are confident of completing the sale by March 31, 2026. RCB, which has been part of the IPL since 2008, won the top franchise league for the first time in 2025. They also won the WPL in 2024. RCB has in its roster big players like Virat Kohli, Smriti Mandhana, and Josh Hazlewood, among others.

Reports suggest that Diageo, parent company of United Spirits Limited, is seeking a valuation of around USD 2 billion for RCB. The sports business accounted for 8.3 percent of the company's total profit in the last financial year ending March 31, 2025. There are reports that vaccine king Adar Poonawalla is interested in securing the sports business. While the sale is expected to be completed by March 31, 2026, the franchise will be seen bidding for players and participating in the WPL auction on November 27.

In a communication to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Wednesday, Diageo called it a 'Strategic Review of the Investment Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd (RCSPL),' a wholly owned company of United Spirits Ltd, the Indian subsidiary of Diageo.

"United Spirits Ltd. ("USL") is initiating a strategic review of the investment in its wholly owned subsidiary, RCSPL. RCSPL's business comprises ownership of the "Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)" franchise teams that participate in the Men's Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women's Premier League (WPL) cricket tournaments hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) annually," the company stated in the disclosure.

Most importantly, the disclosure said it 'expected the process will conclude by March 31st, 2026.'

"Praveen Someshwar, Managing Director & CEO, United Spirits Ltd, commented: "RCSPL has been a valuable and strategic asset for USL, however it's non-core to our alcobev business. This step reinforces USL's & Diageo's commitment to continue reviewing its India enterprise portfolio to enable sustained delivery of long-term value to all its stakeholders, while keeping RCSPL's best interest in mind".'" the disclosure added.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/MCA17jr

Mysterious 1950s Sky Flashes Re-Examined in New Astronomical Study

Thousands of unexplained sky flashes captured in 1950s Palomar Observatory photos are being reanalysed. Scientists suspect they may have resulted from sunlight reflecting off early satellites or atmospheric changes after nuclear tests, which increased flash rates by up to 68%. Still, photographic artifacts remain a possible explanation.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/si0FzDd

Tendulkar, Rohit, ICC Chief Jay Shah In Attendance For Women's World Cup Final

Cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma, along with ICC Chairman Jay Shah, and several celebrities were present in the stands at the DY Patil Stadium to witness India take on South Africa in a historic final of the Women's World Cup in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. Just as thousands of fans had made a beeline to the stadium to witness the historic occasion of the Indian women's team playing a World Cup final on home soil, cricket stars and celebrities too were in attendance to enjoy the game and support the Indian team.

The stadium was jam-packed with fans who had braved early afternoon rain to remain in and cheer the home team in what is India's third appearance in the summit clash.

Sachin Tendulkar was shown by the broadcasters keenly watching the match while batting legend Sunil Gavaskar, VVS Laxman, and former India batter Brijesh Patel were the other celebrities in attendance at DY Patil Stadium on Sunday.

Rohit Sharma watched the match with his wife Ritika. The broadcasters showed the former India captain engrossed in the game as India batted and posted a competitive score of 298/7 in 50 overs.

is in the house supporting our girls!#AaliRe #CWC25 #INDvSA | Rohit Sharma pic.twitter.com/njK7uZGjWn

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) November 2, 2025

Rohit also spent some time chatting with ICC Chairman Jay Shah and Nita Ambani, owner of the Mumbai Indians, who he led to five titles in the Indian Premier League. Sachin Tendulkar, too, was photographed with Nita Ambani.

Rohit has recently returned from Australia after representing the country in the ODI series in which he scored a century in the third and final game as India lost the series 1-2.

Bollywood playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan sang the national anthem before the start of the game and also performed in the mid-innings break, which was lit up by a magnificent display of fireworks and lighting.

The start of the match was delayed by two hours because of rain and a wet outfield. Scheduled to start at 3 pm, it got going after 5 without any deductions in overs.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/8rG6o0k

Hubble Observes Massive Stellar Eruption from EK Draconis, Hinting at Life’s Origins

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope observed a huge solar storm from EK Draconis, a young Sun-like star. The eruption’s energy may trigger atmospheric chemistry, forming greenhouse gases and organic molecules. Such events could mirror early solar activity that helped spark life on ancient Earth and distant exoplanets.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/OXUFiIr

Shah Rukh Khan's 60th Birthday: Farah, Karan, And Navya Sail To Alibag

Shah Rukh Khan is going to turn 60 on November 2, 2025, and his fans, family, and friends can't keep calm. If rumours are believed to be true, King Khan will be ringing in his 60th at his Alibag farmhouse.

While the guest list for the celebration has not been revealed, we at least know that his dear friends, Farah Khan and Karan Johar, will surely be with him on his big day.

Farah Khan, Karan Johar And Navya Naveli Nanda Sail To Alibag

Farah Khan shared a video on November 1, 2025, from a boat while sailing to Alibag. "Karan's day out on the RoRo!!" read the caption of the reel.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Farah Khan Kunder (@farahkhankunder)

The video begins with Farah Khan introducing viewers to Karan Johar. She said, "Look who is here using commercial transport."

Karan replied, "Hi, Farah! Thank you, Farah, for inviting me. This has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Farah rhetorically asked, "How does it feel to be on the deck here with all of us, common people?"

"Just don't tell anyone," replied Karan Johar, while channelling his inner Poo from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.

Farah Khan, Karan Johar, Navya Naveli Nanda, And Vaidang Raina To Attend Shah Rukh Khan's 60th Birthday Celebration

In a video shared on her Instagram story, Farah Khan also got Navya Naveli Nanda and Vedang Raina in the frame. Navya was holding a basket full of snacks, and Farah quickly pointed out that it looked like a Bridgerton picnic scene.

Farah Khan, Karan Johar, Navya Naveli Nanda, and Vedang Raina are sailing to Alibag. Photo: Farah Khan/ Instagram

While the gang had quite the spread, including pasta, laid out in front of them, they also packed banana chips, cookies, potato chips, biscuits, and a lot more.

On Shah Rukh Khan's 60th birthday, many of his films are re-releasing in theatres. He also conducted his famous #AskSRK on X (formerly known as Twitter), and wittily replied to a fan asking why he looks so handsome.

"I think age suits me.....sexy at sixty!!! Superb at seventy....Enticing at eighty and so forth," read his answer.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/lJn130W

Rare ‘Second-Generation’ Black Holes Detected, Proving Einstein Right Again

Scientists have detected two unusual black hole mergers showing signs of “second-generation” origins — meaning each large black hole likely formed from an earlier merger. The gravitational-wave signals also matched Einstein’s predictions on spinning black holes, offering fresh proof of general relativity and new insights into how black holes grow in crowded star systems.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/NSVTPGR