The economy is on a recovery path in the third quarter, driven by festive activity and rural demand.

A Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in an article, said that the Indian economy was showing signs of recovery after a slowdown in momentum in the previous quarter. (April to June 2024).

In July-September of 2024, the country's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is a measure of gross domestic product, fell to its lowest level in seven quarters at 5.4 percent. The RBI projected that the economy would grow by 6.8 percent in the quarter of October-December 2024.

The article titled 'State of the Economy,' published in the December Bulletin of the RBI, stated that "High frequency indicators" (HFIs), for the third quarter of FY2024-25, indicate the Indian economy has recovered from the slowdown of momentum seen in Q2 of FY2025. This recovery is attributed to strong festival activity as well as a sustained increase in rural demand.

In November, the volume of e-way bills increased 16.3 percent (y-o y) (Graph III.4a). In November 2024 toll collections grew by double digits, both in volume and value terms. In November 2024, vehicle registrations grew by double digits year-over-year (y-o y), with an increase in non-transport vehicles. Fuel consumption in the country increased in November 2024 due to farm harvesting, rural activity, and robust air travel.

Michael Patra, the RBI's deputy governor, and other officials from central banks prepared this article. The RBI stated that the opinions expressed in the article were those of the authors, and not the institution.

India's growth trajectory will accelerate in the second half 2024-25, primarily due to a resilient demand for private consumption at home. The article stated that rural demand is growing, mainly due to the record-high foodgrain production.

It said that "sustained government expenditure on infrastructure will further stimulate economic activity, and investment."

The global headwinds pose a risk to the future outlook of growth and inflation .

In the article, it was also stated that India's growth trajectory is expected to be resilient in the future, but with a more sustainable foundation, as a result of climate action. This includes a greater focus on renewable energies, electric vehicles (EVs), and green hydrogen.

These coordinated efforts point to a promising route towards achieving net-zero emission. The use of global frameworks to facilitate carbon trading, and the scaling up of climate finance including green bonds will reinforce the decoupling between growth and emissions.

India, too, is riding the digitalisation wave to boost its growth, increase productivity, and expand the reach of services and products. This is a result of a shift in consumer behavior and the growing popularity of online shopping in small towns.

The article stated that "this surge also highlights a growing investor's confidence and the momentum behind innovative energies which are driving India's FinTech ascent."

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After 5 years of diluted RTE Act, the government ends its no-detention policy for KVs and JNVs. The decision will impact 3,000 schools

If a student is held, the class teacher will guide both the child and the parent, if needed, as well as provide specialised inputs, after identifying learning gaps in various stages of assessment.

The Centre has abolished the policy of no-detention in all schools under its control, including Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV) and Jawahar Nvodaya Vidyalayas (JNV). This allows students from Classes 5 and 8, to be kept back during the current academic session.

Around 3,000 Central Schools will be affected by the decision, including Sainik Schools that function under the Ministry of Defence and Eklavya Model Residential Schools under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

This comes five years after the Right to Education Act of 2009 was amended in 2019. The amendment included a clause allowing the "appropriate governments" to decide whether to hold back children in Class 5 and 8. In the five years since, 18 states and union territories (UTs), have abolished this policy.

In a notice issued last week, Ministry of Education added a section to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules of 2010, which deals with the detention of students in classes 5 and 8.

According to the new rules, if the student in Class 5 or 8 does not meet the promotion criteria at the regular examination held at the end academic year, they will be given "additional instruction and the opportunity for retesting within two months" following the declaration of results. The student can be held back if he/she still fails to meet the promotion criteria following the re-examination.

If a student is held, the class teacher will guide both the child and the parent, if needed, as well as provide specialised inputs, after identifying learning gaps in various stages of assessment.

The rules add that the "head of the school" must keep a record of all children who have learning gaps and monitor their progress in relation to those identified gaps.

The examination and re-examination are "competency-based exams to achieve the holistic growth of the child", and "not based upon memorisation or procedural skills". The rules stipulate that no child will be expelled until the completion of elementary school.

