Tweak in Jal Jeevan tender rule removed cap on expense, led to Rs 16,000-crore extra cost

On Monday, the Government issued an order for 100 inspection teams to fan out across 135 districts in 29 states and Union Territories to review the work being carried out under its flagship Jal Jeevan Mission for supplying drinking water through individual tap connections to rural households - amid concerns within the administration over cost overruns and alleged lapses in award of tenders.

The North Star in Indian astrophysics, he was ahead of his time – and space 

Narlikar, who had contributed immensely to the development of an alternative model of the universe along with his mentor Fred Hoyle, passed away Tuesday morning in Pune. He was 87. Ailing for some time, he had had a fall two weeks ago and had to be operated upon last week.

One of the most celebrated Indian scientists, Narlikar, then a young researcher at Cambridge University in the UK, had attracted global recognition for his work on what is known as the steady-state theory of the universe, developed by Hoyle, in collaboration with Hermann Bondi and Thomas Gold.

SG: Waqf secular concept... property dedication common across religions

In a note Tuesday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court, which began hearing the challenge against the amendments to the Waqf Act, that "waqf, by its very nature, is a secular concept" and that the law does not touch upon any essential religious practices of Muslims.

Cabinet nod to Rs 30k subsidy for 3 kW rooftop solar panels

The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday approved providing Rs 30,000 subsidy on the installation of 3 kW rooftop solar panels (Rs 10,000 per kW) under the PM Surya Ghar scheme - the world's largest domestic rooftop solar initiative increasing the total subsidy available to Rs 1.08 lakh.

MR Srinivasan, who built India's N-power plants, dies

Among the first generation of nuclear technologists in India, Srinivasan was one of the key people who built the country's nuclear power programme. Joining the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 1955 at the age of 25, Srinivasan rose to become its Chairman in 1987 and also headed the AEC. A mechanical engineer, his most important contribution was in the refinement and adaptation of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors, which went on to be-come the backbone of nuclear power in India.

SC allows TN to appoint priests in non-Agama temples in state

Amid the ongoing debate sparked by the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, about the extent to which the state can interfere in a community's religious affairs, the Supreme Court has allowed the Tamil Nadu government to appoint 'archakas' (priests) to the state's temples not governed by Agama tradition.

'Historic moment': Mizoram Chief Minister declares state fully literate 

Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Tuesday declared Mizoram a "fully literate state". He made this announcement during a programme in Aizawl, attended by Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary.

The shadow triangle

The recent bout of hostilities between India and Pakistan has once again exposed the fragility of deterrence in South Asia. This time, however, the conflict cannot be framed solely as a bilateral flashpoint. While the triggers remain familiar-cross-border provocation and military response – the broader context has shifted significantly. The United States, returning to its well-worn role of crisis manager, has momentarily revived the India-Pakistan hyphenation that New Delhi has long worked to dismantle. More consequential, though, is the increasingly visible footprint of China in Pakistan's military posture. The conflict may have started on the Line of Control, but it now plays out in a strategic triangle, with each vertex holding different stakes and tactics.

NOT JUST A TRADE DEAL

The India-Uk Free Trade Agreement (FTA) marks not just a high point in India's trade negotiations but a transformative opportunity for Indian industry. It is a signpost of India's maturing global presence - no longer content to participate in trade from the sidelines, but ready to lead, partner and shape the next wave of global economic growth.

Trump-proofing India-US

It might take years to build something, but just a few days to destroy it. Mutual trust, in particular, is hard to arrive at, especially between sovereigns. But a few words and actions could just shatter it in a brief moment. That is precisely what Donald Trump has done to India-US relations. In a barrage of daily commentary, in the past few days, Trump has undermined carefully developed political understandings on key issues, especially on Kashmir and Pakistan.

Taking India's message to world

In 1994, When P V Narasimha Rao was Prime Minister, India sent a delegation to the United Nations headquarters in New York led by Farooq Abdullah. India's permanent representative to the UN at the time was Hamid Ansari, who would later become the country's Vice President. After the discussions concluded, the Indian delegation came face to face with Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN, Jamsheed Marker, who posed a sarcastic question to Ansari and his team: "Aren't there people in Hindustan other than Muslims?"

Getting on the green track 

Everybody has their favorite way of travelling. Usually, the choice of the mode of transport is driven by convenience, comfort, and cost. But things are changing around the world for a completely different reason. There is growing interest in what experts call a "modal shift" - moving people and goods from roads and flights to railways - that could have a big impact on the environment, traffic, and even the economy.

Narlikar's challenge to Big Bang

Professor Jayant Narlikar, one of India's most prominent scientists, passed away in Pune on Tuesday morning. An astrophysicist, Narlikar is best known for his work on an alternative model of the universe, separate from the Big Bang, in collaboration with his PhD guide Fred Hoyle, one of the leading figures of 20th-century astrophysics.

In tense Manipur calm, festival of the flower

The Shirui Lily festival returned to Manipur on Tuesday after a two-year break due to the conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities in the state. This is the first major tourism festival to be hosted by Manipur since the start of the conflict in May 2023.

Govt to open up key spectrum, clear decks for high-speed WiFi

In a Major win for tech companies like Sony, Apple and Meta, the Indian government has proposed to open up licence-free use of a portion of the key 6 GHz spectrum, paving the way for faster WiFi speeds, and supporting connectivity needs of devices like the Sony PlayStation Pro, and virtual reality gear from Apple and Meta.