Speaking to IANS about the Ram Temple embezzlement row, Kumar said: "If the investigation was against only those eight people, then it won't hold any meaning that is why officials at all levels are being probed."

Refuting the Opposition's claims that ornaments worth crores have been stolen from the donations made at the Ram Temple, the VHP International President added: "The Ram Temple Trust Treasurer (Swami Govind Dev Giri Maharaj) has said that the gold and silver ornaments are intact. It is an irresponsible, bizzare rumour-mongering in order to benefit from the situation and an attempt to spread dissatisfaction among all the Hindus."

"This rumour-mongering is a crime under Section 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita," Kumar asserted while urging the police to summon people spreading such "rumours" for questioning.

"If it is found to be unverified and manufactured news then FIR should be lodged and subsequent action should be taken against those spreading such misinformation," he added.

Alok Kumar urged the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to tell the police about who all are spreading such "bizarre rumours".

However, the VHP International President appealed the investigators to probe all accusations in the case.

"All big and small fishes should be investigated without any mercy and action should be taken against whoever is involved," he said.

While responding to Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav's remarks on Ayodhya, Alok Kumar backed CM Yogi Adityanath's accusation against Akhilesh Yadav and his party's having a history of opposing Hindu religious traditions and questioning their commitment to the development of the temple town.

This comes a day after the SP Chief pledged that, if voted to power, his party would develop the temple town into a "peerless and inimitable sacred city".

"A person's authenticity is also measured by their history. When Mulayam Singh Yadav was the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, how many attempts did he make to transform Ayodhya into 'Siyaram Dham'? He got bullets fired, killed people, and committed atrocities. He never spoke in favour of the Ram temple," the VHP Chief said.

Alok Kumar also added: "Even when Akhilesh Yadav was the Uttar Pradesh CM, there was no mention of constructing 'Siyaram Dham'. Both (Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav) of them did nothing for the Ram Temple during their tenures as CM."

He alleged that Akhilesh Yadav made the remarks "due to his greed for power, in view of the 2027 Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh".

He announced the creation of an integrated tourism circuit linking Kukru with Chikhaldara, Muktagiri and Melghat at an estimated cost of Rs 150 crore. CM Yadav emphasised the promotion of the region's natural treasures.

Units under the brand ‘Kukru Natural’ will be set up in collaboration with women self-help groups and the Forest Department to process and market local products such as coffee, Kodo Kutki, amla, honey, Harra, Bahera, Safed Musali and Bhilva. Dairy product sales centres for ghee, mawa and curd will also be established.

A Rs 10 crore project for Robusta and Arabica coffee cultivation and processing will be implemented with technical support from the Coffee Board.

The announcement came during the Chief Minister's visit to the scenic hill station, where he began his day with a yoga session at the rest house premises.

Practising various asanas, including Mayurasana, Tadasana, Vrikshasana, Trikonasana, Bhujangasana and Shalbhasana, along with Nadi Shodhan, Titli and Bhramari Pranayama, Yadav urged citizens to incorporate yoga into their daily lives for better health.

He also launched the Pulse Polio Campaign from Kukru and administered polio drops to children.

Highlighting Kukru's vast potential, the Chief Minister said the area would be developed with eco-tourism facilities, sunrise and sunset viewing points, modern infrastructure and adventure sports such as trekking.

To empower local tribal communities, homestays will be established and operated on the lines of Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation properties, with bookings managed by MP Tourism. This initiative is expected to generate new employment and self-employment opportunities for local residents.

Additional measures include the introduction of advanced cattle breeds and the construction of cattle sheds for livestock rearers, a Rs 5 crore pond for water conservation, and skill training in tourism, hospitality and driving for local youth.

Several infrastructure projects were also announced in response to villagers' demands, including road construction works, a bridge, a girls' hostel, a wellness centre and a fair price shop.

Yadav assured that the budget for Kukru's development would be enhanced if required and directed officials to prepare comprehensive action plans for holistic growth encompassing tourism, environmental conservation and basic amenities.

Sunil Bharti Mittal called on the Chief Minister at the latter's official residence here.

The Chief Minister posted on 'X' that he was delighted to meet Sunil Bharti Mittal. "We had a productive discussion on strengthening Andhra Pradesh's digital infrastructure and enhancing connectivity for our people. Our conversation focused on expanding last-mile internet and mobile tower connectivity, promoting investments in data centres and an undersea internet cable landing station, and further improving the ease of doing business for mobile service operators in our state," said the Chief Minister.

The details of the talks between the Chief Minister and Sunil Bharti Mittal are not known. An official release from the state government is expected later.

Airtel Nxtra, the date centre subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, is one of the partners in the Google AI Data Centre coming up in Visakhapatnam.

The project, backed by an investment of around $15 billion, will include gigawatt-scale data centre operations powered by clean energy and supported by a strong subsea network.

The data centre, the foundation stone for which was laid in April, will be developed across nearly 600 acres with a total capacity of 1 Gigawatt.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, along with Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, had laid the foundation stone for the Google Cloud India AI Hub on April 28.

Chandrababu Naidu had urged Google and its partners in the project, AdaniConneX and Airtel Nxtra, to complete the project for inauguration by September 2028.

The Chief Minister had said that the government would leverage the Google AI Data Centre to enhance the "Speed of Governance" that the government is committed to delivering.

The arrested accused were identified as Harun Rashid (29) of Rupahihat in Nagaon district, and Junaidur Islam (22) and Ejajul Hoque (23) of Laharighat in Morigaon district, all in Assam.

The accused cyber fraudsters were arrested in connection with a case (206/25) registered at the Cyber Crime and Economic Offence (CC & EO) Police Station, Bhubaneswar, following allegations made by Bulu Dash of Trinath Bazar in Bhubaneswar.

Dash, a retired bank employee, alleged in his complaint, filed on November 5, 2025, that he received a call from the accused fraudsters, who offered to help him update his Life Certificate for pension disbursal, for which he had applied.

He later received a message on November 3, 2025, containing a fraudulent link purportedly sent by UCO Bank for updating his Life Certificate for pension.

"After opening the link and submitting the required details as asked by the fraudsters, he received multiple OTPs. Subsequently, he discovered that Rs 8,50,000 had been fraudulently debited from his bank account through unauthorised online transactions," a senior police official said.

After realising that he had fallen prey to the cyber fraud, he reported the matter to the CC & EO Police Station in Bhubaneswar. Through technical analysis, banking records and KYC details, police detected the involvement of an organised interstate cyber fraud syndicate engaged in procuring mule bank accounts and SIM cards for routing the proceeds of crime.

The investigation revealed that the arrested accused are linked to Kalim Ansari, a key Jamtara-based cyber fraud operator wanted in another cyber fraud case registered at the CC & EO Police Station.

Accused Rashid, a pharmacist, and his associate Parvez Alam Choudhary, also a pharmacist, allegedly opened bank accounts and procured SIM cards in different names before handing them over to the Jamtara-based mastermind, Ansari.

Meanwhile, Hoque recruited mule bank account holders in Morigaon and worked with Ashraful, who allegedly controls the Assam network for procuring and supplying mule bank accounts.

Efforts are on to arrest the remaining accused, including Ansari.

“These are not transactional relationships, these are relationships based on respect, based on trust and based on friendship... if you were to really press me hard and ask me what do I expect, I would say friendship and that's really the last word," the Foreign Secretary said at special briefing by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the archipelagic island in response to a question regarding what India expects in return from all what it has given to Seychelles.

