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Digging a foundation for a house in the Lakkundi village in Karnataka led to the discovery of a pot of gold, containing several ornaments. Gangavva Basavaraj Ritti of the village came across the collection sitting inside a copper vessel. Archaeologists were informed who came and analysed the gold. Lakkundi was once a historical city, having many Hindu and Jain temples and was a major economic and commercial centre. So when this gold was found, people got curious. However, the Archaeological Department has clarified that it is not a treasure but simply ornaments hidden by earlier generations. The absence of gold coins means that there might not be anything historical about the discovery. Archaeological Department Superintendent (Dharwad Circle) Ramesh Mulimani said, "The gold ornaments recovered from a copper vessel are broken and appear to be household jewellery. In earlier times, people used to bury their ornaments near the hearth in the kitchen for safety. These are such ornaments, not treasure," as quoted by Deccan Herald.<h2>Gold discovered in Karnataka village was buried by a family</h2>More than 150 inscriptions, temples and sculptures have been found in Lakkundi over the years. Archaeologists say this shows that it was once a prosperous residential area. Researcher Appanna Hanje believes the ornaments belong to the 11th or 12th century, based on their design. He said it weighs a total of 470 grams and can be easily distinguished from royal ornaments since the latter carry distinct designs. However, the ornaments and jewellery found at the site are regular and so likely belong to common people.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/2-000-year-old-coins-discovery-in-pakistan-from-time-of-king-vasudeva-prove-something-about-religious-belief-1767949138481">2,000-year-old coins from time of King Vasudeva discovered in Pakistan prove something about religious beliefs</a> Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/the-ancient-luxury-pen-provocative-artefact-featuring-greek-god-of-wine-and-fertility-unearthed-in-sicily-1768316132621">Erotic artefact featuring Greek god of wine and fertility unearthed in Sicily</a><h2>Family demands gold back</h2>Now the family that found the jewellery is in a pickle. Since they hold no archaeological significance, they are asking for it to be returned to them. They say that if it was buried by a family, then the jewellery belongs to them. "We do not want the gold. The government should build a house for us. If that is not possible, then, as the officials themselves say that these are not treasures, the ornaments belonging to our grandfather and great-grandfather should be returned to us," the family said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asked for details on the discovery from Gadag District Superintendent of Police Rohan Jagadish.&nbsp;The gold is currently in government custody, and a detailed study will be carried out by experts. State Archaeology Department expert Smita Reddy is scheduled to visit the site soon for more investigation to ascertain the exact age and period of the ornaments.

A family came across a gold jewellery in the Lakkundi village of Karnataka while digging up to build a new house. Archaeologists say it is nothing significant and was buried by some family hundreds of years ago. So now the family wants it back.

Digging a foundation for a house in the Lakkundi village in Karnataka led to the discovery of a pot of gold, containing several ornaments. Gangavva Basavaraj Ritti of the village came across the collection sitting inside a copper vessel. Archaeologists were informed who came and analysed the gold. Lakkundi was once a historical city, having many Hindu and Jain temples and was a major economic and commercial centre. So when this gold was found, people got curious. However, the Archaeological Department has clarified that it is not a treasure but simply ornaments hidden by earlier generations. The absence of gold coins means that there might not be anything historical about the discovery. Archaeological Department Superintendent (Dharwad Circle) Ramesh Mulimani said, "The gold ornaments recovered from a copper vessel are broken and appear to be household jewellery. In earlier times, people used to bury their ornaments near the hearth in the kitchen for safety. These are such ornaments, not treasure," as quoted by Deccan Herald. Gold discovered in Karnataka village was buried by a family More than 150 inscriptions, temples and sculptures have been found in Lakkundi over the years. Archaeologists say this shows that it was once a prosperous residential area. Researcher Appanna Hanje believes the ornaments belong to the 11th or 12th century, based on their design. He said it weighs a total of 470 grams and can be easily distinguished from royal ornaments since the latter carry distinct designs. However, the ornaments and jewellery found at the site are regular and so likely belong to common people. Also Read: 2,000-year-old coins from time of King Vasudeva discovered in Pakistan prove something about religious beliefs Also Read: Erotic artefact featuring Greek god of wine and fertility unearthed in Sicily Family demands gold back Now the family that found the jewellery is in a pickle. Since they hold no archaeological significance, they are asking for it to be returned to them. They say that if it was buried by a family, then the jewellery belongs to them. "We do not want the gold. The government should build a house for us. If that is not possible, then, as the officials themselves say that these are not treasures, the ornaments belonging to our grandfather and great-grandfather should be returned to us," the family said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asked for details on the discovery from Gadag District Superintendent of Police Rohan Jagadish. The gold is currently in government custody, and a detailed study will be carried out by experts. State Archaeology Department expert Smita Reddy is scheduled to visit the site soon for more investigation to ascertain the exact age and period of the ornaments.

A family came across a gold jewellery in the Lakkundi village of Karnataka while digging up to build a new house. Archaeologists say it is nothing significant and was buried by some family hundreds of years ago. So now the family wants it back.

Pot of gold buried 900 years ago unearthed in a Karnataka village. Now there is a fuss over who owns it

There is no respite from the cold wave gripping Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Temperatures have dipped further across the region, intensifying the winter chill and prolonging harsh conditions. &nbsp;&nbsp;Although the Meteorological Department has forecast chances of snowfall across various districts of the Kashmir region between January 19 and 22, temperatures across the region have already plummeted. According to the MeT, snowfall activity is expected to continue until January 24, and the prevailing wet weather is likely to bring some improvement in temperatures in the coming days. &nbsp;&nbsp;The cold weather has led to the freezing of water bodies across several districts of the Kashmir Valley as well as the Ladakh region. Portions of Dal Lake have also frozen as sub-zero temperatures continue to prevail. Srinagar witnessed another sharp dip in temperatures, recording a minimum of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, while the temperature at Srinagar Airport plunged further to minus 6 degrees Celsius. &nbsp;&nbsp;The world-famous ski resort of Gulmarg also registered a minimum temperature of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, while South Kashmir’s popular tourist destination, Pahalgam, recorded a low of Minus 6 degrees.&nbsp;&nbsp;Elsewhere in South Kashmir, Shopian experienced biting cold with the mercury dipping to minus 7.5 degrees Celsius, while Pulwama shivered at minus 7 degrees. In Central Kashmir, the resort town of Sonamarg also witnessed sub-zero conditions, recording a minimum temperature of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Ladakh continues to remain the coldest region in the country, with temperatures in Leh plunging to minus 11.4 degrees Celsius while Kargil registered a low of minus 10 degrees Celsius. &nbsp;&nbsp;The Kashmir Valley is currently in the grip of Chillai Kalan, the harshest and coldest phase of winter. This 40-day period began on December 21.&nbsp;The Meteorological Department (MeT) has forecast mainly dry weather until January 15. Meanwhile, moderate fog is expected to prevail over the plains of the Jammu division, with dense fog at isolated locations likely to continue over the next two days.

Although the Meteorological Department has forecast chances of snowfall across various districts of the Kashmir region between January 19 and 22, temperatures across the region have already plummeted.

There is no respite from the cold wave gripping Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Temperatures have dipped further across the region, intensifying the winter chill and prolonging harsh conditions. Although the Meteorological Department has forecast chances of snowfall across various districts of the Kashmir region between January 19 and 22, temperatures across the region have already plummeted. According to the MeT, snowfall activity is expected to continue until January 24, and the prevailing wet weather is likely to bring some improvement in temperatures in the coming days. The cold weather has led to the freezing of water bodies across several districts of the Kashmir Valley as well as the Ladakh region. Portions of Dal Lake have also frozen as sub-zero temperatures continue to prevail. Srinagar witnessed another sharp dip in temperatures, recording a minimum of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, while the temperature at Srinagar Airport plunged further to minus 6 degrees Celsius. The world-famous ski resort of Gulmarg also registered a minimum temperature of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, while South Kashmir’s popular tourist destination, Pahalgam, recorded a low of Minus 6 degrees. Elsewhere in South Kashmir, Shopian experienced biting cold with the mercury dipping to minus 7.5 degrees Celsius, while Pulwama shivered at minus 7 degrees. In Central Kashmir, the resort town of Sonamarg also witnessed sub-zero conditions, recording a minimum temperature of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Ladakh continues to remain the coldest region in the country, with temperatures in Leh plunging to minus 11.4 degrees Celsius while Kargil registered a low of minus 10 degrees Celsius. The Kashmir Valley is currently in the grip of Chillai Kalan, the harshest and coldest phase of winter. This 40-day period began on December 21. The Meteorological Department (MeT) has forecast mainly dry weather until January 15. Meanwhile, moderate fog is expected to prevail over the plains of the Jammu division, with dense fog at isolated locations likely to continue over the next two days.

Although the Meteorological Department has forecast chances of snowfall across various districts of the Kashmir region between January 19 and 22, temperatures across the region have already plummeted.

Sub-zero temperatures sweep Kashmir and Ladakh ahead of fresh snowfall forecast

Passengers arriving at India’s international airports may soon notice a new addition to customs checks — body-worn cameras on customs officers. In a move aimed at improving transparency and accountability, the government has made it mandatory for customs officers posted at Red Channel gates to wear body cameras while interacting with travellers.&nbsp;The decision has been taken by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and is being rolled out across airports in a phased manner.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/republic-day-parade-delhi-airport-closure-partial-airspace-restrictions-announced-between-january-21-26-here-are-details-1768309715871">Delhi airport to be partially closed between January 21 &amp; 26. Here are details</a>The Red Channel is where passengers declare dutiable or restricted items and often face detailed scrutiny. Authorities say recording these interactions will help reduce disputes, prevent misconduct and ensure procedures are followed fairly.Under the new rules, officers must clearly inform passengers that the interaction is being recorded before switching on the camera. The audio-visual footage will be securely stored for at least 90 days and can be reviewed later in case of complaints, departmental inquiries or legal proceedings.<h2>Where It Has Already Started</h2>The initiative is no longer on paper alone. Major airports have already begun implementing the system.At Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, customs officers stationed at the Red Channel are already wearing body cameras during passenger checks. Officials say early feedback suggests smoother interactions and fewer arguments, as both sides are aware the exchange is being recorded.The system has also been extended to Mangaluru International Airport, which comes under the same customs zone. Officers there have been instructed to activate cameras during all passenger interactions involving baggage checks or declarations.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-pushes-illegal-claim-on-india-s-shaksgam-valley-in-kashmir-hides-behind-pakistan-deal-from-1960s-1768279252397">China pushes illegal claim on Indians Shaksgam Valley, hides behind Pak deal</a>Meanwhile, Chennai International Airport has begun distributing body-worn cameras to customs staff, with additional devices being procured to cover all shifts. Officials say the cameras will work alongside existing CCTV surveillance, offering a clearer and more personal record of what actually transpires during inspections.At Pune International Airport, preparations are underway to introduce body-worn cameras for customs officers at the Red Channel.Sources say the airport, which falls under the Mumbai Customs zone, is expected to begin implementation shortly as part of the nationwide rollout.Officers are being briefed on standard operating procedures, including passenger intimation and data handling norms.Why the Move MattersThe decision comes amid repeated complaints from international travellers about harassment, delays and alleged demands for bribes at customs counters.Authorities believe body-worn cameras will act as a deterrent against wrongdoing, while also protecting officers from false allegations. Customs officials stress that strict data-privacy norms will be followed, and the footage will only be accessed for official purposes.The recordings may be retained for longer than 90 days if required for an ongoing investigation or court case.What Travellers Should ExpectFor passengers, the change means greater transparency. If you are stopped at the Red Channel, the officer will inform you that recording is underway. Officials say this will help build trust and make customs checks more predictable and professional.The government plans to extend the system to all international airports in the country, starting with the busiest hubs. Authorities describe it as part of a broader effort to modernise customs operations and improve the overall travel experience.&nbsp;

Under the new rules, officers must clearly inform passengers that the interaction is being recorded before switching on the camera. The audio-visual footage will be securely stored for at least 90 days.

Passengers arriving at India’s international airports may soon notice a new addition to customs checks — body-worn cameras on customs officers. In a move aimed at improving transparency and accountability, the government has made it mandatory for customs officers posted at Red Channel gates to wear body cameras while interacting with travellers. The decision has been taken by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and is being rolled out across airports in a phased manner. Also read | Delhi airport to be partially closed between January 21 & 26. Here are details The Red Channel is where passengers declare dutiable or restricted items and often face detailed scrutiny. Authorities say recording these interactions will help reduce disputes, prevent misconduct and ensure procedures are followed fairly. Under the new rules, officers must clearly inform passengers that the interaction is being recorded before switching on the camera. The audio-visual footage will be securely stored for at least 90 days and can be reviewed later in case of complaints, departmental inquiries or legal proceedings. Where It Has Already Started The initiative is no longer on paper alone. Major airports have already begun implementing the system. At Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, customs officers stationed at the Red Channel are already wearing body cameras during passenger checks. Officials say early feedback suggests smoother interactions and fewer arguments, as both sides are aware the exchange is being recorded. The system has also been extended to Mangaluru International Airport, which comes under the same customs zone. Officers there have been instructed to activate cameras during all passenger interactions involving baggage checks or declarations. Also read | China pushes illegal claim on Indians Shaksgam Valley, hides behind Pak deal Meanwhile, Chennai International Airport has begun distributing body-worn cameras to customs staff, with additional devices being procured to cover all shifts. Officials say the cameras will work alongside existing CCTV surveillance, offering a clearer and more personal record of what actually transpires during inspections. At Pune International Airport, preparations are underway to introduce body-worn cameras for customs officers at the Red Channel. Sources say the airport, which falls under the Mumbai Customs zone, is expected to begin implementation shortly as part of the nationwide rollout. Officers are being briefed on standard operating procedures, including passenger intimation and data handling norms. Why the Move Matters The decision comes amid repeated complaints from international travellers about harassment, delays and alleged demands for bribes at customs counters. Authorities believe body-worn cameras will act as a deterrent against wrongdoing, while also protecting officers from false allegations. Customs officials stress that strict data-privacy norms will be followed, and the footage will only be accessed for official purposes. The recordings may be retained for longer than 90 days if required for an ongoing investigation or court case. What Travellers Should Expect For passengers, the change means greater transparency. If you are stopped at the Red Channel, the officer will inform you that recording is underway. Officials say this will help build trust and make customs checks more predictable and professional. The government plans to extend the system to all international airports in the country, starting with the busiest hubs. Authorities describe it as part of a broader effort to modernise customs operations and improve the overall travel experience.

Under the new rules, officers must clearly inform passengers that the interaction is being recorded before switching on the camera. The audio-visual footage will be securely stored for at least 90 days.

Your customs check is now being recorded: Body cameras rolled out at airports

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday (Jan 13) said "concluded a good conversation" with the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and had discussions on "Trade, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, defence and energy." Jaishankar's talks with Rubio come a day after the American ambassador to India described India-US relations as “a consequential global partnership of this century.”&nbsp;"Just concluded a good conversation with @SecRubio.Discussed trade, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, defence and energy," S Jaishankar posted on X, adding that both sides "Agreed to remain in touch on these and other issues". External Affairs Minister's talks with Rubio came a day after Sergio Gor took charge as the US Ambassador to India and invited India to the US-led coalition on the critical minerals supply chain, the Pax Silica, adding that both sides remain actively engaged to secure a trade deal.&nbsp;“In fact, the next call on trade will occur tomorrow. Remember, India is the world’s largest nation, so it’s not an easy task to get this across the finish line, but we are determined to get there, and while trade is very important for our relationship, we will continue to work closely together on other very important areas, such as security, counterterrorism, energy, technology, education and health,” he said.&nbsp;Describing India as a real friend, Gor said that disagreement is part of a friendship and stressed that the India-US partnership is rooted in a relationship at the highest level.“The United States and India are bound not just by shared interest, but by a relationship anchored at the highest levels. Real friends can disagree, but always resolve their differences”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-help-is-on-its-way-iranian-patriots-keep-protesting-says-trump-and-urges-protestors-to-take-over-institutions-in-iran-1768316314730">'HELP IS ON ITS WAY. IRANIAN PATRIOTS, KEEP PROTESTING', says Trump and urges protestors to 'take over institutions in Iran</a>'&nbsp;“In the end, last week, our great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, powerfully stated that this year will be a year of reciprocity. We are raising the standard for diplomacy itself, which means fair trade, mutual respect and shared security. Many of you have asked me for an update on the ongoing trade deal negotiations. Both sides continue to actively engage," he added.&nbsp;India and US ties have come under strain due to a deadlock in trade negotiations, with talks slipping despite deadlines in mid‑2025. After months of negotiations leading up to an August 1, 2025 deadline for tariff enforcement, the Trump administration imposed sweeping duties on Indian goods , including a 25 per cent “reciprocal” tariff and an additional 25 per cent penalty tied to India’s continued imports of Russian oil, bringing the total to around 50 per cent, one of the highest rates faced by any trading partner.

