Archaeologists have discovered Harappan remains in Jaisalmer near the Pakistan border. This is the first time that artefacts from the 4,500-year-old civilisation have been found in the Thar desert. The items were dug up in Ratadia Ri Deri, and the discovery proves that the Harappa civilisation was not limited to areas previously thought of, and expanded its geographical footprint to the deserts of Rajasthan. The team comprised a researcher from the Department of History and Indian Culture at Rajasthan University, a historian, professors and local contributors. It has submitted its findings to for publication in the Indian Journal of Science and has confirmed that the findings belong to the Harappa civilisation. The artefacts uncovered include different types of handmade pottery, bangles, bricks, stone mills, a furnace and remains of ancient walls. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/mysterious-symbols-believed-to-be-ancient-warning-from-ancestors-surface-on-hawaii-beach-1753940009753">Mysterious symbols believed to be 'ancient warning from ancestors' surface on Hawaii beach</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/110-years-after-maski-inscription-4-000-year-old-human-settlement-found-in-karnataka-town-1752742129490">110 years after Maski inscription, 4,000-year-old human settlement found in Karnataka town</a><h2>First such discovery in Thar desert</h2>Talking about the discovery, Dilip Kumar Saini of the university said, "This is a significant find in the context of Rajasthan’s desert archaeology." He added that seeing Harappan remains in such a remote, sandy terrain suggests "a previously unknown settlement that endured the harsh conditions of the Thar desert." The team unearthed red and wheat-coloured pottery, bowls, pitchers, cups, and perforated jars at the site. There was also handmade pottery decorated with geometric patterns. One of the artefacts, eight to 10 centimetre-long blades, was made using chert stone, believed to have been sourced from Rohri in present-day Pakistan. Earlier this year, the site in Ratadia Ri Deri threw up some artefacts that appeared to be from the Harappa civilisation. Pradeep Kumar Garg, a local teacher, reported findings to the Save Our Heritage Foundation. A team paid a visit to the area and confirmed the findings. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/scientists-can-t-figure-out-why-glaciers-in-world-s-most-dangerous-region-karakoram-range-are-growing-1753261712617">Scientists don't know why glaciers in world's most dangerous region are growing</a><h2>Harappan construction style in Jaisalmer</h2>Bangles converted from clay and conch shells were also among the several things found here. Standard rectangular bricks, associated with Harappan urban planning were the clear clue about the civilisation being present in Jaisalmer once upon a time. A furnace structure with a central column was discovered, similar to those found at Kanmer (Gujarat) and Mohenjo-Daro (Pakistan). The walls at the site showed that the people lived in architecturally well-planned houses. Historian Parth Jagani stated that it is a historic finding, considering Harappan footprints had never been found in the deserts of Rajasthan. "This is the first Harappan urban settlement discovered in the desert region between North Rajasthan and Gujarat. Its proximity to the Pakistan border adds another layer of historical significance," he said. &nbsp;

Harappan remains have been discovered in Jaisalmer near the Pakistan border. It is a significant finding since archaeologists say the civilisation had not been previously known to live in the harsh terrain of Rajasthan.

Archaeologists have discovered Harappan remains in Jaisalmer near the Pakistan border. This is the first time that artefacts from the 4,500-year-old civilisation have been found in the Thar desert. The items were dug up in Ratadia Ri Deri, and the discovery proves that the Harappa civilisation was not limited to areas previously thought of, and expanded its geographical footprint to the deserts of Rajasthan. The team comprised a researcher from the Department of History and Indian Culture at Rajasthan University, a historian, professors and local contributors. It has submitted its findings to for publication in the Indian Journal of Science and has confirmed that the findings belong to the Harappa civilisation. The artefacts uncovered include different types of handmade pottery, bangles, bricks, stone mills, a furnace and remains of ancient walls. Also Read: Mysterious symbols believed to be 'ancient warning from ancestors' surface on Hawaii beach Also Read: 110 years after Maski inscription, 4,000-year-old human settlement found in Karnataka town First such discovery in Thar desert Talking about the discovery, Dilip Kumar Saini of the university said, "This is a significant find in the context of Rajasthan’s desert archaeology." He added that seeing Harappan remains in such a remote, sandy terrain suggests "a previously unknown settlement that endured the harsh conditions of the Thar desert." The team unearthed red and wheat-coloured pottery, bowls, pitchers, cups, and perforated jars at the site. There was also handmade pottery decorated with geometric patterns. One of the artefacts, eight to 10 centimetre-long blades, was made using chert stone, believed to have been sourced from Rohri in present-day Pakistan. Earlier this year, the site in Ratadia Ri Deri threw up some artefacts that appeared to be from the Harappa civilisation. Pradeep Kumar Garg, a local teacher, reported findings to the Save Our Heritage Foundation. A team paid a visit to the area and confirmed the findings. Also Read: Scientists don't know why glaciers in world's most dangerous region are growing Harappan construction style in Jaisalmer Bangles converted from clay and conch shells were also among the several things found here. Standard rectangular bricks, associated with Harappan urban planning were the clear clue about the civilisation being present in Jaisalmer once upon a time. A furnace structure with a central column was discovered, similar to those found at Kanmer (Gujarat) and Mohenjo-Daro (Pakistan). The walls at the site showed that the people lived in architecturally well-planned houses. Historian Parth Jagani stated that it is a historic finding, considering Harappan footprints had never been found in the deserts of Rajasthan. "This is the first Harappan urban settlement discovered in the desert region between North Rajasthan and Gujarat. Its proximity to the Pakistan border adds another layer of historical significance," he said.

Harappan remains have been discovered in Jaisalmer near the Pakistan border. It is a significant finding since archaeologists say the civilisation had not been previously known to live in the harsh terrain of Rajasthan.

Unknown Harappan settlement discovered in Thar desert for the first time

An Indian court on Thursday (July 31) acquitted all seven accused in Malegaon blast case, one of India's longest terror trials. The Natinonal Investigation Agency (NIA) court said the families of all six victims of the 2008 blast in will be given Rs 200,000 each, and all injured victims will be given Rs 50,000 as compensation.<h2>About the Malegaon blast case&nbsp;</h2>The blast took place in the Malegaon town in Nashik district of the western state of Maharashtra on 29 September 2008. The accused include former parliamentarian Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Lt Col Shrikant Prasad Purohit.<h2>What the NIA court said about the Malegaon blast&nbsp;</h2>The NIA court said that while the prosecution proved that a blast occurred in Malegaon, it failed to prove that a bomb was placed in a motorcycle. The court concluded that the injured people were not 101 but 95, and there was manipulation in some medical certificates.&nbsp;It also noted that the ‘Abhinav Bharat’ organisation was used as a common reference by the prosecution, even as there was no evidence that the funds of this Hindu organiastion was used for terror activities. &nbsp;There is no evidence of storing or assembling the explosives in Shrikant Prasad Purohit's residence, the court said. &nbsp;The court also noted that no sketch of the spot was done by the investigation officer and no fingerprint, dump data or anything else was collected for the spot.The samples were contaminated, so the reports can’t be conclusive and are not reliable, it added.&nbsp;The bike allegedly involved in the blast did not have a clear chassis number and prosecution could not prove that it was in Sadhvi Pragya’s possession immediately before the blast, said the court.&nbsp;<h2>Why the Malegaon blast case is unique: One of the longest terror cases with large amount of evidence shared</h2>The Malegaon blast was one of the cases touted as ‘Hindu terror’ by a section of the Indian media. It is one of the most complex and politically sensitive terror trials in recent memory.In the nearly two decades of the case, more than 10,800 exhibits were submitted, and 404 articles were seized and tagged as evidence. The NIA court examined 323 prosecution witnesses and eight defence witnesses. Nearly 40 witnesses turned hostile, including some key ones linked to the early Anti-terror Squad (ATS) probe. The trial was heard by five different NIA judges. The prosecution submitted its final written arguments in three volumes, totalling more than 1,300 pages, in April 2025.&nbsp;Both sides were allowed rebuttals, and the verdict was reserved on April 19 before the rulding on Thursday.

The Malegaon blast was one of the cases touted as ‘Hindu terror’ by a section of the Indian media. It is one of the most complex and politically sensitive terror trials in recent memory.

An Indian court on Thursday (July 31) acquitted all seven accused in Malegaon blast case, one of India's longest terror trials. The Natinonal Investigation Agency (NIA) court said the families of all six victims of the 2008 blast in will be given Rs 200,000 each, and all injured victims will be given Rs 50,000 as compensation. About the Malegaon blast case The blast took place in the Malegaon town in Nashik district of the western state of Maharashtra on 29 September 2008. The accused include former parliamentarian Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Lt Col Shrikant Prasad Purohit. What the NIA court said about the Malegaon blast The NIA court said that while the prosecution proved that a blast occurred in Malegaon, it failed to prove that a bomb was placed in a motorcycle. The court concluded that the injured people were not 101 but 95, and there was manipulation in some medical certificates. It also noted that the ‘Abhinav Bharat’ organisation was used as a common reference by the prosecution, even as there was no evidence that the funds of this Hindu organiastion was used for terror activities. There is no evidence of storing or assembling the explosives in Shrikant Prasad Purohit's residence, the court said. The court also noted that no sketch of the spot was done by the investigation officer and no fingerprint, dump data or anything else was collected for the spot. The samples were contaminated, so the reports can’t be conclusive and are not reliable, it added. The bike allegedly involved in the blast did not have a clear chassis number and prosecution could not prove that it was in Sadhvi Pragya’s possession immediately before the blast, said the court. Why the Malegaon blast case is unique: One of the longest terror cases with large amount of evidence shared The Malegaon blast was one of the cases touted as ‘Hindu terror’ by a section of the Indian media. It is one of the most complex and politically sensitive terror trials in recent memory. In the nearly two decades of the case, more than 10,800 exhibits were submitted, and 404 articles were seized and tagged as evidence. The NIA court examined 323 prosecution witnesses and eight defence witnesses. Nearly 40 witnesses turned hostile, including some key ones linked to the early Anti-terror Squad (ATS) probe. The trial was heard by five different NIA judges. The prosecution submitted its final written arguments in three volumes, totalling more than 1,300 pages, in April 2025. Both sides were allowed rebuttals, and the verdict was reserved on April 19 before the rulding on Thursday.

The Malegaon blast was one of the cases touted as ‘Hindu terror’ by a section of the Indian media. It is one of the most complex and politically sensitive terror trials in recent memory.

Why the Malegaon blast case, one of India's longest terror trials, is unique

A special NIA court in Mumbai announced its verdict on Thursday in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, nearly 17 years after the tragic incident. The court gave a verdict that a blast took place in Malegaon, but failed to prove that a bomb was placed in that motorcycle. Additionally, the court also concluded that the injured people were not 101 but only 95, and there was manipulation in some medical certificates, as per the news agency ANI report.&nbsp;All seven accused were acquitted of all charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Arms Act, and other charges by the Special NIA court, including Sadhvi Pragya, a former Member of Parliament from Bhopal, and Lt Col Prasad Purohit. The court, in its verdict, said that the prosecution failed to prove the case and the accused deserves the benefit of the doubt.<h3>What is the 2008 Malegaon blast case?</h3>The incident occurred during the holy month of Ramzan, just before the Navratri festival on September 29, 2008, when an explosive device attached to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque at the Bhikku Chowk in Maharashtra's Malegaon. The site where the blast took place was a communally sensitive town located around 200 km from Mumbai.&nbsp;The NIA conducted the probe into the case in 2011 and has sought "commensurate punishment" for the accused. It also pointed out that the intention of the accused was to strike terror in a section of the Muslim community, according to a report by the news agency PTI. It was claimed by the ATS that the blast was conspired by individuals linked to right-wing Hindu extremist groups.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/malegaon-blast-case-all-accused-including-sadhvi-pragya-singh-acquitted-by-nia-court-1753941419638">Malegaon blast case: All accused, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh acquitted by NIA court</a><h3>Who were the key accused?</h3>There were a total of seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, including BJP leader and former MP Pragya Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sameer Kulkarni, and Sudhakar Chaturvedi.&nbsp;According to a report in NDTV, BJP leader and former MP Sadhvi Pragya and Lt Col Purohit were the most prominent and controversial accused in the case among the seven on trial.&nbsp;Sadhvi Pragya was arrested in October 2008, as the motorcycle used in the blast was registered in her name. The Maharashtra ATS accused her of being part of a larger conspiracy to target Muslim-dominated areas in response to previous terror attacks.&nbsp;In addition, Lt Col Purohit was also accused of providing logistical and material support to a radical Hindu group named Abhinav Bharat. The probe agency claimed that Purohit helped in arranging explosives and was part of meetings where the blasts were reportedly planned.<h3>What were the charges against them?</h3>Before being transferred to the NIA in 2011, the case was initially probed by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The trial in the case began in 2018 after the court put charges against the seven acquitted.&nbsp;The charges against them are the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) sections 16 (committing a terrorist act) and 18 (conspiring to commit a terrorist act) and various Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, including 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 153(a) (promoting enmity between two religious groups), as per PTI report.&nbsp;Amid the trial, the prosecution presented 323 witnesses and eight defence witnesses, of whom 37 turned hostile. Multiple pieces of evidence were submitted, including over 10,800 exhibits and over 400 articles seized during the investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The blast was done during the holy month of Ramzan, when an explosive device attached to a motorcycle exploded near a mosque at the Bhikku Chowk in Maharashtra's Malegaon.

A special NIA court in Mumbai announced its verdict on Thursday in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, nearly 17 years after the tragic incident. The court gave a verdict that a blast took place in Malegaon, but failed to prove that a bomb was placed in that motorcycle. Additionally, the court also concluded that the injured people were not 101 but only 95, and there was manipulation in some medical certificates, as per the news agency ANI report. All seven accused were acquitted of all charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Arms Act, and other charges by the Special NIA court, including Sadhvi Pragya, a former Member of Parliament from Bhopal, and Lt Col Prasad Purohit. The court, in its verdict, said that the prosecution failed to prove the case and the accused deserves the benefit of the doubt. What is the 2008 Malegaon blast case? The incident occurred during the holy month of Ramzan, just before the Navratri festival on September 29, 2008, when an explosive device attached to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque at the Bhikku Chowk in Maharashtra's Malegaon. The site where the blast took place was a communally sensitive town located around 200 km from Mumbai. The NIA conducted the probe into the case in 2011 and has sought "commensurate punishment" for the accused. It also pointed out that the intention of the accused was to strike terror in a section of the Muslim community, according to a report by the news agency PTI. It was claimed by the ATS that the blast was conspired by individuals linked to right-wing Hindu extremist groups. Also read: Malegaon blast case: All accused, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh acquitted by NIA court Who were the key accused? There were a total of seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, including BJP leader and former MP Pragya Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sameer Kulkarni, and Sudhakar Chaturvedi. According to a report in NDTV, BJP leader and former MP Sadhvi Pragya and Lt Col Purohit were the most prominent and controversial accused in the case among the seven on trial. Sadhvi Pragya was arrested in October 2008, as the motorcycle used in the blast was registered in her name. The Maharashtra ATS accused her of being part of a larger conspiracy to target Muslim-dominated areas in response to previous terror attacks. In addition, Lt Col Purohit was also accused of providing logistical and material support to a radical Hindu group named Abhinav Bharat. The probe agency claimed that Purohit helped in arranging explosives and was part of meetings where the blasts were reportedly planned. What were the charges against them? Before being transferred to the NIA in 2011, the case was initially probed by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The trial in the case began in 2018 after the court put charges against the seven acquitted. The charges against them are the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) sections 16 (committing a terrorist act) and 18 (conspiring to commit a terrorist act) and various Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections, including 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 153(a) (promoting enmity between two religious groups), as per PTI report. Amid the trial, the prosecution presented 323 witnesses and eight defence witnesses, of whom 37 turned hostile. Multiple pieces of evidence were submitted, including over 10,800 exhibits and over 400 articles seized during the investigation.

