India’s population changes: from baby boom to fertility challenges. india news

Baby boom ends, India's population test now begins

“Whatever you can say that is true about India, the opposite is also true.” The old Joan Robinson line still works because India have a way of defeating neat summaries. Most national averages come with broad patterns, outliers, and caveats.The latest sample registration system data is one such mirror. The SRS, India’s official large-scale system for tracking births and deaths, gives annual estimates of fertility and mortality. At first glance, the headline number is simple: India’s fertility has fallen below replacement level. But a closer look reveals a more unequal country. Some parts of India are already in the low fertility zone. Some of it is still above replacement. Cities are reducing fertility on a large scale, but urban Bihar is not following this scenario. Higher-order families are having fewer children, but the social consequences of smaller families are just beginning. Fewer infants are dying, but the first weeks of life remain a danger zone. And while births are now much more frequent within the hospital system, deaths are not.For years, the policy conversation moved between two extremes, fear of too many births and celebration of a young workforce. A youth population can become a dividend only if it is properly trained and empowered. Meanwhile, populations with low fertility bring their own demands, such as pensions, care for the elderly, chronic disease treatment and migration plans. Both have their own challenges.We look at five data points from the SRS data that shed light on various such issues.

averageness hides anxiety

India’s total fertility rate, or TFR, is now 1.9. TFR means the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime, based on current fertility rates. India’s TFR in 2014 was 2.3. Rural India has come down from 2.5 to 2.1. Urban India has gone from 1.8 to 1.5. In demographic language, India is below replacement fertility. To put it plainly, the baby boom is over.But the national average is just the beginning. Bihar is still at 2.9. Uttar Pradesh is at 2.6. Madhya Pradesh is at 2.4. Rajasthan is at 2.3. Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are at 2.2. Delhi, a city-state, sits at the other end of the spectrum at 1.2. The World Bank has warned that South Asia is not creating enough jobs for its working-age population, especially youth and women. When above-replacement fertility is concentrated in a few poor states of India, the policy challenge is obvious.

fertility comparison

Bihar exception

The second data comes from urban India, where a different story emerges. The common belief is that once people move to cities, families become smaller because parents want to invest more in fewer children. Across India, this overarching story persists. Urban India’s average general fertility rate, or GFR, fell from 61.2 births per 1,000 women aged 15-49 in 2012-14 to 51.0 in 2022-24. GFR measures the number of live births in a year per 1,000 women in the reproductive age group of 15–49 years. Here, live births means children born alive, which is the basis used to calculate fertility and mortality rates.But Bihar has broken this pattern. During the same period, the average GFR of urban Bihar increased from 75.9 to 77.5. One year’s data makes the difference even more stark. In 2024, the GFR of urban Bihar was 80.3, while that of urban India was 49.8.

Bihar exception

birth ladder is getting thinner

The third innings is less surprising, yet perhaps the most important. In 2014, 43% of live births in India were first-born children. By 2024, their number will rise to 66.4%. Third and higher order births fell from 25.9% to 10.8%. The fourth or higher birth rate fell from 10.8% to 3.5%.This does not mean that every family is stopping at one or two children. This means that the births that are taking place now are similar to the first and second births. The old ladder, third child, fourth child, fifth child, is getting thin. This is a much bigger social change than it first appears. Fewer children means parents invest more in each child. Education becomes a heavy condition. The underlying assumption that children will automatically become old age security for parents also begins to weaken.

birth ladder

The first week remains a matter of concern

The fourth number is about survival. Here India has made real progress.Infant mortality rate to decline from 39 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 24 in 2024. Infant mortality rate, or IMR, means the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1,000 live births. Rural infant mortality rate fell from 43 to 27. The urban infant mortality rate fell from 26 to 17. The mortality rate for children under five fell from 45 to 28. The under-five mortality rate, or U5MR, means deaths before the age of five per 1,000 live births. These are not mere statistics. They mean that children who once would have died are now alive.But the first week is the most worrying part.

first week anxiety

In 2014, 52% of infants died in the first week. In 2024 it was 52.7%. This means that, of the infants who die before turning one year old, more than half die in the first week. Infant mortality rates have declined in India, but those deaths that do occur still occur near birth. World Health Organization It is said that the first month of life is the most sensitive period for a child’s survival. UNICEF describes the first 28 days, known as the neonatal period, as the most vulnerable time for a child’s survival. India’s data fits that global warning.

