Pakistan has increased its defence budget by 17.6 per cent to PKRs 3,000 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, as announced by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. The federal budget, estimated at PKRs 18,771 billion, targets 4 per cent GDP growth, with significant allocations for debt service and pensions. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted economic stability and ongoing discussions with the IMF, while the opposition protested Imran Khan's incarceration during the budget session.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Uttar Pradesh government has questioned Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and administrator Gopal Rao regarding allegations of donation money theft and financial mismanagement at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
In the remote tribal village of Pahadpur, preparations are in full swing as it looks to script history.
The Shiv Sena-UBT is facing a significant internal crisis, with reports suggesting that 'six to seven' of its nine Lok Sabha MPs are preparing to form a separate group. MP Arvind Sawant has formally requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla not to recognise any such breakaway faction, emphasising the primacy of the political party over its legislative wing.
Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi has refused to vacate a government bungalow in Patna, daring the current CM to evict her by force. The dispute arose after the bungalow was allotted to another minister.
World leaders have expressed their relief and condemnation following a shooting incident near the White House Correspondents' Dinner, emphasising that political violence has no place in a democracy. Leaders including Narendra Modi, Mark Carney, and others have voiced their support and concern for President Trump and all attendees.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary criticised the RJD regarding the allotment of government bungalows, referencing the dispute over Rabri Devi's residence.
Supporters of TVK chief Vijay gathered in large numbers outside his residence, demanding he be invited to take the oath as Chief Minister amid ongoing political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu. The gathering highlights the pressure on the TVK leadership to clarify its roadmap for the upcoming elections and its position on the ongoing government formation deadlock.
Rajya Sabha MP Sukhen Shekhar Ray has resigned from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and his parliamentary seat, adding to the party's ongoing internal crisis and political turmoil.
West Bengal minister Kaushik Chowdhury on Thursday said that around 4,000 EVMs were gutted in a government building fire in Kolkata, as the police launched an investigation following the registration of an FIR in connection with the incident.
Suspected militants attacked Kultuh Kuki village in Manipur's Kamjong district, killing two people and burning 30 houses. This incident follows the recovery of six Naga civilians' bodies, believed to be hostages. Security forces are investigating, while the Kuki Baptist Convention and a Congress leader have condemned the violence and criticised the government's response.
Former chief secretary Vinit Chowdhary has criticised Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu over his handling of graft allegations in the Chester Hill housing project.
RJD spokesperson Shakti Yadav staged a protest outside Rabri Devi's residence after the Bihar government downgraded the security cover for the Lalu Prasad family. The RJD alleges this is an insult and a threat, while the ruling NDA maintains the decision is based on standard security protocols and should be respected. The move follows the allotment of Rabri Devi's long-occupied bungalow to a BJP minister.
A Constitution Amendment Bill aimed at implementing 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures and increasing Lok Sabha seats was defeated in Parliament, marking a setback for the government's efforts to empower women in politics.
A CPI(M) leader has blamed the municipal corporation for the roof collapse at a government school in Kerala, alleging negligence in issuing a fitness certificate.
After living in India's most palatial residence for 12 years, India's first President Dr Rajendra Prasad returned to his simple hut on the banks of the Ganga. He never owned a house of his lifetime.
The BJP has announced 11 candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, notably omitting Union ministers Ravneet Singh Bittu and George Kurian, whose terms end soon. This decision, alongside other recent appointments, has fuelled speculation about an imminent Cabinet reshuffle. The list includes new faces and senior party leaders from various states.
India strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations, labelling it a "Frankenstein state" for its alleged support of terrorism. The remarks came after Pakistan and the OIC raised the Kashmir issue, which India firmly rejected, reiterating Jammu and Kashmir's integral status. India also deemed the Indus Water Treaty "outdated" given Pakistan's policies.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan would host the signing ceremony of a peace agreement between the US and Iran in Switzerland on June 19, calling it a "historic milestone" that ends a 107-day conflict and promises global economic stability.
The Supreme Court has declared the right to walk on demarcated footpaths a fundamental right, prioritising it over motorised vehicle movement, and has called for the establishment of a regulatory body to ensure its enforcement and provide restitutionary remedies for violations.
