Table of contents for 27 April 2026 in India Today

Assam, Kerala and Puducherry have already voted. But the two keystone states where elections are pending—West Bengal and Tamil Nadu—are seeing heightened anticipation, as they are more than just routine democratic exercises. In neither of these two states are the poll campaigns confined to local issues. Themes of urgent national and federal importance, such as the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies and the devolution of central finances, echo through the heated slogans. Interest outside the two states is much wider than usual as well. This is partly due to the personalities in the fray. Both incumbent chief ministers—Mamata Banerjee and M.K. Stalin—are heavyweight leaders who have in the past withstood the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) juggernaut. Each is facing a momentous referendum on their governance record, and thus their future.…

That Jammu and Kash mir was “Para dise on Earth” was decreed centuries ago. But now it’s come to light that much of what made it heaven has ebbed away: 70 per cent of J&K’s natural lakes have either dried up or shrunk in size since 1967, says a damning audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. The report, ‘Conservation and Management of Lakes in J&K for the period ended March 2022’, was tabled in the assembly in March. Of J&K’s 697 natural lakes—with a combined area of 28,990 hectares—315 have disappeared and 203 have shrunk. Among the latter, 63 lakes have lost over half their area, putting them also at high risk of extinction. The causes are both human and environmental—changes in land use within lake…

In its essence, the 2026 assembly election in Tamil Nadu is a battle to build legacies. On the one side is the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its 73-year-old chief minister M.K. Stalin, who is attempting a remarkable feat for his party, a second consecutive term in power. On the other is their traditional rival, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIAD-MK) and its general secretary, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS). For EPS, this is not just a battle to establish himself as a leader in his own right; it is also one to resurrect a party that has been braving many a storm since the death of its iconic leader, the late J. Jayalalithaa, in 2016. The contest itself is unfolding in a political landscape that is more…

COLLEGE & RANK PREDICTOR >>> JEE Main College Predictor >>> NEET College Predictor >>> JEE Main Rank Predicto Website: https://bestcolleges.indiatoday.in/ INSTITUTE RANKINGS 2,700-plus colleges in 14 major streams, and 280 universities in over 4 streams 🡮 Arts 🡮 Science 🡮 Commerce 🡮 Medical 🡮 Dental Sciences 🡮 Engineering 🡮 Architecture 🡮 Law 🡮 Mass Comm. 🡮 Hotel Mgmt 🡮 BBA 🡮 BCA 🡮 Social Work 🡮 Fashion COLLEGE VS COLLEGE  Find a suitable college on the basis of… 🡮 8-year results (2018-2025) 🡮 National rankings 🡮 By state 🡮 By city 🡮 Government vs private 🡮 Best emerging colleges BONUS 1. THE JOBS IN DEMAND… Positions available, salary information 2. MOST IMPROVED COLLEGES BONUS KEY PARAMETERS  College performance rated according to… 🡮 Academic Excellence 🡮 Intake Quality & Governance 🡮 Infrastructure…

Household Gods: Hindu Devotional Prints, 1860–1930, on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, through June 27, 2027, explores a pivotal transformation in the visual culture of Hindu devotion. At the centre of Hindu worship lies darshan, the reciprocal act of seeing and being seen by the divine. While this encounter traditionally takes place in temples, it is equally rooted in the domestic shrine, where the sacred becomes part of everyday life. Before the 19th century, household worship relied on small clay or metal icons. The introduction of photography and, more significantly, chromolithography altered this landscape profoundly. For the first time, inexpensive and vividly coloured images of Hindu deities could be mass-produced and widely distributed. Drawing on around 120 works from the museum’s collection, the exhibition presents the…

When India lifted the Thomas Cup in 2022, Ayush Shetty was still testing the waters as a junior, with just one international tournament win under his belt. Four years on, he is India’s next big singles hope as the team gears up for the championship on April 24. At the Badminton Asia Championships last week, the 20-year-old devoured the seeds at will, punchy yet patient, a sign of things to come. The World No. 25 also registered the most impressive scalp of his career—World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the semi-final—until falling short in the final against reigning world champion, Shi Yu Qi. “I’ve been working a lot on my variations from the back court, mixing in half smashes along with full smashes. Last year gave me the confidence that I can beat…

