Dakar rally: The Dakar Rally is one of the world’s toughest off-road races. It is a multi-stage event covering almost 8,000 kilometres over deserts, dunes, rocks, and rough terrain. Originally held in Africa, the rally has taken place in Saudi Arabia in recent years, attracting top riders, drivers, and teams from across the globe. Participants riding cars, bikes, trucks, light vehicles, and classic vehicles take part in this rally. Harsh temperatures, navigation challenges, and mechanical stress make it a highly competitive race.

The 2026 Dakar Rally was a 14-day, 13-stage, 8,000 km event that took place from January 3 to January 17, 2026, in Saudi Arabia. It saw dramatic racing and close finishes. In the overall motorcycle category, Argentina’s Luciano Benavides clinched victory by just two seconds, one of the closest margins in the event’s history.

In the car category, Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah secured his sixth Dakar Rally title, driving for the Dacia Sandriders team and reinforcing his position as one of the sport’s all-time greats. He led over 8,000 km of racing across Saudi Arabia and finished with a strong lead over the competition. Other notable performances included strong showings from Ford Racing, with podium finishes and stage wins.

India’s participation at Dakar 2026

Indian competitors also secured notable achievements at the 2026 Dakar Rally, with two key figures drawing attention:

Sanjay Takale’s historic run: Veteran Indian rally driver Sanjay Takale made history at the Dakar Rally by winning the H3 class prologue and standing on the Dakar podium in the four-wheel category – a first for an Indian. He finished 35th overall in the cars classification and became the first Indian to achieve this milestone.

Takale’s effort marked a significant moment for Indian motorsport. However, his Dakar campaign later ended due to a mechanical failure, forcing him to withdraw before the end of the event.

Harith Noah competes in bikes: On the two-wheeled side, Harith Noah, a top Indian rally-raid rider from Kerala, also competed in the Dakar Rally’s bike category. Noah has been part of multiple Dakar campaigns and brought valuable experience to one of the world’s most challenging motorsport events.

Indian teams such as Hero MotoSports also participated in the event, maintaining India’s growing presence at Dakar with competitive stage results and notable finishes.

(Also Read: India’s cheapest 7-seater car: Price starts at just Rs 5.7 lakh, 20 km/l mileage, comfortable cabin, AMT options, 625 litres boot space and more)

Dakar is more than just a race

The Dakar Rally is more than a race; it is a test of endurance, skill, and strategy. Competitors drive through extreme temperatures, unpredictable terrain, and strict navigation rules that can change standings dramatically from stage to stage. Finishing this event earns respect in the motorsport world, and individual stage wins or class podiums are celebrated worldwide.

The 2026 Dakar Rally showcased challenging terrains, historic individual achievements, and competitive performances across categories.

New Delhi: For many urban families in India, a child’s education has always been seen as the key to a brighter future. But today, that dream is coming with a growing price tag. The steady and often steep rise in school fees is no longer just a budgeting issue but it’s also becoming a major source of anxiety for parents. From cutting back on expenses to postponing savings goals, households are increasingly adjusting their lifestyles and financial plans just to keep up with the cost of schooling.

School fees don’t just test a parent’s income.

They test their silence.

Every year, the number rises.

And parents quietly adjust life around it.

Fewer vacations. Delayed dreams. Extra shifts.

No complaints. Just quiet sacrifice.

We are told it’s for “quality education.”

But…

— Dr SHRADDHEY KATIYAR (@Wegiveyouhealt1) February 3, 2026

When School Fees Begin to Weigh on Families

For many parents, rising school fees are not just figures on a receipt but they carry an emotional cost too. Dr Shraddhey Katiyar, a Noida-based doctor, recently shared a heartfelt post on X, drawing attention to the silent stress families experience as education expenses continue to climb. His words struck a chord with many parents who see their own struggles reflected in the issue.

“School fees don’t just test a parent’s income. They test their patience, their silence, and their endurance,” Katiyar wrote. He noted that many families adjust their lives silently by skipping holidays, postponing personal goals, or taking on extra work, simply to ensure their children’s education continues smoothly.

According to him, most parents do not openly complain about rising school fees. Instead, they quietly make adjustments in their daily lives. Family holidays are put on hold, personal ambitions take a back seat, and longer working hours become the norm, all to manage the growing expenses.

“Every year, the number rises. And parents quietly adjust life around it. Fewer vacations. Delayed dreams. Extra shifts. No complaints. Just quiet sacrifice,” he added.

