Amravati Development Corporation (ADC) Chairperson and Managing Director D. Lakshmi Parthasarathi on Saturday (August 16) instructed officials to expedite works to ensure the swift discharge of floodwaters from Kondaveeti Vagu into the Krishna River.

Reviewing the ongoing flood management operations, she emphasized that all possible measures must be taken on a war footing to avoid waterlogging in vulnerable areas.

Inspecting the stretch between E-10 and E-14 roads, Ms. Parthasarathi directed officials to keep all five culverts open to facilitate a smooth outflow of water downstream.

At Kuragallu, near N-6 (Western Bypass), she ordered the National Highways Authority engineers to immediately deploy additional excavators to clear silt and remove obstructions under the three-span bridge to prevent blockages.

She stressed that heavy machinery should be pressed into service wherever necessary to speed up the discharge process.

The ADC chief made it clear that engineering officials must monitor the operations closely and ensure the seamless movement of floodwaters to the Krishna River. She also directed the deployment of adequate equipment and manpower until the situation is brought under control.

The Supreme Court is slated to hear on August 19 a plea filed by the “sevayat” of the Maa Chandi Devi temple in Haridwar, seeking a stay on an order of the Uttarakhand High Court directing the Badri Kedar Temple Committee to appoint a receiver for overseeing the shrine’s management.

A “sevayat” is a priest actively involved in the daily rituals and management of a temple.

A Bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and S.V.N. Bhatti issued a notice to the Uttarakhand Government in the matter on July 28 and sought a reply within two weeks.

The top court had earlier said any decision taken by the Badri Kedar Temple Committee would be subject to the outcome of the petition.

The plea of Mahant Bhawani Nandan Giri, filed in the top court through advocate Ashwani Dubey, has contended that the Uttarakhand High Court had, without any evidence and complaint, delegated the control of the temple to a committee despite there being a panel consisting of the district magistrate (DM) and senior superintendent of police of Haridwar that was constituted by it in 2012.

The petitioner has also argued that the direction to appoint the receiver was passed during an anticipatory bail plea hearing of an accused in a criminal matter.

The Maa Chandi Devi temple was founded in the 8th century by Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya and since then, it is stated that the petitioner’s ancestors have been managing and looking after it as “sevayat”.

There is neither a single complaint nor the question of mismanagement or misappropriation that has ever been flagged by the committee consisting of the DM and the SSP appointed by the High Court, the plea has said.

“The High Court passed directions which are arbitrary, illegal and perverse and outside the pleadings and without any specific relief, that too in violation of the principle of natural justice, as the petitioner, who is the sevayat/chief trustee, was not heard,” the plea has said.

The petitioner has further said the High Court did not issue a notice and passed the impugned directions.

The plea has said the High Court “erroneously” entrusted the work of the temple to the Badri Kedar Temple Committee, without appreciating that the panel consisting of the DM and the SSP was working diligently.

The High Court passed the order while hearing an anticipatory bail plea filed by one Reena Bisht, claiming to be the live-in partner of Rohit Giri, the head priest of the temple.

Rohit Giri’s wife, Geetanjali, got an FIR lodged on May 21 against her husband, Bisht and seven others, alleging that the woman attempted to run over her son with a vehicle on May 14.

On the same day, Rohit Giri was arrested by the Punjab Police in a separate molestation case and is currently in judicial custody.

The High Court had observed that Rohit Giri was living with Bisht when his divorce proceedings were pending and Bisht gave birth to their child in January.

“Trustees of the temple are creating a noxious atmosphere … and there is complete mismanagement in the trust. It cannot be ruled out that there may be misappropriation of donations,” it had said.

I’m in the final year of B.Sc. (Hons) Agriculture. Should I opt for an M.Sc. or Agri-Business Management? Are there any diploma/ certificate/ online courses in this field? Divya

Dear Divya,

Both have good scope and offer distinct career paths but the choice depends on your interests. M.Sc. Agriculture will focus on deep technical knowledge in a specific agricultural science (e.g., Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Soil Science) and expose you to in-depth technical study. You could work in agricultural research, government agricultural departments, or teach at the university level.

Agri-Business Management (ABM) looks at management principles applied to the agriculture and allied sectors. Job opportunities would be across management, marketing, finance, and business roles.

There are also numerous diplomas, certificates, and online courses available such as PG Diploma in Agri-Business Management, Diploma in Agricultural Extension Services for Input Dealers (DAESI), Horticulture, Floriculture, Organic Farming and certificate courses in specific techniques and skills. Coursera, edX, and FutureLearn offer online courses on sustainable agriculture, food security, agribusiness value chains, and more. The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management, Hyderabad, offers various online certificate and diploma programmes. FAO e-learning Academy offers free online courses related to agriculture and food systems. Consider your long-term goals and look up programmes before making a decision.

