Nation

New Delhi:In a historic move set to transform India’s energy landscape, the SHANTI Bill has been passed by Parliament and approved by the President, allowing private companies to establish nuclear power plants in India. The legislation aims to achieve 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047, while keeping strategic resources like thorium under strict government control. Currently, India’s nuclear power contributes only 8.75 GW, roughly 3% of the total electricity generation, with over 60% of electricity still derived from coal. India holds about 25% of the world’s thorium reserves. What’s New in Nuclear Energy? Until now, nuclear power generation was restricted to the central government and its entities. The SHANTI Bill allows private Indian firms such as Adani, L&T, and Tata Power...

New Delhi:Severe cold and dense fog have wreaked havoc in Delhi and North India, disrupting daily life and transport networks. On Monday, around 19 trains arriving in Delhi were delayed, with some running 2 to 10 hours behind schedule. Long-distance trains faced the worst delays—Train 22425 from Ayodhya Cantt arrived nearly 10 hours late, while Train 12419 from Lucknow was delayed by 5 hours. Rajdhani Express 12453 reached the capital about 8 hours late. Ghaziyabad also reported multiple train delays. Flights Affected Air travel was equally impacted due to low visibility. 14 flights were canceled, including 6 departures from Delhi and 8 incoming flights. Among these, one international flight each in departures and arrivals was affected. Most cancellations occurred before 8 AM, when v...

Berlin, Germany:Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has raised serious concerns about the fairness of elections in India, alleging that the BJP has taken control of key institutional structures. Speaking at a dialogue program titled “Politics is the Art of Listening” at the Hertie School in Berlin, Gandhi claimed that intelligence agencies, the CBI, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have been turned into tools for political purposes. A video of the session was uploaded on Gandhi’s YouTube channel on Monday. He said, “We are questioning the integrity of elections in India… there is a coordinated attack on our democratic framework.” He also highlighted anomalies such as the appearance of a Brazilian model’s name in 22 places in Haryana’s voter list. Allegations Against BJP Gan...

New Delhi:Following rainfall and snowfall in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, northern India is experiencing a sharp drop in temperatures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of dense fog and cold wave conditions, affecting Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh, with Bihar, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh also likely to face severe cold. Northern States Shiver Amid Fog and Cold Strong winds following precipitation in the northern hill states have intensified the chill. The IMD predicts dense to very dense fog during the night and morning hours in Punjab (till 27 December), Uttar Pradesh (23 and 25–28 December), and Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi (24–27 December). The department further warned that eastern and western UP, central Madhya Pradesh,...

New Delhi:The Supreme Court of India on Monday strongly criticized the Uttarakhand government for failing to prevent encroachments on forest land, stating that state officials remained mere “silent spectators” while illegal activities continued unchecked. The court took suo motu cognizance of the matter and directed the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand to constitute a fact-finding committee and submit a detailed report. A vacation bench comprising CJI Sunil Suryakant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi expressed shock at the inaction, stating, “What is most alarming is that the Uttarakhand government and its officials are witnessing encroachments on forest land before their eyes and remaining passive. Hence, we are taking cognizance of the matter ourselves.” Key Directives by the Court The...

New Delhi:Delhi Police have registered a case against an Air India Express pilot accused of assaulting a passenger at Terminal 1 security area. The incident allegedly occurred when the passenger objected to queue-cutting by some airport staff. The pilot is reported to have verbally abused and physically attacked the passenger, leaving him injured. According to police sources, the complaint was lodged via email by the victim, Ankit Diwan, following which an FIR was registered under Sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 126 (wrongful restraint), and 351 of the Indian Penal Code (assault). Initially, Delhi Police had no formal complaint and only became aware of the incident after social media posts surfaced. Victim’s Account Diwan alleged that Captain Virendra Sejwal, who was not ...

New Delhi:The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to achieve another major milestone with its upcoming LVM3-M6 mission, scheduled for launch on December 24. Under this mission, ISRO will deploy the BlueBird Block-2 satellite into orbit as part of a commercial agreement with the US-based company AST SpaceMobile. The mission is being closely watched worldwide due to its technological significance and strategic impact. Popularly known as ‘Bahubali’ for its extraordinary heavy-lift capability, the LVM3 rocket will carry one of the heaviest communication satellites ever launched by India, weighing 4,410 kilograms. Here are five key highlights that make this mission historic: 1. Next-Generation Communication Satellite The BlueBird Block-2 satellite represents the next gener...

Just a day before Christmas, on December 24, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to create another landmark in space history. Using its most powerful launch vehicle, the LVM3 ‘Bahubali’ rocket, ISRO will place the advanced communication satellite BlueBird Block-2 into orbit. Officially designated as the LVM3-M6 mission, this launch is being seen as a game-changer for global mobile connectivity and satellite-based communication services. What Is the BlueBird Satellite? The BlueBird satellite has been developed by the US-based company AST SpaceMobile and represents a new generation of space-based communication technology. Unlike conventional satellites, BlueBird is designed to provide direct-to-cellphone connectivity from space. This means users will be able to acce...

Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, currently living in self-imposed exile in India, has launched a sharp attack on the interim government in Dhaka, holding its chief Mohammad Yunus fully responsible for the ongoing violence, political instability, and growing anti-India sentiment in the country. In an email interview to a news agency, the Awami League leader alleged that extremist forces have gained unprecedented strength under Yunus’ leadership, creating an atmosphere of fear, lawlessness, and hostility toward India. She warned that such developments pose a serious threat not only to Bangladesh’s internal stability but also to regional peace. “Dangerous and Irresponsible Statements” Reacting strongly to recent provocative remarks by a Bangladeshi youth leader calli...

On December 22, India celebrates National Mathematics Day in memory of one of the most extraordinary minds the world has ever known—Srinivasa Ramanujan. Mathematics, often feared by students, became a divine language in the hands of this self-taught genius who, despite having no formal degree, reshaped modern mathematics with ideas that continue to astonish scholars globally. Born on 22 December 1887 in Erode, Tamil Nadu, Srinivasa Iyengar Ramanujan lived a remarkably short life, passing away on 26 April 1920 at the age of just 32 due to tuberculosis. Yet, in this brief span, he left behind a mathematical legacy so profound that he is regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians in history. A Self-Taught Prodigy Ramanujan had no formal training in higher mathematics. He learned ...