Nation

India’s PSLV-C62 mission, the country’s first space launch of the year, ended in failure, as the rocket veered off course due to a technical glitch. The mission was carrying 16 satellites and payloads, including a critical defense payload from DRDO, and was considered strategically important for India’s national diplomacy and global space ambitions. The failure has affected both objectives. Lessons from Failure Space mission failures are not uncommon. Agencies like ISRO, NASA, SpaceX, as well as China and Russia, have all faced setbacks at some point. Space remains an inherently high-risk domain, and failures provide crucial data and insights for future missions. Experts emphasize that failures must be honestly investigated, mistakes learned from, and systems improved. Failure to ...

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, has launched a special internship program for engineering students, offering them hands-on experience on over 150 national highway projects across the country. Hands-On Exposure to Advanced Engineering According to Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, the program is designed to give students practical exposure to advanced engineering challenges and innovative infrastructure solutions. “This initiative will prepare the next generation of professionals to actively contribute to India’s infrastructure development,” he said. Selected interns will receive a monthly stipend of ₹20,000, along with support for travel and professional gro...

The Supreme Court on Tuesday delivered a split verdict on the constitutional validity of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, which requires prior government approval before investigating public servants for offences committed while on duty. The two‑judge bench, comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice K.V. Viswanathan, reached different conclusions, highlighting contrasting interpretations of the law. Given the divided verdict, the matter has now been referred to the Chief Justice of India, CJI Suryakant, for consideration by an appropriate larger bench. Justice Nagarathna Rules Section 17A Unconstitutional Justice Nagarathna observed that Section 17A violates Article 14 (Right to Equality) of the Constitution. Drawing on the Supreme Court’s earlier ruling ...

Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan has once again taken aim at the Modi government, this time over the proposed purchase of Rafale fighter jets from France. Bhushan shared a years-old video interview of former French President François Hollande, using it to draw parallels with past controversies surrounding India’s defense deals. Criticism Over New Rafale Contract India is reportedly preparing to discuss the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets, in a deal estimated to exceed ₹3 lakh crore. Sharing the video on social media platform X, Bhushan wrote: "As the Modi government prepares a ₹3 lakh crore contract for Rafale jets, let us recall the 2015 deal worth ₹60,000 crore. Back then, 50% of the offset contract went to a newly formed Reliance Defence, owned by bankrupt Anil Ambani. Wil...

The Union Government has set March 31, 2026 as the deadline to declare India free from Left‑Wing Extremism (LWE), and officials are confident the target will be met on time. Even as the final phase of operations against rural Naxalism continues, the government has already prepared a comprehensive post‑Naxal roadmap, with a strong focus on dismantling what it describes as the “Urban Naxal ecosystem.” According to senior officials, a 10‑point action plan has been finalised to ensure that areas liberated from Maoist influence do not relapse into violence and ideological extremism. A key pillar of this plan is the identification, monitoring, and neutralisation of urban‑based networks believed to provide ideological, logistical, and financial support to Naxal groups. Post‑Naxal India: The...

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has announced that India is moving towards the creation of a dedicated Rocket–Missile Force, a major step aimed at significantly enhancing the country’s combat capabilities in modern warfare. Drawing lessons from Operation Sindoor, General Dwivedi said the evolving regional security environment makes such a force a strategic necessity. Speaking at a press conference ahead of Army Day, the Army Chief said India must adapt to changing modes of warfare, where rockets, missiles, drones, and air defence systems play a decisive role. Both China and Pakistan already operate specialised rocket or missile forces, and India can no longer afford to lag behind, he asserted. Why India Needs a Rocket–Missile Force General Dwivedi said the time has come ...

Amid the flames of unrest in Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump appears to be pursuing a delicate diplomatic balancing act. On the surface, he is expressing support for protesters challenging the Iranian regime, while simultaneously threatening military intervention and imposing punitive 25% tariffs on countries trading with Iran. A closer look, however, suggests a larger strategy: Trump may be attempting to undermine BRICS, an emerging economic bloc he sees as a potential threat to the dominance of the U.S. dollar. India Faces Pressure from Trump’s Iran PolicyAlthough the 25% tariffs on Iran-trading nations are not expected to directly impact India, government sources cited by The Hindu indicate that New Delhi is preparing to scale back trade with Iran further during the current fiscal ...

The Supreme Court of India was divided on the constitutional validity of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which requires prior approval before initiating investigations against public servants in corruption cases. The case arose from a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the NGO, Center for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), challenging the 2018 amendment to the Act. Split Verdict on Section 17A Justice B.V. Nagarathna held that Section 17A is unconstitutional and should be struck down. She argued that the requirement of prior sanction hinders investigations and gives corrupt officials an opportunity to evade accountability. Justice Nagarathna stated, “There should be no pre-approval requirement before commencing an inquiry. The prior sanction provision de...