Nation

The year 2025 has emerged as one of the most defining and consequential periods of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, marked by unprecedented diplomatic outreach, global recognition, and a sharp rise in India’s international stature. Through visits to 23 countries across Africa, West Asia, Europe and beyond, Prime Minister Modi reinforced India’s position as a confident, decisive and influential global power. Expanding India’s Diplomatic Footprint Prime Minister Modi’s extensive overseas engagements strengthened India’s diplomatic, economic and strategic partnerships. Relations with key regions—including Africa, the Gulf, Europe and the Indo-Pacific—were deepened, while ties with traditional partners such as the United Kingdom and the European Union were elevated through dive...

With Bangladesh heading towards general elections scheduled for February next year, the country’s interim government chief, Muhammad Yunus, has come under sharp criticism for allegedly attempting to whip up anti-India sentiment to gain political mileage. Indian security agencies and officials have firmly rejected what they describe as “fabricated and malicious” allegations being levelled against India in the run-up to the polls. The controversy erupted after Bangladesh authorities claimed that two prime suspects in the killing of radical student leader Sharif Usman Hadi had taken shelter in India’s Meghalaya state. Indian agencies swiftly dismissed the claim, asserting that there is no evidence to support the allegation and accusing Dhaka of trying to deflect attention from its own inte...

As India steps into the New Year, the Supreme Court is set to take up a series of high-stakes cases that could have far-reaching social, constitutional and political consequences. From challenges to electoral reforms and environmental crises to sensitive questions of personal law and criminal justice, at least eight major issues are expected to dominate the court’s docket in the months ahead. Legal experts say the coming year could witness decisive rulings that may finally settle long-running controversies affecting governance, civil rights and social reform. Delhi-NCR Pollution: Monthly Monitoring by Court With air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region continuing to remain at alarming levels despite multiple interventions, the Supreme Court has made it clear that the m...

The Supreme Court on Monday is set to hear a crucial petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision to suspend the life sentence of former Uttar Pradesh legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the Unnao rape case and grant him bail. The hearing will be conducted by a vacation bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Augustine George Masih. The CBI has questioned the legality of the High Court’s December 23 order, arguing that the court committed serious errors in law while granting bail to Sengar, who was convicted for the abduction and rape of a minor and sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2019. CBI Alleges Legal Lapses by High Court In its appeal, the CBI co...

India is undertaking a major expansion of strategic infrastructure across the Himalayan region as part of its preparations to counter a potential future confrontation with China, according to a report by the US-based Wall Street Journal. The report claims that New Delhi is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in building roads, tunnels and airstrips to strengthen troop deployment and logistics along the disputed border areas. The move comes against the backdrop of sustained tensions along the nearly 2,200-mile-long Line of Actual Control (LAC), which separates India and China and has remained a flashpoint for decades. The violent clash in eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley in 2020 marked a turning point, exposing critical gaps in India’s border connectivity and military mobility. Le...

A series of recent incidents—from the brutal killing of a young student in Dehradun to the harassment of foreign tourists in Varanasi and communal tension over a birthday party in Bareilly—have sparked serious concern about growing intolerance, hostility and social unrest in the country. Together, these cases paint a troubling picture of how prejudice, mob behaviour and shrinking civic sensitivity are increasingly shaping public spaces. A Life Lost for Protesting Racial Abuse The murder of 24-year-old MBA student Angel Chakma from Tripura in Dehradun has shocked the nation. His only “fault” was objecting to racial slurs directed at him and his younger brother. According to the family, Angel was attacked with knives and iron knuckles, sustaining fatal injuries to his neck and back. He...

The long-simmering controversy surrounding the redefinition of the Aravalli hills is set to come under judicial scrutiny once again, as the Supreme Court takes up the matter for an important hearing on Monday. The apex court has taken suo motu cognisance of concerns raised over the new classification of the Aravalli hill system, amid fears that it could weaken environmental safeguards and open the door to increased mining activity. A vacation bench headed by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, and comprising Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Augustine George Masih, will hear the case. On November 20, the Supreme Court had accepted a uniform definition of the Aravalli hills and mountain ranges and imposed an interim ban on the grant of new mining leases across Aravalli region...

The weather pattern across North India is set to change significantly ahead of the New Year, with dense to very dense fog, cold wave conditions, and rainfall predicted in several regions, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). A fresh western disturbance is expected to impact the western Himalayan region from December 30, bringing rain and snowfall and influencing weather conditions in the plains as well. The IMD has issued alerts for dense to very dense fog during night and early morning hours over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana–Chandigarh and western Uttar Pradesh till December 31, while eastern Uttar Pradesh may continue to witness foggy conditions till January 1. Cold day conditions are also likely in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, while Bihar is expecte...

The health of the Unnao rape survivor and her mother deteriorated on Sunday amid intense sloganeering and mounting emotional pressure during a protest at Jantar Mantar against the grant of bail to convicted former BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar. Both were rushed to a hospital after they reportedly felt unwell at the protest site. The demonstration, organised under the banner of AISA, saw participation from students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and Delhi University (DU), along with women’s rights activists. Protesters demanded the cancellation of Sengar’s bail and called for the harshest punishment, raising slogans such as “Justice for the Unnao survivor” and “Hang the rapist.” Drumbeats and continuous chanting reflected the anger and anguish of those gathered. According ...

New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has expressed strong confidence that a permanent solution to the persistent air pollution in Delhi-NCR will be found. Speaking on Friday, he emphasized his faith in scientific expertise and coordinated policymaking to tackle the escalating environmental and health crisis. Faith in Experts and ScienceAccording to reports, CJI Surya Kant highlighted that any solution to Delhi’s air pollution must be long-term and science-based, rather than temporary fixes. “I am confident that experts will find a solution to Delhi’s air pollution problem,” he stated, placing his trust in both technical expertise and policy coordination to address the recurring environmental and public health challenges. Push for Long-Term MeasuresOn 17 December, the Su...