Author: Rasmita Jena

  • Odisha Plans Mid-Day Meals for 8 Lakh Students in Grades 9 and 10

    Odisha Plans Mid-Day Meals for 8 Lakh Students in Grades 9 and 10

    Odisha’s Chief Minister, Mohan Majhi, recently announced that the government will soon provide mid-day meals to about 8 lakh (800,000) students in grades 9 and 10 at government schools across the state. This announcement was made during a special event in Cuttack to celebrate 100 years of Ranihat High School.

    Officials mentioned that the state budget for 2025-26, which will be presented in the Assembly next week, will include funds for this new initiative. Many people have been asking for the inclusion of ninth and tenth graders in the mid-day meal program, saying it’s unfair that they were left out.

    The Mid-Day Meal program began in July 1995 and has since offered cooked meals to younger students in government and government-aided schools, from grades 1 to 5. In April 2008, the program expanded to include grades 6, 7, and 8. Now, the total number of students receiving meals has reached 44.5 lakh in over 51,500 schools.

    In September 2021, the scheme was renamed PM-POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) by the Ministry of Education. The program aims to help kids eat better and show up for school more often. The meals provided include rice with a veggie dish called ‘Dalma’ on Mondays and Thursdays, rice with soybean curry on Tuesdays and Fridays, and rice with egg curry on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

    To make meals even healthier, the state government will also offer 200 ml of milk enriched with Vitamin A and D, helping students get the nutrients they need.

    Since the Mid-Day Meal program started, dropout rates in Odisha have been dropping steadily, according to data from 1995 to 2005. A study found that over 76% of primary school teachers believe the program helps kids stay in school and learn.

  • Pakistan vs South Africa: Tri-Series Showdown in Karachi!

    Pakistan vs South Africa: Tri-Series Showdown in Karachi!

    Pakistan and South Africa will play in Match 3 of the tri-series on Wednesday at Karachi’s National Stadium. Both teams are eager to win and secure their spot in the final since New Zealand has already advanced by beating both teams easily.

    Pakistan, led by Mohammad Rizwan, didn’t have a great start to their campaign. They lost to New Zealand by 78 runs in their first match. Fakhar Zaman made a strong comeback, scoring 84 runs off 69 balls, but Pakistan still got all out for 252 runs while trying to chase a target of 331.

    Bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi got two wickets early on but struggled in the final overs. Abrar Ahmed, Pakistan’s only specialist spinner, also took two wickets. Unfortunately, Haris Rauf will miss the match against South Africa due to a chest injury.

    South Africa, under Temba Bavuma, is looking to bounce back after losing to New Zealand by six wickets. Matthew Breetzke had an amazing debut, scoring 150 runs, but it wasn’t enough as Kane Williamson’s unbeaten 133 led New Zealand to victory.

    Both Pakistan and South Africa are desperate to win this match to boost their confidence before the Champions Trophy, which starts on February 19.

    Live Streaming Details:
    The match will be broadcasted live on Sony Sports Network in India, starting at 2:30 PM IST. You can also watch it live on FanCode.

  • NASA Advances Crew-10 Mission: Astronauts Coming Home Sooner!

    NASA Advances Crew-10 Mission: Astronauts Coming Home Sooner!

    NASA has made an exciting update! They changed their plans for the Crew-10 mission and will now use a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule that has flown before. This decision helps astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore come back to Earth sooner than they expected.

    Originally, the Crew-10 mission was supposed to launch on March 25, but now it’s set for March 12. NASA said this change is subject to making sure everything is ready for the flight.

    Crew-9 will return after helping Crew-10 get settled in. Sunita and Butch traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) on a Boeing Starliner capsule in June 2024, but had some problems along the way. Since then, Sunita has been in charge at the space station.

    The Crew-10 team includes NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. Their arrival is important to ensure the ISS team is at full strength.

    Recently, President Trump asked SpaceX’s CEO Elon Musk to bring Sunita and Butch home as soon as possible, which got NASA to fast-track their plans to return them. NASA confirmed they will bring the astronauts back when it is practical to do so.

    Steve Stich, who manages NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, noted that space travel can be unpredictable. He praised the teamwork between NASA and SpaceX, which helps them adapt quickly to changing needs.

    After Crew-9 completes its mission, it will help with ongoing science and maintenance at the ISS before everyone gets ready to return to Earth, keeping an eye on the weather for a safe landing in Florida.

  • Amanatullah Khan Faces FIR: Police Search for Him and Shavez Khan

    Amanatullah Khan Faces FIR: Police Search for Him and Shavez Khan

    AAP leader Amanatullah Khan, who is also an MLA, has written a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner after they filed a report against him. The police accused him of leading a group that attacked them in Jamia Nagar, Delhi. In his letter, Khan stated, “I’m in my area; I haven’t run away. Police are putting me in a false case. The person they wanted to arrest has already gotten bail. When he showed his documents, police made me a scapegoat.”