Jaishankar’s talks with US Secretary Rubio on various subjects, including trade, follow US Ambassador Gor calling India–US ties the “most consequential global partnership of this century,” hinting at a possible thaw amid trade tensions.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday (Jan 13) said "concluded a good conversation" with the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and had discussions on "Trade, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, defence and energy." Jaishankar's talks with Rubio come a day after the American ambassador to India described India-US relations as “a consequential global partnership of this century.” "Just concluded a good conversation with @SecRubio.Discussed trade, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, defence and energy," S Jaishankar posted on X, adding that both sides "Agreed to remain in touch on these and other issues". External Affairs Minister's talks with Rubio came a day after Sergio Gor took charge as the US Ambassador to India and invited India to the US-led coalition on the critical minerals supply chain, the Pax Silica, adding that both sides remain actively engaged to secure a trade deal. “In fact, the next call on trade will occur tomorrow. Remember, India is the world’s largest nation, so it’s not an easy task to get this across the finish line, but we are determined to get there, and while trade is very important for our relationship, we will continue to work closely together on other very important areas, such as security, counterterrorism, energy, technology, education and health,” he said. Describing India as a real friend, Gor said that disagreement is part of a friendship and stressed that the India-US partnership is rooted in a relationship at the highest level. “The United States and India are bound not just by shared interest, but by a relationship anchored at the highest levels. Real friends can disagree, but always resolve their differences”. Also Read: 'HELP IS ON ITS WAY. IRANIAN PATRIOTS, KEEP PROTESTING', says Trump and urges protestors to 'take over institutions in Iran' “In the end, last week, our great Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, powerfully stated that this year will be a year of reciprocity. We are raising the standard for diplomacy itself, which means fair trade, mutual respect and shared security. Many of you have asked me for an update on the ongoing trade deal negotiations. Both sides continue to actively engage," he added. India and US ties have come under strain due to a deadlock in trade negotiations, with talks slipping despite deadlines in mid‑2025. After months of negotiations leading up to an August 1, 2025 deadline for tariff enforcement, the Trump administration imposed sweeping duties on Indian goods , including a 25 per cent “reciprocal” tariff and an additional 25 per cent penalty tied to India’s continued imports of Russian oil, bringing the total to around 50 per cent, one of the highest rates faced by any trading partner.

Jaishankar’s talks with US Secretary Rubio on various subjects, including trade, follow US Ambassador Gor calling India–US ties the “most consequential global partnership of this century,” hinting at a possible thaw amid trade tensions.

Jaishankar speaks to Secretary of State Rubio after US envoy calls India a 'consequential partner'

Iran's Ambassador to India, Dr. Mohammad Fathali, has said that the people of his country won't&nbsp;"allow foreign interference" and normalcy&nbsp;is returning after the recent protests. Speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal, Ambassador Fathali stated that "at present, the situation in the country is under control, and in many cities we are witnessing a return to calm and stability." &nbsp;He explained how "millions of Iranians took to the streets across the country to express their support for the Islamic Republic, demonstrating", he said that it "clearly" shows that despite "existing challenges and economic pressures, they will never allow foreign interference in their internal affairs." Fathali reassured on the safety of foreign nationals, particularly Indians. He said, "Indian students and nationals are safe in our country. The situation is under control, and they remain in regular contact with their embassy, while we are closely monitoring the situation." India has around 10,000 Indian nationals and people of Indian origin in Iran. On bilateral relations, the newly appointed envoy characterised India-Iran ties&nbsp;as "deep-rooted, historical, and founded on mutual respect and shared interests," expressing optimism for expanded cooperation in energy, transit, and projects like Chabahar Port, by building on mutual trust and a long-term perspective."<h2>Here is the full interview:</h2>Sidhant Sibal: We have seen protests in your country. Would you like to just talk about it, since it has been a story that has been covered internationally? What is the situation?Dr. Mohammad Fathali: At present, the situation in the country is under control, and in many cities, we are witnessing a return to calm and stability. Yesterday, millions of Iranians took to the streets across the country to express their support for the Islamic Republic, demonstrating clearly that despite existing challenges and economic pressures, they will never allow foreign interference in their internal affairs. As you are aware, the protests initially had a peaceful character. From the very outset, our Supreme Leader and the President emphasized that peaceful protest is a legitimate right of the people and that the government is prepared to listen to public demands and the voices of the protesters.&nbsp;Unfortunately, however, as events unfolded, elements linked to the Zionist regime and the United States exploited this atmosphere and diverted lawful public protests toward violence and insecurity. There is extensive evidence and documentation of ISIS-like crimes, including beheadings, the burning of bodies, and other brutal acts, which clearly show that we are not dealing with ordinary protesters. Rather, we are confronting organized terrorist elements affiliated with ISIS and other extremist groups, directed and supported from outside of Iran.&nbsp;Their primary objective is the destabilization and collapse of the region’s security order and the redrawing of geopolitical borders. This dangerous project will never be confined to Iran alone; if left unchecked, it will engulf all countries of the region. In recent years, Iran has stood on the front lines of the fight against ISIS and, as the first line of defence, prevented the spread of this ominous phenomenon to other countries. Today, we once again warn that if such terrorist acts are normalized or ignored, the risk of insecurity and violence spreading to other parts of the world is entirely real. Vigilance, cooperation, and collective action against terrorism are today more than ever a global necessity.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: Are Indian students, nationals safe in the country, because your country hosts a number of Indian nationals?Dr. Mohammad Fathali: Yes. Indian students and nationals are safe in our country. The situation is under control, and they remain in regular contact with their embassy, while we are closely monitoring the situation.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: Your Excellency, you have just taken charge of your term here. How will you characterize the India-Iran ties?Dr. Mohammad Fathali: The relationship between Iran and India is deep-rooted, historical, and founded on mutual respect and shared interests. Over the centuries, the two countries have maintained profound civilizational, cultural, and economic ties, and these bonds have consistently transcended temporary political developments. Today, Tehran and New Delhi, as two major Asian powers, continue to engage in sustained and constructive dialogue across a range of fields. In this new era, there is a shared determination to expand cooperation in political, economic, energy, transit, and regional connectivity sectors, particularly through projects such as the Chabahar Port. We believe that Iran–India relations hold immense potential for deepening and growth, and that, by building on mutual trust and a long-term perspective, these partnerships can be further strengthened.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: What will be your focus during the term? Any specific areas of cooperation that you are looking at?Dr. Mohammad Fathali: Our primary focus during this period is to deepen and operationalize bilateral cooperation in areas of strategic importance to both countries. Within this framework, the development of transit and transportation cooperation will hold a special place. In addition, collaboration in the energy sector remains a key priority. Iran and India possess significant complementary capacities in this field, and we are keen to expand cooperation across various energy domains, including oil, gas, and other related areas. At the same time, strengthening cultural and people-to-people exchanges will be an essential part of our mission, as the deep-rooted cultural and civilizational ties between our nations can provide a lasting foundation for the long-term development of political and economic relations.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: The 10-year contract for the development and operation of Chabahar Port (signed in 2024) remains a cornerstone of India-Iran connectivity. What steps is Iran taking to accelerate implementation, and how can both countries ensure the port becomes a thriving hub for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia?Dr. Mohammad Fathali: From our perspective, the Chabahar Agreement is not simply a port project; it is an integral part of a strategic vision to enhance regional connectivity and build long-term cooperation with India. In this context, Iran has taken concrete steps to accelerate the implementation of this agreement, including the development of essential port infrastructure, streamlining administrative and customs procedures, offering investment incentives, and ensuring close coordination among relevant authorities to address any operational challenges.&nbsp;To transform Chabahar into a vibrant and sustainable trade hub for Afghanistan and Central Asia, ongoing and close collaboration between the two countries is crucial. The expansion of rail and road transport networks linking to the port, alignment of transit regulations, securing transport routes, and encouraging active private sector involvement will all play key roles. With a complementary and long-term outlook, Iran and India have the potential to turn Chabahar into a critical node in the regional supply chain and a successful model of South-South cooperation.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: Do you see any challenges? We have seen 6-month U.S. sanctions waivers; will they help the project?Dr. Mohammad Fathali: Naturally, there are some challenges. However, there is also strong political will in both Tehran and New Delhi to overcome these challenges, and thus far, both sides have worked together to find practical and realistic solutions to ensure the continuity of cooperation. Regarding the United States' six-month sanctions waiver, I believe this move can, in the short term, help create greater confidence for economic actors, companies, and investors, and facilitate the progress of the project. However, from Iran's perspective, the primary significance of Chabahar lies in its inherent and strategic role in regional connectivity, rather than in the temporary or political decisions of third parties. What will guarantee the success of this project is the continued close cooperation between Iran and India, a long-term vision, and a focus on the shared interests of both countries and the region.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: Despite strong civilizational and historical ties, bilateral trade between India and Iran remains below potential due to banking restrictions and sanctions. How do you plan to boost two-way trade?Dr. Mohammad Fathali: There are various solutions that, if effectively implemented, can help expand the volume of trade between our two countries. Utilizing national currencies, promoting barter arrangements, exploring alternative financial channels, and strengthening the role of the private sector are among these measures. Alongside these efforts, the development of transit infrastructure, particularly via the Chabahar port, streamlining customs procedures, and focusing on sectors of mutual advantage, including energy, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture, can create the foundation for sustainable growth in bilateral trade and the full realization of the economic potential of our relationship.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), with Chabahar as a key node, holds immense promise for connecting India to Russia, Europe, and Central Asia. What progress has been made on integrating Chabahar more deeply into the INSTC, and is there scope for trilateral or multilateral cooperation involving other partners like Russia?Dr. Mohammad Fathali: The International North–South Transport Corridor is a strategic priority for us, with the Chabahar port serving as a key node in this network and playing a vital role in completing the south-to-north connectivity chain. Within this framework, practical steps have been taken to strengthen Chabahar’s linkages with domestic rail and road networks and to connect it to routes leading to northern ports and land borders. Technical and operational coordination among the relevant institutions is underway to ensure the port’s effective integration into the North–South Corridor. At the same time, Iran views this corridor as inherently multilateral and welcomes expanded cooperation with regional and extra-regional partners, including Russia. Trilateral or multilateral collaboration can be further enhanced through the harmonization of transit regulations, facilitation of customs procedures, joint investment in infrastructure, and the creation of integrated transport routes. We believe that through synergy among Iran, India, Russia, and other interested countries, the North–South Corridor can become one of the most efficient and cost-effective routes for international trade.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: Energy cooperation has historically been a strong pillar of India-Iran relations. But it is known that India doesn't import oil from Iran over sanctions? Your take on thatDr. Mohammad Fathali: Energy cooperation has always been a cornerstone of relations between Iran and India, and there is significant potential to expand it further. While unilateral sanctions have posed certain limitations on Iran’s oil exports to India, this does not diminish the shared interests or the existing capacities between the two countries. Iran has consistently been a reliable energy supplier for India and is prepared, should conditions allow, to resume and even expand energy cooperation beyond previous levels. At the same time, the two countries can pursue collaboration in other energy sectors, including joint investment, refining, petrochemicals, and the transfer of technical knowledge, as complementary avenues for partnership.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: Cultural and people-to-people ties form the bedrock of our relationship. What new cultural diplomacy initiatives, such as exchanges in arts, education, tourism, or sports, does Iran plan to promote in the coming years to further strengthen bonds between the two ancient civilizations?Dr. Mohammad Fathali: Cultural and people-to-people ties have always been a cornerstone of Iran–India relations, and we believe that strengthening these bonds is key to ensuring the sustainability of relations in other areas. In this regard, Iran has planned initiatives to expand academic and scientific exchanges, enhance cooperation between research centres, organize joint cultural and artistic weeks, and facilitate the presence of artists, writers, and intellectuals from both countries.&nbsp;At the same time, the development of cultural and pilgrimage tourism, the promotion of people-to-people interactions, and attention to opportunities for cooperation in sports are among the initiatives that can strengthen the connection between the younger generations of the two nations. We are convinced that by leveraging our shared civilizational heritage and implementing innovative initiatives in cultural diplomacy, the ties between the ancient peoples of Iran and India can be deepened and made more dynamic than ever before.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: Regional developments in West Asia, including the Gaza situation and broader Middle East tensions, impact global stability. What role does Iran believe India can play in fostering peace and dialogue in the region, given India's balanced approach and growing international influence?Dr. Mohammad Fathali: Given its balanced approach, independent stance, and growing international influence, Iran views India as playing an important role in promoting peace and dialogue in West Asia. We believe that India, by emphasizing multilateralism, respecting international law, and supporting political and diplomatic solutions, can contribute to reducing tensions and advancing sustainable stability in the region.&nbsp;Sidhant Sibal: India will be hosting the BRICS summit this year. Iran is a member of the BRICS. How do you see the role of this grouping?Dr. Mohammad Fathali: BRICS, as an important multilateral framework, plays an increasingly significant role in strengthening economic, financial, and political cooperation among emerging economies. Iran’s membership in the group and India’s hosting of the summit provide a valuable opportunity to enhance South–South synergy, promote multilateralism, and increase the role of developing countries within the international system.

'Situation in Iran under control, Indian students safe': Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Fathali

