Nation

In a decisive move to counter infiltration attempts along the India–Pakistan border, the Border Security Force (BSF) is set to launch its annual winter security अभियान, ‘Operation Sard Hawa’, across sensitive sectors in Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan. The operation will be rolled out at an appropriate time next month and continue until the end of January, keeping in mind the heightened security sensitivities ahead of Republic Day. According to BSF officials, the operation is aimed at neutralising infiltration, smuggling and illegal cross-border movement that typically increase during winter due to dense fog, low visibility and harsh weather conditions, which are often exploited by hostile elements. Enhanced Surveillance and Patrolling Under Operation Sard Hawa, border surveilla...

New Delhi: News has emerged that Rehan Vadra, son of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and businessman Robert Vadra, is all set to get engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Aviva Beg. The families of both parties have reportedly given their consent for the union. Aviva Beg and her family reside in Delhi. A Glimpse into Rehan Vadra’s LifeRehan Vadra, 25, is a talented visual artist with a keen interest in wildlife, street, and commercial photography. While details about his formal education remain largely private, his social media presence and portfolio highlight his dedication and artistic skills. Education and Artistic JourneyRehan attended the prestigious Doon School in Dehradun—the same school where Rajiv Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi studied. He later pursued higher education at the School of ...

New Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and businessman Robert Vadra’s son, Rehan Vadra, has officially gotten engaged to his longtime girlfriend Aviva Beg. According to NDTV, the 25-year-old Rehan proposed to Aviva in the presence of both families, and she accepted. The families are reportedly delighted, with a grand engagement ceremony expected in Ranthambore, Rajasthan. The wedding is anticipated to take place in the coming months. Family Ties and BackgroundAviva Beg and her family reside in Delhi. Her father, Imran Beg, is a businessman, and her mother, Nandita Beg, is an interior designer. Nandita Beg has longstanding ties with Priyanka Gandhi, having assisted with the interior design of Congress headquarters at Indira Bhavan. A Bond That Goes Back YearsSources reveal that th...

New Delhi: India has accelerated the development of the BrahMos-II missile, a hyper-sonic cruise missile jointly developed with Russia. The current BrahMos missile has already proven its precision and effectiveness during Operation Sindur against Pakistan. The upcoming BrahMos-II promises to be even faster, deadlier, and virtually impossible for adversaries like China and Pakistan to intercept, at least for the next decade. Unmatched Speed and RangeThe BrahMos-II is expected to achieve speeds of over Mach 7 (around 8,500 km/h), significantly faster than its predecessor. Current BrahMos missiles travel at Mach 2.8 to Mach 3, flying at low altitudes near sea level, which makes detection by enemy radars extremely difficult. The new version will incorporate advanced internal navigation comb...

New Delhi: Following the Supreme Court’s reversal of its November 20, 2025, verdict on the Aravalli Hills, the Congress party on Tuesday called for the apex court to also intervene regarding the powers of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Party General Secretary Jairam Ramesh argued that the NGT’s authority has been significantly weakened over the past decade. He urged the Supreme Court to ensure that the body functions independently, free from fear or bias, and in strict accordance with the law. Ramesh, in a post on social media platform ‘X’, said: “Yesterday, the Supreme Court took suo motu notice and reversed its own November 20, 2025, order concerning the definition of the Aravalli region. While the Modi government had enthusiastically implemented that order, the Supreme Court’s mo...

2025 has been one of India’s most diplomatically challenging years in recent memory, with events ranging from hosting BRICS to navigating complex regional relationships. As the year closes, several pressing questions remain unanswered, setting the stage for significant challenges in 2026. 1. A Pivotal Year for BRICSIndia is set to host the BRICS summit in 2026, marking one of the largest diplomatic events the country has ever organized. The government aims to make it as grand and comprehensive as the G20, sending a strong message to the global community about India’s growing international stature and strategic vision. 2. Strengthening Ties with NeighborsThe upcoming elections in Bangladesh and Nepal will be crucial for India. Ensuring peaceful power transitions in neighboring countri...

In 2025, the Supreme Court of India overturned several high-profile judicial decisions, sending ripples across the legal and public spheres. Some of these reversals occurred within weeks of the original rulings, raising concerns about judicial consistency and the decision-making process. Aravalli Case Reversal in Just 40 DaysThe most recent example is the Aravalli dispute, where the apex court reversed its own order within 40 days. The court itself highlighted this rapid turnaround, noting that such trends could affect the credibility of judicial decisions. Key Cases That Witnessed ReversalsThe Supreme Court revisited rulings on several significant issues, including: Stray dog management and rabies prevention The Governor’s power to approve bills sent by state legislatures ...

Khaleda Zia, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and long-time leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), passed away early Tuesday at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness. Despite her birth in India’s Jalpaiguri district in 1945, her political career was marked by a notably critical stance toward India. Early Life and Family BackgroundBorn in undivided India, Zia’s early years were shaped by the Partition of 1947, which split Jalpaiguri into the Indian state of West Bengal, while her family moved to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). In 1960, she married Ziaur Rahman, a Pakistani Army officer who later rebelled against the Pakistani forces during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and eventually became President of Bangladesh in 1977, founding the BNP in 1978. Rise in Pol...

Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister and longtime leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged illness. She was 80 years old. Zia’s political journey spanned over four decades, marked by both significant achievements and controversies. She rose to lead one of the country’s major political parties, governed Bangladesh, faced corruption charges, and was later pardoned by the President. Tenure and Political RivalriesKhaleda Zia first assumed office as Prime Minister in 1991. Throughout her career, her primary political rival was Sheikh Hasina. During her second term in 2001, Zia’s government included the Jamaat-e-Islami party, and India-Bangladesh relations were reported as strained, with accusations of anti-India rhetoric l...