News

The Supreme Court has issued a warning to the Association for Democratic Reforms for making unsupported allegations regarding the Election Commission's methods in validating voter lists. During the proceedings against the legality of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the court encouraged a focus on legal frameworks rather than political posturing or speculative assertions about BLO suicides.

Political donations via electoral trusts reveal the BJP received a substantial Rs 959 crore in 2024-25, with the Tata group's Progressive Electoral Trust contributing Rs 757.6 crore. While Congress secured over Rs 313 crore through trusts, its overall contributions are significantly lower than bond receipts in previous years. Other parties also received smaller allocations.

Government clarifies users can uninstall the Sanchar Saathi app, despite mandatory pre-installation for manufacturers. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia assured the app protects against cyber fraud, refuting snooping concerns. Critics, including Congress, view it as an invasion of privacy, while global tech giants express alarm over potential security risks.

Bharat Taxi is making waves across India as it gears up to launch its innovative driver-owned ride-hailing app nationwide. With an impressive roster of over 51,000 drivers in its pilot phase, this groundbreaking cooperative model stands as the first of its kind globally, ensuring that every fare goes directly to the drivers.

The Bombay high court has halted the announcement of first-phase municipal poll results, scheduled for December 3rd. Justices Anil Kilor and Rajnish Vyas ruled that releasing these outcomes prematurely could unfairly influence the second phase of voting on December 20th. The court mandated that all results be declared together on December 21st, ensuring electoral fairness and transparency.

Panic gripped Srinagar as a Himalayan black bear was sighted at the University of Kashmir and later at SKIMS hospital, nearly 10km apart. Wildlife officials are deploying traps and drones to capture the elusive animal. Increased sightings are attributed to climate change and readily available food sources like garbage, disrupting hibernation patterns.

The sole survivor of a Saudi bus accident, Mohammed Abdul Shoaib, recounted how a tanker struck their vehicle, causing it to erupt in flames and kill 45 passengers, including his family. He escaped through a window as the bus caught fire, but his clothes ignited. Shoaib, now without support, has appealed to the Telangana government for a job.

Delhi is grappling with alarming air quality, as the AQI spikes to 372, perilously close to the 'severe' classification. More than 15 areas have hit this alarming benchmark. Experts warn that this 'very poor' air pollution is likely to linger for several days, compounded by nightly patterns of mist and haze.

Air India has issued a travel advisory urging passengers to confirm flight status before airport arrival due to a third-party system outage impacting check-in operations and causing widespread delays. The airline's teams are working to restore services and minimize passenger inconvenience. Travelers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys.

Defense minister Rajnath Singh highlighted Operation Sindoor as a firm response to those ignoring peace, drawing parallels with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's decisive leadership. He praised the armed forces and emphasized the government's commitment to Patel's vision of a united India, citing Article 370's abrogation and strengthened indigenous defence capabilities.

Karnataka's chief ministerial post remains undecided as Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar's reakfast diplomacy yields no timeline from the party high command. Both leaders project unity, calling for a peaceful settlement amidst ongoing speculation. Siddaramaiah's cryptic politics is not permanent comment further fuels discussions about a potential leadership change.

India has achieved a significant milestone in indigenous defence capabilities with a successful high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system. This dynamic trial, conducted by DRDO, validated canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and aircrew recovery, placing India among nations with advanced in-house testing. The test simulated real-life conditions, marking a step towards self-reliance in defence.

The new Prime Minister's Office complex, formerly 'Executive Enclave', will now be called 'Seva Teerth' to reflect a spirit of service over power. This renaming aligns with a broader shift in public institutions, moving from 'satta' (power) to 'seva' (service) and emphasizing duty and transparency in governance.

Russia's State Duma has ratified a major military logistics pact with India, the Reciprocal Exchange of Logistic Support (RELOS). This agreement allows both nations' military forces to utilize each other's facilities for joint exercises, humanitarian operations, and disaster relief, strengthening their strategic partnership ahead of President Putin's visit.

Bharatiya Janata Party has responded to Congress accusations regarding the Sanchar Saathi app. BJP leaders stated the app aims to protect users from fraud and crime, not to monitor them. They emphasised that the application can be removed by users. Congress had alleged the directive was dictatorial and called the app a snooping tool.