The Indian home is undergoing a silent, digital revolution. The modern household is becoming an AI-native ecosystem. To understand how artificial intelligence is moving from our smartphone screens into our electrical panels, we sat down with Preeti Bajaj, Executive Vice President (EVP) of the Home Solutions Division at Schneider Electric. As a seasoned global executive, formerly the CEO of Luminous Power Technologies, Bajaj is now leading Schneider’s global mission to make homes smarter and more sustainable. In our wide-ranging conversation, we explored her vision for the intersection of safety, sustainability and the futuristic concept of energy in your hand. From Chatbots to Circuit Breakers The conversation began with a fundamental shift: if we use AI to write emails and plan our days, why shouldn’t our homes do the same for…

In the high-stakes world of hillstation real estate, turns out that the ultimate power move isn’t building a glass-walled villa; it’s buying the land and daring to leave it alone. With the launch of Nico Eco, founder Simran Lal Rai is trading mood boards for shola saplings, proving that the brand’s obsession with nature isn’t just a print on decor pieces; it’s a literal ground-up revolution. This is an ecological initiative rooted in the belief that true luxury is a culture of care. The initiative’s debut chapter, Leopard’s Rock, can be called the art of doing nothing. Confused? Let us take you five years back. Lal acquired a slice of the Nilgiris near Coonoor and, in an act of radical restraint, decided not to build a boutique villa. Instead, the…

In India, maximalism has never really been about excess. It has always been about inheritance, about what we carry forward. A layering of craft, memory and meaning. What we are seeing today is a more nuanced evolution of this language, Artisan Maximalism, where richness is intentional and every layer carries a sense of belonging. At its core lies the Indian summer palette that is warm, sun-soaked and deeply tactile, balancing vibrancy with stillness. This philosophy came to life in a 7,700 sq ft residence in Mumbai, set within a high-rise overlooking the Arabian Sea. The home explores a quiet paradox: how maximalism can feel light and how abundance can coexist with calm. Natural light plays a defining role, streaming in through double-height glazing and transforming the space through the day.…

Thomas Parambil’s transition from aspiring seafarer to acclaimed architect proves that the best careers are often unscripted. Since founding his studio in 2019, he has traded wanderlust for a deep-rooted obsession with space and light. It is a practice built on evolution, where every project serves as a fresh inquiry into how we live. No wonder today his studio is thriving. High Seas to Drafting Boards Parambil didn’t set out to build homes. “I’m an accidental architect,” he admits. Originally aiming for a life at sea to satisfy his wanderlust, a mother’s veto and a friend’s tip led him to architecture school in Mysore. While the social side of college kept him enrolled, a transformative internship with Sandeep Khosla and Amaresh Anand sparked a genuine love for the craft. What…

Photographs courtesy BRAND STORES t his & that Fashion Retail therapy is evolving. It’s no longer about dodging hangers in cramped quarters; it’s about stepping into a brand’s literal psyche. Across India, designers are ditching the boutique label in favour of living museums and celestial galleries. From Mumbai’s storied corners to Delhi’s sundrenched sanctuaries, these flagships prioritise atmosphere over transaction. Here is a look at the environments turning high fashion into high architecture. A Cut Above Picture Rahul Mishra’s 7,500 sq ft flagship at Mumbai’s Horniman Circle as a walk through an exquisite sketchbook. Designed with architect Rooshad Shroff, the journey starts in a silent, garment-free vestibule housing muslin swatches and botanical drawings. Surfaces are treated with the same rigour as Mishra’s embroidery, featuring wood marquetry and etched marble. It builds…

Like the first rains that breathe life into parched earth, Saundh is a testament to the power of architectural revival. This 50-year-old residence has been transformed from a cramped, aging structure into a vibrant, modern Indian home that blooms with memory and possibility. By blending the client’s deep-rooted heritage with contemporary spatial innovation, the design creates a sanctuary where ancestral echoes meet the functional rhythms of today. From Dark to Divine The most significant triumph of the project lay in navigating the constraints of the original load-bearing structure. What was once a dark, fragmented zone of three tiny rooms was transformed as a seamless, airy haven. To achieve this without compromising the building’s integrity, the design team integrated ISMB steel beams for support, carving out an expansive, column-free layout. This…

What if you swapped paints with threads and let rattan become your canvas? That’s exactly what Saumya Kashyap did with her Bangalorebased label, Vystrit. That’s not all; it’s also proving that ‘painting with threads’ exists at the intersection of art, architecture and furniture. Each piece is slow-made and tactile, with stories embedded to age gracefully. Wait, there’s more. Kashyap trains local women artisans in the Veyari way, ensuring they get fair wages while keeping an endangered craft alive. Talk about the perfect glow-up for your living room and the community. PRICE ₹2,900 onwards  AT www.vystrit.com…