Hospitals see births, miss deaths

Number five is the most frightening. It’s about how many deaths went unnoticed. At birth, the system is now in place. In 2014, 78.5% of live births received delivery care in government or private hospitals. By 2024 this will increase to 95.4%. Delivery in government hospitals increased from 52% to 71.7%.At the time of death, the system is much less visible. In 2014, 42.6% of deaths had medical assistance sought in government or private hospitals before death. In 2024 this figure was 40.2%. The category of “untrained workers, no medical care and others” increased from 22.4% to 45.5%.Now the chance of a baby being born under hospital care is much higher than that of a person dying under hospital care. WHO’s civil-registration framework states that information on births, deaths, and causes of death is central to public-health planning. If death occurs outside of formal care, the system may forget not only the person but also the cause.As India moves into its next phase of growth as one of the world’s largest economies, many issues will require high-level attention. The SRS, like all good data, is merely a reflection. What India wants to see in this will decide what happens next.

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Pancreas Cancer: Most People Ignore Its Signs Until It’s Too Late: Why Pancreas Cancer Is So Hard to Detect

Most people ignore the signs until it's too late: Why pancreatic cancer is so hard to detect
Pancreatic cancer is often called one of the deadliest cancers in the world, not because a cure does not exist, but because the disease is usually detected too late.

Some diseases come with clear warning signs. A persistent cough, visible lump, or unexplained bleeding should prompt people to seek medical attention immediately. Pancreatic cancer behaves differently.It develops into an organ that most people rarely think about. The pancreas is located inside the stomach, behind the stomach and in front of the spine. Because of this location, growing tumors remain hidden from both patients and doctors during routine physical examinations.Dr. Jagannath Dixit, Principal Consultant – Department of Surgical Oncology and Program Director – Robotics, Manipal Hospital, Yelahanka, highlighted, “Let’s start with the number that keeps most people from getting colds. Pancreatic cancer The five-year survival rate is about 12%. For reference, breast cancer sits at about 91%. The difference isn’t primarily about treatment – ​​it’s about timing. By the time most people realize they have it, it’s too late to do much about it.”The challenge is not just to cure the disease. The challenge is to detect it before it spreads.according to US National Cancer InstitutePancreatic cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths because it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage.

Symptoms that mimic everyday problems

One reason pancreatic cancer remains hidden is that its early symptoms rarely appear worrying.Feeling tired after a long week. Mild stomach discomfort after meals. Small amount of unexplained weight loss. Change in appetite. Many people dismiss these symptoms because they can be caused by dozens of harmless conditions.Dr. Dixit explained, “Here’s the cruel part: The early symptoms of pancreatic cancer are the same things you’d ignore on a busy Tuesday. A little fatigue. Some vague stomach discomfort. You may have lost a little weight, but you’ve still been eating less lately. No one goes to their doctor for this.”The problem is that while patients are trying to explain away these symptoms, the cancer is already progressing.More noticeable warning signs such as jaundice, severe back pain, dark urine, pale stool, or significant weight loss often appear much later.As Dr. Dixit said, “The disease has usually been spreading silently for months, sometimes years, until something worrisome becomes apparent—jaundice, severe back pain, significant weight loss.”This is why pancreatic cancer has earned a reputation as one of the most difficult cancers to detect in its early stages.

pancreatic cancer

Hidden inside the body and known to cause vague symptoms that can be easily mistaken for everyday health problems, pancreatic cancer often grows quietly for months or years before being diagnosed.

