The controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh's Satluj has taken a fresh turn after co-writer Niren Bhatt rejected claims that the film could be used as "anti-India" propaganda. Questioning the lack of transparency behind the film's removal from ZEE5, Bhatt said the argument "simply does not hold" and called for an open dialogue instead of silence.

Sometimes, the biggest debate around a film has little to do with what appears on screen.

Days after Diljit Dosanjh's Satluj was removed from ZEE5, the conversation has shifted from the film itself to the reasons behind its removal. Co-writer Niren Bhatt has raised doubts about the government's process of certification and the possibility that the movie might be used by anti-India groups.

Niren Bhatt rejects 'anti-India' argument

Speaking to Variety India, Bhatt dismissed reports that Satluj could be exploited as propaganda by anti-India elements. His remarks came after an NDTV report said there were concerns within the administration that the film could be used by anti-India groups.

Rejecting the claim, Bhatt said, "That argument simply does not hold. If The Kashmir Files can exist, if The Kerala Story can exist, why can they exist without being labelled tools for international forces? Why is our film the chosen one that will suddenly be misused by extreme elements?"

Bhatt argued that a biographical film should not be judged based on speculative assumptions, adding that suppressing such a film through "far-fetched, paranoid conclusions" made little sense.

Co-writer questions silence over certification

Bhatt also criticised what he described as years of uncertainty surrounding the film's certification. According to him, the filmmakers never received a clear explanation about what authorities objected to. 

He said there had been "pin-drop silence" from the certification authorities, leaving the team without any indication of which scenes or issues required changes. Bhatt further questioned ZEE5's statement that referred only to "current developments" without explaining what those developments actually were. "If there is a problem, let us have a dialogue," he said, adding that meaningful discussion becomes impossible when a film is removed without explanation.

Why was Satluj removed from ZEE5?

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has stated that the movie has been released on the OTT platform before the proper certification process. According to government sources, almost 100 cuts were recommended during the certification process. According to officials, instead of implementing those changes, the makers released the film on ZEE5 under a different title, leading to its removal due to security concerns. The ministry has also said it did not receive any representation from the filmmakers seeking reconsideration before the OTT release. 

ZEE5 confirms removal

In confirmation of the takedown, ZEE5 stated that the film would not be available in India "until further notice" while due process is being carried out. The platform further stated that it was looking for suitable channels to re-release the movie. 

What is Satluj about?

Directed by Honey Trehan, Satluj, previously associated with the title Punjab 95, is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who documented alleged illegal cremations and disappearances during Punjab's militancy period. The film stars Diljit Dosanjh in the lead role alongside Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.

Why the debate is likely to continue

The discussion around Satluj has now expanded beyond one film. It has sparked broader debate about the political sensitivity of film certification, the process of informing filmmakers of certification decisions and whether there is uniformity in standards.

The government claims the removal was due to certification and security issues, but the filmmakers insist that more transparency is needed when creative works are restricted. 

Alpha movie rating: 3.5/5  (Based on Day 1 audience review) 

After months of teasers, trailers, India's Got Latent Promotion, and social media buzz, Alpha has finally arrived in cinemas. Of course, expectations were high as this was the first film in the YRF Spy Universe with two females as the protagonists. The movie had promised stylish action, international spying and two female protagonists running one of Bollywood's biggest franchises.

Now that the Alpha Day 1 Public Review is out, one thing is clear that Alpha isn't a bad film, but it isn't hype-worthy either. Initial responses indicate that the action thrills and performances have captured audiences, but that the script has been lacking in substance. 

Alpha Movie 2026 Details

• Starring: Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol
• Story: Uday Chopra
• Director: Shiv Rawail
• Producer: Aditya Chopra
• Co-Producer: Akshaye Widhani
• Associate Producer: Rishabh Chopra
• Executive Producer: Padam Bhushan 
• Dialogues: Ishita Moitra
• Screenplay: Soumil Shukla, Shridhar Raghavan
• Director of Photography: Rubais
• Music: Rohansh & Abeer
• Lyrics: Kumaar, Anvitaa Dutt, Kausar Munir, Rohansh & Abeer

What Is Alpha About?

Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha follows two elite intelligence agents, played by Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, who are sent on a dangerous international mission where global security is at stake.

As the mission unfolds, the duo face increasingly difficult challenges while taking on a powerful enemy played by Bobby Deol. Anil Kapoor also appears in a pivotal role, adding weight to the ensemble.

The film marks the seventh instalment in the YRF Spy Universe and the first to place women at the centre of the franchise.

Alpha Review: Is Alia Bhatt's Spy Film Worth Your Money? 

