In a significant revelation, the V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) report has placed India in the bottom 40-50% of 179 countries assessed, citing a sharp decline in democratic values since 2013. The report positions India between Niger (higher ranking) and Ivory Coast (lower ranking).

Imphal: A serving Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was abducted from his home in Manipur's Thoubal district by anti-social elements on Friday, officials said.

Bengaluru: A cloth merchant from Kaul Bazaar in Ballari has been detained by the National Investigation Agency and Central Crime Branch in their joint investigation of the March 1 blast at the Rameshwaram Cafe here, sources said on Friday.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Modi on Friday presented the first ever National Creators' Awards at the Bharat Mandapam here.

Dharamsala: England bowlers led by Shoaib Bashir inflicted regular blows in the third session but India reached 473 for eight in their first innings at the end of the second day of the fifth Test here on Friday.

"Can't crack JEE. Sorry, I quit" were the last words of a 16-year-old JEE aspirant to his father before he killed himself by allegedly consuming poison in his paying guest in Kota, Rajasthan, police said on Friday.

The BJP has shortlisted three candidates for Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency for the upcoming polls, Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka said on Friday.

The time has come to enlighten and educate the police machinery about the concept of freedom of speech and expression, the Supreme Court has said and set aside an order of the Bombay High Court against an academic accused of criticising the abrogation of Article 370 that bestowed special status on Jammu and Kashmir and greeting the citizens of Pakistan on the country's Independence Day.