Iran's Ambassador to India, Dr. Mohammad Fathali, has said that the people of his country won't "allow foreign interference" and normalcy is returning after the recent protests. Speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal, Ambassador Fathali stated that "at present, the situation in the country is under control, and in many cities we are witnessing a return to calm and stability." He explained how "millions of Iranians took to the streets across the country to express their support for the Islamic Republic, demonstrating", he said that it "clearly" shows that despite "existing challenges and economic pressures, they will never allow foreign interference in their internal affairs." Fathali reassured on the safety of foreign nationals, particularly Indians. He said, "Indian students and nationals are safe in our country. The situation is under control, and they remain in regular contact with their embassy, while we are closely monitoring the situation." India has around 10,000 Indian nationals and people of Indian origin in Iran. On bilateral relations, the newly appointed envoy characterised India-Iran ties as "deep-rooted, historical, and founded on mutual respect and shared interests," expressing optimism for expanded cooperation in energy, transit, and projects like Chabahar Port, by building on mutual trust and a long-term perspective." Here is the full interview: Sidhant Sibal: We have seen protests in your country. Would you like to just talk about it, since it has been a story that has been covered internationally? What is the situation? Dr. Mohammad Fathali: At present, the situation in the country is under control, and in many cities, we are witnessing a return to calm and stability. Yesterday, millions of Iranians took to the streets across the country to express their support for the Islamic Republic, demonstrating clearly that despite existing challenges and economic pressures, they will never allow foreign interference in their internal affairs. As you are aware, the protests initially had a peaceful character. From the very outset, our Supreme Leader and the President emphasized that peaceful protest is a legitimate right of the people and that the government is prepared to listen to public demands and the voices of the protesters. Unfortunately, however, as events unfolded, elements linked to the Zionist regime and the United States exploited this atmosphere and diverted lawful public protests toward violence and insecurity. There is extensive evidence and documentation of ISIS-like crimes, including beheadings, the burning of bodies, and other brutal acts, which clearly show that we are not dealing with ordinary protesters. Rather, we are confronting organized terrorist elements affiliated with ISIS and other extremist groups, directed and supported from outside of Iran. Their primary objective is the destabilization and collapse of the region’s security order and the redrawing of geopolitical borders. This dangerous project will never be confined to Iran alone; if left unchecked, it will engulf all countries of the region. In recent years, Iran has stood on the front lines of the fight against ISIS and, as the first line of defence, prevented the spread of this ominous phenomenon to other countries. Today, we once again warn that if such terrorist acts are normalized or ignored, the risk of insecurity and violence spreading to other parts of the world is entirely real. Vigilance, cooperation, and collective action against terrorism are today more than ever a global necessity. Sidhant Sibal: Are Indian students, nationals safe in the country, because your country hosts a number of Indian nationals? Dr. Mohammad Fathali: Yes. Indian students and nationals are safe in our country. The situation is under control, and they remain in regular contact with their embassy, while we are closely monitoring the situation. Sidhant Sibal: Your Excellency, you have just taken charge of your term here. How will you characterize the India-Iran ties? Dr. Mohammad Fathali: The relationship between Iran and India is deep-rooted, historical, and founded on mutual respect and shared interests. Over the centuries, the two countries have maintained profound civilizational, cultural, and economic ties, and these bonds have consistently transcended temporary political developments. Today, Tehran and New Delhi, as two major Asian powers, continue to engage in sustained and constructive dialogue across a range of fields. In this new era, there is a shared determination to expand cooperation in political, economic, energy, transit, and regional connectivity sectors, particularly through projects such as the Chabahar Port. We believe that Iran–India relations hold immense potential for deepening and growth, and that, by building on mutual trust and a long-term perspective, these partnerships can be further strengthened. Sidhant Sibal: What will be your focus during the term? Any specific areas of cooperation that you are looking at? Dr. Mohammad Fathali: Our primary focus during this period is to deepen and operationalize bilateral cooperation in areas of strategic importance to both countries. Within this framework, the development of transit and transportation cooperation will hold a special place. In addition, collaboration in the energy sector remains a key priority. Iran and India possess significant complementary capacities in this field, and we are keen to expand cooperation across various energy domains, including oil, gas, and other related areas. At the same time, strengthening cultural and people-to-people exchanges will be an essential part of our mission, as the deep-rooted cultural and civilizational ties between our nations can provide a lasting foundation for the long-term development of political and economic relations. Sidhant Sibal: The 10-year contract for the development and operation of Chabahar Port (signed in 2024) remains a cornerstone of India-Iran connectivity. What steps is Iran taking to accelerate implementation, and how can both countries ensure the port becomes a thriving hub for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia? Dr. Mohammad Fathali: From our perspective, the Chabahar Agreement is not simply a port project; it is an integral part of a strategic vision to enhance regional connectivity and build long-term cooperation with India. In this context, Iran has taken concrete steps to accelerate the implementation of this agreement, including the development of essential port infrastructure, streamlining administrative and customs procedures, offering investment incentives, and ensuring close coordination among relevant authorities to address any operational challenges. To transform Chabahar into a vibrant and sustainable trade hub for Afghanistan and Central Asia, ongoing and close collaboration between the two countries is crucial. The expansion of rail and road transport networks linking to the port, alignment of transit regulations, securing transport routes, and encouraging active private sector involvement will all play key roles. With a complementary and long-term outlook, Iran and India have the potential to turn Chabahar into a critical node in the regional supply chain and a successful model of South-South cooperation. Sidhant Sibal: Do you see any challenges? We have seen 6-month U.S. sanctions waivers; will they help the project? Dr. Mohammad Fathali: Naturally, there are some challenges. However, there is also strong political will in both Tehran and New Delhi to overcome these challenges, and thus far, both sides have worked together to find practical and realistic solutions to ensure the continuity of cooperation. Regarding the United States' six-month sanctions waiver, I believe this move can, in the short term, help create greater confidence for economic actors, companies, and investors, and facilitate the progress of the project. However, from Iran's perspective, the primary significance of Chabahar lies in its inherent and strategic role in regional connectivity, rather than in the temporary or political decisions of third parties. What will guarantee the success of this project is the continued close cooperation between Iran and India, a long-term vision, and a focus on the shared interests of both countries and the region. Sidhant Sibal: Despite strong civilizational and historical ties, bilateral trade between India and Iran remains below potential due to banking restrictions and sanctions. How do you plan to boost two-way trade? Dr. Mohammad Fathali: There are various solutions that, if effectively implemented, can help expand the volume of trade between our two countries. Utilizing national currencies, promoting barter arrangements, exploring alternative financial channels, and strengthening the role of the private sector are among these measures. Alongside these efforts, the development of transit infrastructure, particularly via the Chabahar port, streamlining customs procedures, and focusing on sectors of mutual advantage, including energy, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture, can create the foundation for sustainable growth in bilateral trade and the full realization of the economic potential of our relationship. Sidhant Sibal: The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), with Chabahar as a key node, holds immense promise for connecting India to Russia, Europe, and Central Asia. What progress has been made on integrating Chabahar more deeply into the INSTC, and is there scope for trilateral or multilateral cooperation involving other partners like Russia? Dr. Mohammad Fathali: The International North–South Transport Corridor is a strategic priority for us, with the Chabahar port serving as a key node in this network and playing a vital role in completing the south-to-north connectivity chain. Within this framework, practical steps have been taken to strengthen Chabahar’s linkages with domestic rail and road networks and to connect it to routes leading to northern ports and land borders. Technical and operational coordination among the relevant institutions is underway to ensure the port’s effective integration into the North–South Corridor. At the same time, Iran views this corridor as inherently multilateral and welcomes expanded cooperation with regional and extra-regional partners, including Russia. Trilateral or multilateral collaboration can be further enhanced through the harmonization of transit regulations, facilitation of customs procedures, joint investment in infrastructure, and the creation of integrated transport routes. We believe that through synergy among Iran, India, Russia, and other interested countries, the North–South Corridor can become one of the most efficient and cost-effective routes for international trade. Sidhant Sibal: Energy cooperation has historically been a strong pillar of India-Iran relations. But it is known that India doesn't import oil from Iran over sanctions? Your take on that Dr. Mohammad Fathali: Energy cooperation has always been a cornerstone of relations between Iran and India, and there is significant potential to expand it further. While unilateral sanctions have posed certain limitations on Iran’s oil exports to India, this does not diminish the shared interests or the existing capacities between the two countries. Iran has consistently been a reliable energy supplier for India and is prepared, should conditions allow, to resume and even expand energy cooperation beyond previous levels. At the same time, the two countries can pursue collaboration in other energy sectors, including joint investment, refining, petrochemicals, and the transfer of technical knowledge, as complementary avenues for partnership. Sidhant Sibal: Cultural and people-to-people ties form the bedrock of our relationship. What new cultural diplomacy initiatives, such as exchanges in arts, education, tourism, or sports, does Iran plan to promote in the coming years to further strengthen bonds between the two ancient civilizations? Dr. Mohammad Fathali: Cultural and people-to-people ties have always been a cornerstone of Iran–India relations, and we believe that strengthening these bonds is key to ensuring the sustainability of relations in other areas. In this regard, Iran has planned initiatives to expand academic and scientific exchanges, enhance cooperation between research centres, organize joint cultural and artistic weeks, and facilitate the presence of artists, writers, and intellectuals from both countries. At the same time, the development of cultural and pilgrimage tourism, the promotion of people-to-people interactions, and attention to opportunities for cooperation in sports are among the initiatives that can strengthen the connection between the younger generations of the two nations. We are convinced that by leveraging our shared civilizational heritage and implementing innovative initiatives in cultural diplomacy, the ties between the ancient peoples of Iran and India can be deepened and made more dynamic than ever before. Sidhant Sibal: Regional developments in West Asia, including the Gaza situation and broader Middle East tensions, impact global stability. What role does Iran believe India can play in fostering peace and dialogue in the region, given India's balanced approach and growing international influence? Dr. Mohammad Fathali: Given its balanced approach, independent stance, and growing international influence, Iran views India as playing an important role in promoting peace and dialogue in West Asia. We believe that India, by emphasizing multilateralism, respecting international law, and supporting political and diplomatic solutions, can contribute to reducing tensions and advancing sustainable stability in the region. Sidhant Sibal: India will be hosting the BRICS summit this year. Iran is a member of the BRICS. How do you see the role of this grouping? Dr. Mohammad Fathali: BRICS, as an important multilateral framework, plays an increasingly significant role in strengthening economic, financial, and political cooperation among emerging economies. Iran’s membership in the group and India’s hosting of the summit provide a valuable opportunity to enhance South–South synergy, promote multilateralism, and increase the role of developing countries within the international system.

Fathali reassured on the safety of foreign nationals, particularly Indians. He said, ‘Indian students and nationals are safe in our country. The situation is under control, and they remain in regular contact with their embassy, while we are closely monitoring the situation’.

At least two drones originating from Pakistan were spotted in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district near the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday (Jan 13). The security forces deployed countermeasures, including opening fire to neutralise the aerial threats. The incident follows Monday's multiple drone sightings in forward areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. Multiple Pakistani drones were sighted near the Dungala-Nabla area of the Rajouri sector and were fired upon by Indian troops. The firing was part of standard operating procedures(SOPs) after the drone activity was noticed along the LoC. The Army raised its vigilance level in the area, and armed forces are closely monitoring the situation, India Today reported, citing sources.&nbsp; &nbsp;Another drone was spotted in the Thandi Kassi area of Rajouri district, triggering a high alert. Armed forces have initiated search operations in forward areas along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts. Earlier in the day, Chief of Army Staff General Dwivedi issued a stern warning that any future misadventure by Pakistan will be resolutely responded to, adding that India's operation Sindoor remains ongoing.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-day-of-reckoning-retribution-is-coming-in-minnesota-after-ice-agent-shooting-1768314768951">Trump warns ‘DAY OF RECKONING &amp; RETRIBUTION IS COMING!’ in Minnesota after ICE agent shooting</a>&nbsp;"As you may be aware, Operation Sindoor remains ongoing, and a future misadventure will be resolutely responded to, General Dwivedi said.&nbsp;The Army chief asserted that Operation Sindoor reset strategic assumptions by striking deep, dismantling terror infrastructure, and puncturing the longstanding nuclear rhetoric.&nbsp;"Following the Pahalgam terror attack, a clear decision to respond decisively was taken at the highest level. Operation Sindoor was conceptualised and executed with precision. Through 22 minutes of initiation on May 7 and an orchestration that lasted 88 hours up to May 10, the operation reset strategic assumptions by striking deep, dismantling terror infrastructure, and puncturing the longstanding nuclear rhetoric," General Dwivedi said.

At least two drones were spotted along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, marking the second sighting of Pakistani-origin drones in forward areas along the LoC.

At least two drones originating from Pakistan were spotted in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district near the Line of Control (LoC) on Tuesday (Jan 13). The security forces deployed countermeasures, including opening fire to neutralise the aerial threats. The incident follows Monday's multiple drone sightings in forward areas along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. Multiple Pakistani drones were sighted near the Dungala-Nabla area of the Rajouri sector and were fired upon by Indian troops. The firing was part of standard operating procedures(SOPs) after the drone activity was noticed along the LoC. The Army raised its vigilance level in the area, and armed forces are closely monitoring the situation, India Today reported, citing sources. Another drone was spotted in the Thandi Kassi area of Rajouri district, triggering a high alert. Armed forces have initiated search operations in forward areas along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts. Earlier in the day, Chief of Army Staff General Dwivedi issued a stern warning that any future misadventure by Pakistan will be resolutely responded to, adding that India's operation Sindoor remains ongoing. Also Read: Trump warns ‘DAY OF RECKONING & RETRIBUTION IS COMING!’ in Minnesota after ICE agent shooting "As you may be aware, Operation Sindoor remains ongoing, and a future misadventure will be resolutely responded to, General Dwivedi said. The Army chief asserted that Operation Sindoor reset strategic assumptions by striking deep, dismantling terror infrastructure, and puncturing the longstanding nuclear rhetoric. "Following the Pahalgam terror attack, a clear decision to respond decisively was taken at the highest level. Operation Sindoor was conceptualised and executed with precision. Through 22 minutes of initiation on May 7 and an orchestration that lasted 88 hours up to May 10, the operation reset strategic assumptions by striking deep, dismantling terror infrastructure, and puncturing the longstanding nuclear rhetoric," General Dwivedi said.

At least two drones were spotted along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, marking the second sighting of Pakistani-origin drones in forward areas along the LoC.

Multiple drones spotted near LoC in Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir

One 'survivor' has miraculously emerged from the Indian PSLV-62 rocket launch that failed mid-flight on Monday, (12 Jan). While it was initially assumed that the rocket and its 16 passenger satellites had been lost within seven minutes of launch, Spanish firm Orbital Paradigm announced on Tuesday that their KID capsule had survived the ill-fated mission. "Our kid capsule, against all odds, separated from PSLV-C62, switched on, and transmitted data," they announced on social media.&nbsp;Kestrel Initial Demonstrator(KID), a lampshade-shaped capsule, was one of the 16 passengers aboard the PSLV rocket. KID was not a standalone satellite that was designed to spend its lifetime in space. Instead, it was made as a re-entry vehicle, which means, it would make a short trip around the Earth in space(during which certain on-board experiments or data collection would take place), and the capsule would fall back to the home planet.&nbsp;If the mission had gone as per plan, KID would have hung on to the rocket until 108minutes after liftoff. KID was meant to be separated from the rocket only after the rocket aligned into a re-entry trajectory, one that heads back towards the Earth. However, KID did not reach the intended altitude or speed, due to the rocket's mid-flight failure, which left it at the mercy of Earth's gravity. Therefore, KID went tumbling down towards Earth, along with the remnants of the rocket.&nbsp;KID was meant to survive this fiery process known as re-entry, when temperatures on the re-entering object rapidly rise from 300 degrees Celsius to 2,500 degrees Celsius, as it falls through the Earth's atmosphere between altitudes of 100 and 70 kilometres. At such extreme temperatures and speeds, rocket parts and satellites break and burn up. Only specially designed capsules or space vehicles with adequate thermal protection, special coatings and purpose-built materials can survive re-entry. This is how astronaut-carrying space vehicles also travel back to Earth.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-day-of-reckoning-retribution-is-coming-in-minnesota-after-ice-agent-shooting-1768314768951">Trump warns ‘DAY OF RECKONING &amp; RETRIBUTION IS COMING!’ in Minnesota after ICE agent shooting</a>&nbsp;According to Francesco Cacciatore, CEO, Orbital Paradigm, the KID separated from the remnants of the PSLV rocket and switched on, and transmitted a few minutes of valuable re-entry data before falling back on Earth. The firm is trying to reconstruct the flight path from the data that the KID transmitted, and has said that it would offer a detailed update in the coming days.&nbsp;The primary satellite of this PSLV-C62 mission was the 'EOS-N1' or 'Anvesha', an Earth Observation satellite built by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In addition to 'EOS-N1', there were 15 co-passenger satellites aboard the PSLV-C62. Seven satellites are from India, while two of them are from Europe, five of them are from Brazil, and one is from Nepal. Many of these satellites were from academia or startups, and were to demonstrate unique experiments in space.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kestrel Initial Demonstrator(KID), a lampshade-shaped capsule, was one of the 16 passengers aboard the PSLV rocket.

One 'survivor' has miraculously emerged from the Indian PSLV-62 rocket launch that failed mid-flight on Monday, (12 Jan). While it was initially assumed that the rocket and its 16 passenger satellites had been lost within seven minutes of launch, Spanish firm Orbital Paradigm announced on Tuesday that their KID capsule had survived the ill-fated mission. "Our kid capsule, against all odds, separated from PSLV-C62, switched on, and transmitted data," they announced on social media. Kestrel Initial Demonstrator(KID), a lampshade-shaped capsule, was one of the 16 passengers aboard the PSLV rocket. KID was not a standalone satellite that was designed to spend its lifetime in space. Instead, it was made as a re-entry vehicle, which means, it would make a short trip around the Earth in space(during which certain on-board experiments or data collection would take place), and the capsule would fall back to the home planet. If the mission had gone as per plan, KID would have hung on to the rocket until 108minutes after liftoff. KID was meant to be separated from the rocket only after the rocket aligned into a re-entry trajectory, one that heads back towards the Earth. However, KID did not reach the intended altitude or speed, due to the rocket's mid-flight failure, which left it at the mercy of Earth's gravity. Therefore, KID went tumbling down towards Earth, along with the remnants of the rocket. KID was meant to survive this fiery process known as re-entry, when temperatures on the re-entering object rapidly rise from 300 degrees Celsius to 2,500 degrees Celsius, as it falls through the Earth's atmosphere between altitudes of 100 and 70 kilometres. At such extreme temperatures and speeds, rocket parts and satellites break and burn up. Only specially designed capsules or space vehicles with adequate thermal protection, special coatings and purpose-built materials can survive re-entry. This is how astronaut-carrying space vehicles also travel back to Earth. Also Read: Trump warns ‘DAY OF RECKONING & RETRIBUTION IS COMING!’ in Minnesota after ICE agent shooting According to Francesco Cacciatore, CEO, Orbital Paradigm, the KID separated from the remnants of the PSLV rocket and switched on, and transmitted a few minutes of valuable re-entry data before falling back on Earth. The firm is trying to reconstruct the flight path from the data that the KID transmitted, and has said that it would offer a detailed update in the coming days. The primary satellite of this PSLV-C62 mission was the 'EOS-N1' or 'Anvesha', an Earth Observation satellite built by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In addition to 'EOS-N1', there were 15 co-passenger satellites aboard the PSLV-C62. Seven satellites are from India, while two of them are from Europe, five of them are from Brazil, and one is from Nepal. Many of these satellites were from academia or startups, and were to demonstrate unique experiments in space.

Kestrel Initial Demonstrator(KID), a lampshade-shaped capsule, was one of the 16 passengers aboard the PSLV rocket.

15 satellites lost, but 'KID' survives ISRO's PSLV-C62 rocket failure

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (January 13) accused the Election Commission (EC) of deleting nearly 54 lakh names from the draft electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) without giving affected voters a chance to explain or object. Speaking at a press conference at Nabanna, Banerjee alleged that electoral registration officers misused their authority, leading to the exclusion of a large number of what she termed “genuine voters,” news agency PTI reported. She claimed that many eligible electors were wrongly struck off during the verification process.&nbsp;According to the chief minister, individuals whose names were deleted were not informed about the reasons behind the decision, effectively denying them the opportunity to contest the deletions. Banerjee also accused the EC of relying on artificial intelligence tools allegedly developed by the BJP, claiming that automated data matching during the SIR exercise resulted in widespread errors. She said women who changed their surnames after marriage were among those disproportionately affected due to mismatches in records.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/republic-day-parade-delhi-airport-closure-partial-airspace-restrictions-announced-between-january-21-26-here-are-details-1768309715871">Delhi airport closure: Partial airspace restrictions announced between January 21 &amp; 26. Here are details</a>&nbsp;She further alleged that the concept of “logical discrepancy” was introduced later into the revision process to justify additional deletions, asserting that this was not part of the original verification framework. Banerjee warned that the EC was planning to remove another one crore names before finalising the rolls. The TMC leader also claimed that Booth Level Agents (BLA-2s) were barred from attending hearings because the BJP lacked sufficient workers to participate in the process. BLA-2s are appointed by political parties to represent voters during verification proceedings.&nbsp;On Monday (January 12), Banerjee wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for the fifth time since concerns over the SIR exercise emerged. In her letter, she alleged that errors stemming from the AI-based digitisation of the 2002 electoral rolls were now causing serious difficulties for voters.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/nipah-cases-in-west-bengal-people-infected-with-nipah-virus-show-influenza-like-symptoms-1768304150267/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/nipah-cases-in-west-bengal-people-infected-with-nipah-virus-show-influenza-like-symptoms-1768304150267/embed</a>&nbsp;She described the entire revision process as “fundamentally flawed,” alleging that no proper acknowledgements were issued for documents submitted by voters. Banerjee further claimed that the EC was ignoring established legal procedures followed for over two decades and forcing voters to revalidate their identities despite earlier corrections made through quasi-judicial hearings. The EC has not yet issued an official response to these allegations.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has alleged that the Election Commission removed 54 lakh voter names in Bengal using faulty Artificial Intelligence tools

