Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Kolkata graduate’s team wins 'University Challenge' quiz

This win makes Imperial College London one of the most successful in University Challenge’s history, bagging the trophy for the fifth time

Kolkata graduate’s team wins 'University Challenge' quiz

The Imperial College London quiz team, which included computational science graduate from Kolkata Sourajit Debnath, has emerged as the winner of the champion’s trophy of ‘University Challenge’.

The win in Monday night’s final aired on BBC makes the London-based university one of the most successful in the show’s history, winning the trophy for the fifth time – the last time being in 2022.


The 31-year-old answered several challenging questions in the final and credited Imperial’s Quiz Society and mentorship from previous teams as contributing factors to his success.

“I feel elated to be a part of British quizzing history and grateful that our team had the opportunity to clinch the title while representing Imperial,” said Debnath.

In preparation for the challenge, the team spent months revising their specialist subjects and practising quizzes as a close-knit group.

Team captain Suraiya Haddad said, “I’m thrilled to have captained Imperial College London to its fifth historic win, making us the institution with the most wins in the history of the programme. We have all worked incredibly hard and done Imperial proud."

Amol Rajan, the British Indian presenter who hosts the popular BBC programme, described Imperial's victory as “remarkable”.

The team was awarded the 'University Challenge' trophy by host Amol Rajan and acclaimed playwright Sir Tom Stoppard at an event at Imperial College London’s South Kensington Campus.

Debnath has completed a Master’s in Applied Computational Science and Engineering at the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, a degree he chose to pivot to a career in computational science.

In India, he was a space scientist at UR Rao Space Centre, the spacecraft-making arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation.

He had worked on the 2019 Indian lunar lander mission Chandrayaan-2, among other spacecraft.

After he graduated from Imperial College London, he joined an Imperial start-up focused on geophysics algorithms operating out of the university’s Royal School of Mines. (PTI)

More For You

Vijay-Mallya-Getty

Vijay Mallya, accused of loan defaults of over about £756 million, has been living in the UK and is contesting extradition. (Photo: Getty Images)

UK team inspects Delhi jail as India pursues extradition of fugitives

INDIA’s efforts to secure the extradition of high-profile economic offenders from the United Kingdom, including Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, have moved forward with a recent visit by a team from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to Tihar Jail in Delhi, an official said on Sunday (September 7).

The CPS delegation visited the prison last week to review jail conditions as required by UK courts before deciding on extradition requests, the official said.

Keep ReadingShow less
Shabana Mahmood

The minister, promoted from the Ministry of Justice during prime minister Keir Starmer’s Cabinet reshuffle last Friday, said securing the country’s borders would be her main focus.

Getty Images

Shabana Mahmood warns of visa cuts for countries refusing to take back migrants

Highlights:

  • Mahmood warns countries refusing to take back migrants could face visa suspensions
  • More than 1,000 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats over the weekend
  • Mahmood hosted Five Eyes ministers from the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada in London
  • Home secretary says border security will be her main focus after Cabinet reshuffle
  • NEWLY-APPOINTED home secretary Shabana Mahmood on Monday (September 8) outlined a tougher approach on immigration, warning that countries refusing to take back illegal migrants could face visa suspensions.

    Keep ReadingShow less
    migrants cross Channel

    Migrants wade into the sea to board a dinghy to cross the English Channel on August 25, 2025 in Gravelines, France.(Photo: Getty Images)

    Over 1,000 migrants cross Channel on Shabana Mahmood’s first day as home secretary

    MORE than 1,000 migrants arrived on small boats across the Channel on Shabana Mahmood’s first full day as home secretary, taking total arrivals this year past 30,000.

    The Home Office said 1,097 migrants crossed on Saturday after nine days without any arrivals. It was the second-highest daily total this year, after 1,195 on May 31. Crossings have now reached 30,100 — 37 per cent higher than at this point in 2023 and 8 per cent higher than 2022, the record year.

    Keep ReadingShow less
    Nepal protests

    Demonstrators gather at the entrance of the parliament during a protest against corruption and government’s decision to block several social media platforms, in Kathmandu, Nepal September 8, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

    Protests erupt in Nepal over social media shutdown, corruption allegations

    Highlights:

    • Thousands of young Nepalis march in Kathmandu against social media ban and corruption
    • Government blocks 26 unregistered platforms, citing fake news and fraud concerns
    • Police use tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse protesters
    • Critics accuse government of authoritarianism and failure to deliver on promises

    THOUSANDS of young Nepalis marched in Kathmandu on Monday demanding that the government lift its ban on social media platforms and address corruption.

    Keep ReadingShow less
    English Channel

    People try to board a migrant dinghy into the English Channel on August 25, 2025 in Gravelines, France. (Photo: Getty Images)

    Government plans to use military sites for migrant housing

    THE UK government said on Sunday it is examining the use of military sites to house migrants, amid growing criticism over the practice of accommodating asylum seekers in hotels.

    "We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military use sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats," defence secretary John Healey told Sky News.

    Keep ReadingShow less