Nation

New Delhi: The Indian Navy is set to significantly enhance its maritime combat capabilities with the induction of its second MH‑60R multi‑role helicopter squadron. The new squadron, INAS 335, christened “Ospreys,” will be commissioned on December 17 at INS Hansa, Goa. Manufactured by US defence major Lockheed Martin, the MH‑60R helicopters are among the world’s most advanced naval aviation platforms. Designed primarily for anti‑submarine warfare (ASW), these helicopters are capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralising enemy submarines in a single swift operation. They will be deployed onboard frontline Indian Navy warships, dramatically strengthening fleet defence and strike capabilities. Equipped with state‑of‑the‑art sensors, weapons systems, and advanced avionics, the MH‑60R i...

New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor recently shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) that critically examines the political strategies of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, praising it as a thoughtful and insightful analysis. The post highlights the ideological differences between Tharoor and Gandhi within the party. The post, originally by X user Sivitas Sameer, outlines the contrasting approaches of Tharoor and Gandhi. It states, “The problem is not with either ideology itself. The issue lies in Congress’s inability to choose, integrate, or implement either effectively.” Tharoor, representing the viewpoint aligned with 1990s Congress ideals—reform-oriented, urban-influenced, and institutionally focused—acknowledged the analysis as accurate and shared it widely. Rahul Gandhi’s Strategy C...

New Delhi: In a major boost to its maritime combat capability, the Indian Navy is set to commission the second squadron of MH‑60R multi‑role helicopters, popularly known as ‘Romeo’, on December 17 at INS Hansa, Goa. Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi is expected to attend the commissioning ceremony of INAS 335. The induction of the second Romeo squadron significantly strengthens India’s naval warfare readiness, especially at a time when Chinese naval activity has increased sharply in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). These state‑of‑the‑art helicopters are designed to meet the demands of future maritime warfare, combining advanced weapons, sensors, and surveillance systems. Built for Conventional and Modern Warfare The US‑made MH‑60R Seahawk, also called Romeo, is equipped with a m...

New Delhi: The troubles for former Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma are far from over. Following the discovery of bundles of burnt currency notes at his residence, Justice Varma has now been given just six weeks to respond to the allegations. The directive comes from a three-member investigation panel headed by Supreme Court Justice Arvind Kumar, which also includes Chief Justice M.M. Srivastava of Madras High Court and senior advocate B.V. Acharya. The panel was constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after a motion signed by 146 MPs was submitted calling for action against Justice Varma. Earlier, during proceedings on 5 December, Justice Varma had requested eight weeks to submit his response. However, the panel has now made it clear that six weeks is the final timefr...

New Delhi: Delhi’s notorious traffic jams are nothing new, but the city’s roads saw a surprising improvement during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit. Historically, VIP visits to Rajghat have meant sudden road closures, long detours, and hours of congestion, especially around ITO and nearby areas. This time, the scenario was notably different. While traffic slowed briefly, it cleared within minutes, allowing vehicles to keep moving. The key factor was advance public advisories, issued a day before the visit and widely shared on social media with clear maps and instructions. Residents were able to plan alternate routes, avoiding the most affected areas. Continuous monitoring and deployment of traffic police during and after the visit further ensured smooth movement. This...

New Delhi: While northern cities like Delhi continue to grapple with poor air quality during the winter months, popular hill stations are offering travelers a much-needed breath of fresh air. According to the latest data from AQI.in, tourists are flocking to destinations such as Shimla, Manali, and Kullu for cleaner, healthier air this weekend. Real-time readings from 9 December show Shimla recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 33, falling within the ‘Good’ category. PM2.5 levels stood at 20 µg/m³, indicating low pollution. The combination of clear skies, low humidity, and moderate winds helped disperse pollutants, keeping air quality well below health risk levels. Further north, Manali and Kullu registered an AQI of 18, with PM2.5 concentrations between 11–12 µg/m³, among the clea...

New Delhi: Former IAS officer Raj Kumar Goyal has been sworn in as the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) by President Droupadi Murmu. The ceremony was attended by Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh, and several other dignitaries. Goyal, a 1990-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre (Arunachal Pradesh–Goa–Mizoram–Union Territories), recently retired on 31 August as Secretary, Department of Justice, under the Ministry of Law and Justice. He has also held the position of Secretary (Border Management) in the Ministry of Home Affairs and served in key administrative roles in both the central government and the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. The appointment comes on the recommendation of a three-member panel headed by Prime Min...

New Delhi: The Indian Army has placed orders worth ₹5,000 crore for indigenous drones, capable of countering enemy spoofing and jamming tactics. Before finalizing the purchase, the Army conducted rigorous testing, recreating conditions similar to Operation Sindoor, ensuring that these drones meet operational requirements in challenging environments. Three-Pronged Capability According to reports, the drones ordered will handle enemy threats in three distinct ways: Short-range kamikaze drones designed to destroy targets by self-destruction. Long-range precision mission drones capable of identifying and neutralizing targets before returning safely. Surveillance UAVs for intelligence-gathering and reconnaissance operations. Strict Selection and Indigenous Focus The Army’...

New Delhi: A groundbreaking study by AIIMS’ Department of Biotechnology offers fresh hope for women suffering from postmenopausal osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones rapidly after menopause. For the first time, researchers have shown that a common probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, can slow down bone loss by modulating the immune system. Published in the Journal of Cellular Physiology and supported by ANRF, the study highlights that osteoporosis is not just caused by calcium deficiency but is significantly influenced by immune system imbalances. Postmenopausal estrogen decline disrupts immune cell balance, particularly regulatory T-cells (Tregs) in the gut, leading to an increase in Th17 inflammatory cells that accelerate bone breakdown. How the Probiotic Works ...

New Delhi: A major development has emerged regarding employee salaries in the Supreme Court. For years, some Chief Justices of India (CJI) were reportedly granting arbitrary additional increments to select staff members just before retirement. This practice has now been halted, and past increments have been withdrawn. Unlike typical government or private jobs, where salary increases are annual, in the Supreme Court, certain staff were receiving two to three extra increments per year, with some close to the CJI getting up to six extra increments. This effectively raised salaries by up to 150% for a few employees over the past four years. Full Court Intervention Former CJI B.R. Gavai convened a full court meeting to address this irregularity. Judges collectively emphasized that the ...