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (January 13) accused the Election Commission (EC) of deleting nearly 54 lakh names from the draft electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) without giving affected voters a chance to explain or object. Speaking at a press conference at Nabanna, Banerjee alleged that electoral registration officers misused their authority, leading to the exclusion of a large number of what she termed “genuine voters,” news agency PTI reported. She claimed that many eligible electors were wrongly struck off during the verification process. According to the chief minister, individuals whose names were deleted were not informed about the reasons behind the decision, effectively denying them the opportunity to contest the deletions. Banerjee also accused the EC of relying on artificial intelligence tools allegedly developed by the BJP, claiming that automated data matching during the SIR exercise resulted in widespread errors. She said women who changed their surnames after marriage were among those disproportionately affected due to mismatches in records. Also Read: Delhi airport closure: Partial airspace restrictions announced between January 21 & 26. Here are details She further alleged that the concept of “logical discrepancy” was introduced later into the revision process to justify additional deletions, asserting that this was not part of the original verification framework. Banerjee warned that the EC was planning to remove another one crore names before finalising the rolls. The TMC leader also claimed that Booth Level Agents (BLA-2s) were barred from attending hearings because the BJP lacked sufficient workers to participate in the process. BLA-2s are appointed by political parties to represent voters during verification proceedings. On Monday (January 12), Banerjee wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for the fifth time since concerns over the SIR exercise emerged. In her letter, she alleged that errors stemming from the AI-based digitisation of the 2002 electoral rolls were now causing serious difficulties for voters. https://www.wionews.com/videos/nipah-cases-in-west-bengal-people-infected-with-nipah-virus-show-influenza-like-symptoms-1768304150267/embed She described the entire revision process as “fundamentally flawed,” alleging that no proper acknowledgements were issued for documents submitted by voters. Banerjee further claimed that the EC was ignoring established legal procedures followed for over two decades and forcing voters to revalidate their identities despite earlier corrections made through quasi-judicial hearings. The EC has not yet issued an official response to these allegations.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has alleged that the Election Commission removed 54 lakh voter names in Bengal using faulty Artificial Intelligence tools

'EC used AI tools devised by BJP to wrongly delete voters’ names', claims West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

Flight cancellations and delays are something air travellers have to brave during winters in the north of India and regions where winter gets harsh. Fog disrupts operations, putting passengers under duress. Days away from Republic Day, a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued by the government, and&nbsp;Delhi’s airspace will be shut between January 21 to 26. The announcement has come about a week before the implementation.<h2>What will it impact?</h2>The temporary closure will impact over 600 flights. The airspace will be shut for six consecutive days between 10:20 am and 12:45 pm. Thousands of passengers will be affected by the&nbsp;delays, rescheduling, and cancellations that this change will cause. This suspension is required for Republic Day practice sessions. During the two-hour-and-25-minute airspace closure, the dress rehearsal, and the main parade, aerial flypasts along Kartavya Path will be conducted. And to accommodate these changes, airlines will have to reorganise flight schedules and also keep flyers in loop.<h2>What is NOTAM?</h2>According to the Airports Authority of India, NOTAM or Notice to Airmen are notices distributed by means of telecommunication containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.

Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued by the government, and Delhi’s airspace will be shut between January 21 to 26. The announcement has come about a week before the implementation.

Flight cancellations and delays are something air travellers have to brave during winters in the north of India and regions where winter gets harsh. Fog disrupts operations, putting passengers under duress. Days away from Republic Day, a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued by the government, and Delhi’s airspace will be shut between January 21 to 26. The announcement has come about a week before the implementation. What will it impact? The temporary closure will impact over 600 flights. The airspace will be shut for six consecutive days between 10:20 am and 12:45 pm. Thousands of passengers will be affected by the delays, rescheduling, and cancellations that this change will cause. This suspension is required for Republic Day practice sessions. During the two-hour-and-25-minute airspace closure, the dress rehearsal, and the main parade, aerial flypasts along Kartavya Path will be conducted. And to accommodate these changes, airlines will have to reorganise flight schedules and also keep flyers in loop. What is NOTAM? According to the Airports Authority of India, NOTAM or Notice to Airmen are notices distributed by means of telecommunication containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations.

Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued by the government, and&nbsp;Delhi’s airspace will be shut between January 21 to 26. The announcement has come about a week before the implementation.

Delhi airport closure: Partial airspace restrictions announced between January 21 & 26. Here are details

Delhi remained gripped by intense cold as temperatures dipped further, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting similar weather conditions to continue on Tuesday (January 13). The national capital experienced cold wave conditions for the second straight day, making Monday the coldest day in January so far since 2023. While the city’s maximum temperature hovered near normal levels, the minimum temperature dropped sharply, underscoring the severity of the chill.&nbsp;Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 20.6 degrees Celsius, slightly above the seasonal average. In contrast, the minimum temperature plunged to 3.2 degrees Celsius, over four degrees below normal. The last time the capital witnessed a colder January night was on January 11, 2023, when the mercury fell to 1.4 degrees Celsius. Across weather stations, daytime temperatures largely stayed below average. Safdarjung Observatory, the city’s primary weather station, reported a maximum of 18.8 degrees Celsius. Palam registered a notably lower daytime temperature of 15.4 degrees Celsius, while Lodhi Road and Ridge also recorded sub-normal readings. Ayanagar followed a similar trend, according to IMD data.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-student-killed-two-injured-in-road-accident-in-kazakhstan-s-oskemen-embassy-1768307786181">Indian student killed, two injured in road accident in Kazakhstan’s Oskemen: Embassy</a>&nbsp;Night-time temperatures reflected the cold wave’s intensity. Minimum temperatures across Delhi dipped close to or below 4 degrees Celsius. Safdarjung and Ayanagar both recorded 3.2 degrees Celsius, Palam logged 3.3 degrees, and Lodhi Road dipped to 3.0 degrees. Ridge recorded a minimum of 4.2 degrees Celsius. A day earlier, on Sunday, Safdarjung had reported a minimum of 4.8 degrees Celsius. Cold wave conditions were observed at isolated locations, including Palam, Ridge, and Ayanagar. IMD officials confirmed this marked the first cold wave spell in Delhi during the current winter season.&nbsp;The weather department has forecast mainly clear skies, with moderate fog across several areas and dense fog in isolated pockets during morning hours. Cold wave conditions are likely to persist at a few locations. Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to range between 4 and 20 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, air quality in Delhi continued to remain a concern. The city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 297, placing it in the ‘poor’ category. Evening readings showed deterioration, with several monitoring stations slipping into the ‘very poor’ range. Anand Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 343.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/aap-files-complaint-against-yash-s-toxic-over-obscenity-1768307776931/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/aap-files-complaint-against-yash-s-toxic-over-obscenity-1768307776931/embed</a>&nbsp;Pollution data from the Decision Support System (DSS) indicated that vehicular emissions were the largest contributor to Delhi’s pollution, followed by industrial sources within Delhi and surrounding areas. Contributions also came from waste burning, construction activities, and residential emissions.&nbsp;Among neighbouring districts, Jhajjar emerged as the biggest contributor to regional pollution, followed by Bhiwani, Rohtak, Gurugram, and Sonipat. Forecasts from the Air Quality and Weather Services (AQWS) suggest that Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category from January 13 to January 15, with no significant improvement expected over the following days. Nehru Nagar recorded the worst AQI reading at 344.

Delhi shivers as cold wave continues, air quality slips to 'very poor' category

Delhi remained gripped by intense cold as temperatures dipped further, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting similar weather conditions to continue on Tuesday (January 13). The national capital experienced cold wave conditions for the second straight day, making Monday the coldest day in January so far since 2023. While the city’s maximum temperature hovered near normal levels, the minimum temperature dropped sharply, underscoring the severity of the chill. Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 20.6 degrees Celsius, slightly above the seasonal average. In contrast, the minimum temperature plunged to 3.2 degrees Celsius, over four degrees below normal. The last time the capital witnessed a colder January night was on January 11, 2023, when the mercury fell to 1.4 degrees Celsius. Across weather stations, daytime temperatures largely stayed below average. Safdarjung Observatory, the city’s primary weather station, reported a maximum of 18.8 degrees Celsius. Palam registered a notably lower daytime temperature of 15.4 degrees Celsius, while Lodhi Road and Ridge also recorded sub-normal readings. Ayanagar followed a similar trend, according to IMD data. Also Read: Indian student killed, two injured in road accident in Kazakhstan’s Oskemen: Embassy Night-time temperatures reflected the cold wave’s intensity. Minimum temperatures across Delhi dipped close to or below 4 degrees Celsius. Safdarjung and Ayanagar both recorded 3.2 degrees Celsius, Palam logged 3.3 degrees, and Lodhi Road dipped to 3.0 degrees. Ridge recorded a minimum of 4.2 degrees Celsius. A day earlier, on Sunday, Safdarjung had reported a minimum of 4.8 degrees Celsius. Cold wave conditions were observed at isolated locations, including Palam, Ridge, and Ayanagar. IMD officials confirmed this marked the first cold wave spell in Delhi during the current winter season. The weather department has forecast mainly clear skies, with moderate fog across several areas and dense fog in isolated pockets during morning hours. Cold wave conditions are likely to persist at a few locations. Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to range between 4 and 20 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, air quality in Delhi continued to remain a concern. The city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 297, placing it in the ‘poor’ category. Evening readings showed deterioration, with several monitoring stations slipping into the ‘very poor’ range. Anand Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 343. https://www.wionews.com/videos/aap-files-complaint-against-yash-s-toxic-over-obscenity-1768307776931/embed Pollution data from the Decision Support System (DSS) indicated that vehicular emissions were the largest contributor to Delhi’s pollution, followed by industrial sources within Delhi and surrounding areas. Contributions also came from waste burning, construction activities, and residential emissions. Among neighbouring districts, Jhajjar emerged as the biggest contributor to regional pollution, followed by Bhiwani, Rohtak, Gurugram, and Sonipat. Forecasts from the Air Quality and Weather Services (AQWS) suggest that Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category from January 13 to January 15, with no significant improvement expected over the following days. Nehru Nagar recorded the worst AQI reading at 344.

Delhi faces a severe cold wave with plunging temperatures as air quality worsens, with AQI expected to remain very poor over the next few days

The Indian Embassy in Kazakhstan on Tuesday confirmed that 11 Indian students from Semey Medical University met with a road accident in Oskemen while returning from an excursion to the Altai Mountains in East Kazakhstan. During the incident, one died, and two were injured.&nbsp;The Embassy noted that one student, identified as Mili Mohan, died, while two other students, identified as Ashika Sheejamini Santhosh and Jaseena B, sustained injuries. All the injured students are currently receiving treatment at City Hospital No. 1 in Oskemen.&nbsp;Sharing details in a post on social media platform X, the Embassy said, "In a tragic accident in Oskemen, a group of 11 Indian students from Semey Medical University, who were on an excursion trip to the Altai Mountains (East Kazakhstan), encountered an accident on their way back to Oskemen City." "According to the latest reports, their condition is stable," the Embassy added.&nbsp;Expressing condolences over the tragic incident, it said, "The Embassy extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased student." The Embassy further added that it remains in regular coordination with university officials, hospital authorities and the families of the students.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">In a tragic accident in Oskemen, a group of 11 Indian students of Semey Medical University who were on a excursion trip to Altai Alps in East Kazakhstan from Oskemen City, met with an accident on their way back. Following the incident, one student, namely, Mili Mohan (DOB…&mdash; IndiaInKazakhstan (@indembastana) <a href="https://twitter.com/indembastana/status/2011003638291091850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Altai Mountains</h3>The Altai Mountains are a stunning Central Asian range at the junction of Russia, China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. It is also known for its diverse landscapes (steppes, forests, glaciers), rich biodiversity (including snow leopards), and deep cultural history.&nbsp;They are the source of major rivers like the Ob and Irtysh, feature Belukha as the highest peak, and offer opportunities for adventure tourism amidst unique ecosystems and ancient Scythian archaeological sites. Several areas of the Altai have been designated UNESCO World Heritage sites, reflecting their distinctive ecosystems and significant cultural importance. &nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-stunning-video-captures-hawaii-s-kilauea-volcano-unleashing-lava-fountain-1768296501593">WATCH | Stunning video captures Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano unleashing lava fountain</a>

One Indian student died and two were injured after they met with a road accident in Oskemen while returning from an excursion to the Altai Mountains in East Kazakhstan. All the injured students are currently receiving treatment at City Hospital No. 1 in Oskemen.

The Indian Embassy in Kazakhstan on Tuesday confirmed that 11 Indian students from Semey Medical University met with a road accident in Oskemen while returning from an excursion to the Altai Mountains in East Kazakhstan. During the incident, one died, and two were injured. The Embassy noted that one student, identified as Mili Mohan, died, while two other students, identified as Ashika Sheejamini Santhosh and Jaseena B, sustained injuries. All the injured students are currently receiving treatment at City Hospital No. 1 in Oskemen. Sharing details in a post on social media platform X, the Embassy said, "In a tragic accident in Oskemen, a group of 11 Indian students from Semey Medical University, who were on an excursion trip to the Altai Mountains (East Kazakhstan), encountered an accident on their way back to Oskemen City." "According to the latest reports, their condition is stable," the Embassy added. Expressing condolences over the tragic incident, it said, "The Embassy extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased student." The Embassy further added that it remains in regular coordination with university officials, hospital authorities and the families of the students.

One Indian student died and two were injured after they met with a road accident in Oskemen while returning from an excursion to the Altai Mountains in East Kazakhstan. All the injured students are currently receiving treatment at City Hospital No. 1 in Oskemen.

Indian student killed, two injured in road accident in Kazakhstan’s Oskemen: Embassy

The Government in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Sarvam AI to establish what they called India’s first full-stack Sovereign AI Park. The project, involving a potential investment of ₹10,000 crore($1.1billion) is expected to create 1,000 high-skilled, deep-tech jobs and represents a foundational step in building. Sarvam AI is an Indian generative artificial intelligence company focused on building full-stack AI platforms and foundational models tailored to India’s scale, languages, and diversity.&nbsp;This MoU was exchanged in the presence Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Minister for Industries Dr. TRB Rajaa, Secretary to Industries Department, and Prof. V Kamakoti, Director IIT Madras, and Pratyush Kumar Co-founder of Sarvam AI. This partnership is about building AI that is trained, deployed, and governed in Tamil Nadu, for the world. By bringing together compute, researchers, startups, enterprises, and government under one Sovereign AI Park, said Pratyush Kumar, Co-founder, Sarvam AI.&nbsp;According to the Government, the Sovereign AI Park will be a unique, purpose-built district in the country, which AI compute infrastructure, secure data frameworks, model research labs and AI innovation clusters with a dedicated Institute for AI in Governance. It can operate as a full-stack system where data, models, and compute remain within the State’s trust boundary, ensuring a sovereign, ethical and inclusive ecosystem for deployment of AI systems.&nbsp;"This demonstrates our strategic commitment to not only adopt but also shape the future of artificial intelligence from a people-first, state-led perspective, while enabling companies and startups that are pioneering the technology. With this unprecedented initiative, Tamil Nadu will lead the nation in the scaled deployment of AI.&nbsp;The deployment can be across key sectors like education, agriculture, healthcare and citizen engagement", Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Dr. Rajaa said. Artificial intelligence will define the next generation of jobs just as manufacturing and IT defined the last. By anchoring sovereign AI infrastructure and frontier research in Tamil Nadu, students and researchers from the State will be enabled to become global creators of AI, not just consumers. This initiative aims to turn Tamil Nadu’s talent strength into long-term economic leadership, said Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras.&nbsp;

Sarvam AI is an Indian generative artificial intelligence company focused on building full-stack AI platforms and foundational models tailored to India’s scale, languages, and diversity.

The Government in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu inked a Memorandum of Understanding with Sarvam AI to establish what they called India’s first full-stack Sovereign AI Park. The project, involving a potential investment of ₹10,000 crore($1.1billion) is expected to create 1,000 high-skilled, deep-tech jobs and represents a foundational step in building. Sarvam AI is an Indian generative artificial intelligence company focused on building full-stack AI platforms and foundational models tailored to India’s scale, languages, and diversity. This MoU was exchanged in the presence Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Minister for Industries Dr. TRB Rajaa, Secretary to Industries Department, and Prof. V Kamakoti, Director IIT Madras, and Pratyush Kumar Co-founder of Sarvam AI. This partnership is about building AI that is trained, deployed, and governed in Tamil Nadu, for the world. By bringing together compute, researchers, startups, enterprises, and government under one Sovereign AI Park, said Pratyush Kumar, Co-founder, Sarvam AI. According to the Government, the Sovereign AI Park will be a unique, purpose-built district in the country, which AI compute infrastructure, secure data frameworks, model research labs and AI innovation clusters with a dedicated Institute for AI in Governance. It can operate as a full-stack system where data, models, and compute remain within the State’s trust boundary, ensuring a sovereign, ethical and inclusive ecosystem for deployment of AI systems. "This demonstrates our strategic commitment to not only adopt but also shape the future of artificial intelligence from a people-first, state-led perspective, while enabling companies and startups that are pioneering the technology. With this unprecedented initiative, Tamil Nadu will lead the nation in the scaled deployment of AI. The deployment can be across key sectors like education, agriculture, healthcare and citizen engagement", Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Dr. Rajaa said. Artificial intelligence will define the next generation of jobs just as manufacturing and IT defined the last. By anchoring sovereign AI infrastructure and frontier research in Tamil Nadu, students and researchers from the State will be enabled to become global creators of AI, not just consumers. This initiative aims to turn Tamil Nadu’s talent strength into long-term economic leadership, said Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras.

Sarvam AI is an Indian generative artificial intelligence company focused on building full-stack AI platforms and foundational models tailored to India’s scale, languages, and diversity.

