New Delhi: The government on Friday said that FASTag Annual Pass has crossed 50 lakh users, with over 26.55 crore transactions recorded within six months of its launch. Around 28 per cent of total car transactions recorded on the National Highway (NH) network are now being carried out through the FASTag Annual Pass, said the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, highlighting the increasing preference of FASTag Annual Pass among National Highway users.
The region-wise analysis shows that Chandigarh leads in terms of usage, accounting for 14 per cent of total Annual Pass transactions across the country, followed by Tamil Nadu at 12.3 per cent and Delhi at 11.5 per cent.
Moreover, Bijwasan Fee Plaza in Delhi NCR has emerged as the leading location with around 57 per cent of total car crossings at the fee plaza using the Annual Pass, followed by Mundaka Fee Plaza in Delhi NCR and Jhinjholi Fee Plaza in Sonipat — both registering around 53 per cent of non-commercial vehicle crossings using the Annual Pass.
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According to the ministry, applicable to about 1,150 fee plazas on National Highways and National Expressways, the Annual Pass eliminates the need to frequently recharge FASTag through a one-time fee payment of Rs 3,000 for one year’s validity or 200 toll plaza crossings.
The pass is applicable for all non-commercial vehicles with a valid FASTag.
The annual pass gets activated within two hours on the existing FASTag linked to the vehicle after payment of a one-time fee through the Rajmargyatra App or the NHAI website.
“The growing uptake of the FASTag Annual Pass reinforces its effectiveness in promoting seamless and economical travel on National Highways across the country,” said the ministry.
Notably, the annual pass has turned unpredictable monthly toll expenses into a fixed, stress-free cost, giving daily commuters certainty, savings, and smoother travel throughout the year, without worrying much about constantly recharging their FASTag.
Sylvia Plath stands as one of the most powerful literary voices of the 20th century. Known for her deeply personal and emotionally intense “confessional” poetry, Plath reshaped modern literature with her fearless exploration of identity, mental health, and womanhood. Despite her tragic death at the age of 30, her work continues to influence readers, writers, and feminist thought across the world.
She is best remembered for her poetry collections The Colossus and Other Poems (1960) and Ariel (1965), as well as her semi-autobiographical novel The Bell Jar (1963), which was published just a month before her death. In 1981, The Collected Poems brought together many of her previously unpublished works. This collection earned her the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1982, making her one of the few writers to receive the honor posthumously.
Quote of the Day
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“Perhaps when we find ourselves wanting everything, it is because we are dangerously close to wanting nothing.”
Personal Life and Career
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Sylvia Plath showed academic brilliance from a young age. She studied at Smith College, where she excelled and contributed actively to literary publications, including serving as editor of The Smith Review. Later, she received a Fulbright scholarship to study at Newnham College, University of Cambridge, in England.
In 1959, Plath attended a creative writing seminar at Boston University led by poet Robert Lowell, alongside fellow poets Anne Sexton and George Starbuck—an experience that helped shape her confessional style of poetry.
Plath met poet Ted Hughes in 1956 at a literary gathering in London. The two married later that year and spent time living in both the United States and England. They had two children, Frieda and Nicholas, before separating in 1962. Their relationship was often troubled, and Plath later described it as emotionally painful in her letters.
Much of her life was marked by struggles with severe depression. She underwent treatment, including early forms of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which later became themes reflected in The Bell Jar.
Sylvia Plath died by suicide in 1963, but her literary legacy only grew stronger with time. Her writing remains celebrated for its honesty, intensity, and lyrical brilliance. Today, Plath is regarded not only as a major poet but also as a symbol of artistic courage—someone who transformed personal suffering into enduring literature.
Her words continue to resonate because they speak directly to human vulnerability, ambition, and the fear of emptiness—captured perfectly in today’s quote about wanting everything and nothing at the same time.
Pakistan’s Usman Tariq celebrates after takin the wicket of South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks during the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
New Delhi: It was 2017. Haseeb ur Rahman vividly remembers the night he and his cousin Usman Tariq were having dinner and watching MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, a biopic on the former India captain. That night changed Tariq’s life forever. After watching the movie, he decided to pursue his true passion, cricket, and left Dubai for the second time to make a name for himself.“He got motivated after watching Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s movie. What moved him was how Dhoni worked as a ticket collector while juggling his dream of playing cricket for India with his job. The scene that moved Usman was when Dhoni was sitting on a bench at the platform, it started raining, and he then ran and caught the train to head home and give cricket another shot. That scene inspired Usman to take the leap of faith, and I remember him saying, ‘Bhai jaan mera scene bhi toh yahi hai’ (My case is also pretty similar),” Haseeb ur Rahman tells TimesofIndia.com from Dubai.