Katiyar also questioned the reasons often given by schools for repeated fee hikes. He pointed out that even though parents are told the higher fees will improve the quality of education, classrooms continue to remain crowded and teachers’ salaries do not always reflect those increases. “Education should not feel like a monthly threat,” he wrote, stressing that learning must remain a basic right and not turn into a financial strain.

He further warned that when education starts feeling like a luxury instead of a necessity, many deserving children risk being left behind, and families are left emotionally drained. “Education should lift families up, not leave them exhausted. Children often realise later that their parents bore the cost quietly,” Katiyar noted.

Parents Share Their Concerns

Many parents say the financial pressure begins much earlier than expected, sometimes as early as playschool. Ishani Bhatt, a mother of a 2.5 year old living in Greater Noida West, says education costs start piling up right from toddlerhood.

“My child goes to a reputed playschool, but the expenses are steep. For 3-4 hours, you will shell out Rs 6-7k per month, not to take into account the one-time admission fee, which was nearly Rs40,000. Initially, we were told that this would cover all extra curriculum activity expenses, but every other day, there’s some expense or the other, albeit small ones,” she says.

Bhatt explains that apart from direct fees, there are several indirect expenses too. “Even if they are not direct expenses, there are several indirect expenses. For instance, schools will have different ‘days’ – say tomorrow is ‘purple colour day’. Schools ask parents to send wards in clothes of that shade. Now if they don’t have that colour, parents often end up buying new clothes. While our school doesn’t make it mandatory, yet as a parent, you might feel your child should not be the one feeling left out. These create indirect pressure. Then again recently, school charged around Rs 500 for a photobook of class picture. There are several such instances. So we are left wondering what were the extracurricular fees that we paid at the beginning of the season for?”

She adds that education should remain a right and not feel like a privilege that only some families can afford, and that this principle should apply right from playgroup and nursery.

Last Updated:February 07, 2026, 14:23 IST

Drivers gather at Jantar Mantar where multiple unions flagged concerns over fare policies, alleged regulatory gaps and the use of private vehicles for commercial taxi services.

Ola, Uber, Rapido Strike Today.

Ola, Uber, Rapido Strike Today: Passengers booking taxis or autorickshaws through app-based platforms may have noticed disruptions and uncertainty on Saturday as drivers across several states held protests and strikes, demanding tighter regulation of the sector and a crackdown on bike taxi services.

Drivers gathered at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, where multiple unions flagged concerns over fare policies, alleged regulatory gaps and the use of private vehicles for commercial taxi services. The protests brought together both app-based and conventional cab drivers, highlighting growing discontent over pricing policies, the use of private vehicles for commercial transport, and what unions describe as uneven enforcement of rules.

What Are Drivers Demanding?

Driver unions are seeking structural changes rather than temporary relief. Their key demands include the creation of a Rashtriya Chalak Ayog, a national drivers’ welfare body, an all-India ban on private bike taxis, and stricter action against the use of unlicensed private vehicles as taxis.

A major concern is surge pricing on ride-hailing platforms. Drivers allege that while fares rise sharply during peak hours, the additional amount largely goes to aggregators, leaving drivers with little benefit even as commuters assume they are earning more.

Why Bike Taxis Are At The Centre Of The Dispute

Licensed taxi and autorickshaw drivers say bike taxis, often operated using private two-wheelers, are cutting into their earnings while operating in a regulatory grey zone. According to unions, enforcement against such services varies widely across states, creating uneven competition.

Drivers have also raised safety and insurance concerns, alleging that accident victims involving illegal bike taxis often struggle to get insurance compensation due to unclear liability and lack of permits.

Panic Buttons

One of the lesser-known issues affecting drivers is the mandatory installation of panic buttons in commercial vehicles. While the Centre has approved around 140 device providers, unions claim state governments have declared a large number of these companies unauthorised.

As a result, drivers say they are being forced to remove existing devices and spend up to Rs 12,000 again on new installations, turning a safety requirement into a repeated financial burden.

Will Cabs And Autos Be Available?

Despite union claims that vehicles were kept off the roads, cabs and autorickshaws continued to be available on platforms such as Uber, Ola and Rapido in many cities, though availability and waiting times varied by location.

For commuters, this means service disruptions are likely to be uneven rather than total, depending on city-wise participation and enforcement.

Why This Issue Keeps Returning

Drivers say that without a uniform national framework covering fares, commissions, licensing and welfare, disputes will continue to surface.

Unions also point to the rapid increase in autorickshaw permits under open permit policies, saying the growing supply of vehicles has reduced per-driver income without a corresponding rise in demand.

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