India has gifted Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) PS Lespwar to the Seychelles, to help strengthen the country's maritime security capabilities, enhancing maritime surveillance, search-and-rescue operations, and the protection of Seychelles' territorial waters.

India handed over 10 utility vehicles and 5 sets of Laser Radial class boats to the Seychelles Defence Force and provided 6 ambulances to the government.

It also gave 500 MT of rice to strengthen the country’s food security, as well as 8,500 MT of cement to address the infrastructure sector challenges.

Two paramedics from India also arrived in Seychelles to train and integrate people into the healthcare system.

PM Modi and Seychelles President Patrick Herminie did a virtual ground-breaking ceremony for the Professional and Technical Education Centre being constructed under the special economic package announced earlier this year.

"This will further contribute to the efforts which are already underway in the human resource development sector between the two countries," FS Misri noted during the briefing.

An Umbrella Line of Credit Agreement between Seychelles and the Export-Import Bank of India was signed, which will extend Rs 1,250 crore rupees to support priority development projects in Seychelles.

In this package of $175 million, $125 million is concessional finance assistance, and $50 million is a grant assistance.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), International Payments Ltd., and the Central Bank of Seychelles to facilitate the deployment of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) digital payment infrastructure in Seychelles and identify avenues for broader collaboration in the payments ecosystem.

President Herminie made a proposal requesting Indian assistance in the provision of an advanced light helicopter and in setting up centres devoted to cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence during his meeting with PM Modi.

PM Modi assured that India would look into these proposals and take them forward with a positive frame of mind. The two sides will further discuss these proposals.

Many beneficiaries of the scheme shared how the Lakhpati Didi yojana helped empower them financially while also giving an opportunity to turn 'atma nirbhar' with their hard work.

Bhavnaben Patel, a 'Lakhpati Didi' from Nogama village in Chikhli Taluka of Navsari district started her entrepreneurship journey, some years ago, through government assistance.

Associated with 'Gayatri Sakhi Mandal' (Self-Help Group), she ventured into the canteen and catering business under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and Gujarat government's 'Mission Mangalam' initiative.

Today, she is not only running a successful canteen in Navsari but also earning an annual income exceeding Rs 10 lakh.

Speaking to IANS, Bhavnaben Patel said, "My self-help group (SHG) is named 'Gayatri Sakhi Mandal', ten of us sisters work in this group. We have been running a canteen at the District Panchayat for three years. We started the canteen with Rs 10 lakh in assistance received from the government. Today, all ten of us sisters are self-reliant; I sincerely thank the government and GLPC for this."

Like Bhavnaben, Komalben Chauhan from Gamdi village in Anand district established her own business -- 'Aastha Sakhi Mandal'. She crafts items such as earthen lamps (diyas) and Ganesha idols, as well as patch-work products, 'torans' (door hangings), and bedsheets. Today, 50 to 60 women from the village are associated with her group and earning up to Rs 10,000 per month.

Komalben Chauhan told IANS, "The name of my group is 'Aastha Sakhi Mandal'. I started this group in May 2014. At that time, it consisted of only 10 women, but now, in 2024, 60 to 70 women are associated with me. Whenever I go out now, people say -- Lakhpati Didi has arrived. It is a matter of great pride for me to have gained this new identity."

Rekhaben, another beneficiary said, "We have been associated with the Aastha group for 10 years. Previously, we didn't do any work at home, but after joining the group, we handle all these tasks. We are now standing on our own feet; this enables us to earn a livelihood and run our households."

Notably, the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme is a pan-India scheme being run under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) of the Ministry of Rural Development.

Under this initiative, women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are provided with technical training, financial assistance, loans, and market access.

At present, there are more than three crore Lakhpati Didis across the country, and Gujarat has emerged as one of the leading states, with nearly six lakh Lakhpati Didis.

The launch during the 16th Conference of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW) to be held at Vigyan Bhawan will mark a major milestone in advancing the government's commitment to ensuring comprehensive, accessible and quality healthcare for every child.

The SSBSK envisages providing a seamless continuum of home and community-based care from birth to 36 months of age, said a statement.

The SSBSK recognises the critical importance of the first three years of life for child survival, growth, nutrition and early brain development.

The SSBSK will be a unified national programme that will consolidate the two flagship community-based initiatives â€" Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home-Based Care for Young Child (HBYC) â€" into a single comprehensive framework, said the statement.

By integrating these programmes, SSBSK will ensure continuity of care from birth through the first three years of life, strengthening child survival, nutrition, healthy growth and early childhood development through an integrated approach.

For the first time, the programme will introduce a risk-stratified approach for newborns and children identified as 'At-risk'. These children will receive intensified follow-up through additional home visits based on their level of risk, said the statement.

Under the programme, 'At-risk' newborns will receive up to nine home visits during the first 42 days, while 'At-risk' children will receive up to eight home visits up to 36 months of age, it said.

The programme will strengthen continuity of care through joint home visits by Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), Community Health Officers (CHOs) and Anganwadi Workers (AWWs).

It will also introduce Well-Baby Sessions at every Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) and a monthly Shishu Shivir at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs for early identification, assessment and management of 'At-risk' children.

The SSBSK will incorporate post-partum maternal mental health screening as a structured component of community-based care and will integrate nurturing care for Early Childhood Development (ECD) across all home visits and community contacts by promoting responsive caregiving, early learning, age-appropriate play, child safety and family engagement.

The programme will leverage digital technologies through Decision-Support Systems (DSS), child tracking applications, referral loops and alert mechanisms to strengthen monitoring and continuity of care, said the statement.

The minister successfully concluded his 3-day visit to the United Kingdom on Saturday with the Indiaâ€"UK: Partners in Progress Business Plenary held in London. The engagement reaffirmed the strong momentum in bilateral economic relations, with leading industry stakeholders from both countries expressing firm support for the proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) as a transformative framework for deepening trade and investment ties.

The minister’s engagements in the United Kingdom, followed by the ongoing visit to Greece, reflect the Indian government's continued commitment under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthening global economic partnerships, fostering innovation-led growth, and advancing India's trade and investment diplomacy in key international markets, the statement said.

During the visit to Greece, the delegation will participate in presentations and startup pitches at The Athens Startup Business Incubator (THEA), providing a platform to showcase next-generation enterprises and promote cross-border innovation partnerships.

The delegation will also hold focused roundtable discussions with Indian and Greek industry leaders at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI). The discussions will cover key sectors, including infrastructure, digitalisation and defence, and food and agriculture, with a view to identifying new avenues for collaboration and strengthening private-sector partnerships.

The programme will include a high-level business interaction bringing together leading stakeholders from both countries to explore opportunities for enhanced investment and commercial partnerships across priority sectors. The delegation will also visit leading Greek enterprises to explore collaboration in advanced manufacturing and technology-driven sectors, strengthening industrial synergies between the two countries.

The visit will conclude with interactions involving key business and institutional stakeholders aimed at deepening industry partnerships and expanding bilateral trade linkages, the statement added.

During the raids, the crime branch examined as many as six fuel tankers and one tipper truck.

The storage facility purportedly hoarded the petroleum products without any license, thereby violating the guidelines under the Essential Commodities Act.

The crime branch acted upon a specific tip-off about the stockpiling of petro products and raided the premises in Dabolim region.

