Nation

New Delhi: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has clarified its strategic approach toward the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, India’s ambitious indigenous fifth-generation stealth fighter jet. Despite recent media reports suggesting HAL may be excluded from the AMCA prototype development stage, the state-owned aerospace company has confirmed that it intends to play a major role when production orders for the jet are issued in the next decade. HAL’s Strategic ApproachHAL CMD D.K. Sunil told media outlets that the company has not officially been removed from the AMCA project. While certain private firms may be tasked with prototype development, HAL is preparing to participate in full-scale production when large orders for the Indian Air Force are finalized, expected aroun...

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled the long and eventful history of the Sardar Sarovar Dam in the Rajya Sabha while responding to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address. He highlighted that though the project was envisioned by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and laid by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961, bureaucratic delays and political indecision kept it unfinished for decades. The dam was ultimately completed under Modi’s leadership. Historic Planning and DelaysAccording to archival records, Sardar Patel first conceptualized harnessing the waters of the Narmada River in 1946, long before Modi’s birth. Following Patel’s demise, successive Congress-led governments failed to execute the plan efficiently, leaving the project stalled for over 50 years due to red tape and ind...

New Delhi: India’s aviation regulator has revealed alarming findings in its latest audit, reporting repeated technical issues in nearly half of the aircraft inspected last year. The most affected carriers are Air India and IndiGo, raising concerns over maintenance and operational standards. Audit FindingsAccording to data presented by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, the regulator conducted audits of 754 aircraft between January 2025 and February 3, 2026. Out of these, 377 planes exhibited recurring defects. While not all issues directly affect flight safety, the sheer frequency—nearly 50% of aircraft inspected—raises significant concern for passengers. Airline-Specific Observations IndiGo: 148 aircraft reported repeated defects Air India: 137 aircr...

New Delhi: Even before its release, the autobiography of former Indian Army Chief General M.M. Naravane, titled “Four Stars of Destiny”, has ignited a political firestorm in Parliament, drawing attention from the government, opposition, and the public alike. Parliamentary Row Over Book ExcerptsThe book, which remains unpublished, has already become a reference point in the Lok Sabha. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi sought to raise points based on the book, highlighting issues such as India’s stance during Operation Sindoor and the Agnipath scheme. However, the government argued that no claims should be made on the basis of an unreleased book. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey appeared in the House with several other books to counter the opposition’s references, turning the debate into a “battle of ...

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...