Which State Is Known As The Rice Capital Of India?

Rice is more than just a staple in India. It's comfort food, tradition and identity rolled into one. From steaming bowls of plain chawal paired with dal to elaborate dishes like pulao, khichdi and regional curries, rice forms the backbone of everyday meals across the country. But have you ever wondered where most of this rice actually comes from? Behind India's vast consumption lies a region that has built its agricultural identity around paddy cultivation. With sprawling fields, diverse varieties and generations of farming expertise, one state has consistently stood out for its contribution to India's rice production.

Also Read: Which City Is Known As The 'Biryani Capital of India'?

The Rice Capital Of India Is West Bengal

West Bengal holds this title because it is one of the largest producers of rice in the country. Thanks to its fertile alluvial soil, abundant rainfall, and favourable climate, rice is cultivated here extensively across multiple seasons.

Why West Bengal Leads In Rice Production

Several natural and agricultural factors give West Bengal an edge:

• Rich alluvial soil deposited by rivers like the Ganga
• High rainfall and humid climate, ideal for paddy cultivation
• Multiple cropping seasons (Aman, Aus and Boro)
• Strong farming traditions and widespread rural cultivation

These conditions allow farmers to grow rice almost year-round, ensuring a steady supply.

Popular Rice Varieties From West Bengal

West Bengal is known for its diverse and flavourful rice varieties, such as:

• Gobindobhog – Short-grain, aromatic rice used in traditional dishes
• Tulaipanji – Fragrant and soft, often compared to basmati
• Swarna and IR varieties – Commonly grown for large-scale consumption

Each variety differs in aroma, texture and cooking style.

Also Read: Which Indian State Is Known As The Fruit Bowl Of India?

Rice In Bengali Food Culture

In West Bengal, a meal without rice is almost unthinkable. It is central to both everyday eating and festive cuisine. Some classic pairings include:

• Rice with fish curry (maach-bhaat)
• Khichuri during festivals and monsoons
• Sweet dishes like payesh (rice pudding)

Rice here is not just filling - it defines the structure of the meal.

While states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh also produce significant quantities of rice, West Bengal consistently ranks among the top contributors. Its scale, diversity and cultural connection to rice give it a distinct identity!

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Virat Kohli Drops Rare Catch For RCB vs SRH, Anushka Sharma Reacts. Watch

Virat Kohli, apart from being a great batter, is also a terrific fielder. However, in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL 2026 opener, Kohli dropped an easy catch. The incident occurred in the 18th over bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. SRH's Aniket Verma miscued a shot on the third ball as Kohli came running in from long-on. The ball brushed his palms before landing on his thigh. Kohli looked surprised by the miss. In the stands, actor Anushka Sharma, Kohli's wife, could not help but laugh.

Virat Kohli drops a catch and Anushka was literally laughing pic.twitter.com/OzfMPFydTQ

— TAUKIR (@iitaukir) March 28, 2026

Kohli dropping catch and his wife is laughing
Peak cinema#rcbvssrh #rcbvsrh #klassen royal challengers bengaluru virat kohli anushka sharma ishan kishan fixers abhishek sharma jacob duffey travis headpic.twitter.com/JSrHb5kRzr

— Vikas Agarwal (@VikasAg55263788) March 28, 2026

Anushka Sharma's Reaction when Virat dropped it. pic.twitter.com/6jGh8d0yTB

— BC 18 (@StumpAndScreen) March 28, 2026

Later on, however, Kohli took Aniket's catch.

aniket wicket virat kohli takes the catch anushka sharma reaction#rcbvssrh #viratkohli #RCBRuns #ipl2026 pic.twitter.com/wQ7jzxBsZE

— (@ThecoolMahi) March 28, 2026

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday honoured fans who lost their lives in the 2025 stampede by reserving 11 seats at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru ahead of their first Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Notably, these seats will remain permanently unoccupied during all IPL and international matches.

Ahead of the IPL 2026 opener, players from both RCB and SRH also observed a one-minute silence to pay tribute to the fans who lost their lives in 2025.

For the unversed, 11 fans died and several others were injured in a stampede that occurred outside the stadium during the victory celebrations following RCB's first IPL title win. Cricket at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium had been suspended since June 2025.

During the season opener against the Hyderabad-based franchise, the defending champions RCB also wore black armbands as a mark of respect.