The raid comes in the backdrop of stretched and strained energy supply lines, due to curtailed supply of petroleum in the country.

The team inspected six fuel tankers and one tipper truck, leading to their seizure.

Combustible/petroleum liquid was found stored in the tankers following which samples were collected, sealed, and preserved for further examination.

All vehicles and sample exhibits were seized by the police team.

The estimated value of the seized vehicles and petroleum products is said to be nearly Rs 1.5 crore.

The operation was carried out in presence of forensic experts and officials from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), for a period of about six hours.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the premises and vehicles are allegedly operated by a person named Devendra Naik alias Raju Chawan of Sancoale in Goa.

The stored petroleum products were found to be diverted in the black market at inflated rates.

Oil experts said that the illegal storage and handling of petroleum products at the site was apparently in violation of the Petroleum Act, 1934, Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, besides endangering public safety.

Accordingly, an offence was lodged under Sections 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 23 of the Petroleum Act, 1934, Sections 3 read with 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Sections 8 read with 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

The ACB arrested Vatsala Aggarwal, the then Director General Health Services (DGHS), and Neeraj Chopra, Deputy Controller of Accounts (DCA) of DGHS' Central Procurement Agency (CPA), in an FIR, an official statement said.

The allegations pertain to procurement of portable X-ray machines, bed sheets and linen items, C-arm radiological equipment, anaesthesia work stations, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), surgical consumables, medicines and other medical items at allegedly inflated rates through manipulated procurement processes, it added.

It was alleged that tailor-made specifications were framed to favour selected suppliers, genuine competitors were excluded from the bidding process and government funds amounting to several hundred crores of rupees were misutilised, a complaint received from the Delhi government said.

The complaint from the Directorate of Vigilance mentioned alleged large-scale irregularities in procurement of medicines, surgical consumables, other consumables and medical equipment by the DGHS CPA.

It was alleged that certain public servants, in conspiracy with private persons, manipulated procurement processes, tender conditions and technical specifications to provide undue advantage to selected firms and suppliers, thereby causing wrongful loss to the government exchequer and corresponding wrongful gain to private entities.

On the basis of the complaint, an FIR dated June 2 under Sections 7A, 13(1)(a), 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), read with Sections 61(2), 316(5), 318(4) and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, was registered at the ACB Police Station.

In view of the material collected during investigation, both accused persons were questioned and subsequently arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch on Saturday.

"Both the accused were produced before the Rouse Avenue Special Judge (Prevention of Corruption Act) on a one-day police custody remand was sought for custodial interrogation to recover incriminating documentary and electronic evidence, trace missing procurement records, identify other beneficiaries and co-conspirators, verify the money trail and unearth the larger conspiracy," the statement said.

New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party National President Nitin Nabin and Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra on Sunday led party workers in tuning into the 135th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Mann Ki Baat" programme at 8,367 booths across the city.

Malhotra said that while PM Modi captivated the countrymen with an informative discussion on India's development, family security, sharing personal happiness with society, and traditions of the Eastern and North-Eastern regions, Nitin Nabin set an example of BJP as one family by inviting party office bearers and employees to his residence to listen to "Mann Ki Baat".

Malhotra said that the remarkable information shared by PM Modi about the Baby Football League being organised for girls aged 5 to 11 years in Nagaland has surprised and inspired the entire nation.

On this occasion, BJP National Joint Organisation General Secretary Shiv Prakash, National General Secretary Arun Singh, National Media Head and MP Anil Baluni, and Co-Media Head Sanjay Mayukh were also present and listened to the programme.

BJP National General Secretary and MP Tarun Chugh listened to the Prime Minister's "Mann Ki Baat" programme along with East Patel Nagar Temple Sabha office bearers, local RWAs, and BJP workers.

On this occasion, Delhi Pradesh General Secretary Vishnu Mittal, Pradesh Minister and MP Bansuri Swaraj, Pradesh Vice President Vinay Rawat, Karol Bagh District President Virendra Babbar, Pradesh Spokesperson Yasir Jilani and others were present.

Delhi BJP Organisation General Secretary Pawan Rana listened to the "Mann Ki Baat" programme with BJP workers in the Delhi Cantonment area.

MP Manoj Tiwari listened to Prime Minister's "Mann Ki Baat" programme along with Naveen Shahdara district workers, MLA Jitendra Mahajan, and District President Master Vinod.

Member of Parliament Ramvir Singh Bidhuri listened to the radio show along with dignitaries present at a programme organised in south Delhi.

Delhi BJP General Secretary and MP Yogendra Chandolia listened to the "Mann Ki Baat" programme with MLA Raj Kumar Chauhan, local RWA office bearers, and BJP workers at Rohini Sector-3.

Former Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva listened to the "Mann Ki Baat" programme at Agrasen Park, Kashmere Gate, along with Chandni Chowk BJP President Arvind Garg, Municipal Councillor Suman Kumar Gupta, and workers of Chandni Chowk Assembly constituency.

Delhi Jal Board Vice Chairman Satish Upadhyay listened to the "Mann Ki Baat" programme with workers at Booth No. 59 of Hauz Khas Mandal.

Delhi BJP "Mann Ki Baat" programme coordinator Rajan Tiwari listened to the programme with local citizens in New Rajendra Nagar.

Jammu, June 28 (IANS) Eight Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel and a civilian driver were injured in a road accident near Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in J&K’s Reasi district on Sunday, police said,.

Police said the accident occurred when a bus carrying them overturned along the Tarakote route to the shrine.

The condition of three of the injured CISF personnel â€" Head Constables Sammy Kumar and M.M. Dubey and constable P.K. Traya â€" was said to be serious, officials said.

The seriously injured personnel were admitted to the Narayana hospital in Katra town, the officials said.

The rest of the injured, who included a sub-inspector and the civilian driver, Virender Singh, were admitted to the Community Health Centre in Katra, where their condition is said to be stable.

The officials said the CISF personnel, deployed in the shrine area, were heading back to their camp after work.

Road accidents in Jammu & Kashmir are primarily caused by a combination of treacherous hilly terrain, rash driving, and inadequate road infrastructure. These factors are severely exacerbated by overloading, lack of strict traffic enforcement, and delayed emergency response systems along major highways.

The crisis on J&K roads is driven by several factors, including human error and negligent driving, over-speeding & glorification of speed, overtaking on blind curves, and impatient driving, which lead to a large portion of head-on collisions.

A rise in mobile phone usage and texting while driving takes attention away from the difficult mountain roads.

Unqualified individuals operating vehicles, particularly teenagers on two-wheelers, also contribute significantly to road accidents.

Impaired driving due to alcohol or drugs is a notable concern, especially late at night.

Districts like Doda, Ramban, and Kishtwar feature narrow, winding roads with sheer drops and blind spots. Many stretches lack essential safety features like parapet walls, proper crash barriers, and adequate warning signage.

Frequent landslides, fog, heavy rains, and shooting stones make navigation highly perilous in certain seasons.

Passenger vehicles -- especially in rural and hilly areas -- routinely exceed their capacity, which severely affects vehicle balance and braking.

Operating ageing, unfit vehicles without proper brake or tyre checks, leads to mechanical failures.

Failure to wear helmets and seatbelts drastically increases the fatality rate during a crash.

It has issued special guidelines for the teachers to help safeguard students from extreme heat, exhaustion as well as heatstroke.