The blast was done during the holy month of Ramzan, when an explosive device attached to a motorcycle exploded near a mosque at the Bhikku Chowk in Maharashtra's Malegaon.

What is 2008 Malegaon blast case: Who were the key accused now given clean-chit by NIA court

All accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Lt Colonel Purohit have been acquitted by the NIA court. The court in its hearing said that there was no evidence to prove that the explosives were assembled at the accused persons place and observed that the &nbsp;samples collected from the spot were “contaminated”.&nbsp;“There is no evidence of storing or assembling the explosives in Shrikant Prasad Purohit's residence. No sketch of the spot was done by the investigation officer while doing the panchnama. No fingerprint, dump data or anything else was collected for the spot. The samples were contaminated, so the reports can’t be conclusive and are not reliable,” said the court while hearing the case.&nbsp;The court also observed that the prosecution was unable to prove Sadhvi Pragya was in possession of the bike used in the blast.&nbsp;“The bike allegedly involved in the blast did not have a clear chassis number. Prosecution could not prove that it was in Sadhvi Pragya’s possession immediately before the blast,” said the court.&nbsp;The NIA court also denied to invoke UAPA saying, “UAPA will not be invoked in this case as sanction was not taken as per rules. Both the sanction orders of the UAPA in the case are defective.”&nbsp;“Abhinav Bharat organisation was used as a common reference by the prosecution. There is no evidence that the money of the Abhinav Bharat was used for terror activities” the Court added.&nbsp;The families of all six victims of the blast will be given Rs 2 lakh each, while &nbsp;Rs 50,000 will be given as compensation to the injured victims.&nbsp;On September 29, 2008, six people were killed and several others injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon City, Nashik.&nbsp;The Malegaon blast trial was one of the longest in recent memory. The court examined 323 prosecution witnesses and 8 defence witnesses during the process.&nbsp;The trial spanned five different NIA judges. The prosecution submitted its final written arguments in three volumes, totalling over 1,300 pages, in April 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

All accused in Malegaon blast case, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Lt Colonel Purohit acquitted by the NIA court.

All accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Lt Colonel Purohit have been acquitted by the NIA court. The court in its hearing said that there was no evidence to prove that the explosives were assembled at the accused persons place and observed that the samples collected from the spot were “contaminated”. “There is no evidence of storing or assembling the explosives in Shrikant Prasad Purohit's residence. No sketch of the spot was done by the investigation officer while doing the panchnama. No fingerprint, dump data or anything else was collected for the spot. The samples were contaminated, so the reports can’t be conclusive and are not reliable,” said the court while hearing the case. The court also observed that the prosecution was unable to prove Sadhvi Pragya was in possession of the bike used in the blast. “The bike allegedly involved in the blast did not have a clear chassis number. Prosecution could not prove that it was in Sadhvi Pragya’s possession immediately before the blast,” said the court. The NIA court also denied to invoke UAPA saying, “UAPA will not be invoked in this case as sanction was not taken as per rules. Both the sanction orders of the UAPA in the case are defective.” “Abhinav Bharat organisation was used as a common reference by the prosecution. There is no evidence that the money of the Abhinav Bharat was used for terror activities” the Court added. The families of all six victims of the blast will be given Rs 2 lakh each, while Rs 50,000 will be given as compensation to the injured victims. On September 29, 2008, six people were killed and several others injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon City, Nashik. The Malegaon blast trial was one of the longest in recent memory. The court examined 323 prosecution witnesses and 8 defence witnesses during the process. The trial spanned five different NIA judges. The prosecution submitted its final written arguments in three volumes, totalling over 1,300 pages, in April 2025.

The NIA court hearing the case also observed that the prosecution was unable to prove Sadhvi Pragya was in possession of the bike used in the blast.

Malegaon blast case: All accused, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh acquitted by NIA court

Heavy rainfall lashed several parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on early Thursday (Jul 31), bringing relief from the heat. However, following the rains, many parts of the city were waterlogged, causing trouble for commuters. Delhi has also recorded its cleanest July in a decade, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 79. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms to continue on Thursday. The rain showers are likely to continue over the next seven days or at least until August 3.&nbsp;According to latest weather update from IMD, “Light to moderate rainfall accompanied with light thunderstorm and lightning is very likely to occur at NCR Bahadurgarh, Manesar) &nbsp;Light rainfall is very likely to occur at entire Delhi, NCR ( Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh) &nbsp;and Very Light rainfall/drizzle is very likely to occur over entire Delhi during next 2 hours.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Light to moderate rainfall accompanied with light thunderstorm and lightning is very likely to occur at NCR Bahadurgarh, Manesar) Light rainfall is very likely to occur at entire Delhi, NCR ( Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Greater… <a href="https://t.co/wFZSJs4cwA">pic.twitter.com/wFZSJs4cwA</a>&mdash; India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) <a href="https://twitter.com/Indiametdept/status/1950734778166325273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Delhi witnesses above-average July rain</h2>&nbsp;According to the data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city has surpassed its monthly average rainfall, with 235.2 mm of rainfall. The normal mark for rainfall in Delhi for July is 209.7 mm. Additionally, Delhi has also recorded higher-than-average seasonal rain with 337.2 mm of rainfall recorded between June 1 and July 30, exceeding the average mark of 270.1 mm.&nbsp;Many low-lying areas in the city were partially submerged. The heavy downpours and waterlogging resulted in disruptions in Traffic movement at several locations, including ITO, Yamuna Expressway, Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Dhaula Kuan, Nehru Place, Kailash Colony Road, Patel Nagar, Vijay Chowk, Jangpura, RK Puram, Lajpat Nagar, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road, Naraina, Talkatora Road, Azad Market underpass, and Zakhira underpass.&nbsp;<h2>Delhi records cleanest July in 10 years</h2>&nbsp;This year, Delhi has recorded its cleanest July in 10 years, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 79, which is classified “Satisfactory”, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. The reason for this is mainly due to consistent rainfall on 23 out of 31 days this month.&nbsp;Last June, the national capital recorded an average AQI of 96, and in July 2023, the city recorded an average AQI of 83.67. Delhi recorded its worst air quality in the last 10 years in 2016 with an average AQI of 145.64, followed by 2021 with an average AQI of 110.06. &nbsp;

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms to continue on Thursday. 

Heavy rainfall lashed several parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on early Thursday (Jul 31), bringing relief from the heat. However, following the rains, many parts of the city were waterlogged, causing trouble for commuters. Delhi has also recorded its cleanest July in a decade, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 79. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms to continue on Thursday. The rain showers are likely to continue over the next seven days or at least until August 3. According to latest weather update from IMD, “Light to moderate rainfall accompanied with light thunderstorm and lightning is very likely to occur at NCR Bahadurgarh, Manesar) Light rainfall is very likely to occur at entire Delhi, NCR ( Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh) and Very Light rainfall/drizzle is very likely to occur over entire Delhi during next 2 hours.”

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms to continue on Thursday.&nbsp;

Delhi-NCR rains: Heavy rainfall results in waterlogging; city records cleanest July in 10 years

Hours after announcing a 25% tariff and penalty on India, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (July 30) that negotiations with New Delhi are still ongoing. During a press conference at the White House, Trump was asked about the new penalty imposed on India for “supporting” Russia and whether other countries might face similar action. In his response, Trump appeared to link the move to India’s membership in BRICS, a group of eleven emerging economies that includes Russia and China.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-have-oil-partnership-with-pakistan-trump-says-washington-to-help-develop-islamabad-s-massive-oil-reserves-1753909702771">US to have oil partnership with Pakistan? Trump says Washington to help develop Islamabad's ‘massive oil reserves’</a>“Well, we are negotiating right now and it’s also BRICS. BRICS, which is basically a group of countries that are anti the United States and India is a member of that if you can believe it…It is an attack on the dollar and we are not going to let anybody attack the dollar. So it’s partially BRICS and it’s partially trade,” he said. Apart from India, the BRICS bloc includes Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran.<h2>Trump says India has one of the world’s highest tariffs</h2>Despite referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “friend”, Trump criticised India’s trade practices, calling the country one of the highest-tariff nations globally. “We had a tremendous deficit. As you know Prime Minister Modi is a friend of mine, but they don’t do very much business in terms of business with us. They sell a lot to us, but we don’t buy from them. You know why? Because the tariff is so high,” Trump said.He added that India is now willing to cut tariffs “very substantially”, but negotiations are still in progress. “We are talking to India now. We will see what happens. It doesn’t matter too much whether we have a deal or we charge them a certain tariff. But you will know at the end of this week,” he added.<h2>Is a trade deal still possible?</h2>When asked directly whether he is open to negotiating the tariff decision with India, Trump confirmed that talks are ongoing. “We are talking to them now. We will see what happens. India was the highest or just about the highest-tariff nation in the world…We will see. We are negotiating with India right now,” he said.<h2>India responds to Trump’s 25% tariff decision</h2>In response to the US move, the Indian government said it is reviewing the announcement and considering its implications. “India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective,” the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said&nbsp;in&nbsp;a&nbsp;statement.

President Trump defended a 25% tariff on India, linking it to trade issues and India’s BRICS membership, which he called anti-US. He confirmed negotiations with New Delhi are still ongoing.

Hours after announcing a 25% tariff and penalty on India, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (July 30) that negotiations with New Delhi are still ongoing. During a press conference at the White House, Trump was asked about the new penalty imposed on India for “supporting” Russia and whether other countries might face similar action. In his response, Trump appeared to link the move to India’s membership in BRICS, a group of eleven emerging economies that includes Russia and China. Also read: US to have oil partnership with Pakistan? Trump says Washington to help develop Islamabad's ‘massive oil reserves’ “Well, we are negotiating right now and it’s also BRICS. BRICS, which is basically a group of countries that are anti the United States and India is a member of that if you can believe it…It is an attack on the dollar and we are not going to let anybody attack the dollar. So it’s partially BRICS and it’s partially trade,” he said. Apart from India, the BRICS bloc includes Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran. Trump says India has one of the world’s highest tariffs Despite referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “friend”, Trump criticised India’s trade practices, calling the country one of the highest-tariff nations globally. “We had a tremendous deficit. As you know Prime Minister Modi is a friend of mine, but they don’t do very much business in terms of business with us. They sell a lot to us, but we don’t buy from them. You know why? Because the tariff is so high,” Trump said. He added that India is now willing to cut tariffs “very substantially”, but negotiations are still in progress. “We are talking to India now. We will see what happens. It doesn’t matter too much whether we have a deal or we charge them a certain tariff. But you will know at the end of this week,” he added. Is a trade deal still possible? When asked directly whether he is open to negotiating the tariff decision with India, Trump confirmed that talks are ongoing. “We are talking to them now. We will see what happens. India was the highest or just about the highest-tariff nation in the world…We will see. We are negotiating with India right now,” he said. India responds to Trump’s 25% tariff decision In response to the US move, the Indian government said it is reviewing the announcement and considering its implications. “India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective,” the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement.

President Trump defended a 25% tariff on India, linking it to trade issues and India’s BRICS membership, which he called anti-US. He confirmed negotiations with New Delhi are still ongoing.

‘Partially BRICS, partially trade’: Trump reveals TWO reasons why he slapped 25% tariff on India, then calls Modi a ‘friend’

Himachal Pradesh continues to reel under the severe impact of the monsoon, with widespread damage to public infrastructure and rising fatalities. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), as of 5:00 pm on July 30, 289 roads remain blocked, 346 power distribution transformers (DTRs) are non-functional, and 254 water supply schemes are disrupted due to incessant rainfall across the state.&nbsp;The cumulative death toll during the monsoon season (June 20 - July 30, 2025) has reached 170, out of which 94 fatalities are rain-related, including those caused by landslides, flash floods, lightning, and drowning, while 76 deaths occurred in road accidents caused by poor visibility and slippery conditions on the hills.&nbsp;The monsoon havoc has also led to damage worth over Rs 1,59,981 lakh to public and private property, with 2,743 hectares of crops affected, 680 homes damaged, and over 22,900 livestock lost, the SEOC report revealed.&nbsp;Districts such as Mandi, Kullu, and Chamba remain the worst-hit, reporting the highest combination of deaths, blocked routes, and utility disruptions. Mandi alone has witnessed 35 deaths, massive infrastructure losses, and dozens of damaged bridges, houses, and livestock shelters.&nbsp;The SEOC has advised continued vigilance and has deployed road-clearing machinery and emergency teams in vulnerable zones. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has warned of continued moderate to heavy rains in parts of the state.&nbsp;The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) continues to coordinate with local administrations to restore essential services and clear roads. However, with further rainfall predicted, residents are urged to remain cautious and avoid travel to vulnerable areas.&nbsp;Authorities are on high alert, and disaster response teams have been deployed in sensitive zones for timely rescue and relief operations.&nbsp;Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district has suffered losses of over Rs 48 crore since the start of the monsoon season, with 17 people reported dead, Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh said.&nbsp;She also informed that 65 residents of Darmedha village have been moved to safer areas as a precaution.&nbsp;"Since the onset of monsoon, various departments in Kullu district have suffered losses of Rs 48 crore and individual damages of Rs 50 lakh... So far, 17 people have lost their lives," Raveesh told ANI.&nbsp;She added, "As a precautionary measure, 65 residents of Darmedha village have been shifted to safer areas."

Himachal Pradesh continues to reel under the severe impact of the monsoon, with widespread damage to public infrastructure and rising fatalities. 

Himachal Pradesh continues to reel under the severe impact of the monsoon, with widespread damage to public infrastructure and rising fatalities. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), as of 5:00 pm on July 30, 289 roads remain blocked, 346 power distribution transformers (DTRs) are non-functional, and 254 water supply schemes are disrupted due to incessant rainfall across the state. The cumulative death toll during the monsoon season (June 20 - July 30, 2025) has reached 170, out of which 94 fatalities are rain-related, including those caused by landslides, flash floods, lightning, and drowning, while 76 deaths occurred in road accidents caused by poor visibility and slippery conditions on the hills. The monsoon havoc has also led to damage worth over Rs 1,59,981 lakh to public and private property, with 2,743 hectares of crops affected, 680 homes damaged, and over 22,900 livestock lost, the SEOC report revealed. Districts such as Mandi, Kullu, and Chamba remain the worst-hit, reporting the highest combination of deaths, blocked routes, and utility disruptions. Mandi alone has witnessed 35 deaths, massive infrastructure losses, and dozens of damaged bridges, houses, and livestock shelters. The SEOC has advised continued vigilance and has deployed road-clearing machinery and emergency teams in vulnerable zones. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has warned of continued moderate to heavy rains in parts of the state. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) continues to coordinate with local administrations to restore essential services and clear roads. However, with further rainfall predicted, residents are urged to remain cautious and avoid travel to vulnerable areas. Authorities are on high alert, and disaster response teams have been deployed in sensitive zones for timely rescue and relief operations. Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district has suffered losses of over Rs 48 crore since the start of the monsoon season, with 17 people reported dead, Deputy Commissioner Torul S Raveesh said. She also informed that 65 residents of Darmedha village have been moved to safer areas as a precaution. "Since the onset of monsoon, various departments in Kullu district have suffered losses of Rs 48 crore and individual damages of Rs 50 lakh... So far, 17 people have lost their lives," Raveesh told ANI. She added, "As a precautionary measure, 65 residents of Darmedha village have been shifted to safer areas."

