A tote bag, a paperback, wired headphones and a matcha on the table. Put them together and the internet may quickly decide what kind of man is sitting across the café. The “performative male” has become a familiar social media archetype, built around an image of sensitivity, culture and emotional openness.
But beneath the memes is a more serious question: can these visible signs of softer masculinity actually help weaken toxic masculinity, or are they simply another carefully constructed performance?
What is a performative male?
The term generally describes men who adopt an aesthetic associated with emotional awareness and progressive values. Tote bags, books by women writers, trendy drinks, indie music and conversations about therapy or healing have become part of the stereotype.
(Representational Image) Emotional vulnerability meets curated style in the rise of the performative male | AI Generated
Celebrities such as Jacob Elordi, Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal are sometimes cited as polished examples of this image. Online, however, the archetype is less about any particular man and more about the cultural signals associated with a newer version of masculinity.
The criticism centres on authenticity. Some observers argue that displaying feminist views or talking openly about feelings does not necessarily translate into emotional availability.
(Representational Image) Soft masculinity takes centre stage as the performative male sparks debate online | AI Generated
A man may appear comfortable discussing vulnerability while still struggling when genuine emotional support, patience or difficult conversations are required. In that sense, the aesthetic can become a substitute for meaningful behaviour.
The distinction is important because emotional intelligence is ultimately tested away from an audience.
Can practice change masculinity?
As per a News 18 report, psychologists make a useful distinction between pretending to possess a quality and deliberately practising it. New behaviours can initially feel unfamiliar, but repeated efforts to listen, communicate and remain emotionally present can eventually become natural.
(Representational Image) The performative male trend questions what modern masculinity should look like | AI Generated
That may explain why the performative male archetype is more complicated than the meme suggests. Not every man carrying a tote or reading feminist literature is necessarily putting on an act.
The trend has become recognisable enough to inspire look-alike contests in places including Seattle, New York and Jakarta. Their recurring accessories, books and fashion choices show how quickly an online stereotype can become a shared cultural reference.
(Representational Image) From matcha to therapy talk, a new image of masculinity is taking shape | AI Generated
Ultimately, the tote bag is beside the point. The more meaningful shift is whether men continue practising vulnerability when there is no audience. If softness becomes part of everyday behaviour rather than social presentation, it can contribute to a broader rethinking of masculinity.
What if the relationships that break your heart, turn your world upside down and eventually make you feel at home are all part of the same journey?
The Three Loves Theory suggests that people may experience three significant loves in their lifetime, with each relationship playing a different role in their emotional growth. While the idea is not a fixed rule for how every relationship unfolds, it offers an interesting way of looking at how romantic experiences can change as we grow.
Love has long been examined through both science and psychology. Anthropologist and researcher Helen E Fisher explored the biological systems involved in lust, romantic attraction and attachment, while psychologist Robert Sternberg proposed the Triangular Theory of Love, built around intimacy, passion and commitment.
The Three Loves Theory takes a more experiential approach, focusing on how relationships can evolve and what each one may teach us about ourselves.
What are the three loves in the theory?
According to this Three Loves Theory, the three stages are first love, intense love and unconditional love. They are not necessarily experienced by everyone in the same order or even three separate times, but each represents a distinct kind of romantic experience.
The first love feels like a fairy tale
The first love is often associated with the excitement and idealism of young romance. It can feel all-consuming, almost as though the relationship belongs in a movie.
The Three Loves Theory suggests that each relationship may arrive with a different lesson / Pexels
There are butterflies, intense excitement and the belief that the relationship will survive whatever comes its way. At this stage, love can also be influenced by how the relationship looks from the outside, rather than simply by compatibility between two people.
The eventual heartbreak can feel overwhelming, particularly because everything about the experience is new. But this relationship can also become an early lesson in what love feels like and what happens when that idealised version of romance meets reality.
Why does the second love feel so intense?
The second love is often described as the relationship that turns everything upside down.
Unlike the first love, which can feel like a fairy tale, this relationship can be far more complicated. It may bring intense passion alongside jealousy, possessiveness, insecurity and self-doubt.
