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Opening the Lok Sabha debate on electoral reforms, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi delivered a sharply worded and symbolic address, accusing the Election Commission of India of colluding with those in power and enabling systematic voter suppression under the guise of bureaucratic process.  Image Source: Economic Times Screengrab of Sansad TV Without naming the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise directly in his opening remarks, Rahul Gandhi laid the groundwork for a broader critique of institutional erosion and democratic subversion, framing the vote as the fabric binding 1.4 billion Indians in a shared national project. In a speech rich with metaphor but grounded in political accusation, Rahul Gandhi began with a reference to Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on khadi, positioning it as a symbol not merely of resistance but of people’s self-expression and unity.  “Khadi is not just a cloth. Khadi is the expression of the people of India,” he said, before drawing a parall...

In a high-stakes Lok Sabha debate marking 150 years of the national song Vande Mataram , Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a fierce historical critique against the Indian National Congress, accusing it of compromising the legacy of the song during the pre-independence era. His speech, which traced Vande Mataram’s journey from Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s pen in 1875 to its role as a galvanizing force in India’s freedom struggle, sparked a sharp counterattack from Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who alleged deliberate historical omissions and political motives behind the ruling party’s narrative. Image Source: TheSincereDude on X Calling Vande Mataram the “mantra of freedom, sacrifice, and national spirit,” Modi framed the song’s evolution as a mirror to India’s struggle, and its betrayal. He cited the 1937 Congress Working Committee’s decision to adopt only the first two stanzas of the song after Muslim League objections, framing it as a moment of ideological weakness that, ...

India on Monday issued a pointed advisory to its citizens transiting through Chinese airports, following a reported incident of arbitrary detention involving an Indian national at Shanghai.  Image Source: Raksha Samachar on X In a sharp response, Randhir Jaiswal , Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), urged Chinese authorities to uphold international norms and “ensure that Indian citizens are not selectively targeted or harassed.”  He further advised Indian nationals to exercise “due caution” when travelling to or through China.  The briefing, part of the MEA’s weekly public engagement, touched on a range of flashpoints across India’s diplomatic landscape, from border violence in Afghanistan and rising insecurity in Myanmar, to energy trade with Russia and counter-terror cooperation with the US. Responding to questions from reporters, Jaiswal welcomed recent action by the UK government against pro-Khalistan actors, including Gurpreet Singh Rih...

India is observing Armed Forces Flag Day 2025 today with military and civilian leadership honouring the nation’s soldiers, veterans, and war widows for their courage, sacrifice and service.  Image Source: Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan led the tributes, calling for national recognition of the “unwavering commitment, exceptional valour, and supreme sacrifices” of the Indian Armed Forces who have “steadfastly safeguarded the Nation’s sovereignty across all frontiers and domains.” On Armed Forces Flag Day, we honour the profound sacrifices of our soldiers, veterans, and their families. Their courage, duty, and devotion safeguard our nation every day. We are forever grateful for their unwavering service and unmatched commitment to India.… pic.twitter.com/5NmfBDH71l — 🇮🇳CRPF🇮🇳 (@crpfindia) December 7, 2025 In a message shared by the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff, General Chauhan greeted all ranks of the Army, Navy, and A...

At least 25 people, including kitchen staff and tourists, were killed and 50 injured after a gas cylinder explosion triggered a devastating fire at a popular nightclub in North Goa’s Arpora village late Saturday night, officials confirmed on Sunday.  Image Source: GloballyPop on X The blaze, which erupted around midnight resulted in extensive fatalities due primarily to suffocation as victims reportedly rushed into the club’s basement during the chaos. Goa Police chief Alok Kumar stated that the fire broke out following a gas cylinder blast, adding that the blaze was brought under control in the early hours.  “A total of 25 people have died, including four confirmed tourists and 14 staff members, while the identities of seven are yet to be established. Six others are injured and undergoing treatment,” he told reporters.  Visuals circulating online showed flames engulfing the low-rise structure and emergency responders evacuating the wounded. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant...

India and the United States have called for expanded global sanctions against key Pakistan-based terror outfits and their proxies, marking a significant step forward in bilateral counterterrorism cooperation.  File Photo/Representational Image Source: Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff  At the 21st meeting of the India-US Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and the 7th Designations Dialogue held in New Delhi on December 3, both sides sharpened focus on operational coordination and designations of groups responsible for cross-border attacks. Led by Dr. Vinod Bahade, Joint Secretary for Counter Terrorism in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and Ms. Monica Jacobsen, Senior Bureau Official at the US Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism, the high-level engagements reinforced the counterterrorism pillar of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Against the backdrop of recent attacks in Pahalgam and near Delhi’s Red Fort, both delegati...

Meeting under the shadow of recent attacks in India, the Quad’s Counterterrorism Working Group (CTWG) convened for its third high-level session in New Delhi this week. The gathering signaled a sharpened joint resolve to confront evolving terrorist threats across the Indo-Pacific region.  Senior officials from India, Australia, Japan, and the United States gathered on December 4–5, 2025, to reinforce the framework of cooperation that has come to define the Quad’s expanding security agenda. Image Source: Gemma Huggins, Australia's Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism The talks, hosted by India as part of its rotation ahead of the next Quad summit, marked a substantial push to operationalize counterterrorism measures beyond political declarations.  Ambassador Sibi George, Secretary (West) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, opened the meeting with a pointed call to strengthen the Quad’s collective capabilities.  “The time has come to forge a common resolve within the Q...

