Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram criticized the Union Budget presented by Nirmala Sitharaman, claiming it targets the middle class and Bihar voters ahead of upcoming state elections. He argued the government lacks new ideas and is unwilling to deregulate or empower entrepreneurs, predicting only 6-6.5% growth.
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Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key figure in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has been extradited from the US to India. This followed a long legal battle. An NIA team brought Rana to Delhi. He was presented in court. The court granted NIA 18-day custody for interrogation. Rana's questioning is crucial to uncover the full conspiracy. He is linked to David Headley.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar announced the upcoming opening of a Spanish consulate in Bengaluru and the celebration of a 'dual year' in 2026 to highlight culture, tourism, and AI. He highlighted India's recent achievements in housing, healthcare, and cashless payments under the Modi government.
Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is under criticism for delays in Tejas fighter jet production and safety checks of Dhruv helicopters. A parliamentary panel condemned HAL's inefficiencies, which hinder military demands. IAF chief A P Singh also expressed a lack of confidence in HAL, highlighting the need to induct 40 fighters annually to maintain combat readiness.
Farmers from India and Bangladesh clashed at the Malda border over allegations of theft and trespassing on Saturday, escalating into a violent confrontation. The BSF and BGB intervened to restore order. The enclave's geography complicates fencing, leading to unintentional border crossings. Officials plan to meet village heads to prevent future incidents, and additional BSF personnel have been deployed.
India ranked as the fifth most polluted country in the world in 2024, with Byrnihat, Meghalaya, recognized as the most polluted metropolitan area globally. Despite a 7% decline in PM2.5 levels, New Delhi remained the most polluted capital. Major pollution sources include industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and crop residue burning.
Karnataka High Court quashed ED's action against former Mysore Urban Development Authority commissioner D S Natesha in the alternative site allotment case. The court invalidated the search operation, citing the absence of "reason to believe" and reserved liberty for Natesha to initiate action under PMLA, 2002.
American billionaire and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs visited the ashram of her guru, Swami Kailashnand Giri, in Prayagraj to participate in the Maha Kumbh mela. Accompanied by her 40-member team, she will stay until January 15 before returning to the US.
More than 29,500 drones are registered in India, with the highest numbers in New Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued 96 Type Certificates for different drone models, including 65 for agriculture. Various steps, including scrapping passport requirements for registration, have been taken to promote drone technology across sectors.
Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav stated that the recent Assembly poll results demonstrate the citizens' rejection of Arvind Kejriwal's politics. AAP lost to BJP, securing only 22 seats while BJP won 48. Yadav acknowledged Congress's defeat and committed to reviewing and improving their strategy, noting a slight improvement in their vote share from 4.3% to 6.39%.
Isro’s SpaDeX mission aims to dock two satellites through precise maneuvers starting with a 20km separation, gradually reducing to enable inter-satellite communication. Successful docking will demonstrate power transfer and future space station capabilities. Begun in 1989, the mission highlights India's technological progress in space docking technology.