This is the kind of relationship that can make you confront parts of yourself you did not know existed. You may find yourself trying to change, adapt or even mould yourself and your partner into what you believe an ideal relationship should look like.
Representational Image of Three Loves Theory / Pexels
The highs can be extremely high, while the lows can be equally difficult.
Yet, according to the Three Loves theory, this is also where some of the most important lessons are learned. The experience can force you to understand your boundaries, recognise unhealthy patterns and become clearer about what you actually want from a partner.
By the time this relationship ends, you may know yourself and your expectations from love, much better.
The unconditional love feels different
The third love is described as the unexpected one.
After experiencing heartbreak and learning from previous relationships, this connection can feel less dramatic but more secure. Instead of constantly wondering where you stand, there is a sense of ease and emotional safety.
The relationship does not require either person to be perfect. Instead, imperfections and quirks become part of what makes the connection work.
Representational Image of Three Loves Theory/ Pexels
Rather than turning disagreements into battles, both partners are willing to work through problems together. There is less focus on proving something and more emphasis on building a future.
This is the kind of love that can make you feel comfortable being completely yourself.
Is the third love really the one?
The Three Loves Theory ultimately presents the third relationship as the one that has the potential to last, but real relationships are far less predictable.
Not everyone will experience exactly three major loves. Some people may find a lasting relationship early in life, while others may experience several relationships before finding a compatible partner. Some may never follow this pattern at all.
What makes the theory appealing is the idea that relationships can change alongside us.
The person we want at 18 may not be the person we need at 30. A relationship that once felt perfect may later reveal incompatibilities, while an experience that ended painfully may leave us with a clearer understanding of our boundaries and needs.
Rather than treating love as a fixed destination, the Three Loves Theory looks at relationships as experiences that can shape emotional growth.
The first love can introduce us to romance. The intense love can challenge us. And the unconditional love, if and when it arrives, can show us what it feels like to build a relationship without losing ourselves in the process.
In everyday life, we often hear the advice to “listen with your heart, not your mind.” It sounds simple, but what does it really mean? In a spiritual context, the art of listening goes beyond simply hearing words. It is about receiving a teaching fully, without allowing the mind to decide what should be accepted and what should be ignored.
Listening with the mind vs listening with the heart
HH Guruji Sundar explains that listening with the mind can be useful in ordinary conversations. But when it comes to spiritual teachings or guidance that may challenge us, the mind can become a filter.
A seeker may hear an entire teaching but hold on only to the parts that feel familiar or comfortable. Other parts may be dismissed because they seem difficult, inconvenient or unrelated. This can explain why an important teaching may feel clear at one moment but seem to lose its impact later.
(Representational Image) Discover the art of listening deeply, beyond the limits of the mind | AI Generated
Listening with the heart calls for a different approach. Instead of immediately judging or analysing what is being said, the seeker receives it as a whole. Even words that are difficult to accept are given space to reach deeper.
Several habits can stand in the way of attentive listening. These include interrupting before someone has finished speaking, preparing a response instead of receiving the message, or listening with a sense of superiority.
A person may also assume they already know the answer, ignore advice that feels uncomfortable, or remain physically present while their attention has wandered elsewhere.
(Representational Image) Six common habits can stop you from truly listening. Do you recognise them? | AI Generated
Recognising these patterns is important because they cannot be changed until they are first noticed.
How can you practise listening with your heart?
Listening deeply requires attention from the whole person. Rather than stopping at intellectual understanding, the words are allowed to settle within the seeker.
“A good listener is the one who listens with total acceptance in his heart without the restraints of the mind”, HH Guruji Sundar explains.
(Representational Image) Listening with the heart means receiving words without judgment or filters | AI Generated
This kind of listening requires practice. It means putting aside the immediate urge to judge, defend or reject, and allowing the teaching to be received before deciding how to respond.
The ability to listen deeply matters beyond spiritual settings. The same habits can shape how a person receives feedback, handles relationships and responds to situations that demand change.
(Representational Image) The art of deep listening begins when the mind stops deciding what to accept | AI Generated
Listening with your heart is a discipline, not merely an emotion. When the mind stops filtering every message, a seeker can become more receptive to the teaching being offered.