JAMES LAWSON Teacher of Satyagraha By Rajmohan Gandhi SPEAKING TIGER ₹699; 296 pages In 1936, Mahatma Gandhi and his longtime secretary Mahavir Desai were living in an ashram in Bardoli, Gujarat, when they were visited by an African-American delegation led by theologian-philosopher Howard Thurman. A wide ranging three-hour conversation ensued, and Gandhi came away impressed by the power of the African-American struggle for their rights, especially their application of non-violent methods of protest, similar to the satyagrahas spearheaded by Gandhi in India. Over a decade later, in the 1950s, Desai’s account of the meeting in the book, Nonviolence in Peace and War (1942), was read by a young African-American activist called James Lawson (1928-2024) while he was living in Nagpur as a Methodist missionary. Lawson went on to become one…

MAY 16 | Brigade Mayfield Eva Garden, Pune LUCKY ALI LIVE: RELIVE THE MAGIC Lucky Ali returns with a concert rooted in nostalgia and simplicity. Known for defining hits of the 1990s and 2000s, his performance promises an evening of soulful melodies and known favourites that continue to resonate with audiences across generations. MAY 16 | NMACC, Mumbai The Folk Orchestra of Rajasthan by Mame Khan A sweeping musical encounter brings Mame Khan together with soprano Natalie Di Luccio. Rooted in Manganiyar tradition, over 30 musicians present richly textured folk arrangements alongside operatic vocals, creating a compelling dialogue where Rajasthani heritage meets western classical elegance on a grand stage. APR. 27 | NCPA, Mumbai RESONANCE: SOI WINDS & PERCUSSION The Symphony Orchestra of India’s winds and percussion sections present a…

I your cooking space currently feels more like a chaotic canteen than a culinary cathedral, it’s time for a professional intervention. German heavyweight Nolte Küchen has officially moved into the 20,000 sq ft Essentia Home concept store in Delhi. Here’s what you can expect from it. Anti-Fingerprint Revolution We’ve all been there; the sun hits the cabinets and reveals a forensic map of every snack raid since last summer. Nolte’s Pearl and Perfect Plus ranges are putting an end to the madness with high-tech anti-finger-print surfaces in sophisticated taupes and basalts. These kitchens stay runway-ready even if you’re actually, you know, cooking in them. It’s the ultimate look but don’t smudge experience for the modern urbanite. Moody Greens and Marble Dreams The brand’s Ravenna Lac that is here to stir…

Seating the Future Can a single chair bridge the gap between a visionary sketch and industrial mastery? To celebrate a decade of craftsmanship, Ahmedabad-based Tectona Grandis Furniture (TGF) launches The Chair Affair, a pioneering platform uniting Indian designers with expert workshops. Founded by Dhruvkant and Jalpa Amin, TGF’s inaugural edition features five emerging studios, including VMeet Design Studio and Terra Firma, transforming conceptual ideas into sculptural, production-ready seating. From reclaimed teak to wheelbarrow-inspired mechanics, the collection champions technical precision and equitable royalty-based collaborations. It’s a bold evolution for TGF, turning a furniture house into a vital incubator for India’s growing design ecosystem. PRICE ₹35,000 onwards  AT www.tectonagrandis.in Geometry in Bloom From the shadow of the Alhambra to the heart of the Indian home, Good Earth’s latest collection, Al-Andalus, is a…

I you thought your summer plans were limited to dodging heat waves and nursing iced lattes, think again. The poolside is no longer just a place to get wet; it’s officially become a runway. SHIVAN & NARRESH, India’s reigning duo of holiday chic, have decided that dressing the person isn’t enough; they’ve gone ahead and dressed the entire home. When the sun had barely announced its presence, the brand quickly swapped the garment rack for the pool deck, transforming a 100-foot outdoor lap pool in Shangri-La Eros, New Delhi into a living, breathing resort fantasy. Called the Palmera Pool Pop-Up, here the sunbeds are chicer than your favourite outfit and even the lifeguard chair has a high-fashion glow-up. At the heart of this immersive universe is the Palmera print from…

