New Delhi: In a landmark ruling, the Delhi High Court has clarified that couples seeking divorce by mutual consent may not be required to fulfill the one-year separation condition under certain circumstances. Mutual Consent Can Override Legal Separation Requirement A full bench comprising Justice Naveen Chawla, Nup J Bhambhani, and Renu Bhatnagar observed that courts have the discretion to waive the mandatory separation period if both spouses agree to end their marriage amicably. The court emphasized that the cooling-off period of six months, prescribed under law, is not intended to obstruct couples from exercising their choice to dissolve the marriage. The bench stated, “Marriage is indeed a sacred institution, but when both husband and wife mutually decide to end the relationshi...

New Delhi: Despite strong opposition protests, the Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Bill, 2025, replacing the MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan sharply criticized opposition parties during the proceedings. Opposition Protests and Disruptions The debate over the bill on Wednesday extended late into the night, with opposition members demanding that the legislation be referred to the Departmental Parliamentary Standing Committee for further scrutiny. Congress leader K.C. Venugopal renewed this demand on Thursday before the minister responded, but the Speaker rejected the request. During the discussions, some opposition members reportedly tore copies of the bill and threw papers in the...

New Delhi: The second joint military exercise between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), named Desert Cyclone-2, commenced today in Abu Dhabi. Scheduled to run from December 18 to 30, the exercise involves 45 Indian soldiers, primarily from the Mechanized Infantry Regiment, alongside 53 soldiers from the UAE’s Mechanized Infantry Battalion. Training for Urban Warfare and Heliborne Operations Over the two-week exercise, troops from both countries will conduct operations in constructed urban environments, practicing heliborne operations including helicopter insertion into simulated terrorist zones, as well as rescue and relief drills. Strengthening Defence Cooperation According to the Ministry of Defence, the primary objective of Desert Cyclone-2 is to enhance coordination...

New Delhi: The Congress party has landed itself in hot water over 51 cartons of documents related to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, which have not yet been returned. The central government has now directly questioned Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on why these papers, handed to the family in accordance with legal procedures, have not been returned to the Prime Minister Museum and Library (PMML). Shekhawat Demands Answers Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat criticized Congress and tweeted, “The 51 boxes of documents related to Jawaharlal Nehru were taken back by the Gandhi family from PMML (then NMML) in 2008. These documents were legally handed over to the family, and their records and catalogues exist at PMML. The key question is why these document...

New Delhi: BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has voiced strong criticism against opposition parties over disruptions in Parliament concerning the renaming of government schemes. The controversy centers on MGNREGA, now rebranded as “G RAM G” (G Vikas Bharat – Guarantee for Rural Employment and Livelihood Mission). Ranaut Targets Opposition Speaking on the issue, Kangana Ranaut said, “Parliament is being obstructed, which creates inconvenience for everyone. Several schemes have had their names changed in the past, including by the Congress party itself. Governments often update and improve schemes to introduce novelty and efficiency.” About the New Scheme Name MGNREGA has been officially renamed “G RAM G”, standing for “G Vikas Bharat – Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural)...