T20 World Cup: ‘Not good for the game’ – Salman Ali Agha on India Asia Cup handshake row
Haseeb says what he saw in Usman’s eyes that day made him believe the boy was destined for bigger things.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Uski aankhon mey ek zidd thi, ek junoon, aap yun keh leh ki pagalpan tha (There was a stubborn resolve in his eyes, a burning obsession, you could even call it madness),” says Haseeb, with a lump in his throat.Usman followed his calling and left Dubai for the second time, this time with a purpose. Success did not come immediately. He had to toil hard, and one fine day his bowling video went viral on social media.
A young Usman Tariq (left) with his elder (extreme right) and cousin Haseeb ur Rahman in the middle. (Sepcial Arrangement)
“He joined a cricket academy in Nowshera, which is around 30 kilometres from our village Charsadda. Usman used to bowl to Pakistan cricketer Iftikhar Ahmed in the nets, and one fine day his bowling video went viral,” says Haseeb.“He became a celebrity. People started calling him to play matches for their clubs. They used to pay him between Rs 500 and Rs 1,500. The money helped him with fuel,” laughs Haseeb.“Then I think he got an offer from the US. He played for a small club there. He also played in the Karachi Premier League, where he caught everyone’s attention. Then the PSL came calling, followed by the CPL, Pakistan’s national team and now the ILT20 as well,” he adds.The club matches Usman played would not have been possible without Haseeb, who sent him money to buy a bike.
Haseeb ur Rahman (left) and Usman Tariq (extreme right) in their village Charsadda in Peshawar (Special Arrangement)
“He used to walk kilometres to play matches. I asked him to buy a bike. It was a gift from me, but after that it was up to Usman how he maintained it. I did my job as an elder brother,” says Haseeb.
Chopping onions, surviving Kabul’s cold
Before watching MS Dhoni’s biopic, moving back to Pakistan and eventually wearing national colours, the road Usman took was a long one.Usman lost his father very early and, being the eldest in the family, by the time he turned a teenager he was already working and had become the sole breadwinner.“It was in 2007 when his father died. The family was under financial duress,” recollects Haseeb. “He moved to Dubai when he was only a teenager. He worked in a hotel and his job was chopping onions. He did it for a few weeks. It was a tough job and it took a toll on him. One day he messaged me and said he had to stand all day and his back had started hurting. He returned to Peshawar after resigning,” reminisces Haseeb.
I told my boss in Kabul to give Usman the job instead and pay him by cutting my salary, but he should not find out. At least he would have some mental peace. It also did not work out
Haseeb ur Rahman, brother of Usman Tariq
At the time, Haseeb was working with an NGO in Kabul, Afghanistan.“I asked him to come to Kabul. He landed in winter. The temperature was minus 10 degrees. In Kabul, it goes down to minus 15 degrees at night.“I asked my bosses to help me find him a job. But jab aapki kismat kharab rehti hai toh aap kuch nahi kar sakte (When you are out of luck, nothing goes your way). My boss did not give me a positive response,” he says.Haseeb even went to the director of his NGO, offering to take a pay cut.“I told him, ‘aap isey kaam de do aur meri salary cut kar ke ise paise de do, but isey pata nahi chalna chahiye’ (Give him the job instead and pay him by cutting my salary, but he should not find out). At least he would have some mental peace. It also did not work out.
Pakistan’s Usman Tariq bowls during the second T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Australia, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
“We tried a lot, despite the security situation in Kabul. He stayed with me for three weeks. When it started snowing, his back pain worsened. I advised him to go back to Peshawar because he would not have survived Kabul’s winter,” says Haseeb.
Back in Dubai
Usman kept doing odd jobs for three years in Islamabad. In 2016, when Haseeb moved to Dubai from Kabul, his younger brother followed him. But it was not easy, as accommodation in Dubai is very expensive, and without a job, Usman stayed in a labour camp where he shared a room with 20 others.“I did not have a job, and neither did he. I was staying at a friend’s flat in Dubai, whereas he was staying in a labour camp in Sonapur. He was sharing a room with 20 people,” recollects Haseeb.