With H1N1 cases rising in parts of India, fever, cough, sore throat and body aches are prompting more people to wonder whether they have influenza or another respiratory infection. But symptoms alone cannot reliably distinguish H1N1 from seasonal flu, COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses.
Doctors say testing is useful when the result could change treatment or clinical management, particularly in people at higher risk of complications or those with severe or worsening symptoms.
Symptoms alone can make it difficult to distinguish H1N1, COVID-19, seasonal flu and other flu-related illnesses.
That makes the question less about testing everyone and more about knowing when an H1N1 test can actually help.
Why can’t H1N1 be diagnosed from symptoms alone?
H1N1 is a subtype of influenza A, and its symptoms overlap considerably with several other respiratory infections.
Common symptoms can include:
Fever Cough Sore throat Runny or blocked nose Headache Body or muscle aches Fatigue Chills Breathing difficulty in some cases
Representational image of Runny or blocked nose / Pexels
COVID-19, seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can produce similar symptoms. Therefore, having a fever and cough does not automatically mean a person has H1N1.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends influenza testing particularly when the result is likely to affect clinical decisions, including antiviral treatment, further investigations, antibiotic use or infection-control measures.
When is an H1N1 test actually needed?
Testing becomes more relevant when a patient has severe symptoms, belongs to a high-risk group or when knowing the result could change the course of treatment.
Doctors may consider testing particularly for:
Older adults Children Immunocompromised people People with chronic lung disease People with heart disease People with diabetes and other metabolic conditions
Testing is also recommended for hospitalised patients who develop acute respiratory symptoms without another clear diagnosis.
For an otherwise healthy person with mild symptoms who is steadily improving, testing may not necessarily change treatment.
The basic consideration is whether the test result will affect what the doctor does next.
Is RT-PCR the best test for H1N1?
When laboratory confirmation is required, molecular tests such as RT-PCR are preferred because they are generally more sensitive than rapid influenza antigen tests.
RT-PCR detects influenza viral RNA in respiratory specimens. The World Health Organization lists detection of influenza-specific RNA using RT-PCR among established methods for laboratory confirmation of influenza and notes that rapid diagnostic tests generally have lower sensitivity.
Indian health authorities also recommend rapid molecular assays over rapid influenza diagnostic tests when influenza testing is indicated. For hospitalised patients, RT-PCR or other molecular assays are preferred over less sensitive influenza tests.
This distinction is important because a negative rapid influenza antigen test does not necessarily rule out influenza.
What is a multiplex respiratory RT-PCR panel?
A multiplex respiratory panel can test for several respiratory pathogens from the same respiratory sample.
Depending on the specific panel, it may detect:
Influenza A Influenza B Influenza A(H1N1) or other influenza A subtypes RSV SARS-CoV-2 Other respiratory viruses Some bacterial respiratory pathogens
For someone recovering at home, a broad panel may provide additional information without necessarily changing treatment.
When should an H1N1 test be done?
The timing of the respiratory sample can affect detection. Influenza viral shedding is generally highest early in the illness, making prompt sample collection important.
Upper respiratory specimens for outpatients should ideally be collected as soon as possible after symptoms begin, preferably within four days.
Representational Image / Pexels
A negative result also needs to be interpreted alongside the patient’s symptoms, exposure history and the type of test used. A negative test with a less-sensitive method does not necessarily eliminate a strong clinical suspicion of influenza.
Do you need another H1N1 test after recovering?
Generally, no.
Patients who are recovering well clinically do not usually need a repeat test simply to confirm that the infection has cleared.
One reason is that molecular tests detect viral genetic material, which can remain detectable even after symptoms have substantially improved. Therefore, a positive RT-PCR result after clinical recovery does not necessarily mean that the person remains clinically ill or infectious.
For most uncomplicated cases, doctors instead look at whether the patient is actually getting better.
How do doctors know H1N1 recovery is on track?
Clinical improvement is usually more important than obtaining a negative repeat PCR.
Doctors look for signs such as:
Fever reducing or disappearing Cough and cold symptoms improving Energy gradually returning No breathing difficulty No new or worsening symptoms
Recovery is assessed through clinical symptoms and examination, including reduction or absence of fever, improvement in cough and cold and the absence of breathlessness.
