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: A quiet splash. A dark current. And then, chaos. Concrete cracking. Steel shattering. Russia's mighty Crimean Bridge, once a symbol of unbreakable control, was torn. Not by fighter jets. Not by missiles. But by bombs, sleeping silently beneath the waves. On June 3 morning, Ukraine's security service SBU claimed responsibility for a jaw-dropping underwater strike on the Kerch Bridge, an important supply line between Russia and the occupied Crimean Peninsula. The attack, which reportedly used 1,100 kg of explosives, targeted the bridge's underwater pillars - crippling its foundation without firing a single bullet above the surface. The SBU said the mission took months of planning, involving the stealthy planting of explosives beneath the bridge. At exactly 4:44 a.m., the bombs were triggered. No warnings. Just impact. Russian authorities scrambled to shut down traffic twice that day. By evening, a temporary fix was in place but the damage had been done, both physically and psychologically. "God loves the Trinity. The SBU always sees things through. We never do the same thing twice," said SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk, referencing this being their third successful strike on the bridge. A chilling message and a direct blow to Vladimir Putin, who had personally inaugurated the $3.7 billion structure after annexing Crimea. What Exactly Is an Underwater Bomb? Think of it as a torpedo without the motion. These devices, designed for stealth and shock, are planted on or near underwater structures. Often placed by divers, underwater drones, or submersibles, they are programmed to detonate on command or via timed triggers. And unlike airstrikes, they are nearly invisible until they explode. These are not ordinary explosives. They are built to withstand water pressure, avoid detection by sonar and deliver focused kinetic blasts that cripple foundations from beneath. That is exactly what happened at Kerch. Does India Have Plans for This? While India has not publicly revealed plans for underwater bomb programs like Ukraine's, quiet steps are being taken. According to naval insiders, the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy are actively evaluating unmanned underwater systems (UUVs) that could be retrofitted for attack roles, not just surveillance. There is growing chatter around seabed warfare capabilities, especially in the context of defending critical assets like undersea data cables and offshore oil platforms. The idea is not far-fetched. India's elite MARCOS commandos are trained in combat diving and sabotage and can plant demolition charges underwater. What is missing is formal doctrine and deployment at scale. But after watching Ukraine use a silent underwater detonation to rock a $3.7 billion bridge, defence circles in Delhi are asking tougher questions and demanding faster answers. What's India's Naval Response to China's Threat? India knows the seas are where the next silent war could unfold. With China's presence growing in the Indian Ocean, from Gwadar in Pakistan to Hambantota in Sri Lanka, India is no longer taking chances. There has been a visible ramp-up of maritime surveillance drones and naval exercises with Quad partners and expansion of island radar stations across the Indian Ocean rim. But it is not just about eyeballing Chinese warships. India is betting big on indigenous tech, and that includes underwater autonomous platforms. INS Arihant and INS Arighat, nuclear submarines built under India's Advanced Technology Vessel project, are part of a broader long-term response. But naval minds are also pushing for lighter and stealthier systems like drone swarms below water that can strike before they are seen. How Do Underwater Drones Operate in Combat? They move like sea creatures. Slow. Silent. Invisible. Underwater drones or Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) operate with pre-programmed coordinates. In combat, they are used for mine detection, surveillance and increasingly for attack missions. They can glide through the sea like torpedoes, latch onto targets like limpet mines and detonate without warning. Ukraine has turned them into weapons of disruption. India is figuring out how to turn them into weapons of deterrence. But the blueprint exists, and the timing, in a region where tensions are always bubbling under the surface, could not be more urgent.
