This marks a major step in cervical caner preventionNew Delhi: India has crossed the 80 lakh mark in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination under the national campaign since its launch in Feb 2026, marking a major step in cervical cancer prevention.The campaign provides free, voluntary, single-dose HPV vaccination to 14-year-old girls, with parental consent, at govt health facilities. Around 1.2 crore 14-year-old girls are expected to benefit from the initiative.Uttar Pradesh leads with over 22 lakh vaccinations, while Gujarat and Mizoram have achieved 100% coverage. Bihar and Assam have crossed 90%, Karnataka 85%, and Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Kerala, Telangana and Odisha 60%.

The Houthis’ biggest territorial gains in years, along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, could boost Iran’s strategy of driving up world oil and gas prices to pressure the United States.

13,186 additional seats have been approvedJoin conversation View All Comments → Share your thoughts in the comments Insightful Agree Disagree Skeptical Concerning Promising Worth Reading Big Development Post Comment Be respectful · TOI community guidelinesNEW DELHI: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 13,186 additional MBBS seats for the 2026-27 academic year, taking the total approved undergraduate medical intake to 1,40,214 seats across 836 medical colleges, excluding seats at the Institutes of National Importance (INIs).The updated seat matrix, as on September 1, incorporates permissions for new medical colleges and increases in the annual intake of existing medical colleges.The expansion comes as NEET-UG counselling for the 2026-27 MBBS batch is under way, with the counselling schedule pushing back the start of the academic session and subsequent rounds, including the stray vacancy round, expected to continue into Oct.The increase is heavily driven by the private sector, which accounts for 10,400 of the 13,186 additional seats, or nearly 79%, while govt medical colleges have added 2,786 seats. The total intake has risen from 1,27,028 renewed seats to 1,40,214, an increase of about 10.4%.Karnataka has recorded the highest increase with 1,650 additional seats; followed by Tamil Nadu with 1,250; Bihar with 1,240; Uttar Pradesh with 1,200 and Rajasthan with 1,100. Telangana has added 1,010 seats and West Bengal 975.Karnataka's total MBBS intake now stands at 15,745 seats, including 4,600 in govt colleges and 11,145 in private colleges.Tamil Nadu has 14,299 seats, Uttar Pradesh 14,400 and Maharashtra 13,249. The addition of 13,186 seats will widen the pool of MBBS seats available during the 2026-27 admission cycle, although the actual allocation of these seats will depend on the ongoing counselling process.Among other major increases, Andhra Pradesh has added 525 seats, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand 520 each, Maharashtra 550, Haryana 350, Kerala 300, Gujarat 250, Puducherry and Uttarakhand 200 each, and Jammu and Kashmir 175.The NMC matrix shows zero increase in Delhi, while Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Dadra and Nagar Haveli have also recorded no additional seats.The NMC has made it clear that admissions must be restricted to the number of seats approved in the matrix, with admissions beyond the approved intake liable to regulatory action.

Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels captured a strategic island at the southern entrance to the Red Sea

Vice Principal says she was targeted and forced to resign; ABVP calls it a win, “purifies” the VP’s room with Ganga Jal

The shutdown comes as Houthi rebels in Yemen have seized coastal territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening Saudi oil exports through a key shipping lanes.

SHRC orders NHAI to ready underpass near Edappally in two months

CATAOA seeks the immediate appointment of a dedicated project officer and the setting up of a project office. It also demands that the District Collector’s committee and the subcommittee chaired by the Fort Kochi Revenue Divisional Officer be convened at the earliest to oversee the demolition and reconstruction of the apartments.

Four arrested with 10 kg of suspected MDMA in Kochi

Bigg Boss 20: Qazi Touqeer opens up about his bond with Arijit Singh; says ‘Woh Crazypan Ka Baap Hai, Mad Scientist Hai’

A forensic team inspected the scene and collected evidence. (Representational)

The capture by the rebels of a stretch Yemen's strategic coastline is the group's most impressive military coup for several years.

Keralam's UDF will discuss the PM-SHRI scheme for schools, amid concerns of BJP influence, while weighing its benefits for 1.8 million students.

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 4 wickets. The pair added 67 runs for the fifth wicket to bring Sri Lanka within touching distance of victory.Pakistan captain Fatima Sana briefly reignited her side’s hopes by dismissing both batters in the 17th over, leaving Sri Lanka at 109/6 and still needing 22 runs from the final three overs. Under pressure, that partnership was match winning,” Sri Lanka captain Athapaththu said after the game.Fatima, who was named Player of the Match for her 4/38 and unbeaten 47, struck again to remove both set batters. So credit goes to them.”The victory takes Sri Lanka into their third consecutive Women’s Asia Cup final. India, meanwhile, will be chasing a record-extending eighth crown when the two sides meet on Sunday.Athapaththu believes Sri Lanka have enough depth to challenge India again.“We have good finishers like Harshitha, Nilakshika, Kavisha.

Sri Lanka emerged victorious in a dramatic four-wicket win against Pakistan during the Women's Asia Cup semi-final. Despite a rocky start, they rallied impressively to chase down the target. Fatima Sana, Pakistan's captain, delivered a commendable performance, yet her efforts fell short. This thrilling victory sets the stage for Sri Lanka to challenge India in the forthcoming tournament finale.