As the Shiv Sena marks 60 years, political experts highlight the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction's existential crisis and the Eknath Shinde-led group's struggle for relevance in the face of a dominant BJP, a significant shift from the party's historical 'elder brother' status in Maharashtra.
A BJP government in Bengal inherits more problems than it might care to admit at its moment of triumph, points out Ramesh Menon
The United States and Iran are scheduled to hold their initial round of talks in Switzerland on Friday, following a ceasefire agreement virtually signed by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Villagers in Mathabhanga, West Bengal, have started receiving refunds of 'cut money' they paid to local toughs to access government scheme benefits during the previous TMC regime. The BJP claims this is due to their rise to power, while the TMC denies any involvement in the illegal collections.
A 37-year-old government doctor in Jalandhar, Punjab, died by suicide, leading to her ophthalmologist husband being booked for abetment. The victim's father alleges her husband subjected her to physical and mental torture over extramarital affairs and committed financial fraud by forging her signature for a large loan. The accused husband is currently absconding.
Immigrants' contribution to the US economy is disproportionate to their share of the population, meaning that losing them would shrink the economy even more than losing a random group of Americans, points out Sree Sreenivasan.
'A film that puts a Malayali collector, a Malayali general, and a Malayali gangster all in the same national plot does not feel pan-Indian. It feels like a school play where only one family showed up,' notes Binu Alex after watching the Mohanlal-Mammootty starrer Patriot.
No one can do this, the Gujarat high court said on Monday, questioning how former cricketer and Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan occupied public land in Vadodara without paying a single penny, even after the state government had refused the allotment proposal.
The BJP's West Bengal unit chief, Samik Bhattacharya, has criticised the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, accusing it of crushing democracy and creating a lawless environment in the state. He highlighted political violence, rising debt, and a lack of investor confidence as key issues under the TMC's rule.
As Shastri Bhawan nears demolition, one of Delhi's most iconic government buildings leaves behind six decades of stories, power, journalism and public life.
A group of rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs reportedly met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, claiming support of six members, while Uddhav Thackeray loyalists deny any defection. The party has issued a whip for a crucial meeting, and the anti-defection law's implications are being discussed amidst allegations of bribery.
'Har haal mein ghar khali karna hoga, koi mai ka lal nahi hai jo sarkari ghar khali nahi karega'.
The Telangana government's EAGLE Force has apprehended two ganja suppliers and 13 consumers in Hyderabad following complaints of drug consumption and public nuisance. Operations were conducted at Public Gardens and Jagadgirigutta, leading to arrests and deaddiction treatment for some individuals.
Gurugram police demolished illegal structures belonging to two habitual offenders, Shahrukh and Arshad, on government land in Peer Colony, Sohna. The structures were allegedly used as a base for criminal activities, with Shahrukh facing 34 theft cases and Arshad facing six theft cases and one NDPS case.
Gurugram police demolished illegal structures belonging to two habitual offenders, Shahrukh and Arshad, on government land in Peer Colony, Sohna. The structures were allegedly used as a base for criminal activities, with Shahrukh facing 34 theft cases and Arshad facing six theft cases and one NDPS case.
Dinesh Trivedi's experience as a businessperson and his fluency in Bengali are expected to be crucial in strengthening India-Bangladesh relations, particularly in attracting Indian investments to Dhaka.
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister's announcement of four 'Namo Cities' aims to decentralise development and decongest Delhi, but experts warn that the initiative may face execution challenges similar to previous urbanisation plans due to inadequate coordination among NCR states.
A 73-year-old man in Odisha's Jajpur district attempted self-immolation during a public grievance hearing, citing unaddressed appeals for an approach road to his house.
rediffGURU Vipul Bhavsar answers readers' personal income tax queries
BJP state general secretary S Suresh defends party leader Shone George's criticism of a Malayalam daily, Deepika, alleging its misuse for political interests ahead of the Kerala Assembly polls. The BJP maintains it respects all religions and aims for equal justice, denying any communal stance.
