India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
NEW DELHI (AP) -- India retired its last fleet of Soviet-era MiG-21 fighter jets Friday, ending more than six decades of service with an aircraft once celebrated for its combat prowess but later derided as a "flying coffin" due to frequent crashes. The phaseout underscores the urgency for the Indian air force to expand and modernize its air fleet to counter potential threats on two fronts from its archrivals China and Pakistan. The decommissioning leaves the air force with 29 fighter squadrons, well short of the 42 endorsed at one time by the government. Each squadron comprises 16-18 fighter jets. "If the drop in India's fighter fleet is not arrested quickly, it will make it challenging to counter neighboring adversaries that have advanced jets for modern day warfare," said N.C. Bipindra, a New Delhi-based defense analyst. India is banking on speeding the introduction of homegrown Tejas light-combat jets and possibly acquiring foreign fighters that would largely be built locally to supplement its depleting strength, government officials said. India currently operates a fleet of French-made Rafales, Mirage 2000, Russian Su30s, MiG-29, and Tejas, among others. Inducted in the 1960s, the needle-nosed MiG-21 formed the backbone of the Indian air force and saw action in wars with Pakistan and China. But frequent crashes of the supersonic warplane drew safety concerns. Despite several upgrades, the plane's technology remained outdated and difficult to maintain. According to official data, India procured 872 MiG aircrafts of various models between 1966 and 1980, making it the biggest operator of the aircraft in the world. Between 1971 and April 2012, as many as 482 MiG crashes were reported, killing 171 pilots, 39 civilians, 8 service personnel and 1 aircrew. Human error and technical issues were cited as the causes. The crash data has not been updated since. The crashes earned the fighters a grim nickname of "flying coffins" and inspired a blockbuster Bollywood movie "Rang De Basanti" in 2006 based on the death of a young MiG-21 pilot. On Friday, the fighter was accorded a colorful farewell with a last sortie led by Air Force Chief, Air Marshal AP Singh in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh at the northern Indian air base of Chandigarh. Upon landing, the fighter was accorded a water canon salute. "The MiG-21 has the distinction of being an aircraft which has trained generations of Indian fighter pilots. It was a joy to fly. It made me the fighter pilot I am today," air force Group Capt. Indranil Nandi said. The MiG-21 was once the most widely exported fighter, but only a few countries, including Cuba, Yemen, Syria, North Korea and some African nations now fly the updated variants in limited numbers. To boost its depleted fighter strength, the air force has contracted to buy 87 Tejas from state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The deliveries expected last year have been delayed largely due to shortages of engines that must be imported from the U.S. On Thursday, the Defense Ministry signed another contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to procure additional 97 Tejas for the air force. Deliveries are expected to start in 2027. The air force is also considering a proposal in an early stage of procuring Rafale fighter jets that would be built locally by French company Dassault Aviation in partnership with an Indian firm. The U.S is also keen on supplying the F-35 stealth fighters to India, but New Delhi hasn't shown its inclination yet as it pushes for procurement of locally made jets.
NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 crew members, including Shubhanshu Shukla, were welcomed with hugs and drinks as they stepped into the International Space Station on Thursday. The newly launched spacecraft -- the fifth in the Dragon series and named Grace -- successfully completed a soft docking with the International Space Station at 4.01pm while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean."At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4," the National Aeronautics ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], June 26 (ANI): British authorities on Thursday thanked India for their constant support after the British F-35B fighter jet made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport nearly a fortnight ago. The High Commission spokesperson said, "We are working to repair the UK F-35B at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport as quickly as possible. We thank the Indian Authorities for their continued support" Also Read | Shubhanshu Shukla Becomes First Indian To Enter International Space Station, Says 'Privilege To Be Amongst Few To See Earth From This Vant ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], June 27 (ANI): A UK F-35B aircraft is currently awaiting repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after experiencing an engineering issue, a British High Commission spokesperson confirmed. "A UK F-35B aircraft is awaiting repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after developing an engineering issue. The UK has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport. The aircraft will be moved to the hangar once UK engineering teams arrive with specialist equipment, thereby ensurin ...Read More >
Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) [India], February 7 (ANI): Bihar Governor Arif Mohammed Khan arrived at the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj on Friday and said that the 'Sanatana' culture embodies the oneness of being and that all the differences dissolve in it. Speaking to the media here, Arif Khan highlighted the Indian culture of seeing divinity in humanity, asserting that "manav" (humans) are a reflection of "Madhav" (God). Khan also noted that India's heritage, values, and ideals continue to be celebrated at the Mahakumbh, fostering unity among people beyond personal familiarity. "We should always not ...Read More >
New Delhi, May 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) The pilots of the IndiGo plane, which was damaged in rough weather en route to Srinagar, were denied permission by the Lahore ATC to venture briefly into Pakistan airspace to escape the hailstorm, in complete violation of humanitarian norms. India's civil aviation regulator, the DGCA, said the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of approximately 36,000 feet near Punjab's Pathankot when it ran into a thunderstorm and hailstorm. Experiencing severe turbulence, the crew first requested the Northern ATC of the Indian Air Force to allow the flight to deviate to ...Read More >
Hyderabad: In a significant boost for 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbharta' in the aerospace and defence sector, and Hyderabad's growing stature as a global aerospace hub, the complete fuselage of the Rafale fighter jet will now be made in India at Hyderabad. This move marks the first time that these Rafale components will be manufactured outside France for the Indian as well as global markets.French aerospace major Dassault Aviation has signed four production transfer agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) for manufacturing key sections of the Rafale fighter jet, including the lateral ...Read More >
Ludhiana, Jun 8 (PTI) Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Sunday asserted that his party will win the Ludhiana West assembly bypoll, scheduled to be held on june 19, with a "record margin". "Congress practically has no competition here", he claimed. Warring, who is also the Ludhiana MP, said that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was badly mistaken that the Congress would allow it to abuse power and misuse the official machinery for the elections. "First of all, we will not let any misuse of the official machinery and second, in case any official is found to be misusing ...Read More >
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 26 (ANI): The family members of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) pilot and Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on Thursday evening. Shukla's father Shambhu Dayal Shukla, mother Asha Shukla, sister Shuchi Mishra, and brother met the Chief Minister, who felicitated them and presented them with a token of appreciation in honour of Shukla's selection for the space mission. Also Read | 8th Pay Commission To Triple Medical Allowance and Raise Minimum Salary to INR 27,000? Check Details. Speaking t ...Read More >
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], February 10 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday met Minister Delegate to the Minister of Defence and Chief of Staff of the National Army of Algeria General Said Changeriha in Bengaluru at Aero India 2025. Singh called their meeting a "great interaction." Also Read | US: Judge Finds Trump Administration Hasn't Fully Followed Order To Unfreeze Federal Spending, Orders White House To Release All Money. In a post on X, he said, "Great interaction with the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Defence and Chief of Staff of the National Army of Algeria Ge ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], May 23 (ANI): Criticising the BJP-led NDA government, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that India's foreign policy has collapsed. In a post on X, Gandhi raised three questions to the central government. "Will JJ explain, Why India has been hyphenated with Pakistan? Why didn't a single country back us in condemning Pakistan? Who asked Trump to "mediate" between India & Pakistan?" the LoP said. Reposting a video of S Jaishankar's interview with a media outlet, he said, "India's foreign policy has collapsed," he added. Earlier, Gandhi q ...Read More >