Sovereign AI Park in Tamil Nadu; MoU inked for potential $1.1billion investment

India on Tuesday officially unveiled the logo and website for its BRICS Presidency 2026, marking the beginning of preparation for its upcoming leadership of the bloc. The launch was held in New Delhi and attended by external affairs minister S Jaishankar, who laid out India’s priorities for the year ahead.&nbsp;The logo shows Indian identity and the collective nature of BRICS, with the overall shape inspired by the lotus, India’s national flower. At the centre of the design is the internal petals of the lotus forming two hands joined in a Namaste. The five petals are coloured in such a way that they represent the founding BRICS members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, emphasising unity among diverse countries.<h3>The logo captures the diversity and unity of BRICS</h3>Speaking at the event, S Jaishankar said the logo and website highlight the importance of capacity-building, innovation and sustainable development for shared progress. He added that the logo captures the diversity and unity of BRICS, while the India BRICS website will function as a central platform during the country’s chairship, offering updates on meetings, initiatives and outcomes, and facilitating timely information-sharing and wider engagement.&nbsp;The External Affairs Minister added that India’s BRICS chairship would aim to harness the potential of BRICS countries for greater global welfare. He stated that India will lead in 2026 at a crucial moment, as BRICS completes 20 years since its founding.&nbsp;Over the years, he said, "BRICS has steadily evolved into a significant platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing economies, expanding its agenda and membership while remaining focused on people-centric development, dialogue and practical cooperation."&nbsp;The term BRICS is formed from the first letters of its original members, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Indonesia joining the grouping as full members at a later stage.&nbsp;

The logo shows Indian identity and the collective nature of BRICS, with the overall shape inspired by the lotus, India’s national flower. At the centre of the design is the internal petals of the lotus forming two hands joined in a Namaste. 

India on Tuesday officially unveiled the logo and website for its BRICS Presidency 2026, marking the beginning of preparation for its upcoming leadership of the bloc. The launch was held in New Delhi and attended by external affairs minister S Jaishankar, who laid out India’s priorities for the year ahead. The logo shows Indian identity and the collective nature of BRICS, with the overall shape inspired by the lotus, India’s national flower. At the centre of the design is the internal petals of the lotus forming two hands joined in a Namaste. The five petals are coloured in such a way that they represent the founding BRICS members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, emphasising unity among diverse countries. The logo captures the diversity and unity of BRICS Speaking at the event, S Jaishankar said the logo and website highlight the importance of capacity-building, innovation and sustainable development for shared progress. He added that the logo captures the diversity and unity of BRICS, while the India BRICS website will function as a central platform during the country’s chairship, offering updates on meetings, initiatives and outcomes, and facilitating timely information-sharing and wider engagement. The External Affairs Minister added that India’s BRICS chairship would aim to harness the potential of BRICS countries for greater global welfare. He stated that India will lead in 2026 at a crucial moment, as BRICS completes 20 years since its founding. Over the years, he said, "BRICS has steadily evolved into a significant platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing economies, expanding its agenda and membership while remaining focused on people-centric development, dialogue and practical cooperation." The term BRICS is formed from the first letters of its original members, which include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Indonesia joining the grouping as full members at a later stage.

The logo shows Indian identity and the collective nature of BRICS, with the overall shape inspired by the lotus, India’s national flower. At the centre of the design is the internal petals of the lotus forming two hands joined in a Namaste.&nbsp;

India unveils logo, website for BRICS Presidency 2026 — Check theme and key details

The Jammu and Kashmir government led by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has dismissed five government employees from key public sectors over alleged terror links. Those terminated include a government schoolteacher, a laboratory technician, an assistant lineman, a Forest Department field worker, and a Health Department driver. The action is part of an ongoing security crackdown launched in 2019, under which more than 80 government employees have been dismissed by invoking Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, citing concerns of national security. Over the past five years, Manoj Sinha has pursued a clear and focused strategy to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir while enforcing a strict zero-tolerance policy against terrorists and their supporters.&nbsp;&nbsp;The following people have been dismissed from the services today by the authorities. Mohammad Ishfaq, a former teacher in the School Education Department, is accused of working for terrorist organisations. &nbsp;After his arrest, it was revealed that he was misusing his teaching position to radicalise youth. Another dismissal is of Tariq Ahmed Rah (Lab Technician) posted at the Sub-District Hospital in Anantnag, who is accused of helping a terrorist escape to Pakistan. The third individual, Bashir Ahmed Mir (Assistant Lineman) posted in the PHE Department, was an Over the Ground Worker (OGW). The fourth dismissal is of Farooq Ahmed Bhat (Forest Department), accused of working for a terrorist organisation and helping terrorists. The last dismissal is of Mohammad Yusuf (Driver, Health Department) posted in Srinagar, who is accused of providing weapons, cash, and logistical support to terrorists.&nbsp;''Investigations revealed that these individuals were actively linked to terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. While holding positions of public trust, they were drawing salaries from the public exchequer even as they secretly advanced the agenda of terrorist groups,'' said a government release.&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s firm policy has not only dismantled terrorist networks but also bolstered the credibility and effectiveness of government institutions. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Over the past five years, Manoj Sinha has pursued a clear and focused strategy to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir while enforcing a strict zero-tolerance policy against terrorists and their supporters.

The Jammu and Kashmir government led by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has dismissed five government employees from key public sectors over alleged terror links. Those terminated include a government schoolteacher, a laboratory technician, an assistant lineman, a Forest Department field worker, and a Health Department driver. The action is part of an ongoing security crackdown launched in 2019, under which more than 80 government employees have been dismissed by invoking Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, citing concerns of national security. Over the past five years, Manoj Sinha has pursued a clear and focused strategy to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir while enforcing a strict zero-tolerance policy against terrorists and their supporters. The following people have been dismissed from the services today by the authorities. Mohammad Ishfaq, a former teacher in the School Education Department, is accused of working for terrorist organisations. After his arrest, it was revealed that he was misusing his teaching position to radicalise youth. Another dismissal is of Tariq Ahmed Rah (Lab Technician) posted at the Sub-District Hospital in Anantnag, who is accused of helping a terrorist escape to Pakistan. The third individual, Bashir Ahmed Mir (Assistant Lineman) posted in the PHE Department, was an Over the Ground Worker (OGW). The fourth dismissal is of Farooq Ahmed Bhat (Forest Department), accused of working for a terrorist organisation and helping terrorists. The last dismissal is of Mohammad Yusuf (Driver, Health Department) posted in Srinagar, who is accused of providing weapons, cash, and logistical support to terrorists. ''Investigations revealed that these individuals were actively linked to terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. While holding positions of public trust, they were drawing salaries from the public exchequer even as they secretly advanced the agenda of terrorist groups,'' said a government release. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s firm policy has not only dismantled terrorist networks but also bolstered the credibility and effectiveness of government institutions.

Over the past five years, Manoj Sinha has pursued a clear and focused strategy to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir while enforcing a strict zero-tolerance policy against terrorists and their supporters.

J&K government dismisses 5 employees over terror links; LG Manoj Sinha’s zero-tolerance policy strengthens security

Amid a political row over the centre reportedly attempting to halt the release of Tamil film Jana Nayagan, the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (13 Jan) accused the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of attacking Tamil culture and issued a warning to Prime Minister Modi, saying "you will never succeed in surpassing the voice of the Tamil people."&nbsp;“The I&amp;B Ministry’s attempt to block ‘Jana Nayagan’ is an attack on Tamil culture. Mr Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.&nbsp;His statement came after the producer of the Tamil film Jana Nayagan moved to the Supreme Court against an interim order of the Madras High Court that stayed a single-judge decision to grant the CBFC clearance to the movie.&nbsp;On January 9, the Madras High Court stayed a single judge's order directing the CBFC to immediately grant a censor certificate to Jana Nayagan, leaving the fate of actor-turned-politician Vijay's film, which has drawn attention for its political overtones, in limbo. The controversy erupted after the I&amp;B ministry reportedly took steps to block or withhold clearance of the Movie with Vijay as the lead. The actor turned politician, Tamil Superstar Vijay, launched his own political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), with intentions of contesting the upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.&nbsp;Vijay’s Jana Nayagan was postponed just two days before its scheduled release on January 9. The film was submitted for certification on December 18 but ran into delays after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) flagged certain issues. Although the examining committee recommended a U/A certificate on December 22 after suggesting 27 cuts, the certificate was not issued, resulting in further postponement.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-bleeding-noses-blood-vomiting-mass-paralysis-did-us-deploy-sonic-weapons-in-venezuela-operation-to-extract-maduro-havana-syndrome-lawyer-says-1768296794658">'Bleeding noses, blood vomiting, mass paralysis': Did US deploy 'sonic weapons' in Venezuela operation that extracted Maduro?</a>&nbsp;Responding to Rahul Gandhi, Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayan Tirupathy alleged that the Congress is seeking an alliance with actor Vijay's TVK ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections.&nbsp;In a post on X, he wrote, “The so-called ‘Jannayak’ who got crushed miserably in the Bihar elections, is now desperately trying to latch onto the ‘Jananayagan’ vibe by tweeting in support of Vijay’s Jana Nayagan movie — accusing the Centre of blocking it as an ‘attack on Tamil culture.’ Knowing fully well that defeat is staring him in the face again (in TN 2026), Rahul Gandhi is chasing this lifeline from the film row to signal &amp; begging for a possible alliance with TVK."

Rahul Gandhi's statement came after the producer of the Tamil film Jana Nayagan moved to the Supreme Court against an interim order of the Madras High Court that stayed a single-judge decision to grant the CBFC clearance to the movie.

Amid a political row over the centre reportedly attempting to halt the release of Tamil film Jana Nayagan, the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (13 Jan) accused the Information and Broadcasting Ministry of attacking Tamil culture and issued a warning to Prime Minister Modi, saying "you will never succeed in surpassing the voice of the Tamil people." “The I&B Ministry’s attempt to block ‘Jana Nayagan’ is an attack on Tamil culture. Mr Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X. His statement came after the producer of the Tamil film Jana Nayagan moved to the Supreme Court against an interim order of the Madras High Court that stayed a single-judge decision to grant the CBFC clearance to the movie. On January 9, the Madras High Court stayed a single judge's order directing the CBFC to immediately grant a censor certificate to Jana Nayagan, leaving the fate of actor-turned-politician Vijay's film, which has drawn attention for its political overtones, in limbo. The controversy erupted after the I&B ministry reportedly took steps to block or withhold clearance of the Movie with Vijay as the lead. The actor turned politician, Tamil Superstar Vijay, launched his own political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), with intentions of contesting the upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. Vijay’s Jana Nayagan was postponed just two days before its scheduled release on January 9. The film was submitted for certification on December 18 but ran into delays after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) flagged certain issues. Although the examining committee recommended a U/A certificate on December 22 after suggesting 27 cuts, the certificate was not issued, resulting in further postponement. Also Read: 'Bleeding noses, blood vomiting, mass paralysis': Did US deploy 'sonic weapons' in Venezuela operation that extracted Maduro? Responding to Rahul Gandhi, Tamil Nadu BJP chief spokesperson Narayan Tirupathy alleged that the Congress is seeking an alliance with actor Vijay's TVK ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections. In a post on X, he wrote, “The so-called ‘Jannayak’ who got crushed miserably in the Bihar elections, is now desperately trying to latch onto the ‘Jananayagan’ vibe by tweeting in support of Vijay’s Jana Nayagan movie — accusing the Centre of blocking it as an ‘attack on Tamil culture.’ Knowing fully well that defeat is staring him in the face again (in TN 2026), Rahul Gandhi is chasing this lifeline from the film row to signal & begging for a possible alliance with TVK."

Rahul Gandhi's statement came after the producer of the Tamil film Jana Nayagan moved to the Supreme Court against an interim order of the Madras High Court that stayed a single-judge decision to grant the CBFC clearance to the movie.

‘Attack on Tamil culture’: Rahul Gandhi accuses Centre of blocking Vijay’s Jana Nayagan

Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Member of Parliament from Srinagar and leader of the National Conference, alleged that the surveillance of mosques and religious clerics in the Kashmir Valley by security agencies amounts to a violation of the Constitution and an infringement on the freedom of religious practice. Speaking to reporters, Mehdi was reacting to reports of increased monitoring of religious leaders and spaces in Jammu and Kashmir. He questioned the necessity of such surveillance, asking why it was being carried out.&nbsp;Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said, “This is a project driven by RSS ideology, aimed at controlling religious spaces beyond their own faith. They seek to dominate every religion that does not align with their ideology. Our country runs on the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to practice their religion freely. Targeting this freedom is unacceptable.''&nbsp;He further said that ''In Jammu and Kashmir, we already have multiple layers of security, including the IB, CID, intelligence agencies, and paramilitary forces. Yet, this surveillance is focused on a single community, which feels like deliberate harassment. It seems their aim is to influence Friday sermons in mosques according to the RSS agenda.”&nbsp;While talking about the Iran Protests, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said that “What Iran is going through right now, the issues between its people and their government are entirely internal matters, and no one has the right to intervene. Countries that are commenting on these issues, like the US and Israel, have no moral authority to interfere. Consider the genocide they carried out in Gaza, was there ever such outrage then? This double standard will not work. Iran has been under sanctions for over 40 years, imposed largely by the US, Europe, and Israel.&nbsp;While discussing the situation of minorities in Bangladesh, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi stated that he views the violence there through the same lens as the conflict in Gaza. Minorities everywhere, whether Hindus in Bangladesh, Muslims in India, or civilians anywhere, deserve protection. Those who perpetrate violence against them are terrorists. The individuals targeting minorities in Bangladesh are terrorists, and similarly, if such acts occur in our own country, those responsible are terrorists as well.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cross-border-threats-escalate-j-k-security-forces-tighten-grip-on-vulnerable-sectors-1768292838154">Cross-border threats escalate: J&amp;K security forces tighten grip on vulnerable sectors</a>

Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi was reacting to reports of increased monitoring of religious leaders and spaces in Jammu and Kashmir. He questioned the necessity of such surveillance, asking why it was being carried out.

Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Member of Parliament from Srinagar and leader of the National Conference, alleged that the surveillance of mosques and religious clerics in the Kashmir Valley by security agencies amounts to a violation of the Constitution and an infringement on the freedom of religious practice. Speaking to reporters, Mehdi was reacting to reports of increased monitoring of religious leaders and spaces in Jammu and Kashmir. He questioned the necessity of such surveillance, asking why it was being carried out. Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said, “This is a project driven by RSS ideology, aimed at controlling religious spaces beyond their own faith. They seek to dominate every religion that does not align with their ideology. Our country runs on the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to practice their religion freely. Targeting this freedom is unacceptable.'' He further said that ''In Jammu and Kashmir, we already have multiple layers of security, including the IB, CID, intelligence agencies, and paramilitary forces. Yet, this surveillance is focused on a single community, which feels like deliberate harassment. It seems their aim is to influence Friday sermons in mosques according to the RSS agenda.” While talking about the Iran Protests, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said that “What Iran is going through right now, the issues between its people and their government are entirely internal matters, and no one has the right to intervene. Countries that are commenting on these issues, like the US and Israel, have no moral authority to interfere. Consider the genocide they carried out in Gaza, was there ever such outrage then? This double standard will not work. Iran has been under sanctions for over 40 years, imposed largely by the US, Europe, and Israel. While discussing the situation of minorities in Bangladesh, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi stated that he views the violence there through the same lens as the conflict in Gaza. Minorities everywhere, whether Hindus in Bangladesh, Muslims in India, or civilians anywhere, deserve protection. Those who perpetrate violence against them are terrorists. The individuals targeting minorities in Bangladesh are terrorists, and similarly, if such acts occur in our own country, those responsible are terrorists as well. Also read: Cross-border threats escalate: J&K security forces tighten grip on vulnerable sectors

Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi was reacting to reports of increased monitoring of religious leaders and spaces in Jammu and Kashmir. He questioned the necessity of such surveillance, asking why it was being carried out.

MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi condemns mosque surveillance in J&K, calls Bangladesh minority killers 'terrorists'

Several quick commerce platforms have removed the "10-minute delivery" claim after the Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya intervened over safety concerns for delivery partners, according to multiple media reports on Tuesday. After the government instruction, Blinkit has revised its main tagline from “10,000+ products delivered in 10 minutes” to “30,000+ products delivered at your doorstep”.&nbsp;This comes after the Labour Ministry instructed Q-comm majors to take into account the well-being of delivery workers. According to the report by ET, a meeting was held with leading firms that include Blinkit, Zepto, Zomato and Swiggy to address issues linked to strict delivery timelines.&nbsp;Mandaviya is said to have convinced major delivery aggregators to drop the 10-minute delivery promise to enhance safety, security and working conditions for gig workers. During the meetings, the minister highlighted that unrealistic delivery targets could place excessive pressure on riders and jeopardise their safety, based on ET reports.&nbsp;The companies also assured that the government for remove delivery-time commitments from their advertisements, branding material and social media platforms, indicating a shift in how quick-commerce services are marketed.<h3>Strike by gig workers for these reasons</h3>The intervention of the government came after a strike by gig workers on December 31, 2025, when delivery partners across different platforms issued serious concerns over low pay, unsafe working conditions and strict delivery timelines. Riders have cautioned that strict, time-driven delivery models were forcing them to take risks on the road to meet targets.&nbsp;Several platforms, including Swiggy Instamart, Blinkit and Zepto, have centred their branding on ultra-fast deliveries, especially the 10-minute guarantee. Delivery workers, however, say such promotional claims often result in heavy on-ground pressure, undermining safety and their overall well-being.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-pushes-back-against-trump-s-iran-tariffs-vows-to-protect-its-legitimate-interests-1768293119242">China pushes back against Trump’s Iran tariffs, vows to protect its ‘legitimate interests’</a>&nbsp;

Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is said to have convinced major delivery aggregators to drop the 10-minute delivery promise to enhance safety, security and working conditions for gig workers. 

