Nation

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has declined to issue directions on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking comprehensive guidelines to prevent stampedes during large public gatherings, including religious events, political rallies, and processions. A bench led by Chief Justice Suryakant allowed the petitioner to approach the Union Home Ministry and the Election Commission instead. Responsibility for Law and OrderThe court observed that maintaining law and order during public events is primarily the responsibility of the state governments and the central authorities. The bench noted that issuing such guidelines would amount to policymaking, a domain where enforcement agencies and experts in crowd management are better suited. Balancing Rights and Public SafetyThe petitioner argued th...

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing debate over the national song Vande Mataram, the Congress party on Friday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him and the BJP government of attempting to distort India’s history. The party claimed that the government deliberately omitted certain facts during the debate on Vande Mataram, and in the process, misrepresented the history of the national anthem, impacting the legacy of Rabindranath Tagore. Allegations Against PM ModiCongress General Secretary and Communications In-Charge Jairam Ramesh posted on X (formerly Twitter) criticizing the ruling party and the Prime Minister. He alleged that during a recent parliamentary discussion on the national song, the government misrepresented historical facts, undermining Tagore’s reputa...

Amroha, Uttar Pradesh: The Uttar Pradesh Police registered an FIR on December 9, 2025, involving allegations that go beyond the immediate scope of the triple talaq law, exposing a grey area in legal and social practices that often goes unaddressed. A woman from Amroha has alleged that immediately after being divorced through triple talaq, she was forced to undergo ‘halala’ multiple times under coercion in order to remarry her husband. What is the Case About?According to the victim, her husband, brother-in-law, and certain clerics compelled her to undergo ‘halala’ several times to make her eligible for remarriage. Halala is a controversial practice in which a divorced woman must marry another man and engage in intimate relations before she can remarry her previous husband. The woman clai...

As January draws to a close and February approaches, Delhi-NCR witnessed a sharp change in weather on Friday, with heavy rain accompanied by strong, chilly winds. The Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) forecast has proved accurate, bringing much-needed relief from severe air pollution while also intensifying the winter chill across the region. Early Friday morning, several parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region experienced rainfall along with gusty winds, signalling a fresh dip in temperatures. After an unusually warm spell earlier in the week, the mercury is expected to fall again, making the cold more pronounced in North India. Western Disturbance Behind the Weather Shift According to the IMD, the sudden change in weather is due to an active Western Disturbance aff...

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s upcoming visit to India in February, ahead of the BRICS Summit later this year, is far from routine. With India set to host and chair the BRICS Summit, Lula’s early arrival underscores the growing strategic convergence between India and Brazil, particularly on leadership of the Global South amid rising global uncertainty. President Lula is scheduled to visit India from February 19 to 21 and is likely to participate in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit in New Delhi, which will also see the presence of several global leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron. However, diplomats and strategic experts note that Lula’s visit carries significance well beyond the AI summit, positioning India and Brazil as key partners shaping the ...

As global attention turns to fresh efforts to stabilise West Asia, India faces a complex diplomatic choice after being invited to join US President Donald Trump’s newly launched “Board of Peace” (BoP)—an initiative aimed at reinforcing a ceasefire in Gaza and overseeing a temporary governance framework in Palestinian territories. The United States has extended invitations to nearly 60 countries, including India, to be part of the three-year body. However, New Delhi has not yet indicated whether it will accept the proposal. Notably, several major powers such as France, the United Kingdom, China, Germany, Sweden and Norway stayed away from the signing ceremony, while countries including Russia, Italy, Türkiye, Ukraine and Paraguay have refrained from making any formal commitment. What ...

Former IMF Chief Economist and Harvard University Professor Gita Gopinath has reframed pollution not merely as a health or social issue but as a significant economic risk—a perspective supported by senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, Gopinath highlighted that the internal economic costs of pollution, such as health burdens and reduced workforce productivity, far exceed potential risks from changing trade tariffs. Her statement underscores a growing recognition that India’s economic stability is closely linked to air and water quality. Political Support and Administrative Suggestions Several Indian leaders advocating environmental reforms have endorsed Gopinath’s view. Shashi Tharoor reiterated these concerns, noting tha...

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday noted that the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) order did not explicitly state that the exercise was also aimed at identifying illegal migrants. The court observed that the directive did not clearly mention citizenship verification as one of its objectives. Election Commission’s lawyer Rakesh Dwivedi acknowledged the court’s observation, agreeing that the order contained no direct reference to this. Dwivedi emphasized that the SIR process was fair, transparent, and impartial, countering claims that it was arbitrary. He pointed out that during the process in Bihar, names of 6.6 million individuals were removed, but none had approached the Supreme Court or High Court, nor submitted petitions to the Election Commission. On C...

In a remarkable breakthrough in medical science, Delhi witnessed the country’s first-ever “knee-salvage” surgery, offering hope to patients with severe knee injuries. A New Lease of Life for Knee PatientsA 30-year-old woman had been suffering from intense knee pain following a serious meniscus tear. Despite undergoing standard meniscus repair surgery, the procedure failed, putting her at risk of needing a knee transplant at a young age. As a last resort, RML Hospital adopted the innovative “knee-salvage” technique. The procedure involved creating a new cushion from the patient’s thigh tissue and replacing the damaged meniscus. Post-surgery, the patient experienced significant pain relief, and the risk of arthritis or early knee replacement was averted. Details of the SurgeryThe su...

Drivers can now challenge traffic or transport-related fines online, within 45 days of receiving the challan, following new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The move comes as only 38% of e-challans are currently being paid across various states and union territories, partly due to leniency in some regions. Timeframe to Challenge a FineYou have 45 days from the date of the challan to submit a challenge via the centralized portal echallan.parivahan.gov.in, along with relevant documentary evidence. Failure to do so within this period will be treated as acceptance of the fine. The penalty must then be paid within 75 days of the challan issuance, either online or offline. What’s New in the SystemEarlier, unpaid fines after 90 days automatically went to vir...