Nation

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking stricter standards for bottled drinking water, describing the plea as “luxury litigation” driven by “urban phobia.” A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Justice Suryakant observed that a significant portion of India’s population is still struggling to access even basic clean drinking water. Rejecting the petition, the Court emphasized that concerns over premium quality standards cannot override the ground reality faced by millions, especially in rural areas where people continue to depend largely on groundwater for drinking purposes. “Quality Comes Later” Addressing the petitioner, Sarang Vaman Yadavdkar, the CJI remarked, “In this country, people are still deprived of clean drinking water. ...

In one of the most striking examples of India’s diverse tribal heritage, a now-defunct tradition from Nagaland’s Longwa village reveals how acts of warfare, honour, and family pride were once deeply intertwined. According to this age-old custom, if a man beheaded an enemy, his wife would commemorate the act by getting a tattoo on her body—one tattoo for each head taken. Located on the India–Myanmar border, Longwa village is unique not only for its geography—half of the village lies in India and the other half in Myanmar—but also for its centuries-old warrior culture. Among the local tribes, beheading an enemy was historically regarded as a symbol of bravery, prestige, and social status. A Symbol of Valour and Celebration As per tribal belief, severing an enemy’s head was not merel...

As Parliament clears a landmark bill allowing private participation in India’s nuclear energy sector, nominated Rajya Sabha member Sudha Murty has come out in strong support of the move, arguing that nuclear energy should not be viewed solely through the prism of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Speaking during the debate on the Sustainable Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SANTI) Bill, 2025, Murty said nuclear energy has long been unfairly associated only with destruction, while its peaceful and developmental potential is often ignored. “Nuclear energy is frequently linked to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but it can and should be used for peaceful purposes,” she said, adding that this is precisely why the legislation is being referred to as a ‘peace bill’. Support for Privat...

Muscat, Oman: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian community and students in Muscat, Oman, highlighting the deep-rooted ties between India and Oman and emphasizing India’s bold, decisive approach in the 21st century. 21st Century India: Bold and Decisive PM Modi said, “21st century India takes bold and swift decisions, sets ambitious goals, and delivers results within defined timelines.” He praised the recent UNESCO recognition of Diwali as an intangible cultural heritage, calling it a global acknowledgment of India’s spirit of hope, harmony, and humanity. Celebrating India’s Diversity and Heritage Addressing the Indian community, Modi remarked, “Every tradition brings with it new ideas. Our diversity is the strong foundation of our culture. Wherever Indians go, th...

New Delhi: During the Rajya Sabha discussion on the Nuclear Energy Transformation Bill 2025 (SHANTI Bill 2025), Congress MP Jairam Ramesh sharply questioned the government regarding its stance on nuclear energy, highlighting the opposition BJP’s objections to the 2008 Indo-US nuclear deal. BJP’s 2008 Opposition Highlighted Ramesh pointed out that BJP had strongly opposed the nuclear agreement with the US, claiming that nuclear energy had “no future.” He remarked, “It was the same deal that opened multiple strategic and technological pathways between India and the United States. The current SHANTI Bill 2025 is a direct outcome of the foundations laid by that agreement.” Congress’s Role in Advancing Nuclear and Space Programs Ramesh also emphasized Congress’s contributions during...

New Delhi: In a landmark ruling, the Delhi High Court has clarified that couples seeking divorce by mutual consent may not be required to fulfill the one-year separation condition under certain circumstances. Mutual Consent Can Override Legal Separation Requirement A full bench comprising Justice Naveen Chawla, Nup J Bhambhani, and Renu Bhatnagar observed that courts have the discretion to waive the mandatory separation period if both spouses agree to end their marriage amicably. The court emphasized that the cooling-off period of six months, prescribed under law, is not intended to obstruct couples from exercising their choice to dissolve the marriage. The bench stated, “Marriage is indeed a sacred institution, but when both husband and wife mutually decide to end the relationshi...

New Delhi: Despite strong opposition protests, the Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Bill, 2025, replacing the MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sharply criticized opposition parties during the proceedings. Opposition Protests and Disruptions The debate over the bill on Wednesday extended late into the night, with opposition members demanding that the legislation be referred to the Departmental Parliamentary Standing Committee for further scrutiny. Congress leader K.C. Venugopal renewed this demand on Thursday before the minister responded, but the Speaker rejected the request. During the discussions, some opposition members reportedly tore copies of the bill and threw papers in the...

New Delhi: The second joint military exercise between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), named Desert Cyclone-2, commenced today in Abu Dhabi. Scheduled to run from December 18 to 30, the exercise involves 45 Indian soldiers, primarily from the Mechanized Infantry Regiment, alongside 53 soldiers from the UAE’s Mechanized Infantry Battalion. Training for Urban Warfare and Heliborne Operations Over the two-week exercise, troops from both countries will conduct operations in constructed urban environments, practicing heliborne operations including helicopter insertion into simulated terrorist zones, as well as rescue and relief drills. Strengthening Defence Cooperation According to the Ministry of Defence, the primary objective of Desert Cyclone-2 is to enhance coordination...

New Delhi: The Congress party has landed itself in hot water over 51 cartons of documents related to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, which have not yet been returned. The central government has now directly questioned Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on why these papers, handed to the family in accordance with legal procedures, have not been returned to the Prime Minister Museum and Library (PMML). Shekhawat Demands Answers Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat criticized Congress and tweeted, “The 51 boxes of documents related to Jawaharlal Nehru were taken back by the Gandhi family from PMML (then NMML) in 2008. These documents were legally handed over to the family, and their records and catalogues exist at PMML. The key question is why these document...

New Delhi: BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has voiced strong criticism against opposition parties over disruptions in Parliament concerning the renaming of government schemes. The controversy centers on MGNREGA, now rebranded as “G RAM G” (G Vikas Bharat – Guarantee for Rural Employment and Livelihood Mission). Ranaut Targets Opposition Speaking on the issue, Kangana Ranaut said, “Parliament is being obstructed, which creates inconvenience for everyone. Several schemes have had their names changed in the past, including by the Congress party itself. Governments often update and improve schemes to introduce novelty and efficiency.” About the New Scheme Name MGNREGA has been officially renamed “G RAM G”, standing for “G Vikas Bharat – Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural)...