Saharanpur: An Indian Air Force Apache attack helicopter made a precautionary landing near Saharanpur during a routine training on Friday. The helicopter safely returned to the Saharanpur air base after the incident. The landing was precautionary, it was not due to an emergency but rather a safety measure. No casualties or injuries reported. Army and police officials reached the site to asses the situation. The IAF is investigating further in this matter. This incident follows a series of precautionary landings and crashes involving IAF aircraft in recent months, including a Mirage 2000 cra ...Read More >
AP EAMCET Result 2025: APSCHE has declared the results for AP EAPCET today, June 8, 2025. AP EAMCET Result 2025: The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) has declared the results for Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture, and Pharmacy Common Entrance Test (AP EAPCET) 2025 today, June 8, 2025. Candidates who appeared for the examination can login and check their results on the official website, cets.apsche.ap.gov.in. AP EAMCET is now called as AP EAPCET. AP EAMCET Result 2025: How To Download Your Result? Visit the official website, cets.apsche.ap.gov.in.Click on "AP E ...Read More >
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, June 27: Nearly two weeks after it made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport, the UK F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jet will be moved to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport as it awaits repairs, the British High Commission stated on Friday. "A UK F-35B aircraft is awaiting repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport after developing an engineering issue. The UK has accepted an offer to move the aircraft to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport. The aircraft will be moved to the hangar onc ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Aviation engineers from the UK are arriving in Thiruvananthapuram to repair an F-35B Lightning jet of Britain's Royal Navy as the aircraft continued to be stranded after making an emergency landing 12 days ago.The aircraft is part of the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group of the UK's Royal Navy.The jet, worth over USD 110 million and known to be one of the most advanced fighters globally, made the emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport on June 14.The aircraft is awaiting repairs at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport after developing an engineering issue, a B ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 6 (PTI) An Apache helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) made a "precautionary landing" in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur on Friday due to a technical issue while on a routine sortie, officials said. Both the pilot and the co-pilot are safe, they said. Also Read | Bengaluru Stampede: Police Complaint Lodged Against Virat Kohli Over Stampede Tragedy Near Chinnaswamy Stadium. An IAF Apache helicopter made a "precautionary landing" in Saharanpur around 11 am due to a technical issue, a senior IAF official said. All necessary checks were conducted after the landing and the helicop ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) India has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for a major Indian Air Force (IAF) exercise scheduled to take place near the southern sector of the India-Pakistan International Border in Rajasthan from Saturday, June 7, to Sunday, June 8. The exercise is part of the IAF's regular operational preparedness and will be conducted in airspace near the border. According to the NOTAM, the aerial drill will commence at 3:30 p.m. on June 7 and conclude at 9:30 p.m. the following day. During this period, airspace over the designated region will be restricted to ensure t ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Axiom-4 mission piloted by Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, along with the other crew, docked at the International Space Station at around 4:01 pm on Thursday. Upon successful docking and opening of the hatch, Shubhanshu was seen greeting the crew members with hugs and handshakes. As the crew entered the space station after opening the hatches of the spacecraft successfully, they greeted themselves by hugging and handshaking after eagerly waiting for their safe arrival from Earth onboard the Dragon spacecraft. On June 25, the Axiom-4 crew successfully lifted o ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: India pushed for a permanent solution of border demarcation with China and underlined the need to solve complex issues through a structured roadmap of engagement and de-escalation, during talks between defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun on Thursday. Singh "stressed on border management and to have a permanent solution of border demarcation by rejuvenating the established mechanism on the issue," the defence ministry said on Friday, a day after two ministers held talks at Qingdao in China on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisat ...Read More >