Section 16 of Right to Education Act 2009 prohibits schools from detaining children up to class 8. The no-detention rule was implemented to prevent students from dropping out of school if they are detained.

Since then, several states have called for the scrapping of the policy. In 2016, the Central Advisory Board of Education adopted a resolution that called for the scrapping of the policy, citing the fact that students no longer took their studies seriously.

In 2019, the Act was amended to allow "appropriate governments...to hold back an child in fifth class, eighth class, or both classes" if they fail the re-examination. The decision to scrap the policy of no-detention was left to the states.

Then HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said, "it's a very important law and the majority of state governments support this proposal." When the Bill to amend the RTE Act was introduced in the Lok Sabha he had stated that it is "a very important legislation" and the majority of the state governments have supported the proposal. This brings accountability to our elementary education. He added that, "Schools are only used for the mid-day lunch and education is missing."

Since the amendment 18 states and UTs no longer have a policy of no-detention: Assam (Bihar), Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh, Jammu Kashmir, Jharkhand Punjab, Rajasthan Sikkim Tamil Nadu Tripura Uttarakhand West Bengal Delhi Dadra Nagar Haveli Daman Diu, Daman and Diu, Dadra Nagar Haveli, Daman Diu, Daman and Diu, Daman and Diu, Daman and Di

According to the Ministry of Education Haryana and Puducherry have yet to make a final decision.

The rest of the States and UTs - Andhra Pradesh (including Arunachal Pradesh), Goa, Chhattisgarh (including Kerala), Karnataka (including Kerala), Maharashtra, Manipur and Mizoram), Odisha, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh - continue to follow this policy.

A senior official was asked why the Centre had waited so long to end the policy of no-detention. He said that the National Education Policy came out in 2020, and the Centre chose to wait until the National Curriculum Framework for School Education also came out in 2023 to "take a holistic approach" to the issue.

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Omi Vaidya, aka Chatur, gave up her role in How I Met Your Mother to audition for Aamir Khan's film. 15 Years of 3 Idiots

Omi Vaidya, aka Chatur Ralingam, or Silencer is one of the most memorable character from Rajkumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots. The American actor was also known for his Hollywood stints on The Office, From Embers and Shameless. Omi recalls his audition, first-day on set, relationship with the team and more as the timeless film celebrates its 15th anniversary.

15 Years of 3 Idiots

In an exclusive interview with SCREEN he says, "It's great, and it hasn't felt that long." The people keep watching the film, and that keeps it alive. This film is the exception. Movies come and go, but this one stays. "I knew it was a great film, but I never imagined it would still resonate 15 years later."

'I had watched 2-3 Hindi films in my entire life'

The actor admits that he didn't want to do 3 Idiots but was offered the role. "I was concentrating on my Hollywood roles and the development of The Office. At that time, they were searching for newcomers to America. At that time, none of the roles had been cast, and the half of the script hadn't yet been written. They were looking only for American-Indians. One of my Ohio friends told me to audition when I was in India attending a wedding. She was working as the assistant co-writer for the film Abhijat Joshuai at the time. She asked me to come to their office in Bombay. "I said that in my life I'd only seen 2-3 Hindi movies, and I didn't have much interest in them," he says.

Omi adds: "I never worked on Bollywood films, but always on American projects. She told me that I probably won't be able to get the job, but she said to send them your The Office material and we'll see what happens. My mother told me that auditioning for a Bollywood movie is a great experience. They gave me Raju's lines when I went. I practiced two pages of lines for four hours. The casting director told me that I didn't know the language. Thanks for coming, but you could leave. "I never auditioned for this role."

He was then called back, and given Sanjay's Lage Raho Munna Bhai script. They called me again and told me that they would give me a script to practice at home. The script is from a film called Lage Raho Munna Bhai. I had never seen the movie and knew nothing about its plot. The script said that SanjayDutt was talking about injustice. I told them I wouldn't be able do justice to his performance, as he takes it so seriously. I'll have some fun and pretend I don't understand what he's saying. I knew that I wouldn't be getting the role, and I was auditioning for fun. I was confident during my audition. I made mistakes on purpose. "They were laughing. I went back to America and didn't even think about it," he says.