The Basic Education Department has released 'Guideline for Teachers on Sensitising Students to Heat-Related Illnesses (2026)'.

The guidelines aim to equip teachers with necessary skills and practical guidance, including information on heatwave protection, identifying symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, administering first aid, and effectively safeguarding students.

The schools have been advised to start a 'heat action plan' for raising awareness among children, parents, and the school community through 'Dos and Don'ts' posters, ensuring that extreme heat does not adversely affect children's education, health, or school life.

The guideline emphasises that teachers will play a pivotal role in ensuring student safety during heatwaves.

Teachers will educate students on heatwave protection measures during morning assemblies, classroom instruction, co-curricular activities, and daily school routines.

Every school will be asked to formulate a 'School Heat Action Plan' and they will also designate 'Health Nodal Teachers' to coordinate heatwave-related activities.

Orientation sessions will be conducted for teachers, staff, and students.

Messages regarding heatwave protection and emergency contact numbers will be displayed prominently within the school premises.

Instructions have been issued to ensure that every school is equipped with a first-aid kit, ORS, a digital thermometer, and arrangements for contacting emergency medical services, including the '108' ambulance.

All strenuous physical and outdoor activities will be suspended during 'Orange' or 'Red' heatwave alerts.

Schools must ensure the continuous availability of clean and safe drinking water and encourage students to drink water every 20 to 30 minutes; students will also be encouraged to carry their own water bottles.

The guidelines advise wearing light-coloured cotton clothing, using hats or umbrellas, and consuming water-rich seasonal fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, and cucumber.

If a student exhibits symptoms such as excessive sweating, intense thirst, headache, dizziness, weakness, muscle cramps, vomiting, confusion, or fainting, instructions dictate that they be immediately moved to a shaded area for first aid and the application of cool compresses; the '108' ambulance or the nearest health centre should be contacted if necessary.

Special monitoring is required for students with conditions such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, or disabilities, as well as those recently recovering from fever or diarrhoea.

During the meeting held in Wayanad, Priyanka warmly congratulated Zuhra on becoming one of the few women from Kerala to conquer the world’s highest peak. She praised the young mountaineer for overcoming immense physical and mental challenges to achieve her dream, saying her success reflected the spirit of resilience and hard work.

The Congress leader said Zuhra’s achievement was not merely a personal milestone but a proud moment for Wayanad and Kerala. She noted that such accomplishments motivate young people, particularly girls, to pursue ambitious goals with confidence and determination.

Priyanka interacted with Zuhra and her family, extending her best wishes for her future endeavours. She said stories of perseverance like Zuhra’s reinforce the belief that dedication and unwavering commitment can help overcome even the most daunting challenges.

The felicitation formed part of Priyanka Gandhi’s two-day visit to her Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, during which she participated in a series of public programmes and development initiatives across the district.

Over the past two days, she inaugurated public infrastructure projects, attended meetings with local residents and party workers, and reviewed issues concerning development and public welfare in the constituency.

The Congress MP also interacted with people from different sections of society, listening to their concerns and assuring them that their issues would continue to be raised at the appropriate forums.

Since being elected as the Member of Parliament from Wayanad in the 2024 by-election, Priyanka Gandhi has maintained regular engagement with the constituency, frequently visiting the region to review developmental works and interact with residents.

The meeting with Zuhra Cherukappalli added a celebratory note to her constituency visit, with Priyanka reiterating that achievements in sports, adventure and other fields deserve recognition and encouragement.

She expressed hope that Zuhra’s inspiring journey to the summit of Mount Everest would encourage more young women to dream big, break barriers and strive for excellence.

"President Herminie and I took stock of the economic partnership between India and Seychelles. We discussed new opportunities in industries, connectivity, technology, digital infrastructure and more. India will keep working with Seychelles in sectors such as housing, healthcare, transport, skilling, food security, education and defence," PM Modi wrote on X.

PM Modi also noted that he and Seychelles's President agreed that the security, sustainability, and prosperity of the Indian Ocean are shared responsibilities.

"Dr. Patrick Herminie and I agree that the Indian Ocean is our shared home and therefore, its security, sustainability and prosperity are our shared responsibility. India envisions an Indian Ocean where: Maritime security advances alongside economic prosperity. Our partnership is based not on size, but on mutual respect and trust. We do not merely live close to one another, but move forward together. Our vision is to make the Indian Ocean an Ocean of Opportunity," the Prime Minister highlighted on X.

They also held wide-ranging discussions at the State House earlier on Saturday.

"My visit is taking place at a historic moment when Seychelles is completing 50 years of its independence, and we are also celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles. Our talks focused on how to add further momentum to this close partnership," PM Modi wrote on X.

India and Seychelles on Sunday signed agreements to strengthen bilateral ties across trade, digital technology and agriculture following talks between the leaders.

The two countries agreed on several major initiatives, including the umbrella line of credit agreement for Rs 1,250 crore between the Export-Import Bank of India and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment of Seychelles, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

–IANS

ksk/vd

The launch marks the first phase of the Centre's PM eBus Sewa initiative in the Gujarat capital, where a total of 100 electric midi buses have been sanctioned to strengthen urban public transport.

The buses will be operated by Gandhinagar Greenline Transport Service Limited (GGTSL), established by the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation.

The PM eBus Sewa scheme is being implemented across the country with an estimated outlay of Rs 57,613 crore, including a Central Government contribution of Rs 20,000 crore.

Based on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the scheme aims to deploy 10,000 electric buses in cities across India to provide cleaner and more accessible public transport.

The 40 buses introduced in the first phase are fully air-conditioned, nine-metre-long electric midi buses with seating capacity for 25 passengers and standing space for 13 more.

Each bus is equipped with a hydraulic ramp to facilitate access for persons with disabilities. Four seats have been reserved for women and another four for senior citizens.

The buses are also fitted with Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs), allowing passengers to pay fares using QR codes, UPI and other digital cashless payment methods.

To support the fleet, a modern depot and charging infrastructure has been developed at Sargasan at an estimated cost of around Rs 17 crore.

The facility includes charging stations, maintenance infrastructure and operational control systems for uninterrupted bus operations.

The buses will operate on 18 planned routes connecting Gandhinagar with surrounding areas, including Sargasan, Pathikashram, the Secretariat, Gandhinagar Railway Station, Mahatma Mandir, GIFT City, Chiloda, Dahegam, Kadi, Kalol, Chandkheda, Dhamasan, Naradipur, Sonipur, Kotha, Adraj Moti, Tintoda, IIT Gandhinagar, Dabhoda and Mansa. Fares have been fixed according to travel distance, ranging from Rs 5 to Rs 30.

Passengers travelling less than three kilometres will pay Rs 5, while fares are Rs 10 for 3-5 km, Rs 15 for 5-8 km, Rs 20 for 8-14 km, Rs 25 for 14-20 km and Rs 30 for journeys exceeding 20 km.

The Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation has announced that travel on the new service will remain free for the first 15 days after its launch to encourage citizens to use the buses.

Thereafter, children below the age of five will continue to travel free of charge.

According to the authorities, the introduction of the electric buses is intended to expand clean public transport options in Gandhinagar while improving accessibility, passenger convenience and digital ticketing facilities.

Speaking at a 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sammelan' organised to commemorate 12 glorious years of service, good governance, development, and public welfare under the leadership of PM Modi, she said that through his relentless and selfless service without taking a single day off, the PM has carved out a new and robust identity for India on the global stage.