Several quick commerce platforms have removed the "10-minute delivery" claim after the Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya intervened over safety concerns for delivery partners, according to multiple media reports on Tuesday. After the government instruction, Blinkit has revised its main tagline from “10,000+ products delivered in 10 minutes” to “30,000+ products delivered at your doorstep”. This comes after the Labour Ministry instructed Q-comm majors to take into account the well-being of delivery workers. According to the report by ET, a meeting was held with leading firms that include Blinkit, Zepto, Zomato and Swiggy to address issues linked to strict delivery timelines. Mandaviya is said to have convinced major delivery aggregators to drop the 10-minute delivery promise to enhance safety, security and working conditions for gig workers. During the meetings, the minister highlighted that unrealistic delivery targets could place excessive pressure on riders and jeopardise their safety, based on ET reports. The companies also assured that the government for remove delivery-time commitments from their advertisements, branding material and social media platforms, indicating a shift in how quick-commerce services are marketed. Strike by gig workers for these reasons The intervention of the government came after a strike by gig workers on December 31, 2025, when delivery partners across different platforms issued serious concerns over low pay, unsafe working conditions and strict delivery timelines. Riders have cautioned that strict, time-driven delivery models were forcing them to take risks on the road to meet targets. Several platforms, including Swiggy Instamart, Blinkit and Zepto, have centred their branding on ultra-fast deliveries, especially the 10-minute guarantee. Delivery workers, however, say such promotional claims often result in heavy on-ground pressure, undermining safety and their overall well-being. Also read: China pushes back against Trump’s Iran tariffs, vows to protect its ‘legitimate interests’

Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is said to have convinced major delivery aggregators to drop the 10-minute delivery promise to enhance safety, security and working conditions for gig workers.&nbsp;

Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy to drop 10-minute delivery amid uproar: Check why

Security has been placed on high alert along the International Border and the Line of Control in both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions. Security forces have received inputs indicating possible attempts at cross-border smuggling from Pakistan. In response, surveillance and security arrangements have been significantly strengthened to ensure that no infiltration or drone incursion succeeds.Key frontier zones, including the Gurez, Uri, Karnah, and Tangdhar sectors, along with sensitive areas in the Jammu region, are under intensified monitoring. Along the International Border, Indian security forces, including the Army and the Border Security Force (BSF), are conducting continuous patrolling, enhanced digital surveillance, and other precautionary measures. Troops are maintaining strict dominance over vulnerable sectors and remain fully prepared to respond swiftly to any security threats.Over the past week, multiple infiltration attempts and drone incursions have been reported from the Pakistani side along both the International Border and the Line of Control, particularly in the Nowshera and Rajouri sectors of Jammu. Indian armed forces detected and thwarted these attempts, with drones belonging to the Pakistan Army attempting to enter Indian territory. Similar incidents have been reported across several other sectors along the LoC and the International Border during the same period. In response, security forces have further heightened vigilance to ensure that no infiltration or drone incursion succeeds.There have been multiple instances of drones sent from Pakistan carrying not only arms and ammunition but also narcotics. Over the past month, security forces have recovered several such drone-dropped consignments from areas close to the Line of Control and the International Border. These narcotics are used by terrorist groups and form a major part of the narco-terror network operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The proceeds generated from this drug trade are funnelled to terror organisations active across both the Kashmir and Jammu divisions. &nbsp; &nbsp;Due to scant snowfall in the higher reaches of north Kashmir, several mountain passes traditionally used for infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir remain open. As a result, security forces have stepped up surveillance over these routes to ensure that no terrorist manages to infiltrate into Indian territory.&nbsp; Intelligence inputs suggest the presence of around a dozen launch pads close to the Line of Control, where approximately 100 to 150 well-trained terrorists are waiting for an opportunity to cross over. &nbsp;Meanwhile, official data indicates that nearly 132 terrorists are currently active in Jammu and Kashmir. Of these, 122 are foreign terrorists, primarily from Pakistan, while the remaining are local recruits. The data points to a sharp rise in the presence of foreign terrorists, with their numbers having doubled over the past year, even as local recruitment has remained minimal. Notably, only one local individual joined terror ranks in 2025.

Over the past week, multiple infiltration attempts and drone incursions have been reported from the Pakistani side along both the International Border and the Line of Control, particularly in the Nowshera and Rajouri sectors of Jammu. 

Security has been placed on high alert along the International Border and the Line of Control in both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions. Security forces have received inputs indicating possible attempts at cross-border smuggling from Pakistan. In response, surveillance and security arrangements have been significantly strengthened to ensure that no infiltration or drone incursion succeeds. Key frontier zones, including the Gurez, Uri, Karnah, and Tangdhar sectors, along with sensitive areas in the Jammu region, are under intensified monitoring. Along the International Border, Indian security forces, including the Army and the Border Security Force (BSF), are conducting continuous patrolling, enhanced digital surveillance, and other precautionary measures. Troops are maintaining strict dominance over vulnerable sectors and remain fully prepared to respond swiftly to any security threats. Over the past week, multiple infiltration attempts and drone incursions have been reported from the Pakistani side along both the International Border and the Line of Control, particularly in the Nowshera and Rajouri sectors of Jammu. Indian armed forces detected and thwarted these attempts, with drones belonging to the Pakistan Army attempting to enter Indian territory. Similar incidents have been reported across several other sectors along the LoC and the International Border during the same period. In response, security forces have further heightened vigilance to ensure that no infiltration or drone incursion succeeds. There have been multiple instances of drones sent from Pakistan carrying not only arms and ammunition but also narcotics. Over the past month, security forces have recovered several such drone-dropped consignments from areas close to the Line of Control and the International Border. These narcotics are used by terrorist groups and form a major part of the narco-terror network operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The proceeds generated from this drug trade are funnelled to terror organisations active across both the Kashmir and Jammu divisions. Due to scant snowfall in the higher reaches of north Kashmir, several mountain passes traditionally used for infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir remain open. As a result, security forces have stepped up surveillance over these routes to ensure that no terrorist manages to infiltrate into Indian territory. Intelligence inputs suggest the presence of around a dozen launch pads close to the Line of Control, where approximately 100 to 150 well-trained terrorists are waiting for an opportunity to cross over. Meanwhile, official data indicates that nearly 132 terrorists are currently active in Jammu and Kashmir. Of these, 122 are foreign terrorists, primarily from Pakistan, while the remaining are local recruits. The data points to a sharp rise in the presence of foreign terrorists, with their numbers having doubled over the past year, even as local recruitment has remained minimal. Notably, only one local individual joined terror ranks in 2025.

Over the past week, multiple infiltration attempts and drone incursions have been reported from the Pakistani side along both the International Border and the Line of Control, particularly in the Nowshera and Rajouri sectors of Jammu.&nbsp;

Cross-border threats escalate: J&K security forces tighten grip on vulnerable sectors

The mid-flight failure of the Indian space agency ISRO's PSLV-C62 rocket launch mission on Monday, (12th Jan), has led to the loss of 15 satellites from India and abroad. In a major setback to India's national security apparatus, the million-dollar hyperspectral Earth-imaging satellite built by the Government's Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) was also among the satellites destroyed. For the $4 trillion economy behemoth that is the Indian Government, a million-dollar satellite's loss is one loss among a few failed missions in the last 12 months. However, a less discussed aspect is that of six satellites belonging to fledgling Indian startups that have been destroyed in this mission. The question also lingers whether these firms had managed to obtain insurance cover for their little spacecrafts. In comparison, it is known that ISRO does not insure its own rockets and satellites that are launched from home soil. However, ISRO has insured its own satellites when they fly on foreign rockets. The contrast here is stark: The Indian Government Space agency ISRO has been enjoying considerable taxpayer funding since the year 1969. In recent years, ISRO has been utilising lesser funds than actually allocated to it, and has been returning excess funds to the Government's coffers. ISRO also had a monopoly over rocket launches and satellite building until the year 2020. In contrast, India's space startups cropped up over the last five years, after the Government enabled their foray. In what is widely regarded as a risk-averse nation, these startups built by youngsters have been taking a leap of faith into a high-risk, low-return business with zero tolerance for failure. Fuelled by hard-won private funding, these startups are taking baby steps in the highly competitive sector, where India has less than 2 per cent share in the global space economy. It is amid such a scenario that several satellites from Indian startups were hit by the PSLV-C62 failure.WION sought responses from the startups involved to understand what this 'PSLV-C62' launch mission meant to them, the satellite-based technology they intended to demonstrate or operationalise in space, and the impact that this failure may have on their future operations and business.AyulSat from OrbitaidAll satellites have a limited lifetime, and that limit is imposed by how much fuel they can carry. When satellites in space run out of fuel, they lose the ability to steer themselves, make minor adjustments to their orbital path, and point in the intended direction. When satellites reach the end of their life, it is predominantly because they run out of fuel. So, what if satellites can be refuelled by another satellite in space? Pretty much like how a large military plane refuels a small fighter jet. AyulSat by Orbitaid was to make a brave attempt in this regard: can liquid fuel be moved from one tank to another in space?"Our 25kg Ayulsat had two fuel tanks. One tank was filled with propane fuel, while the other tank was empty. In the microgravity environment of space, everything floats, including fuel. We wanted to try and transfer the fuel from one tank to another, a feat that's simple on Earth and highly sophisticated while in space. This would have also validated our proprietary Standard Interface Docking and Refuelling Port(SIDRP). AyulSat was also to serve as a target satellite for our future space docking experiment, where two satellites would meet up in space, orient themselves perfectly to get mechanically attached, perform transfer of power, data, and fuel," Sakthikumar, CEO of Orbitaid, explained to this author.Queried about whether the AyulSat satellite was covered by insurance, he said that multiple attempts to obtain insurance from Indian and foreign companies did not materialise. He added that insurance firms are hesitant to provide cover for innovative, experimental first-time satellites built by startups, given the high risk of failure. He also added that the aspect of failure was never discussed with ISRO's commercial arm NSIL, given the stellar record of PSLV. However, he added that the company has a backup plan and hopes to launch two satellites in about 7 months from now to complete the planned space docking experiment.MOI-1 satellite from Eon Space Labs, TakeMe2SpaceEON Space Labs integrated their advanced multispectral imaging payload MIRA, integrated with MOI-1, a CubeSat, weighing a mere 14 kgs, developed by fellow startup TakeMe2Space. This small craft was to demonstrate the viability of an AI-powered orbital image laboratory. The mission was meant to enable near real-time, in-orbit processing of Earth observation data, significantly lowering data downlink costs.According to Sanjay Kumar, Co-founder of Eon Space Labs, the launch of MIRA aboard MOI-1 was to cause a shift in how Earth observation missions are designed and utilised. Instead of merely capturing images and sending raw data back to Earth like most common satellites, our experimental satellite was to generate insights in orbit.The company did not offer a response to the author's query on whether they had insured the satellite. They said, we are grateful to ISRO for the opportunity to be part of the PSLV-C62 mission. While the result was not what we had hoped for, the learnings from this mission are valuable, and our focus remains firmly on execution and moving forward with clarity and resilience, they added. As for the next mission, the company said they are prioritising MOI-2 as the next flight opportunity, and are targeting a mid-2026 launch to space, using an available launch platform, subject to mission alignment and availability.CGUSAT, DSUSAT, Thybolt-3, LACHIT from Dhruva SpaceDhruva Space, a full-stack space engineering company, had contributed towards several small satellites aboard the PSLV-C61. Emphasising that Space missions are inherently complex, Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO &amp; Co-founder, Dhruva Space said, at this stage, our focus is on a measured and timely turnaround. These capabilities enable us and our customers to be ready for upcoming Launch opportunities in under a few weeks. We continue to see strong momentum and maturity in the Indian Space programme and we are confident the ecosystem will grow, as envisioned in the Decadal Vision. However, there was no response from the company on whether the said satellites were insured.In a first, PSLV disappointed foreign customers: handful of foreign satellites lostIn its 33 years of flight, the PSLV has launched well over 350 satellites for Indian and foreign customers. While PSLV has suffered major failures on four occasions(1993, 2017, 2025, 2026), it is only the 2026 failure that has led to the loss of foreign satellites or satellites belonging to customers. The aforementioned failures led to the loss of Indian Government satellites. Notably, PSLV has been launching foreign satellites since the year 1999, when India began commercial spacefaring by launching South Korea's KITSAT-3 and DLR-TUBSAT from Germany. Since then, there has been no looking back for PSLV.Theos-2 satellite, jointly built by Thailand and the UK, Munal satellite for Nepal University, and five satellites from Brazil were lost in the aftermath of the PSLV-C62 failure on Monday. It is not known if these satellites were insured by their respective owners.

In recent years, ISRO has been utilising lesser funds than actually allocated to it, and has been returning excess funds to the Government's coffers.

The mid-flight failure of the Indian space agency ISRO's PSLV-C62 rocket launch mission on Monday, (12th Jan), has led to the loss of 15 satellites from India and abroad. In a major setback to India's national security apparatus, the million-dollar hyperspectral Earth-imaging satellite built by the Government's Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) was also among the satellites destroyed. For the $4 trillion economy behemoth that is the Indian Government, a million-dollar satellite's loss is one loss among a few failed missions in the last 12 months. However, a less discussed aspect is that of six satellites belonging to fledgling Indian startups that have been destroyed in this mission. The question also lingers whether these firms had managed to obtain insurance cover for their little spacecrafts. In comparison, it is known that ISRO does not insure its own rockets and satellites that are launched from home soil. However, ISRO has insured its own satellites when they fly on foreign rockets. The contrast here is stark: The Indian Government Space agency ISRO has been enjoying considerable taxpayer funding since the year 1969. In recent years, ISRO has been utilising lesser funds than actually allocated to it, and has been returning excess funds to the Government's coffers. ISRO also had a monopoly over rocket launches and satellite building until the year 2020. In contrast, India's space startups cropped up over the last five years, after the Government enabled their foray. In what is widely regarded as a risk-averse nation, these startups built by youngsters have been taking a leap of faith into a high-risk, low-return business with zero tolerance for failure. Fuelled by hard-won private funding, these startups are taking baby steps in the highly competitive sector, where India has less than 2 per cent share in the global space economy. It is amid such a scenario that several satellites from Indian startups were hit by the PSLV-C62 failure. WION sought responses from the startups involved to understand what this 'PSLV-C62' launch mission meant to them, the satellite-based technology they intended to demonstrate or operationalise in space, and the impact that this failure may have on their future operations and business. AyulSat from Orbitaid All satellites have a limited lifetime, and that limit is imposed by how much fuel they can carry. When satellites in space run out of fuel, they lose the ability to steer themselves, make minor adjustments to their orbital path, and point in the intended direction. When satellites reach the end of their life, it is predominantly because they run out of fuel. So, what if satellites can be refuelled by another satellite in space? Pretty much like how a large military plane refuels a small fighter jet. AyulSat by Orbitaid was to make a brave attempt in this regard: can liquid fuel be moved from one tank to another in space? "Our 25kg Ayulsat had two fuel tanks. One tank was filled with propane fuel, while the other tank was empty. In the microgravity environment of space, everything floats, including fuel. We wanted to try and transfer the fuel from one tank to another, a feat that's simple on Earth and highly sophisticated while in space. This would have also validated our proprietary Standard Interface Docking and Refuelling Port(SIDRP). AyulSat was also to serve as a target satellite for our future space docking experiment, where two satellites would meet up in space, orient themselves perfectly to get mechanically attached, perform transfer of power, data, and fuel," Sakthikumar, CEO of Orbitaid, explained to this author. Queried about whether the AyulSat satellite was covered by insurance, he said that multiple attempts to obtain insurance from Indian and foreign companies did not materialise. He added that insurance firms are hesitant to provide cover for innovative, experimental first-time satellites built by startups, given the high risk of failure. He also added that the aspect of failure was never discussed with ISRO's commercial arm NSIL, given the stellar record of PSLV. However, he added that the company has a backup plan and hopes to launch two satellites in about 7 months from now to complete the planned space docking experiment. MOI-1 satellite from Eon Space Labs, TakeMe2Space EON Space Labs integrated their advanced multispectral imaging payload MIRA, integrated with MOI-1, a CubeSat, weighing a mere 14 kgs, developed by fellow startup TakeMe2Space. This small craft was to demonstrate the viability of an AI-powered orbital image laboratory. The mission was meant to enable near real-time, in-orbit processing of Earth observation data, significantly lowering data downlink costs. According to Sanjay Kumar, Co-founder of Eon Space Labs, the launch of MIRA aboard MOI-1 was to cause a shift in how Earth observation missions are designed and utilised. Instead of merely capturing images and sending raw data back to Earth like most common satellites, our experimental satellite was to generate insights in orbit. The company did not offer a response to the author's query on whether they had insured the satellite. They said, we are grateful to ISRO for the opportunity to be part of the PSLV-C62 mission. While the result was not what we had hoped for, the learnings from this mission are valuable, and our focus remains firmly on execution and moving forward with clarity and resilience, they added. As for the next mission, the company said they are prioritising MOI-2 as the next flight opportunity, and are targeting a mid-2026 launch to space, using an available launch platform, subject to mission alignment and availability. CGUSAT, DSUSAT, Thybolt-3, LACHIT from Dhruva Space Dhruva Space, a full-stack space engineering company, had contributed towards several small satellites aboard the PSLV-C61. Emphasising that Space missions are inherently complex, Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO & Co-founder, Dhruva Space said, at this stage, our focus is on a measured and timely turnaround. These capabilities enable us and our customers to be ready for upcoming Launch opportunities in under a few weeks. We continue to see strong momentum and maturity in the Indian Space programme and we are confident the ecosystem will grow, as envisioned in the Decadal Vision. However, there was no response from the company on whether the said satellites were insured. In a first, PSLV disappointed foreign customers: handful of foreign satellites lost In its 33 years of flight, the PSLV has launched well over 350 satellites for Indian and foreign customers. While PSLV has suffered major failures on four occasions(1993, 2017, 2025, 2026), it is only the 2026 failure that has led to the loss of foreign satellites or satellites belonging to customers. The aforementioned failures led to the loss of Indian Government satellites. Notably, PSLV has been launching foreign satellites since the year 1999, when India began commercial spacefaring by launching South Korea's KITSAT-3 and DLR-TUBSAT from Germany. Since then, there has been no looking back for PSLV. Theos-2 satellite, jointly built by Thailand and the UK, Munal satellite for Nepal University, and five satellites from Brazil were lost in the aftermath of the PSLV-C62 failure on Monday. It is not known if these satellites were insured by their respective owners.