"Had To Give Up A Role In How I Met Your Mother"

The 42-year old had to turn down a fantastic offer to star in a popular Hollywood series so that she could go to the next round. "I almost got the role in How I Met Your Mother. These guys said we also liked your audition. The video was circulated and everyone loved me. Aamir had been cast by that time. The company asked me to go to New Mexico to audition again, so I had to turn down the very good offer for HIMYM. After the audition Raju called to say, "You are improving in Hindi, do not do better." We want you to have weak Hindi. Omi says, "Don't even think about learning it.

The actor decided to accept the role against the advice of his American agents. I did stereotypical roles for my Hollywood projects. I didn't even read the script, but I knew that it would be a decent part. I decided to do just one Bollywood movie in my lifetime. All of my American agents said that I was crazy to do the movie and risk my career. It was the Indian wave that swept through here, and I missed out on many projects. "But I enjoyed making that film," he says. I had to gain weight or lose weight and shave my hair to look older. The script was given to me three days prior to the shoot. "They did it on purpose to get me to use raw language."

When asked about Silencer's famous Chamatkar speech scene (Balatkar), when he said the wrong one in college, he replied, "I never saw the humor in it. I even didn't try to play up comedy in the movie. It was a tragic character who couldn't speak Hindi. That's all it was for me. If he could speak Hindi well, he wouldn't be funny. When I first saw the speech I was only thinking about the character. I think it's an amazing speech he wrote, and he's unaware that the words were changed. "It's his time to shine. That's what I read in the script!"

He then reveals that he knew the exact meaning of every speech. "I speak Marathi. It was easy to understand. My character does not know this. It's rumored that I didn't understand what I said, but it's not the truth. He continued to address the jokes surrounding the topic - "Memes have become a part the culture and that's awesome." I'm from America, so I don't see these things very often. However, people have sent them to me on occasion. "I see these and I feel good about Chatur's power and his presence everywhere."

A joke by Rajkumar Hirani

Omi also reveals that Rajkumar Hirani played a hilarious joke on him on the first day of filming 3 Idiots. We were filming the ragging scenes on the first day of shooting. I'm a dedicated actor and I trust my director. When it came time to shoot they brought in something shiny and gold. "I was uncomfortable in such little clothing, and then it was a gold thong. But I wanted to do my best for my director," he says.

The actor continues to laugh and says, "I talked to Rajkumar, and I said that, 'I'm not sure if this is good for the character. I think the American version would be a better choice'. He said, "Oh no, it was just a joke." It's funny you actually planned to wear it. Everyone knew that it was Raju’s joke."

When asked about Silencer's famous Chamatkar speech scene (Balatkar), when he said the wrong one in college, he replied, "I never saw the humor in it. I even didn't try to play up comedy in the movie. It was just a tragic, non-Hindi speaking character for me. I think he wouldn't be funny if he could speak Hindi. I was only thinking about the character's perspective when I watched the speech. I think it's an amazing speech that he wrote, and he's unaware that the words were changed. "It's his time to shine. That's what I read in the script!"

He then reveals that he knew the exact meaning of every speech. "I speak Marathi. It was easy to understand. My character does not know this. It's a rumour I didn't understand what I said, but it's not true. He continued to address the jokes surrounding the topic - "Memes have become a part our culture and that's awesome." I'm from America, so I don't see these things very often. However, people have sent them to me on occasion. "I see these and I feel good about Chatur's power and his presence everywhere."

A joke by Rajkumar Hirani

Omi also reveals that Rajkumar Hirani played a hilarious joke on him on the first day of filming 3 Idiots. We were filming the ragging scenes on the first day of shooting. I'm a dedicated actor and I trust my director. When it came time to shoot they brought me a shiny, gold thing. "I was uncomfortable in such little clothing, and then it was a gold thong. But I wanted to do my best for my director," he says.