If the patient is steadily improving, eating and drinking adequately and breathing normally, a repeat PCR is generally not required merely to obtain a negative report.
When should a recovering H1N1 patient seek further evaluation?
Persistent or worsening symptoms require closer attention.
Doctors may consider blood tests or chest imaging where clinically indicated. Pneumonia and secondary bacterial infections are among the complications that may need to be investigated, particularly if someone deteriorates after initially improving.
Representational image of persistent fever / Pexels
Higher-risk groups, including older adults, young children, pregnant women and people with underlying medical conditions, may require closer monitoring.
So, who actually needs an H1N1 test?
The decision should depend on the patient’s condition, risk factors, timing of symptoms and whether the result will change management.
Testing becomes more useful when:
The illness is severe or worsening: Respiratory symptoms such as breathlessness or a worsening cough warrant medical evaluation.
The patient is at higher risk: Older adults, young children, immunocompromised people and those with chronic illnesses may require a lower threshold for testing and treatment.
The result could change treatment: Confirmation of influenza may affect decisions about antiviral treatment, hospitalisation or infection-control measures.
Testing is performed at an appropriate stage: Molecular testing is generally most useful when performed early in the illness.
Can H1N1 be prevented?
Testing identifies infection after symptoms develop, but vaccination remains an important preventive measure.
The World Health Organization recommends annual influenza vaccination as the most effective way to prevent influenza, particularly for people at increased risk of severe disease.
Basic precautions, including staying home when acutely unwell, avoiding close contact with vulnerable people, maintaining hand hygiene and following appropriate respiratory precautions, can also help reduce transmission.
With H1N1 activity increasing in parts of India, awareness is important, but not every fever, cough or body ache requires an RT-PCR or a comprehensive respiratory panel.
For patients who need laboratory confirmation, molecular testing can provide sensitive detection of influenza. For those recovering normally, however, doctors generally rely on clinical improvement rather than repeated PCR tests.
If symptoms persist, return or worsen, particularly fever, breathlessness, chest pain or a worsening cough medical evaluation becomes more important.
First, we optimised dating profiles. Then came flirting techniques, “types” and endless advice about finding the perfect meet-cute. Now the internet has apparently decided that the next thing to optimise is body odour.
Enter pheromone maxxing, the latest addition to the internet’s ever-expanding “maxxing” vocabulary. The idea is simple, if somewhat questionable: humans supposedly emit pheromones that can influence attraction, so why cover up your natural scent with deodorant? Just let the musk do the work.
The trend, however, has gone beyond simply embracing your natural smell. Posts and videos circulating online claim that some people are deliberately showering less, rewearing sweaty clothes and avoiding deodorant in an attempt to make their natural scent stronger before dates.
At some point, dating advice has crossed over into what can only be described as a very questionable hygiene experiment.
What exactly is pheromone maxxing?
Pheromone maxxing refers to the idea of deliberately amplifying one’s natural body scent in the hope of becoming more attractive.
There is a kernel of logic behind the trend: smell does play a role in human attraction. Our sense of smell can influence emotions, memories and social perceptions, and someone’s natural scent can sometimes be appealing.
But that does not automatically mean that stronger body odour equals stronger attraction.
There is a considerable difference between finding someone’s natural scent attractive and intentionally allowing sweat and body odour to accumulate because you think it will make you irresistible.
The internet, naturally, has decided to skip that distinction.
Can skipping showers really make you more attractive?
There is no magic “sweat setting” that transforms someone from attractive to irresistible.
The pheromone maxxing trend appears to take the idea of natural scent and stretch it into a much more literal and considerably smellier direction. Avoiding showers or deodorant does not guarantee that another person will interpret your scent as attractive.
Pheromone maxxing has the internet debating whether smelling natural can make you more attractive / Pexels
In fact, deliberately turning up to a date smelling strongly of sweat could have precisely the opposite effect.
Natural scent is one thing. Deliberately marinating in body odour is another.
And perhaps that is where this particular dating hack loses the plot. Attraction is complicated, influenced by everything from personality and chemistry to appearance, familiarity and individual preferences. It is unlikely to be solved by simply making yourself smell more intensely human.
