Chaos erupted outside Kolkata airport Friday night as Trinamool and BJP supporters clashed violently. BJP supporters allegedly planned to target Abhishek Banerjee with rotten eggs, prompting a swift counter-response from TMC cadres. The altercation, involving blows and hurled objects, caused panic among passengers and massive traffic jams. Banerjee left the airport under heavy police escort, avoiding interaction.

Pilots' union FIP alleges the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's report on Air India flight 171 omits crucial cockpit warnings of an electrical failure preceding engine loss. Independent simulator tests commissioned by FIP reportedly contradict the Bureau's timeline for emergency power deployment, raising serious questions about the investigation's findings and the fate of the deceased pilots.

The Supreme Court has declared the right to walk a fundamental right, integral to life and free movement. The apex court urged the government to enact a law ensuring well-demarcated footpaths on all roads, prioritizing pedestrian safety over motorized vehicles. This landmark ruling empowers citizens to seek legal recourse for violations and mandates civic bodies to maintain pedestrian infrastructure, transforming urban and rural living.

Jio Platforms, Reliance Industries' digital arm, is set to launch India's largest-ever IPO, aiming to raise up to $4 billion. The offering will be a primary share sale, with proceeds earmarked for debt reduction and corporate needs, marking a significant value-creation milestone for the company. This move signals a major event for the Indian stock market, with Jio expected to command a valuation exceeding $100 billion.

A former DRDO scientist, Pradeep Kurulkar, faces charges in an espionage case, with trial set to begin next month. Accused of sharing classified defence information with a suspected Pakistani intelligence agent, Kurulkar's plea for discharge was rejected. Proceedings will be held in-camera due to the sensitive nature of the Official Secrets Act violations.

Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Lok Sabha unit appeared on the verge of a formal split on Thursday after six of its nine MPs stayed away from a parliamentary party meeting in Delhi despite the party issuing a whip. Only Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waze attended the meeting, reaffirming their loyalty to party chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Uddhav Thackeray projected confidence amid a fresh party rebellion, assuring Shiv Sainiks are «fired up» despite six Lok Sabha MPs defecting. He apologized to voters for electing lawmakers who switched sides. Thackeray dismissed merger talks with Congress and defended his leadership, highlighting electoral wins. He warned of a threat to democracy with a move towards a «one party, no election» system. This latest crisis follows the 2022 split.

In his first reaction to the crossover of six of the nine Lok Sabha MPs, who constitute two-thirds of the party's strength in the Lower House, Thackeray Junior said: «Maharashtra won't tolerate this». Calling those who are expected to switch to the Eknath Shinde camp «shameless, ungrateful, and corrupt individuals», the ex-Maharashtra minister said the MPs «shamelessly» sold themselves, staking their «reputation and family names».

Elon Musk's wealth surge highlights a future arriving early. China's consumer spending shows a wobble, while Indian tech jobs face a squeeze. However, blue-collar roles are growing, and civil engineering sees a comeback. India's universities are rising, but China leads. Meanwhile, India's subsidy bill has tripled, reflecting a complex economic landscape where the future is here, but not for everyone.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath accused opposition parties of hypocrisy regarding Ram Mandir donations, highlighting their past opposition to the temple's construction. He assured devotees of a thorough SIT probe into alleged misappropriation, urging against inflammatory statements and encouraging evidence submission.

The BJP-led NDA has strengthened its Rajya Sabha presence, winning 19 of 26 recent seats to reach 150 members. This brings the alliance closer to a two-thirds majority, with potential further gains from upcoming bypolls and shifts in opposition alliances. However, regional parties and upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections could still influence the balance of power.

Cockroach Janata Party chief Abhijeet Dipke has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide ₹1 crore compensation to families of students who allegedly died by suicide amid paper leak crises. Dipke highlighted the escalating mental health and education crisis, claiming 11 student deaths recently and demanding accountability from the Union Education Minister.

Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, accusing him of casteist remarks and predicting a party split. Rajbhar claimed Yadav viewed Rajbhar and Maurya communities as inferior to Yadavs.

The LNG carrier Disha has successfully arrived at Dahej Port in Gujarat, heralding a much-anticipated return of maritime activities through the Strait of Hormuz amidst recent tensions in the West Asia region. This docking comes on the heels of a historic US-Iran peace accord, suggesting a potential stabilization of India's vital energy supply lines.

Ranchi RSS office attack probe reveals links to Pakistan's ISI-backed Tehreek-e-Taliban Hindustan. Three arrested individuals allegedly communicated with handlers via encrypted apps, sharing footage of the incident. Two accused reportedly met a Pakistani national in Dubai, where they were allegedly radicalized and agreed to support TTH's anti-India agenda.

India strongly criticized Pakistan at the UNHRC, labeling it a «Frankenstein state» that nurtures terrorism as state policy. India rejected Pakistan's allegations regarding Jammu and Kashmir, asserting the region's integral status and highlighting human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied territories.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended birthday wishes to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on his 56th birthday. Several Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Khera, lauded Gandhi's dedication to constitutional values, social justice, and his resilience in politics. Leaders from Kerala also highlighted his journey and outreach efforts.

Six of Shiv Sena (UBT)'s nine Lok Sabha MPs have reportedly shifted allegiance to the Eknath Shinde-led faction, failing to attend a party meeting after writing to the Speaker to form a separate group. Citing ideological deviations and fear of a merger with Congress, the rebel MPs are expected to formally join the Shinde camp next week.

A significant portion of NEET-UG re-exam candidates, over a third, hail from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. These three states alone account for 34.4% of registrations for the crucial medical entrance test. The Hindi-belt states collectively represent 44% of the applicant pool, highlighting regional concentration.

Plans To Put Aadhaar-Like System In Place

Cites Dispute In House, Lower Court Order

The questioning comes ahead of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's scheduled visit to the Ram Temple on Friday. As per the minute-to-minute itinerary issued by Ayodhya District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi, temple trust general secretary Champat Rai has been directed to nominate an individual to oversee arrangements for the chief minister's darshan and pujan.

In a groundbreaking move, the National Highways Authority of India has launched 'Margsarthi', a cutting-edge AI tool that transforms the way contract documents are reviewed. This innovative system cuts down processing time from a matter of days to mere minutes, allowing for unprecedented efficiency.

An Army jawan, Naik BD Rao, died early Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. He was posted with 16 Rashtriya Rifles at Draba. The soldier was on night duty and was found dead at his post. His service rifle allegedly went off accidentally. An inquiry is underway.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah faces internal pressure from his National Conference party to expand his cabinet, with some members expressing concerns about the performance of current ministers. Opposition BJP claims the delay is due to fear of the NC government collapsing if more berths are filled, a notion the NC dismisses as a bluff.