Nation

New Delhi: India has officially launched the logo and website for its BRICS 2026 Presidency, marking a significant step in its leadership role within the five-nation bloc. The launch was unveiled by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who highlighted the key priorities and vision for India’s tenure. Theme and Vision The theme for BRICS 2026, according to Dr. Jaishankar, is “Enhancing Capabilities, Promoting Innovation, and Ensuring Sustainable Development for All.” The newly launched logo reflects this philosophy, blending tradition with modernity. Its petals incorporate the colors of all BRICS member countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—symbolizing unity, diversity, and shared purpose. The design emphasizes that while BRICS draws strength from the collec...

New Delhi: In a bold diplomatic move that could shake up global trade dynamics, India is set to host two top European Union leaders as chief guests for Republic Day 2026—a strategic gesture that may pave the way for a historic India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Unlike past attempts to invite former U.S. President Donald Trump, whose reluctance to participate in key Quad meetings or state events left India empty-handed, this time India is aiming higher. The invited dignitaries are Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and António Costa, President of the European Council. Their presence underscores India’s intent to strengthen ties with the EU as a unified bloc of 27 nations. A Game-Changer for Trade This high-profile engagement could coincide with the signin...

New Delhi: During the visit of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally raised the issue of Baby Ariha Shah, an Indian child currently in foster care in Germany. The briefing was provided by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who emphasized India’s ongoing commitment to the child’s welfare and cultural upbringing. Who is Baby Ariha Shah? Baby Ariha Shah, born in September 2021, is an Indian child currently under the custody of Germany’s Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt). She was seven months old when an accidental injury occurred while in the care of her grandmother. Medical authorities suspected possible abuse, prompting intervention by German child protection authorities. Ariha has since been placed in foster care. Her parents, Dhara Shah an...

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has refused to grant relief to a government employee who concealed pending criminal cases while applying for a government job, overturning the Allahabad High Court’s earlier judgment. The apex court emphasized that sympathy cannot replace the law, and as a result, the individual will lose his government position. The court noted that disclosing all relevant information is a fundamental condition for employment in government service. By hiding his criminal record, the applicant undermined the integrity of the recruitment process. Apex Court’s Observations A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and N.K. Singh remarked during the hearing, “The law may be strict, but law is law.” The Supreme Court struck down the High Court’s decision, which had...

New Delhi / Gujarat: During German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s two-day visit to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted him in Gujarat, resulting in 19 major agreements between India and Germany. The deals cover critical areas including defence, trade, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and key minerals, reflecting strengthened bilateral ties amid shifting global dynamics following recent U.S. tariff pressures on India. Strategic and Defence Cooperation A joint declaration emphasized enhancing defence-industrial collaboration, paving the way for co-development and co-production initiatives between the two nations. Indian passport holders will now enjoy visa-free transit through Germany, easing travel and strengthening people-to-people ties. Prime Minister Modi said, “Grow...

New Delhi: IndiGo may face stringent action following last December’s mass flight cancellations and delays that disrupted travel for thousands of passengers. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has submitted a 66-page confidential report to the Aviation Ministry Secretary, Sameer Kumar Sinha, outlining the causes and consequences of the crisis. Potential Penalties and Accountability According to sources, the report could trigger action not only against the airline but also against some senior executives, including the Chief Operating Officer (COO). The airline could face a penalty of up to ₹10 crore, while individual cases may attract fines exceeding ₹1 crore. The ministry is now preparing an action-taken report at its level to ensure accountability for the inconvenience...

New Delhi: A delegation from the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) visited India on Monday, holding high-profile meetings first at the BJP headquarters and then at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Delhi. These interactions come after nearly five years of strained relations following the violent clashes in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, marking a significant step in diplomatic and political dialogue between the two parties. Meeting with BJP Leaders The six-member CPC delegation, led by Vice Minister Sun Haiyan of the CPC’s International Department, met with BJP national leaders at the party headquarters in Delhi. The meeting focused on strengthening inter-party communication and dialogue between the BJP and CPC. BJP General Secretary Arun Singh shared photos and deta...

New Delhi: Addressing the ninth convocation of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan emphasized that debate, discussion, dissent, and even disagreement are critical components of a healthy democracy. However, he stressed that such processes must ultimately lead to decisions, and collective will is necessary to implement them effectively. Key Highlights from the Speech Radhakrishnan urged graduating students to dedicate their knowledge and skills to national service. Reflecting on the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, he highlighted that education should extend beyond degrees to character building, intellectual growth, and empowerment, enabling students to become self-reliant. He also referred to India’s rich educational heritage, mentioning ancient cen...

New Delhi: It is not the first time that an ISRO PSLV mission has failed. On Monday morning at 10:18 AM, the PSLV-C62 rocket launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, suffered a technical glitch, resulting in the failure to deploy its satellites. This marks the second consecutive PSLV mission failure, following the PSLV-C61 mission on May 18, 2025, which failed during the third stage while attempting to place the EOS-09 satellite into orbit. Details of the PSLV-C62 Mission The PSLV-C62/EOS-N1 mission was the 105th launch from Sriharikota, the 64th flight of the PSLV rocket, and the fifth flight of the PSLV-DL variant. The mission carried India’s EOS-N1 satellite (Anvesha) for Earth observation, along with 14 co-passenger satellites developed by startups and academic ...

New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) PSLV-C62 mission ended in failure on Monday, as a technical glitch in the rocket’s third stage prevented the successful deployment of 16 satellites. This marks the second consecutive setback for PSLV within nine months, raising questions about the launch vehicle’s reliability. The mission, which carried satellites critical for strategic, diplomatic, and commercial purposes, suffered a failure just minutes after liftoff when the third stage experienced an anomaly. The primary payload, DRDO’s EOS-N1 (Anvesha), equipped with a hyperspectral imaging system, was intended to enhance India’s military capabilities in space. Third-Stage Anomaly Confirmed ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan explained that the rocket performed flawlessly up t...