    The police have started looking for Khan. An FIR (First Information Report) was filed against him for allegedly hurting and threatening the police and blocking them from doing their job. The charges include serious sections of the law.

    This incident happened on February 10 around 3 PM after police came to arrest a man named Shavez Khan, who was involved in a 2018 attempted murder case. Shavez did not cooperate with the police when they questioned him.

    Soon after this, Amanatullah Khan arrived with about 20 to 25 supporters and reportedly tried to scare the police. According to the FIR, he and his supporters showed no respect for the law and physically pushed the officers, helping Shavez escape.

    Since the incident, both Amanatullah Khan and Shavez Khan have been missing. A police team recently went to Khan’s home regarding the case. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for South East Delhi, Ravi Kumar Singh, confirmed that Shavez is still on the run, and they are trying to find both men.

    Amanatullah Khan, who is the AAP MLA from Okhla, won his seat by 23,639 votes. However, his party faced a big loss in the Delhi Assembly elections, winning only 22 seats, down from 62 before. The BJP gained 48 seats and returned to power in Delhi after 27 years. The police continue to investigate and look for both Amanatullah and Shavez Khan.

  • BJP in Search of New Manipur Chief Minister After N Biren Singh Resigns

    BJP in Search of New Manipur Chief Minister After N Biren Singh Resigns

    After nearly three days of uncertainty, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not yet chosen a new chief minister for Manipur. N Biren Singh resigned on Sunday after facing a tough 21 months of ethnic violence that resulted in over 250 deaths and thousands of displaced residents. His resignation followed a lengthy meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda.

    BJP leader Sambit Patra has been holding meetings with party legislators in Manipur to find a new leader. The BJP’s central leadership is expected to meet the Manipur party MLAs in Delhi on February 12 to finalize a successor.

    Five key candidates are being discussed for the position of Manipur’s new chief minister:

    – Yumnam Khemchand Singh: Currently a Cabinet minister for municipal administration, Khemchand has been an MLA since 2017 and also served as the Speaker of the Manipur assembly from 2017 to 2022.

    – Thongam Biswajit Singh: A member of the assembly since 2012, he is now the state minister for environment and forest. Biswajit originally started with the Trinamool Congress before joining the BJP.

    – Thokchom Satyabrata Singh: Elected in both 2017 and 2022, he is the current Speaker of the assembly and has held various cabinet positions, including consumer affairs and labour.

    – Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh: A four-time MLA from Nambol, Basanta is the current education minister and joined the BJP after winning the 2022 elections.

    – Govindas Konthoujam: A seven-time MLA, he is currently a minister for PWD, youth affairs, and sports. He switched to BJP after previously serving with the Congress.

  • Nifty Index Plummets Over 300 Points: What Happened Today?

    Nifty Index Plummets Over 300 Points: What Happened Today?

    The Nifty index started the day almost the same as yesterday, but right from the first moment, people began selling their stocks. For a while, the market didn’t move much, but in the afternoon, selling got stronger, and the Nifty went down below 23,000 points. In fact, the sellers (called bears) were in control all day, and by the end, the Nifty had dropped more than 300 points. This made a special pattern on the chart called a Bearish Belt Hold, which means the market could keep going down. The index also made lower highs and lower lows, suggesting continued weakness.

  • KFin Technologies: A Stock to Watch for Potential Gains!

    KFin Technologies: A Stock to Watch for Potential Gains!

    KFin Technologies Ltd, a company in the finance world, recently showed strong signs of recovery. The stock price has moved above an important line called the 200-Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on daily charts, which usually indicates a good trend. Traders who are willing to take on some risks can think about buying this stock, aiming for a price target of Rs 1,470 in the next 3-4 months if the current positive momentum continues. However, the stock reached its highest point of Rs 1,640 on December 30, 2024, but couldn’t keep that strength. So, it’s crucial to monitor how the stock performs in the coming weeks!

  • Flexi Cap Mutual Funds: Your Guide to Smart Investing in 2025

    Flexi Cap Mutual Funds: Your Guide to Smart Investing in 2025

    Are you worried about the ups and downs in the stock market? If you’re new to investing, you might feel confused about whether to put your money in big companies (large caps), medium-sized companies (mid caps), or something else. It can be tricky to know when to switch from one type to another. If any of this sounds familiar, flexi cap mutual funds might be a great solution for you!

    What are Flexi Cap Mutual Funds?

