Nation

New Delhi:The Indian Air Force (IAF) has congratulated Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla after The Week magazine named him ‘Man of the Year 2025’ in its December 21 edition. The recognition comes in honor of his pivotal role in the AXIOM-4 mission, which marked India’s growing prominence on the global space stage. First Indian to Reach the International Space Station In June this year, Group Captain Shukla became the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS). Completing an 18-day mission, he returned to Earth on July 15, having conducted several scientific experiments operated by ISRO and contributed to research activities aboard the station. Post-mission, he underwent rehabilitation in the United States and returned to India on August 17, where he met President Droup...

New Delhi:The controversy over mining in the Aravalli Hills has escalated as the Supreme Court of India has admitted a petition challenging the “100-meter criterion” used to define which hills qualify as part of the Aravalli range. The petition was filed by R.P. Balwan, a retired forest official from Haryana, raising concerns over the environmental impact of this new benchmark. The 100-Meter Controversy Earlier, a committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recommended that hills 100 meters or taller should be considered as Aravalli. On November 20, the Supreme Court adopted this definition as a standard for regulating mining activities. Balwan, however, has now challenged this approach, arguing that it undermines conservation efforts for this anci...

New Delhi:In a significant step towards modernisation and self-reliance in defence, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is preparing to retire its ageing Soviet-origin Mi-35 attack helicopters—popularly known as the ‘Flying Tanks’—and replace them with India’s indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) ‘Prachand’, designed specifically for high-altitude warfare. End of an Era: Mi-35 Helicopters to be Phased Out According to defence sources, the Mi-35 fleet will be completely phased out by 2030–31, marking the end of nearly four decades of service by Russian heavy attack helicopters in the Indian arsenal. The Mi-25 and Mi-35 helicopters, inducted during the 1980s and 1990s, earned the nickname ‘Flying Tanks’ due to their heavy armour, firepower, and capability to transport troops while deliverin...

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently targeted the Congress Party while discussing Assam’s history amid ongoing violence against minorities in Bangladesh. He referred to a controversial plan by the British in 1946, aimed at merging Assam with what later became East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), a plan that ultimately failed due to strong local opposition. The 1946 Cabinet Mission PlanAfter World War II, the British government sent three cabinet ministers to India on March 24, 1946 under the so-called Cabinet Mission. While officially tasked with preparing India for self-governance, the mission reportedly sought to decide which parts of undivided India would remain in India and which would go to Pakistan. The plan envisioned a three-tier federal structure, with: A central fed...

New Delhi: The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the Aravalli Hills has raised concerns among environmentalists, sparking debates over how these ancient hills are defined and protected. The controversy centers on the Court’s decision to classify only land rising at least 100 meters (328 feet) above the surrounding terrain as part of the Aravalli range. While clusters of two or more such hills within 500 meters of each other will collectively form the Aravalli Hills, critics warn that this definition could leave many smaller but ecologically significant hills vulnerable to mining and construction. Ecological Importance of the AravallisThe Aravalli range, stretching over 650 kilometers from Delhi to Gujarat, is one of the oldest geological formations in India, dating back approximately 32 ...

New Delhi: India and New Zealand have signed a new Free Trade Agreement (FTA), reducing tariffs on 95% of New Zealand’s goods. This historic agreement opens access to 1.4 billion Indian consumers, creating significant opportunities for New Zealand exporters while boosting India’s global trade outreach. Under this agreement, 57% of New Zealand’s exports to India will be tariff-free from day one, rising to 82% as the agreement is fully implemented, with the remaining 13% subject to substantial tax reductions. India’s Growing FTA NetworkIn the past five years, India has actively expanded its trade agreements, signing deals with seven countries: Mauritius (2021), UAE (2022), EFTA/TEPA group (2024), UK (2025), Oman (2025), and now New Zealand. These agreements complement India’s existing ...

New Delhi: The Indian Navy is set to showcase India’s rich maritime heritage as its unique stitched ship, INSV Kondinya, embarks on its maiden voyage. The journey will commence from Porbandar, Gujarat, on 29th December, heading towards Muscat, Oman, and will later extend to Bali. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to flag off this historic expedition. Reviving Ancient Maritime TraditionsAccording to Navy spokesperson Captain Vivek Madhwal, INSV Kondinya is a revival of India’s ancient shipbuilding and seafaring traditions. The voyage symbolically retraces historic maritime routes that connected India with countries across the Indian Ocean for thousands of years. Unlike modern vessels, the ship’s wooden planks are stitched together using coconut fiber ropes and natural adhesi...

New Delhi: India is taking a significant step to strengthen its border security along the China frontier. In the rugged mountains of Uttarakhand, where harsh icy winds once made travel nearly impossible, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is set to construct a 32-kilometer-long strategic road. The new road will connect Neela Pani to Muling La Pass, directly reaching the India-Tibet border. The BRO will upgrade the existing rough and footpaths into an all-weather road, ensuring operational readiness throughout the year. Project OverviewThis critical project is estimated to cost around ₹104 crore. According to CNN-News18, BRO has already engaged consultants to assist in planning and executing the project, indicating that construction work has officially commenced. Strategic Importa...

New Delhi:Rahul Gandhi’s recent comments during his Germany visit have triggered a political storm in India. Speaking at an event in Berlin, the Congress leader claimed that India’s institutional framework is under a massive attack and alleged that the BJP government is attempting to manipulate votes. He also highlighted issues of duplicate voters in the electoral rolls and questioned the fairness of the 2024 Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections. BJP Hits Back Hard In response, BJP leaders launched a sharp attack on Rahul Gandhi. Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje stated that the Congress MP is not a leader of the opposition, but rather an anti-India leader who speaks against the nation while abroad. She added that Rahul Gandhi behaves like a child and lacks genuine concern for t...

New Delhi:A standing parliamentary committee has proposed a series of measures to tackle the chronic pollution and daily traffic congestion in the Delhi-NCR region. The committee emphasized that short-term fixes are insufficient, and only long-term planning and strong political will can restore normalcy for residents. Annual Cap on Petrol-Diesel Vehicles Among the key recommendations is the imposition of an annual registration ceiling on new non-electric vehicles (petrol and diesel). The panel believes that this step is critical to control rising pollution levels and ease traffic congestion in the region. Promotion of Premium Bus Services The committee also suggested incentivizing cleaner public transport. Citizens should be encouraged to opt for premium bus services designed w...