:  X-ray binaries (XRBs) are among the brightest X-ray sources in the sky and serve as natural laboratories for studying extreme environments. Reprocessed X-ray emission, produced by the interaction of primary X-ray photons with their surroundings, is predominantly observed during the eclipses of these systems, as the primary emission is blocked by the companion star. The study of this reprocessed emission can provide insights into the characteristics of the reprocessing environment, such as its chemical composition, ionization levels, and more. In the first part of the talk, I will present the results of the analysis of eclipse flares observed in the high-mass X-ray binaries (HMXBs) Vela X-1, LMC X-4, and 4U 1700-37, as well as eclipse bursts observed in the low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) EXO 0748-676 and XTE J1710−281, highlighting what they reveal about the reprocessing environments of these systems. Additionally, I will discuss the discovery of Quasi-Periodic Oscillations (QPOs) in the HMXB pulsar LMC X-4 and explain how these findings help constrain the magnetic field of the neutron star in this system.

X-ray polarimetry is a relatively new frontier in X-ray astronomy, offering the potential to provide unique insights into anisotropies within celestial systems. The Indian X-ray polarimeter (POLIX), onboard the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), represents an Indian effort toward measuring X-ray polarization. X-ray background in POLIX exhibits azimuthal modulation, which varies in both phase and amplitude. In the second part of the talk, I will discuss the analysis efforts undertaken to understand the observed background in POLIX data.