Why is there no simple screening test yet?

Many cancers benefit from established screening programs. Cervical cancer can be detected through screening tests. Colon cancer can be identified through colonoscopy. Mammography is done in breast cancer.Pancreatic cancer is different.There is currently no screening test widely recommended for the general population. according to nihEarly pancreas lesions often do not produce symptoms and may not show up on standard imaging tests. Dr. Dixit explains that many pancreatic cancers begin as microscopic precancerous changes known as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). These lesions are extremely difficult to detect. “There is no routine screening for pancreatic cancer, the way there is for colon or cervical cancer. No annual scans, no standard blood tests.”This means that many patients are only diagnosed when the tumor has grown large enough to affect nearby blood vessels, nerves or organs.By then, treatment options become quite limited.

New technology offers hope, but it’s still not enough

Medicine has made significant advances in detecting pancreatic cancer.High-resolution CT scanning remains the basis of diagnosis. Endoscopic ultrasound can identify some small tumors that may not be visible on conventional imaging. Specific procedures can also help doctors examine the pancreas and surrounding structures more closely.Researchers are now exploring artificial intelligence tools that can identify subtle patterns on scans before tumors are obvious to the human eye.Dr. Dixit said, “Artificial intelligence is also entering the picture. Algorithms trained on thousands of scans can now flag subtle changes that radiologists might miss – patterns that can give early signs of cancer months before visible tumors form.”Still, experts caution that many of these innovations are in the research stage and not yet widely available in everyday clinical practice.At the moment, technology is improving the odds, but it doesn’t solve the problem.

pancreatic cancer

Experts say improving awareness, understanding risk factors and investing in better early detection tools are among the most important steps in changing outcomes for patients.

what can people do right now

One of the most frustrating realities about pancreatic cancer is that there is no guaranteed way to prevent it. However, experts say there are steps that can reduce the risk and improve the chances of early diagnosis.Smoking is one of the strongest known risk factors. Maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, carefully managing diabetes, and limiting excessive alcohol consumption can also help reduce risk.People who have a strong family history of pancreatic cancer should discuss genetic counseling and special monitoring programs with their healthcare providers.Perhaps most importantly, persistent symptoms should not be ignored just because they seem minor.This long-lasting feeling that something is “not quite right” is noticeable, especially when symptoms continue for weeks or gradually get worse.As Dr. Dixit explains, pancreatic cancer is often successful because it remains hidden. Noticing unusual changes in the body can sometimes be the first opportunity to uncover what’s going on beneath the surface.Meaningful progress is being made through research, precision medicine and multidisciplinary care. Yet until early detection becomes more reliable and accessible, pancreatic cancer will continue to challenge patients and doctors alike.Tragedy is not just illness. This is the time when it is allowed to grow without attention.Medical experts consultedThis article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health:Dr. Jagannath Dixit, Principal Consultant – Department of Surgical Oncology and Program Director – Robotics, Manipal Hospital, Yelahanka.The input was used to explain why pancreatic cancer is often detected at an advanced stage, the subtle symptoms that often go unnoticed, the challenges doctors face in identifying tumors early, and the importance of timely medical evaluation and emerging diagnostic tools to improve outcomes.

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Meet Avni Ahuja: Indian-origin MIT student wins prestigious Henry Ford II Scholar Award for engineering excellence and leadership

Meet Avni Ahuja: Indian-origin MIT student wins prestigious Henry Ford II Scholar Award for engineering excellence and leadership
Avni Ahuja (right) received the Henry Ford II Scholar Award.

of indian origin MIT Graduate Avani Ahuja has received the prestigious Henry Ford II Scholar Award. The honor is one of the institution’s top honors for undergraduate engineering students and celebrates academic excellence, leadership and future promise. During her tenure at MIT, Ahuja conducted research in power electronics, robotics, and women’s health technologies. He also received the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship in 2025. ​​This autumn she will begin her PhD in power electronics at MIT with plans to explore applications in health care and women’s health research.