The actor continues to laugh and says, "I talked to Rajkumar, and I said that, 'I'm not sure if this is good for the character. I think the American version would be a better choice'. He said, "Oh no, it was just a joke." It's funny you actually planned to wear it. Everyone knew that it was Raju’s joke."

Rajkumar Hirani's unique filmmaking style

Omi says "I've worked with many directors, and they all seem to be very serious, focused and stressed while shooting. He was so easy to work with. He appeared to be so prepared, he could relax. It was like an uncle having fun, but still very present, for making something timeless. He used to chat and have some tea with Aamir, as well as play badminton in the morning. He trusted his characters, just as he cast the best actors and let them do their job."

He calls him a great actor and reveals that was never afraid to give his suggestions. “Of all actors, he gave the most suggestions. He would ask the most questions during rehearsals. It was wonderful to have someone so involved in his role and other roles. He did not want to change anything but to improve the situation. His suggestions were not always implemented, but sometimes they were extremely beneficial. There was no ego in his refusal to use them. "He was only interested in making sure the film came out well," he concludes.

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Look at Politics in 2025: A landscape of rifts, challenges and rifts

A record number of nations voted in 2024 to elect new governments. In India and other countries, 2024 saw political relations become more strained, and the middle ground shrink. The year 2025 is a good time to think beyond elections.

In 2024, the political landscape in India and its immediate surroundings, as well as in many other countries, took an unexpected turn.

In some cases, these developments were rapid and unexpected. They could also be a catalyst for dynamic shifts in narratives and discourses.

In India and other countries, the relationships between political actors and parties continued to deteriorate. The divisions between governing parties and opposition parties grew, and their mutual hostility worsened.

The world was stunned by the scale of Donald Trump’s victory in America and Keir starmer’s landslide win in the United Kingdom. Long-standing regimes like Bashar al-Assad's in Syria and Hasina's in Bangladesh also fell in a matter of days.

Many people in India's neighborhood did not predict the victory of Anura Dissanayake, in Sri Lanka. Pakistan's political turmoil continued to worsen.

In Europe, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, there were political upheavals. The governments lost the confidence of the Parliament, signaling uncertainty and possible crises for the New Year.

In India, a second term for Prime Minister NarendraModi and the BJP was on the cards. Many thought the Lok Sabha elections were a formality. After the opening of Ayodhya's Ram Temple, the BJP had a positive outlook. The Stock Market performed well. It looked like the deal was done.

But , the result stunned the BJP and forced Modi to for the first time of his political career form a coalition government with regional parties that were ideologically diverse. The opposition was jubilant and many believed that the BJP would soon lose its hold on power.

Then came another surprise. In spectacular fashion, the BJP recovered in the Assembly Elections in Haryana, and Maharashtra. It regained its electoral mojo, and put the opposition under pressure, particularly the Congress. The Congress, who was inexplicably euphoric following its third consecutive defeat in Lok Sabha election, now faces increased challenges from its INDIA partners.

In the same year, Jammu & Kashmir saw the return of democratic elections. The people remained loyal to mainstream parties despite the presence of candidates supported by Engineer Rashid’s Awami ittehad party and Jamaat-e-Islami.

After a record-breaking 24 years, Naveen Patel, and the BJD left power in Odisha. This was a small political earthquake.

2024 was a year of elections. The year 2025 is a great opportunity to see beyond elections. This year will be one in which governance takes centre stage. The economic front is facing pressing challenges, as the growth rate has been slower than expected during the second quarter.

Here are five major issues, trends and developments which could influence the political discourse of India in 2025.

1. Political bitterness is increasing

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections sent a message that the people preferred continuity and moderation. Both the BJP as well as the Congress appear to have deliberately misread the mandate. They have consolidated their positions and have brought this bitter rivalry to everyday politics, the Parliament and beyond. The winter session of Parliament was the low point in the relationship between the ruling party, and the opposition.

The two sides, by their words and actions have reduced the scope for the democratic requirement of dialogue or engagement - whether in Parliament or out. First time in Indian history, the opposition parties attempted to remove the vice president from office, but failed. The move was not directed at Jagdeep dhankhar but clearly was aimed at government.

