Making a big move internationally to promote academic collaboration, 22 major institutions of Northeast India have together signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) for forming the Northeast IndiaJapan International Academic and Research Consortium.

The first among the signatories is Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati that has been entrusted with the responsibility of the nodal institution of India whereas the coordination from the Japan side will be done by the Gifu University. This pact was signed at the JapanNER Academia-Industry Cooperation Symposium 2026.

The new fraternity includes the prestigious institutions such as the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Guwahati, North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management, Tezpur University, Gauhati University, Cotton University and Assam Engineering College among others.

This partnership goes hand in hand with the Ministry of Education Culture Sports, Science and Technology's (MOECSST) Inter-University Exchange Project that aims at building closer relations with northeast India from 2022. Through the new consortium, both countries have a goal to enable about 5,000 student exchanges in each way annually over the next five years, which is considered a major stride in enhancing academic mobility and cultural exchange.

Officials mentioned that such a collaboration will open new avenues for shared research innovation and academic exchange in different fields like science technology medicine among others. Besides, it is set to promote more intense cooperation between academia and industry in both areas.

The Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Devendra Jalihal, called the move a "new dawn" and pointed out the convergence of teams from different states to design an exclusive platform that will connect engineers, scientists , medical personnel, and policymakers. The consortium is regarded as a landmark in fostering India-Japan educational relations and simultaneously raising the global academic stature of Northeast India.

Released: 19th March 2026 | Director: Aditya Dhar | Cast: Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, Sara Arjun, Yami Gautam | Rating: 4.5/5

Wonder whether Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is as good as the impossible demands that Dhurandhar 1 made it out to be? It is. Aditya Dhar has created a movie that does not resemble a sequel. It has the sense of a build-up of tension, of size, of emotion, and of pure cinematic daring. Ranveer Singh, as Jaskirat Singh Rangi undercover as Hamza Ali Mazari within the criminal underworld of Karachi, gives the best performance of his life. That is not hyperbole. Watch it and then disagree.

Dhurandhar 2 Box Office Collection 

Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge became the first Bollywood film to gross over ₹200 crore in advance sales, joining Pushpa 2, Leo, RRR, and Baahubali 2 as films achieving this milestone. During Day 0 paid previews, the movie earned ₹43 crore net in India (Hindi only) and ₹22.25 crore overseas.

The film's opening weekend pre-sales worldwide neared the ₹300 crore mark, with India's opening weekend pre-sales at ₹160 crore gross.

On Day 1, Dhurandhar 2 collected a net of ₹102.55 crore across 21,728 shows, confirming the ₹100 crore projection and becoming 2026's biggest opener.

Including the ₹43 crore paid previews, the Day 0+1 combined collection reached ₹145.55 crore net – the biggest opening in Hindi cinema history. Worldwide Day 1 gross stood at ₹236.63 crore, with India gross at ₹172.63 crore.

What the Film Is About

Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is a sequel to Ranveer Singh's Jaskirat Singh Rangi who is back on a deep-cover mission in Pakistan, this time tracking the rise of Mazari, a Karachi underworld gangster. The plot of the story continues right where the previous Dhurandhar 1 cliffhanger left off, and Aditya Dhar does not take long to make it clear that this is a larger, more pessimistic, and more emotionally layered chapter.

The antagonist, Akshaye Khanna is the type of casting that leaves you wondering why this took this long. Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan and Sara Arjun all reappear with much bigger roles. The introduction of Yami Gautam into the cast is a twist and the film takes advantage of it.

Runtime, Certificate and Release Information

Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is certified to last a final 229 minutes and 6 seconds, or about 3 hours and 49 minutes, and is about 15 minutes longer than the original film. It has received a strong violence, intense action and mature certificate by the CBFC.

The movie was released in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam at the same time as the original film, which had a pan-Indian release in Hindi, as a result of the great popularity of the first film with South Indian audiences.