Avni Ahuja receives one of MIT’s top engineering honors

The Henry Ford II Scholar Award is presented to a senior undergraduate student who demonstrates exceptional academic achievement and strong leadership potential in engineering and society.The award places Ahuja among a select group of MIT students who are recognized not only for their academic performance but also for their potential to make significant contributions to the engineering profession.Reflecting on the honor, Ahuja said, “I am honored and humbled to receive this award. It was especially an honor to meet Dean Hammond.”

Research that helped earn the award

Ahuja’s undergraduate career was marked by research in several engineering disciplines.His most recent work in the Kode Research Group focused on capacitive wireless power transfer. This technology could eventually be used to wirelessly charge electric vehicles and power implantable medical devices.He also conducted robotics research under Professor Sangbae Kim, whose laboratory is known for advanced legged and bio-inspired robots.Ahuja described research as one of the defining aspects of his MIT experience.“My most important experiences at MIT have included being involved in research, whether it was women’s health research under Professor Canon Dagdeviren in the MIT Media Lab, robotics research under Professor Sangbae Kim, or power electronics research under Professor Samantha Codey.”His ability to work in health care technologies, robotics, and electrical engineering helped establish him as one of MIT’s most accomplished undergraduate researchers.

Her work in women’s health technology

One of Ahuja’s strongest interests is women’s health research.She worked with Professor Canon Dagdeviren at the MIT Media Lab where she contributed to projects focused on medical technologies for women.According to MIT his research included work related to a wearable breast ultrasound patch designed to make breast cancer screening more accessible.The experience inspired his long-term goal of applying engineering innovations to health care challenges.“I hope that one day after completing my PhD, I will be able to apply power electronics to the field of women’s health research,” she said.

The Goldwater Scholarship added to his growing list of accomplishments

Ahuja was selected as a 2025 Barry Goldwater Scholar before receiving the Henry Ford II Scholar Award.The scholarship is considered one of the most prestigious graduate awards in science, engineering and mathematics in the United States. Only a few hundred students are selected across the country each year.This recognition highlighted both his research achievements and his potential as a future engineer and researcher.

What’s next for Avni Ahuja?

Ahuja will remain at MIT this fall as a PhD student in power electronics within the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.His future work will focus on power electronics and exploring opportunities to apply those technologies to health care and medical devices.He has also expressed interest in pursuing a long-term career in research and education.

life beyond the laboratory

Along with her engineering studies, Ahuja remained active in campus life through events like MIT Oms MIT Live and even line dancing classes.“I’ve also really enjoyed getting involved in extracurricular opportunities on campus, whether it’s participating in the MIT Oms through MIT Live or taking line dancing lessons in the Student Center,” she said.Ahuja also completed a minor in gender studies and credits professors Hafsa Arain and Mara Gubar for broadening her perspective.“As a gender studies minor I have to thank Professor Hafsa Arain and Professor Mara Gubar for offering me amazing WGS and CMS classes that have truly changed the way I think about the world around me.”

The gurus who shaped his journey

Ahuja credits several mentors and faculty members for supporting her throughout her tenure at MIT.He thanked Professor Samantha Codey, Professor Maria Yang and Professor Canon Dagdeviren, along with graduate students Colin Marcus and Sarah Fernandez and Associate Dean Kimberly Benard.“I also want to thank the entire Code Research group for being a great support system,” she said.As she prepares to begin her PhD, Ahuja’s accomplishments are already placing her on MIT’s list of rising young engineers whose research interests span power electronics robotics and women’s health care innovation.