Usman was staying in a labour camp in Sonapur, in Dubai. He was sharing a room with 20 people
Haseeb ur Rahman, cousin of Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq
“I invited him over one day. He came all the way from Sonapur. Living in a labour camp is tough, and I could see he was not well. I asked him to spend the night at my friend’s place without even seeking permission. I will never forget the happiness in his eyes,” says Haseeb.After finding a job as a logistics officer in a procurement company, the juggle between life, cricket and work continued.In October 2016, another life-changing moment arrived on Usman’s door when the duo went to a Peshawar Zalmi talent hunt in Dubai.
Pakistan’s Usman Tariq celebrates after takin the wicket of South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks during the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
“Those they found interesting were asked to bowl more. When Usman bowled, they were impressed. He was asked to bowl six balls. I thought they would sign him, but they did not offer him a contract,” says Haseeb, who was also the first to suggest Usman stick to spin after he went for runs in a street cricket match played on Sundays near the Hyatt Regency hotel in Palm Deira.“In that tournament, he switched to spin bowling and immediately made an impact,” says Haseeb.A week later, Zalmi called him to return to Pakistan to play matches.“He could not afford to lose his job and said no to Zalmi. He was in tears that day,” recollects Haseeb.
The debate on bowling action
Recently, Usman has been in the news because of his bowling action.During the T20I series against Australia, Cameron Green irritably mimicked his action, accusing the Pakistani spinner of chucking. The same happened during the ILT20 in Abu Dhabi, where England batter Tom Banton made a similar chucking gesture.
There is a pause in Usman Tariq’s action, which is legally allowed. His action is unusual and unique, with some variations. Ultimately, the decision on its legality rests with the ICC, the umpires and the match referees.
R Ashwin, former India cricketer
Former India spinner R Ashwin also took a subtle dig. “There is a pause in Usman Tariq’s action, which is legally allowed. His action is unusual and unique, with some variations. Ultimately, the decision on its legality rests with the ICC, the umpires and the match referees,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.But Usman found support in former Australia cricketer Usman Khawaja. “There aren’t many things worse than being called a chucker in cricket. The stigma is real. The man is just doing his best and has been cleared twice. Let’s have some perspective and understanding and stop jumping to conclusions,” Khawaja said on Instagram.
Pakistan’s Usman Tariq bowls during the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
At Pakistan’s pre-match press conference in Colombo, Salman Ali Agha also came out in support of his player.“I don’t understand why we are talking about his action. In my opinion, it is a fair action. He has been tested twice and has cleared it. In the end, does he need to hang a notice around his neck saying that he is clear,” said Agha.
Mental toughness
Amid all the noise around his bowling action, Haseeb says Usman remains unfazed and credits his mental toughness.“He jokes about it,” says Haseeb. “He says he does not care. He passes a sarcastic smile and says they do not know that he has cleared the ICC’s test twice. ‘Jitni nafrat faila rahe, main utna mashoor ho raha hoon’ (The more hatred they spread, the more famous I become).”
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What inspired Usman Tariq to pursue cricket?
Haseeb recalls the time they spent together in Dubai and Kabul and says Usman would often tell him, “Bhai jaan, main yeh 9-to-5 waali zindagi ke liye nahi bana hoon (I am not built for a nine-to-five life).”Like Dhoni, whose batting and keeping technique and long hair once led many to doubt him, Usman realised after watching the biopic that he would need to do something special at the World Cup. He wants to be known for his wicket-taking ability rather than his slingy action.
India-US trade deal live updates: The United States and India have finalised a framework for an “interim agreement” on reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade, the White House announced late night on Saturday, February 6. The framework marks a formal breakthrough after nearly a year of negotiations between the two countries.
Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal shared the joint statement on social media, underlining the scale of market access the newly reached framework could unlock. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India had reached a framework for an interim agreement with the US that would “open a $30 trillion market for Indian exporters.”
Highlighting the beneficiaries, Goyal said the deal would particularly help MSMEs, farmers and fishermen, while adding that increased exports would create “lakhs of new job opportunities for our women and youth.”