What Audiences Loved: 

If there's one aspect on which most viewers agree, it's the action. The fight sequences are quite stylish, the pacing remains brisk for most of the runtime, and the background score adds energy to several key moments.

Among the cast, Sharvari has emerged as the biggest surprise. Many Day 1 viewers described her as one of the film's strongest performers, praising both her screen presence and action scenes.

Bobby Deol also continues his impressive run as an antagonist. His commanding screen presence has been widely appreciated, with several viewers calling him one of the film's highlights.

Alia Bhatt, meanwhile, delivers a committed performance in one of the most physically demanding roles of her career. While many praised her effort, reactions to her performance have been divided.

Where Alpha Misses the Mark

As per Alpha Day 1 Public Review, the biggest criticism isn't directed at the actors. It's directed at the writing and the casting. Many have shared their opinion on choosing someone better than Alia and swapping villain with hero. 

Across social media, Alpha audience review has been that the screenplay doesn't match the scale of the film's production. Several viewers described the story as predictable, saying that despite impressive action sequences, the emotional depth and narrative twists don't leave a lasting impact.

Some also felt that the visual effects could have been stronger, particularly for a film belonging to one of Bollywood's biggest action franchises. In short, Alpha entertains but rarely surprises.

The Marketing Created Curiosity But…

One interesting aspect of Alpha's release has been the conversation around its marketing campaign. The film generated significant online attention before release, with its trailer becoming widely discussed across social media. As with most major Bollywood releases today, reactions ranged from excitement to scepticism, with many users debating whether the film would live up to the expectations created by the YRF Spy Universe.

Day 1 reactions suggest that while the promotional campaign successfully created curiosity, audiences are ultimately judging the film on its storytelling. The consensus emerging so far is that performances and action have largely delivered, while the screenplay has divided opinion.

Is Alpha Better Than Previous YRF Spy Films? 

Preciously, audiences remain divided. It is just day one today, perhaps by the weekend there would be enough opinion on the movie to draw a concrete conclusion.

Should Students Watch Alpha?

If you're a student who enjoys action thrillers, Alpha offers an entertaining theatrical experience with well-executed action and themes of teamwork, courage and resilience. It is also notable for placing two female protagonists at the centre of a mainstream action franchise, reflecting a gradual shift in the kinds of stories Bollywood is choosing to tell. That said, students expecting a deeply layered story or something that reinvents the spy genre may find themselves slightly disappointed.

Alpha Movie Hit or Flop?

Alpha is neither a complete “fantastic” nor a disappointment. It succeeds where many commercial action films succeed, with energetic performances, polished action and visual style. Where it struggles is in delivering a screenplay that matches those strengths.

For many viewers, Sharvari and Bobby Deol emerge as the film's biggest takeaways, while Alia Bhatt delivers a sincere performance in a role that has generated mixed reactions.

If you're watching Alpha purely for action and spectacle, you'll likely leave satisfied. If you're expecting one of the finest entries in the YRF Spy Universe, you may feel it falls just short.

The world of competitive chess is witnessing one of its most significant policy debates in decades after FIDE announced a pilot programme that could allow players to earn their first official over-the-board (OTB) rapid and blitz ratings entirely through online games.

The proposed "First Rating Experiment", launched in partnership with World Chess, aims to make official chess ratings more accessible by enabling newcomers to obtain their initial FIDE ratings through online competition on the World Chess platform. While the initiative seeks to expand the global pool of rated players beyond the current 500,000, it has triggered intense debate among India's leading Grandmasters.

Breaking Down FIDE's New Experiment

Traditionally, earning an official FIDE rating requires participation in FIDE-rated tournaments, where players compete under strict regulations against already rated opponents.

The new two-year pilot seeks to remove many of these barriers by allowing eligible players to obtain their first official rapid and blitz ratings online. To safeguard the system, FIDE plans to use AI-powered fair-play monitoring and a technical coefficient that aligns online performances with over-the-board standards.

Importantly, ratings earned through the experiment will be capped at 1800 Elo, ensuring that players must still prove themselves in traditional tournaments to progress further.

Critics Warn Against Mixing Online and Offline Chess

Several Indian Grandmasters believe that online and over-the-board chess should remain separate.

Grandmaster SL Narayanan described the proposal as an unnecessary move, arguing that online chess operates under entirely different conditions from classical tournament play.

According to him, while recreational players may appreciate easier access to official ratings, blending online and offline performances risks undermining the credibility of the FIDE rating system.