A top NATO chief has urged business leaders to begin preparing for a 'wartime scenario' following rising tensions across the world. The warning comes as Germany announced it was drawing up a list of bunkers and other underground facilities that could provide shelter for civilians in the event of an attack. Speaking in Brussels yesterday, Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer (pictured) warned that NATO members needed to adjust their production and distribution lines in order to be less vulnerable to blackmail from countries such as Russia and China. The chair of NATO's military committee said: 'If we can m ...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 >
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 >
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 4: India's mining and construction equipment sector is poised for significant growth, projected to expand from $16 billion to $45 billion by 2030*. To support this surge, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), a wholly owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, today launched the all-new BharatBenz Construction and Mining range comprising of their HX and Torqshift series models. This heavy-duty truck series directly addresses the critical need for reliable, high-performance vehicles as large contractors increasingly invest in owned assets and modernize their ag ...Read More >
Lebanese health ministry confirms 3,841 dead in Israel-Hezbollah conflict Lebanese armed group Hezbollah confirmed its media relations chief Mohammad Afif was killed by an Israeli strike on a building in central Beirut on Sunday. Israel has rarely hit senior Hezbollah personnel who do not have clear military roles, and its air strikes have mostly targeted Beirut's southern suburbs where the group has its heaviest presence. Israel's military, which earlier declined to comment, issued a statement late on Sunday reporting it had "eliminated" Afif. The Lebanese health ministry said the strike h ...Read More >
A Russian strike on a nine-story building in the city of Sumy in northern Ukraine killed eight people and wounded dozens, an official said Sunday (November 17, 2024), as Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack described by officials as the largest in recent months. "Among the eight killed in Sumy, 40 kilometers (24 miles) from the border with Russia, were two children," said Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko. More than 400 people were evacuated from the building. Ukraine's Zelenskyy urges allies to take steps before North Korean troops reach the front The rescu ...Read More >
The incoming US president has vowed to press for a quick deal to end Russia's war - leaving Kyiv scrambling to position itself ahead of his January inauguration Nato foreign ministers looked set to rebuff Tuesday a push from Ukraine for progress on joining their alliance ahead of Donald Trump taking power in the United States. The incoming US president has vowed to press for a quick deal to end Russia's war - leaving Kyiv scrambling to position itself ahead of his January inauguration. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said getting security guarantees from the Western alliance and ...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 29: Ukraine has confirmed the loss of an F-16 fighter jet and its pilot during efforts to repel a large-scale Russian air assault, amid continued heavy fighting in the fourth year of war reports Al Jazeera and International media. The country's air force said the aircraft was engaged in defending against a barrage of missiles and drones when it was damaged and lost altitude. Ukrainian air defences reportedly shot down seven targets before the fighter crashed overnight. The pilot, identified as a first-class officer, was killed in the incident. The loss comes as Ukraine faces o ...Read More >
India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam ShowQuick Read Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed Political leadership forbade targeting Pakistani air defences in initial phase, Captain Shiv Kumar saidCongress criticised the BJP government for "misleading" the public on Operation SindoorOpposition demanded all-party meeting and special parliament session on the issue Did our AI summary help? Let us know. New Delhi: A comment by India's defence attache ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 30 (ANI): In a swift and decisive operation, the Indian Navy's stealth frigate INS Tabar responded to a distress call from the Panamanian-flagged tanker MT Yi Cheng 6 in the Gulf of Oman on June 29. The vessel, carrying 14 Indian crew members and transiting from Kandla, India, to Shinas, Oman, reported a major fire in its engine room, resulting in a complete power failure. Also Read | Waqf Act Controversy: RJD Leader Tejashwi Yadav Call for 'Throwing Waqf Act in Dustbin' Sparks Political Storm, Parties Trade Barbs. In a post on X, the Indian Navy spokesperson said, " ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The delivery of the indigenously manufactured stealth Frigate Udaygiri to the Indian Navy on Tuesday marked a rare landmark in the history of the Force. Yard 12652 (Udaygiri), the second ship of Project 17A stealth frigate, being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL), became the 100th ship to be designed and delivered by the Indian Navy's in-house Warship Design Bureau. The Indian Navy in its statement said, "The Project is a follow-on of the Shivalik class (Project 17) frigates active in service. Udaygiri is the second among the seven P17A frigates under construction ...Read More >
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his international tour, questioning the effectiveness of India's diplomatic efforts in isolating Pakistan globally. Moitra commented on Modi's extensive traveling and expressed concerns about Pakistan's support from international organizations. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a multi-nation tour, he faced critical remarks from Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who questioned why India's diplomatic act ...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 >
Indus Waters Treaty: BIG tension for Pakistan as India eyes revival of this project due to... Suspension of the IWT was one of the key decisions made by the centre after the April 22 Pahalgam tragedy which had claimed 26 lives. The Indus Waters Treaty -.. DNA 9 hours ago Who is Pakistani Spy Vishal Yadav? Indian Navy Man Who Leaked Op Sindoor Details To Pak Army Vishal Yadav, a Navy HQ clerk, has been arrested for leaking sensitive military data to Pakistan's ISI, including during Operation Sindoor -- India's retaliatory strike post the Pahalgam terror attack. Yadav was reportedly lured on ...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 >