Anger will grow as a result of the ugly fight in Parliament and the filing of a FIR by the Leader of Opposition Rahul Ahmed. In order to restore some semblance to normality, both sides must find a middle ground of engagement and discussion, while pursuing their political and ideological goals.

2. Mandir-Masjid: Continued

The Supreme Court has temporarily halted the flood of civil lawsuits challenging the ownership of Muslim places-of-worship that were allegedly built on top of the ruins of Hindu temples. RSS Sarsanghchalak, Mohan Bhagwat, has stated that it is not acceptable to raise similar issues after the construction in Ayodhya of the Ram Temple.

It is unlikely, however, that the politics surrounding mandirs and masjids will end in 2025. At least 18 court cases involving 10 mosques/shrines are currently in the courts. Most of the suits claiming Hindu right over Muslim sites were filed in Uttar Pradesh where the BJP was heavily defeated by the SP and Congress during the Lok Sabha elections. The political climate in Uttar Pradesh is already heating up, even though the Assembly elections are still two years off.

3. Two Elections, Three Brands

Three major political brands will be tested in the 2025 Assembly elections: Nitish Kumri Arvind Kjriwal and Narendra Modi.

Nitish has been able to turn political and electoral failures into opportunities for more than 20 years, always staying afloat. He was also accused of choosing politics over ideology.

The Assembly elections in Bihar scheduled for October/November 2025 will be a major test for Nitish whose political demise has been predicted more than once. Tejashwi, who has been waiting for a long time to become Bihar's Chief Minister, will also be tested by the election.

Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi party in Delhi, which has been in power since 2013, is facing pressure unlike any other time. Will Kejriwal be able, after he was released on bail and was put in jail on corruption charges, to lead the AAP into a third consecutive term?

AAP was India's most popular political startup more than a decade back. Today, Kejriwal’s image as well as his brand of politics is at risk.

Both in Bihar and Delhi, the brand value of Prime Minister will also be tested. Delhi has been a political desert for the BJP for over two-and-a-half decades despite it winning all seven Lok Sabha Seats thrice since 2014

4. Legislation that is controversial

In 2025, the Parliament will take up at least two controversial and polarising Bills -- the Constitution Amendment Bill for synchronising Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections and the Bill regulating Wakf Properties.

The One Nation, One Election Bills, which have been referred to a Joint Committee of Parliament, will test the BJP’s ability to work across the aisle. A special majority of at least 50% of all members of the House, plus two thirds of those present and voting is required to pass the Constitutional Amendment Bill. The BJP doesn't have this kind of majority in either House.

In the past 10 years, BJP has been able to pass controversial legislation including the Bill that would divide Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. Now, the dynamics are completely different. The opposition is almost unanimously against the One Nation One Election plan. The Wakf Bill is a test of the BJP’s ability to negotiate, especially with its allies TDP and JD(U), who have a large Muslim base.

5. Caste, Census and UCC

The rhetoric about caste is only going to get louder in a year, when the central government plans to start the decadal Census exercise. The biggest question is whether or not the government will include caste in its Census -- a politically explosive issue that the BJP so far has avoided.

The Congress believes that caste and social injustice can counter the BJP’s Hindutva. It is also for this reason that the BJP uses slogans such as " Batenge Toh Katenge " and " ek hain to safety hain". The Prime Minister has described the farmers, the youth, the poor and the women as "the biggest castes". The language in Parliament about the legacy of B R Ambedkar shows that the gloves have been taken off.

In his Independence Day address, the Prime Minister stressed the need to move towards a "secular" civil code instead of the "communal" civil code that currently exists. He returned to this topic when he responded to the debate in Lok Sabha on the 75th anniversary of the Constitution.

Amit Shah , the Home Minister of , has announced that BJP governments will introduce a civil code in all states. Uttarakhand's UCC is set to come into force in January 2025. The BJP is represented by Chief Ministers of 14 states including those in the Northeast. The UCC could lead to new political cleavages if efforts are made to expand the envelope.