I am a recent Civil Engineering graduate and wish to pursue a career in Quantity Surveying. Are there any specific accreditation bodies or standards that I should look for when considering a course? Yadukrishnan

Dear Yadukrishnan,

The RICS School of Built Environment (RICS-SBE), Amity University, Noida and Mumbai; the Indian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (IIQS); the National Institute of Construction Management and Research (NICMAR); Chennai Institute of Quantity Surveyors (CIQS); and SMEClabs India are some of the reputable institutes that offer Quantity Surveying Certifications. Coursera, edX, and Udemy also offer a variety of courses from universities and industry professionals globally. While these might not always be “certifications” in the traditional sense of professional body recognition, they provide valuable knowledge and skills. SeeVill Quantity Surveyors and Training Pvt. Ltd., Delhi and Pune offer job-oriented certification courses. ARCITE School Of Technical Education offers a professional course with international recognition for the certificates.

Consider the reputation of the issuing body to ensure its credibility and value before you sign up. How long has the institute/ organisation been offering certifications? Look up alumni success stories and placement opportunities. Research the curriculum and see if it involves hands-on exercises, case studies, or project work. Also check the professional body accreditations and standards, if they are endorsed or recognised by professional bodies like RICS or IIQS or NABCB.

My son completed B.Tech. Food Technology in 2024 and has been working in food processing industries in Kerala, but the salary is meagre. His grades in college were average. He is not sure whether to pursue higher studies or look for better jobs. David

Dear David,

What do you mean by a “meagre salary” for a fresh graduate? Researching average entry-level salaries for B.Tech Food Technology graduates in Kerala will give you a honest benchmark. With regard to what he should do, what are his career goals? He needs to proactively assess his current situation, research his options, and align his next steps with his long-term career goals and financial considerations. Upskilling via short-term courses while actively looking for better job opportunities seems like a sensible immediate step. He can then make an informed decision based on his career progression and interests.

To look for better jobs, he must develop specific skills that are in demand in the industry. Certifications or short courses in HACCP, ISO 22000, and other food safety standards are highly valued in Food Safety and Quality Control. He could also target specific companies and roles for better pay and growth opportunities. Networking can lead to unadvertised job opportunities. He should keep an open mind about relocating to a larger industrial hub if the opportunity is better.

If he prefers higher studies, he can consider M.Sc. or M.Tech in Food Technology or an MBA in Agri-Business Management or Food Processing Management. He can also consider specialisations in areas like food safety and quality management, food processing and engineering, dairy technology, or post-harvest technology, depending on his interests. Many short-term certifications can be done online or through vocational training institutes.

My brother is in Class 12 (Computer Science). He has no specific career or course in mind but has expressed interest in cybersecurity. Is this a good option? Dileep

Dear Dileep,

With increasing reliance on technology and the ever-growing threat of cyberattacks, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals is skyrocketing and is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. So cybersecurity is an excellent career option with significant growth potential.

However, ask him to shortlist his interests. What is it about cybersecurity that interests him? Encourage him to research different roles within cybersecurity to understand the domain. Websites like CyberSecurity Ventures, Infosecurity Magazine, and job portals can provide insights. Let him check the details of different programmes to see which areas pique his interest and identify his strengths in subjects like Maths, logic, and problem-solving. Let him connect with cybersecurity professionals and network at events or online platforms for informational interviews. Even before starting a course, he can learn basic networking concepts, operating systems, and programming fundamentals online. Then, depending on his choice, he can look at a B.Tech/B.E. in Computer Science, B.Tech in Information Technology (IT) with a specialisation in Cybersecurity or a B.Sc. in Cybersecurity or a BCA with a specialisation in Cybersecurity. There are also diploma courses in Cybersecurity or Cyber Crime and Law that provide a more focused and shorter pathway into the field.

Chennai Institute of Quantity Surveyors (CIQS) offers online courses, NIELIT (National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology) offer online programmes. Some courses that are industry-recognised and focus on specific skills are Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CompTIA Security+, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). Companies like Cisco, Microsoft, and AWS focus on the security aspects of their technologies and have short-term courses. Online platforms like Coursera, edX, Udemy, and Simplilearn also offer a wide range of courses and certifications.

The spy games of the 1970s, when India and Pakistan were trying to outwit and outpace each other in the race to become the nuclear state, form the subject of this high-stakes thriller. Headlined by two consummate performers, Pratik Gandhi and Sunny Hinduja, as the men in charge of operations for the arch rivals, the series has a beating heart; however, the structure and storytelling are not in sync. It appears that the material of a feature film has been stretched to six episodes.