The cumulative death toll during the monsoon season (June 20 - July 30, 2025) has reached 170.

Monsoon fury in Himachal: Rain-related deaths touch 94, road accidents claim 76

A Supreme Court of India bench, comprising&nbsp;Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih, said on Wednesday that even if there had been lapses in the in-house probe procedure in the Justice Yashwant Varma case, they wouldn't impact Parliament's action against the Allahabad High Court judge.&nbsp;The court reserved its verdict on Justice Varma's plea challenging the report of the Supreme Court's three-judge in-house probe panel, which recommended initiating impeachment proceedings against him.&nbsp;"Parliament is not supposed to be guided by what the CJI says; it acts independently," the bench observed.&nbsp;Unaccounted cash was allegedly recovered from Justice Varma's official&nbsp;house. He was a&nbsp;sitting judge of the Delhi High Court at that time. Former CJI Sanjeev Khanna, after conducting an internal probe, forwarded a recommendation to the President and the Prime Minister to initiate the impeachment process.&nbsp;Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Justice Varma, argued that the in-house inquiry was procedurally flawed and that the CJI had no authority to recommend impeachment. He argued that the power to recommend a judge's removal rests solely with Parliament.&nbsp;The apex court, however, said that the in-house procedure empowers the Supreme Court to make a recommendation.&nbsp;"This is just a recommendation of which the Supreme Court has power", Justice Datta said.&nbsp;To this, Sibal responded, “Then why go to Parliament? Implying if the Court has already acted upon the issue by recommending impeachment, why does it have to go to the Parliament for a deeper probe?”&nbsp;The bench also remarked that the in-house procedure empowers the committee to assess misconduct and, if warranted, recommend further action. "The CJI is not a post office," the bench noted. "If there is serious material against a judge, the Chief Justice is within his authority to act", it added.

A Supreme Court of India bench, comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih, said on Wednesday that even if there had been lapses in the in-house probe procedure in the Justice Yashwant Varma case, they wouldn't impact Parliament's action against the Allahabad High Court judge.

A Supreme Court of India bench, comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih, said on Wednesday that even if there had been lapses in the in-house probe procedure in the Justice Yashwant Varma case, they wouldn't impact Parliament's action against the Allahabad High Court judge. The court reserved its verdict on Justice Varma's plea challenging the report of the Supreme Court's three-judge in-house probe panel, which recommended initiating impeachment proceedings against him. "Parliament is not supposed to be guided by what the CJI says; it acts independently," the bench observed. Unaccounted cash was allegedly recovered from Justice Varma's official house. He was a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court at that time. Former CJI Sanjeev Khanna, after conducting an internal probe, forwarded a recommendation to the President and the Prime Minister to initiate the impeachment process. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Justice Varma, argued that the in-house inquiry was procedurally flawed and that the CJI had no authority to recommend impeachment. He argued that the power to recommend a judge's removal rests solely with Parliament. The apex court, however, said that the in-house procedure empowers the Supreme Court to make a recommendation. "This is just a recommendation of which the Supreme Court has power", Justice Datta said. To this, Sibal responded, “Then why go to Parliament? Implying if the Court has already acted upon the issue by recommending impeachment, why does it have to go to the Parliament for a deeper probe?” The bench also remarked that the in-house procedure empowers the committee to assess misconduct and, if warranted, recommend further action. "The CJI is not a post office," the bench noted. "If there is serious material against a judge, the Chief Justice is within his authority to act", it added.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Justice Varma, argued that the in-house inquiry was procedurally flawed.

'CJI not post office': Why Supreme Court said this in Justice Yashwant Varma case

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India gave a&nbsp;befitting response to Pakistan, instilling a sense of fear in Islamabad's leadership. "Earlier, we only kept sending dossiers, but under the leadership of Narendra Modi, we have given a befitting reply to Pakistan with an airstrike and surgical strike. Khauf paida ho gaya hain," Amit Shah said, addressing the Rajya Sabha session.&nbsp;Amit Shah also mocked the Congress, blaming its "votebank and appeasement politics" for the scourge of terrorism in India. "Congress has no right to ask the BJP questions about terrorism. The only reason terrorism spread in the country was because of Congress's votebank and appeasement politics," Shah stated.&nbsp;Shah accused the Congress of seeing everything through the prism of Hindu-Muslim.&nbsp;"Prithviraj Chavan has said that the government knows nothing except naming operations based on religion. But the Congress doesn't understand that 'Har Har Mahadev' is not just a religious slogan...They see everything from the angle of Hindu-Muslim..." Shah further stated.&nbsp;Amit Shah also slammed Rahul Gandhi. "Yesterday, you (Congress) kept asking why the Pahalgam terrorists were killed? I ask why they should not have been killed? Because Rahul Gandhi was supposed to deliver his speech? It does not work like this. The entire country today has seen that the priority of the Congress party is not national security and ending terrorism, but it is politics, vote bank, and their appeasement politics," Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha.&nbsp;Talking about the killing of three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam terror attack, Amit Shah said they were shot in the head.&nbsp;"A&nbsp;month after the Pahalgam attack, we received information about the presence of terrorists. The Intelligence Bureau and Military Intelligence further verified their identities, and by July 22, the task of tracking their wireless sets was completed. Their exact, pinpointed location was identified,” Amit Shah told the Rajya Sabha.&nbsp;&nbsp;"It’s a coincidence that during the encounter, all three were shot in the head,” he was quoted as saying by HT.&nbsp;Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed by terrorists in the Pahalgam terror attack. In response, the&nbsp;Indian military destroyed nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India gave a befitting response to Pakistan, instilling a sense of fear in Islamabad's leadership. 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India gave a befitting response to Pakistan, instilling a sense of fear in Islamabad's leadership. "Earlier, we only kept sending dossiers, but under the leadership of Narendra Modi, we have given a befitting reply to Pakistan with an airstrike and surgical strike. Khauf paida ho gaya hain," Amit Shah said, addressing the Rajya Sabha session. Amit Shah also mocked the Congress, blaming its "votebank and appeasement politics" for the scourge of terrorism in India. "Congress has no right to ask the BJP questions about terrorism. The only reason terrorism spread in the country was because of Congress's votebank and appeasement politics," Shah stated. Shah accused the Congress of seeing everything through the prism of Hindu-Muslim. "Prithviraj Chavan has said that the government knows nothing except naming operations based on religion. But the Congress doesn't understand that 'Har Har Mahadev' is not just a religious slogan...They see everything from the angle of Hindu-Muslim..." Shah further stated. Amit Shah also slammed Rahul Gandhi. "Yesterday, you (Congress) kept asking why the Pahalgam terrorists were killed? I ask why they should not have been killed? Because Rahul Gandhi was supposed to deliver his speech? It does not work like this. The entire country today has seen that the priority of the Congress party is not national security and ending terrorism, but it is politics, vote bank, and their appeasement politics," Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha. Talking about the killing of three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam terror attack, Amit Shah said they were shot in the head. "A month after the Pahalgam attack, we received information about the presence of terrorists. The Intelligence Bureau and Military Intelligence further verified their identities, and by July 22, the task of tracking their wireless sets was completed. Their exact, pinpointed location was identified,” Amit Shah told the Rajya Sabha. "It’s a coincidence that during the encounter, all three were shot in the head,” he was quoted as saying by HT. Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed by terrorists in the Pahalgam terror attack. In response, the Indian military destroyed nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Amit Shah also mocked the Congress, blaming its "votebank and appeasement politics" for the scourge of terrorism in India

Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha: 'Pahalgam terrorists shot in the head'

India’s legal discourse has a new conundrum. Supreme Court advocate Indira Jaising has appealed to the top court&nbsp;to consider lowering the age of consent from 18 to 16. The age of consent is the age at which people are considered legally capable of agreeing to sexual intercourse.&nbsp;Jaising has filed a written submission challenging the blanket criminalisation of sexual activity among adolescents aged 16 to 18.&nbsp;&nbsp;She has argued that “there is no rational reason or empirical data to justify the increase in the age of consent from 16 to 18 years, when the age was 16 for 70 years.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Union of India has opposed it, saying “the statutory age of consent fixed at 18 years must… be strictly and uniformly enforced. Any departure from this standard, even in the name of reform or adolescent autonomy, would amount to rolling back decades of progress in child protection law.”&nbsp;&nbsp;A Brief History&nbsp;&nbsp;The age of consent in India stood at 10 for females and no specified age for men in 1860.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 1891, it was raised to 12 after Phulmoni,&nbsp; an 11-year-old girl, died due to a rupture of her vagina after her husband forced sex on her, but the accused was only sentenced to one year's rigorous imprisonment.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following that, the age of consent was increased to 14 in 1925 and 16 in 1940.&nbsp;In 2012, following the horrific Delhi Nirbhaya rape case, the age of consent was raised to 18 for both males and females under the POCSO or Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;International Comparision&nbsp;Countries across the world have lowered or maintained their age of consent to 16 or lower.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the US, federal law maintains the age of consent as 18, but in several states, the age of consent differs.&nbsp;In Australia, the age of consent varies from 16 to 17 years depending on the state or territory.&nbsp;&nbsp;Japan had the age of consent as 13 till 2023, while the age of majority is 20 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;South Africa, too, has the age of consent as 16 while the age of majority is 18.&nbsp;Inter-caste, inter-faith teenage love&nbsp;&nbsp;In many cases across the country, parents of interfaith and inter-caste teenage couples have filed rape cases against one of the partners, even though the relationships were consensual.&nbsp;Jaising noted in her submission to the SC that there has been a 180% rise in prosecutions under POCSO involving minors aged 16–18 between 2017 and 2021, highlighting an alarming trend.&nbsp;&nbsp;Citizens' view&nbsp;On being asked about sexual activity among those below 18, Naman Verma, a 28-year-old, said that “it is definitely common, consensually and comfortably practised amongst people under 18. I have learned about instances of sexual activities from people when they were under 18. So, it does happen, even if it is illegal.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Verma added that “ I think the 'age of consent' in this context does not define the autonomy of a teenager, but also depicts an opinion of the nation; the system. If I, as ruler, have to decide such a thing, I will keep in mind the trends amongst the people engaging in this activity. For instance, 'sex education'. If I am allowing teens to officially engage in sexual activity by their own will, I need to ensure that they are educated and aware of the risks and precautions required to take.&nbsp;Shubham Ranjan, a 27-year-old designer, said that “lowering the age might help in genuine cases of consensual teenage love. Many boys, especially from minority or lower castes, are wrongfully punished due to family disapproval. A lower consent age could prevent misuse of strict laws like POCSO, but it needs careful safeguards.”&nbsp;Richa Kapoor, an Advocate on Record for the Supreme Court and a former public prosecutor at the Delhi High Court, says that “with advancement in technology, modernization in education and access to knowledge, 16-year-old teens today are more capable of making mature, educated decisions about their own bodies and relationships.”&nbsp;Advocate Kapoor elaborated on the protection of children from rape, stating that abuse against adolescents can still be prevented, as "without consent" would still be considered rape.&nbsp;&nbsp;Advocate Kunal Anand, a designated Partner at Mark Legal LLP, recommends a “close-in-age” in the law. This exception will create an exception for couples who are close to the age of consent and thus prevent false cases.&nbsp;Anand says that by introducing this exception, “the law would still punish exploitation and coercion but stop unfairly criminalizing teenagers who are in consensual relationships. This change would balance child protection with the rights to privacy, dignity, and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, while also ensuring that POCSO focuses on genuine cases of abuse..”&nbsp;&nbsp;An alternative to lowering the age of consent is the application of the 'judicial discretion’, which basically means that each case will be considered by the judge and the discretion of the judge would apply to differentiate between genuine cases of ‘teenage love’ and exploitation.&nbsp;&nbsp;But Anand says that this approach also has its limitations. “It leaves adolescents vulnerable to lengthy criminal trials before relief is granted, as discretion comes only at the stage of judicial decision-making,” he explains.&nbsp;&nbsp;Need for sex education&nbsp;&nbsp;India severely lacks sex education among adolescents. The people WION talked to agreed that there is a need for widespread sex education before the age of consent is lowered to allow young adults to make informed choices about their bodies.&nbsp;&nbsp;“If teenagers are themselves aware and sensible about their sexual health and rights, they would be in a better position to understand consent and also protect themselves from exploitation,” said Namam Verma.&nbsp;&nbsp;While lowering the age of consent might be the way forward to ensure sexual autonomy for young adults, providing them with information about consent, safe sexual practices and hygiene is a prerequisite.&nbsp;

The Indian Supreme Court is considering lowering the age of consent in the country from 18 to 16, drawing divisive reactions. WION’s Akul Baiju talks to experts and citizens on whether India should take this significant step. 

