C. P. Radhakrishnan Sworn in as India’s 15th Vice-President: Constitutional Role and Political Context
C. P. Radhakrishnan was sworn in as the 15th Vice-President of India in a solemn ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office. The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers, and
The Battle of Rehlu: A clash of ambitions and a turning point in Kangra’s history
The Battle of Rehlu in 1794 was a watershed moment in the history of the hill states of present-day Himachal Pradesh, marking the high point of Kangra's dominance under the ambitious Raja Sansar Chand II. It was a fierce clash
Parwanoo Ranks Second in India for Clean Air Efforts: A Model for Small Cities
Parwanoo, a small industrial town in Himachal Pradesh, has earned national recognition for its exemplary efforts in tackling air pollution. In the Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2025, conducted under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Parwanoo secured the second rank in
Himachal Pradesh Declared Fully Literate: What It Really Means
Earlier this week, Himachal Pradesh was declared to be a ‘fully literate’ state, joining Goa, Ladakh, Mizoram, and Tripura as the fifth State/Union Territory in India to achieve this status. But what exactly does ‘fully literate’ mean? Does it imply
Maa Shiv Shakti Mandir Chhatrari – History, Legends, and Unique Architecture
Have you ever heard of a temple that once rotated on a pillar and faces west instead of east?So let’s talk about Chhatrari village, about 48 km from Chamba town in Himachal Pradesh, where the famous Chhatrari Devi Temple, also
Pong Dam at 50: Lessons for Water Management and Climate Resilience
Introduction The Pong Dam, commissioned in 1974 on the Beas River in Himachal Pradesh, stands as one of India’s major multipurpose river valley projects. Conceived under the Beas Project, its primary objectives were irrigation supply to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, hydroelectric
Phulaich Festival – The Colorful Festival of Flowers in Kinnaur
The Indian Himalayan Region is home to diverse tribal communities whose traditions, rituals, and festivals are deeply tied to nature. Among them, the Kinnaura tribe of Himachal Pradesh has preserved a unique cultural identity where fairs and festivals play a
Himachal Pradesh Declared a Disaster-Hit State: What It Means and Why It Matters
Introduction Himachal Pradesh, a Himalayan state highly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, has been devastated by torrential rains, landslides, cloudbursts, and flashfloods in the 2025 monsoon season. In response to unprecedented destruction—over 320 lives lost and damages worth Rs 3,000 crore since
Rural Tourism in India: How NotOnMap Empowers Villages and Preserves Heritage
Chamba, Himachal Pradesh – NotOnMap, a unique initiative rooted in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, has recently brought pride to India by receiving international recognition at the Harvard-University of Tokyo Asia Conference (ACONF) 2025, held from 20–24 August 2025 in
SabhaSaar: AI Tool to Strengthen Gram Sabhas in India
On Independence Day 2024, the Government of India introduced ‘SabhaSaar’, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered tool designed to bring uniformity, efficiency, and transparency to Gram Sabha proceedings. The tool was first rolled out in Tripura and later extended to other states.