Parliament gears up for crucial debates on electoral reforms and Vande Mataram's 150th anniversary following a breakthrough. Meanwhile, Imran Khan met his sister in jail after weeks of restricted access. The Navy chief announced a new indigenous nuclear submarine and highlighted Operation Sindoor's impact on Pakistan's naval forces.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla reflects on his ISS mission, highlighting its success as a model of international cooperation and scientific advancement. His insights offer valuable lessons for India's own long-term human spaceflight strategy, emphasizing modularity, flexibility, and clear objectives for the upcoming Bharatiya Antariksh Station.

Pakistan accused India of delaying its humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka, claiming airspace permission was withheld. India refuted these allegations, stating the request was processed within four hours. Meanwhile, Pakistan's High Commission in Sri Lanka faced online criticism over relief packages with apparent near-expiry dates.

The new Prime Minister's Office complex, formerly 'Executive Enclave', has been named 'Seva Teerth', signifying a shift in governance from power to service. This renaming, along with others like Raj Bhawans to Lok Bhawans and Central Secretariat to Kartavya Bhavan, reflects a cultural and moral transition towards duty and transparency in public institutions.

Air India has grounded an aircraft and launched an investigation after it operated eight commercial flights with an expired Airworthiness Review Certificate. The lapse occurred during the Vistara-Air India merger transition, with the 70th aircraft's renewal delayed due to an engine change. Personnel involved have been de-rostered pending the outcome of the probe.

Arvind Kejriwal has strongly criticized the department of telecom's directive for pre-installing the Sanchar Saathi app on all new smartphones. He labelled it a razen attack on individual privacy and liberty, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the government's diktat. Kejriwal highlighted the lack of consent and deletion options in the notification.

The Supreme Court questioned the obligation to illegal entrants during a hearing on Rohingya disappearances. The court asked if 'intruders' should receive a 'red carpet welcome'. The bench emphasized that if individuals lack legal status, deportation is a valid consideration. The court pondered the implications of illegal entry followed by demands for legal protections.

The government clarified that the Sanchar Saathi App can be deleted by users, stating their role was only to introduce it. This statement followed a political uproar over the mandatory pre-installation of the app on mobile handsets, with the opposition raising privacy concerns and likening it to a 'snooping app'.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the Modi government for a fresh FIR in the National Herald case, calling it a political vendetta against the Gandhi family. The BJP countered, demanding explanations for alleged loot by its leaders and stating the case predates the current administration. The Congress maintains the ED is conducting a politically motivated witch hunt.

The Congress party has criticized the BJP government's filing of a fresh FIR in the National Herald case, calling it a desperate attempt to rectify a legal loophole. They argue the original case, based on a private complaint, lacked a government or police complaint, making the chargesheet legally untenable.

India's National Centre for Disease Control has launched a new system empowering citizens to report unusual health events via a QR code. This initiative aims to transform ordinary individuals into early disease sentinels, enabling faster intervention and prevention of large-scale outbreaks by flagging clusters of fevers, diarrhoea, and other symptoms.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman clarified that the Finance Ministry does not direct LIC's investment choices. She stated that LIC's investments in the Adani Group, amounting to over Rs 48,000 crore in equity and debt, were made independently following standard operating procedures and thorough due diligence. These decisions adhere to regulations set by IRDAI, RBI, and Sebi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the critical health of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia, offering India's full support for her treatment. This gesture comes amid Zia's party accusing India of backing rival Sheikh Hasina, highlighting a complex geopolitical dynamic as Bangladesh approaches elections.

Prime Minister Modi offered India's unwavering support to Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah's devastation. Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, India has dispatched emergency rations and relief materials via naval ships and air force aircraft. Indian helicopters have conducted extensive rescue operations, aiding over 150 individuals from various nationalities, demonstrating strong solidarity.

The Delhi High Court has directed the CBFC to review objections from the parents of Major Mohit Sharma concerning the film 'Dhurandhar'. The parents claim the movie, slated for release on December 5, is inspired by the decorated officer's life without family or Army consent. CBFC will consider these concerns before certification, potentially consulting the Army.