In a landmark update to Uttar Pradesh’s  electoral rolls, the Election Commission of India  (ECI) has released the draft voter list following the Special Intensive Revision  (SIR), resulting in the deletion of approximately 2.89 crore names. The revision, affecting nearly 18.7% of the state’s registered voters, has drawn significant attention as the state prepares for the upcoming elections. The revised draft now lists 12.55 crore voters, down from 15.44 crore in the previous

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar  embarked on a high-level diplomatic visit to Luxembourg and France, signaling India’s intent to expand its strategic and economic footprint in Europe. The visit, featuring meetings with top leaders of Luxembourg, reflects India’s growing focus on forging stronger bilateral relations while deepening cooperation within the broader India–EU  partnership. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday met Prime Minister Luc Frieden

In a development that has raised alarm within India’s security agencies, Punjab Police arrested a 15-year-old boy in Pathankot for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s  intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The arrest has highlighted the emerging threat of cross-border espionage using minors as operatives. The Punjab police detained the minor in the Madhopur area. (AI-generated image) | NDTV The Arrest and Initial Findings The minor, hailing from Samba distri

For more than six decades, the Indus Waters Treaty  stood as one of the most unequal international agreements signed by independent India. Under the 1960 pact, brokered by the World Bank, India handed over nearly 80 percent of the Indus river system to Pakistan, despite these rivers originating in Indian territory. While India retained the eastern rivers, the strategically critical western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab —were effectively placed under Pakistan’s control, wit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  is set to host German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on his maiden official visit to India from January 12 to January 13, 2026. The visit comes at a crucial moment in global geopolitics and reflects the growing strategic convergence between India and Germany . As Europe’s largest economy and one of India’s most important partners in the European Union, Germany’s  engagement with New Delhi is increasingly shaped by shared economic interests, security c

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath  made a significant visit to New Delhi on January 5, 2026, meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi  in a closed-door session that lasted about an hour. The meeting drew attention amid ongoing speculation about internal BJP dynamics in Uttar Pradesh  and concerns raised by opposition parties about alleged friction between the state government and the Centre. Official statements framed the interaction as a routine discussion on the

In a major update to its electoral database, Uttar Pradesh  has published the draft electoral rolls following the conclusion of the Special Intensive Revision  (SIR), a massive exercise conducted by the Election Commission of India  (ECI) to update and clean voter lists before major elections. This release marks a critical milestone in India’s democratic process, especially in the country’s most populous state. The urban regions are likely to see a majority of the potential d

On January 5, 2026, the Supreme Court of India issued a high‑profile verdict in the 2020 northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case, refusing bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam while granting conditional relief to several other co‑accused. Within hours of the judgement, students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi held a protest that quickly became controversial for its content. The demonstration, attended by roughly 30–40 students, was originally intended t

The Government of India has issued a fresh travel advisory warning Indian citizens and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) against non-essential travel to Iran . The advisory comes amid a surge of violent protests and civil unrest spreading across multiple Iranian cities. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has urged Indians already in the country to exercise caution, avoid public gatherings, and remain updated through official channels. Protesters march in downtown Tehran. (P

India has reached a historic milestone in its agricultural journey by overtaking China  to become the world’s largest rice producer. This achievement marks a significant shift in global food production dynamics and underscores India’s growing strength as an agricultural powerhouse. According to official estimates for the 2024–25 crop year, India’s rice production has climbed to approximately 150 million tonnes, surpassing China’s  output and placing India firmly at the top of

A horrifying incident in Bangladesh’s  Jhenaidah district has once again brought global attention to the vulnerability of women and religious minorities in the country. In the Kaliganj area, a Hindu widow was allegedly gang-raped, tied to a tree, forcibly shorn of her hair, and publicly humiliated while the entire ordeal was recorded on a mobile phone. The brutality of the act, coupled with the circulation of the video, has triggered widespread outrage and condemnation. The s

India has crossed a landmark moment in its manufacturing journey as Apple’s iPhone exports from the country have surpassed $50 billion. This achievement reflects a fundamental shift in global supply chains and highlights India’s growing stature as a reliable, large-scale electronics manufacturing hub. What was once seen largely as an assembly destination has now emerged as a critical node in Apple’s worldwide production strategy. This surge is not accidental. It is the result

Introduction: The Historian Who Challenges Hindu Narratives Audrey Truschke, an American historian at Rutgers University, has carved a niche for herself as an expert on the Mughal Empire and Sanskrit literature. Yet, her name evokes not only academic interest but also sharp criticism, especially from Hindu scholars, activists, and readers who feel that her work deliberately undermines Hindu history. Truschke’s books, including Aurangzeb: The Man and the Myth and India: 5,000

India’s traditional systems of medicine, collectively known as AYUSH —Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy—have achieved a significant milestone on the global stage. For the first time, AYUSH has received formal recognition within India’s bilateral trade agreements, following its inclusion in the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Oman  and the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with New Zealand . This development marks a decisive shift in

Standing on the shores of the Arabian Sea at Prabhas Patan in Gujarat , the Somnath Temple  is one of India’s most sacred and historically significant places of worship. Revered as the first among the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, Somnath is deeply embedded in Hindu spiritual consciousness. More than a religious monument, the temple represents the enduring soul of Indian civilisation — one that has survived repeated attempts at erasure yet continues to inspire faith and

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar  commenced his official diplomatic tour of Europe with a visit to a unique India-France  textile exhibition in Paris, highlighting the role of culture as a foundation of diplomacy. The visit marked the first engagement of his six-day tour to France  and Luxembourg, signalling India’s emphasis on combining soft power with strategic dialogue in its global outreach. The exhibition, titled “Ce qui se trame — Woven Stories Between India

India recently witnessed a historic cultural milestone with the return of the sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha. These relics, repatriated after 127 years, have been placed on public display for the first time in over a century, providing citizens and the world a rare opportunity to connect with the spiritual and historical legacy of Buddhism. Image from OpIndia The Journey of the Piprahwa Relics The Piprahwa relics were originally discovered in 1898 at the ancient stupa

Indian Railways is set to redefine long-distance rail travel with the introduction of the first-ever Vande Bharat  Sleeper train. Scheduled to begin operations in January 2026, this train will connect Kamakhya (Guwahati, Assam) to Howrah (Kolkata, West Bengal), offering passengers a modern, comfortable, and faster overnight travel experience. The service is expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , marking a historic milestone in India’s semi-high-speed rai

India, one of the world’s oldest continuous civilisations, is unique in its ability to evolve while maintaining its cultural and historical essence. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar  recently highlighted this extraordinary journey during his address at IIT Madras, coinciding with the launch of IIT Madras Global and the inauguration of the institute’s annual technical festival, Shaastra. According to Jaishankar, India stands among the very few ancient civilisations

In a significant move to strengthen India’s electronics ecosystem, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has approved 22 new projects under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), with a combined investment of ₹41,863 crore. The approval is expected to generate production worth ₹2.58 lakh crore and create more than 33,700 direct jobs, reinforcing India’s position as an emerging hub for electronics manufacturing. The approvals mark the