The Supreme Court of India has issued notice to the Centre on a petition that raises a significant constitutional question: Is the right to perform the last rites of a deceased family member according to religious customs a fundamental right? The matter came before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta after a 57-year-old woman from Basti, Uttar Pradesh, approached the court alleging that her son’s body was cremated in the UAE without the family’s consent and without allowing them to perform the final rites. The Petition The petitioner, Savitri, stated that her 29-year-old son Pankaj had been working as a carpenter for a company in Sharjah, UAE, for the past two years. He reportedly went missing on December 2. A missing complaint was lodged with the Basti police on Jan...

Rising tensions between Iran and the United States have triggered fresh concerns in New Delhi, as Tehran has signalled the possibility of temporarily restricting movement through parts of the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz. The narrow maritime passage, which connects the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, accounts for nearly 20 percent of global crude oil trade. Any disruption could send global energy markets into turmoil — with India among the most exposed major economies. Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters to India India imports nearly 90 percent of its crude oil requirement — roughly 5.5 million barrels per day. More than 40 percent of these supplies originate in West Asia and pass through the Strait of Hormuz. A potential closure or military escalation could affect shipm...

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to begin his official visit to Israel on February 25, a trip widely seen as a pivotal moment in the evolving India–Israel strategic partnership. Ahead of the visit, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has floated the idea of a six-nation strategic framework — termed the “Hexagon of Alliances” — aimed at countering extremist threats in West Asia and beyond. The proposal has triggered intense strategic discussions in diplomatic and defence circles, particularly over whether India should formally join such a grouping. What Is the ‘Hexagon Alliance’? According to Israeli statements, the proposed six-party alliance would include India, Greece, Cyprus and select Arab, African and Asian partners. The framework is envisioned as a platform for coop...

The Congress party has intensified its opposition to the proposed India–United States interim trade deal, calling it “anti-farmer” and announcing a series of farmer conferences across six politically significant states. At a strategy meeting held in New Delhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi met with senior leaders from Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra to chart out the campaign roadmap. Coordinating With Farmer Groups The party alleges that the interim trade arrangement with the United States would expose Indian farmers to unfair competition from heavily subsidized American agricultural products. Rahul Gandhi has warned that cotton, soybean, maize, and horticulture farmers could...

New Delhi: The weather pattern across India on 24 February 2026 shows a sharp contrast — rising temperatures in the plains, especially in Delhi-NCR, and rain and thunderstorms forecast in parts of northern and eastern India as the country transitions from winter to early spring. 🔥 Delhi-NCR: Heat Increasing The maximum temperature in Delhi has climbed past 30 °C, marking an early onset of warmth before Holi, with Monday recording 30.5 °C — about 5 °C above normal for this time of year. ([The Times of India][1]) The minimum temperature remains comfortable near 13 °C. ([www.ndtv.com][2]) With clear skies expected, the mercury is likely to stay high this week, possibly nearing 33 °C in the coming days. ([AajTak][3]) Delhi Weather Snapshot (24 Feb) 🌞 Mostly clear skies ...

In a symbolic move reflecting India’s continued effort to shed vestiges of its colonial past, President Droupadi Murmu on Monday unveiled the statue of C. Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replacing the statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens. The unveiling ceremony took place during the inaugural ‘Rajaji Utsav,’ an event dedicated to commemorating the life and legacy of Rajagopalachari, popularly known as Rajaji. PM Modi Calls It an “Extraordinary Initiative” Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the festival as an “extraordinary initiative” that highlights the many dimensions of Rajaji’s contribution to the nation. Reposting details of the event on social media platform X, the Prime Minister urged citizens to visit the exhibition and draw inspiration from Rajaji’s life a...

In a sharp political rebuttal, former Congress president and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a direct attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of deflecting attention from serious issues by branding opposition protests as “shameful.” Responding to the Prime Minister’s remarks at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi, Gandhi released a video statement on Monday, asserting, “Prime Minister, you speak of shame. Let me tell you what is truly shameful.” He alleged that references to the Prime Minister, his ministers, and close associates in the so-called “Epstein files” constitute a matter of grave concern. “Being associated in any manner with such a heinous criminal is a shameful matter,” Gandhi said. Questioning Government Priorities Gandhi further argued that demo...