Behind a country’s wealth and success are the policies that create possibilities, the people that drive the effort and the history that shapes the environment and perspective. The 2021 Best Countries report and rankings are based on how global perceptions define countries in terms of a number of qualitative characteristics, impressions that have the potential to drive trade, travel and investment and directly affect national economies. The report covers perceptions of 78 nations. It uses a set of attributes such as entreprenurship, quality of life and cultural influence to assign the rankings, assessing them against a standardised total of 100. Interestingly, India ranks 25th on the list.

On April 13, India celebrated the first day of the Hindu calender, which is the first day of Chaitra Navratri. Different states celebrate it in different ways. People of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka celebrate it as Ugadi, Maharashtra and Goa celebrate it as Gudi Padwa. Here are some pictures from Ugadi celebrations. 

Indians ushered in New Year on April 13, Tuesday, with various states celebrating the festivals of Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Sajibu Cheiraoba, Navreh and Cheti Chand -- new year festivals celebrated by people of different regions -- even as spike in daily coronavirus infections prompt experts to demand the cancellation of big events.

Source: PTI/AFP