ASI team in Vadnagar to assess 2,000-yr-old wall- The Times of India
A high-level team consisting of Dr Y S Rawat, director general of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the ADG of conservation from ASI, and Prof Arun Menon from IIT Madras, among others, visited the Vadnagar Experiential Archaeological Museum on Wednesday to assess the future of the 2,000-year-old fortification wall at the site. The team also discussed the future of the premises to address concerns raised by earlier assessment reports. The primary concern was the waterproofing of the fortification wall at the museum site. The wall was restored by an ASI team with lime and mortar using traditional methods and it was suggested that it be sheltered with a cantilever. Archaeology experts have already raised concerns about conservation status of the site. Click here to read...
Tamil Nadu plans major excavations in Korkai, the ancient Pandyan port- DT Next
The Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department is planning extensive excavations at Korkai, the ancient port city of the Pandyan Empire. Korkai, a small village in the Srivaikuntam Taluk of Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, was historically known as Pandya-Kavada in Kapatapuram. It is located approximately 3 km north of the Thamirabarani River and about 6 km from the Bay of Bengal. This initiative follows Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's announcement on January 22 regarding the early introduction of iron in Tamil Nadu. Click here to read...
PM Modi pays tribute to fallen Indian soldiers at Mazargues Cemetery in France's Marseille- The Economic Times
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on visited the Mazargues War Cemetery, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Marseille, to pay homage to Indian soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and II. A solemn ceremony held at the site, Modi laid a wreath composed of tricolour-themed flowers. Click here to read...
Tamil Nadu is waging a new North-South clash of civilisations— Sivagalai to Keezhadi- The Print
A vast metal canopy rises over the Sivagalai archaeological site in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district, shielding a grid of trenches that cut deep into the past. Excavations that started five years ago have uncovered the remnants of a civilisation that existed around 3,200 years ago, challenging the idea that India’s civilisational story started in the north. Here lies Tamil pride and a renewed push to prove the early origins of Tamil history. A few weeks ago, Chief Minister MK Stalin released a report with a startling revelation: Tamil Nadu had entered the Iron Age while North India was still in the Copper Era. The findings suggest that iron was in use as early as 5,300 years ago—even older than the civilisation confirmed at Sivagalai. Click here to read...
Opinion | Samvad and the Asian Century of Dharma and Dhamma- News18
The fourth edition of Samvad – the Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative for Conflict Avoidance and Environmental Consciousness will be held in Thailand from 14 to 17 February. This flagship outreach programme, initiated in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the late Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, is led and organised by the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) in India, with the Japan Foundation as a key partner. The late Prime Minister Abe and Prime Minister Modi shared a special bond and a shared vision for a resurgent Asia. Click here to read...
"SAMVAD highlights Asian century social values, not only economic values": PM Modi- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stated that the SAMVAD (Global Hindu Buddhist Initiative) programme in Thailand highlights the concept of the Asian century extending beyond economic values to encompass social values. In a video message during the programme, the Prime Minister underlined that the teachings of Bhagwan Buddha can offer guidance in creating a peaceful and progressive era, promoting a human-centric future. Click here to read...
Kiren Rijiju Champions Hindu-Buddhist Wisdom at Samvad IV: A Vision for Global Peace and Sustainability- Sudarshan News
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju recently participated in Samvad IV: Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative for Conflict Avoidance & Environmental Consciousness at the UN Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand. This event was initiated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, to promote peace and sustainability through ancient wisdom. Click here to read...
Remains Of 2,500-3,000-Year-Old Civilisation Found in Jharkhand's Chouparan- NDTV
Archaeological evidence of a 2,500-3,000-year-old civilisation has been discovered in Chouparan block of the Hazaribagh district in Jharkhand. Dr Abhishek Singh Amar, Head of Asian Studies, Department of History at Hamilton College, New York, had recently visited the site and described it as a major centre of archaeological importance. He believes extensive excavations could reveal more insights into ancient civilisations. Earlier, teams from the Ranchi and Patna zones of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had explored Daihar, Sohra, Mangarh, and Hathindar villages in the region. They collected samples of Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) -- a type of black-glazed pottery associated with civilisations dating back to 300 to 100 BC. A proposal has been sent to the ASI's central office for further excavations and research. Click here to read...