BookMyShow & INOX/PVR Ticket Booking

BookMyShow recorded more than 5 lakh users showing interest in Dhurandhar 2 before release and unprecedented demand with midnight and 24-hour shows being added to PVR and INOX multiplexes in Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad. Those who have not reserved yet can look forward to houseful boards at the majority of premier screens during the opening weekend.

On BookMyShow, as well as at the counter of PVR and INOX, tickets are sold. Most major cities have added early morning and late-night shows to manage overflow demand.

Is It Better Than Dhurandhar 1?

Dhurandhar 1, which released on 5th December 2025, was the highest-grossing Hindi movie in India, with just about 900 crore net in the domestic market alone. It spent 100 days in theatres, a feat uncommon during the post-pandemic period, despite being on Netflix.

Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is another type of film. The first one was a gradual awakening of the eyes, the second one is a restrained explosion. Aditya Dhar is quite conscious of what he has constructed - and he constructs upon it without repeating it. Ram Gopal Varma referred to it as the birth of a new order in cinema. That is RGV being RGV, but he is not quite wrong.

Dhurandhar 2 OTT Release Date

Dhurandhar 2 has not yet had an official OTT release date. Considering the magnitude of the theatrical release and the box office pattern, an OTT window of 8 to 10 weeks will be anticipated. The former Dhurandhar is available on Netflix now. One can expect that the sequel will take the same path but you should book your cinema tickets and watch it on the big screen first. Such a movie is one that will not be wasted in a theatre, but on a phone.

Final Dhurandhar 2 Movie Review

The Movie is the rare sequel that justifies its existence completely. Aditya Dhar has produced a film that does not look down on its audience, and yet presents them with the type of gut-throbbing, edge-of-seat movie that Bollywood has rarely been able to do on this scale. Ranveer Singh has indeed built his identity as a great actor via the character he played. The box office figures indicate what the viewers are already aware of. Because who is not in awe?? The acting, the editing, the script are all top notch!

Rating: 4.5 / 5 (worth it)

Book tickets on BookMyShow, PVR, or INOX and experience this bollywood masterpiece. You enjoy as well as get educated on topics you didn’t know were important to know!

In what reads like a carefully engineered deception rather than a simple scam, a cyber fraud racket in Karnataka’s Gadag district has exposed how vulnerable students are being turned into unwitting conduits for digital crime. With just ₹2,000 and the promise of scholarships, the accused allegedly built a pipeline of bank accounts—later weaponised for cyber fraud.

According to police investigations, the operation was both calculated and psychological. The accused reportedly targeted students living in hostels—young, financially dependent, and often unfamiliar with banking risks. Posing as facilitators of scholarship benefits, they gained the trust of these students and persuaded them to open bank accounts in their own names.

To reinforce credibility, the suspects deposited ₹2,000 into each account—an amount small enough to seem harmless, yet significant enough to build trust. But this initial “investment” was the bait.

The Modus Operandi: Turning Students into Financial Proxies

Once the accounts were activated, the operation took a darker turn. The accused allegedly collected critical financial instruments from the students—passbooks, ATM cards, SIM cards linked to the accounts, and even internet banking credentials.

In forensic terms, this was not random fraud—it was infrastructure building. These accounts, detached from their rightful users, were intended to function as “mule accounts,” enabling the seamless movement of illicit funds while shielding the core operators from direct traceability.

Such methods are increasingly common in organised cybercrime, where layered anonymity is key. By using accounts in the names of unsuspecting individuals, fraudsters create a buffer between themselves and law enforcement, complicating digital trails and prolonging investigations.

The Breakthrough: Intelligence, Tracking, and Arrests

The case was formally registered on March 11 after police received inputs about suspicious activities linked to these accounts. A crucial breakthrough came when investigators learned that the accused were en route to Goa, allegedly to hand over bank kits and credentials to other members of the network.

Acting swiftly, police tracked and intercepted the suspects, leading to the arrest of five individuals: Vakdoth Vakeel (24) and Raja (23) from Vijayanagara district; Zeeshan Ansari alias Zeesu (22) from Jharkhand; Akash (32), a DJ artist; and Sahil (22), a student from Chhattisgarh.

