Hyderabad:Regular study, mindful breaks, and learning beyond textbooks shaped the routines of several Telangana students, who emerged among the top scorers in the ICSE and ISC examinations this year. The results, announced on Wednesday, pointed to both academic diligence and the value of balance.

In Telangana, 5,469 students appeared for Class 10 (ICSE) and 885 for Class 12 (ISC). The overall pass percentage was 99.69 per cent for Class 10 and 98.98 per cent for Class 12.

Girls outperformed boys in both categories, with a perfect 100 per cent pass rate among Class 12 girls. Among Class 10 students, girls recorded a pass percentage of 99.45 per cent, while boys stood at 98.64 per cent.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) conducted the ICSE exams across 67 subjects, including 20 Indian languages and 14 foreign languages. The ISC exams covered 47 subjects, among them 12 Indian languages and 4 foreign ones.

Recheck requests will be accepted till May 4, while improvement exams are scheduled for July. Results can be accessed on the CISCE website, CAREERS portal, or Digilocker, as confirmed by CISCE chief executive Joseph Emmanuel.

Some of the subject-wise toppers from the state include Nikhil Shrivatsav J. who secured the highest 99.4 per cent score in Class 10. Aditi Joshi topped the ISC Science stream with 98.3 per cent, followed by Kshema Sangam with 97 per cent in humanities and Karanam Akshaya Chandrika with 96.5 per cent in commerce. Mukarram Jah School at Purani Haveli also recorded a 100 per cent pass result in the Class 10 board exams. Arsar Ahmed from the school emerged its top scorer with 94 per cent.

Among the high scorers was Saarthak Lamba, who secured 98.5 per cent in Class 12. “Nothing dramatic in my preparation. I just stuck to 3 to 4 hours of focused study every day,” he said. A trained pianist, he added, “Early mornings work best for math — your mind’s fresh and less distracted.”

Ramanathan Alagu Subramaniam (98 per cent) said chemistry stood out because “you can see what you’re studying come alive.” He also credited first-person shooter games with helping him concentrate. “If I was tired or unfocused, playing a quick round helped me reset.”

Nitya Penujuri (97.75 per cent) relied on writing down derivations and steady revision. “I can’t do all-nighters. I’d walk on the terrace or in the park to clear my head,” she said. Interested in life sciences, she’s aiming for research-focused institutes like IISERs and IISc.

Aaryaveer Gupta (98.2 per cent), a Class 10 student, said this year’s question papers leaned more on conceptual clarity. “I learned by watching how others solved problems and asking lots of questions,” he said.

A fan of debates and strategy-based video games, he said, “Games helped me switch off stress and refocus.”

Rushith S. Reddy (98 per cent) and Vanaja Sree B (97.4 per cent) stressed the importance of staying active and connected. “I followed a simple rule — understand what you’re studying. That’s more important than rushing to finish the syllabus,” Vanaja said.

India on Wednesday announced the closure of its airspace for all Pakistani flights, six days after a similar move made by Pakistan. Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) issued a Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) and closed its airspace for Pakistan-registered, operated, or leased aircraft, airlines, and military flights.

“Indian airspace is not available for Pakistan-registered aircraft and aircraft operated/owned, or leased by Pakistan Airlines/ operators, including military flights,” said the MoCA,

This comes six days after Pakistan shut its airspace to all Indian flights amid escalating diplomatic tensions with India. Flights from Pakistan bound for Southeast Asia and Oceania will now be required to bypass Indian airspace. This rerouting is expected to significantly increase travel time and impose a heavy financial strain on Pakistan’s already cash-strapped airlines.

The suspension of airspace between the two countries comes following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people, mainly tourists, were killed by Pakistan-based terrorists on April 22. Following the terror attack, India suspended the Indus Water Treaty and revoked the SAARC Visa scheme for Pakistani nationals. It also ordered military attache in Pakistani embassy to leave, a move reciprocated by Pakistan. 

Day after India’s move, Pakistan had closed its airspace for all Indian flights. While India has accused Pakistan of sponsoring the terror attack, Islamabad has denied allegation, calling for an independent third party investigation led by Russia and China.

RISHIKESH: After the Char Dham Yatra 2025 began on Wednesday, more than 22 lakh devotees registered for the pilgrimage at Rishikesh Transit Camp in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, and headed towards their destination, said Special Duty Officer, Prajapati Natiyal.
As per Nautiyal, “special security mobile teams” have been deployed for the safety of pilgrims.
Offline registrations for the Yatra started earlier on Monday in Haridwar.
Special registration counters have been set up for individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, and foreign nationals. Additionally, 20 free registration counters have been installed, District Tourism Officer Shushil Nautiyal said.
Earlier in the morning, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offered prayers at the sacred Gangotri Dham, marking the opening of the doors of Gangotri and Yamunotri Dham on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. Later in the day, he also performed aarti at the Yamunotri temple in Shri Yamunotri Dham.
“Char Dham Yatra has begun, the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri have opened. It is like a festival for the people of Uttarakhand. All the preparations have been done. We want the yatra to be safe, easy, and hassle-free. Various departments have made arrangements. We will be working to facilitate easy yatra for people,” CM Dhami said.
In a post on X, CM Dhami wrote, “The doors of Shri Yamunotri and Shri Gangotri Dham will be opened today on Akshaya Tritiya. The Chardham Yatra 2025 begins today. May Maa Ganga-Yamuna bless you all. #AkshayaTritiya”
Meanwhile, in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, lakhs of devotees thronged Vrindavan to catch a rare glimpse of Lord Banke Bihari’s feet. This glimpse is granted only once a year on Akshaya Tritiya.
To manage the crowd and ensure safety, senior officials, including Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Shailesh Pandey, District Magistrate Chandraprakash, and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shlok Kumar, visited the temple area to review preparations. A meeting was also held with temple authorities to review safety measures for devotees.
Akshaya Tritiya is one of the most auspicious days celebrated by Hindus and Jains across the country. The day is symbolic of good luck, success and fortune.
The festival is celebrated through prayer, alms-giving, and spiritual practices. The day is considered highly auspicious for starting new businesses, making investments, and purchasing gold and real estate.