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Protests over reservations policy in J&K, CM Omar Abdullah’s son joins the stir

Before the Assembly elections in early this year, the administration led by the lieutenant-governor introduced the reservation policy for admissions and jobs.

A group of political leaders and students gathered in front of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's residence to demand a review of reservation policy that was implemented by the lieutenant-governor-led administration this year.

Ruhullah Mahdi, a member of Abdullah's party (National Conference), was present with the students. In a Sunday post on X, he called for a demonstration at Gupkar Road in front of the CM's residence office to demand rationality.

Abdullah’s son joined Mehdi, the students and Abdullah.

What is the policy of the company?

Before the early-year assembly elections, the policy of the administration led by LG Manoj Sinha reduced the percentages for general categories and increased them for reserved categories.

Then, the administration approved 10% reservations for Paharis as well as three other tribes. This brought the total reservation percentage under the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category to 20%.

The SEBC Commission recommended that 15 new castes be added to the OBC list. It also gave 8% reservations to other backward classes (OBCs).

During the budget session in February, the Parliament approved reservations for ethnic groups such as Pahari, Paddari, Kolis and Gadda-Brahmins.

The Administrative Council, under LG Sinha, met in March and approved the proposal by the social welfare department for amending the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules 2005, in light of the Jammu & Kashmir Reservation Amendment Act 2023, dated 15/12/2023, Constitution (Jammu & Kashmir), Scheduled Castes Orders (Amendment Act) 2024, Constitution(Jammu & Kashmir), Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment Act) 2024 and the recommendations of Jam

Protests and anger are triggered by policy

Politicians and students were not happy with this reservation policy. The valley was awash with calls for reversing the policy and reviewing it.

He clarified that while NC MP Ruhulla Mehdi promised to the students in November to join their outcry, the new government did not take any action on the reservation policy because there was confusion over the devolution between the newly-elected Omar Abullah led government and LG Sinha.

"I have been told that there's some confusion over the division of rules of business between the elected office and the undemocratically-imposed office on a number of issues, and this is one of them. "I am assured that the Government will make a decision soon to rationalise this policy," he said.

J&K government forms panel to review policies

The Jammu and Kashmir Government set up a panel of three members to review policy on reservation in employment and admissions.

The panel includes health minister Sakina Itoo, forest ministry Javed Ahmed Rana, and Science and Technology minister Satish Sharma.

The committee has not yet set a deadline for submitting its report.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court asked the government to respond within three weeks after hearing a new petition that challenged the reservation policy.

The court also merged the previous petition and the most recent.

Will obey court decision: CM

Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of the state of Saudi Arabia, said on Sunday that his government will follow the court's directions in this matter despite the fact that it has set up a committee to examine the policy on reservations.

Abdullah said that while he understood the emotion surrounding the reservation issue, his JKNC party is committed to reviewing every aspect of its manifesto.

As a continuation of the commitment, a cabinet subcommittee has been formed to work towards fulfilling this promise. This sub-committee has only been recently notified & it is now in the process to start its work, engaging with all stakeholders," Abdullah stated in a post posted on X.

He said that the High Court has also challenged the policy, and that his government would be bound by any judgement "when the last legal options have been exhausted".

Chief Minister said that it was brought to his attention by the chief secretary, "that a protest in Srinagar is planned to highlight the injustice of the reservation policy." I am not going to deny anyone the right to peaceful protest. But please do protest, knowing that this issue hasn't been ignored or swept beneath the rug.

He assured the people that they would all be heard, and a fair judgment would be made after following proper procedure.

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Messi-Ronaldo Era Ends amid Manchester City Crisis; Sunil Chhetri Bidding Farewell Highlight Drama-Packed 2024 2024 was an eventful year in football - from triumph to heartbreak it saw it all!

Real Madrid enjoyed an outstanding campaign, winning both La Liga and Champions League trophies simultaneously. Manchester City continued their dominance of domestic league play by retaining their Premier League crown - yet Pep Guardiola's squad only managed a single victory out of twelve matches over that span, something unprecedented among reigning champions.