The announcement comes days after US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington and New Delhi had reached a trade deal, a claim later confirmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi had stated that under the agreement, reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports to the US would be reduced to 18%.
Trump removes 25% penalty tariff, claims India to stop Russian oil imports
At the same time, President Trump signed an executive order announcing the removal of a 25% tariff on India. The executive order signed by Trump reiterates his claim that India has “committed” to stop importing oil from the Russian Federation “directly or indirectly.” It further states that India has committed to purchasing energy products from the United States.
Trump had earlier used a Truth Social post to claim that India would stop purchasing Russian oil, describing it as a key element of the agreement. That assertion, however, did not feature in PM Modi’s post on X, which was released shortly after Trump’s announcement.
Earlier, When ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about Trump’s claim over Russian oil imports, he stressed that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians remains government’s “supreme priority”.
He said India’s approach is centred on diversification, adding, “Diversifying energy sourcing in keeping with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics is at the core of our strategy to ensure this. All of India’s decisions are taken and will be taken with this in mind.”
India–US trade deal interim framework | Top points
1. India to cut tariffs on US industrial and farm goods India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of American food and agricultural products. These include dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum used for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits, among other products.
2. US applies reciprocal 18% tariff on Indian goods The United States will apply a reciprocal tariff rate of 18% on Indian-origin goods. Covered sectors include textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber products, organic chemicals, home décor, artisanal products and certain machinery.
3. Zero tariffs on select Indian exports after interim deal Subject to the successful conclusion of the interim agreement, the US will remove reciprocal tariffs on a wide range of Indian goods. These include generic pharmaceuticals, gems and diamonds, and aircraft parts.
4. Removal of national security tariffs on aircraft parts The US will remove tariffs imposed on Indian aircraft and aircraft parts under earlier national security proclamations related to aluminium, steel and copper imports.
5. Mutual preferential market access commitment Both countries have committed to providing each other preferential market access in sectors of mutual interest on a sustained basis.
6. Easing barriers on US food and agricultural exports India has also agreed to address long-standing non-tariff barriers affecting US food and agricultural products, acknowledging the need to resolve persistent market access concerns.
7. Alignment on standards and conformity assessments To improve ease of compliance, the two countries will discuss standards and conformity assessment procedures in mutually agreed sectors.
8. Safeguard clause on tariff changes If either country changes agreed tariff levels in the future, the other country will be allowed to modify its commitments in response.
9. Pathway to broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) The interim framework is positioned as a stepping stone toward a full Bilateral Trade Agreement. The US has said it will consider India’s request for further tariff reductions on Indian goods during BTA negotiations.
10. India plans $500 billion purchases from the US India has stated its intention to purchase $500 billion worth of US energy products, aircraft and aircraft parts, precious metals, technology products and coking coal over the next five years.
11. Technology trade and cooperation expansion Both sides will significantly increase trade in technology products, including GPUs and other goods used in data centres, while also expanding joint technology cooperation.
…Read More
Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal shared the joint statement on social media, underlining the scale of market access the newly reached framework could unlock. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India had reached a framework for an interim agreement with the US that would “open a $30 trillion market for Indian exporters.”
Highlighting the beneficiaries, Goyal said the deal would particularly help MSMEs, farmers and fishermen, while adding that increased exports would create “lakhs of new job opportunities for our women and youth.”
The announcement comes days after US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington and New Delhi had reached a trade deal, a claim later confirmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi had stated that under the agreement, reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports to the US would be reduced to 18%.
Trump removes 25% penalty tariff, claims India to stop Russian oil imports
At the same time, President Trump signed an executive order announcing the removal of a 25% tariff on India. The executive order signed by Trump reiterates his claim that India has “committed” to stop importing oil from the Russian Federation “directly or indirectly.” It further states that India has committed to purchasing energy products from the United States.
Trump had earlier used a Truth Social post to claim that India would stop purchasing Russian oil, describing it as a key element of the agreement. That assertion, however, did not feature in PM Modi’s post on X, which was released shortly after Trump’s announcement.
Earlier, When ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about Trump’s claim over Russian oil imports, he stressed that ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians remains government’s “supreme priority”.
He said India’s approach is centred on diversification, adding, “Diversifying energy sourcing in keeping with objective market conditions and evolving international dynamics is at the core of our strategy to ensure this. All of India’s decisions are taken and will be taken with this in mind.”
