Nation

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to visit the United States next week to attend the Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting, a high-level forum focused on securing the global supply chain of essential minerals. The visit could also help ease recent tensions in India-US relations and potentially set the stage for a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President Donald Trump. The ministerial meeting, hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington D.C., will bring together partner countries to discuss cooperation in critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. These minerals are vital for electric vehicles, renewable energy infrastructure, and defense systems. The summit comes at a time when trade negotiations between Indi...

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken a strong stand against attempts to manipulate the medical admissions system through fraudulent religious conversions. Two upper-caste candidates reportedly adopted Buddhism to seek admission under the minority quota in postgraduate medical courses, prompting the court to describe the move as an infringement on the rights of genuine minority candidates. The case came up on Tuesday when the petitioners approached the court claiming they had converted to Buddhism and produced certificates issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO). However, when questioned about their caste, the candidates revealed they were Jats. The court observed, “You belong to the upper-caste category. How can you then be considered a minority?” The Supreme Court expressed con...

New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and has called for a thorough investigation into the incident. Ajit Pawar, along with four other individuals, died in the crash near Baramati in Pune district on Wednesday morning. Investigation Needed into the Cause of the CrashWhen asked about the need for an inquiry, Kharge told reporters at the Parliament premises, “An investigation must be conducted because such an accident has occurred. Leaders and corporate officials frequently travel by air. This was a small aircraft—why this happened needs to be thoroughly examined.” Earlier, Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also...

New Delhi / Paris: In a move that could reshape digital safety for children, Andhra Pradesh and Goa are reportedly preparing to introduce restrictions on social media use for minors. The initiative follows similar steps taken internationally, with France recently banning social media for children under 15 and Australia being the first country to impose a nationwide ban on platforms for those under 16. France Leads the WayFrance’s new legislation, approved by the National Assembly with a 130-21 vote, will come into effect from the next academic session in September. The law also imposes restrictions on mobile phone use within high schools. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that the measure is guided by scientific recommendations and reflects overwhelming public demand. He state...

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu, in her address to the joint session of Parliament during the Budget Session 2026, lauded the bravery and valor of the Indian armed forces in “Operation Sindoor” and emphasized that the day is not far when terrorism will be completely eradicated from the country. She said that India has successfully destroyed terrorist hideouts using its own resources, sending a firm message that any attack on the nation will be met with a decisive response. President Murmu’s AddressQuoting Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, President Murmu said, “Fear should neither be instilled in others nor should we live in fear.” She emphasized that with this fearless spirit, India can ensure its security. Highlighting the success of Operation Sindoor, she stated that the world witnessed the ...

The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment on April 15, 2025, upheld the constitutional validity of Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), now renumbered as Section 84 under the Indian Justice Code, 2023. The court emphasized that while instances of misuse have occurred, the law remains crucial for protecting women from domestic cruelty and dowry harassment. A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Suryakant and Justice N. Kotishwar Singh dismissed a petition filed by the organization People’s Voice under Article 32 of the Constitution, which sought gender-neutral guidelines for domestic violence complaints and challenged the constitutionality of Section 498A. Petitioners’ ArgumentThe petitioners argued that Section 498A is frequently misused, causing husbands and their famili...

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear petitions concerning the Air India crash that occurred on June 12, 2025. An NGO has filed a public interest litigation (PIL), alleging that the official investigation violated citizens’ fundamental rights, including the right to life, equality, and access to accurate information. Details of the Tragic CrashThe ill-fated flight, Air India Boeing 787-8 AI171, was en route from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick Airport, operated by Pilot-in-Command Captain Sumit Sabharwal and Co-Pilot Captain Clive Kunder. The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, resulting in the deaths of all 260 people on board, including 241 passengers and crew members. Government Yet to RespondDuring Wednesday’s hearing before a bench of Chief Justice Suryakant and ...

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced new regulations aimed at promoting equality in higher education institutions (HEIs), set to be implemented by 2026. The updated rules expand coverage beyond SC/ST students to include OBCs as well. While the move aims to ensure fairness, students from the general category have raised concerns, claiming the regulations are biased against them. What the New Rules SayThe 2026 regulations mark a significant shift from the advisory framework of 2012. Previously, guidelines focused primarily on SC/ST students, with punishments for offenders but limited institutional accountability. The new framework establishes a three-tier system in every HEI: Equal Opportunity Centre to monitor access, Equity Committee for investigation and recomme...

By Ashok Upadhyay | New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu addressed a joint session of both Houses of Parliament on the first day of the Budget Session. During her speech, opposition MPs created a ruckus over certain issues, prompting strong criticism from the BJP, particularly targeting Congress and other opposition parties. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the disruption during the President’s address will not be forgiven by the nation. He highlighted that opposition members were creating a commotion even when tributes were being paid to literary icon Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and the sacrifices of Guru Tegh Bahadur. President Murmu appealed to all MPs to cooperate in the smooth functioning of the House. She emphasized the government’s commitment to “Sabka S...

By Hemant Rajoura | New Delhi: The Congress party in West Bengal is once again at a critical crossroads. After years of contesting elections as part of alliances with the Left, the party is signaling a potential break from its past partnerships. The debate within Congress goes beyond seat-sharing or immediate electoral calculations—it reflects a deeper concern for the party’s revival and organizational survival in the state. A Steep Decline in Vote ShareThe Congress-Left alliance has been active in Bengal politics since 2016. The two parted ways during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but reunited for the 2021 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, these experiments have largely proved disadvantageous for Congress. The 2021 Assembly elections were a stark example: contesting 92 seats i...