From looksmaxxing to pheromone maxxing
The trend fits neatly into the internet’s broader obsession with “maxxing” which is the idea that different aspects of your life can be optimised to become a supposedly better version of yourself.
Looksmaxxing involved the enhancement of physical appearance. However, other internet fads have turned activities such as sleep, productivity, and even social presence into items which need optimising.
The internet has found yet another way to optimise dating / Pexels
Pheromone maxxing now seems to have added smells to the list.
The trouble with the maximisation of optimisation is that it turns normal acts into hacks that need an additional effort.
However, if one’s approach to getting a girl’s attention means that she would have to smell you before seeing you, it is quite likely that she would form an impression which one did not intend her to form.
Therefore, one may go ahead and use his/her own smell if he/she likes. However, one should leave the three-day-old T-shirt in the laundry basket and not try out pheromone maxxing.
Hot temperatures and monsoon humidity can leave the body feeling drained, particularly for people who spend long hours outdoors, travel frequently or exercise regularly. While drinking enough fluids remains important, everyday food choices can also support hydration and help maintain energy levels.
From adding water-rich fruits and vegetables to choosing lighter meals and replenishing electrolytes, small dietary changes can make staying hydrated easier through the warmer months.
Thirst can be an early sign of mild dehydration. Instead of waiting until you feel thirsty and then drinking large amounts at once, make regular fluid intake a habit throughout the day.
Drink fluids before you feel thirsty / Pexels
Buttermilk, lemon water with a pinch of rock salt, mint-infused water and traditional khus water are some options that can help replenish fluids. Excessive consumption of caffeinated and sugary drinks, however, should be limited.
Add water-rich foods to your meals
Hydration does not come only from beverages. Foods with high water content can also contribute to daily fluid intake.
Add water-rich foods to your meals / Pexels
Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, bottle gourd, ash gourd, lettuce and zucchini are among the water-rich foods that can be incorporated into everyday meals. They can also support digestion while helping keep meals lighter.
Opt for lighter, home-cooked meals
Heavy, oily and spicy meals can feel particularly uncomfortable in hot weather. They may leave you feeling sluggish, bloated or fatigued.
Opt for lighter, home-cooked meals / Pexels
Lighter options such as khichdi, curd rice, millet rotis, lightly cooked vegetables, fresh salads and yoghurt-based dishes can provide nourishment without making meals feel excessively heavy.
Replenish electrolytes naturally
Sweating causes the body to lose minerals, including sodium and potassium. Replenishing electrolytes can therefore be particularly important during periods of heat and increased physical activity.
Replenish electrolytes naturally / Pexels
Lemon water with rock salt, yoghurt, watermelon, pomegranate and cucumber are among the foods and drinks highlighted as natural sources that can support electrolyte replenishment.
Include traditional cooling ingredients
Several familiar Indian kitchen ingredients can be incorporated into summer meals and drinks. Mint, coriander, fennel seeds and sabja seeds can support hydration and digestion.
Include traditional cooling ingredients / Pexels
Aloe vera juice may also contribute to internal cooling when consumed appropriately.
Be mindful of when you eat
Meal timing can also affect how comfortable you feel in hot weather. Digestion generates heat, and heavy meals can feel more uncomfortable when temperatures are high.
Be mindful of when you eat/ Pexels
Eating lunch a little earlier and avoiding very late dinners can help. It is also useful to carry water while travelling and avoid direct sun exposure immediately after meals.
Kids may not necessarily feel the need for liquids when they are engaged in playing. Elders may also feel a lesser sense of thirst.
Hydration for kids and elders / Pexels
Hydration by giving water from time to time and seasonal fruits, curd and other beverages prepared at home will keep them hydrated.
Hydration does not mean that you have to make any drastic changes in your diet. Drinking enough amount of fluids, eating seasonal vegetables and fruits, maintaining electrolyte balance and eating light food can be done in your everyday life.
In hot and humid climate, these simple practices can help you stay hydrated, energetic and healthy.
