Nation

New Delhi, February 25, 2026 — India is on the verge of clinching another significant trade agreement, with Canada poised to become the sixth major country or bloc to finalize a trade pact with New Delhi within a year. New momentum has gathered around the long-pending Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two nations. Negotiations, which began nearly 15 years ago, had stalled repeatedly due to diplomatic tensions. However, ties have shown signs of improvement since Mark Carney assumed office as Canada’s Prime Minister last year, leading to renewed political engagement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Fresh Push During Carney’s India Visit In a significant diplomatic gesture, Prime Minister Carney is scheduled to visit India from February 26 for a 10-day...

New Delhi, February 25, 2026 — India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas appears to be navigating a challenging phase, with the fighter fleet undergoing intensive technical scrutiny following a recent ground incident. The development has raised the possibility that the aircraft may not participate in the upcoming ‘Vayu Shakti’ air power exercise. According to media reports, the Tejas fleet has not been flying for over two weeks after an incident earlier this month, and the aircraft was notably absent from the full-dress rehearsal held at Pokhran on Tuesday. The main ‘Vayu Shakti’ event is scheduled for February 27. Technical Review Underway The Tejas was expected to be showcased as a symbol of India’s indigenous defence capabilities during the high-profile exercise, whe...

New Delhi, February 25, 2026 — Is a significant defence agreement in the works between India and Israel? Strong indications emerged as Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for a two-day state visit to Israel, signaling deeper cooperation in defence and strategic sectors. At the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Modi is visiting Israel from February 25–26 in what will be his second trip to the country and his first during his third term in office. The visit comes nearly nine years after his landmark 2017 tour, which marked the first standalone visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel. Strong Signals on Defence and Security Before departure, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the visit would further consolidate the “strong and multi-faceted strategic part...

New Delhi, February 25, 2026 — The Supreme Court on Tuesday underscored the need for a robust mechanism to make voting effectively mandatory in order to strengthen Indian democracy. The court observed that a non-punitive system encouraging compulsory voting could lead to higher voter turnout, the emergence of better candidates, and eventually render the NOTA (None of the Above) option irrelevant. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi made the remarks while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. Court’s Observations on NOTA The bench noted that the NOTA option was introduced to encourage voter participation and to push political parties to field better candidates. However, after nearly a decade of experie...

Jerusalem/New Delhi, February 25, 2026 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his two-day visit to Israel on Wednesday (February 25–26), marking a significant chapter in India–Israel relations. In a historic first, he is set to address the Israeli Parliament — the Knesset — becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so. The visit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions in West Asia, particularly amid escalating strains between the United States and Iran. Against this backdrop, Modi’s address to the Knesset carries diplomatic weight and strategic symbolism. Why the Knesset Is in the Spotlight The Indian Prime Minister’s address has triggered political debate within Israel itself. Controversy arose after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly did not invi...

New Delhi: India’s weather is set for fresh changes, with the India Meteorological Department issuing alerts for rainfall, thunderstorms, wind, and snow in parts of the country. While plains are experiencing rising temperatures, winter chill persists in hill regions, and active weather systems are expected to influence conditions across many states today. ([Navbharat Times][1]) Nationwide Weather Outlook Rain & Thunderstorms Alert: IMD has warned of rain, gusty winds, and thunderstorms in several states over the next 24 hours, especially in central, eastern, and southern regions. This includes rain over Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya. Light to moderate rainfall ...

New Delhi: Fresh developments have emerged in the investigation into the plane crash involving Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, with aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reportedly suspecting serious lapses in aircraft maintenance. Sources indicate that the aircraft operated by VSR Ventures Private Limited, which was used in the crash incident, may not have undergone timely maintenance. During a special safety audit conducted by the DGCA, maintenance records for multiple aircraft owned by the company were found to be missing. Four Aircraft Grounded Following the audit, four Learjet 40/45 aircraft bearing registration numbers VT-VRA, VT-VRS, VT-VRV, and VT-TRI have been grounded. Investigators reportedly could not access mandatory maintenan...

New Delhi: The Delhi Police have added charges of rioting against members of the Indian Youth Congress arrested in connection with a protest staged during last week’s ‘AI Impact Summit’ in the national capital. The demonstration took place inside Hall No. 5 of Bharat Mandapam, where a group of Youth Congress activists allegedly removed their shirts and displayed T-shirts bearing slogans against the government and the proposed India–US interim trade agreement. Security personnel swiftly escorted them out of the venue. Youth Congress President Arrested Delhi Police arrested Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib, describing him as the “main conspirator” behind the protest. So far, eight members of the organization have been taken into custody. According to Chib’s arrest memo, h...

New Delhi: In a major breakthrough in India’s campaign to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism, four senior leaders of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) — including top commander Devji alias Tippiri Thirupathi — surrendered before Telangana Director General of Police B. Shivdhar Reddy on Tuesday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing CRPF personnel during the 87th Raising Day parade in Guwahati, reiterated the Centre’s resolve to eradicate Naxalism by March 31. He praised the Central Reserve Police Force and its elite CoBRA battalions for their “unparalleled service” and sustained efforts to make India Naxal-free. Four Senior Leaders Lay Down Arms The surrendered leaders include: Devji alias Tippiri Thirupathi (62) Murali alias Sangram (76) Bada Chokka Rao alias ...