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.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has dismissed Mohammad Shafi Malik, a Power Development Department inspector, for alleged terror links. Malik is the ninth government employee terminated this year and faces charges including murder and attempt to murder. This action is part of an ongoing crackdown on terror infrastructure within government institutions.

In a world filled with uncertainty, urban Indians stand out with their hopefulness about the nation’s trajectory and economic vitality, sharply contrasting with the global outlook. However, beneath this optimism, the specter of unemployment looms large for many.

Mizoram's Zoram People's Movement has made history by winning its first Rajya Sabha seat. Senior leader K Laltluangkima secured the lone Upper House seat in the state assembly election. He defeated the Mizo National Front candidate. This victory marks a significant milestone for the ZPM party. Laltluangkima becomes the party's inaugural Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.

The ruling Congress secured a significant victory in the Karnataka legislative council elections, winning five out of seven seats. The BJP claimed the remaining two seats, while the JD(S) candidate lost. The elections saw instances of cross-voting, with Congress candidates reportedly exceeding expectations.