India’s legal discourse has a new conundrum. Supreme Court advocate Indira Jaising has appealed to the top court to consider lowering the age of consent from 18 to 16. The age of consent is the age at which people are considered legally capable of agreeing to sexual intercourse. Jaising has filed a written submission challenging the blanket criminalisation of sexual activity among adolescents aged 16 to 18. She has argued that “there is no rational reason or empirical data to justify the increase in the age of consent from 16 to 18 years, when the age was 16 for 70 years.” Meanwhile, the Union of India has opposed it, saying “the statutory age of consent fixed at 18 years must… be strictly and uniformly enforced. Any departure from this standard, even in the name of reform or adolescent autonomy, would amount to rolling back decades of progress in child protection law.” A Brief History The age of consent in India stood at 10 for females and no specified age for men in 1860. In 1891, it was raised to 12 after Phulmoni, an 11-year-old girl, died due to a rupture of her vagina after her husband forced sex on her, but the accused was only sentenced to one year's rigorous imprisonment. Following that, the age of consent was increased to 14 in 1925 and 16 in 1940. In 2012, following the horrific Delhi Nirbhaya rape case, the age of consent was raised to 18 for both males and females under the POCSO or Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act. International Comparision Countries across the world have lowered or maintained their age of consent to 16 or lower. In the US, federal law maintains the age of consent as 18, but in several states, the age of consent differs. In Australia, the age of consent varies from 16 to 17 years depending on the state or territory. Japan had the age of consent as 13 till 2023, while the age of majority is 20 years. South Africa, too, has the age of consent as 16 while the age of majority is 18. Inter-caste, inter-faith teenage love In many cases across the country, parents of interfaith and inter-caste teenage couples have filed rape cases against one of the partners, even though the relationships were consensual. Jaising noted in her submission to the SC that there has been a 180% rise in prosecutions under POCSO involving minors aged 16–18 between 2017 and 2021, highlighting an alarming trend. Citizens' view On being asked about sexual activity among those below 18, Naman Verma, a 28-year-old, said that “it is definitely common, consensually and comfortably practised amongst people under 18. I have learned about instances of sexual activities from people when they were under 18. So, it does happen, even if it is illegal.” Verma added that “ I think the 'age of consent' in this context does not define the autonomy of a teenager, but also depicts an opinion of the nation; the system. If I, as ruler, have to decide such a thing, I will keep in mind the trends amongst the people engaging in this activity. For instance, 'sex education'. If I am allowing teens to officially engage in sexual activity by their own will, I need to ensure that they are educated and aware of the risks and precautions required to take. Shubham Ranjan, a 27-year-old designer, said that “lowering the age might help in genuine cases of consensual teenage love. Many boys, especially from minority or lower castes, are wrongfully punished due to family disapproval. A lower consent age could prevent misuse of strict laws like POCSO, but it needs careful safeguards.” Richa Kapoor, an Advocate on Record for the Supreme Court and a former public prosecutor at the Delhi High Court, says that “with advancement in technology, modernization in education and access to knowledge, 16-year-old teens today are more capable of making mature, educated decisions about their own bodies and relationships.” Advocate Kapoor elaborated on the protection of children from rape, stating that abuse against adolescents can still be prevented, as "without consent" would still be considered rape. Advocate Kunal Anand, a designated Partner at Mark Legal LLP, recommends a “close-in-age” in the law. This exception will create an exception for couples who are close to the age of consent and thus prevent false cases. Anand says that by introducing this exception, “the law would still punish exploitation and coercion but stop unfairly criminalizing teenagers who are in consensual relationships. This change would balance child protection with the rights to privacy, dignity, and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, while also ensuring that POCSO focuses on genuine cases of abuse..” An alternative to lowering the age of consent is the application of the 'judicial discretion’, which basically means that each case will be considered by the judge and the discretion of the judge would apply to differentiate between genuine cases of ‘teenage love’ and exploitation. But Anand says that this approach also has its limitations. “It leaves adolescents vulnerable to lengthy criminal trials before relief is granted, as discretion comes only at the stage of judicial decision-making,” he explains. Need for sex education India severely lacks sex education among adolescents. The people WION talked to agreed that there is a need for widespread sex education before the age of consent is lowered to allow young adults to make informed choices about their bodies. “If teenagers are themselves aware and sensible about their sexual health and rights, they would be in a better position to understand consent and also protect themselves from exploitation,” said Namam Verma. While lowering the age of consent might be the way forward to ensure sexual autonomy for young adults, providing them with information about consent, safe sexual practices and hygiene is a prerequisite.

The Indian Supreme Court is considering lowering the age of consent in the country from 18 to 16, drawing divisive reactions. WION’s Akul Baiju talks to experts and citizens on whether India should take this significant step.&nbsp;

India debates lowering age of consent from 18 to 16. Experts weigh in

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that his country will impose a 25 per cent tariff on India from August 1, for continually buying Russian oil and weapons. He said that the country&nbsp;will also impose an additional penalty on New Delhi over the trade deficit.&nbsp;"They have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE - ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST 1st. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!", the US President said on Truth Social.<h2>How much oil and weapons does India buy from Russia?</h2>India has been buying Russian energy products at discounted prices since the West stopped its energy purchases over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. In June, despite West's discomfort, India ramped up&nbsp;purchases of Russian oil.&nbsp;Indian refiners are likely to import 2-2.2 million barrels per day of Russian crude oil in June, the highest in the last two years and more than the total volumes bought from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, PTI reported, citing&nbsp;global trade analytics firm Kpler.&nbsp;In May, India imported&nbsp;1.96 million barrels per day (bpd). India's oil imports from the United States also rose to&nbsp;439,000 bpd, a massive jump from 280,000 bpd purchased in the previous month.&nbsp;India is the world's third-largest oil-importing and consuming nation. It used to import most of its oil from the Middle East. It started purchasing Russian oil in February 2022 because it&nbsp;was available at a significant discount. India's Russian energy imports shot up suddenly, growing from less than 1 per cent of its total crude imports to a staggering 40-44 per cent.&nbsp;The West has expressed displeasure with India's reliance on Russian oil, alleging that New Delhi had been funding Moscow's war against Ukraine. India says it has been doing what's best for its people.&nbsp;In June, Russia's share of Indian oil imports was over 35 per cent.<h2>Russia's weapons imports</h2>Russia has been a traditional strategic ally for India since its Independence. According to a Sweden-based Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report, Moscow remains the biggest arms supplier of equipment and systems for the Indian Armed Forces.India was also the world’s second-largest arms importer in 2020–24 with an 8.3 per cent share of global imports. India bought 36 per cent of its weapons imports from Moscow. The SIPRI report, however, said that of late, New Delhi has been shifting its arms supply relations towards Western suppliers. India has also started indigenous manufacturing&nbsp;of weapons.&nbsp;"Despite recent public declarations from the two sides that relations between India and Russia remain friendly, the shift is also visible in India’s new and planned orders for major arms, most of which will come from Western suppliers," it said in the March report.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that his country will impose a 25 per cent tariff on India from August 1, for continually buying Russian oil and weapons.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that his country will impose a 25 per cent tariff on India from August 1, for continually buying Russian oil and weapons. He said that the country will also impose an additional penalty on New Delhi over the trade deficit. "They have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE - ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST 1st. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!", the US President said on Truth Social. How much oil and weapons does India buy from Russia? India has been buying Russian energy products at discounted prices since the West stopped its energy purchases over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. In June, despite West's discomfort, India ramped up purchases of Russian oil. Indian refiners are likely to import 2-2.2 million barrels per day of Russian crude oil in June, the highest in the last two years and more than the total volumes bought from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, PTI reported, citing global trade analytics firm Kpler. In May, India imported 1.96 million barrels per day (bpd). India's oil imports from the United States also rose to 439,000 bpd, a massive jump from 280,000 bpd purchased in the previous month. India is the world's third-largest oil-importing and consuming nation. It used to import most of its oil from the Middle East. It started purchasing Russian oil in February 2022 because it was available at a significant discount. India's Russian energy imports shot up suddenly, growing from less than 1 per cent of its total crude imports to a staggering 40-44 per cent. The West has expressed displeasure with India's reliance on Russian oil, alleging that New Delhi had been funding Moscow's war against Ukraine. India says it has been doing what's best for its people. In June, Russia's share of Indian oil imports was over 35 per cent. Russia's weapons imports Russia has been a traditional strategic ally for India since its Independence. According to a Sweden-based Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report, Moscow remains the biggest arms supplier of equipment and systems for the Indian Armed Forces. India was also the world’s second-largest arms importer in 2020–24 with an 8.3 per cent share of global imports. India bought 36 per cent of its weapons imports from Moscow. The SIPRI report, however, said that of late, New Delhi has been shifting its arms supply relations towards Western suppliers. India has also started indigenous manufacturing of weapons. "Despite recent public declarations from the two sides that relations between India and Russia remain friendly, the shift is also visible in India’s new and planned orders for major arms, most of which will come from Western suppliers," it said in the March report.

India has been buying Russian energy products at discounted prices since the West stopped its energy purchases over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Donald Trump announces tariffs: How much oil, weapons does India buy from Russia?

India on Wednesday (July 30) reacted to the US imposing 25 per cent tariffs on India after President Donald Trump slapped massive tariffs along with penalties on India. The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that the government is studying the implications of tariffs.&nbsp;In a statement issued just hours after Trump announced tariffs on India, the ministry said that the government has taken note of a statement by the US President on bilateral trade. "The Government is studying its implications."&nbsp;It further noted that India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months.&nbsp;"We remain committed to that objective. The Government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs," it stated.&nbsp;The Commerce ministry stressed that the Indian government will take all steps necessary to "secure our national interest", adding that it has been the case with other trade agreements, including the latest Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the UK.&nbsp;

The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry noted that India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months.

India on Wednesday (July 30) reacted to the US imposing 25 per cent tariffs on India after President Donald Trump slapped massive tariffs along with penalties on India. The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that the government is studying the implications of tariffs. In a statement issued just hours after Trump announced tariffs on India, the ministry said that the government has taken note of a statement by the US President on bilateral trade. "The Government is studying its implications." It further noted that India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. "We remain committed to that objective. The Government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs," it stated. The Commerce ministry stressed that the Indian government will take all steps necessary to "secure our national interest", adding that it has been the case with other trade agreements, including the latest Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the UK.

The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry noted that India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months.

'Will protect our farmers and MSMEs': India reacts to Trump's 25% tariffs, says will take steps to secure 'our national interest'

Rahul Gandhi, India's Leader of Opposition, is going to adopt 22 children of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch region who were orphaned due to Pakistani shelling in the region during Operation Sindoor. Gandhi will take care of the education of these children and will support them until they graduate, as per The Indian Express report quoting Ammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hamid Karra. The first instalment of the aid will be released by Gandhi this week and will ensure the kids can continue their schooling without any issues.&nbsp;Gandhi visited Poonch in May after Operation Sindoor paused and demanded a list of children who were affected by the conflict. After this, a survey was conducted in the region and a list with the names of these children was finalised after cross-checking the government data.&nbsp;Gandhi had also visited the Christ Public School during his visit and met classmates of Urba Fatima and Zain Ali, 12-year-old twins who died in the shelling. Poonch, one of the regions hit hardest by the Pakistani shelling, saw several civilians, including children, injured.&nbsp;“I feel very, very proud of you. You miss your little friends. I’m very sorry about that. Now, you feel a little bit of danger and a little frightened, but don’t worry; everything will go back to normal. Your way of responding to this should be to study really hard, play really hard and make a lot of friends in school,” Gandhi said to the kids, IE reported.<h2>Operation Sindoor</h2>India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahlagam attack in Jammu and Kashmir during which terrorists opened fire and killed 26 people, including 25 tourists. During the operation, India targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Around 100 terrorists were killed in the operation after which both countries reached a ceasefire on May 10.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Indian Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, is going to adopt 22 children from the Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir who were left orphaned in Pakistani shelling during the operation Sindoor. 

Rahul Gandhi, India's Leader of Opposition, is going to adopt 22 children of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch region who were orphaned due to Pakistani shelling in the region during Operation Sindoor. Gandhi will take care of the education of these children and will support them until they graduate, as per The Indian Express report quoting Ammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hamid Karra. The first instalment of the aid will be released by Gandhi this week and will ensure the kids can continue their schooling without any issues. Gandhi visited Poonch in May after Operation Sindoor paused and demanded a list of children who were affected by the conflict. After this, a survey was conducted in the region and a list with the names of these children was finalised after cross-checking the government data. Gandhi had also visited the Christ Public School during his visit and met classmates of Urba Fatima and Zain Ali, 12-year-old twins who died in the shelling. Poonch, one of the regions hit hardest by the Pakistani shelling, saw several civilians, including children, injured. “I feel very, very proud of you. You miss your little friends. I’m very sorry about that. Now, you feel a little bit of danger and a little frightened, but don’t worry; everything will go back to normal. Your way of responding to this should be to study really hard, play really hard and make a lot of friends in school,” Gandhi said to the kids, IE reported. Operation Sindoor India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahlagam attack in Jammu and Kashmir during which terrorists opened fire and killed 26 people, including 25 tourists. During the operation, India targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Around 100 terrorists were killed in the operation after which both countries reached a ceasefire on May 10.

India's Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, is going to adopt 22 children from the Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir who were left orphaned in Pakistani shelling during the operation Sindoor.&nbsp;

Rahul Gandhi to adopt 22 J&K children who were orphaned in Pak shelling during Op Sindoor

US President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on India on Wednesday (July 30). Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, the American president wrote, "Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country."&nbsp;"Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE killing in UKRAINE - ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIAN WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST. Thank you for your ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!" Trump added.In a subsequent post, Trump said, "WE HAVE A MASSIVE TRADE DEFICIT WITH INDIA!!!"<h2>How did India's opposition react?</h2>Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on the social media platform X, "President Trump has slapped a tariff of 25% plus penalty on imports from India. All that taarif between him and Howdy Modi has meant little."&nbsp;"Mr. Modi thought that if he kept quiet on the insults that the US President has hurled on India -- the 30 claims of stopping Op Sindoor, the special lunch for the Pakistan Army Chief whose inflammatory remarks provided the immediate backdrop to the brutal Pahalgam terror attacks, and US support for financial packages to Pakistan from the IMF and the World Bank --- India would get special treatment at the hands of President Trump. Clearly that has NOT happened," the Congress leader added. "He should take inspiration from Indira Gandhi and stand up to the US President," Ramesh added.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump has slapped a tariff of 25% plus penalty on imports from India. All that taarif between him and Howdy Modi has meant little. Mr. Modi thought that if he kept quiet on the insults that the US President has hurled on India -- the 30 claims of stopping Op Sindoor,…&mdash; Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1950537566408618132?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Another Congress leader, &nbsp;Ujjwal Raman Singh, said, "The people of India will not bow down before America...We have been saying that India's foreign policy has failed, and now we are seeing our economic policy also failing."Moreover, Congress MP Udit Raj wrote, Has the US become India’s sovereign authority? Trump has unilaterally declared 25% tariffs, in addition to a penalty levied for buying oil and weapons from Russia. Rahul Gandhi has exhorted PM Modi in Parliament that he should get inspiration from Mrs Indira &nbsp;Gandhi, and there is still time to think and act. PM Modi should immediately dare to reply in the same coin."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Has US has become India’s sovereign authority? Trump has unilaterally declared 25% tariffs , in addition to penalty leviable for buying oil and weapons from Russia. Rahul Gandhi has exhorted PM Modi in Parliament that he should get inspiration from Mrs Indira Gandhi , time is…&mdash; Dr. Udit Raj (@Dr_Uditraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dr_Uditraj/status/1950541719013130720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Congress spokesperson Suprya Shrinate wrote on X, "This will be disastrous for the Indian economy. US President Donald Trump announces a 25% tariff on India besides a penalty for procuring oil and arms from Russia. This comes despite Mr Modi bending backwards to woo Mr Trump. This is a clear sign of how the BJP Govt and the Prime Minister have compromised India’s national interest." &nbsp; "This move will have far reaching consequences on our economy, on our domestic industry, our exports and in turn employment. One wonders, what did Mr Modi discuss when he rushed to see the US President without an invitation?" she further wrote. "What did ‘Namaste Trump’, ‘Howdy Modi’, ‘Abki Baar Trump Sarkar’ really yield for India?" she added.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This will be disastrous for the Indian economy. US President Donald Trump announces a 25% tariff on India besides a penalty for procuring oil and arms from Russia. This comes despite Mr Modi bending backwards to woo Mr Trump. This is a clear sign of how the BJP Govt and the… <a href="https://t.co/QZJk2Asr0D">pic.twitter.com/QZJk2Asr0D</a>&mdash; Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) <a href="https://twitter.com/SupriyaShrinate/status/1950538335518142897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, Trump's announcement also led to reactions from the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) as &nbsp;BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said, Certainly, the Government of India will take cognisance of it. We have to wait and watch how the Government of India reacts to it. In my personal opinion, it is unfortunate."&nbsp;Also, not an opposition party though but the Indian regional party, TDP, also reacted on the matter as TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu said, "...I think we will absorb this. In the long run, the American markets will realise and definitely reduce the tariffs...We have to see how this will impact..."

Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India along with a penalty. The Indian opposition, along with Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, gave various reactions on the matter. 

US President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on India on Wednesday (July 30). Taking to his social media platform Truth Social, the American president wrote, "Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country." "Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE killing in UKRAINE - ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIAN WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST. Thank you for your ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!" Trump added. In a subsequent post, Trump said, "WE HAVE A MASSIVE TRADE DEFICIT WITH INDIA!!!" How did India's opposition react? Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on the social media platform X, "President Trump has slapped a tariff of 25% plus penalty on imports from India. All that taarif between him and Howdy Modi has meant little." "Mr. Modi thought that if he kept quiet on the insults that the US President has hurled on India -- the 30 claims of stopping Op Sindoor, the special lunch for the Pakistan Army Chief whose inflammatory remarks provided the immediate backdrop to the brutal Pahalgam terror attacks, and US support for financial packages to Pakistan from the IMF and the World Bank --- India would get special treatment at the hands of President Trump. Clearly that has NOT happened," the Congress leader added. "He should take inspiration from Indira Gandhi and stand up to the US President," Ramesh added.

Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India along with a penalty. The Indian opposition, along with Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, gave various reactions on the matter.&nbsp;

Trump imposes 25% tariff on India: Here's how the opposition reacted

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday slammed the Congress in the parliament, accusing the party of pretending to have expertise on India's bilateral relations with China. He took a jibe at Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, calling him one of the "China gurus" in the opposition. Without naming Rahul Gandhi, he referred to the former's 2017 meeting with Chinese officials and said some leaders took "private tuitions" on China.&nbsp;"I have spent 41 years in the Foreign Service, only been the longest-serving Ambassador, but there are 'China Gurus'. One of them is the member sitting in front of me (Jairam Ramesh), whose affection for China is so great, 'unhone ek sandhi bana li thi India aur China ki, Chindia' (they have conjoined India and China, Chindia)," Jaishankar said during his address.&nbsp;The term 'Chindia' was used by Jairam Ramesh in his book 'Making Sense of Chindia: Reflections on China and India," published in 2007.&nbsp;"I may lack knowledge about China because I did not learn about China through the Olympics, no one called me, and I was not a special person. Some people gained their knowledge of China during their visit to the Olympics. Let's not discuss who they met or what they signed. They also took private tuitions at their homes from the Chinese Ambassador," Jaishankar said, in an oblique reference to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's remarks last week that China helping Pakistan during the latter's recent conflict with India was a foreign policy debacle, S Jaishankar blamed the Congress's policies for the forging of a strategic alliance between the two nations.&nbsp;"China Gurus say that Pakistan and China have close ties; that is true. But how did they come close? What is the reason? It was because in the middle, we had left PoK. This issue has been happening since 1962 and 1963 (since the India-China war).&nbsp;Karokoram highway's planning started in 1966 and finished in 1986. You know whose government was there. When nuclear&nbsp;collaboration happened in 1976?" he stated.&nbsp;"In 1980, when India's PM was going to Pakistan and saying a deal would happen, the talks between China and Pakistan were going on. However, saying that these ties developed overnight means they were sleeping during the history class," he added.&nbsp;Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in the parliament, Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday that he didn't mention China's role in the India-Pakistan conflict or speak about US President Donald Trump's oft-repeated claim that he brokered a peace agreement.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday slammed the Congress in the parliament, accusing the party of pretending to have expertise on India's bilateral relations with China. 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday slammed the Congress in the parliament, accusing the party of pretending to have expertise on India's bilateral relations with China. He took a jibe at Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, calling him one of the "China gurus" in the opposition. Without naming Rahul Gandhi, he referred to the former's 2017 meeting with Chinese officials and said some leaders took "private tuitions" on China. "I have spent 41 years in the Foreign Service, only been the longest-serving Ambassador, but there are 'China Gurus'. One of them is the member sitting in front of me (Jairam Ramesh), whose affection for China is so great, 'unhone ek sandhi bana li thi India aur China ki, Chindia' (they have conjoined India and China, Chindia)," Jaishankar said during his address. The term 'Chindia' was used by Jairam Ramesh in his book 'Making Sense of Chindia: Reflections on China and India," published in 2007. "I may lack knowledge about China because I did not learn about China through the Olympics, no one called me, and I was not a special person. Some people gained their knowledge of China during their visit to the Olympics. Let's not discuss who they met or what they signed. They also took private tuitions at their homes from the Chinese Ambassador," Jaishankar said, in an oblique reference to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's remarks last week that China helping Pakistan during the latter's recent conflict with India was a foreign policy debacle, S Jaishankar blamed the Congress's policies for the forging of a strategic alliance between the two nations. "China Gurus say that Pakistan and China have close ties; that is true. But how did they come close? What is the reason? It was because in the middle, we had left PoK. This issue has been happening since 1962 and 1963 (since the India-China war). Karokoram highway's planning started in 1966 and finished in 1986. You know whose government was there. When nuclear collaboration happened in 1976?" he stated. "In 1980, when India's PM was going to Pakistan and saying a deal would happen, the talks between China and Pakistan were going on. However, saying that these ties developed overnight means they were sleeping during the history class," he added. Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in the parliament, Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday that he didn't mention China's role in the India-Pakistan conflict or speak about US President Donald Trump's oft-repeated claim that he brokered a peace agreement.

S Jaishankar blamed the Congress for Pakistan-China's strategic alliance.

S Jaishankar's jibe at 'China guru' Congress: 'Spent 41 years in...'

A Haryana man, Dheeraj Kansal, died by suicide in an Airbnb in Delhi after inhaling helium gas, which he had bought for ₹3,500. The 25-year-old was an employee of a Gurugram company. He had booked an accommodation for eight days, from July 20 to 28 and bought the chemical from a supplier in Ghaziabad. Kansal posted a note on the social media platform Facebook just before taking his life. He wrote, "Death is the most beautiful part of life for me. Please do not be sad about my death. Suicide is not wrong because I have no responsibilities on me." He clarified in the post that there was no one to be blamed for his suicide. "This was my choice alone. Every single person who I met in my life was really kind to me. So I request the police and government to please don't disturb anyone because of this," he added in the note.&nbsp;Kansal said in the post that he had no regrets in life, and he was committing suicide by his own choice. "It's my choice, my life, and my rules," he clarified in the post. He called his existence on earth a "lie" and said he would not desire to be born again. He called himself a loser in the post. Kansal was seen self-sabotaging himself in the last post, as he said that he worked on himself a lot but achieved nothing in the end. He also said that a lot of people tried to help him, but he was "stupid," "idiot," and "dumb" for not being able to change. "I should have done this years ago," Kansal wrote in the post. He said that no one should feel sad about his death as he had no responsibilities and wasn't emotionally attached to anyone.&nbsp;"I want to thank all of you. I am not going to say any names because I don't want any of you to get in trouble," he added in the note. &nbsp;

A Haryana man died by suicide in a Delhi Airbnb by inhaling helium. Before committing suicide, he had posted a note on Facebook and called himself a loser and dumb for not achieving anything in life. 

A Haryana man, Dheeraj Kansal, died by suicide in an Airbnb in Delhi after inhaling helium gas, which he had bought for ₹3,500. The 25-year-old was an employee of a Gurugram company. He had booked an accommodation for eight days, from July 20 to 28 and bought the chemical from a supplier in Ghaziabad. Kansal posted a note on the social media platform Facebook just before taking his life. He wrote, "Death is the most beautiful part of life for me. Please do not be sad about my death. Suicide is not wrong because I have no responsibilities on me." He clarified in the post that there was no one to be blamed for his suicide. "This was my choice alone. Every single person who I met in my life was really kind to me. So I request the police and government to please don't disturb anyone because of this," he added in the note. Kansal said in the post that he had no regrets in life, and he was committing suicide by his own choice. "It's my choice, my life, and my rules," he clarified in the post. He called his existence on earth a "lie" and said he would not desire to be born again. He called himself a loser in the post. Kansal was seen self-sabotaging himself in the last post, as he said that he worked on himself a lot but achieved nothing in the end. He also said that a lot of people tried to help him, but he was "stupid," "idiot," and "dumb" for not being able to change. "I should have done this years ago," Kansal wrote in the post. He said that no one should feel sad about his death as he had no responsibilities and wasn't emotionally attached to anyone. "I want to thank all of you. I am not going to say any names because I don't want any of you to get in trouble," he added in the note.

A Haryana man died by suicide in a Delhi Airbnb by inhaling helium. Before committing suicide, he had posted a note on Facebook and called himself a loser and dumb for not achieving anything in life.&nbsp;

'Death is beautiful': Delhi CA buys helium, inhales and dies by suicide. Here's what he said in his last social media post

Bollywood is all set to make a film on Raja Raghuvanshi, the Indore man who was allegedly killed by his Sobam during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Raja's brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, announced the movie - named Honeymoon in Shillong - by sharing a poster of it on Tuesday (July). Vipin said that Varsha TV will produce the movie, and Film Production and SP Nimbawat will direct it. “I have read the script. The suspense has been maintained. The story stays close to the events that unfolded," Raja's brother said. &nbsp; The family claimed that the movie will show facts and truth only related to the incident. “While the police and courts are doing their job, this film will also speak the truth. Raja went toShillong for his honeymoon, and he was killed there. This act tarnished the image of Shillong too,” Raja's family said in the statement. “We only want the truth to be shown,” Vipin said.&nbsp;What is the Raja Raghuvanshi case? Here's a timeline &nbsp; A couple from Indore, Madhya Pradesh - Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam Raghuvanshi - met on an online matrimonial app specifically made for people from the Raghuvanshi community. Families discussed things, did a little background check, and finalised the wedding date - May 10, 2025. &nbsp; Before the day of the wedding, Raja wanted to talk to Sonam to know her better. But Sonam hardly ever talked to her. When Raja’s family brought this up, she said she stays busy in the office and does not get time. When Raja's mother asked Sonam's mother to let the dup meet outside of the house, Sonam’s mother refused. Later on, Sonam started talking to Raja. &nbsp; On May 10, 2025, Raja and Sonam got married with all pomp and show. Raja’s sister, who is a content creator on the social media platform Instagram, shared tons of videos and photos of the wedding in which the couple and the families looked happy. &nbsp; After the wedding, Sonam chose Shillong as the place for her honeymoon. On May 21, the couple arrives in Shillong, Meghalaya (a northeastern state in India) for their honeymoon.&nbsp;Raja’s mother tried calling him, but his phone was switched off. She then called Sonam and asked the reason. Sonam said his phone is being fixed, and they were trekking on a mountain in a forest. She told his mother-in-law to call later.&nbsp;On the afternoon of May 21, Raja’s family lost all contact with the couple. After waiting for a long time, Raja’s brother filed an FIR. &nbsp; On June 2, the Meghalaya Police found the dead body of Raja in a decomposed state at Wei Sawdong Falls. But Sonam was missing. &nbsp; On June 9, the Meghalaya Police found Sonam from a dhaba in Ghazipur in an unconscious state. They took her to a hospital near where she surrendered and was arrested. Along with her, four men were also arrested - Raj Kushwaha, Vishal Chauhan, Anand Kurmi, and Akash Rajput.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

A movie is being made on Raja Raghuvanshi, the Indore man who was murdered on his honeymoon allegedly by his wife. His family announced the news by sharing a poster of the film and claiming it will stick to the facts related to the case. 

Bollywood is all set to make a film on Raja Raghuvanshi, the Indore man who was allegedly killed by his Sobam during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Raja's brother, Vipin Raghuvanshi, announced the movie - named Honeymoon in Shillong - by sharing a poster of it on Tuesday (July). Vipin said that Varsha TV will produce the movie, and Film Production and SP Nimbawat will direct it. “I have read the script. The suspense has been maintained. The story stays close to the events that unfolded," Raja's brother said. The family claimed that the movie will show facts and truth only related to the incident. “While the police and courts are doing their job, this film will also speak the truth. Raja went toShillong for his honeymoon, and he was killed there. This act tarnished the image of Shillong too,” Raja's family said in the statement. “We only want the truth to be shown,” Vipin said. What is the Raja Raghuvanshi case? Here's a timeline A couple from Indore, Madhya Pradesh - Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam Raghuvanshi - met on an online matrimonial app specifically made for people from the Raghuvanshi community. Families discussed things, did a little background check, and finalised the wedding date - May 10, 2025. Before the day of the wedding, Raja wanted to talk to Sonam to know her better. But Sonam hardly ever talked to her. When Raja’s family brought this up, she said she stays busy in the office and does not get time. When Raja's mother asked Sonam's mother to let the dup meet outside of the house, Sonam’s mother refused. Later on, Sonam started talking to Raja. On May 10, 2025, Raja and Sonam got married with all pomp and show. Raja’s sister, who is a content creator on the social media platform Instagram, shared tons of videos and photos of the wedding in which the couple and the families looked happy. After the wedding, Sonam chose Shillong as the place for her honeymoon. On May 21, the couple arrives in Shillong, Meghalaya (a northeastern state in India) for their honeymoon. Raja’s mother tried calling him, but his phone was switched off. She then called Sonam and asked the reason. Sonam said his phone is being fixed, and they were trekking on a mountain in a forest. She told his mother-in-law to call later. On the afternoon of May 21, Raja’s family lost all contact with the couple. After waiting for a long time, Raja’s brother filed an FIR. On June 2, the Meghalaya Police found the dead body of Raja in a decomposed state at Wei Sawdong Falls. But Sonam was missing. On June 9, the Meghalaya Police found Sonam from a dhaba in Ghazipur in an unconscious state. They took her to a hospital near where she surrendered and was arrested. Along with her, four men were also arrested - Raj Kushwaha, Vishal Chauhan, Anand Kurmi, and Akash Rajput.

A movie is being made on Raja Raghuvanshi, the Indore man who was murdered on his honeymoon allegedly by his wife. His family announced the news by sharing a poster of the film and claiming it will stick to the facts related to the case.&nbsp;

'Honeymoon in Shillong': Film in making on Raja Raghuvanshi's murder, family announces

Piprahwa Buddha relics, worth millions of dollars, returned to India after 127 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the feat as a “joyous day of our cultural heritage.” He stated that the relics were discovered in 1898 but were removed from India during the colonial period, and the Indian government stopped an auction in Hong Kong to acquire them.&nbsp;"A joyous day for our cultural heritage! It would make every Indian proud that the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha have come home after 127 long years. These sacred relics highlight India’s close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings. It also illustrates our commitment to preserving and protecting different aspects of our glorious culture," he wrote on X.&nbsp;"It may be recalled that the Piprahwa relics were discovered in 1898, but were taken away from India during the colonial period. When they appeared in an international auction earlier this year, we worked to ensure they returned home. I appreciate all those who have been involved in this effort," PM Modi added.<h2>What are Piprahwa Relics, and how did the Indian government recover them?</h2>The Piprahwa Relics comprise the bone fragments of the Historical Buddha, along with soapstone and crystal caskets, a sandstone coffer, and offerings such as gold ornaments and gemstones. They were excavated in 1898 by William Claxton Peppé.&nbsp;These relics inside a casket were deposited by the Sakya clan. An inscription in Brahmi script on one of the caskets confirms these as relics of the Buddha. They were put on display at the Indian Museum, Kolkata, in 1899. A portion of these relics was gifted to the King of Siam. A selection of funerary gems was retained by W.C. Peppé’s great-grandson, Chris Peppé.&nbsp;They were listed for auction earlier this year. The Indian government wrote to the Consulate General of Hong Kong, requesting the immediate cessation of the auction. Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat raised the matter with Rt Hon Lisa Nandy, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, emphasizing the relics’ cultural and religious significance and urging immediate action.&nbsp;A legal notice was issued to the auction house Sotheby's and Chris Peppé on the same day, demanding the auction’s halt. A high-level delegation, led by the Secretary, Ministry of Culture, spoke with Sotheby’s representatives and highlighted that the relics were not ordinary artifacts but held sacred significance for millions of Buddhists worldwide.&nbsp;The same day, the auction house cancelled the auction.