Mumbai: Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will hold a joint protest march of their parties in the city on July 5 against what they allege is imposition of Hindi in the state's schools from Class 1 through the new three-language policy. This will be the first time they will come together on a political platform after Raj Thackeray's decision to quit Shiv Sena to form MNS nearly two decades ago.There has been speculation of a reunion of the estranged cousins for the coming civic polls, and the protest march is being seen as the first step in that direction, reports Chaitanya Marpakwar.Uddhav and Raj had ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday cited the reported comments of India's defence attache to Indonesia that the Indian Air Force lost fighter jets to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and accused the government of having "misled" the country. The party also asked why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi "refusing" to preside over an all-party meeting to take the Opposition into confidence and why has the demand for a special session of Parliament been rejected. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared a media report on X which quoted Captain (Indian Navy) Shiv Kumar ...Read More >
MADURAI: Likening the custodial murder of Ajith Kumar in Tiruppuvanam to an 'organised crime by police where the state kills its own citizens,' Madras high court lambasted the Tamil Nadu police and said the action against the perpetrators should be more stringent than in normal murder cases.A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice A D Maria Clete pointed to 44 external injuries on the person of Ajith Kumar and said no part of the body was spared by the delinquent cops. "Even an ordinary murderer would not have inflicted such kind of injuries," the bench said on Tuesday.The natur ...Read More >
Visakhapatnam, Jul 4: Sub Lieutenant Astha Poonia officially became the first woman to be streamed into the fighter stream of the Indian Navy. Paving the way for a new era of women fighter pilots in the force, and shattering barriers, Poonia also received the prestigious 'Wings of Gold' from Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (Air). According to the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Navy celebrated the graduation of the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course at the Naval Air Station, INS Dega, in Visakhapatnam. Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull and Sub-Lieutenant Astha Poonia ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: India's army deputy chief on Friday claimed that China provided Pakistan "live inputs" on Indian military positions during the deadly conflict in May, urging swift upgrades to India's air defence systems in response to the evolving threat. The nuclear-armed rivals used missiles, drones, and artillery fire during the four-day fighting -- their worst in decades -- triggered by an attack in April on Hindu tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that New Delhi blamed on Islamabad, before agreeing to a ceasefire. Pakistan has denied involvement in the attack. In ...Read More >
India's Indigenous Light Tank: A Key Weapon System For High-Altitude Combat Friday, December 13, 2024 by Indian Defence News India's indigenous light tank, Zorawar, represents a significant advancement in the country's defence capabilities, particularly for operations in high-altitude regions. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and supported by various Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the Zorawar is designed to meet the operational demands highlighted during the 2020 standoff with China in Eastern Lada ...Read More >
Nagpur, May 23 (PTI) India's indigenously developed 'Akashteer' air defence system performed "exceedingly well" during 'Operation Sindoor', said Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Samir V Kamat, who expressed confidence that its success will draw international interest. India had deployed the indigenously developed and fully automated 'Akashteer' air defence control and reporting system, which emerged as the invisible force of new war capabilities during Operation Sindoor, launched against nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "Definitely, our a ...Read More >
Kolkata, June 28: A political slugfest has erupted in West Bengal after a woman accused Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, who is posted with the Murshidabad unit of Bharat Sevashram Sangha, of allegedly raping her 12 times for six months in 2013. As per the police complaint lodged by the woman, Kartik Maharaj raped her multiple times 12 years ago promising her a job at a local school. The ruling Trinamool Congress is highlighting the issue in a major way and accusing the BJP of being silent on it since the accused monk had been reportedly close to the saffron party. The woman accusin ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 1: The Indian Navy commissioned INS Tamal on July 1 at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. The stealth frigate, built under Project 1135.6, is the eighth in the series and second of the Tushil-class. It was inducted in the presence of senior Indian and Russian naval officials, including Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh. INS Tamal is equipped with advanced Indian and Russian weapons systems, including the BrahMos missile and Humsa-NG sonar. With a crew of 276, the warship is designed for multi-dimensional blue-water operations and is set to join the Western Fleet. The ship ...Read More >
A summary of world news briefs includes Hezbollah's media chief killed by Israeli airstrike, U.S. policy shift allowing Ukraine to use American weapons against Russia, Xi Jinping's final talks with Joe Biden, and other geopolitical developments including climate finance consensus at the G20 in Brazil. In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Lebanese Hezbollah's media relations head, Mohammad Afif, was killed in an Israeli strike in central Beirut. The attack targets a senior Hezbollah figure, signaling a rare focus on individuals without explicit military roles. The U.S. administra ...Read More >
Russia's nuclear doctrine has been updated to affirm its nuclear umbrella for primarily the six member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), including an explicit focus on Belarus. The announcement followed a joint meeting of the CSTO's Council of Foreign Ministers, Council of Defense Ministers, and Committee of Security Council Secretaries held in Astana. According to the state news agency TASS, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu highlighted the revisions, emphasizing Moscow's commitment to protecting its allies under the CSTO. The CSTO, formed in 2002 ...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 >
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday warned educational institutions that cases would be booked against them if drugs were found in their premises. The CM announced that the state's Anti-Narcotics Bureau would henceforth be known as Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) and was tasked with curbing the menace of narcotics in the state. Speaking at an event marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2025 at Shilpakala Vedika here, Reddy placed an onus on educational institutions to ensure their campuses were free of drugs. "It is the ...Read More >