Nation

New Delhi, January 7, 2026: Northern and central India continue to shiver under the grip of a cold wave, with no relief in sight for the next 5 to 7 days. Many regions are also experiencing dense fog, disrupting daily life and traffic. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the morning hours over northwestern, central, and eastern India are expected to remain foggy and extremely cold. Several areas in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh are witnessing severe cold conditions. Temperature Highlights In Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, the minimum temperature dropped to 3.3°C. Srinagar recorded –1.6°C, while Sonamarg in central Kashmir experienced the coldest night at –10.1°C. Gulmarg recorded –7.6°C, Pahalgam at –...

New Delhi: U.S. President Donald Trump recently made a statement regarding Apache helicopters, claiming that India had ordered 68 helicopters from the United States. However, official records show that India has only procured 28 Apache attack helicopters, raising questions about the accuracy of Trump’s statement. The Truth Behind the Apache Claim During a public address, Trump mentioned India-U.S. defense ties and said that India had been waiting five years for the delivery of Apache helicopters. “India has ordered 68 Apache helicopters. We are changing that,” Trump said. However, government contracts, delivery records, and military sources confirm that India has purchased only 28 Apache helicopters, all of which have already been delivered by December 2025. This discrepancy refle...

New Delhi: Preparations are underway for India’s 77th Republic Day. This year, the grand parade will take place on 26 January 2026 at Rajpath, New Delhi, showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage and military prowess. All three wings of the armed forces are currently rehearsing for the parade. Tickets for the event are available both online and offline for those who wish to witness it in person. Ticket Sale Dates Official ticket sales began on 5 January 2026. Sales will continue until 14 January 2026 or until the daily quota is exhausted. Online ticket sales start at 9 AM daily. Ticket Prices Republic Day Parade (26 January): ₹20 and ₹100 (depending on seating arrangement) Full Dress Rehearsal (25 January): ₹20 Beating Retreat Ceremony (29 January): ₹100 ...

New Delhi: In response to increasing strategic activity by China and rising instability in Bangladesh, India is bolstering its military presence along the Siliguri Corridor and the upper Bengal Bay region. The move involves significant preparations by the Navy, Army, and Air Force to secure India’s eastern frontiers. New Naval Base at HaldiaWhile the Eastern Naval Command is headquartered in Visakhapatnam, India is now establishing a new naval base at Haldia in West Bengal. The location, close to Bangladesh and Myanmar, will enhance India’s maritime security in the upper Bay of Bengal. Once operational, the base will allow the Indian Navy to maintain advanced warships ready for rapid deployment. The Coast Guard already maintains a presence in Haldia, but the new base will significantly ...

New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor had a remarkable encounter with a young AI specialist, 16-year-old Raul John Aju, during his recent journey on the Vande Bharat train. Raul, who is seated nearby, impressed Tharoor with his exceptional talent in artificial intelligence and language-based AI systems. Raul and his team are developing advanced speech-processing systems in Malayalam, Hindi, and Urdu. Tharoor took to social media to praise Raul’s work, calling the meeting one of the most intellectually stimulating encounters he has had during the Vande Bharat campaign. In his post, Tharoor wrote, “It was a pleasure to meet Raul John Aju, a remarkably talented 16-year-old, pushing the boundaries of AI. We discussed not only the technological potential of artificial intelligence but als...

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has delivered a significant judgment on the use of reservation benefits in competitive exams. The apex court ruled that candidates who avail of reservation concessions under categories such as SC/ST cannot later claim a seat under the unreserved (general) category, even if their final rank surpasses that of general category candidates. Case BackgroundThe ruling arose from a dispute related to the 2013 Indian Forest Service (IFS) Examination, which comprises two stages: the Preliminary Exam and the Main Exam, followed by an interview. For the Preliminary Exam, the general category cut-off was 267 marks, while the SC category cut-off was 233 marks. SC candidate G. Kiran cleared the exam by benefiting from the relaxation, scoring 247.18 marks. General category ...

New Delhi: India and Israel are deepening their strategic ties, with discussions around a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) gaining momentum. The foundation of their relationship is built on mutual trust, and recent developments indicate significant progress in economic and defense cooperation. SBI Facilitates Bilateral Trade in Indian RupeesThe State Bank of India (SBI), the only Indian bank with a presence in Israel, is now facilitating bilateral trade in Indian rupees, aiming to simplify transactions between the two countries. According to SBI CEO V. Manivannan, the Reserve Bank of India has allowed Indian banks to settle export and import transactions in Indian currency. Israel has been chosen as a partner country under this initiative. Through this arrangement, Israeli businesses engag...

New Delhi, January 7, 2026: In the immediate aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan reportedly moved swiftly to engage the United States through diplomatic and economic channels. According to reports, Pakistani authorities offered access to their rare earth and critical mineral reserves, with former US President Donald Trump’s loyal physician, Dr. Ronny Jackson, playing a key intermediary role. Deal Initiated Immediately After PahalgamFollowing the Pahalgam massacre on April 22, 2025, in which Pakistani terrorists caused widespread casualties, Pakistani officials arranged a special meeting with Dr. Jackson on May 1 to discuss the rare earth deal. Reports indicate that Dr. Jackson helped Pakistan secure a privileged position within the White House to advance its interests. ...

New Delhi, January 7, 2026: The Supreme Court has recently delivered two landmark judgments on reservations, both of which have significant implications for government jobs and admissions in public educational institutions. While one ruling comes as a setback for some, the other provides substantial relief to candidates from reserved categories. The court clarified that if a candidate from a reserved category performs better than general category candidates in a competitive exam without availing any reservation benefits, they will be considered under the general category for recruitment or admission purposes. Case from Karnataka: Reserved Candidate Denied General SeatOn January 6, 2026, a bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi rejected the claim of a Scheduled Ca...

New Delhi, January 7, 2026: India has made its position clear following the recent US action in Venezuela, in which President Nicolás Maduro was arrested and taken to the United States, facing legal proceedings there. Speaking from Luxembourg, where he is on an official visit, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated that India has long-standing and friendly relations with Venezuela and hopes for a restoration of stability in the country. “We wish that Venezuela’s situation improves and that the people there emerge from the recent turmoil safely,” he said. When asked about India’s response to the US action, Jaishankar referred to the official statement issued by India earlier, emphasizing that the country has consistently advocated dialogue between the parties involved. He adde...