The Chief Minister participated in the 'Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sammelan' events held at Pitampura in the Shalimar Bagh Assembly constituency, West Enclave in Shakurbasti, and Mahalaxmi Vihar in Mustafabad.

At Pitampura, she listened to the Prime Minister’s popular monthly radio programme, 'Mann Ki Baat', alongside public representatives, party workers, and a large gathering of citizens.

Addressing the gatherings, Chief Minister Gupta said that under the leadership of PM Modi over the past 12 years, the country has achieved historic growth across multiple sectors, including Digital India, modern infrastructure, Railways, expressways, airports, defence production, transparent governance, and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

She emphasised that 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, aur Sabka Prayas' has become the core foundation of the country's development, and the Delhi government is continuously moving forward with the same spirit of service.

The Chief Minister asserted that the Delhi government is fully committed to implementing the Prime Minister’s vision on the ground, including water conservation (Catch the Rain campaign), 'Vocal for Local', and environmental protection.

Outlining the development blueprint for the capital, the Chief Minister clarified that since the formation of the government in Delhi, developmental projects across all 70 Assembly constituencies have been accelerated without any political discrimination.

Work on strengthening roads, sewage systems, clean drinking water, schools, and hospitals is underway on a war footing. Projects that had been stalled for years are now being completed at a rapid pace with the cooperation of the Central Government.

Speaking to IANS regarding the resignations of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra General Secretary Champat Rai and Trust member Anil Mishra, the NCP-SP leader raised questions over the appointment of the trust members.

"Kilos of silver, crores of cash, among other things, have been stolen. On one hand, it is said that the Trust is independent, while on the other, you say that the government has now put pressure on it. So, is the government running the trust or is it functioning on its own?" Gawande asked.

"Who has appointed the people, who are members of this Trust?" he asked.

Gawande further raised questions over the background verification of those managing the functioning of the Ram Temple Trust.

"Were background checks conducted on the members? You may arrest Champat Rai, but what about the person who appointed him?" he also asked.

Earlier in the day, CM Adityanath accused SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and his party of having a history of opposing Hindu religious traditions and questioning their commitment to the development of Ayodhya, a day after Yadav pledged that, if voted to power, his party would develop the temple town into a "peerless and inimitable sacred city."

Responding to it, Gawande said: "This Hindu-Muslim politics will not be allowed in this country. It is not mandatory for somebody to be a devotee of Lord Ram in order to raise questions over the corruption surrounding the Ram Temple."

"No one needs to prove his or her religion in order to demand accountability (of the government). It is rather important to discuss real issues," he added.

"When Yogi Adityanath makes an allegation against the SP chief over who fired at whom (during the Ayodhya firing incident), he is playing a politics of distraction that we must all be wary of."

Moreover, the NCP-SP leader emphasised: "The real question is how did the trustees, supervised by the UP CM himself, commit corruption worth thousands of crores and where did the money go? These are the questions that the country is asking, and an independent inquiry is required for that."

On being asked about the alleged irregularities in the now-postponed Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2026, he said: "Every day a new paper leak is taking place in the country. Earlier, it was NEET; now, the TET question paper has also been leaked."

"Such paper leak cases are increasing in the country due to a lack of accountability. Maharashtra Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse is not punished. (NEET) Paper leak happened in 2024 as well, but still Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has not resigned yet," Gawande added.

Launching the initiative in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency, HM Shah said the platform was the next step in strengthening welfare delivery for poor families.

"Today, PM-FCT is, in a way, the next step in that journey. The PM Healthcare Tracker is concerned with ensuring that the foundations of life for the country's 70 crore poor children are laid on a healthy footing," he said.

He said the system would track every stage of a child's development and generate alerts whenever intervention was required.

"With this single Family Care Tracker, if any child misses a dose of the polio vaccine, an alert will immediately be generated for the taluka and district health officers, and the information will also reach the concerned MLA and MP," he noted.

HM Shah said the platform would also monitor school attendance. "If a girl attends school until Class 3 but does not enrol in Class 4, her name will immediately be flagged. Women from parent committees and the school principal will visit her home, and if she still does not return to school, the matter will receive attention at the taluka, district, MLA and MP levels," he asserted.

He added that underweight children and those suffering from growth deficiencies would also be identified through the system.

"If a child is underweight or has inadequate height and requires special attention, such children will also be immediately identified so that the appropriate schemes and support can reach them," he said.

The Home Minister said maternal healthcare would be monitored from pregnancy until the nursing period, while every child would remain under the tracker until the age of 16 years.

According to HM Shah, nearly 16 schemes from four state government departments have already been integrated into the platform, including the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Janani Shishu Suraksha Programme, Saksham Anganwadi Poshan, Universal Immunisation Programme, Mission Indradhanush, PM Poshan, Mission Vatsalya, the National Child Health Programme, the National Adolescent Health Programme, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana and the PM CARES for Children Scheme.

He added that 16 schemes of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment for Dalit and tribal children, along with the National Child Labour Scheme, had also been integrated.

"This successful initiative brings together... these schemes into one platform. The Tracker will ensure that no eligible beneficiary is left out and that the administration takes responsibility for ensuring that everyone receives the benefits due to them," HM Shah said.

He said every child would receive a unique digital identity linked to birth records, allowing benefits under different schemes to be delivered through a common platform.

"The biggest challenges in governance have been the absence of a common identity, beneficiaries being left out, eligible people not receiving benefits, and the government itself not reaching them. The PM Family Care Tracker will address all these shortcomings together," he said.

HM Shah added that "the pilot project would be evaluated before being expanded further", expressing confidence that it would eventually establish a comprehensive monitoring system covering every child from the mother's womb until the age of 16 years.

Anna's body, the last to be recovered, was found by the Fire and Rescue Services personnel near the Excise Kadavu area, a few metres downstream from the bridge and close to the spot from where the family is believed to have jumped.

Police said all available evidence currently points to it being a case of suicide, though investigations are continuing to establish the exact circumstances behind the deaths.

The deceased have been identified as Narayanan, his wife Bijimol, their six-year-old daughter Anna and their two-year-old son.

The family, originally from Kothamangalam, had reportedly been living in rented accommodation in recent months.

According to the Piravom Police, CCTV footage from the area showed the family having lunch at the nearby Aishwarya Hotel before walking towards the Piravom bridge.

While the cameras captured them leaving the restaurant and heading to the bridge, there was no surveillance footage of the actual incident.

The tragedy came to light on Friday when a local fisherman spotted the body of the couple's two-year-old son floating in the river and alerted nearby residents, who informed the police.

Bijimol's body was recovered shortly afterwards from the same area, while Narayanan's body was found on Saturday.

Anna remained missing until her body was recovered on Sunday morning, ending the three-day search operation.

Following the inquest, Anna's body was shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital at Kalamassery for post-mortem examination.

The bodies of the other three family members are also being kept at the hospital mortuary.

Police have begun recording statements from relatives of both Narayanan and Bijimol as part of the investigation.

Preliminary inquiries suggest the couple had been facing longstanding marital problems, with the Kothamangalam Police having intervened in their disputes earlier.

Investigators also suspect the family was under financial stress due to mounting debts.

Officials said Bijimol had reportedly been estranged from her family and had been living separately for some time.