A statement from RCB read: "Royal Challengers Bengaluru will pay tribute to the eleven members of the RCB family who tragically lost their lives in the unfortunate incident on June 4.

"As a mark of respect, players will wear practice jerseys bearing the number 11 during the warm-up, followed by black armbands during the match.

"In a lasting gesture of remembrance, eleven seats at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will remain unoccupied, serving as a permanent tribute to the fans whose unwavering support will always be a part of the RCB family," the statement concluded.

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2 India-Bound LPG Tankers Cross Strait Of Hormuz

Two liquefied petroleum gas tankers, BW Elm and BW Tyr, are crossing the Strait of Hormuz bound for India, according to ship tracking data from LSEG and Kpler.

The US-Israeli war against Iran has all but halted shipping through the strait, but Iran said this week that "non-hostile vessels" may transit the waterway if they coordinate with Iranian authorities.

The two India-flagged vessels have crossed the Gulf area and are in the eastern Strait of Hormuz, the data showed.

India is gradually moving its stranded LPG cargoes out from the strait, with four LPG tankers moved so far - Shivalik, Nanda Devi, Pine Gas, and Jag Vasant.

As of Friday, 20 Indian-flagged ships including five LPG carriers were stranded in the Gulf, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the federal shipping ministry, said.

LPG carriers Jag Vikram, Green Asha and Green Sanvi are still in the western Strait of Hormuz, LSEG data show.

India, the world's second-largest LPG importer, is battling its worst gas crisis in decades, with the government cutting supplies for industries to shield households from any shortage of cooking gas.

The country consumed 33.15 million metric tons of LPG, or cooking gas, last year, with imports accounting for about 60% of demand. About 90% of those imports came from the Middle East.

India is also loading LPG onto its empty vessels stranded in the Gulf.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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US Couple Saves $12,000 Annually By Living In Hotel Instead Of Renting

By moving from a rented house into a hotel, a US couple claims they are now saving $12,000 (approximately Rs 10 lakh) every year. Maranda Bowers, 47, and her husband John, 40, were previously paying $2,300 a month for a three-bedroom home in Pensacola, Florida, but after a serious workplace incident in 2023 left John unable to work, the couple was forced to rethink their financial decisions.

With Bowers struggling to pay the rent as the sole provider, the couple decided to move out of their home and stay with family for two weeks before moving into a hotel.

“It was too hard with what I was making to pay the rent on my own," Bowers was quoted as saying by the New York Post. “By the time John's compensation kicked in, we could not afford the inconsistency to see whether or not we have money to pay the rent."

The couple finally moved into a hotel in November 2023, where they pay $307 a week for a one-bedroom accommodation. Bowers said she books a hotel room for up to six months in advance, adding that the total savings amount to $12,000 a year.

“The biggest positive about hotel life is you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on rent. You don't need to put together a security deposit or pay a month's rent in advance,” she said.

Bowers explained that she liked the convenience of staying in a hotel as she did not have to worry about running the water or turning on the air conditioning, in addition to making weekly payments.

“A lot of people also think living in a hotel room means we have to spend lots of money eating out, but that is not the case. I cook all the time. I cooked Thanksgiving and Christmas for half the hotel.”

Also Read | 'Exhausted And Ready To Come Home': Student Wants To Return To India Amid Visa Concerns

The couple said they were hoping to save the money and eventually buy a plot of land and a tiny home to own. Bowers said since the 'kids were grown', they didn't need a big place to stay. The small house would allow them to go on vacations rather than be forced into a mortgage.

“We want to live simply, go on vacations and live our life rather than put all our money into a huge home. I would love a tiny home. We no longer want a big house; we like the simplicity of living simply.”

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Tiger Woods Involved In Car Crash In Florida: Report

Golf superstar Tiger Woods was involved in a car crash in Florida on Friday, US media reports citing local law enforcement said.

There was no immediate word on Woods' condition following the incident in Jupiter Island, ABC television reported.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A press conference has been scheduled at 5pm local time (2100 GMT).

NBC local news affiliate WPTV showed a picture of the crash scene showing a sports utility vehicle flipped onto its side.

News of the incident comes five years after Woods was involved in a serious rollover car crash in California that left him with severe right leg injuries. 

The 15-time major winner needed pins inserted in his foot and ankle and a rod in his tibia as well as a follow-up surgery in 2023.

Woods returned from the 2021 crash at the 2022 Masters, where he finished 47th despite struggling to walk Augusta National for all four rounds.