Forget the cookie-cutter minimalism of modern high-rises; this Mumbai residence is a soulful revival of the Marathi wada, reimagined for the 21st-century urbanite. The traditional wada has always been more than an architectural form; it is a cultural tapestry woven from Deccan sensibilities and layered spaces of engagement. Once an emblem of opulence for the family unit, this historic typology finds a new voice in here. By drawing on ancestral memory and the city’s effortless blend of eras, the design transforms a modern apartment into a sanctuary that honours movement, craftsmanship and the soulful essence of Maharashtra. A Ceremonial Threshold The design narrative begins at the mahadwar, a grand entrance designed to declare prosperity through intricate craftsmanship. A traditional door serves as the anchor, flanked by hand-carved Ashtavinayak panels and…

CHANGE IS A WORD THAT HAS BEEN EXILED from Gujarat’s political vocabulary for the better part of three decades, and nothing on the horizon suggests its return. Yet within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) itself, something is shifting. Six months in, new state president Jagdish Vishwakarma has quietly pressed a reset. Key posts stand reshuffled, candidate selection has been opened up. Both are tied to a larger process: a sprawling organisation working to reconnect back to its booth-level roots. Thirty years of unbroken rule had become the BJP’s silent problem. With no sharp opposition keeping it on its toes, its cadre was losing the one thing a political machine can’t afford to lose—urgency. Fighting and winning elections is a separate discipline. Booth-level SOPs kick in with clockwork precision; it’s…

Two opponents, travelling down the same stretch of road, but on somewhat opposite trajectories. That was Mamata Banerjee, leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and incumbent chief minister of West Bengal, and Suvendu Adhikari, her erstwhile protégé and now the face of the BJP in Bengal, on their way to Bhabanipur—Suvendu on April 2 and Mamata six days later. This is the electoral arena where they are set to fight a duel on April 29. The disciple has proved a point before, defeating his mentor on his home turf Nandigram in 2021, and he is determined to reprise the act, this time in Mamata’s own backyard. She, in turn, is projecting herself not just as the defender of Bengali identity, but also as a victim and a lone crusader, pitted…

Exploring themes of migration, identity, belonging and displacement, a new solo exhibition in the capital provides a poignant perspective on development and its human cost. Artist Akanksha Patil engages with Shivangaon, a village in Maharashtra impacted by the expansion of Nagpur airport. She spent two and a half years documenting every fragment of Shivangaon, deeply affected by the realities of urban expansion and forced migration, capturing its shift from a village to a demolition site. “Incorporating corrugated sheets, cardboard, ceramic, wood, cloth, bricks, cement, found materials, everyday objects and video projection, I present the community’s voices and loss,” she says. Patil’s practice is deeply rooted in the idea of ‘saudade’—a Portuguese term expressing the melancholic longing for a home left behind. The works investigate displacement, urban expansion and the erosion…

A month since India sealed its spot for the 2026 Women’s Hockey World Cup, captain Salima Tete and vice-captain Navneet Kaur are both elated and relieved. After all, they met one of the targets of Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne, coach of the famous Tokyo 2020 team, who was brought back in January to mould the team for an important year that also has the Asian Games scheduled in September. For the women, having a familiar face back in the dressing room was great. “He had worked with the team for five years, so he was acquainted with our culture, and he was happy to be back as well,” says Kaur. One would assume Marijne would be a tad miffed with the missed opportunities in the world cup qualifiers final against England,…

Q. In The Art of Being Fabulous, you redefine fabulousness as discipline rather than surface glamour. When did you realise that? After I married at 20, I entered a Delhi social world where appearances signalled status. I had to create a persona to survive. But internally, I remained the same. That was when I understood identity begins within. In art, you master technique before breaking the rules. I perfected the external performance. Now I am breaking it.  Q. The book speaks about boundaries and using privilege intentionally. Was that difficult in a culture that equates excess with success? Privilege is about responsibility. I try to encourage people to collect art and give meaningfully. When I speak to women across the country, they say I inspire them. In truth, I receive…

“I was drawn to the exuberant world of Indian hospitality and the natural generosity of the culture; I wanted to see what happens when you render the organic curve of a vegetable in polished steel,” says José Lévy. For an average person, it only takes one look at a tomato or garlic pod for visions of pasta or curry to flood the mind. But French artist-designer José Lévy and Deepika Jindal of Arttd’inox, aren’t most people; they see things differently. Their latest collaboration, Playful Playfood that takes the humble contents of a kitchen and gives them a high-gloss, surrealist appeal, is a case in point. Turns out, when you stop chopping and start polishing them into sculptural art, the results are spectacular. Steel with a Soul Walking into the exhibition,…