India–US trade deal interim framework | Top points
1. India to cut tariffs on US industrial and farm goods India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of American food and agricultural products. These include dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum used for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits, among other products.
2. US applies reciprocal 18% tariff on Indian goods The United States will apply a reciprocal tariff rate of 18% on Indian-origin goods. Covered sectors include textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber products, organic chemicals, home décor, artisanal products and certain machinery.
3. Zero tariffs on select Indian exports after interim deal Subject to the successful conclusion of the interim agreement, the US will remove reciprocal tariffs on a wide range of Indian goods. These include generic pharmaceuticals, gems and diamonds, and aircraft parts.
4. Removal of national security tariffs on aircraft parts The US will remove tariffs imposed on Indian aircraft and aircraft parts under earlier national security proclamations related to aluminium, steel and copper imports.
5. Mutual preferential market access commitment Both countries have committed to providing each other preferential market access in sectors of mutual interest on a sustained basis.
6. Easing barriers on US food and agricultural exports India has also agreed to address long-standing non-tariff barriers affecting US food and agricultural products, acknowledging the need to resolve persistent market access concerns.
7. Alignment on standards and conformity assessments To improve ease of compliance, the two countries will discuss standards and conformity assessment procedures in mutually agreed sectors.
8. Safeguard clause on tariff changes If either country changes agreed tariff levels in the future, the other country will be allowed to modify its commitments in response.
9. Pathway to broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) The interim framework is positioned as a stepping stone toward a full Bilateral Trade Agreement. The US has said it will consider India’s request for further tariff reductions on Indian goods during BTA negotiations.
10. India plans $500 billion purchases from the US India has stated its intention to purchase $500 billion worth of US energy products, aircraft and aircraft parts, precious metals, technology products and coking coal over the next five years.
11. Technology trade and cooperation expansion Both sides will significantly increase trade in technology products, including GPUs and other goods used in data centres, while also expanding joint technology cooperation.
India-US trade deal LIVE: Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on saturday welcomed the finalisation of the India-US interim trade framework, calling it a major step forward for Indian exporters and job creation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a statement shared after the deal, Goyal said that “India has reached a framework for an Interim Agreement with the US,” adding that it would “open a $30 trillion market for Indian exporters.”
He highlighted that the biggest gains would accrue to MSMEs, farmers and fishermen, while noting that the expected rise in exports would create “lakhs of new job opportunities for our women and youth.”
Goyal pointed out that a key feature of the framework is the reduction in US reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18%. He said this would create a “huge market opportunity” for Indian products in sectors such as textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber products, organic chemicals, home décor, artisanal products and select machinery in the world’s largest economy.
Feb 07, 2026 7:42:20 AM IST
India–US trade deal interim framework | Top points
1. India to cut tariffs on US industrial and farm goods
India will eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of American food and agricultural products. These include dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum used for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits, among other products.
2. US applies reciprocal 18% tariff on Indian goods
The United States will apply a reciprocal tariff rate of 18% on Indian-origin goods. Covered sectors include textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastic and rubber products, organic chemicals, home décor, artisanal products and certain machinery.
3. Zero tariffs on select Indian exports after interim deal
Subject to the successful conclusion of the interim agreement, the US will remove reciprocal tariffs on a wide range of Indian goods. These include generic pharmaceuticals, gems and diamonds, and aircraft parts.
4. Removal of national security tariffs on aircraft parts
The US will remove tariffs imposed on Indian aircraft and aircraft parts under earlier national security proclamations related to aluminium, steel and copper imports.
5. Mutual preferential market access commitment
Both countries have committed to providing each other preferential market access in sectors of mutual interest on a sustained basis.
6. Easing barriers on US food and agricultural exports
India has also agreed to address long-standing non-tariff barriers affecting US food and agricultural products, acknowledging the need to resolve persistent market access concerns.
7. Alignment on standards and conformity assessments
To improve ease of compliance, the two countries will discuss standards and conformity assessment procedures in mutually agreed sectors.
8. Safeguard clause on tariff changes
If either country changes agreed tariff levels in the future, the other country will be allowed to modify its commitments in response.
9. Pathway to broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA)
The interim framework is positioned as a stepping stone toward a full Bilateral Trade Agreement. The US has said it will consider India’s request for further tariff reductions on Indian goods during BTA negotiations.