Amid intensifying global fragmentation and rising strategic autonomy across the Global South, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed a landmark roadmap to deepen their bilateral economic engagement through 2030, aiming to take trade beyond $100 billion.  Prez Putin and PM NaMo attended the Plenary Session of the India-Russia Trade Forum The wide-ranging Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of India–Russia Economic Cooperation till 2030 was the centrepiece of the 23rd Annual Summit held in New Delhi on December 5, with the two sides signing 29 agreements spanning energy, mobility, healthcare, customs, polar training, labour migration, media, and advanced scientific cooperation. The summit, Putin’s first visit to India since the Ukraine war began, saw both leaders publicly reaffirm the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between their countries, even as global alignments continue to shift.  “India-Russia ties have...

In a highly choreographed display of diplomatic warmth and strategic alignment, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held bilateral talks in New Delhi this week. Together the Russian President and the Indian Prime Minister sent a clear signal of continuity and deepening ties between the two long-standing partners even as global tensions mount over the ongoing war in Ukraine and shifting geopolitical alliances. PM NaMo welcoming President Vladimir Putin at Hyderabad House Greeting Putin with a handshake and a rare protocol-breaking hug upon his arrival, Modi hosted the Russian leader at Hyderabad House for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit.  “India is on the side of peace,” Modi said firmly, reiterating New Delhi’s consistent message throughout the Ukraine conflict.  “The welfare of the world is only through the path of peace… together, we must look for the pathways to peace.” Putin, addressing the crisis directly, thanked Modi for his att...

In a pointed message amid growing Western pressure on both New Delhi and Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that the India–Russia partnership remains focused solely on mutual interests and is not targeted at any third country.  Indian PM NaMo presenting a copy of the Gita to Russian Prez Vladimir Putin His remarks came during a high-profile two-day visit to India for the 23rd Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as both nations seek to expand their decades-old strategic collaboration in the face of increasingly fractious geopolitical alignments. Putin’s visit, his first to India since the Ukraine war began, coincides with a visible downturn in India–US relations.  Tensions escalated after Washington imposed sweeping tariffs on Indian goods, including penalties for importing Russian crude oil — a punitive move widely interpreted as a warning shot to New Delhi for its continued economic cooperation with Moscow.  In response, Putin dismi...

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a tightly choreographed two-day state visit. This marks a significant reaffirmation of the India–Russia strategic partnership at a time of deepening geopolitical rifts and growing divergence between India and the West over Ukraine.  Image Source: PM NaMo As Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Putin with a warm embrace at Palam Airport, the visit--Putin’s first to India since 2021 and his first anywhere in the region since the invasion of Ukraine--set in motion a high-stakes diplomatic engagement that signals India’s intent to maintain and expand its historical ties with Moscow despite rising pressure from Western capitals. The visit comes at a time when India–US relations have faced visible strain, with tensions emerging around Ukraine diplomacy, defence alignment, and global leadership postures.  Against this backdrop, the Putin-Modi summit on Friday is expected to focus on expanding bilateral de...

IndiGo, among India’s largest airline by market share, issued a formal apology on Wednesday following severe disruptions across its network, attributing the delays and cancellations to a combination of operational challenges that have unfolded over the past 48 hours.  Crazy scenes at Mumbai Airport. Pic Via: Jagriti Chandra The airline said it had taken corrective steps to stabilise operations and ease passenger inconvenience. In a statement, IndiGo acknowledged the scale of the disruption, which impacted flights at major hubs including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.  The airline said it was grappling with “a multitude of unforeseen operational challenges,” including minor technology failures, congestion at airports, adverse winter weather, and new Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) rules that affected crew scheduling. IndiGo’s admission follows days of growing passenger frustration, as delays mounted and services ground to a near-halt in several locations.  Da...

Air India on Tuesday issued a nationwide travel advisory after a disruption in a third-party system used for check-in operations triggered widespread delays across multiple airports and airlines.  Image Source: Aviationbrk The airline urged passengers to confirm their flight status online and allow extra time before heading to the airport, citing ongoing efforts to stabilise services. In a post on X, Air India confirmed that the disruption had affected "check-in systems at various airports," impacting its own flights along with those of other carriers.  The advisory stressed that while system recovery was underway, delays could persist until full restoration. The airline added that airport teams were working "diligently" to assist passengers and minimise inconvenience. The glitch underscores the vulnerabilities in aviation infrastructure reliant on outsourced operational technologies.  Airlines around the world commonly depend on third-party platforms for check-in...

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, in a wide-ranging address after receiving an honorary doctorate from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, issued a sharp assessment of shifting global power structures and warned that traditional rules of engagement are giving way to more fragmented, unilateral approaches led by major powers, chiefly the United States. Image Source: EAM Jaishankar Describing a world where “politics increasingly trumps economics,” Jaishankar noted that Washington, long seen as the architect and underwriter of the global rules-based order, is now dealing with nations bilaterally rather than through established multilateral frameworks.  “The United States has set radically new terms of engagement,” he said, adding that China has similarly continued to act by its own rules, intensifying the global trend toward power-based realignments. In this emerging landscape, the minister said, decisions are no longer made purely on economic efficiency b...

India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with Beijing after a UK-based Indian woman, originally from Arunachal Pradesh, was reportedly detained for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport by Chinese immigration officials who refused to recognise her Indian passport.  The episode has escalated tensions between the two countries, with New Delhi asserting that Arunachal Pradesh remains an integral and inalienable part of India. Image Source: Romita Romi on X The traveller, Pema Wangjom Thongdok, was en route from London to Japan with a transit stop in Shanghai on November 21 when Chinese officials flagged her Indian passport as “invalid” due to her Arunachal Pradesh birthplace.  She described the ordeal as deeply distressing, noting that she was held without formal documentation and was unable to contact her embassy or family due to China’s ban on social media platforms and search engines. PTI: An Indian woman hailing from Arunachal Pradesh has said that sh...