However, the exact reason that drove the family to the suspected suicide is yet to be established.

The Piravom Police have registered a case under Section 194 (unnatural death) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and further investigation is underway.

In his remarks at the National Assembly as PM Modi addressed a special session during his state visit, Georges expressed gratitude to India for the support given to Seychelles in various sectors over the past 50 years. Noting the political divide in Seychelles, he said that the opposition will not be present during the ceremonies to mark the golden jubilee celebrations of Seychelles National Day.

"We must nonetheless remain mindful of our respective strengths and, as friends, remain balanced partners, respectful of the independence of each other. It is with some regret that, in my capacity as the leader of the loyal opposition in this Assembly, I take this moment to mention that while our country celebrates its independence's golden jubilee in the presence of your excellency and many other dignitaries, effusive declarations of unity and cooperation amongst our neighbours will necessarily be made. Our country remains politically divided at its core, so much so that the opposition will be absent from all ceremonies to mark the occasion."

"If we are proud as a nation, and we are, each one of us, to have achieved what we have in such a short time, we are equally concerned that the direction of political travel our country has recently embarked upon is one which puts our very democracy at risk. My hope, and the hope of all my caucus, is that democracy being resilient, as your own political journey has demonstrated, your presence amongst us during your Excellency's state visit will encourage our political leaders to look to India as an example of unity in diversity. On behalf of my caucus, and on my personal behalf, I thank India for its generosity to Seychelles in many and varied fields over five decades. And I wish Your Excellency a pleasant stay among us," he added.

He highlighted that the fusion between the two nations spans the highest levels of the Seychelles government, encompassing positions from the former President to the Vice President. Lauding the role of the Indian diaspora in Seychelles' economy, he said that the bulk of the construction industry is steered by Indian nationals.

"Our former President, our current Vice President, the member seated behind me and to my right, and my personal parliamentary assistant are testaments to the ethnic fusion between our two countries. Indeed, you will have been told by now that large segments of the wholesale and retail trade of our country are assured by Seshilva of Indian extraction, and the bulk of the construction industry is steered by Indian nationals and Indo-Seshilva entrepreneurs from your home state of Gujarat. In our own parliament, we have forged friendships and exchanges through the Seshilva India parliamentary friendship group, a bipartisan group of parliamentarians for the fostering of closer exchanges and greater cooperation. These, amongst many other ties which bind us, have ensured that our destinies are linked."

Georges stated that PM Modi's address in the National Assembly demonstrates the universal nature of the democratic process and the enduring relevance of parliamentary and participatory democracy as a system of governance.

"Thank you, Prime Minister, for your kind words to our Assembly this afternoon. It is always a pleasure to receive guests and a rare privilege to have such an august person as Your Excellency address our modest institution. The political head of the largest democracy, taking the time to speak at length and with passion to the members of one of the world's smallest, underlines the universal nature of the democratic process and the enduring relevance of parliamentary and participatory democracy as a system of governance. As you said, our two countries share more than the ocean which takes its name from your country, our big neighbour to the north."

Declaring that every directive of the Akal Takht Sahib is paramount and will be obeyed in true letter and spirit, the Chief Minister said the government would also submit details of the fake video featuring his impersonator.

The Chief Minister pointed out that Opposition parties are trying to gain political mileage by giving the issue a religious colour, and asserted that politics and religion must never be mixed while urging the Maharashtra government not to interfere in Sikh religious affairs.

Accompanying AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, CM Mann told the media here, "Sri Akal Takht Sahib is sacred for every Sikh and is the highest temporal seat of our community. Any command or order issued by Sri Akal Takht Sahib is acceptable to us with complete reverence and will be obeyed.

"All our Ministers, MLAs and the Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha who have been summoned by Sri Akal Takht Sahib will appear before it on Monday. They will present their side along with the government's position before the Takht as humble Sikhs."

The Chief Minister said, "For me, Sri Akal Takht Sahib is above everything. Every order received from the sacred Takht will be obeyed in true letter and spirit. Its command is, was and will always remain supreme for me and my family. My reverence for Sri Akal Takht Sahib is evident from the fact that when I was earlier summoned by the Takht, I even skipped a function of the President of India to appear before it."

He said, "However, when political appointees occupying religious positions start taking one-sided decisions to appease their political masters, questions naturally arise. The SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) has now ordered that posters calling for my social boycott be displayed outside gurdwaras. Why were such posters never displayed against the Shiromani Akali Dal or Sukhbir Badal after they admitted responsibility for incidents of sacrilege?"

The Chief Minister said on December 2, Sukhbir Badal and his associates appeared before the Akal Takht, acknowledged their mistakes, admitted wrongdoing, accepted responsibility for the firing incidents and admitted that orders had been issued against the sangat. Did anyone display posters outside gurdwaras calling for their boycott in the manner they are doing against me today? The sangat is wise, and the people are supreme. These individuals are acting out of arrogance because they have no real issue left to raise against him.

CM Mann stated, "Whenever I visit villages, community gatherings and public meetings, massive crowds gather. The Opposition cannot tolerate this because they themselves are unable to attract such public support. Frustrated by this overwhelming response, the traditional political parties have stooped to levelling baseless allegations against me. The people of Punjab will never tolerate such politics."

The Chief Minister said the BJP, the Congress and the Akalis wanted to gain political mileage by defaming him on religious grounds, whereas "I have been working only for the welfare of the people on issues like employment, water, electricity, healthcare, education and overall development".

Replying to a query, the Chief Minister said the government will soon write to the Jathedar explaining how my impersonator was used in a fake video to defame me.

"The details of the letter are being finalised. After our ministers and MLAs appear before Sri Akal Takht Sahib, we will deliberate on the future course of action. The sangat is supreme in the Sikh Panth, and every decision will be taken in accordance with its wishes because the sangat is fully capable of judging every action."

The Shompen are an isolated community of roughly 200 to 400 individuals who avoid the outside world and maintain a traditional lifestyle as some of the world's last remaining hunter-gatherers and farmers. The Great Nicobarese originally inhabited the island's western coastline until the catastrophic 2004 tsunami either claimed their lives or forced them to relocate.

Multi-Layered Security in the Indo-Pacific

In this era of intensifying strategic competition with China, Great Nicobar is not just a remote island but will soon be a critical geopolitical asset for India upon completion of the project. Situated 40 nautical miles from the Strait of Malacca – the conduit for over 80% of China's oil imports – this strategic vantage point empowers India to monitor, influence and secure this invaluable maritime chokepoint by enabling continuous surveillance over the eastern Indian Ocean's sea lanes of communication (SLOCs), rapid asset deployment, logistical depth for sustained operations and strengthened regional deterrence. Any action concerning the Strait of Malacca will always be a last resort due to its importance to global trade and commerce. The capability and intent to disrupt this SLOC serves as a powerful deterrent to ensure strategic equilibrium.