A new term is being thrown around in relation to modern relationships that is causing quite a stir. The term is “Tolyamory,” coined by relationship columnist Dan Savage. It is being thrown around quite heavily online for what many people are deeming to be a worrying change in how people are approaching relationship boundaries.
Unlike other non-monogamous practices such as polyamory, tolyamory is the practice of accepting infidelity without mutual agreement.
The term combines “tolerate” and “polyamory,” but the comparison ends there. While ethical non-monogamy is built on communication and consent, tolyamory describes a situation where one partner continues the relationship despite repeated betrayal.
Relationship experts have pointed out that the difference is significant. While in consensual relationships all parties are aware and agree to the relationship structure, in tolyamory there is one-sided compromise.
Tolyamory explained / Pexels
The term has also sparked debate on whether these relationships represent a shift in relationship norms or simply redefine unhealthy relationships.
Why the term is trending
The popularity of terms such as tolyamory can also be seen as a result of a general shift in the way relationships are discussed on the internet. Social media has also played a significant role in the popularisation of relationship terms.
Relationships between high-profile individuals, in which cases of infidelity are forgiven time and again, have also led to the popularity of the term. While these cases represent acts of courage and strength on the woman’s part, they also raise the question of whether she is forgiving the man out of strength or tolerance.
Representational Image / Pexels
The need to appear “unbothered” or “chill” in relationships may also be a reason why people are accepting such behavior in relationships.
Blurred lines in modern relationships
The rising prevalence of such terminology highlights the general problem which is relationship boundary issues.
New labels may come and go, yet the underlying problems seem to stay the same: trust, respect, communication. Without these, relationships may become unbalanced and stressful.
At the heart of the tolyamory debate is not so much terminology; it is how one chooses to define their own emotional well-being.
Ultimately, the debate around tolyamory is less about creating another category of relationships and more about examining what people are willing to accept in order to remain in one.
A new dating label may help describe a pattern, but it does not by itself determine whether that arrangement is healthy. That comes down to the boundaries, expectations and emotional well-being of the people involved.
Gen Z is drinking less alcohol, but that does not mean the generation has walked away from the liquor market. In India, a growing preference for premium spirits, flavoured drinks and more experience-led consumption is creating a different kind of opportunity for alcohol companies.
The shift helps explain why liquor stocks such as Radico Khaitan, United Spirits and United Breweries continue to attract attention despite changing drinking habits among younger consumers.
Gen Z is drinking less, but not quitting alcohol
As per a NDTV report, George F Koob of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says younger generations increasingly view alcohol as a health risk and are more likely to take breaks from drinking.
(Representational Image) Less drinking, bigger spending: Gen Z is choosing premium alcohol | AI Generated
Social habits have changed too. Time spent with friends in person fell from 30 hours a month in 2003 to just 10 hours in 2020.
A similar pattern is visible among young urban consumers in India. Surveys in Mumbai and Pune found health concerns, mental health awareness, financial pressures and social media influence among the factors encouraging more mindful drinking. Nearly half had tried a dry month, while most said they combine alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks during an evening.
Premium alcohol is driving growth
The bigger change is in what Gen Z chooses when it does drink.
Radico Khaitan reported a 73 per cent rise in quarterly profit, helped by demand for premium brands such as Rampur whisky. Its “Prestige & Above” segment grew 40.8 per cent.
United Spirits also reported stronger premium sales. Its premium portfolio, including Johnnie Walker and Tanqueray, recorded 9 per cent year-on-year growth in net sales value.
(Representational Image) India’s Gen Z is reshaping the liquor market with premium choices | AI Generated
India’s alcohol market recorded 7 per cent volume growth in the first half of 2025, crossing 440 million cases. The premium-and-above category grew 8 per cent in both volume and value.
Gen Z wants more than just a drink
According to a NDTV report, Anant S Iyer, Director General of the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), said, “Premiumisation continues to be one of the key growth drivers for India’s alcobev industry.”
He also said that Indian single malts grew “by around 22 per cent in 2025 to nearly five lakh cases,” with homegrown labels accounting for roughly 92 per cent of the segment. Gen Z, he added, is “moving across categories, exploring new flavours, formats and cocktails and choosing drinks according to the occasion rather than habit.”