It seems like the lady has found love again. Reports suggest that Malaika Arora has started seeing fashion stylist Rahul Vijay, and here's everything you need to know about him and their growing romance. Malaika Arora seems to have found love again months after breaking up with Arjun Kapoor. The diva recently attended AP Dhillon's Mumbai concert with a mystery boy and the internet quickly recalled that he was the same guy Malaika was spotted with last week on a dinner date. This time, Arora even ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 31 (ANI): Parents of Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla were elated after their son was selected as the pilot for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Axiom-4 mission, scheduled this year. The parents credited Shubhanshu's hard work and dedication for his success and also acknowledged the contribution his wife behind his success. Expressing her immense happiness in an interaction with ANI, Shukla's mother Asha Shukla said she can't express her emotions in words. "We cannot express our feelings in words," she said. "Our joy is unlimited; we cannot p ...Read More >
Gurgaon: Two days after a law student died and his friend suffered critical injuries when a car knocked them down as they stood near railing on the service lane of Delhi-Jaipur highway in the early hours of Tuesday, a civil engineer was arrested on Thursday.Mohit (31), an employee of a private company in the city, told police that he got drowsy while driving. He is staying at a PG facility in Sector 14.The student who died, Harsh Singhal (25), was a resident of Om Nagar colony. His friend Abhishek Kumar (23), who is from Shanti Nagar in Sector 11, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jun 27 (PTI) Three persons were booked under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district for their alleged involvement in activities prejudicial to the security and sovereignty of the Union Territory (UT), police said on Friday. In a significant operation against subversive and anti-national elements, police in Sopore booked three individuals under the PSA for their continued involvement in activities prejudicial to the security and sovereignty of the UT, a police spokesman said. Also Read | UK F-35B Lightning II Stealth Fighter Jet To Be Moved t ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): Singer AP Dhillon rocked the stage in New Delhi on Saturday evening as part of his 'The Brownprint Tour' where he thrilled thousands of fans with his energetic performances. The concert became even more special when Honey Singh, Jazzy B, and Shinda Kahlon joined him on stage leaving fans surprised. Jazzy B entertained the crowd with his iconic track 'Dil Luteya', while Honey Singh brought his signature energy with 'Millionaire', a song recently featured in the Hindi dub of 'Suits'. Together with AP Dhillon, the trio sang 'Dil Luteya', making fans cheer a ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >
Pune: Civil aviation experts sought more action against rampant and illegal construction activities near Lohegaon airport, citing that flights' funnel zone was at risk of being compromised.Referring to the Pune Municipal Corporation's action this week against illegal under-construction buildings in the vicinity of the airport, the experts said too little was being done too late. An Indian Air Force (IAF) veteran, requesting anonymity, said rampant construction around airports couldn't have happened without collusion."This is a huge problem. No one is speaking about it. Collusion between law en ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: At a time when Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is in space as part of the Axiom-4 mission, India's first spaceman Rakesh Sharma, who went there as part of the Indo-Soviet space programme in 1984, has said that space travel alters the mindset of humans and makes them see the world from a perspective that "this planet belongs to everyone" and is "not the sole preserve" of anyone."We really need to preserve what we have, which means we need to end conflicts, we need to forget about our weapons, we need to forget about confrontation and we need to start collaborating instead," he sai ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) Upgrading India's Sukhoi-30MKI fighter fleet, production of air-to-air missiles and expeditious supply of two batches of S-400 missile systems figured prominently in Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's talks with his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov in the Chinese city of Qingdao. The two defence ministers held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Thursday. The Indian Air Force is operating around 260 Sukhoi 30-MKI jets and it is looking at upgrading the fleet under an ambitious plan. The Russian-origin ...Read More >
Kolkata: Once heavily dependent on imports, India's defence sector is poised to emerge as a global supplier, riding on a plethora of policy reforms, investments and industrial capabilities. With NATO announcing that its member nations will raise defence expenditure to 5% of GDP by 2035, there is a growing optimism in India about making it big in the export of military hardware in the developed world. One of the bright spots is the achievement of Reliance Defence, which has grabbed an export order of Rs 600 crore from Germany's major defence manufacturer Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH. Relian ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 27: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with the Defence Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr Andrey Belousov, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Meeting in Qingdao, China. The two Ministers held wide-ranging discussions on regional and global security developments, cross-border terrorism, and ongoing as well as future avenues of bilateral defence cooperation. The Russian Defence Minister reaffirmed the depth and resilience of the longstanding India-Russia strategic partnership and expressed solidarity with India in the wake o ...Read More >