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‘New generation of leaders’: Cockroach Janata Party appoints three spokespersons. india news

'Leader of the new generation': Cockroach Janata Party appointed three spokespersons
Vijeta Dahiya, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka

New Delhi: Cockroach Janata Party announced three spokespersons on Wednesday, a day after worker and teacher Sonam Wangchuk What started out as one of the country’s biggest internet sensations decided to join what has since evolved into a unique political structure.CJP, which started as a viral online phenomenon before gaining popularity across the country, was named Saurav DasVijeta Dahiya and Ashutosh Ranka are its official spokespersons.In the announcement, CJP also reiterated its ambition to reshape the political discourse in India.Posting from an AlternativeThe development comes days after founder Abhijit Deepke announced that he would be returning from the United States on June 6.Continuing to criticize the Center and demand the resignation of the Union Education Minister, Dipke called on supporters to join what he described as a mass movement. Dharmendra Pradhan On the NEET-UG fiasco.

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A last ditch effort to avert partition? TMC disbands all major front wings amid internal rebellion. india news

A last ditch effort to avert partition? TMC disbands all major front wings amid internal rebellion
TMC chief Mamata Banerjee with nephew Abhishek Banerjee (PTI photo/file)

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) dissolved all its committees, frontal organizations in West Bengal on Wednesday after rebel Rathindra Bose met the Governor with a letter of support from around 60 MLAs, in what is being seen as a major crisis in the party founded by Mamata Banerjee.The party said it would conduct “comprehensive introspection, performance review, organizational assessment at every level. The organizational structure of the parent body, all frontal wings will be restructured and announced at the appropriate time”.The move is being seen as a last-ditch effort to prevent a vertical split in the party, which was decimated by rival BJP in the recently held West Bengal Assembly elections after 15 years of rule.The turmoil intensified on Wednesday as around 60 of the 80 TMC MLAs reached the Assembly for the meeting. The number is significant as it crosses the two-thirds threshold required to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law, raising parallels with the split in the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena against Uddhav Thackeray in 2022.Earlier in the day, regarding West Bengal Assembly LOP nominations, TMC MLA Mustafizur Rahman told news agency ANI: “We don’t know the exact figure… I am hearing from outside that 59 signatures have been received. I am hearing that. I have also signed.”An important political message has been mentioned in the letter submitted to the Assembly Speaker. Mamata Banerjee as party president, suggesting that the rebel camp is mounting its challenge against the current leadership of the legislature party rather than the TMC chief himself.The MLAs have also rejected any role of Abhishek Banerjee in determining the affairs of the legislature party, sources associated with the dissident group told news agency PTI.However, the TMC leadership described the move as an act of betrayal. Senior party leader and MLA Kunal Ghosh argued that any grievance could have been resolved within the organization itself.He told reporters, “If he had any issues, he could have discussed them within the party. Instead, he chose to stab the party in the back.”Terming the rebels and their supporters as “traitors”, Ghosh said the party would face the crisis and remain united under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee.The origins of Wednesday’s protest can be traced to the meeting of newly elected MLAs at Mamata Banerjee’s residence on May 6. During the meeting, the MLAs are understood to have authorized the party leadership to take a decision on the appointments of the leader of the opposition, deputy leaders and the chief whip.Subsequently, the TMC informed the Assembly that Sovandeb Chattopadhyay will serve as the leader of the opposition, while Nayana Bandyopadhyay and Ashima Patra will be the deputy leaders and Firhad Hakim will take charge as the chief whip.However, the Assembly Secretariat did not act on the communication, pointing to procedural rules requiring such office-bearers to be elected at a formal meeting of the legislature party.Tension escalated further when dissident MLAs alleged that their signatures were misused in communications sent to the Assembly Secretariat. The party leadership denied the accusation and countered that the rebels were attempting to weaken the organization after the electoral setback.The standoff intensified with Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha being expelled from the party earlier this week.In the developments, Ritabrata Banerjee, expelled by the party leadership, has emerged as the most prominent face of the rebellion. The presence of veteran leader Javed Khan, considered a close loyalist of Mamata Banerjee since the early days of the party, has further strengthened the political position of the disgruntled camp.The development has also sparked a wide-ranging debate on control over the opposition’s place in the Assembly. While the support of only 30 MLAs is required to secure the post of Leader of the Opposition, the bigger battle now seems to center on the legitimacy and control of the legislature party.