With the world realising the value of multi-layered defences following the October 7th attack, war in the Middle East and Indian defences during Operation Sindoor, New Delhi is adopting a tiered strategy when it comes to its Indo-Pacific strategy. It is deepening geopolitical and military ties to strengthen regional partners the Philippines and Indonesia to develop a network of trust, partnerships and shared maritime interests. A strong case in point is the Brahmos export to Manila, highlighting the growing defence cooperation and interoperability. Jakarta and Hanoi have signed a deal for the missile system too. Multilateral naval cooperation like Exercise Malabar enhance coordination, readiness and interoperability with like-minded partners to promote a free, open, inclusive, secure and rules-based Indo-Pacific. India continues to expand its maritime surveillance through a 'space-to-seabed' approach – developing and utilising surface, sub-surface, seabed, air, space and cyber-space assets in a single, integrated system. Modernisation of the Navy and Air Force ensure credible force projection across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Approaches into the IOR

The Indian Navy has stated that its anti-submarine efforts are due to the growing Chinese sub-surface threat in the IOR, impacting Indian influence in its sphere of influence. In January 2016, the Indian Navy deployed its premier intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) asset – two Boeing P8Is – to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to obtain intelligence on People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) submarines in the region. the following year, 17 PLAN ships were spotted in the IOR, supported by submarines for 'anti-piracy' operations. 2024 was another year in which the IOR witnessed significant and frequent PLAN and supporting-vessel deployments.

Economically-viable commerce from Africa, Europe and beyond cannot flow through either the Lombok or Sunda Strait. The Sunda Strait is quite shallow, with an average depth of 50 metres while the Lombok Strait is deeper, making it easier to allow submarines through. Both straits have had submarine transits, with India's first submarine to use the Sunda Strait being the INS Sindhukesari (S60) in February 2023.

The Malacca Strait is the fastest and most cost-effective transit route for goods from Africa and Europe going to East Asia. It is not a chokepoint unlike the Suez and Panama Canals or the Strait of Hormuz because a major blockage in the Malacca Strait will not cause as much of an impact as in the others. With the IOR having evolved from an 'era of cooperation' to an 'era of [strategic] competition', India is employing both sea control and sea denial in its naval strategy.

Sea Control and Sea Denial

In 2015, the Indian Navy articulated its strategy for conflict to include both sea control and sea denial. Strategies of sea control is when there is "… freedom of action to use an area for one's own purposes for a period of time and, if required, to deny its use to an opponent". On the other hand, sea denial aims to prevent another force from using the sea. While its focus is on defense, the strategy can utilise offensive measures if required.

Indian intent for sea control can be seen in its 15-year roadmap to develop a third indigenous aircraft carrier, albeit nuclear-powered; order for 114 Dassault Rafales, additional P8Is, MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAVs, Airbus C-295-based Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMMA), Dornier DO-228s, Air-Ship Based High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (AS-HAPS), among other platforms. These measures can also be well-utilised for sea denial by establishing an anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) grid, supported by geography, sensors and long-range targeting solutions like the Brahmos missile system.

To this end, Air Force Station (AFS) Carnicobar witnessed Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan inaugurate the upgraded runway at the AFS in January 2026, now capable of deploying Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs, Mirage-2000s, SEPECAT-Jaguars, Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, Mil Mi-17 V5s and Boeing P8Is. The runways of existing airports in the islands will be expanded to 3,000 kilometres, two new airports will be constructed in Sri Vijayapuram and on Great Nicobar, and all airports will be dual-use, as stated by Lieutenant Governor Admiral DK Joshi. The Indian Government has dropped its plans to extend the runway of INS Baaz due to aviation safety, environmental and societal reasons. Instead, it will build a greenfield dual-use airport with a 3,300-kilometre runway on Great Nicobar Island near Galathea Bay, operated by the Indian Air Force.

The Strategic Synergy of Aircraft Carriers and Forward Bases

India's naval doctrine envisions the need for three aircraft carriers – two operational and one in reserve – to effectively manage a simultaneous two-front contingency involving China and Pakistan across the northern sector and maritime domain. However, due to current capacity constraints, India operates only two. To compensate and project power effectively, these mobile Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) rely heavily on India's natural geography as force-multipliers.

While aircraft carriers are flexible, mobile assets essential for sea control and strategic signalling far from shore, forward bases provide the fixed, sustaining support needed for long-term endurance. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands perfectly fulfil this role, extending India's operational reach and enhancing the effectiveness of its Armed Forces.

India's 'Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier'

The development of Great Nicobar Island is not an act of aggression but a strategic necessity to secure India's maritime future in the face of China's expanding regional footprint. The island functions as a highly resilient, cost-effective 'unsinkable aircraft carrier.' Unlike expensive and vulnerable man-made ships, this permanent land-based infrastructure cannot be easily neutralised or sunk, thereby raising India's self-reliance and reducing its dependence on external military assets.

By leveraging this geographic advantage, India achieves several distinct operational and geopolitical objectives:

1. Unmatched Surveillance and Sea Control: Positioned perfectly in the Eastern Indian Ocean, the island allows India to closely monitor adversarial movements across critical Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) and physically dominate vital Indo-Pacific chokepoints.

2. Logistical Depth and Rapid Response: The island serves as a permanent launchpad for the rapid deployment of aerial and maritime assets. It provides the necessary logistical depth to sustain long-duration operations without requiring resupply from the mainland.

3. Credible Deterrence and Regional Stability: Acting as a stabilising military platform, the island anchors the balance of power in the region. It ensures continuous deterrence against adversaries, safeguards India's maritime interests and enables deeper cooperation with like-minded nations to guarantee a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific.

Conclusion

The Great Nicobar Project represents a cornerstone of India's evolving, multi-layered Indo-Pacific defense strategy. By developing Great Nicobar Island in this manner, New Delhi is accounting for its security, developmental, economic, societal and environmental needs. It allows for unmatched logistical depth, rapid asset deployment capabilities and continuous 'space-to-seabed' surveillance over vital SLOCs. Alongside deepening defence ties with regional partners like the Philippines and Indonesia, this strategic vantage point acts as a powerful deterrent to safeguard maritime equilibrium. Ultimately, Great Nicobar Island is an indispensable bridge to a safe, secure and sovereign India, seamlessly connecting the nation's destiny to the broader oceans.

(The writer is a senior research associate at NatStrat)

Accompanying the Chief Minister on the trip was his wife and MLA Kalpana Soren.

The Chief Minister was seen enjoying the scenic drive through rain-swept landscapes, sharing videos and photographs from the journey on social media.

The visuals, featuring Soren behind the wheel and humming to music, quickly gained traction online and drew widespread attention.

Upon reaching Jonha Falls, one of Jharkhand's most popular tourist destinations, Soren spent time soaking in the lush surroundings, interacting with visitors and locals, and relishing seasonal fruits sold in the area.

Sharing his experience on social media, the Chief Minister wrote: "Today, I had the opportunity to spend a few moments amidst the lush valleys of Jonha Falls, located just a short distance from Ranchi. I also enjoyed the fruits there and had conversations with the local people."

"The pristine streams flowing in the lap of nature, the greenery of dense forests, and the serene beauty of the mountains repeatedly remind us that Jharkhand is nature's unparalleled gift. This is our shared heritage, which we all have the collective responsibility to preserve and protect. No matter which corner of Jharkhand you visit, nature will welcome you in its varied hues. A hearty welcome to all tourists on this unparalleled land of Jharkhand, Johar," he added.

The Chief Minister also shared a reel from Jonha Falls set to the popular regional song "Hamar Sona Jharkhand, Hamar Heera Jharkhand".

In the video, Soren is seen admiring the surroundings and telling viewers: "How does it feel? These forests, these valleys -- this is our Jharkhand."

Captioning the reel, he wrote: "Here, forests are life, waterfalls are music, and Jharkhand nestled in the lap of greenery is truly unparalleled."

