Nation

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has delivered a significant verdict, clarifying that a married woman cannot file a rape case against a man on the ground that he made a false promise of marriage. The court emphasized that filing such cases in these circumstances amounts to a misuse of the criminal justice system. Case BackgroundThe ruling came while disposing of a case filed by a woman lawyer who accused another lawyer of rape, alleging that she had been sexually involved with him based on his promise of marriage. The bench, comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjwal Bhuiyan, observed that when the complainant is already married, she is legally ineligible to contract another marriage. Therefore, any sexual relationship arising under the false pretext of marriage cannot form the basis fo...

New Delhi: In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has clarified that police cannot arrest an individual merely for questioning. The court emphasized that for offenses punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years, authorities must first issue a notice under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, instead of resorting to arrest. Arrest Only When NecessaryA bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and N.K. Singh stated that law enforcement agencies should take a person into custody only when it is strictly necessary for the investigation. Arrest should not be used as a tool to facilitate questioning. The ruling interprets multiple provisions of the BNSS, 2023, related to arrest and the powers of the police. Notice Mandatory for Cases with Less than Sev...

New Delhi: The weather across northern and central India is set for significant changes as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues alerts for rainfall and snowfall in several states. From Delhi to Jammu & Kashmir, residents can expect fluctuations in temperature and visibility over the coming days. Western Himalayan Regions on AlertThe IMD has issued warnings of heavy rainfall and snowfall in western Himalayan regions from February 6 to 11. Additionally, northwestern India is likely to experience strong winds at 20–30 km/h over the next 2–3 days. Dense fog is expected today in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. Delhi-NCR ForecastIn Delhi-NCR, the impact of the winter chill is gradually easing, with both maximum and minimum temperatures on the rise. Th...

By Harsh V. Pant | New Delhi: China is currently witnessing significant turbulence within its political and military establishment. Recently, President Xi Jinping took decisive action against two senior military officers, one of whom was his childhood friend, highlighting his determination to assert total control over the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The Purge of Senior GeneralsGenerals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were removed from their posts for violating the Chairman Responsibility System, effectively challenging Xi Jinping’s authority and undermining the warfighting capabilities of both the Communist Party and the PLA. The swiftness of the action underscores Xi’s intent to eliminate independent power centers ahead of the 21st Party Congress next year, where a leadership transitio...

New Delhi: French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit India later this month, and during his trip, the two countries are expected to discuss a major deal for the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets. The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is likely to deliberate on the ₹3.25 lakh crore proposal for the Indian Air Force (IAF). Last month, the Defence Procurement Board gave initial approval to the IAF’s proposal. High-Level Defence Talks ExpectedDefence sources told ANI that a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Defence is expected next week to discuss the proposal. The deal is considered crucial to meet the IAF’s operational requirements amid the current security dynamics in the region. Presently, the IAF operates only around 30 fighter squadrons, while its sanctioned strength is 42...

New Delhi: The central government has informed Parliament that regular discussions are underway between India’s Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Russia’s ROSATOM to strengthen collaboration in the nuclear energy sector. These talks cover both large-scale nuclear power plants and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). However, no concrete details have been finalized yet. The information was shared by Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in the Lok Sabha on February 4, 2026. Dr. Singh emphasized that safety remains the top priority at every stage of nuclear power plant projects. All plants are constructed strictly according to the stage-wise approvals of the Nuclear Power Plant Regulatory Authority, the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB). Regarding stak...

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, dismissing claims made by the Lok Sabha Speaker regarding an alleged plot by opposition members to create an “unexpected incident” in the House. Speaking from the Parliament premises, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi called the Speaker’s statement “completely false and nonsense.” She alleged that the Prime Minister is hiding behind the Speaker and having false narratives presented on his behalf because he “did not have the courage to attend the House himself.” PM Modi Allegedly Hiding Behind Speaker Priyanka Gandhi told reporters, “This is entirely untrue. There was no question of any plan to do anything against the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is hiding behind the Lok Sabha Spea...

The weather is set to take a turn across several states as western disturbances gain strength, bringing heavy rain and snowfall in the northern regions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for multiple states, including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. According to the IMD, the western Himalayan region can expect heavy rainfall and snowfall during 5–6 February and 9–11 February. Meanwhile, northwestern India is likely to experience strong winds at speeds of 20–30 km/h over the next 2–3 days. On 6 February, dense fog is expected over Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. In Himachal Pradesh, dense fog is likely during early morning and nighttime hours on 7 February, significantly reducing visibility in many areas. Stat...

New Delhi: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday for not delivering his scheduled speech in the Lok Sabha. Representing Wayanad, she claimed that the Prime Minister was avoiding questions raised by the opposition. The motion of thanks on the President’s address was passed in the Lok Sabha by voice vote amid frequent slogans and disruptions. It was expected that PM Modi would address the House on Wednesday. However, due to repeated protests and interruptions by opposition members, his speech was cancelled, and the House was adjourned. ‘Are They Afraid of Epstein Files?’Speaking during the Lok Sabha proceedings, Priyanka Gandhi questioned whether the government was deliberately avoiding opposition scrutiny. Respondi...

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was advised not to attend the House on Wednesday due to the risk of an unforeseen incident. Birla stated that several Congress members had approached the Prime Minister’s podium with the potential to create a disruptive situation, which, if it had occurred, would have been unprecedented in the history of the Lok Sabha. Speaking about the events, Birla said, “The behavior exhibited by some opposition members in the chamber yesterday has no parallel since the establishment of the Lok Sabha. It was a dark blot on the House’s traditions and parliamentary decorum.” He emphasized that political disagreements should never extend to such confrontational acts in the House or its offices. Expressing his di...