During the operation, authorities seized 11 mobile phones and eight complete bank kits—each containing passbooks, ATM cards, SIM cards, and internet banking details linked to accounts opened in Gadag and Haveri districts.

A Larger Network at Play

Investigators believe this is only the visible tip of a larger cyber fraud ecosystem. Preliminary findings suggest that several more accounts may have been created using similar tactics, raising concerns about the scale of the operation.

Police are currently working to trace at least three more suspects believed to be part of the wider network, indicating that the arrested individuals may have been intermediaries rather than masterminds.

The Bigger Picture: Exploiting Aspiration and Ignorance

What makes this case particularly alarming is not just the financial fraud, but the method—targeting aspiration. By leveraging the promise of scholarships, the accused exploited both trust and need, turning students into silent participants in cybercrime.

Forensic analysis of such cases reveals a growing trend: fraud is no longer just about hacking systems—it is about manipulating people. Social engineering, especially among young and digitally semi-aware populations, is becoming the weakest link in cybersecurity.

A Wake-Up Call

This incident serves as a stark reminder for educational institutions, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies. Financial literacy and digital awareness are no longer optional—they are essential safeguards.

Because in today’s cyber landscape, the line between victim and accomplice can be as thin as a ₹2,000 deposit.

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has notified that the registration window for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 preliminary exam will be closed by February 24, 2026. Those who want to take the CSE, which is among the most competitive examinations in India, have to finish the registration process prior to the cutoff point as no application will be accepted after the last date.

The Civil Services Examination is an annual exam to recruit officers through various illustrious posts like IAS, IPS, IFS and other central government departments. Candidates who are interested may register themselves by filling up their application form online at the official website.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to meet the eligibility criteria, applicants must have a graduate degree from a recognised university. The minimum age requirement is 21 years and the maximum age limit is 32 years. Government rules will be followed to provide the upper, age limit relaxation to the candidates of reserved categories.

Selection process

  • The selection procedure consists of multiple stages:
  • Preliminary Examination
  • Main Examination
  • Personality Test (Interview)
  • Document Verification
  • Medical Examination
  • Only candidates qualifying at each stage will be considered for final appointment.

Admit card and application fee

The commission will release admit cards during the last working day of the week preceding the examination. Candidates are required to bring a printed admit card as well as a valid photo identity proof to the exam centre.

Applicants belonging to General, OBC and EWS categories have to pay an application fee of 100, whereas the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) candidates are not required to pay any amount.

How to apply

Step 1:

Candidates can follow these steps:

Step 2:

  • Go to the official website upsconline.nic.in
  • Register using basic personal details
  • Fill in educational and communication information
  • Upload photograph and signature
  • Pay the fee and submit the form
  • Download the confirmation page for future reference

Important dates

  • Notification release: February 4, 2026
  • Application start: February 4, 2026
  • Last date to apply: February 24, 2026
  • Preliminary exam: May 24, 2026
  • Main exam: August 21, 2026

UPSC will also provide a three-day correction window allowing candidates to rectify errors in submitted applications for both the Civil Services and Indian Forest Service examinations.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has launched a call for candidates for its Online Short, Term Internship Programme (OSTI), which will be held from 9 to 20 March 2026. The two week internship that will be conducted completely online is designed to give university students real life experience of human rights issues and the working of an institution.

The programme will be held on a full time schedule, 10 am to 5.30 pm (IST), on all working days. Those students who will be awarded the internship and complete it successfully will be given a stipend of 2, 000 in addition to a certificate from the Commission.

NHRC communicated that the interns selected will have the opportunity to participate in 40 to 45 interactive sessions that will be facilitated by subject matter experts and senior officials.

The programme content covers a wide range of human rights issues such as child labour, trafficking in persons, mental health, women's rights, education, and the rights of marginalized groups.

Besides group works, book reviews, human rights, themed film screenings, and virtual tours of prisons, police stations, and NGO- run shelters are also included in the programme.

Moreover, the interns will be given the chance to meet the NHRC Chairperson and Members.

