This election is different. It is no longer simply about governance or welfare. It is about identity, fear, and who belongs. The BJP has successfully shifted the terms of the debate from what the government has delivered to who the real Bengali is and who is an outsider, points out Ramesh Menon.
This will be India's 16th Census and the eighth since Independence. For the first time, citizens will also have the option of self-enumeration.
The broader conflict in West Asia, the largest international market for Indian carriers, has forced a sharp reduction in daily flights relative to the summer schedule.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma briefed Governor CH Vijayashankar on the law and order situation in the Garo Hills region following recent violence related to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections.
Trump added that the United States would assist in managing the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.
The popularity of US President Donald Trump is waning with approval ratings at its lowest, according to former diplomat Mahesh Sachdev, who notes that with two-thirds of Americans not approving of a continuation of the war on Iran, Trump faces the risk of being impeached.
CSIR Director General N Kalaiselvi emphasised the importance of research and applied sciences in developing sustainable solutions for India's energy security and environmental challenges at an international conference on Sustainability Through Fundamental and Applied Sciences (STFAS), 2026.
One of the most uncivilised characteristics of this war has been the total disregard for international law and the laws of armed conflict, asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
'She was not a yes person. She would tell the truth and her feelings to Indira Gandhi, and Indira Gandhi would value her opinion. The same was the case with Rajiv Gandhi who would value her opinion.'
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarifies the separation of powers between the legislature and executive branches following a directive to suspend a Satara Superintendent of Police. He emphasised that while the executive is accountable to the legislature, the legislature cannot assume the executive's role.
The container ship SELEN, en route to Karachi, was denied passage by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy due to lack of permission and failure to coordinate with Iranian maritime authorities.
Israel will continue its offensive in South Lebanon aimed at neutralising the threat from Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.
Iran has put forward a comprehensive 10-point framework that it says forms the basis of a complete resolution.
A senior Russian official has stated that Russia is prepared to supply fertilisers and other agricultural products to countries in the Global South and East, following concerns about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz impacting global fertiliser exports and food security.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday claimed that Tehran "begged" for a truce, maintaining that Washington achieved a "decisive military victory" during 'Operation Epic Fury.'
India's pharmaceutical exports have shown robust growth, reaching over USD 28 billion, despite global economic challenges. The sector is projected to reach USD 130 billion by 2030.
Two family members of Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian general killed in a US strike in 2020, have been arrested in the United States after their residency permits were rescinded.
Iran's men's national soccer team wore black armbands and held schoolbags as their anthem played ahead of a match in Turkey on Friday, in what a team official said was a protest over the killing of schoolgirls on the first day of the Iran war.
Rajasthan's Leader of Opposition, Tika Ram Jully, has accused the state government of a 'double game' in the Adarsh Credit Cooperative Society scam, alleging a conflict of interest involving the Additional Advocate General.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran and invited delegations from both countries to Islamabad for peace negotiations.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor discusses India's role in the US-Iran peace talks taking place in Islamabad, emphasising the importance of peace over competition with Pakistan and highlighting India's regional interests.
Security forces in Manipur have arrested 10 cadres of the banned Prepak (RA) near the India-Myanmar border, including five minors, as search operations continue in the region amid ongoing ethnic violence. A separate incident involved a mob attempting to enter the residence of a Kuki Zo Council chairman.
A projectile struck near Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, resulting in one security personnel casualty and damage to an auxiliary building. The incident has raised concerns about nuclear safety and potential regional consequences, drawing criticism from Iranian officials and prompting calls for restraint from the IAEA.
The Delhi High Court has directed the GST Council to consider lowering or abolishing the goods and services tax on air purifiers, citing worsening air quality in the national capital. The court has asked the council to meet at the earliest, even via video conference if necessary, to address the issue.
At a time when artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, can it really replace a designer's instinct?
The intriguing bit is that Trump is likely to attend the talks in Islamabad this weekend -- if he does, it will be the clearest signal yet that the US is ready to exit the war with some sort of win to show, since he cannot afford to go for the talks and return empty-handed, notes Prem Panicker in his must read blog on the Iran War
Curfew has been imposed in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district as a precautionary measure following violent protests and police firing in the neighbouring West Garo Hills district during district council elections.
Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse highlights the positive impact of the Khelo India Tribal Games on Chhattisgarh, shifting its image from a region associated with naxalism to one with opportunities for tribal youth through sports.
A fire in Kishtwar town, Jammu and Kashmir, has destroyed a municipal council office and two residential houses, prompting a police investigation into the cause.
The Congress party has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomatic efforts following the ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, facilitated in part by Pakistan. The party claims this development undermines Modi's strategy and exposes his perceived failures in foreign policy.
The Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai received a bomb threat via email during the budget session, leading to a security search and evacuation. Authorities deemed the threat a hoax after finding nothing suspicious.
Italy crash out of World Cup qualification for the third straight time, losing to Bosnia on penalties, sparking outrage and calls for sweeping changes.
The Congress-led UDF candidate in Palakkad, Ramesh Pisharody, was allegedly prevented from entering a BJP stronghold, leading to condemnation from various political figures, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The incident occurred during Pisharody's campaign tour, with BJP women workers blocking his path and raising slogans.
The assassination of Ali Larijani, Iran's top security official, in an alleged Israeli strike has sent shockwaves through the region, prompting vows of revenge and raising concerns about escalating tensions.
The ceasefire is still technically holding, to the extent that no overt hostilities have been reported yet, but the rhetoric has hardened dangerously. The week ahead will also clarify whether the Islamabad failure was a negotiating tactic or whether Washington has genuinely locked itself into a position from which the only exits are climb-down, escalation, or the slow bleed of a new status quo that nobody chose and nobody controls. Prem Panicker continues his must read blog on the Iran War.
Three academics involved in drafting a controversial NCERT textbook chapter on corruption in the judiciary have approached the Supreme Court to defend their work, stating it was a collective effort and not the view of any single individual.
'The West Asia or the Gulf crisis has shown that what we develop as national infrastructure when things are not as bad as they could be, we forget to plan for adversities.'
Reports are emerging that Ali Larijani, a key Iranian security official, was allegedly targetted in an Israeli airstrike, escalating tensions in the region.
Curfew has been extended in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district until Sunday morning, with a brief relaxation period on Saturday for residents to obtain essential supplies. The curfew follows violence related to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) elections, which have now been postponed.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed the West Asia conflict's impact on the global economy, particularly energy security, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He also engaged with GCC ambassadors and his Sri Lankan and German counterparts on the same issue.
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