Sunil Chhetri announced his international football retirement for 2024 with emotional resonance for Indian football fans. Meanwhile, Spain ushered in a golden age on the European stage by winning UEFA Euro 2024 championship over England with a thrilling comeback win.

Rodri won the Ballon d'Or in 2024, beating Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior. Rodri was an integral player for Manchester City during their recent success and played an integral part in Spain's triumph at UEFA Euro 2024, where he earned himself Player of the Tournament honors.

Manchester City have felt Rodri's injury absence acutely this season - one of their worst campaigns since 2010. This underlines his immense importance to their team. Real Madrid were infuriated after his Ballon d'Or win caused much debate and decided to boycott its ceremony as a protest measure, further inflaming the rivalry between these two giants.

Lionel Messi's performances for Inter Miami this past season demonstrated that his move into Major League Soccer (MLS) wasn't simply retirement plan. The Argentine maestro proved both his enduring brilliance and desire for success; Miami became an immediate title contender despite losing this year.

Messi had an outstanding campaign for David Beckham-owned Miami FC, scoring 20 goals in 19 matches while providing 16 assists en route to becoming their top scorer and helping guide them to an impressive 74 regular-season points total. Messi made an even larger mark during their postseason run; although Miami were unfortunately eliminated in their opening round playoff match. He earned himself the Most Valuable Player award as recognition of his efforts, further solidifying his legacy as one of soccer's greatest ever players.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano may soon reach the end of their respective eras in 2024, after both veterans were conspicuously absent from the Ballon d'Or's 30-player shortlist for 2024. Between them, these veterans have won 13 world footballing awards (usually against each other) with 11 runners-up finishes; both currently play for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia while Messi remains with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami; expectedly both are nearing retirement with the 2026 World Cup likely being their last international contests before retirement in 2026.

Manchester City were expected to dominate the English Premier League this season after winning it last year, yet Pep Guardiola's team have fallen into an unprecedented slump, winning only one match from their last 12 compared to nine losses and two draws; far removed from their usual dominance.

Erling Haaland, City's star striker, has struggled in his early season form. Haaland began the year on fire scoring 10 goals in City's first five Premier League matches; since August his output has decreased and now only has three goals; which is an extra blow during an already difficult period for City.

Real Madrid had an exceptional first half of 2024. Under Florentino Perez's leadership, they won both La Liga and European Cup championships - beating Borussia Dortmund in both Finals 2-0 - for their 36th La Liga and 15th European Cup titles respectively. Carlo Ancelotti led them to yet another European victory - his sixth overall and his third in Madrid alone! This success cemented Ancelotti as the most successful coach ever in this competition's history.

Dani Carvajal outdid legendary figures like Karim Bale, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo by winning six European Cup titles himself like Paco Gento.

Sunil Chhetri announced his Retirement

Sunil Chhetri has long been a source of frustration among fans of Indian football, yet his continued inclusion on their side has caused many concerns among them. Now 40, this legendary figure has announced his departure from international football after an illustrious and successful career which netted him 94 goals over 18 seasons and ended on 6 June in Kolkata for a 0-0 tie against Kuwait - his final appearance!

Chhetri holds the all-time top scorer title in Indian Super League history and currently plays with Bengaluru FC. Additionally, he is India's all-time top scorer which adds yet more recognition of his greatness within football history.

Kylian Mbappe decided not to renew his PSG contract and joined Real Madrid instead, signing a five year contract which began on January 1. Since joining Madrid he has shown mixed results; scoring nine goals out of 15 matches but failing to impress in major matches like losing an El Clasico against Barcelona.

Mbappe now plays as a central striker for Real Madrid, an unfamiliar position compared to his time at PSG and France as a left winger. Adjustment has been difficult; fans eagerly anticipate whether Mbappe can fully embrace Madrid life and deliver big moments.

Spain won UEFA Euro 2024 with young talents such as Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams leading their starting lineup. Spain defeated host nation Germany in their quarterfinal matchup and secured victory 2-1 over England for an amazing journey that ultimately culminated in winning their historic third Euro title!