In recent years, ISRO has been utilising lesser funds than actually allocated to it, and has been returning excess funds to the Government's coffers.

6 satellites of Indian startups doomed in ISRO PSLV failure. Were they insured?

Two suspected cases of Nipah virus were detected in West Bengal’s Barasat, prompting the Centre to deploy a National Joint Outbreak Response Team to assist the state authorities for effective containment. According to officials, the two patients, a male nurse and a female nurse working at the same private hospital, were in critical condition and kept on a ventilator. They had gone home in East Midnapore and East Burdwan in December and fell ill.“Two suspected cases of Nipah virus have been reported. They both worked in the same hospital and are now admitted there. We have started contact tracing,” said Nandini Chakravorty, chief secretary of West Bengal.The samples of both patients have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for confirmation, a second official said. “While the Union health ministry has been alerted, the state’s chief secretary and the state health secretary held meetings with the chief medical officers of North 24 Parganas, East Burdwan, and East Midnapore.”The Ministry of Health said in a statement on X, “Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda assures the West Bengal Government of comprehensive technical, logistical and operational support following the detection of two suspected Nipah virus cases at ICMR-VRDL, AIIMS Kalyani.”It added, “Immediate coordinated action has been initiated; laboratory support, enhanced surveillance, case management, IPC measures and expert guidance have been mobilised. Shri Nadda spoke with Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee, underscoring close Centre–State coordination. A National Joint Outbreak Response Team has been deployed and standard protocols shared to ensure effective containment.”<h2>What is Nipah virus and what are its symptoms?</h2>Nipah (NiV) is a zoonotic virus. That is, it is a virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Evidence cited in medical journals shows that fruit bats and pigs host the virus, which can lead to serious illness in both animals and humans.In all the outbreaks of Nipah virus so far, since it was first reported in Malaysia in 1998, patients usually develop a sudden onset of flu-like symptoms. They include fever, headache, respiratory difficulties, convulsions, coughing, and vomiting. Additionally, if the virus is not detected early, then further complications such as respiratory infections and atypical pneumonia may develop.These symptoms can progress quite rapidly, within just 24 to 48 hours, and further lead to coma and eventually death.<h2>Can Nipah virus be treated?</h2>There is no cure or vaccine to treat the Nipah virus yet. However, it emerged on September 16 that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is ramping up its efforts to develop a potential vaccine.Treatments, therefore, are limited to symptomatic and supportive care to treat the signs and symptoms of the illness. If further complications are seen, consideration needs to be taken to treat possible cases of encephalitis, which can be transmitted from one person to another. Therefore, it’s important to implement standard infection control practices to limit transfer.

Two suspected Nipah virus cases were detected in West Bengal’s Barasat, prompting the Centre to deploy a National Joint Outbreak Response Team. The patients are in critical condition, and their samples have been sent for confirmation.

Two suspected cases of Nipah virus were detected in West Bengal’s Barasat, prompting the Centre to deploy a National Joint Outbreak Response Team to assist the state authorities for effective containment. According to officials, the two patients, a male nurse and a female nurse working at the same private hospital, were in critical condition and kept on a ventilator. They had gone home in East Midnapore and East Burdwan in December and fell ill. “Two suspected cases of Nipah virus have been reported. They both worked in the same hospital and are now admitted there. We have started contact tracing,” said Nandini Chakravorty, chief secretary of West Bengal. The samples of both patients have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for confirmation, a second official said. “While the Union health ministry has been alerted, the state’s chief secretary and the state health secretary held meetings with the chief medical officers of North 24 Parganas, East Burdwan, and East Midnapore.” The Ministry of Health said in a statement on X, “Union Health Minister Shri JP Nadda assures the West Bengal Government of comprehensive technical, logistical and operational support following the detection of two suspected Nipah virus cases at ICMR-VRDL, AIIMS Kalyani.” It added, “Immediate coordinated action has been initiated; laboratory support, enhanced surveillance, case management, IPC measures and expert guidance have been mobilised. Shri Nadda spoke with Chief Minister Smt. Mamata Banerjee, underscoring close Centre–State coordination. A National Joint Outbreak Response Team has been deployed and standard protocols shared to ensure effective containment.” What is Nipah virus and what are its symptoms? Nipah (NiV) is a zoonotic virus. That is, it is a virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Evidence cited in medical journals shows that fruit bats and pigs host the virus, which can lead to serious illness in both animals and humans. In all the outbreaks of Nipah virus so far, since it was first reported in Malaysia in 1998, patients usually develop a sudden onset of flu-like symptoms. They include fever, headache, respiratory difficulties, convulsions, coughing, and vomiting. Additionally, if the virus is not detected early, then further complications such as respiratory infections and atypical pneumonia may develop. These symptoms can progress quite rapidly, within just 24 to 48 hours, and further lead to coma and eventually death. Can Nipah virus be treated? There is no cure or vaccine to treat the Nipah virus yet. However, it emerged on September 16 that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is ramping up its efforts to develop a potential vaccine. Treatments, therefore, are limited to symptomatic and supportive care to treat the signs and symptoms of the illness. If further complications are seen, consideration needs to be taken to treat possible cases of encephalitis, which can be transmitted from one person to another. Therefore, it’s important to implement standard infection control practices to limit transfer.

Two suspected Nipah virus cases were detected in West Bengal’s Barasat, prompting the Centre to deploy a National Joint Outbreak Response Team. The patients are in critical condition, and their samples have been sent for confirmation.

Nipah virus detected in West Bengal? Early symptoms and signs you must know

Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Ladakh have been reeling under a severe cold wave for weeks now. As predicted by the Meteorological Department, temperatures have dropped sharply across the region, mainly due to clear skies. This sustained dip has significantly intensified the winter chill. The Meteorological Department has forecast chances of snowfall across various districts of the Kashmir region between January 19 and 22. According to the MeT, snowfall activity is expected to continue until January 24, and due to the wet weather, temperatures are likely to improve in the coming days. &nbsp;Also read |&nbsp;The cold weather has led to the freezing of water bodies across several districts of the Kashmir Valley as well as the Ladakh region. Portions of Dal Lake have also frozen as sub-zero temperatures continue to prevail. Srinagar witnessed another sharp dip in temperatures, recording a minimum of minus 4.9 degrees Celsius, while the temperature at Srinagar Airport plunged further to minus 5.8 degrees Celsius. &nbsp;The world-famous ski resort of Gulmarg also registered a minimum temperature of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius, while South Kashmir’s popular tourist destination, Pahalgam, recorded a low of Minus 6.2 degrees.Elsewhere in South Kashmir, Shopian experienced biting cold with the mercury dipping to minus 6.3 degrees Celsius, while Pulwama shivered at a harsher minus 6.6 degrees. In Central Kashmir, the resort town of Sonamarg also witnessed sub-zero conditions, recording a minimum temperature of minus 7 degrees Celsius. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Ladakh continues to remain the coldest region in the country, with temperatures in Leh plunging to minus 11.6 degrees Celsius while Kargil registered a low of minus 10.2 degrees Celsius. &nbsp;The Kashmir Valley is currently in the grip of Chillai Kalan, the harshest and coldest phase of winter. This 40-day period began on December 21.The Meteorological Department (MeT) has forecast mainly dry weather until January 15. Meanwhile, moderate fog is expected to prevail over the plains of the Jammu division, with dense fog at isolated locations likely to continue over the next two days. &nbsp;

The cold weather has led to the freezing of water bodies across several districts of the Kashmir Valley as well as the Ladakh region. Portions of Dal Lake have also frozen as sub-zero temperatures continue to prevail.

Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh have been reeling under a severe cold wave for weeks now. As predicted by the Meteorological Department, temperatures have dropped sharply across the region, mainly due to clear skies. This sustained dip has significantly intensified the winter chill. The Meteorological Department has forecast chances of snowfall across various districts of the Kashmir region between January 19 and 22. According to the MeT, snowfall activity is expected to continue until January 24, and due to the wet weather, temperatures are likely to improve in the coming days. Also read | The cold weather has led to the freezing of water bodies across several districts of the Kashmir Valley as well as the Ladakh region. Portions of Dal Lake have also frozen as sub-zero temperatures continue to prevail. Srinagar witnessed another sharp dip in temperatures, recording a minimum of minus 4.9 degrees Celsius, while the temperature at Srinagar Airport plunged further to minus 5.8 degrees Celsius. The world-famous ski resort of Gulmarg also registered a minimum temperature of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius, while South Kashmir’s popular tourist destination, Pahalgam, recorded a low of Minus 6.2 degrees. Elsewhere in South Kashmir, Shopian experienced biting cold with the mercury dipping to minus 6.3 degrees Celsius, while Pulwama shivered at a harsher minus 6.6 degrees. In Central Kashmir, the resort town of Sonamarg also witnessed sub-zero conditions, recording a minimum temperature of minus 7 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Ladakh continues to remain the coldest region in the country, with temperatures in Leh plunging to minus 11.6 degrees Celsius while Kargil registered a low of minus 10.2 degrees Celsius. The Kashmir Valley is currently in the grip of Chillai Kalan, the harshest and coldest phase of winter. This 40-day period began on December 21. The Meteorological Department (MeT) has forecast mainly dry weather until January 15. Meanwhile, moderate fog is expected to prevail over the plains of the Jammu division, with dense fog at isolated locations likely to continue over the next two days.

The cold weather has led to the freezing of water bodies across several districts of the Kashmir Valley as well as the Ladakh region. Portions of Dal Lake have also frozen as sub-zero temperatures continue to prevail.

Intense cold persists in J&K and Ladakh, snowfall likely from January 19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday shared glimpses of the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad on his social media platform, describing the skies as filled with “colours and vibrancy”. PM Modi said in a post on X that he was pleased to showcase the cultural celebration to German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his visit. He added that he was especially delighted to see Merz try his hand at kite flying, calling it a memorable moment.&nbsp;"The sky over Ahmedabad is full of colours and vibrancy during the International Kite Festival. I am delighted that I was able to show Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz this very special occasion. It also made me very happy that he tried his hand at kite flying!" he said on X.<h3>Social media reacts</h3>After PM Modi shared the glimpses, several users on X came up with their mixed reactions over Merz and PM Modi while they were seen trying their hand at kite flying. A German-based journalist wrote,"Merz is having way more fun as Chancellor than Scholz ever did."&nbsp;The next user said,"And suddenly, new anti-Trump alliances are emerging. About the Merz trip to India." One of the users asked," Chancellor Merz is being celebrated on the streets of India. When will that happen here in Germany?"&nbsp;Another also said, "How I enroll with my parents to set up Dad's new phone." The next also wrote,""Retirees who crank up the swag".<h3>Friedrich Merz for a two-day visit</h3>German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in India on Monday for a two-day visit to bolster economic and security ties between the third and fourth largest economies of the world. He talked with PM Modi in Ahmedabad, after which 19 pacts were signed between both countries, including a roadmap for defence industrial collaboration and expanding cooperation in the higher education sector.&nbsp;Additionally, a separate agreement was also signed to boost cooperation in the telecommunications sector. On Monday morning, Modi and Merz visited the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, where they paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, before jointly inaugurating Gujarat’s renowned kite festival. The German Chancellor also toured Adalaj Ni Vav, the historic stepwell located near Gandhinagar.&nbsp;On Tuesday, he arrived in Bengaluru on the second day of his two-day official visit, which was received at the Kempegowda International Airport by Karnataka Minister for Large &amp; Medium Industries M B Patil and senior government officials, official sources said, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;During his stop in the IT hub, Merz and his delegation are set to visit the Indian headquarters of German technology firm Bosch in Adugodi. He is also scheduled to tour the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at the Indian Institute of Science, after which he will depart from Bengaluru, officials said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in India on Monday for a two-day visit to bolster economic and security ties between the third and fourth largest economies of the world. He talked with PM Modi in Ahmedabad, after which 19 pacts were signed between both countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday shared glimpses of the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad on his social media platform, describing the skies as filled with “colours and vibrancy”. PM Modi said in a post on X that he was pleased to showcase the cultural celebration to German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his visit. He added that he was especially delighted to see Merz try his hand at kite flying, calling it a memorable moment. "The sky over Ahmedabad is full of colours and vibrancy during the International Kite Festival. I am delighted that I was able to show Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz this very special occasion. It also made me very happy that he tried his hand at kite flying!" he said on X. Social media reacts After PM Modi shared the glimpses, several users on X came up with their mixed reactions over Merz and PM Modi while they were seen trying their hand at kite flying. A German-based journalist wrote,"Merz is having way more fun as Chancellor than Scholz ever did." The next user said,"And suddenly, new anti-Trump alliances are emerging. About the Merz trip to India." One of the users asked," Chancellor Merz is being celebrated on the streets of India. When will that happen here in Germany?" Another also said, "How I enroll with my parents to set up Dad's new phone." The next also wrote,""Retirees who crank up the swag". Friedrich Merz for a two-day visit German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in India on Monday for a two-day visit to bolster economic and security ties between the third and fourth largest economies of the world. He talked with PM Modi in Ahmedabad, after which 19 pacts were signed between both countries, including a roadmap for defence industrial collaboration and expanding cooperation in the higher education sector. Additionally, a separate agreement was also signed to boost cooperation in the telecommunications sector. On Monday morning, Modi and Merz visited the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, where they paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, before jointly inaugurating Gujarat’s renowned kite festival. The German Chancellor also toured Adalaj Ni Vav, the historic stepwell located near Gandhinagar. On Tuesday, he arrived in Bengaluru on the second day of his two-day official visit, which was received at the Kempegowda International Airport by Karnataka Minister for Large & Medium Industries M B Patil and senior government officials, official sources said, news agency PTI reported. During his stop in the IT hub, Merz and his delegation are set to visit the Indian headquarters of German technology firm Bosch in Adugodi. He is also scheduled to tour the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) at the Indian Institute of Science, after which he will depart from Bengaluru, officials said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in India on Monday for a two-day visit to bolster economic and security ties between the third and fourth largest economies of the world. He talked with PM Modi in Ahmedabad, after which 19 pacts were signed between both countries.

'Anti-Trump alliances emerging': Netizens react as PM Modi shares kite festival moments with German chancellor Merz

The office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to shift this week on Makar Sankranti, January 14. The new address, 'Seva Teerth' complex, has been built as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. With this, the PMO’s continuous presence in South Block since 1947 is changed. With India’s administrative zone getting a new address, this complex will house the Prime Minister's Office, the Cabinet Secretariat, and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), with each three of them having a separate building.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-caused-unimaginable-suffering-pm-modi-says-unfair-and-one-sided-indus-waters-treaty-not-acceptable-to-india-1755228693613">‘Caused unimaginable suffering’: PM Modi says ‘unfair’ and ‘one-sided’ Indus Waters Treaty not acceptable to India</a><h2>What we know about the move?</h2>According to reports, there are three buildings on these premises. Seva Teerth 1 houses the Prime Minister’s Office, Seva Teerth 2 has the cabinet secretariat, and Seva Teerth 3 has the National Security Council secretariat and the office of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The complex has been constructed by Larsen and Toubro for the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), which had awarded the contract in 2022. The Prime Minister’s residence is also being built in the same complex. Once it is ready, the PM will move out of the residence on 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-speaks-to-zelensky-before-meeting-putin-extends-full-support-to-efforts-for-restoring-peace-1756567044307">PM Modi speaks to Zelensky before meeting Putin, extends full support to efforts for restoring peace</a>&nbsp;Since Independence, the Prime Minister’s Office had been located in the South Block, alongside the Ministries of External Affairs and Defence. The North Block housed the Home and Finance Ministries. Both ministries have now moved to Kartavya Bhavan as part of the Central Vista transformation. The historic North and South Blocks will be converted into a large museum complex. This museum will present the story of India’s 5,000-year-old civilisation.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-calls-for-ending-colonial-mindset-sets-10-year-deadline-narendra-modi-macaulay-ramnath-goenka-1763472219109">PM Modi calls for ending ‘colonial mindset’, sets 10-year deadline</a>&nbsp;The move is significant as Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for India to shed "post-colonial mindset", that was imposed on India, setting a 10-year timeline leading up to the 200th year of Macaulay's campaign to instill a slavery mindset on the country. Proposing a ten-year time frame to free the country from colonial mindset, he said, "I want to appeal to the entire country: over the next decade, we must resolve to free ourselves from the mindset of slavery that Macaulay imposed on India. The coming 10 years are extremely important." &nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Office will shift from South Block to the new Seva Teerth complex under the Central Vista project on January 14. The complex will house the PMO, Cabinet Secretariat and NSCS, marking a symbolic move away from colonial-era governance spaces.

