Ajit Pawar, 4 others dead in plane crash; State govt. denies foul play

Chartered jet carrying NCP leader crashes while landing in Baramati, his home constituency; forensic teams deployed at crash site, investigation to be launched; last rites will be held today; State government declares a three-day mourning.

India, the beautiful - but first, India the functional

Until India addresses the fundamentals image, infrastructure, and experience it will remain a tantalising idea rather than a top-tier destination.

The new logic of the Chinese economy

As the global economic and trade order suffers a severe blow, the giant ship of the Chinese economy once again demonstrates its strong resilience, with its GDP exceeding 140 trillion yuan (approximately $20 trillion) in 2025. This represents a year-on-year increase of 5%. China's contribution to global economic growth is expected to reach around 30%. This hard-won achievement has drawn significant global attention.

Who loses when teachers are attacked?

Teachers learn to adapt and survive, as seen in many State universities, while continuing to draw their salaries. The real victims will be the students and their parents.

Voters increasingly link their choices with policies, delivery

On January 25, India observed National Voters' Day, which aims to promote electoral awareness and encourage informed participation. Close on the heels of the moment, let us take a close look at how voter participation and political behaviour have evolved over the past decade. Lokniti-CSDS survey data offer important insights into the stability of electoral turnout, the gradual rise in women's participa-tion, and the shifting patterns of political autonomy and influence among voters.

Can the ED file writ petitions before Courts?

In India, the Supreme Court is vested with the power to issue prerogative writs under Article 32 of the Constitution, while High Courts exercise a similar jurisdiction under Article 226.

The Kerala government has questioned the ED's locus to maintain a writ petition, contending that it is merely a department of the Union government and not a juristic person or body corporate capable of suing or being sued.

India holds security dialogue with Saudi Arabia

Days after signing a 'Letter of Intent' for a Strategic Defence Partnership with the United Arab Emirates, India on Wednesday held a security dialogue with Saudi Arabia. Indian and Saudi senior officials met in the capital Riyadh, where the two sides carried out a "comprehensive review of ongoing security cooperation" and discussed threats posed by terrorist groups globally and "in their respective regions".

66% sanitation workers in Central govt. from SC, ST, OBC groups: DOPT report

More than 66% of the Group C safai karmacharis (sanitation workers) employed in the Union government come from the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC), show data on reservation in the annual report for 2024-25 from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).