Dani Olmo of Barcelona was Spain's leading scorer, scoring three goals to share this honour with England's Harry Kane and Georgia's Georges Mikautadza as well as Germany's Jamal Musiala as well as Cody Gakpo and Serbian Ivan Schranz from Netherlands Cody Gakpo and Serbia Ivan Schranz respectively. Rodri won Player of Tournament while Yamal claimed Young Player of Tournament status while his stunning semifinal goal against France earned Goal of Tournament status from him and Goal of Tournament designation!

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Gukesh, world champion: "My goal is to be the best player in all of the world... this is what motivates me more easily"

Gukesh Dommaraju, who has spent 18 days and 635 moves in a chess war in Singapore that lasted 56 hours, is taking a break. It's not voluntary. The media, politicians and well wishers have all demanded his time.

In the 10 days that have passed since Gukesh was crowned world champion, he has spent more time away than he allowed himself to do in the last decade.

"I've been trying to relax my body and mind over the last few days because last year was very intense. It was hard work and discipline that were required. Now I'm taking it easy. Gukesh says, "I will be returning to chess very soon," as he is traveling from one public event to another. "I feel a lot of enthusiasm to play in the next tournament and get back to playing chess, but it is smart to take some time to recover and then get back into chess."

Gukesh said that becoming a world champion was his "reason for waking up every morning" during a press event in Singapore. You wonder if a boy who's been driven by a single childhood dream for the past decade is experiencing something that borders on a motivational vacuum. Abhinav bindra felt the same way after becoming an Olympic champion at Beijing 2008. He was emotionally and mentally exhausted.

"I do not feel any lack of motivation. A Shot At History, Abhinav bindra's autobiography is one of my favorites. I am really inspired by him. Our cases are different, but I do think that ours is a little bit different. The Olympics is the ultimate goal in his sport. The four-year preparation for the Olympics is intense. The World Chess Championship also ranks pretty high in the world of chess. For me, my goal was to be the best player on the planet. Since it will still be a long road and there will still many challenges, I find it easier to motivate myself," said Gukesh. He has stated more than once that Magnus Carlsen remains the best player of the world.

Gukesh will compete in the Tata steel chess tournament at Wijk aan zee, from January 17-February 2, against a group of compatriots including Arjun Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa as well as Leon Luke Mendonca and some of the top stars around the globe like Fabiano Caruana and Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Vincent Keymer, one of his second players, will be at the tournament.

Gukesh, as the world champion, will be scrutinized at every event he attends.

"It was difficult to become world champion, but I'm sure there will be more challenges in the future -- and they will be even harder." But I love challenges, and I'll do my best to learn and improve every day. I want to be my best self. As the World Champion, it's obvious that a lot players will want to beat me. "I'm excited to play against them and prove my strength," says he.

Wasn't expecting Ding to be so tough'

Gukesh has been preparing for the World Championships since April of this year. He won the Candidates, and thus earned the right to challenge Ding Liren as world champion. Grzegorz Gajewski assembled a team of five members, including Pentala Harikrishna. Radoslaw Wojtaszek. Jan-Krzysztof duda. and Vincent Keymer. Paddy Upton, a mind-guru, was also brought in to help him prepare.

Was there still a surprise in Singapore at the start of the action?

"The World Championship was intensely prepared for. It was a long trip! I am so grateful to my team for their support and help in this journey. It was a goal that I set from the start and it means a great deal to me to have achieved this. I must admit that I didn't expect Ding to be so tough in games where he was placed in a worse position. It was a little surprising, but we adapted quickly," says Gukesh.

Gukesh has a number of obligations off the board that will keep him from playing chess for now. He is not bothered, knowing that being a world champion brings with it a certain amount of responsibility.

Open doors for sponsorship

The crown will return to India after 11 years and this is great news for Indian chess. The government has supported the sport in many ways, but I believe this victory will open up the door for many sponsors (for chess-players). The future of chess looks bright. "I'm so grateful to be a part of this chess boom."

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