Piprahwa Buddha relics, worth millions of dollars, returned to India after 127 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the feat as a “joyous day of our cultural heritage.”

Piprahwa Buddha relics, worth millions of dollars, returned to India after 127 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the feat as a “joyous day of our cultural heritage.” He stated that the relics were discovered in 1898 but were removed from India during the colonial period, and the Indian government stopped an auction in Hong Kong to acquire them. "A joyous day for our cultural heritage! It would make every Indian proud that the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha have come home after 127 long years. These sacred relics highlight India’s close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings. It also illustrates our commitment to preserving and protecting different aspects of our glorious culture," he wrote on X. "It may be recalled that the Piprahwa relics were discovered in 1898, but were taken away from India during the colonial period. When they appeared in an international auction earlier this year, we worked to ensure they returned home. I appreciate all those who have been involved in this effort," PM Modi added. What are Piprahwa Relics, and how did the Indian government recover them? The Piprahwa Relics comprise the bone fragments of the Historical Buddha, along with soapstone and crystal caskets, a sandstone coffer, and offerings such as gold ornaments and gemstones. They were excavated in 1898 by William Claxton Peppé. These relics inside a casket were deposited by the Sakya clan. An inscription in Brahmi script on one of the caskets confirms these as relics of the Buddha. They were put on display at the Indian Museum, Kolkata, in 1899. A portion of these relics was gifted to the King of Siam. A selection of funerary gems was retained by W.C. Peppé’s great-grandson, Chris Peppé. They were listed for auction earlier this year. The Indian government wrote to the Consulate General of Hong Kong, requesting the immediate cessation of the auction. Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat raised the matter with Rt Hon Lisa Nandy, UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, emphasizing the relics’ cultural and religious significance and urging immediate action. A legal notice was issued to the auction house Sotheby's and Chris Peppé on the same day, demanding the auction’s halt. A high-level delegation, led by the Secretary, Ministry of Culture, spoke with Sotheby’s representatives and highlighted that the relics were not ordinary artifacts but held sacred significance for millions of Buddhists worldwide. The same day, the auction house cancelled the auction.

Piprahwa Relics were discovered in 1898, but were taken away from India during the colonial period.

Piprahwa Buddha relics return to India after 127 years. What are they?

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Operation Sindoor, Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the Congress party for not taking action against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism during their tenure. He also slammed former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, particularly for giving away Aksai Chin to China, favouring the Chinese seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and bidding goodbye to Assam during the 1962 war. &nbsp;His attack on Congress came after he informed the House that three Pakistani terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), who were involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, were killed on Monday near Srinagar in Operation Mahadev by the Indian Army.&nbsp;<h2>Did Nehru really bid goodbye to Assam in 1962?</h2>The Union Home Minister was referring to a speech by the former prime minister in which he said that his heart goes out to the people of Assam but also highlighted that in India's effort to win the war, it may not succeed, and people of the state might have to go through immense pain and hardships. The 1962 war lasted from October 20 to November 21 - when China invaded India from two sides, in the west around the Ladakh region and in the east in the Northeast Frontier Agency (today’s Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam).&nbsp;&nbsp;Nehru addressed the nation on November 19, 1962, via All India Radio, in Hindi and said, "At this time, there is an enemy above Assam, at the doorstep of Assam, and Assam is in danger. That is why our heart especially goes out to our Air Force brothers who live in Assam, in their support, because they are facing great difficulties… We will try to help them completely and will do so, but no matter how much we help, we will not be able to save them from pain at this time. Yes, we are firm on one thing… we will pursue this matter till the last breath until Assam and the whole of India are completely emptied of the enemy,”&nbsp;The translation from the Selected Works of a larger section of the speech is, “I can well understand what our friends in Assam must be feeling because all this is happening on their doorstep, one might say. I want to tell them that we feel very much for them and that we shall help them to the utmost of our ability. We may not be able always to succeed in what we are trying now because of various factors and of the overwhelming numbers of the Chinese forces, but I want to take a pledge to them, here and now, that we shall see this matter to the end and the end will have to be victory for India."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday (July 29) accused former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of bidding goodbye to Assam during the 1962 war. He was referring to former PM Nehru's 1962 speech

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Operation Sindoor, Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed the Congress party for not taking action against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism during their tenure. He also slammed former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, particularly for giving away Aksai Chin to China, favouring the Chinese seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and bidding goodbye to Assam during the 1962 war. His attack on Congress came after he informed the House that three Pakistani terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), who were involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, were killed on Monday near Srinagar in Operation Mahadev by the Indian Army. Did Nehru really bid goodbye to Assam in 1962? The Union Home Minister was referring to a speech by the former prime minister in which he said that his heart goes out to the people of Assam but also highlighted that in India's effort to win the war, it may not succeed, and people of the state might have to go through immense pain and hardships. The 1962 war lasted from October 20 to November 21 - when China invaded India from two sides, in the west around the Ladakh region and in the east in the Northeast Frontier Agency (today’s Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam). Nehru addressed the nation on November 19, 1962, via All India Radio, in Hindi and said, "At this time, there is an enemy above Assam, at the doorstep of Assam, and Assam is in danger. That is why our heart especially goes out to our Air Force brothers who live in Assam, in their support, because they are facing great difficulties… We will try to help them completely and will do so, but no matter how much we help, we will not be able to save them from pain at this time. Yes, we are firm on one thing… we will pursue this matter till the last breath until Assam and the whole of India are completely emptied of the enemy,” The translation from the Selected Works of a larger section of the speech is, “I can well understand what our friends in Assam must be feeling because all this is happening on their doorstep, one might say. I want to tell them that we feel very much for them and that we shall help them to the utmost of our ability. We may not be able always to succeed in what we are trying now because of various factors and of the overwhelming numbers of the Chinese forces, but I want to take a pledge to them, here and now, that we shall see this matter to the end and the end will have to be victory for India."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday (July 29) accused former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of bidding goodbye to Assam during the 1962 war. He was referring to former PM Nehru's 1962 speech

Amit Shah says Nehru bid 'bye bye to Assam' in 1962: What was he referring to, what exactly former PM said

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday (Jul 30) slammed former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for signing the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan in 1960, calling the agreement a method of "appeasement" and not "peace". Commencing Day 2 of the Operation Sindoor debate in Rajya Sabha, he vowed that the treaty would "remain in abeyance" until "Pakistan irrevocably gives up its support of terrorism." Jaishankar insisted that in modern India, “Blood and water will not flow together.” Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words from the previous day, he told the opposition that the PM and US President Donald Trump did not talk over a call between April 22 and June 16.Looking back to May, the EAM said that when Indian armed forces commenced Operation Sindoor, “a number of countries were in touch with us to see how serious the situation was and how long it would go.” He revealed that, at the time New Delhi refuted offers of mediation, "We gave the same message to all the countries… that we were not open to any mediation. Anything between us and Pakistan will only be bilateral… And that we were responding to the Pakistani attack, and we would keep responding. If that fighting was to stop, Pakistan must make a request. And that request could only come through the channel of the DGMO."<h2>What did Jaishankar say on the Indus Water Treaty</h2>Speaking in Parliament during Day 2 of the Operation Sindoor debate, EAM Jaishankar condoled the death of civilians in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. Slamming the Congress party and the then PM Nehru, he alleged that the "Indus water treaty with Pakistan, signed by then Prime Minister, was not to buy peace, but for appeasement". Jaishankar added that thanks to the efforts of the Modi government, now, "Terrorism is now on the global agenda". He stressed that the Indus Water Treaty "will be held in abeyance until Pakistan irrevocably gives up its support of terrorism". He added that "Blood and water will not flow together".&nbsp;

Commencing Day 2 of the Operation Sindoor debate in Rajya Sabha, EAM S. Jaishankar vowed that the treaty would "remain in abeyance" until "Pakistan irrevocably gives up its support of terrorism." Jaishankar insisted that in modern India, “Blood and water will not flow together.”

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday (Jul 30) slammed former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for signing the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan in 1960, calling the agreement a method of "appeasement" and not "peace". Commencing Day 2 of the Operation Sindoor debate in Rajya Sabha, he vowed that the treaty would "remain in abeyance" until "Pakistan irrevocably gives up its support of terrorism." Jaishankar insisted that in modern India, “Blood and water will not flow together.” Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's words from the previous day, he told the opposition that the PM and US President Donald Trump did not talk over a call between April 22 and June 16. Looking back to May, the EAM said that when Indian armed forces commenced Operation Sindoor, “a number of countries were in touch with us to see how serious the situation was and how long it would go.” He revealed that, at the time New Delhi refuted offers of mediation, "We gave the same message to all the countries… that we were not open to any mediation. Anything between us and Pakistan will only be bilateral… And that we were responding to the Pakistani attack, and we would keep responding. If that fighting was to stop, Pakistan must make a request. And that request could only come through the channel of the DGMO." What did Jaishankar say on the Indus Water Treaty Speaking in Parliament during Day 2 of the Operation Sindoor debate, EAM Jaishankar condoled the death of civilians in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. Slamming the Congress party and the then PM Nehru, he alleged that the "Indus water treaty with Pakistan, signed by then Prime Minister, was not to buy peace, but for appeasement". Jaishankar added that thanks to the efforts of the Modi government, now, "Terrorism is now on the global agenda". He stressed that the Indus Water Treaty "will be held in abeyance until Pakistan irrevocably gives up its support of terrorism". He added that "Blood and water will not flow together".

Commencing Day 2 of the Operation Sindoor debate in Rajya Sabha, EAM S. Jaishankar vowed that the treaty would "remain in abeyance" until "Pakistan irrevocably gives up its support of terrorism." Jaishankar insisted that in modern India, “Blood and water will not flow together.”

'Blood and water will not flow together': Jaishankar slams Nehru for Indus Water Treaty, says it'll remain in abeyance till Pakistan stops terrorism

In a big diplomatic win for India, the Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, has found mention for the first time in a UN Security Council (UNSC) report for its role in the Pahalgam attack. The report by the UNSC's Monitoring Team (MT) quoted one unnamed member state as saying that the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir could not have happened without Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) support and that there was a relationship between the "LeT and The Resistance Front (TRF). This comes days after the US designated TRF as a terror organisation that works with Pakistan-based Lashkar. This also marks the first mention of the LeT and Pakistan-based terror groups in the report since 2019.&nbsp;"The attack was claimed that same day by The Resistance Front (TRF), which in parallel published a photograph of the attack site. The claim of responsibility was repeated the following day," the UN report said. The report also noted that TRF retracted the claim on April 26 and there was no further communication from it, adding no other group claimed responsibility. "Regional relations remain fragile. There is a risk that terrorist groups may exploit these regional tensions. One member State said the attack could not have happened without LeT's support, and that there was a relationship between LeT and TRF. "Another member state said the attack was carried out by TRF, which was synonymous with LeT. One member state rejected these views and said that LeT was defunct," the report added. As per news agency PTI, the development is significant as all decisions of the UNSC's 1267 Sanctions Committee, including reports, are adopted by consensus by members of the top body of the UN.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The report of the Monitoring Team (MT) of the UNSC 1267 [ISIS (Da’esh) &amp; Al-Qaida] Sanctions Committee has been released. &quot;On 22 April, five terrorists attacked a tourist spot in Pahalgam, in Jammu and Kashmir. Twenty-six civilians were killed. The attack was claimed that same… <a href="https://t.co/BYnqyWPOAg">pic.twitter.com/BYnqyWPOAg</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1950450869847412763?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What Amit Shah said about the Pahalgam attack in the parliament?</h2>Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) said in the Lok Sabha that the three terrorists killed in Operation Mahadev in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday were those who carried out the Pahalgam strike. “The three terrorists who killed our civilians at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam have been killed,” the Minister said. Since local residents in Jammu and Kashmir are not joining the militant ranks, Pakistan is sending terrorists from across the border to strike terror, he added. “We ensured that the terrorists do not flee to Pakistan,” Shah said in his speech during the Operation Sindoor debate. The Resistance Front (TRF) is an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The group reportedly came into being after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) banned TRF, all its forms and front groups in January 2023. The MHA also declared the TRF a terrorist group under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

India is now a step closer to getting The Resistance Front (TRF) sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The UNSC’s Monitoring Committee has officially mentioned TRF in its latest report

In a big diplomatic win for India, the Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba terror group, has found mention for the first time in a UN Security Council (UNSC) report for its role in the Pahalgam attack. The report by the UNSC's Monitoring Team (MT) quoted one unnamed member state as saying that the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir could not have happened without Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) support and that there was a relationship between the "LeT and The Resistance Front (TRF). This comes days after the US designated TRF as a terror organisation that works with Pakistan-based Lashkar. This also marks the first mention of the LeT and Pakistan-based terror groups in the report since 2019. "The attack was claimed that same day by The Resistance Front (TRF), which in parallel published a photograph of the attack site. The claim of responsibility was repeated the following day," the UN report said. The report also noted that TRF retracted the claim on April 26 and there was no further communication from it, adding no other group claimed responsibility. "Regional relations remain fragile. There is a risk that terrorist groups may exploit these regional tensions. One member State said the attack could not have happened without LeT's support, and that there was a relationship between LeT and TRF. "Another member state said the attack was carried out by TRF, which was synonymous with LeT. One member state rejected these views and said that LeT was defunct," the report added. As per news agency PTI, the development is significant as all decisions of the UNSC's 1267 Sanctions Committee, including reports, are adopted by consensus by members of the top body of the UN.

India is now a step closer to getting The Resistance Front (TRF) sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The UNSC’s Monitoring Committee has officially mentioned TRF in its latest report

Big win for India as key UNSC report mentions TRF as Pahalgam terror attackers: Here's what it says

Intense showers across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have led to the closure of all schools in the Poonch district, and the Meteorological Department (MeT) has advised people across multiple districts to be cautious of landslides, mudslides and flash floods.&nbsp;The administration in the Poonch district has issued an order and said that, due to inclement weather conditions, all government/private schools in District Poonch shall remain closed today on 30-07-2025. The Meteorological Department has issued a Flash Flood Guidance for multiple locations across Jammu and Kashmir.According to the MeT Department, generally cloudy weather with the possibility of intermittent light to moderate rain at many places, with intense showers/gusty winds at a few places. They also predicted that there is a possibility of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated to scattered places of Jammu Division. The areas on alert are Jammu, Reasi, Udhampur, Kathua, Rajouri and Samba.&nbsp;According to the Kashmir MeT Department, flash floods at a few vulnerable places with landslides/mudslides and shooting stones are expected in the next 24 hours across various districts of the Union Territory. There is a rise in water level in rivers/streams and waterlogging in a few low-lying areas of Jammu Division, expected as well.&nbsp;However, the MeT Department says that generally hot and humid weather with brief spells of rain/thunder shower activity at a few places is expected from August 1 to 3.