(Representational Image) Premium spirits are thriving as Gen Z changes its drinking habits | AI Generated
Varun Jain, Founder & CEO of Smoke Lab, said that Gen Z’s “purchase journey” is increasingly influenced by “digital discovery, social influence and curiosity around a product’s provenance, flavours and overall experience.”
Rupi Chinoy of South Seas Distilleries explained NDTV that younger consumers seek spirits with “a strong sense of originality and place.” He added, “The new definition of luxury in spirits lies not merely in price or prestige, but in provenance, originality and the richness of the story behind every pour.”
The real Gen Z alcohol trend
The picture is therefore more nuanced. Gen Z may be drinking less frequently, but a section of younger Indian consumers is willing to spend more when they do drink.
(Representational Image) From flavoured vodka to single malts, Gen Z wants more from alcohol | AI Generated
For liquor companies, that means fewer occasions can still translate into higher-value purchases. Premium spirits, flavoured vodka, craft cocktails and products with a distinctive story are increasingly becoming part of that shift.
In the Himalayas, calamity seldom announces its arrival. It gathers silently behind clouds, glaciers and mountain ridges before descending with astonishing ferocity. Nepal’s latest flash flood is a grim reminder that in the world’s youngest mountain range, nature’s violence often unfolds in minutes rather than hours.
A flash flood is among the deadliest natural disasters because of its defining characteristic: speed. Unlike river floods that build gradually over days, flash floods develop within minutes or a few hours of intense rainfall, glacial lake outbursts, cloudbursts or sudden dam failures. Water rushes downhill with extraordinary momentum, carrying boulders, trees, vehicles and entire homes in its path. In Nepal’s steep valleys, where settlements cling to riverbanks and mountainsides, this speed transforms a torrent into a catastrophe.
The recent tragedy unfolded after exceptionally intense rainfall lashed Nepal’s central and western Himalayan regions. Saturated slopes, swollen rivers and collapsing mountain streams combined into a devastating cascade. Tributaries feeding major rivers overflowed almost simultaneously, creating walls of water that engulfed villages, highways and bridges before many residents could escape.
Nepal’s flash flood tragedy exposes the growing dangers of a warming Himalayas | ANI
Meteorologists describe such events as high-intensity, short-duration rainfall episodes. The Himalayas amplify these systems through orographic lifting: moisture-laden monsoon winds rise rapidly over mountain slopes, cool abruptly and unleash enormous quantities of rain over confined catchments. When this deluge falls on already saturated terrain, the landscape loses its capacity to absorb water, forcing torrents downhill.
Yet rainfall tells only part of the story. Climate scientists increasingly warn that a warming Himalaya is making these disasters more frequent and more destructive. Nepal has witnessed accelerated glacier melt over recent decades, expanding fragile glacial lakes dammed only by loose rock and ice. When these natural barriers fail, they release millions of cubic metres of water downstream in what is known as a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), a phenomenon unique to high mountain environments.
The human cost is staggering. Families are displaced overnight. Roads connecting remote mountain districts disappear beneath landslides. Hydropower stations suffer extensive damage, disrupting electricity supplies and local economies. Search-and-rescue teams often struggle to reach affected communities because bridges and highways themselves become casualties of the flood.
Raging waters, collapsing bridges and landslides reveal the deadly force of Himalayan floods | X
Flash floods are particularly lethal because they offer almost no reaction time. A shallow mountain stream can transform into a roaring river within thirty minutes. Water travelling at several metres per second exerts immense force, enough to sweep away concrete structures. Even thirty centimetres of fast-moving water can knock an adult off balance, while sixty centimetres can carry away a vehicle.
Nepal’s vulnerability is deeply geographical. Nearly eighty percent of the country is mountainous, intersected by thousands of rivers descending from Himalayan glaciers toward the Gangetic plains. Rapid urbanisation, deforestation and construction along river corridors have further narrowed natural flood channels, increasing exposure whenever rivers burst their banks.
The tragedy also carries implications for India. Rivers originating in Nepal—including the Koshi, Gandak and Karnali—flow into Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Extreme rainfall upstream frequently translates into flooding downstream, making Himalayan hydrology a shared regional challenge rather than a national one.