Woods, who turned 50 last December, has been working to return from an Achilles tendon rupture last March and back surgery last October.

He competed earlier this week in the TGL simulator indoor golf league finals and had not ruled out playing in next month's Masters. 

He has won five times at Augusta, including his first major title in 1997 and his most recent in 2019.

Woods, whose 82 PGA Tour career victories is level with Sam Snead for the all-time record, has not competed at the PGA Tour level since missing the cut at the British Open at Royal Troon in July 2024.

He last made the cut at the 2024 Masters, where he finished 60th.

Woods was also involved in a traffic incident in 2017, when he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving, paid a $250 fine and attended DUI school.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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'Bibi Really Sold It': A Rebuke In Vance-Netanyahu Tense Call Amid Iran War

US Vice President JD Vance had a tense phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week, during which he told the premier off for what he viewed as overly rosy assumptions about the war in Iran, Axios reported.

According to the outlet, Vance pressed Netanyahu on his confidence regarding the likelihood of regime change. One US official told Axios that "Before the war, Bibi really sold it to the president as being easy, as regime change being a lot likelier than it was. And the VP was clear-eyed about some of those statements", referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.

After the call, a US official claimed Israel was actively undermining Vance, who has emerged as a central figure in ceasefire talks with the Islamic Republic. A long-time critic of open-ended foreign interventions, Vance is participating in negotiations alongside US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

The same official alleged that Israel was responsible for reports suggesting Iran preferred negotiating with Vance because he might be more receptive to a deal to end the conflict. "It's an Israeli op against JD," the official told Axios.

Another senior US official told Axios that, in their view, Vance remained the most viable path to a negotiated end to the war. "If the Iranians can't strike a deal with Vance, they don't get a deal. He's the best they're gonna get," the official said.

Vance Treads Iran Tightrope

For a man with his eye on the White House in 2028, US Vice President JD Vance has kept a low profile since the start of the Iran war.

The former US marine, who served in Iraq, built a political brand as a non-interventionist who wanted to keep America out of any more long, foreign wars.

Even Trump admitted they had their differences on "Operation Epic Fury."

"He was, I would say, philosophically a little bit different than me," Trump said on Monday of Vance. "I think he was maybe less enthusiastic about going -- but he was quite enthusiastic."

While he has publicly backed Trump's Iran operation, Vance has only given one television interview since it started, in which he stressed it would not be another American "forever war."

However, Vance earlier this month downplayed the differences and said, "I think one big difference is...we have a smart president whereas in the past, we've had dumb presidents and I trust President Trump to get the job done, to do a good job for the American people, and to make sure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated," said Vance, standing alongside Trump during an Oval Office event.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Gujarat Man Kills Widow Who Used To Tie Him Rakhi, Then Joins Search For Her

A case of murder and deception has shaken up the Defence Colony area of Gujarat's Jamnagar after a missing widow was found dead in the home of a neighbour she considered her brother. The suspect, who allegedly strangled the woman, had joined her grieving sons in the search before his crime was uncovered.

Rinkidevi Bantu Singh Katheriya, a native of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, had been building a life for her three children in Jamnagar following her husband's death from a heart attack in 2021. Employed at a pharmaceutical factory in Naghedi village, Rinkidevi was the sole breadwinner for her children - Rohit (19), Nitin (17) and Anjali (6).

The alarm was raised two days ago when she failed to return home. Her eldest son, Rohit, filed a missing person's report with the local police, sparking a search that involved both the authorities and close family friends.

During the investigation, police traced Rinkidevi's last-known movements to the residence of Vijay Odich, who lived in the house below the Katheriyas. Rinkidevi shared a deep bond with Odich and even tied a rakhi on his wrist every year.

To avoid suspicion, Odich also participated in the search efforts alongside the victim's sons, pretending to be a concerned family friend while her body lay hidden in his own home.

"He treated us like nephews and we saw him as an uncle," Rohit said. "We never imagined the person helping us look for our mother was the one who took her from us."

'Investigating Motive'

Upon discovering the body, Jamnagar police immediately secured the scene and sent the remains for a post-mortem examination. Initial findings suggest the cause of death was strangulation.

Officials said Odich has been taken into custody. "We are investigating the motive behind this heinous act," said Jayvirsinh Jhala, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Jamnagar. "The victim and the accused had a long-standing social connection, which makes the circumstances of this murder particularly grave."

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