According to the MeT Department, generally cloudy weather with the possibility of intermittent light to moderate rain at many places, with intense showers/gusty winds at a few places.

Intense showers across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have led to the closure of all schools in the Poonch district, and the Meteorological Department (MeT) has advised people across multiple districts to be cautious of landslides, mudslides and flash floods. The administration in the Poonch district has issued an order and said that, due to inclement weather conditions, all government/private schools in District Poonch shall remain closed today on 30-07-2025. The Meteorological Department has issued a Flash Flood Guidance for multiple locations across Jammu and Kashmir. According to the MeT Department, generally cloudy weather with the possibility of intermittent light to moderate rain at many places, with intense showers/gusty winds at a few places. They also predicted that there is a possibility of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated to scattered places of Jammu Division. The areas on alert are Jammu, Reasi, Udhampur, Kathua, Rajouri and Samba. According to the Kashmir MeT Department, flash floods at a few vulnerable places with landslides/mudslides and shooting stones are expected in the next 24 hours across various districts of the Union Territory. There is a rise in water level in rivers/streams and waterlogging in a few low-lying areas of Jammu Division, expected as well. However, the MeT Department says that generally hot and humid weather with brief spells of rain/thunder shower activity at a few places is expected from August 1 to 3.

According to the MeT Department, generally cloudy weather with the possibility of intermittent light to moderate rain at many places, with intense showers/gusty winds at a few places.

Intense showers across Jammu Kashmir, Schools shut across Poonch district

Hours after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that “no world leader” mediated for a ceasefire between India and Pakistan amid heightened tensions between the two nations, United States President Donald Trump once again claimed that both countries stopped hostilities after his request. Speaking to reporters on his way back from Scotland, Trump said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a “good friend” and that India and Pakistan stopped the war on his request.&nbsp;“Look, India, they’re my friends and he’s [PM Modi] my friend and you know they ended the war with Pakistan on my request, and I was great and Pakistan did also. We did a lot of great settlements…including the recent one - Cambodia and Thailand. That was a great one. I did a good job with five different wars…You think I will get credit for it? No, I don't think so," he said. He then went on to slam India for charging heavy tariffs. “India has been a good friend. But India has charged basically more tariffs than almost any other country over the years. But now I’m in charge. And you just can’t do that. I think the trade deals are working out very well. Hopefully for everybody, but for the United States, they’re very, very good,” the US President said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | When asked if India is going to pay high tariffs, between 20-25%, US President Donald Trump says, &quot;Yeah, I think so. India is my friend. They ended the war with Pakistan at my request...The deal with India is not finalised. India has been a good friend, but India has… <a href="https://t.co/IYxParZqce">pic.twitter.com/IYxParZqce</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1950338645719646676?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What PM Modi said about Trump's mediation?</h2>Reiterating the government's stand that the ceasefire on May 10 was agreed to after Pakistan pleaded for one, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said no leader from any country had asked India to stop Operation Sindoor. "We had said from day one that our action was non-escalatory. No leader in the world asked us to stop Operation Sindoor. On the night of May 9, US Vice President JD Vance tried to talk to me. He tried for an hour, but I was busy in a meeting with the forces. When I called him back, he told me Pakistan was planning a big attack. My answer was that if this is Pakistan's intention, it will have to pay a heavy price."&nbsp;&nbsp;"If Pakistan attacks, we will respond with a big attack. I said "ham goli ka jawaab gole se denge" (we will reply to a bullet with a cannonball). On May 10, we destroyed Pakistan's military strength. This was our response and our resolve. Even Pakistan understands now that every reply by India is bigger than the last. It knows that if such a situation arises in the future, India can go to any extent. Let me reiterate in this temple of democracy: Operation Sindoor is still on," he stressed.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Watch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, &quot;No global leader asked India to stop the operation. On the night of the 9th, the U.S. Vice President tried to contact me, but I couldn’t take the call as I was in a meeting with the military. Later, I called him back, and he told me that… <a href="https://t.co/WUIc1APuEb">pic.twitter.com/WUIc1APuEb</a>&mdash; IANS (@ians_india) <a href="https://twitter.com/ians_india/status/1950187279454261601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Even as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarified in the Parliament that no global leader asked him to stop the operation against Pakistan, US President Donald Trump has once again taken credit for it, while calling PM Modi a friend

Hours after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that “no world leader” mediated for a ceasefire between India and Pakistan amid heightened tensions between the two nations, United States President Donald Trump once again claimed that both countries stopped hostilities after his request. Speaking to reporters on his way back from Scotland, Trump said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a “good friend” and that India and Pakistan stopped the war on his request. “Look, India, they’re my friends and he’s [PM Modi] my friend and you know they ended the war with Pakistan on my request, and I was great and Pakistan did also. We did a lot of great settlements…including the recent one - Cambodia and Thailand. That was a great one. I did a good job with five different wars…You think I will get credit for it? No, I don't think so," he said. He then went on to slam India for charging heavy tariffs. “India has been a good friend. But India has charged basically more tariffs than almost any other country over the years. But now I’m in charge. And you just can’t do that. I think the trade deals are working out very well. Hopefully for everybody, but for the United States, they’re very, very good,” the US President said.

Even as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarified in the Parliament that no global leader asked him to stop the operation against Pakistan, US President Donald Trump has once again taken credit for it, while calling PM Modi a friend

'He's my friend...': What Trump said after PM Modi's 'no global leader called to stop' India-Pak conflict remark

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is a highly sophisticated and precise Earth-imaging system. Costing well over $1.3 billion, this satellite's phenomenal imaging prowess is a result of its 12-meter large radar reflector antenna, which can send thousands of radar beams to Earth and capture their reflection. Made out of a thin and flexible material, this massive radar reflector is stowed carefully before launch and unfurled after reaching space. Though made of a delicate material, this umbrella-like antenna is capable of withstanding the impact of tiny space rocks that could potentially hit it at speeds well over 35,000kmph, a NASA official told WION.&nbsp;In space, there are millions of man-made debris and naturally occurring micrometeoroids (millimetre-sized space rocks). They travel in space at hypervelocity speeds averaging 10 km/s (35,000kmph). When this space junk collides with spacecraft and satellites, it could potentially cause serious damage or catastrophic failure. This makes NISAR's massive 12-meter antenna quite a vulnerable target, but such risks have been factored in while building the most expensive civilian-use Earth-imaging satellite."The reflector antenna (mesh) is&nbsp;built to be robust against micrometeoroids.&nbsp;At times, micrometeoroids can punch tiny holes on the micrometre or millimetre scale, but even in that event, the reflector is designed to hold its shape and continue doing its job," Dr. Paul Rosen, NASA-JPL's Project Scientist for NISAR told WION's Sidharth.M.P. An analysis deemed that this risk was acceptable, he added.<h2>Why is NISAR placed in a sun-synchronous polar orbit?</h2>Conventional Earth-imaging satellites click detailed colour photos of Earth, very similar to what a high-end camera does. As in the case of photography, the most detailed images from conventional Earth-imaging satellites are obtained during the daylight hours. To ensure repeated and reliable imagery of its target area in daylight conditions, such conventional Earth-imaging satellites are placed in orbits that are in sync with the Sun's angle. This is known as a Sun-Synchronous Polar orbit (SSPO).In comparison, a radar-imaging satellite works in a totally different manner. Instead of giving an optics-based picture (like a photograph), radar satellites constantly beam radar waves onto the Earth. The features on Earth's surface (buildings, trees, mountains, water bodies, roads, glaciers) reflect these radar waves back to the satellite. By collecting and processing the reflected radar waves, radar-imaging satellites deliver imagery during day and night, in all weather conditions. Due to their all-weather, round-the-clock imaging capability, radar-imaging satellites don't need to be placed in SSPO for repeated daylight imagery.&nbsp;However, NISAR is being placed in an SSPO. When queried about the reasoning behind this, Dr. Rosen told WION that NISAR's Sun-synchronous polar orbit at 6 am and 6 pm provides uniform power to its solar panels, minimises exposure to the ionosphere (which can cause disruptions), and sets consistent times of day for data collection, which is important for science.&nbsp;<h2>24/7 Earth-monitoring for several years by NISAR&nbsp;</h2>Typically, an Earth-imaging satellite would have to capture images only when passing over its area of interest or region of study. When not flying over the area of interest, the imaging equipment can be turned off and put to rest. That's where NISAR stands out - its job is to capture earth imaging data round-the-clock, over its operational life of more than three years. NASA says NISAR will be capable of mapping the Earth's land and ice-covered surface twice in a period of twelve days. While NISAR is expected to have a minimum mission life of three years, it is likely to perform its duties for five years or longer. Satellite life depends on how much fuel it carries on board, the design life of its electronic components, and other technical parameters.NISAR is the first satellite mission to collect radar data in two microwave bandwidth regions, called the L-band and the S-band, to measure changes of our planet’s surface, including movements as small as a centimetre. This allows the mission to observe a wide range of Earth processes, from the flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets to the dynamics of earthquakes and volcanoes. NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days.&nbsp;<h2>NISAR to be launched at 5:40 pm, Indian time</h2>The countdown to the billion-dollar NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite launch commenced at 14:10 hours Indian time, Tuesday, (July 29) at the Indian spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR). At 17:40hrs, Indian time, Wednesday, 30th July, the Indian GSLV-F16 rocket carrying the Earth-imaging satellite is scheduled to liftoff from the second launchpad of India's lone spaceport.<h2>About the NISAR satellite and the GSLV rocket</h2>The NISAR satellite weighs 2,400kg and sits atop ISRO's 52-meter-tall GSLV rocket, a three-staged launch vehicle that is powered by solid, liquid, and cryogenic fuels. The rocket is expected to place the satellite into orbit almost 19 minutes after liftoff, around 18:00 hours IST.Costing well over a billion US dollars, the NISAR satellite is the first such collaborative mission between the Indian and American space agencies. While NASA has revealed that they've spent $1.2bn on NISAR, ISRO has not officially revealed its financial contribution. Estimates say ISRO is likely to have spent around $100mn. The vast difference in expenditure is said to be owing to the differences in accounting.&nbsp;Notably, the estimated $1.3bn (₹11,294cr approx) cost of the NISAR mission is almost as much as the annual budget of the Indian Space Agency, ISRO. In recent years, ISRO's annual budget has hovered between $1.3 and $1.5 billion. Therefore, it would be fair to say that there is a lot riding on ISRO's GSLV rocket-literally and figuratively.&nbsp;

Though made of a delicate material, this umbrella-like antenna is capable of withstanding the impact of tiny space rocks that could potentially hit it at speeds well over 35,000kmph, a NASA official told WION. 

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is a highly sophisticated and precise Earth-imaging system. Costing well over $1.3 billion, this satellite's phenomenal imaging prowess is a result of its 12-meter large radar reflector antenna, which can send thousands of radar beams to Earth and capture their reflection. Made out of a thin and flexible material, this massive radar reflector is stowed carefully before launch and unfurled after reaching space. Though made of a delicate material, this umbrella-like antenna is capable of withstanding the impact of tiny space rocks that could potentially hit it at speeds well over 35,000kmph, a NASA official told WION. In space, there are millions of man-made debris and naturally occurring micrometeoroids (millimetre-sized space rocks). They travel in space at hypervelocity speeds averaging 10 km/s (35,000kmph). When this space junk collides with spacecraft and satellites, it could potentially cause serious damage or catastrophic failure. This makes NISAR's massive 12-meter antenna quite a vulnerable target, but such risks have been factored in while building the most expensive civilian-use Earth-imaging satellite. "The reflector antenna (mesh) is built to be robust against micrometeoroids. At times, micrometeoroids can punch tiny holes on the micrometre or millimetre scale, but even in that event, the reflector is designed to hold its shape and continue doing its job," Dr. Paul Rosen, NASA-JPL's Project Scientist for NISAR told WION's Sidharth.M.P. An analysis deemed that this risk was acceptable, he added. Why is NISAR placed in a sun-synchronous polar orbit? Conventional Earth-imaging satellites click detailed colour photos of Earth, very similar to what a high-end camera does. As in the case of photography, the most detailed images from conventional Earth-imaging satellites are obtained during the daylight hours. To ensure repeated and reliable imagery of its target area in daylight conditions, such conventional Earth-imaging satellites are placed in orbits that are in sync with the Sun's angle. This is known as a Sun-Synchronous Polar orbit (SSPO). In comparison, a radar-imaging satellite works in a totally different manner. Instead of giving an optics-based picture (like a photograph), radar satellites constantly beam radar waves onto the Earth. The features on Earth's surface (buildings, trees, mountains, water bodies, roads, glaciers) reflect these radar waves back to the satellite. By collecting and processing the reflected radar waves, radar-imaging satellites deliver imagery during day and night, in all weather conditions. Due to their all-weather, round-the-clock imaging capability, radar-imaging satellites don't need to be placed in SSPO for repeated daylight imagery. However, NISAR is being placed in an SSPO. When queried about the reasoning behind this, Dr. Rosen told WION that NISAR's Sun-synchronous polar orbit at 6 am and 6 pm provides uniform power to its solar panels, minimises exposure to the ionosphere (which can cause disruptions), and sets consistent times of day for data collection, which is important for science. 24/7 Earth-monitoring for several years by NISAR Typically, an Earth-imaging satellite would have to capture images only when passing over its area of interest or region of study. When not flying over the area of interest, the imaging equipment can be turned off and put to rest. That's where NISAR stands out - its job is to capture earth imaging data round-the-clock, over its operational life of more than three years. NASA says NISAR will be capable of mapping the Earth's land and ice-covered surface twice in a period of twelve days. While NISAR is expected to have a minimum mission life of three years, it is likely to perform its duties for five years or longer. Satellite life depends on how much fuel it carries on board, the design life of its electronic components, and other technical parameters. NISAR is the first satellite mission to collect radar data in two microwave bandwidth regions, called the L-band and the S-band, to measure changes of our planet’s surface, including movements as small as a centimetre. This allows the mission to observe a wide range of Earth processes, from the flow rates of glaciers and ice sheets to the dynamics of earthquakes and volcanoes. NISAR will map the entire globe in 12 days. NISAR to be launched at 5:40 pm, Indian time The countdown to the billion-dollar NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite launch commenced at 14:10 hours Indian time, Tuesday, (July 29) at the Indian spaceport Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR). At 17:40hrs, Indian time, Wednesday, 30th July, the Indian GSLV-F16 rocket carrying the Earth-imaging satellite is scheduled to liftoff from the second launchpad of India's lone spaceport. About the NISAR satellite and the GSLV rocket The NISAR satellite weighs 2,400kg and sits atop ISRO's 52-meter-tall GSLV rocket, a three-staged launch vehicle that is powered by solid, liquid, and cryogenic fuels. The rocket is expected to place the satellite into orbit almost 19 minutes after liftoff, around 18:00 hours IST. Costing well over a billion US dollars, the NISAR satellite is the first such collaborative mission between the Indian and American space agencies. While NASA has revealed that they've spent $1.2bn on NISAR, ISRO has not officially revealed its financial contribution. Estimates say ISRO is likely to have spent around $100mn. The vast difference in expenditure is said to be owing to the differences in accounting. Notably, the estimated $1.3bn (₹11,294cr approx) cost of the NISAR mission is almost as much as the annual budget of the Indian Space Agency, ISRO. In recent years, ISRO's annual budget has hovered between $1.3 and $1.5 billion. Therefore, it would be fair to say that there is a lot riding on ISRO's GSLV rocket-literally and figuratively.