Coach Srinath Narayanan echoed similar concerns, expressing scepticism over the effectiveness of online anti-cheating measures and arguing that official over-the-board ratings should never be linked with internet-based games.

Grandmaster SP Sethuraman also questioned the move, pointing out that chess ratings already experience inflation and deflation across different regions and generations. Introducing online-generated ratings, he warned, could create further inconsistencies in an already complex ecosystem.

Grandmaster Abhimanyu Puranik adopted a more measured approach, noting that while linking online and offline ratings is generally not ideal, the relatively low starting ratings may limit the overall impact.

Fair Play Remains the Biggest Challenge

Veteran coach and Grandmaster Shyam Sundar M acknowledged that FIDE deserves credit for exploring new ideas but expressed reservations about relying entirely on online play.

He suggested that hybrid events—where players compete online from supervised physical venues under arbiter oversight—could offer a better balance between accessibility and security.

His primary concern revolves around anti-cheating systems.

He argued that no fair-play technology should incorrectly accuse innocent players based solely on move quality or game analysis, emphasising that protecting honest competitors must remain a priority.

At the same time, he acknowledged that future advances in artificial intelligence and browser-based monitoring could eventually make such systems more reliable.

Veteran GM Pravin Thipsay Sees a Historic Opportunity

Not every Grandmaster opposes the proposal.

Arjuna Award-winning Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay welcomed the experiment, calling it a bold attempt to bridge the long-standing gap between millions of online chess enthusiasts and the formal competitive circuit.

According to Thipsay, only a tiny fraction of the world's chess players currently have access to FIDE-rated tournaments because of financial, geographical and logistical barriers.

He believes the 1800 rating ceiling provides an effective safeguard while encouraging talented online players to transition into over-the-board competition.

However, he also cautioned that the experiment's success will depend heavily on accurate rating calculations and strong anti-cheating safeguards, recalling that previous rating reforms had produced unintended consequences.

A Defining Moment for Modern Chess

FIDE's proposal represents one of the most ambitious attempts to modernise competitive chess in the digital era.

Supporters argue that it could dramatically increase participation by making official ratings accessible to millions who cannot regularly attend tournaments. Critics, however, believe that even sophisticated AI cannot yet replicate the integrity and playing conditions of over-the-board chess.

As FIDE gathers community feedback ahead of the programme's planned rollout, the experiment has become a defining test of whether technology can expand access to the game without compromising the credibility of one of chess's most valued benchmarks—its rating system.

Whether the initiative proves revolutionary or controversial, it has already succeeded in sparking one of the biggest conversations in modern chess.

Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath has sparked a nationwide conversation after urging young Indians to build their careers in India instead of moving abroad. His strong message, shared on LinkedIn, has gone viral across social media, reigniting the debate around brain drain, entrepreneurship, and India's growing economic opportunities.

"Do whatever the hell you want, but don't you dare leave India," Kamath wrote, arguing that the coming decades could offer unprecedented opportunities for young professionals, entrepreneurs, and innovators within the country.

Why Nithin Kamath Wants Students to Stay in India

Kamath believes India is entering a transformative phase driven by its young population, expanding digital economy, rising domestic investments, and improving startup ecosystem.

He pointed out that nearly 47% of India's population is under the age of 25, describing today's youth as digitally skilled, educated, and globally competitive. According to him, this demographic advantage gives India enormous potential to become a global innovation hub.

He also highlighted sectors such as:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Defence technology
• Aerospace
• Fintech
• Manufacturing
• Deep-tech startups

as areas expected to create significant career and entrepreneurial opportunities over the coming years.

Building Wealth in India

Kamath stressed that creating successful businesses in India would generate wealth within the country instead of benefiting overseas investors.

He also noted that entrepreneurs who keep their companies headquartered in India can avoid several legal, taxation, and compliance challenges associated with relocating businesses abroad, while benefiting from improving regulations and a stronger domestic capital market.

Timing Amid Changing Global Immigration Policies

His remarks come at a time when several countries, including the United States, are considering stricter immigration and international student policies, prompting many students to reassess overseas education and career plans.

The discussion has therefore expanded beyond individual career choices to include broader questions about talent retention, economic development, and India's long-term competitiveness.

Mixed Reactions Online

Kamath's comments have generated divided opinions.

Supporters believe India now offers better opportunities than ever before, citing rapid growth in startups, digital infrastructure, innovation, and government-backed initiatives promoting entrepreneurship.

Others argue that students should have the freedom to pursue education and careers wherever the best opportunities exist globally, emphasizing that international exposure can also contribute to India's development when professionals eventually return.