The internship is accessible to students in their third year or higher of five, year integrated postgraduate courses, final year undergraduate students, postgraduate or diploma students of any semester, and research scholars. The candidates should have obtained a minimum of 60 per cent marks starting from Class XII and must be under 28 years of age as of January 1, 2026. Those candidates who have already undergone NHRC internship are not allowed to reapply.

Those wishing to apply should only send their applications via the official website, nhrc.nic.in, by 6 pm on 28th January 2026. The application entails a 250, word Statement of Purpose outlining the applicant's interest in human rights, self, attested copies of academic mark sheets from Class X onwards, and a recently signed recommendation letter from the institution's head.

Selection will take into account academic performance, research inclination, co, curricular achievements, and overall suitability. The list of selected interns will be uploaded on the NHRC website.

Stanford University has closed its Office of the Vice Provost for Digital Education, referred to as Stanford Digital Education, on January 15 due to budget cuts, thus killing a program through which for years low, income high school students gained access to Stanford, taught courses.

Since 2021, Stanford Digital Education coordinated efforts to offer online Stanford courses beyond campus. According to information published by the program, it reached 2,612 high school students across 103 schools in 22 states and Washington, D.C. The office’s closure also ended Stanford’s partnership with the National Education Opportunity Network, which delivered Stanford courses to Title I high schools serving students from low-income families.

University cites lack of long-term funding

In a statement to the Stanford Daily, Director of University Public Relations Charlene Gage said the initiative began with start-up funding but did not secure long-term financial support. She said the University chose to concentrate its digital education efforts in programs with established and sustainable funding models, pointing to the Center for Global and Online Education and Stanford Continuing Studies.

How the program worked

Through the National Education Opportunity Network partnership, Stanford professors taught remote courses alongside Stanford student teaching fellows, while high school teachers supervised students on site. Students who completed the courses received a Stanford transcript and grade. The courses drew national attention, including coverage by the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times.

Partner organization seeks continuation

Leslie Cornfeld, chief executive officer and founder of the National Education Opportunity Network, told the Stanford Daily that the organization had offered to cover the costs of continuing the Stanford program and remained hopeful it could resume. She said the courses helped students see themselves as belonging in elite academic spaces.

Faculty and student concerns

Faculty members involved in the program also expressed concern about its end. Drew Endy, a professor of bioengineering who taught a course through the partnership, said the classes aligned with Stanford’s founding mission to promote the public welfare. He said the program exposed students to fields they might not otherwise encounter.

Former Stanford Digital Education student teaching fellow Parth Sarin learned in June that the University planned to stop funding the program. Sarin told the Stanford Daily that uncertainty about the program’s future had grown over the past year and questioned the decision to end it, arguing that the costs were relatively limited and that faculty interest remained strong.

Impact on participating schools

High school educators who collaborated with the program indicated that the shutting down of the program left a big gap that is hard to fill. Lindsay Humphrey, an English teacher at Birmingham Community Charter High School in Los Angeles, informed Stanford Daily that the Stanford courses sparked great enthusiasm among the students and in some cases, helped them to see themselves going to very selective universities. Two pupils from her school who took part in the program subsequently went to Stanford.

Sara Schafer, an Advanced Placement coordinator at Topeka High School, said alternative university courses were arranged after Stanford Digital Education closed, but she viewed Stanford’s involvement as distinct. She said the program also played a role in introducing Stanford to students in regions with lower application rates.

Student experiences and access concerns Students who had the chance to be part of the program characterized it as highly exceptional. TaSheena Thompson, a Stanford undergrad who was raised in the Navajo Nation and also took multiple courses through the partnership while still in high school, shared with the Stanford Daily that the experience "taught her the kind of work a college student does and gave her the courage to go to college." She felt the termination of the program would only serve to further shut the door on students coming from similar backgrounds in the future. What no one knows for sure is what will happen next The university administration has not made any statement or indication about replacing the Stanford Digital Education office or bringing back the partnership. For the schools that depended on the program, its disappearance is like losing a door to a direct connection of low, income high school students to Stanford classrooms.

More Articles ...