10. India plans $500 billion purchases from the US
India has stated its intention to purchase $500 billion worth of US energy products, aircraft and aircraft parts, precious metals, technology products and coking coal over the next five years.
11. Technology trade and cooperation expansion
Both sides will significantly increase trade in technology products, including GPUs and other goods used in data centres, while also expanding joint technology cooperation.
Feb 07, 2026 7:27:56 AM IST
India-US trade deal LIVE: Trump removes penalty tariffs on India
India-US trade deal LIVE: US President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order removing the 25% penalty tariffs imposed on India, a move that follows the finalisation of a framework for an interim trade agreement between the two countries.
The decision comes days after Trump announced that Washington and New Delhi had struck a trade deal after nearly a year of negotiations, a claim later confirmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The White House has since said the two sides have agreed on a framework for a “reciprocal and mutually beneficial” interim trade agreement.
The executive order links the tariff rollback to what the US administration describes as India’s commitments on trade, energy and strategic alignment. It reiterates Trump’s claim that India has committed to stop importing Russian oil “directly or indirectly” and to purchase energy products from the United States.
Actress Neha Dhupia decided to list all the things her husband Angad Bedi loves to do in a heartfelt birthday post.
Sharing a video montage of a couple of unseen moments of the birthday boy on social media, Neha stated that the Pinkactor loves to spend time with his family and friends, along with shooting, playing sports, and traveling.
Neha went on to share, “happybirthday my love … wishing you a year filled with all things you love …. Time and bedtime with our babies, family time , friends , action dramas, film sets , sport, live sport, travel , high protein diets, coffee in low fat milk, late night gup shup , laying under the sun, cool calls from casting directors, and endless travel and FaceTime calls with meeeeee (sic)”.
The Phas Gaye Re Obama actress concluded the post with an adorable “I love you”, followed by several red heart emojis.
For the unaware, Angad first met Neha in the gym when he used to play under-19 in Delhi. At the time, Neha was also preparing for the Miss India pageant.
These two came face to face once again years later in Mumbai and soon became friends.
As their friendship transpired into love, Angad proposed to Neha four years before they actually tied the knot.
Angad and Neha finally got married back in May 2018 in a simple ceremony.
The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Mehr, in November 2018. In October 2021, they became parents for the second time to a baby boy.
Meanwhile, Neha and Angad stepped into 2026 with a beach holiday with their family. She took to her official Instagram handle and uploaded some pictures from her fun getaway with Angad, children, family, and friends.
“Refreshed… renewed… recharged… n ready for you 2026,” she wrote, adding the hashtag BeKind.” Neha captioned the post.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
Mumbai vs Karnataka in a Ranji Trophy match. It doesn’t get any better than this. And, if it’s in the knock-out stage, the stakes are even higher. Karnataka, who once stopped Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy title-winning streak at 15 in the 1970s, are determined to win their ninth title. It has been 11 seasons since Karnataka last won (in Mumbai when they defeated Tamil Nadu in the 2014-15 final). Karnataka haven’t made it to the final since.
New skipper Padikkal
Having made it to the quarter-final this season on the back of their newly-appointed captain Devdutt Padikkal’s breezy 120 not out against Punjab in their last league match when they were faced with a must-win situation, and boasting of a strong batting line-up, Karnataka will pose a major challenge to the home side that enjoys playing at the MCA-BKC ground. Mumbai have had outright wins more often than not here.
Shardul Thakur
Mumbai’s captain Shardul Thakur, back in the Ranji squad after missing the last two league matches due to a calf injury, is confident of his players rising up to the challenge posed by Karnataka’s line-up that boasts of Test batters KL Rahul, Karun Nair, and former Test opener Mayank Agarwal.
“Two domestic giants playing each other will provide a good, competitive game. We want to challenge ourselves. We want to play good cricket, whichever team comes. Karnataka are a balanced team. They have won a lot of tournaments in the past few years. Their players are fairly experienced and know how to go about in the knockout games. So are our boys too. It’s going to be a tough game,” Thakur said on Thursday.
Mumbai has been hit by injuries to key players this season. Only Siddhesh Lad, who is the fifth highest run-getter in this season (737 runs at 92.12), Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan, gloveman Akash Anand and pacer Tushar Deshpande, have featured in all the seven games.
