Nation

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday distributed appointment letters to over 61,000 newly recruited youths across various government departments and organizations through video conferencing, under the 18th Employment Fair. Addressing the young appointees, PM Modi said the occasion was particularly special, coinciding with the day when the Indian Constitution recognized “Jana Gana Mana” as the national anthem and “Vande Mataram” as the national song. He remarked that the 61,000 youths receiving government appointments were embarking on a new journey in life. Highlighting India’s economic progress, PM Modi said, “The growing global confidence in India is creating new opportunities for our youth. India is today the only major economy in the world that has doubled its GDP ...

New Delhi: The Delhi Police Special Cell has registered an FIR against Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a terrorist affiliated with the banned Sikh For Justice (SFJ) organization, for making provocative and objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of Republic Day. Authorities stated that Pannu, who resides in the United States, had released a video claiming that ‘sleeper cells’ had put up posters in support of Khalistan in Delhi’s Rohini and Dabri areas. The video, circulated on social media, threatened to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations and included offensive slogans targeting the Prime Minister. The FIR has been filed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including: Section 196 – Promoting enmity Section 197 – Prejudicial statements aga...

New Delhi: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has successfully intercepted a major smuggling operation from Bangladesh into India, seizing 52 bags of betel nuts (supari). The operation highlights ongoing cross-border smuggling concerns amid strained India-Bangladesh relations. Details of the OperationAccording to official sources, the ICG Fraserganj Station executed the operation on January 22, 2026, after receiving credible intelligence about illicit activities. The team located and intercepted an Indian fishing boat (IFB) named Lakshminarayan, which was transporting the contraband. During a thorough search, the Coast Guard recovered 52 bags of betel nuts, each weighing 50 kg, totaling 2,600 kg. The confiscated goods were being transported illegally across the maritime border from Banglad...

New Delhi: India is carefully preparing its stance on the Gaza peace initiative, taking a broader approach before potentially joining U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” proposal. While Trump has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate, India has not yet confirmed its position, preferring to consult all stakeholders first. Preparations Ahead of Arab Foreign Ministers’ MeetIndia had already planned to host the foreign ministers of Arab countries in New Delhi. On January 31, when the ministers arrive, India intends to gauge their response to Trump’s peace board proposal. Several Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE, have already decided to join Trump’s board. India is keen to understand their perspective...

New Delhi: The Congress high command has intensified efforts to resolve the reported differences between Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, with hopes that both senior leaders will meet soon. The party anticipates their meeting during the upcoming Parliament session in Delhi on January 28. Background of the RiftThe issue came to light after Tharoor reportedly skipped a crucial meeting convened by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to discuss preparations for the Kerala Assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi’s office reached out to Tharoor to understand the reasons for his absence. Party sources indicate that had Tharoor attended, Gandhi would have personally engaged with him to ease tensions. The differences reportedly began after Tharoor felt overlooked at a recent ‘Maha...

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to restrain the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from accessing data from the mobile phone of I-PAC officer Jitendra Mehta, which had been seized during a raid at the political consultancy’s Delhi office on January 8. The ED alleges that Rs 20 crore was sent via hawala from Kolkata to I-PAC’s Goa office. Arguments on PrivacySenior Advocate C.A. Sundaram, appearing before the bench led by CJI D.Y. Suryakant, argued that allowing the ED to unlock Mehta’s phone would violate his right to privacy. Sundaram requested that the ED be restrained from accessing the device until the next hearing scheduled for Tuesday. The bench, however, reportedly questioned the counsel, asking, “Why are you so afraid?” Sundaram emphasized that the Supreme Court sh...

New Delhi: In a significant move to promote India’s civilizational heritage, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated ‘Granth Kuteer’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. The initiative replaces British-era literature with a curated collection of approximately 2,300 works in India’s classical languages, providing a dedicated space for India’s rich philosophical, literary, and intellectual traditions. A Showcase of India’s Classical HeritageAccording to an official statement, the collection includes works in Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, spanning genres such as epic poetry, philosophy, linguistics, history, governance, science, devotional literature, and India’s constitution in classical languages. The collection also houses nea...

New Delhi: Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India amid political unrest, has broken her silence for the first time on the plight of minorities in Bangladesh. In an exclusive interview with Navbharat Times, Hasina spoke candidly about attacks on Hindus, the upcoming February elections, and the impact of the current Yunus administration on Bangladesh’s democracy. On Tarique Rahman’s ReturnHasina criticized the return of BNP leader Tarique Rahman, noting, “The people of Bangladesh must remember that Tarique Rahman spent several years in exile in London, far removed from the daily struggles of ordinary citizens. He fled the country after allegedly aiding in the misappropriation of public funds during his late mother, former PM Khaleda Zia’s tenure. This is not a ...

New Delhi: The Earth’s rotation and atmospheric patterns create some of the most complex weather phenomena on the planet. Among them are the Furious Fifties—powerful westerly winds that sweep across the Southern Hemisphere’s open oceans, creating roaring gales that historically terrified sailors. What Are the Furious Fifties?The Furious Fifties refer to strong westerly winds blowing between 50° and 60° south latitudes over the Southern Hemisphere. Their force increases as they traverse vast, uninterrupted ocean expanses, producing thundering, roaring gusts that have earned them a fearsome reputation. In earlier times, sailors often abandoned their ships and jumped into the sea to survive these violent winds. Global Wind Patterns Behind the PhenomenonThe winds originate from the flow ...

New Delhi: The government is preparing to grant ‘Vande Mataram’ a status similar to the national anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’, with formal rules and protocols for its rendition. In a recent high-level meeting, officials discussed whether the singing of the national song should be subject to official guidelines, conduct rules, or legal obligations, akin to those governing the national anthem. This initiative is part of the ruling BJP’s efforts to elevate the stature of ‘Vande Mataram’. Historical Significance of ‘Vande Mataram’Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s, ‘Vande Mataram’ became a slogan of the Swadeshi Movement (1905–08) and has deep associations with India’s freedom struggle. The BJP has criticized the Congress for removing key portions of the song in 1937, which th...