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Indian-origin couple’s 23-year-long divorce battle in Britain: Ex-wife wins £6.6 million after husband hid assets worth £28 million. world News

Indian-origin couple's 23-year-long divorce battle in Britain: Ex-wife wins £6.6 million after husband hid assets worth £28 million
Varsha Gohil and Bhadresh Gohil

The 23-year-long divorce battle between an Indian-origin couple in Britain has ended with a court awarding Varsha Gohil £6.6 million after years of litigation over hidden assets worth £28 million.The controversy began in 2002 when Varsha Gohil filed for divorce from her husband Bhadresh Gohil, citing adultery and inappropriate behavior. At the time, he accepted a £270,000 financial settlement with the family’s Peugeot, The Sun reported.Varsha later became convinced that her ex-husband had not fully disclosed his assets during the divorce proceedings. Under UK law, both parties must give full accounts of their assets and income when deciding on a financial settlement.In 2007, she returned to court seeking to overturn the original agreement after gathering evidence that she believed Bhadresh had concealed part of his fortune.The case took a dramatic turn in 2011 when Bhadresh was convicted of money laundering and forgery. The former lawyer was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while the Crown Prosecution Service seized assets worth almost £28 million which investigators said were hidden around the world.The legal battle then turned into a dispute over whether those properties should be considered part of the couple’s marital estate.Varsha’s challenge eventually reached the UK Supreme Court. There, judges considered her case alongside that of Alison Sharland, who made similar allegations that her ex-husband hid assets during divorce proceedings. The verdict allowed both women to reopen their financial settlements and pursue new claims.Despite that victory, the financial dispute remained unresolved for years. The Crown Prosecution Service faced difficulties locating and recovering the assets, leading to a new High Court hearing not taking place until 2023.At that hearing, Bhadresh argued that the frozen property was not his and therefore could not be included in any divorce judgment. Varsha said the assets were accumulated during their marriage and should be considered while dividing the couple’s property.The Crown Prosecution Service argued that the money represented the proceeds of crime and should remain subject to criminal recovery proceedings rather than being distributed through the family courts.However, Mr Justice Williams ruled that prosecutors had failed to prove that the entire £28 million had arisen from criminal activity. They found that some of the assets came from legitimate businesses that existed during the marriage and therefore formed part of the couple’s estate.The judge awarded Varsha £6.6 million and sharply criticized her ex-husband, describing him as “grossly dishonest”.In his judgment, Mr Justice Williams said Bhadresh’s portrayal of himself as a hard-working family man who had been treated unfairly was “so far from the truth that it is difficult to understand how he could have put this forward”.The decision ends one of Britain’s longest-running divorce disputes, ending a legal battle that lasted more than two decades.

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Punjab sets record of ₹84 crore in orthopedic treatment in just four months under Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana. india news

Punjab Orthopedic Treatment: Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana hits record Rs 84 crore in four months
Punjab Orthopedic Treatment: Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana hits record Rs 84 crore in four months

Punjab government’s flagship Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana has spent over Rs 84 crore on orthopedic treatment in 4 months, showing a sharp increase in demand for bone and joint care services across the state.A new and expanded version of ‘Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana’ (MMSY) in Punjab was launched across the state on 22 January 2026.Data released by the State Health Agency (SHA) has revealed that knee replacement surgeries account for the highest share among the orthopedic procedures performed under the scheme.Hip replacement surgeries followed closely, while a large number of patients also underwent fracture fixation procedures involving plates, nails and other implants.The government said in an ex-post that these interventions are being rapidly carried out in district and tertiary care hospitals under the cashless treatment coverage of the scheme.45 lakh registrations under the schemePunjab has now recorded over 45 lakh registrations under the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, indicating widespread use of cashless health services.The increasing caseload of orthopedic conditions reflects a broader public health shift, with degenerative joint disease and mobility-related disorders becoming more common, especially among the aging population.Health Minister stressed the need for affordable treatment Commenting on the increasing demand for orthopedic care, Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh said that the burden of bone and joint disorders is increasing rapidly, underscoring the need for accessible and affordable surgical treatment across the state.“The burden of orthopedic disorders is increasing rapidly, and thus, there is an inevitable need to promote accessible and affordable operative care across the state of Punjab.”