Mumbai’s think-tank is hoping Sarfaraz is fit to play on Friday as he is down with ‘viral fever’. He has been unwell and hospitalised. A team official has said his test reports are negative and he is being monitored closely by doctors. Thakur added: “On Wednesday and Thursday, a few of the team members visited the hospital to see him. We’re hoping he will play.”
Mumbai hold the edge
Mumbai will believe they have the edge in familiar conditions, but they are also aware of the threat posed by Karnataka’s batters, besides their bowlers which include Test quick Prasidh Krishna, who enjoys the bounce of the BKC ground, and leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal, who has taken 37 wickets this season.
The internet is a strange world. It possesses the ability to make anyone viral in the blink of an eye, or give you a perspective that you never knew existed. While originally, it was sought as a source of information, over the years, the source of that information has transformed, and it is now through memes that a lot of conversations happen. And the new muse for the meme market in India lately has been director Aditya Dhar and his film Dhurandhar.
Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar memes
It’s been over two months since the Ranveer Singh-starrer released in theatres and created havoc at the box office, emerging as the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time. Yet, the buzz around it refuses to die down, especially considering the teaser of its sequel, Durandhar The Revenge was recently released, and the first part made its way to OTT too.
Amidst that, the internet has found a new subject for its attention- director Aditya Dhar. While his work is being lauded since the film’s release, the meme market has given a twist to that appreciation. What started as a praise for his eye for detail, has now become a justification of even the most absurd theories around the film. The “Aditya Dhar level detailing” memes have surfaced online recently, and the online world is having a field day with it.
Here are some of the funniest and wittiest works:
Starring Ranveer Singh alongside Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi, Dhurandhar released in December 2025 and collected almost ₹900 crores at the Indian box office. It’s sequel titled Dhurandhar The Revenge, will hit the screens on March 19, 2026. As per the buzz, there have been rumours of Dhurandhar being set in the Uri: The Surgical Strike universe, with reported cameos planned of actors Vicky Kaushal and Yami Gautam Dhar. Well, till the sequel’s release, the meme fest on Dhurandhar is keeping the audiences entertained.
NEW DELHI: After Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s jaw-dropping performance in the U-19 World Cup final, former India spinner R Ashwin made a bold prediction about the teenager’s future, saying fans shouldn’t be shocked if he breaks into international cricket very soon.Reacting to Vaibhav’s final innings, Ashwin highlighted how extraordinary the knock really was.
Why this T20 World Cup could well see a 300 plus total | Will India create history?
“175 (80) in the U19 WC final, 15 fours and 15 sixes with 85.7% of his runs in boundaries. That’s absurd. This is a follow up to his 68(33) in the semis chasing a 300+ target. Vaibhav has owned the big stage like he’s born for it. A prodigy with serious big match temperament,” R Ashwin wrote on X.The 14-year-old left-hander tore into England’s bowling at Harare, smashing 175 runs from just 80 balls in the final. His innings included 15 fours and 15 sixes, with most of his runs coming in boundaries. India went on to post a massive 411 for 9, putting the match completely out of England’s reach.Ashwin also pointed to Vaibhav’s consistency throughout the tournament.“Overall Tournament numbers: Leader run getter with 439 runs at 62.71, SR 169.49. A T20 Strike rate of 170 is elite. 30 sixes overall and 78.35% of his runs in boundaries.“This kid is knocking on the doors of international cricket hard & fast. Post the T20 World Cup, don’t be surprised if that door opens.”Vaibhav’s rise has been rapid. He burst onto the scene as a 13-year-old with a century on his U-19 debut against Australia, then grabbed headlines in the IPL after being picked by Rajasthan Royals. On debut, he hit his very first ball for six and later smashed the second-fastest IPL century ever, announcing himself as a rare, fearless talent built for the biggest stages.
Mumbai: The board of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the biggest stock exchange in India in terms of turnover and number of trades, on Friday gave its nod for the exchange to go for its long-awaited public offering. The NSE IPO will be an offer-for-sale. Currently, LIC, with a 10% stake in the bourse, is the largest shareholder, followed by the SBI group that holds 7.6% in the exchange. The exchange also set up a five-member panel consisting of its board members that will facilitate the IPO process. The members are Tablesh Pandey, Srinivas Injeti, Mamata Biswal, Abhilasha Kumari, G Sivakumar and Ashishkumar Chauhan.