Flash flood ravages Nepal’s Rasuwa | ANI
Scientists argue that adaptation can reduce the devastation. Early warning systems using rainfall radar, satellite monitoring and river gauges have improved significantly. Community sirens, mobile alerts and evacuation protocols have already saved lives in several Himalayan districts. However, forecasting the precise location and intensity of cloudbursts remains one of meteorology’s greatest challenges.
Nepal’s latest disaster is therefore more than an isolated monsoon tragedy. It is an unsettling illustration of how climate change, fragile mountain ecosystems and expanding human settlements are colliding in the Himalayas. The mountains continue to nourish South Asia with rivers, biodiversity and livelihoods, yet they are becoming increasingly volatile under rising global temperatures.
A flash flood is not simply excess water. It is compressed time, unleashed gravity and accumulated climate risk converging into a single devastating moment. Nepal’s sorrow is a warning echoing across the Himalayas: in an era of intensifying extremes, resilience must travel faster than the flood itself.
Recently, the first AK-203 Sher assault rifle made entirely with Indian components and input materials has been successfully test-fired at the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi.
This is a huge step forward for the country’s self-reliant defence manufacturing ecosystem. According to Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), this is the first AK-203 to be manufactured with 100 per cent Indian components and input materials.
The AK-203 programme did not begin as a completely indigenous project. It was originally launched as a Russia-India manufacturing programme, with production in India initially relying heavily on imported components. Over the years, however, the share of Indian-made parts and materials steadily increased. The latest rifle represents the point at which that process has reached full indigenisation.
The prototype was test-fired at the Korwa Ordnance Factory in Amethi on August 23. The rifle successfully went through firing trials, including burst firing, marking a crucial step before it is handed over to the Indian Army for detailed evaluation.
Major General SK Sharma, CEO and MD of IRRPL, lauded, “A moment of immense pride for all of us at IRRPL. We have successfully produced and fired the first AK-203 (Sher) rifle made with 100% Indian components and input materials.”
“What makes this achievement truly special is that every single component and every input material going into this rifle has been sourced from Indian industry. This is not merely localisation of selected components; it is true, end-to-end “100% genuine indigenisation” of the rifle. This is Atmanirbhar Bharat in action.”
The company is now preparing the required number of fully indigenous prototypes for the next stage of the programme.
“We are now working towards making the requisite number of 100 per cent indigenised prototypes for handing over to the Army for trials during September 2026,” Major General Sharma added.
Now, the indigenous version of the rifle will have to demonstrate that it meets the operational and technical requirements of the Indian military before any decision is taken on wider induction and large-scale production.
What makes the AK-203 Sher different?
The AK-203 belongs to the globally recognised Kalashnikov family of assault rifles and is being manufactured in India through the Indo-Russian joint venture.
The rifle weighs approximately 3.6 kg and fires the 7.62×39 mm cartridge. It comes with a 415 mm barrel, a cyclic firing rate of around 700 rounds per minute and a 30-round magazine. Its sighting range is around 800 metres, while the battle sight range is approximately 350 metres.
One key characteristic of the AK-203 is its 7.62×39 mm ammunition. Compared with the 5.56×45 mm cartridge used by rifles such as the American M4 family and Germany’s HK416, the 7.62 mm round uses a heavier projectile. The AK-203, therefore, continues with the established 7.62 mm intermediate cartridge associated with several Kalashnikov platforms.
Why India is replacing the Insas
For Indian soldiers, the AK-203 means the gradual move away from the Indian Small Arms System, or Insas, which entered military service during the 1990s.
The Insas uses the 5.56×45 mm cartridge, has a 20-round magazine, weighs around 4.15 kg and has an effective range of approximately 400 metres.
The AK-203, however, is lighter, has a larger 30-round magazine and offers a longer sighting range. More importantly, it introduces a newer assault rifle platform while retaining the 7.62×39 mm ammunition standard familiar across the Kalashnikov family.
The September 2026 Army trials will therefore be closely watched. If the indigenous AK-203 meets the Army’s requirements, the Sher programme could move into a much larger production phase.