Lessons from Kamath's Early Career

Kamath has also used the discussion to reflect on his own early career experiences. He previously revealed that, as a teenager, he spent nearly two years involved in what later turned out to be a pyramid scheme while trying to raise capital for trading.

The experience taught him that sustainable success requires patience and genuine value creation rather than shortcuts. He continues to caution young investors against schemes promising unusually high returns, warning that businesses focused primarily on recruitment instead of real products or services are often fraudulent.

A Broader Conversation on India's Future

Kamath's message extends beyond career advice. It reflects a growing debate on how India can retain skilled professionals, strengthen its innovation ecosystem, and become a destination where talented individuals choose to build globally competitive companies.

Whether students ultimately stay in India or pursue opportunities overseas, the discussion has highlighted an important question: how can India create an environment where world-class talent sees its future at home?

Former India captain Rohit Sharma has been conferred the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, recognising his outstanding contribution to Indian cricket. The honour comes after a career defined by big runs, major ICC trophies and some of the most memorable batting records in world cricket.

The award was presented during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony of the Padma Awards 2026, where a total of 65 honours were conferred, including Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards.

Rohit Sharma’s recognition has once again placed the spotlight on a player who has shaped modern Indian cricket with both his batting and captaincy. He led India to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title in 2024 and later guided the team to the Champions Trophy in 2025.

A career built on records

Rohit Sharma is one of the most successful ODI batters in cricket history. He has scored 11,720 runs in 285 ODIs at an average of 48.83 and remains the only player in the format to score three double centuries.

His highest ODI score of 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014 still stands as the world record for the highest individual score in the format. He also crossed the 150-match mark in T20 Internationals, becoming the first men’s cricketer to do so before retiring from the format after India’s T20 World Cup win in 2024.

Impact beyond numbers

In Test cricket, Rohit made his debut in 2013 and went on to play 67 matches, scoring 4,301 runs with 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries. His highest Test score of 212 came against South Africa in 2019.

His international career also includes 4,231 runs in 159 T20Is, along with two T20 World Cup triumphs, one as a player in 2007 and another as captain in 2024. That rare mix of longevity, consistency and leadership is a big reason why Rohit Sharma remains one of the most respected names in Indian cricket.

Why the Padma Shri matters

The Padma Shri adds a national honour to a career already filled with cricketing milestones. For many fans, Rohit Sharma represents both elegance and impact: a batter who can dominate an attack and a captain who has delivered on the biggest stage.

The recognition also reflects the growing importance of cricket in India’s sporting identity, especially when the player being honoured has helped the country win major ICC titles. Rohit’s Padma Shri is therefore not just a personal award, but also a celebration of one of India’s most successful modern cricket careers.

In a big move ahead of the much-talked-about NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, the Government of India has now temporarily restricted access to Telegram across the country until June 22. The decision comes just days before the NEET-UG 2026 re-test scheduled for June 21. The govt stated its aim saying that it is to reduce the spread of fake question papers, wrong information, and other exam-related cheating attempts that are reportedly targeting medical aspirants.

The ban was introduced after rising concern that some organised cheating groups were allegedly using Telegram channels and groups to share false stories about leaked NEET question papers and exploit anxious students through misleading claims right before the test. Authorities say this is part of a wider plan meant to preserve the credibility of one of India’s most important entrance examinations

For context, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is basically the entry route for MBBS, BDS, and several other medical programs across India. Every year lakhs of students compete for limited seats, so even rumours about a paper leak can spark heavy panic among candidates and their parents. Officials add that the new steps are meant to make sure students show up for the exam in a fair, open environment.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the examination, has welcomed what the government did. Officials also mentioned that messages about “leaks” and made-up claims were being shared online to misguide candidates and weaken trust in the full examination process. Along with the short-term Telegram restriction , authorities say extra tracking and security measures have been put in place to stop malpractice before the re-examination actually happens. 

The move highlights the increasing challenge faced by examination authorities in the digital age. During the major competitive examinations, rumours, fake documents and misleading information are spread through messaging platforms and social media networks. Governments and testing agencies are thus increasingly turning to digital surveillance and security systems to ensure examination integrity.

To students taking the Re-Exam next week, experts are suggesting  they only follow official notifications issued by the NTA and government officials. All the students are being warned against relying on messages that offer leaked question papers, answer keys or promised exam content, which are surely false but can lead to legal penalties.

The temporary ban on Telegram in India is a step to restore trust in the country's medical entrance examination system and avoid the paper leak or any other discrepancy. This makes the NEET-UG 2026 exam to be one of the most closely monitored exams in recent years with the Indian Air Force,  PMO, and other higher authorities personally getting involved.