April 28, 2026 5:02 PM

Marine fossils dating to 8,000-12,000 years unearthed by scientists in Tamil Nadu’s Panaiyur

Marine fossils dating back 8,000–12,000 years have been unearthed in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, offering fresh insights into the region’s ancient coastline. The site, located in Panaiyur village under Kulathur South Panchayat, about 25 km from Thoothukudi, was first flagged by a local enthusiast in December 2025. A team from the Zoological Survey of India subsequently conducted geological and palaeontological studies between January 5 and 10. During the survey, scientists collecte...

April 27, 2026 7:34 PM

India nears elite nuclear milestone with indigenous fast breeder reactor, eyes thorium-powered future

India is set to join an exclusive global club in advanced nuclear technology, with Union Minister Jitendra Singh announcing that the country will become only the second in the world after Russia to operate a commercial-level fast breeder reactor. Addressing a workshop on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) for MPs and MLAs, the minister highlighted that India has achieved a major milestone with its indigenously designed 500 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu attainin...

April 25, 2026 12:24 PM

Election Commission of India completes scrutiny, rules out repoll in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu

The Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Saturday it had found no need for repolls in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu after completing scrutiny of polling documents from recent assembly elections. The ECI said it carried out post-poll scrutiny of Form 17A (Register of Voters) and related records on April 24 across all constituencies that went to polls in the first phase in West Bengal and across Tamil Nadu. In West Bengal, scrutiny was conducted in all 152 assembly constituencies in the prese...

April 23, 2026 8:30 PM

Assembly elections: West Bengal records historic 91.91% voter turnout, Tamil Nadu sees 84.80%; ECI thank voters

Polling for the Assembly elections concluded at 6 pm on Thursday, with West Bengal recording a significantly higher voter turnout of 91.91 per cent in Phase I polling compared to Tamil Nadu, which recorded 84.80 per cent turnout, according to the latest data by the Election Commission of India. The high turnout figures underline an active electoral exercise as polling drew to a close amid tight security arrangements across constituencies. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that the...

April 24, 2026 10:38 AM

Assembly elections: Voter turnout in West Bengal hits 89.93%, Tamil Nadu at 82.24% by 5 pm

Voter turnout surged to remarkable levels by 5 PM on Thursday, with West Bengal recording a massive 89.93% voter turnout rate, significantly ahead of Tamil Nadu, which also posted a strong 82.24%, according to the Election Commission. The late afternoon figures highlight an intense wave of voter participation across both states, as polling hours drew to a close. West Bengal once again emerged as the frontrunner, with several districts crossing the 90% mark. Dakshin Dinajpur led the state wit...

April 23, 2026 5:16 PM

Assembly elections: Tamil Nadu records 70% voter turnout, West Bengal nears 79% by 3 pm

Voter participation remained strong in both West Bengal and Tamil Nadu during the ongoing Assembly elections, with turnout reaching 78.77 per cent and 70 per cent respectively by 3 p.m., according to the Election Commission of India. Polling in West Bengal began at 7 a.m. across 152 Assembly constituencies spread over 16 districts in the first phase of the two-stage elections. Voters turned up in large numbers, forming long queues at several polling stations through the day. The districts goin...

April 23, 2026 4:26 PM

Assembly elections: Bengal voter turnout crosses 62%, TN nears 57% by 1 pm

West Bengal and Tamil Nadu recorded strong voter turnout in Assembly elections on Thursday, with participation reaching 62.18 per cent and 56.81 per cent respectively by 1 pm, according to the Election Commission of India. In West Bengal, Paschim Medinipur recorded the highest turnout at 65.77 per cent, followed by Jhargram at 65.31 per cent and Bankura at 64.58 per cent. The lowest turnout was recorded in Malda at 58.45 per cent. In Tamil Nadu, Tiruppur district recorded the highest turnout a...

April 23, 2026 11:52 AM

Assembly elections: Bengal leads with 41% voter turnout; Tamil Nadu records 37% by 11 am

Tamil Nadu and West Bengal recorded strong voter turnout in the early hours of polling on Thursday, with participation crossing 35 per cent in both states by 11 am. According to data released by the Election Commission of India, voter turnout in the first phase of polling in West Bengal stood at 41.11 per cent, while Tamil Nadu recorded 37.57 per cent. In Tamil Nadu, Tiruppur district recorded the highest turnout at 42.45 per cent, followed by Namakkal at 41.41 per cent and Erode at 41.00 per ...

April 23, 2026 10:57 AM

Stalin, Panneerselvam cast votes as Tamil Nadu polls begin; turnout crosses 17%

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin cast his vote in Chennai on Thursday along with his son and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and other family members, as polling for the Assembly elections began amid tight security. Seeking re-election, Stalin is contesting from his stronghold, Kolathur Assembly constituency, where he faces a multi-cornered contest from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)’s V.S. Babu, AIADMK’s P. Santhana Krishnan, and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK)’s Soundara Pandian...

April 23, 2026 10:13 AM

PM Modi calls voting a sacred duty, urges record turnout in Tamil Nadu and Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged voters in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal to turn out in large numbers for the Assembly elections, calling voting a "sacred democratic duty. "In separate posts on X, the Prime Minister made a special appeal to youth and women to participate enthusiastically and ensure a record turnout. "As the people of Tamil Nadu prepare to vote in the Assembly elections, I urge all voters to fulfil this sacred democratic duty with great enthusiasm. In particular, I c...