ASI resumes underwater explorations in Dwarka after 20 years; women archaeologists to join team for first time- The New Indian Express
After two decades, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has resumed underwater explorations off the coast of Dwarka in Gujarat. The Additional Director General-Archaeology (ADG-A) of the Survey Professor Alok Tripathi is leading a team of five archaeologists who are working on the project. For the first time, the exploration team comprises women archaeologists. The fresh attempt to study underwater archaeology in the state assumes significance as last year in February Prime Minister Narendra Modi went scuba diving off the Panchkui beach coast to perform prayers at the ancient city of Dwarka belonging to Lord Krishna, which is now submerged. Click here to read...
12 forts associated with life and times of Shivaji Maharaj to be World Heritage Sites- Deccan Herald
Twelve forts associated with the life and times of legendary Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will figure in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites soon. The Centre and Maharashtra government are making concerted efforts in this regard. India nominated “Maratha Military Landscapes of India” for recognition as UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2024-25. Click here to read...
Nalanda – How It Changed the World- Financial Express
Nalanda: How It Changed the World by poet-diplomat Abhay K. (Penguin, 2025) is a meticulously researched account of one of the world’s oldest centres of learning. More than just a historical chronicle, the book examines Nalanda’s enduring legacy and its relevance to contemporary higher education in India. Click here to read...
Kolkata: West Bengal celebrates International Mother Language Day- The Week
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attended the West Bengal government’s ‘Amar Ekushe' (immortal 21st) cultural programme at Deshapriya Park in Kolkata during the day and paid tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Bengali language. 'Ekushe February' (21 February) is observed as the International Mother Language Day to honour the sacrifices of Bangladeshi students, who were killed on the same day in 1952 by the police of then East Pakistan government for protesting the imposition of Urdu and demanding that Bengali be declared as a one of the national languages. Click here to read...
The relics of Ratnagiri- The Hindu
The discovery of a 1.4-metre-tall Buddha head, along with tablets and stupas, some over 1,500 years old, in Odisha’s Ratnagiri has brought the remote village into the limelight and attracted scholars from as far away as Egypt. The excavation has unearthed important historical details, such as Ratnagiri once being a major centre of Tantric Buddhism, while posing unforeseen problems for the experts, reports Satyasundar Barik. Click here to read...
Assam sets world record with grand Jhumur dance spectacle of 8888 dancers; PM Modi hails Tea tribe legacy- Organiser
In a historic celebration of cultural pride, Assam’s tea garden community dazzled the world as 8,888 dancers performed the traditional Jhumur folk dance at Guwahati’s Sarusajai Stadium on Monday, aiming to secure a Guinness World Record. Prime Minister Narendra Modi graced the monumental event, *Jhumoir Binandini*, praising Assam’s tea heritage and its people’s resilience while reaffirming his government’s commitment to preserving the state’s cultural identity. Click here to read...
Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 highlights: Grand fair sees footfall of more than 66 crore- Hindustan Times
The month-long celebration of Maha Kumbh, one the world’s largest religious gatherings, comes to a grand conclusion on Wednesday on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. Scores of devotees from across the world are making their way to Prayagraj to participate in the last snan (holy dip) of this Maha Kumbh. Many have already begun to take the holy dip on the last day of the event. Maha Kumbh this year began on January 13 and saw its first biggest snan the day after, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. So far, over 64 crore people have participated in the Maha Kumbh, according to a PTI report. On Tuesday itself, on the eve of Maha Shivratri, over 1.4 crore people took a holy dip in Triveni Sangam, the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati rivers. Click here to read...
Did Iron Age 'begin' in India? Tamil Nadu dig sparks debate- BBC
For over 20 years, archaeologists in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu have been unearthing clues to the region's ancient past. Their digs have uncovered early scripts that rewrite literacy timelines, mapped maritime trade routes connecting India to the world and revealed advanced urban settlements - reinforcing the state's role as a cradle of early civilisation and global commerce. Now they've also uncovered something even older - evidence of what could be the earliest making and use of iron. Present-day Turkey is one of the earliest known regions where iron was mined, extracted and forged on a significant scale around the 13th Century BC. Click here to read...
Maha Kumbh to help India achieve 6.5% GDP for FY25, says Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran- The Economic Times
The recently concluded Maha Kumbh will help India achieve the target of 6.5 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in financial year 2024-25, Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran said on Friday. "Hard to put a number to it but Kumbh mela will offer a significant boost to consumption expenditure in the March quarter," said the CEA. India’s economic growth accelerated to 6.2% in the third quarter of FY25, up from upwardly revised 5.6% in the previous quarter, driven by improved rural consumption due to a favourable monsoon and increased government expenditure, government data showed on February 28. Click here to read...
