Kumbh Mela Hindu festival begins in India

India fears that a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan would benefit Pakistan. The government is trying to protect its strategic interests.

The yearly practice of "stubble burning" in Northern India has far-reaching effects. Delhi, some 250 kilometers away, once again faces dangerous levels of smog as farmers burn off their fields to prepare for the next crop. It's a major cause of air pollution in the country.

Indian officials have recommended that offices should let half of the employees work from home in Delhi while the city struggles with smog. Construction activities across the city have also been halted.

Shrouded in toxic smog, New Delhi has shut down schools and workplaces. Though nations pledged to move away from coal at the UN climate summit, India is reluctant to replace the polluting fuel source.

Following the opening ceremony for what was India's biggest-ever IPO, shares in mobile payment giant Paytm lost a quarter of their value.

Farmers in northern India have been protesting against the three laws for over a year. Union leader Rakesh Tikait said they will not call off the protest until parliament formally repeals the laws.

Indian police claim two marijuana smugglers were using Amazon's website to order and move their product. Investigators accused the retail giant of "not cooperating" with the authorities.

India's counter-terrorism investigating agency arrested Khurram Parvez, one of the best known activists in Kashmir. He faces several charges, including terror funding.

India may ban the use of all cryptocurrencies, barring a few exceptions, if the government’s bill to "regulate" virtual money is cleared by parliament. The central bank plans to issue its own digital currency.

In India, 80 fake social media profiles were blocked across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. These profiles were part of an influence operation trying to undermine the Sikh community by spreading divisive narratives online. And how do you identify a fake profile photo on social media? Web designer Victor Baissait explains more to our Observers team.

India is pulling out all the stops to avoid a repeat of the devastating wave of delta-fueled infections earlier this year, by ramping up testing while stepping up screening and surveillance of international travelers.

India's federal government wants to deport Myanmar nationals entering the country after the military coup there, but the northeastern state of Mizoram wants political asylum for them.