Though made of a delicate material, this umbrella-like antenna is capable of withstanding the impact of tiny space rocks that could potentially hit it at speeds well over 35,000kmph, a NASA official told WION.&nbsp;

Exclusive: NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite can survive hits from tiny space rocks

The Indian Army on Wednesday (Jul 30) conducted Operation ShivShakti, killing two terrorists who attempted to infiltrate across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch District under Operation ShivShakti. The joint operation was launched based on “synergistic and synchronised intelligence inputs” by the Indian Army intelligence units and the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP).&nbsp;The security forces engaged in gunfire after suspected movement was spotted by the troops along the fence in Poonch. The Army said that the operation is in progress.&nbsp;The White Knight Corps, or the 16 Corps, of the Indian Army announced the successful operation in a statement on X. It is headquartered at Nagrota Cantonment, Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;The Army said that “swift action” and “accurate firepower” foiled the nefarious intentions of the terrorists who infiltrated Jammu and Kashmir. It added that three weapons have been recovered.&nbsp;“In a successful anti-infiltration operation, alert troops of the Indian Army eliminated two terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control. Swift action and accurate firepower thwarted the nefarious designs. Three weapons have been recovered,” the White Knight Corps said.&nbsp;“Synergistic and synchronised intelligence inputs from own intelligence units and JKP led to a successful operation. Operation in progress,” it added. Further details are awaited on the operation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhiteKnightCorps?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhiteKnightCorps</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OPERATION?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OPERATION</a> SHIVSHAKTI In a successful anti-infiltration operation, alert troops of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianArmy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianArmy</a> eliminated two terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control. Swift action and accurate firepower thwarted the nefarious designs. Three weapons…&mdash; White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) <a href="https://twitter.com/Whiteknight_IA/status/1950414374067147246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Earlier, the Indian Army posted on X that gunfire was exchanged after troops spotted two individuals in the Poonch area. “Contact with Terrorists. Suspected movement of two individuals was observed by own troops along the fence in gen area of #Poonch Sector. Gunfire exchanged. Operation under progress,” it said.&nbsp;The latest operation comes two days after the Indian Army launched Operation Mahadev. During his speech in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (Jul 29), Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the identities of the three terrorists killed in the operation. All three were members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and were directly involved in the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.&nbsp;The two operations come as the debate on Operation Sindoor is taking place in the parliament following demands from the Opposition, who have been questioning the government on the operation, which the Indian Armed Forces undertook to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

The Indian Army engaged in gunfire after suspected movement was spotted by the troops along the LoC in J&K’s Poonch. The operation is in progress.

The Indian Army on Wednesday (Jul 30) conducted Operation ShivShakti, killing two terrorists who attempted to infiltrate across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch District under Operation ShivShakti. The joint operation was launched based on “synergistic and synchronised intelligence inputs” by the Indian Army intelligence units and the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP). The security forces engaged in gunfire after suspected movement was spotted by the troops along the fence in Poonch. The Army said that the operation is in progress. The White Knight Corps, or the 16 Corps, of the Indian Army announced the successful operation in a statement on X. It is headquartered at Nagrota Cantonment, Jammu and Kashmir. The Army said that “swift action” and “accurate firepower” foiled the nefarious intentions of the terrorists who infiltrated Jammu and Kashmir. It added that three weapons have been recovered. “In a successful anti-infiltration operation, alert troops of the Indian Army eliminated two terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control. Swift action and accurate firepower thwarted the nefarious designs. Three weapons have been recovered,” the White Knight Corps said. “Synergistic and synchronised intelligence inputs from own intelligence units and JKP led to a successful operation. Operation in progress,” it added. Further details are awaited on the operation.

The Indian Army engaged in gunfire after suspected movement was spotted by the troops along the LoC in J&amp;K’s Poonch. The operation is in progress.

What is Operation ShivShakti? All we know about Indian Army's latest anti-infiltration attempt after Op Mahadev

India has just taken a big step towards strengthening its defence with the successful testing of the 'Pralay' missile. Developed by our very own Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Pralay was test-fired twice on July 28 and 29 from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. Both times, it hit its targets with great accuracy. This is more than just a new missile—it's a powerful message to any nation that threatens our borders.<h2>What is Pralay?</h2>To put it simply, Pralay is like a smart, powerful arrow that can fly between 150 to 500 kilometres and hit its target with precision. It is a surface-to-surface missile, meaning it is launched from the ground and hits a ground target. It is not designed to shoot down planes or enemy missiles.Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that fly in a high arc and are easier to track, Pralay follows a quasi-ballistic path. That means it flies at a lower height and can change its path mid-air. This makes it much harder for the enemy to detect and destroy. Think of it like a clever cricketer who suddenly changes his shot and confuses the fielder.&nbsp;Pralay carries powerful conventional (non-nuclear) explosives, weighing between 350 to 700 kilograms. These are strong enough to destroy enemy command centres, radar posts, airfields, and other military sites.The missile reaches terminal speed of Mach 6.1,making it extremely difficult to intercept.<h3>Fast, Mobile and Made in India</h3>Pralay is a proud symbol of Atmanirbhar Bharat—self-reliant India. It runs on solid fuel, meaning it can be launched quickly during emergencies. It is also mobile, as it can be launched from a special 8-wheeled military vehicle called a Tatra transporter launcher, built by BEML. The newer variants also use advanced 12×12 Ashok Leyland high mobility vehicles with twin-launcher systems.&nbsp;The missile is quite large—weighing around 4-5 tonnes and measuring approximately 7-8 metres in length. Yet, it's cost-effective compared to many foreign options, though exact cost figures vary across different procurement batches. The tests completed under Phase-1 trials have now cleared the way for Pralay's early induction into the Indian Army and Air Force.<h2>How Does It Help India?</h2>India shares borders with China and Pakistan, both of whom have tactical ballistic missiles. China, for example, has the Dongfeng-12 (DF-12) with a range of 100-280 km (up to 400+ km for domestic variants), and Russia has the Iskander missile. With Pralay, India joins this elite group of countries with similar capabilities.&nbsp;<ul><li>Deterring Pakistan</li></ul>Pralay can strike deep inside Pakistan without needing to use nuclear weapons. This gives India a strong and quick conventional option to respond to any attack—without the fear of escalating to a nuclear war. It can easily target key enemy bases, communication centres, or supply lines. And since it flies unpredictably, it is very hard to shoot down.&nbsp;Imagine Pakistan tries a small-scale military attack. With Pralay, India can strike back hard and fast—hitting exactly where it hurts, while keeping the response within safe limits. This deterrent power is what makes Pralay a game-changer.&nbsp;<ul><li>Countering China</li></ul>At the Line of Actual Control (LAC), China has deployed many missiles. Their People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) is large and well-equipped. But Pralay directly challenges them.&nbsp;It can match missiles like the DF-12 and hit Chinese military posts, airfields, or troop camps in Tibet. Its smart flying pattern makes it hard for China's powerful HQ-9 air defense system to stop it. This means Pralay gives India the ability to strike with surprise and keep China guessing, especially during any standoff at the border.&nbsp;<ul><li>A New Missile Force for India</li></ul>There are plans to form an Integrated Rocket Force in India, where Pralay will play a key role alongside other systems like Nirbhay (subsonic cruise missile), BrahMos (supersonic cruise missile), and Pinaka (multiple rocket launcher system). This will be a separate military wing focused only on conventional missiles. It won't mix with India's nuclear command, which follows the clear principle of 'No First Use'.&nbsp;This is important because it shows that India is serious about building non-nuclear deterrence, which keeps peace and reduces chances of mistakes during tensions. Pralay is accurate, cost-effective, and can be widely deployed—making it the perfect fit for this new force.&nbsp;<ul><li>Strategic Procurement and Deployment</li></ul>The Ministry of Defence has already approved significant procurement orders for Pralay missiles. In December 2022, around 120 missiles were cleared for the Indian Air Force, followed by approval for a regiment's worth of missiles for the Indian Army in September 2023. The missiles are specifically being deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan for tactical roles.&nbsp;<ul><li>A Symbol of India's Growing Strength</li></ul>In the end, Pralay is much more than a missile. It reflects India's scientific talent, military readiness, and strategic maturity. It's a clear signal to the world that India can protect its borders without having to depend on anyone.The successful completion of these Phase-1 flight tests, as confirmed by DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat, paves the way for induction of the system into the Armed Forces in the near future. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has noted that the missile equipped with modern technologies will give a further technological boost to the Armed Forces against emerging threats.&nbsp;Thanks to our scientists, engineers, and brave defence forces, we now have a missile that can give quick and powerful answers to any threat—without stepping into dangerous territory. For every Indian, this is a moment of pride.&nbsp;We are moving forward. We are getting stronger. And with weapons like Pralay, we are safer too.

India has just taken a big step towards strengthening its defence with the successful testing of the 'Pralay' missile. Developed by our very own Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Pralay was test-fired twice on July 28 and 29 from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.

India has just taken a big step towards strengthening its defence with the successful testing of the 'Pralay' missile. Developed by our very own Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Pralay was test-fired twice on July 28 and 29 from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. Both times, it hit its targets with great accuracy. This is more than just a new missile—it's a powerful message to any nation that threatens our borders. What is Pralay? To put it simply, Pralay is like a smart, powerful arrow that can fly between 150 to 500 kilometres and hit its target with precision. It is a surface-to-surface missile, meaning it is launched from the ground and hits a ground target. It is not designed to shoot down planes or enemy missiles. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles that fly in a high arc and are easier to track, Pralay follows a quasi-ballistic path. That means it flies at a lower height and can change its path mid-air. This makes it much harder for the enemy to detect and destroy. Think of it like a clever cricketer who suddenly changes his shot and confuses the fielder. Pralay carries powerful conventional (non-nuclear) explosives, weighing between 350 to 700 kilograms. These are strong enough to destroy enemy command centres, radar posts, airfields, and other military sites.The missile reaches terminal speed of Mach 6.1,making it extremely difficult to intercept. Fast, Mobile and Made in India Pralay is a proud symbol of Atmanirbhar Bharat—self-reliant India. It runs on solid fuel, meaning it can be launched quickly during emergencies. It is also mobile, as it can be launched from a special 8-wheeled military vehicle called a Tatra transporter launcher, built by BEML. The newer variants also use advanced 12×12 Ashok Leyland high mobility vehicles with twin-launcher systems. The missile is quite large—weighing around 4-5 tonnes and measuring approximately 7-8 metres in length. Yet, it's cost-effective compared to many foreign options, though exact cost figures vary across different procurement batches. The tests completed under Phase-1 trials have now cleared the way for Pralay's early induction into the Indian Army and Air Force. How Does It Help India? India shares borders with China and Pakistan, both of whom have tactical ballistic missiles. China, for example, has the Dongfeng-12 (DF-12) with a range of 100-280 km (up to 400+ km for domestic variants), and Russia has the Iskander missile. With Pralay, India joins this elite group of countries with similar capabilities. Deterring Pakistan Pralay can strike deep inside Pakistan without needing to use nuclear weapons. This gives India a strong and quick conventional option to respond to any attack—without the fear of escalating to a nuclear war. It can easily target key enemy bases, communication centres, or supply lines. And since it flies unpredictably, it is very hard to shoot down. Imagine Pakistan tries a small-scale military attack. With Pralay, India can strike back hard and fast—hitting exactly where it hurts, while keeping the response within safe limits. This deterrent power is what makes Pralay a game-changer. Countering China At the Line of Actual Control (LAC), China has deployed many missiles. Their People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) is large and well-equipped. But Pralay directly challenges them. It can match missiles like the DF-12 and hit Chinese military posts, airfields, or troop camps in Tibet. Its smart flying pattern makes it hard for China's powerful HQ-9 air defense system to stop it. This means Pralay gives India the ability to strike with surprise and keep China guessing, especially during any standoff at the border. A New Missile Force for India There are plans to form an Integrated Rocket Force in India, where Pralay will play a key role alongside other systems like Nirbhay (subsonic cruise missile), BrahMos (supersonic cruise missile), and Pinaka (multiple rocket launcher system). This will be a separate military wing focused only on conventional missiles. It won't mix with India's nuclear command, which follows the clear principle of 'No First Use'. This is important because it shows that India is serious about building non-nuclear deterrence, which keeps peace and reduces chances of mistakes during tensions. Pralay is accurate, cost-effective, and can be widely deployed—making it the perfect fit for this new force. Strategic Procurement and Deployment The Ministry of Defence has already approved significant procurement orders for Pralay missiles. In December 2022, around 120 missiles were cleared for the Indian Air Force, followed by approval for a regiment's worth of missiles for the Indian Army in September 2023. The missiles are specifically being deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan for tactical roles. A Symbol of India's Growing Strength In the end, Pralay is much more than a missile. It reflects India's scientific talent, military readiness, and strategic maturity. It's a clear signal to the world that India can protect its borders without having to depend on anyone. The successful completion of these Phase-1 flight tests, as confirmed by DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat, paves the way for induction of the system into the Armed Forces in the near future. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has noted that the missile equipped with modern technologies will give a further technological boost to the Armed Forces against emerging threats. Thanks to our scientists, engineers, and brave defence forces, we now have a missile that can give quick and powerful answers to any threat—without stepping into dangerous territory. For every Indian, this is a moment of pride. We are moving forward. We are getting stronger. And with weapons like Pralay, we are safer too.

India has just taken a big step towards strengthening its defence with the successful testing of the 'Pralay' missile. Developed by our very own Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Pralay was test-fired twice on July 28 and 29 from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.

New muscle for India: Pralay missile’s message to Beijing and Islamabad

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Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha: 'Pahalgam terrorists shot in the head'

India debates lowering age of consent from 18 to 16. Experts weigh in

Trump announces tariffs: How much oil, weapons does India buy from Russia?

'Will protect our farmers and MSMEs': India reacts to Trump's 25% tariffs

Rahul Gandhi to adopt 22 J&K children who were orphaned in Pak shelling

Trump imposes 25% tariff on India: Here's how the opposition reacted

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'Death is beautiful': Delhi CA buys helium, inhales and dies by suicide

'Honeymoon in Shillong': Film in making on Raja Raghuvanshi's murder

Piprahwa Buddha relics return to India after 127 years. What are they?

Amit Shah says Nehru bid bye bye to Assam in 1962: What was he referring to

Jaishankar says Indus Water Treaty remain in abeyance till Pak stops terrorism

Big win for India as key UNSC report mentions TRF as Pahalgam terror attackers

Intense showers across Jammu Kashmir, Schools shut across Poonch district

What Trump said after PM Modi's mediation remark on India-Pak conflict

Exclusive: NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite can survive hits from tiny space rocks

What is Operation ShivShakti? Indian Army's latest anti-infiltration attempt

New muscle for India: Pralay missile’s message to Beijing and Islamabad