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India reaches per-country limit in EB-2 category for FY2026; USCIS says: Annual limits will reset beginning with…

India reaches per-country limit in EB-2 category for FY2026; USCIS says: Annual limits will reset beginning with...

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced that the per-country limit for India in the EB-2 category has expired for fiscal year (FY) 2026. In its announcement, DHS directed all embassies and consulates not to issue EB-2 visas to Indian applicants for the remainder of the current fiscal year. As directed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the annual limits will reset with the start of the new fiscal year (FY 2027) on October 1, 2026. “At that time, embassies and consulates may resume issuing immigrant visas in this category to eligible applicants,” the order said.

What is the EB-2 category visa?

The EB-2 visa is an employment-based immigrant visa category that allows foreign citizens to obtain green card (Permanent Residency) on the basis of their education, skills or professional achievements.As explained by USCIS, second preference petitions are generally submitted using a signed U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)-approved Form ETA-9089, Application for Permanent Employment Certification, or, for labor certification applications filed on or after June 1, 2023, using the DOL’s Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FAG) system, an approved and signed Form ETA-9089, Final Determination – Permanent Employment Certification Approval (Final Determination). Are with.

What did DHS say in its announcement?

Working in close collaboration with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the State Department has released all available immigrant visas in the employment-based second preference (EB-2) category for applicants applying to India for fiscal year (FY) 2026. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) limits the number of employment-based preference immigrant visas that can be issued within a fiscal year. Specifically, INA 203(b)(2) provides that the annual limit for EB-2 visas is 28.6 percent of the worldwide employment limit. Additionally, INA 202(a)(2) establishes that natives of any one foreign state may not receive more than seven percent of the total employment-based and family-sponsored visas, which is prorated among the different visa categories under INA 202(e).Since all available EB-2 visas for applicants applying to India in FY 2026 have been used, embassies and consulates cannot issue visas in these cases for the remainder of the fiscal year. The annual limits will be reset with the start of the new fiscal year (FY 2027) on October 1, 2026. At that time, embassies and consulates can resume issuing immigrant visas in this category to eligible applicants.

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NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has discovered methane hidden deep inside the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS along with unusual carbon dioxide abundance.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has discovered methane hidden deep inside the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS along with unusual carbon dioxide abundance.

The view back from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope makes the familiar categories of comet science a little strange. 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar object that briefly passes through the Solar System, has been observed before, but this time’s readings seem less like a routine update and more like a chemical surprise that refuses to sit well with local comets. The data come from a narrow post-perihelion window, when the object was already retreating from the Sun and slowly cooling again. What the telescope caught was not just the usual mixture of water vapor and dust, but signs of gases behaving that didn’t quite match the established patterns seen in domestic icy bodies. The data gives the impression that this Traveler was manufactured somewhere else, under completely different circumstances.

NASA James Webb Space Telescope Observations reveal hidden methane inside an interstellar comet

The comet was observed twice in mid-to-late December, during the phase when it had already passed the Sun and was heading back to the cooler location. At the time, it was still releasing material, although not as uniformly. The readings show that a body is closing gradually rather than all at once.The distances from the Sun were still large in everyday terms, but far enough for solar heating to continue to perturb its surface layers. The instruments tracked that change in real time, observing how different gases reacted as the object moved away. One of the most significant elements in the data is the presence of methane. It was picked up directly in the mid-infrared spectrum, something that had not been clearly recorded for an interstellar comet before. Methane is a type of compound that does not survive well in exposed conditions. It turns from ice to gas at relatively low temperatures, which generally means it should be one of the first substances to disappear from a hot surface.Its presence here and its timing suggest that it may be hidden beneath the outer layer. Only when the heat reached the deeper layers did it start leaking. This type of delayed release hints at a layered structure rather than a uniform icy block.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope discovers methane hidden deep inside interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS

PC: NASA

NASA web data shows carbon dioxide dominance and anomalous gas decline in 3I/ATLAS

Along with methane, carbon dioxide was unusually effective. The comet appears to be releasing it at a level that is typically seen in many Solar System comets, especially when compared to water production.That imbalance matters because it points to a different initial structure. Carbon dioxide behaves differently from water ice when heated, and a body that produces more of it relative to water may have formed under cooler or chemically different conditions than those that have shaped objects in our own outer Solar System. As 3I/ATLAS moved away from the Sun, activity decreased in a fairly clear pattern. Water production declined most rapidly, which is not unexpected, as it requires continued heat to sublimate as the surface cools.Methane and carbon dioxide declined gradually. The overall effect is not of a sudden stop but of a gradual retreat, with different materials ceasing activity at different thresholds. The comet does not behave like a single homogeneous object losing energy uniformly; It reacts in layers, almost as if its interior stores heat separately from its surface.

What NASA James Webb MIRI has revealed Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS chemistry

The instrument behind these measurements, MIRI on the James Webb Space Telescope, works by breaking infrared light into finely spaced components. Each slice of sky produces not only an image but a complete chemical breakdown, point by point, around the comet’s nucleus.This type of mapping allows faint gases to be tracked as they move away from the surface, forming a loose envelope around the object. It’s less about a snapshot and more about a dynamic chemical field, which changes as sunlight weakens and distance increases. What the combined readings create is not a dramatic discrepancy, but a persistent mismatch. The proportions are off in small but noticeable ways. Methane appears later than expected. Carbon dioxide predominates more than usual. Water runs out faster than the rest.

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Hype the entire Women’s T20 World Cup, not just IND vs PAK: Smriti Mandhana

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana wants her focus to remain focused on the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup and not focus too much on her high-profile opening match against arch-rivals Pakistan. India are scheduled to begin their tournament campaign against Pakistan in Birmingham on June 14, an event that always generates massive public interest.

IND-W vs ENG-W, 3rd T20I: highlight | Achievement:

“We played the India-Pakistan match in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and all our tickets were sold out,” Mandhana told reporters. “Not just India-Pakistan, I think we really need Promote T20 World Cup. We don’t need to hype up just one match. It is already publicized. I am sure a lot of people will come and support us. Hopefully, we can put on a show for them.”

The 29-year-old opening batsman was speaking after India suffered a six-wicket defeat against England in the third T20I, giving the hosts a 2-1 series win. Mandhana blamed India’s inability to apply consistent pressure through dot balls during England’s chase of 181 for the defeat, something she hopes the team will rectify ahead of the ICC event.

“We certainly had a very good start with the ball and restricted England to 35 for 3,” Mandhana said. “Eventually, we might have been able to create pressure with some dot balls, but we weren’t able to do that. I can’t really take anything away from their partnership; I think they played really good cricket shots.”

England recovered from the initial shock thanks to a massive 137-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Alice Capsey, who scored 82, and captain Heather Knight, who remained unbeaten on 70.

Despite losing the series, Mandhana found reason to remain optimistic, pointing to the superb form of captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who propelled the Indian innings with a blistering 56 off 40 balls to take the team to 180 for five.

Mandhana said, “She batted surprisingly well. Harman, when she is at her best, she is a pleasure to watch.” “I think everyone is in good shape. It’s a good sign for the World Cup that Jamie, Herman, everyone looks great from the outside. Hopefully, I can see from the non-striker end.”

– ends

published by:

Amar Panikkar

Published on:

June 3, 2026 12:47 IST

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