In the deluge of spy stories on the big screen and digital platforms, Saare Jahan Se Accha deserves attention for its respect for the adversary’s patriotism and its portrayal of the emotional turmoil of a secret agent. It tells us how, in the service of national interest, morality and personal relationships become collateral damage. However, it does so with the presumption that the audience hasn’t come across Raazi or Khufiya, content that highlights the ordinariness of a spy working in extraordinary situations. It’s like Mission Majnu has a follow-up operation called Mission Vishnu, where Pratik Gandhi has been called in to lend his everyman resilience to sabotage Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

Saare Jahan Se Accha (Hindi) Creator: Gaurav Shukla Director: Sumit Purohit Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Sunny Hinduja, Kritika Karma, Anup Soni. Tillotama Shome, Rajat Kapoor Runtime: Six episodes Storyline: When an intrepid Indian spy is smuggled into Pakistan to sabotage the country’s nuclear ambitions, he finds his match equally resilient

As India’s bid to go nuclear suffers a jolt after the mysterious death of atomic physicist Homi J. Bhabha, the intelligence apparatus comes up with the Research and Analysis Wing to secure our interests outside India. Pakistan already had its network of Inter-Services Intelligence. Between the lines, the series tells us how we had to catch up to outsmart the wily neighbour. After the resounding defeat of 1971, when Prime Minister Bhutto decides to secure the country’s interests by importing a nuclear bomb, RAW, led by the stoic R.N. Kao (Rajat Kapoor), decides to cripple his plan by sending an intrepid spy, Vishnu Shankar (Pratik), to Pakistan in the garb of a diplomat. But soon, Vishnu discovers that his hum mansab (counterpart) Murtaza (Sunny Hinduja) is no less. As the game of attrition begins, the series finds its mojo.

A couple of episodes stand out. The strand of a senior Pakistani military officer, Naushad (Anup Soni), who RAW is blackmailing, makes you suffer his dilemma. The seasoned Anup excels in portraying the emotional flux of a father and an officer, and the writers don’t separate RAW and ISI when it comes to manipulation for national interest. The conversations between Vishnu and firebrand Pakistani journalist Fatima (Kritika Kamra) are electric. He wants information, but she has a stance on nuclear bombs; however, there is a lot unsaid between them that sparks an attraction.

Pratik and Kritika live in the intensity of the situation. However, Tillotama Shome as the suffering wife of Vishnu, remains a cutout, much like Vishnu’s dispensable moles in Pakistan. Suhail Nayyar fleshed out Rafiq, a mole living under a fake religious identity, but it gradually peters into a predictable zone where the intrinsic logic stops working. The unevenness in storytelling also extends to characterisation. While the writers shape the protagonists with precision, they create the political leadership as cardboard. It feels like an outcome of self-censorship.

There is an inbuilt dialogue on whether the two countries, particularly Pakistan, can afford to direct their resources towards weapons of mass destruction, but it works out like an explainer. Like the greys of reportage are giving way to neutral explainers in the new scape, in the creative realm, writers of long-form tend to explicate emotions. The makers spend two episodes introducing the characters, with Pratik Gandhi providing a voiceover explaining what a spy goes through to make a living. Instead of tutoring the audience, the writers could have intrinsically woven it into the story, allowing the versatile actor to express the inner conflict.

ALSO READ: ‘War 2’ movie review: Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr battle it out to keep this bloated sequel afloat

Curiously, dim lighting and artistic shot-taking by Ukrainian DOP Nedria Dmytro, who captures the zeitgeist of the period, offset the oversimplification of the writing. It gives the impression that the makers believe that the audience craves technical finesse, but the dramatic complexity must be clearly articulated. This unevenness, resulting from a lack of faith, sends the spy down the slippery slope.

Saare Jahan Se Accha currently streaming on Netflxix

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will pay a two-day visit to Nepal beginning Sunday (August 17, 2025) as part of the preparations for Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s planned trip to India next month.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Mr. Misri is travelling to the Himalayan country following an invitation from his Nepalese counterpart, Amrit Bahadur Rai.

“India and Nepal share strong and friendly ties which have seen concrete progress in recent years in diverse areas of cooperation,” it said, announcing Misri’s August 17-18 visit.

Nepal is important for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region and the leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old “Roti-Beti” relationship.

Land-locked Nepal relies heavily on India for the transportation of goods and services. Nepal’s access to the sea is through India and it imports a predominant proportion of its requirements from and through India.

The MEA said India attaches high priority to its relations with Nepal under its Neighbourhood First policy.

“The foreign secretary’s upcoming visit continues the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and will be an opportunity to further advance our bilateral ties,” it said.

People familiar with the matter said the main focus of Mr. Misri’s engagements in Kathmandu will be on preparing the ground for Oli’s trip to New Delhi next month.

Mr. Oli is likely to visit India around September 16, according to diplomatic sources.

However, no official announcement on the trip is yet to be made.