The office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to shift this week on Makar Sankranti, January 14. The new address, 'Seva Teerth' complex, has been built as part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. With this, the PMO’s continuous presence in South Block since 1947 is changed. With India’s administrative zone getting a new address, this complex will house the Prime Minister's Office, the Cabinet Secretariat, and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), with each three of them having a separate building. Also Read: ‘Caused unimaginable suffering’: PM Modi says ‘unfair’ and ‘one-sided’ Indus Waters Treaty not acceptable to India What we know about the move? According to reports, there are three buildings on these premises. Seva Teerth 1 houses the Prime Minister’s Office, Seva Teerth 2 has the cabinet secretariat, and Seva Teerth 3 has the National Security Council secretariat and the office of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The complex has been constructed by Larsen and Toubro for the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), which had awarded the contract in 2022. The Prime Minister’s residence is also being built in the same complex. Once it is ready, the PM will move out of the residence on 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Also Read: PM Modi speaks to Zelensky before meeting Putin, extends full support to efforts for restoring peace Since Independence, the Prime Minister’s Office had been located in the South Block, alongside the Ministries of External Affairs and Defence. The North Block housed the Home and Finance Ministries. Both ministries have now moved to Kartavya Bhavan as part of the Central Vista transformation. The historic North and South Blocks will be converted into a large museum complex. This museum will present the story of India’s 5,000-year-old civilisation. Also Read: PM Modi calls for ending ‘colonial mindset’, sets 10-year deadline The move is significant as Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for India to shed "post-colonial mindset", that was imposed on India, setting a 10-year timeline leading up to the 200th year of Macaulay's campaign to instill a slavery mindset on the country. Proposing a ten-year time frame to free the country from colonial mindset, he said, "I want to appeal to the entire country: over the next decade, we must resolve to free ourselves from the mindset of slavery that Macaulay imposed on India. The coming 10 years are extremely important."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Office will shift from South Block to the new Seva Teerth complex under the Central Vista project on January 14. The complex will house the PMO, Cabinet Secretariat and NSCS, marking a symbolic move away from colonial-era governance spaces.

Why is PMO moving out of South Block on Makar Sankranti?

Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday (Jan 13) issued a clear warning to Pakistan during the annual press briefing ahead of the Army Day on January 15. He stated that the operation was conceptualised and executed with precision and lasted 88 hours, following an initiation of 22 minutes, during which seven out of nine terror targets were successfully destroyed. He added that the Op Sindoor has reset strategic assumptions by striking deep into Pakistan, dismantling terror infrastructure and puncturing the nation’s nuclear rhetoric.“Following the Pahalgam terror attack, a clear decision to respond decisively was taken at the highest level. Op Sindoor was conceptualised and executed with precision. Through 22 minutes of initiation on 7th May and an orchestration that lasted 88 hours up to 10th May, the operation reset strategic assumptions by striking deep, dismantling terror infrastructure, and puncturing the long-standing nuclear rhetoric,” General Dwiwedi said.He further stated that the operation remains ongoing, warning Pakistan that “any future misadventure” will attract retaliation“The army successfully destroyed seven out of the nine targets and thereafter played a pivotal role in ensuring a calibrated response to Pak actions. As you may be aware, Operation Sindoor remains ongoing. Any future misadventure will be resolutely responded to,” the Army chief said.He further stated, “Here, I must acknowledge the proactive roles of all stakeholders. At the national level, including CAPFs, int agencies, civic bodies, state administration and other ministries, whether it’s MHA, Railways, and many more. Operation Sindoor was the best example of tri-services synergy under clear-cut political directive and full freedom to act or respond.”The army chief highlighted the significant reduction in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir since May 10, noting 31 terrorists were killed in the year 2025. He also stated that the active number of local terrorists is now in single digits in the region, and only two recruitments took place in the year.“In J&amp;K, since 10th May, the situation along the western front in J&amp;K remains sensitive but firmly under control. In 2025, 31 terrorists were eliminated, of which 65% were Pakistan origin, including the three perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack neutralised in Operation Mahadev. Active terrorist local terrorists are now in single digits. Terrorist recruitment is almost non-existent, with only two in 2025,” he said. “Clear indicators of positive change in J&amp;K include robust development activity, revival of tourism and Shree Amarnath Yatra, which saw more than 4 lakh pilgrims, exceeding the five-year average. The theme of terrorism to tourism is gradually taking shape.”General Dwivedi also said, “As regards the north east, neutral, transparent and decisive action of the security forces, along with many proactive government initiaties have led to a marked improvement in the situation in Manipur in 2025.”

The Indian Army chief stated that the operation remains ongoing, warning Pakistan that “any future misadventure” will attract retaliation.

Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday (Jan 13) issued a clear warning to Pakistan during the annual press briefing ahead of the Army Day on January 15. He stated that the operation was conceptualised and executed with precision and lasted 88 hours, following an initiation of 22 minutes, during which seven out of nine terror targets were successfully destroyed. He added that the Op Sindoor has reset strategic assumptions by striking deep into Pakistan, dismantling terror infrastructure and puncturing the nation’s nuclear rhetoric. “Following the Pahalgam terror attack, a clear decision to respond decisively was taken at the highest level. Op Sindoor was conceptualised and executed with precision. Through 22 minutes of initiation on 7th May and an orchestration that lasted 88 hours up to 10th May, the operation reset strategic assumptions by striking deep, dismantling terror infrastructure, and puncturing the long-standing nuclear rhetoric,” General Dwiwedi said. He further stated that the operation remains ongoing, warning Pakistan that “any future misadventure” will attract retaliation “The army successfully destroyed seven out of the nine targets and thereafter played a pivotal role in ensuring a calibrated response to Pak actions. As you may be aware, Operation Sindoor remains ongoing. Any future misadventure will be resolutely responded to,” the Army chief said. He further stated, “Here, I must acknowledge the proactive roles of all stakeholders. At the national level, including CAPFs, int agencies, civic bodies, state administration and other ministries, whether it’s MHA, Railways, and many more. Operation Sindoor was the best example of tri-services synergy under clear-cut political directive and full freedom to act or respond.” The army chief highlighted the significant reduction in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir since May 10, noting 31 terrorists were killed in the year 2025. He also stated that the active number of local terrorists is now in single digits in the region, and only two recruitments took place in the year. “In J&K, since 10th May, the situation along the western front in J&K remains sensitive but firmly under control. In 2025, 31 terrorists were eliminated, of which 65% were Pakistan origin, including the three perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack neutralised in Operation Mahadev. Active terrorist local terrorists are now in single digits. Terrorist recruitment is almost non-existent, with only two in 2025,” he said. “Clear indicators of positive change in J&K include robust development activity, revival of tourism and Shree Amarnath Yatra, which saw more than 4 lakh pilgrims, exceeding the five-year average. The theme of terrorism to tourism is gradually taking shape.” General Dwivedi also said, “As regards the north east, neutral, transparent and decisive action of the security forces, along with many proactive government initiaties have led to a marked improvement in the situation in Manipur in 2025.”

The Indian Army chief stated that the operation remains ongoing, warning Pakistan that “any future misadventure” will attract retaliation.

‘Operation Sindoor remains ongoing’: Indian Army chief warns Pak against ‘any future misadventure’

China on Monday (Jan 12) once again sought to lay claim to the Shaksgam Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, which India insists remains an 'integral and inalienable' part of its territory. Rejecting India's claim over the Shaksgam Valley, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing considers the area to be part of its territory. This comes as India on Friday (Jan 9) slammed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, noting that it passes through Indian territory that is under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-in-the-crosshairs-as-trump-announces-25-tariff-on-iran-trade-partners-protest-death-toll-rises-to-648-1768273204068">India in the crosshairs as Trump announces 25% tariff on Iran trade partners</a><h2>What did China claim?</h2>Responding to a question on border issues, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the Shaksgam Valley "belongs to China". She argued that China was well within its rights to carry out infrastructure construction there. Ning cited a boundary agreement signed between China and Pakistan in the 1960s, claiming that the borders between the two countries had already been demarcated. According to Mao, that agreement represented a legitimate settlement reached by two sovereign states.China's state-run Global Times quoted Mao as saying that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, is an economic cooperation project aimed at boosting development and improving livelihoods in the region. She stressed that both the boundary agreement and CPEC do not alter China's long-standing position on the Kashmir issue.&nbsp;India, however, has firmly rejected that narrative.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ice-made-us-less-safe-minnesota-slams-trump-s-federal-invasion-sues-after-immigration-officer-kills-renee-good-1768271149205">Minnesota slams Trump's 'federal invasion,' sues after ICE kills Renee Good</a><h2>Who does the Shaksgam Valley belong to?</h2>"Shaksgam Valley is Indian territory", said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on January 9. New Delhi condemned China’s infrastructure activities in the Shaksgam Valley, calling them "illegal and invalid" and reiterating that the region is an integral part of India.Jaiswal noted that India "has never recognised the so-called China-Pakistan 'boundary agreement' signed in 1963," and said that "We have consistently maintained that the agreement is illegal and invalid".We do not recognise the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor either, which passes through Indian territory, which is under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan," added the Indian MEA. Protesting China's attempts to change facts on the ground in the Shaksgam Valley, he underlined that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are "integral and inalienable" parts of India, adding that New Delhi has conveyed this "to Pakistani and Chinese authorities several times".The Shaksgam Valley lies north of the Siachen Glacier, bordering China's Xinjiang region to the north and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir to the south and west.&nbsp; &nbsp;

China has once again tried to illegally lay claim to India's Shaksgam Valley, citing a 1960s deal with Pakistan. India has consistently refuted the validity of the claims and insists that the Kashmir valley is an integral and inalienable part of its territory.

China on Monday (Jan 12) once again sought to lay claim to the Shaksgam Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, which India insists remains an 'integral and inalienable' part of its territory. Rejecting India's claim over the Shaksgam Valley, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing considers the area to be part of its territory. This comes as India on Friday (Jan 9) slammed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, noting that it passes through Indian territory that is under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan. Also read | India in the crosshairs as Trump announces 25% tariff on Iran trade partners What did China claim? Responding to a question on border issues, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the Shaksgam Valley "belongs to China". She argued that China was well within its rights to carry out infrastructure construction there. Ning cited a boundary agreement signed between China and Pakistan in the 1960s, claiming that the borders between the two countries had already been demarcated. According to Mao, that agreement represented a legitimate settlement reached by two sovereign states. China's state-run Global Times quoted Mao as saying that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, is an economic cooperation project aimed at boosting development and improving livelihoods in the region. She stressed that both the boundary agreement and CPEC do not alter China's long-standing position on the Kashmir issue. India, however, has firmly rejected that narrative. Also read | Minnesota slams Trump's 'federal invasion,' sues after ICE kills Renee Good Who does the Shaksgam Valley belong to? "Shaksgam Valley is Indian territory", said External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on January 9. New Delhi condemned China’s infrastructure activities in the Shaksgam Valley, calling them "illegal and invalid" and reiterating that the region is an integral part of India. Jaiswal noted that India "has never recognised the so-called China-Pakistan 'boundary agreement' signed in 1963," and said that "We have consistently maintained that the agreement is illegal and invalid". We do not recognise the so-called China-Pakistan Economic Corridor either, which passes through Indian territory, which is under forcible and illegal occupation of Pakistan," added the Indian MEA. Protesting China's attempts to change facts on the ground in the Shaksgam Valley, he underlined that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are "integral and inalienable" parts of India, adding that New Delhi has conveyed this "to Pakistani and Chinese authorities several times". The Shaksgam Valley lies north of the Siachen Glacier, bordering China's Xinjiang region to the north and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir to the south and west.

China has once again tried to illegally lay claim to India's Shaksgam Valley, citing a 1960s deal with Pakistan. India has consistently refuted the validity of the claims and insists that the Kashmir valley is an integral and inalienable part of its territory.

China pushes illegal claim on India's Shaksgam Valley, hides behind Pakistan deal from 1960s

Visakhapatnam, on India's eastern coast, is preparing to host one of the largest maritime gatherings in the nation's history: the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026, scheduled from 15 to 25 February.&nbsp;The event, coinciding with Exercise MILAN 2026 and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs, will bring together warships, delegations, and naval leaders from dozens of countries. It underscores India's evolving role as a key player in Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation.&nbsp;India's fleet review tradition dates back to humble beginnings. The first Presidential Fleet Review (PFR) occurred in 1953, when President Rajendra Prasad inspected 33 ships in Bombay (now Mumbai) harbour, a symbolic moment as Indian sailors saluted an Indian head of state under the tricolour for the first time post-Independence.&nbsp;Subsequent reviews marked the Navy's growth. In 1956, a special review honoured the Shah of Iran during his state visit, an early example of maritime diplomacy. The 1960s showcased INS Vikrant, India's first aircraft carrier, while later decades highlighted indigenous builds like the Leander-class (Nilgiri) and Godavari-class frigates, each vessel a testament to growing self-reliance.&nbsp;The shift to international participation came in 2001, when India hosted its inaugural IFR in Mumbai under the theme "Bridges of Friendship". Despite the recent Gujarat earthquake, President K.R. Narayanan reviewed 97 ships, 73 Indian and 24 foreign, from 20 nations. It projected India as an emerging partner on the global stage.&nbsp;Fifteen years later, in 2016, the focus moved east to Visakhapatnam. Nearly 100 ships from 50 countries assembled in the Bay of Bengal, the largest such gathering in Indian waters. President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reviewed the fleet from INS Sumitra.&nbsp;Beyond spectacle, these reviews serve as floating summits of diplomacy. Ships sailing in unison symbolise shared commitment to secure seas, humanitarian aid, and freedom of navigation, distinct from more ostentatious displays elsewhere.&nbsp;They also connect the Navy to citizens. In 2016, Visakhapatnam transformed into a festival: parades, cultural events, and illuminated ships drew families to the waterfront, fostering affection for the sea and those who guard it.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iranian-military-will-teach-an-unforgettable-lesson-to-trump-if-us-attacks-iran-parliament-speaker-1768228535454">Iranian military will teach 'an unforgettable lesson' to Trump if US attacks Iran: Parliament speaker</a>&nbsp;The 2026 edition promises even greater scale, featuring indigenous platforms like INS Vikrant (India's first domestically built carrier), Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, and Arnala-class corvettes. President Droupadi Murmu will conduct the review on 18 February off RK Beach, followed by an International City Parade.&nbsp;Linked to Prime Minister Modi's MAHASAGAR vision, an extension of SAGAR, and policies like Act East and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, the convergence highlights India's inclusive approach. Exercise MILAN, which began modestly in 1995 with four navies in Port Blair and now draws nearly 50, will operationalise ties through joint drills.

India's fleet review tradition dates back to humble beginnings. The first Presidential Fleet Review (PFR) occurred in 1953, when President Rajendra Prasad inspected 33 ships in Bombay (now Mumbai) harbour.

Visakhapatnam, on India's eastern coast, is preparing to host one of the largest maritime gatherings in the nation's history: the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026, scheduled from 15 to 25 February. The event, coinciding with Exercise MILAN 2026 and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs, will bring together warships, delegations, and naval leaders from dozens of countries. It underscores India's evolving role as a key player in Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation. India's fleet review tradition dates back to humble beginnings. The first Presidential Fleet Review (PFR) occurred in 1953, when President Rajendra Prasad inspected 33 ships in Bombay (now Mumbai) harbour, a symbolic moment as Indian sailors saluted an Indian head of state under the tricolour for the first time post-Independence. Subsequent reviews marked the Navy's growth. In 1956, a special review honoured the Shah of Iran during his state visit, an early example of maritime diplomacy. The 1960s showcased INS Vikrant, India's first aircraft carrier, while later decades highlighted indigenous builds like the Leander-class (Nilgiri) and Godavari-class frigates, each vessel a testament to growing self-reliance. The shift to international participation came in 2001, when India hosted its inaugural IFR in Mumbai under the theme "Bridges of Friendship". Despite the recent Gujarat earthquake, President K.R. Narayanan reviewed 97 ships, 73 Indian and 24 foreign, from 20 nations. It projected India as an emerging partner on the global stage. Fifteen years later, in 2016, the focus moved east to Visakhapatnam. Nearly 100 ships from 50 countries assembled in the Bay of Bengal, the largest such gathering in Indian waters. President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar reviewed the fleet from INS Sumitra. Beyond spectacle, these reviews serve as floating summits of diplomacy. Ships sailing in unison symbolise shared commitment to secure seas, humanitarian aid, and freedom of navigation, distinct from more ostentatious displays elsewhere. They also connect the Navy to citizens. In 2016, Visakhapatnam transformed into a festival: parades, cultural events, and illuminated ships drew families to the waterfront, fostering affection for the sea and those who guard it. Also Read: Iranian military will teach 'an unforgettable lesson' to Trump if US attacks Iran: Parliament speaker The 2026 edition promises even greater scale, featuring indigenous platforms like INS Vikrant (India's first domestically built carrier), Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, and Arnala-class corvettes. President Droupadi Murmu will conduct the review on 18 February off RK Beach, followed by an International City Parade. Linked to Prime Minister Modi's MAHASAGAR vision, an extension of SAGAR, and policies like Act East and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, the convergence highlights India's inclusive approach. Exercise MILAN, which began modestly in 1995 with four navies in Port Blair and now draws nearly 50, will operationalise ties through joint drills.

India's fleet review tradition dates back to humble beginnings. The first Presidential Fleet Review (PFR) occurred in 1953, when President Rajendra Prasad inspected 33 ships in Bombay (now Mumbai) harbour.

India's International Fleet Review: A tradition of maritime diplomacy set for historic 2026 edition

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