    Flexi cap mutual funds give fund managers the freedom to invest in any size company—big, medium, or small. This means that the manager can choose where to put your money based on what they think will perform well. Because of this flexibility, these funds are great for investors who want to grow their money over a long time—usually at least five to seven years.

    Why Choose Flexi Cap Funds?

    Since the manager can invest based on the current market situation, these types of funds can adapt quickly. They might invest more in big companies during steady times or switch to medium and small companies when the market is thriving. However, it’s important for you to pick a fund that matches your comfort with risk. Some flexi cap funds are safer than others, so choose wisely!

    Our Top Picks for Flexi Cap Funds (February 2025)

    1. Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund
    2. UTI Flexi Cap Fund
    3. PGIM India Flexi Cap Fund
    4. Aditya Birla Sun Life Flexi Cap Fund
    5. SBI Flexi Cap Fund
    6. Canara Robeco Flexi Cap Fund

    How We Chose the Best Funds

    We looked at several factors to select these funds:

    – Mean Rolling Returns: This tells us how much money the funds made over the last three years.
    – Consistency: We checked how steady the funds were. A higher score means less ups and downs.
    – Downside Risk: We analyzed how much the funds lost when things weren’t going well.
    – Outperformance: We looked at how much better these funds performed compared to the expected market returns.

    Final Note

    Remember, just because a fund did well in the past doesn’t mean it will in the future. Always do your homework and consider your risk level before investing!

  • Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Boost: A 430% Spike in Spotify Streams!

    Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Boost: A 430% Spike in Spotify Streams!

    Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX performance made a big splash! After his halftime show, his Spotify streams skyrocketed. Here are the cool details:

    Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” aimed at Drake, saw a huge 430% increase in streams right after the show. It even topped Spotify charts in the U.S. and around the world on February 10, 2025, with over 11 million streams that day.

    He owned the top six spots on the U.S. Spotify charts. Many of his songs with SZA, like “luther,” “tv off,” and “squabble up,” also saw a lot of love from listeners. Lamar became the most-streamed artist both in the U.S. and worldwide. SZA, who sang with him, was the second-most streamed artist in the U.S. and fourth globally.

    Lamar’s entire music collection got a 175% boost in streams! Older hits like “HUMBLE” went up by 300%, and “Money Trees” and “euphoria” both rose by 260%. SZA also had a great day, with her music getting an 80% increase in streams.

    Lamar didn’t just shine on Spotify; his songs were also number one on Apple Music. His albums “GNX” and “DAMN.” claimed the top two spots on iTunes after the performance.

    Super Bowl halftime shows are a huge chance for artists to shine. In the past, stars like Shakira and Lady Gaga also saw big boosts after their shows.

    This year’s Super Bowl LIX was watched by 133.5 million people, making it the most-watched halftime show ever! Right after the show, Lamar even announced new tour dates with SZA.

  • Ghee Scandal: Tirumala Temple Food Contaminated with Animal Fat!

    Ghee Scandal: Tirumala Temple Food Contaminated with Animal Fat!

    Last year, a big problem happened when ghee (a type of clarified butter) used in sacred “laddu prasadam” at the Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh was found to be mixed with animal fat. The ghee was supplied by a company based in Uttarakhand, called Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Private Limited. This company had previously been banned by the temple authorities in 2022 for not meeting quality standards.

    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and a special team found out that the ghee was sent to the temple through another company called Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialities and a third one named A R Dairy. Four people were arrested: directors of Bhole Baba Dairy, Pomil Jain and Bipin Jain; CEO of Sri Vyshnavi Dairy, Apurva Vinay Kant Chawda; and Raju Rajasekharan, the Managing Director of A R Dairy.

    The police report revealed that Bhole Baba Dairy sold its ghee at ₹291 each to the temple under the name of Sri Vyshnavi Dairy. Over time, they managed to win contracts despite having their ghee rejected in previous quality checks.

    In June 2022, during an inspection, it was reported that Bhole Baba Dairy didn’t have proper records, which led to their disqualification. However, the Jain brothers secretly became directors of Sri Vyshnavi Dairy and kept controlling the operations through this company.

    AR Dairy, which has been selling milk to Sri Vyshnavi, joined with them to supply ghee to the temple. They created fake documents to show they could supply the required amount of ghee, even though they couldn’t. Investigators found that Bhole Baba Dairy was involved in cheating and supplying poor-quality ghee.

    When complaints came from pilgrims about the bad quality of the laddu (a sweet), the temple tested the ghee and discovered it was mixed with other fats. The temple rejected four tankers of ghee, but they were secretly taken to Sri Vyshnavi Dairy instead of AR Dairy.

    After the news about the bad ghee spread, the Jain brothers resigned from Sri Vyshnavi Dairy and new directors, who were actually their drivers, took over. The investigations are still ongoing, and people are very upset about the situation.