Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal led the non-existent Department of Administrative Reforms for nearly 20 months, as revealed by a recent government notification. Initially assigned this portfolio in May 2023 after a cabinet reshuffle, Dhaliwal continued in the role until the oversight was discovered. In response, he stated, "For me, the department is not important; Punjab is important." Opposition parties, including the BJP, criticized the AAP-led state government for this administrative lapse, with leaders highlighting it as a significant governance failure. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann defended the government, explaining that the department had been restructured to implement effective reforms.   

On February 22, 2025, a section of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel in Telangana's Nagarkurnool district collapsed, trapping eight workers approximately 200 meters inside the 500-foot-deep tunnel. At the time of the incident, 60 workers were present; 52 managed to escape, some with injuries. The trapped individuals include engineers Manoj Kumar and Sri Niwas from Uttar Pradesh, four laborers from Jharkhand, and two machine operators from Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. Rescue operations, involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Army teams, are focused on dewatering and clearing debris to locate the workers. The collapse was reportedly caused by a sudden influx of water and soil into the tunnel.

DGCA Seeks Report from Air India Following Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Complaint About Broken Seat   The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has requested a detailed report from Air India after Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reported being assigned a defective seat on a flight from Bhopal to Delhi. Minister Chouhan expressed his dissatisfaction on social media, highlighting that despite the Tata Group's acquisition of Air India, service quality remains subpar. In response, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has directed Air India to address the issue promptly. Air India has issued an apology and initiated an investigation to prevent future occurrences.   

In response to the Maharashtra Cyber Cell's summons over the 'India's Got Latent' controversy, actress Rakhi Sawant has questioned the prioritization of such issues over more severe crimes. The summons were issued following public backlash against YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia's inappropriate remarks on the show, leading to multiple FIRs and a National Commission for Women inquiry. Sawant expressed her disapproval, suggesting that law enforcement should concentrate on punishing rapists and addressing serious offenses rather than focusing on entertainment-related controversies.

In a distressing incident, a 30-year-old woman from Delhi, now residing in Bengaluru, was allegedly gang-raped by four hotel workers on a hotel terrace in Koramangala. The assault occurred past midnight on Thursday. The accused—Ajit from Koramangala, Shivu and Vishwas from HSR Layout, and Shimol from Adugodi—are in their mid-20s and work as assistants and chefs in various hotels. The incident came to light when the woman's husband reported the assault to the police on Friday morning. The accused have been arrested and are undergoing medical examinations before being presented in court.   

The Supreme Court has issued notices to Assam and Maharashtra on YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani’s plea to consolidate multiple FIRs filed against him over the ‘India’s Got Latent’ controversy. Chanchlani seeks to transfer the cases from Guwahati and Mumbai to Maharashtra, citing their similar nature. The case, tagged with YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia’s plea, involves allegations of promoting obscenity. The Gauhati High Court earlier granted Chanchlani interim anticipatory bail, requiring his cooperation in Assam’s probe. The FIRs stem from explicit discussions on the show, triggering legal action.     

  Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and choreographer Dhanashree Verma have officially ended their four-year marriage, finalizing their divorce at the Bandra Family Court on Thursday. Despite participating in a court-advised counseling session aimed at reconciliation, the couple mutually agreed to separate, stating they could no longer live together harmoniously. They revealed that while the initial years of their marriage were harmonious, over time, frequent arguments and a lack of mutual understanding led to growing distance. After 18 months of living separately, they decided to part ways amicably. The couple's relationship began during the 2020 lockdown, blossoming from a social media connection into marriage in December 2020. Unfortunately, after four years together, they have chosen to go their separate ways.     

Indian conservationist Purnima Devi Barman has been included in Time magazine's Women of the Year 2025 list for her remarkable contributions to wildlife conservation. From Assam, Barman founded the "Hargilla Army," a group of women dedicated to protecting the greater adjutant stork, improving its conservation status from endangered to near-threatened. She also empowers local women by involving them in sustainable practices, including textile production. Barman has received numerous awards, including the Nari Shakti Puraskar and Whitley Award, and continues to inspire global conservation efforts.  

    Sourav Ganguly, former Indian cricketer and ex-BCCI president, survived a road accident on West Bengal’s Durgapur Expressway. While traveling to Burdwan University for an event, Ganguly’s convoy was forced to brake suddenly when a lorry overtook the vehicles. The abrupt stop caused a chain reaction of collisions, damaging two vehicles, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. Despite the accident, Ganguly proceeded to the event after a brief wait. He expressed his joy at visiting Burdwan and praised the district's cricketing talent.    

In a devastating incident on February 20, 2025, a double-decker bus carrying devotees to the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj collided with a rice-laden truck in Sarokhanpur, Jaunpur district, Uttar Pradesh. The collision occurred around 5 a.m., resulting in six immediate fatalities and injuring approximately 40 passengers. The impact severely damaged the front section of the bus. Authorities, including District Magistrate Dinesh Chand, promptly arrived at the scene to oversee rescue operations and ensure medical treatment for the injured at a nearby hospital. This tragic event underscores the pressing need for enhanced road.