This is not the first time Soren has been seen connecting with people beyond official engagements.

On several occasions in the past, he has chosen to drive himself to destinations across the state, interacting informally with residents and highlighting Jharkhand's cultural and natural attractions through his personal social media outreach.

Addressing a gathering after launching the PM Family Care Tracker (PM-FCT) pilot project and Health Passports in Gandhinagar, HM Shah said improving the standard of living of the poor had been a central focus of the government since 2014.

"Under the leadership of PM Modi, a comprehensive effort has been made to improve the standard of living of 70 crore poor people in this country," he said.

Recalling his visits to eastern Uttar Pradesh before 2014, HM Shah said he had witnessed extreme poverty first-hand.

"It is not that there is no poverty in Gujarat. But when I travelled to the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, I experienced what extreme poverty truly means. People had no homes. If there were no home, there could be no electricity. There were countless houses without toilets. Even where there was a hut, there was no water supply inside," he said.

He said women spent hours cooking on traditional stoves while access to healthcare remained beyond the reach of many families.

"Mothers spent their lives blowing traditional cooking stoves. They worked for 24 hours just to arrange the next day's meal. Such was the economic condition that, in the name of medical treatment, there was no option except praying to God," he recalled.

According to HM Shah, the government had addressed these challenges through multiple welfare schemes.

"Within just 12 years, these 70 crore poor people have been provided with houses, electricity, tap water, toilets, gas cylinders, five kilograms of food grains, free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh," he said.

He added that 3 crore houses had already been completed, while 1 crore more were under construction.

HM Shah said many beneficiaries had told him that theirs was the first generation to live in homes equipped with basic amenities.

"I have heard many beneficiaries say that after witnessing five generations in their family, this is the first time they have entered a home that has gas, a toilet, drinking water, food grains, and electricity. The dream of five generations has been fulfilled within 12 years," he noted.

HM Shah added that the PM Family Care Tracker represented the next stage of welfare delivery by ensuring that children from poor families received timely healthcare, nutrition and education services through integrated monitoring.

In a statement issued, Ramadoss pointed out that with only two days remaining before the scheme comes into force on July 1, Tamil Nadu is yet to make its position clear, even as 19 states and Union Territories have already issued notifications for its implementation.

The Union government has revamped the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) by extending the guaranteed employment period from 100 to 125 days annually.

For the new programme, the Centre has allocated Rs 95,692 crore nationwide, including Rs 7,957.57 crore for Tamil Nadu.

The PMK President noted that Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Puducherry have already announced plans to roll out the scheme.

Telangana and Karnataka, however, are still examining whether to implement it or legally challenge certain provisions before the Supreme Court.

Telangana has also proposed introducing a separate state-funded employment scheme to ensure rural workers are not affected if the legal challenge proceeds.

He added that Tamil Nadu, too, has the right to decide whether to implement or oppose the scheme, particularly since the revised framework increases the state government's financial contribution to 40 per cent while granting the Centre greater powers in deciding the nature of permissible works.

Opposition parties have said that these changes dilute the rights and autonomy of state governments.

According to Anbumani Ramadoss, if Tamil Nadu adopts the new scheme, the state would have to contribute around Rs 5,305.04 crore, taking the total available funds to Rs 13,262.61 crore.

Based on the current wage expenditure of Rs 479.49 per person per day, the allocation would generate about 27.68 crore person-days of employment.

However, with nearly 69.76 lakh rural households seeking work, each family would receive only around 40 days of employment on average, significantly lower than the average provided in recent years.

He also cautioned that if Tamil Nadu chooses not to implement the scheme, only the remaining Rs 440.90 crore from the current MGNREGS allocation would be available, sufficient to provide barely 1.3 days of employment per beneficiary.

Thereafter, the state would have to finance rural employment entirely from its own resources.

The PMK President urged the state government to announce its decision without further delay.

If it opts against the Centre's scheme, Anbumani Ramadoss said it should immediately unveil an alternative programme fulfilling the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government's election promise of providing 150 days of employment annually to rural families.

A bench of Justice A.D. Maria Clete reserved orders after hearing arguments on an application to reject the plaint filed by V. Nambirajan, a member of the association, who has questioned the legality of the office-bearers remaining in their posts after their tenure ended on March 19, 2025.

During the hearing, the judge observed that even if the court were to declare invalid the resolution passed at the Nadigar Sangam’s 68th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 8, 2024, it was unclear how the plaintiff would benefit, particularly since the Tamil Nadu government had subsequently issued a Government Order extending the tenure of the office-bearers.

Appearing for the Nadigar Sangam, counsel Krishna Ravindran pointed out that the plaintiff had challenged only the resolution adopted at the AGM and not the Government Order issued on October 14, 2025, under Section 54 of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975.

The Government Order extended the tenure of the office-bearers, who were elected on March 21, 2022, until March 19, 2028.

In his suit, Nambirajan argued that the association’s bylaws mandate elections every three years and that fresh elections should have been conducted after the present office-bearers’ term expired in March 2025. Instead, he alleged, they continued in office based on the resolution passed at the 2024 AGM.

Defending the extension, the Nadigar Sangam submitted that member S.R. Sekar had moved a resolution at the 68th AGM seeking a three-year extension to enable the present leadership to complete the construction of the association’s long-awaited convention centre, described as its dream project.

The proposal, submitted on August 23, 2024, was backed by 311 members and was unanimously approved at the AGM. The association also claimed that 79-year-old Nambirajan had not attended the 2024 AGM or any annual general meeting since becoming a member in 2015.

The association also alleged that he was being used as a proxy litigant by disgruntled elements seeking to disrupt the functioning of the association and create hurdles for the completion of the convention centre project.

Addressing a gathering, the Chief Minister said he had come to Bara Bhangal not for any political gains, but to understand and share the hardships faced by the people of the area. He said if politics had been his objective, he would have visited more densely populated areas. Instead, he said, his government's priority was to ensure that development reaches even the remotest corners of the state.

CM Sukhu said while policies can be formulated in Shimla, understanding the real challenges faced by people requires visiting them on the ground. The Chief Minister assured residents that the government would declare Bara Bhangal a natural farming panchayat, make efforts to secure Scheduled Tribe status for the region and increase the foodgrain quota at the local ration depot.

The Chief Minister, who reached Bara Bhangal a day earlier by air, inspected flood-affected areas and reviewed the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts. Stressing the need to expedite road connectivity to Bara Bhangal, he directed officials to invite separate tenders for each km of the proposed road to accelerate construction.

He also discussed the feasibility of transporting construction machinery by air and announced the release of Rs 10 crore for the construction of the Bara Bhangal road. To ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity, the Chief Minister held detailed discussions with local residents. He directed the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd to install diesel generators in the village and conduct a survey to provide electricity connections and internal wiring to all households.

Assuring residents of an alternative power supply until road connectivity is established, he announced the provision of one diesel generator each for upper Bara Bhangal and lower Bara Bhangal. He also discussed the possibility of reviving the flood-damaged hydropower project and exploring solar energy projects for the region.

The Chief Minister directed officials to develop a distinct brand identity for the famous local rajmah (kidney beans) to enhance its market value. Encouraging the promotion of local agriculture and horticulture, he urged residents to plant walnut and chestnut saplings.

He also assured better market prices for locally produced meat products and appealed to the farmers to adopt natural farming practices and take advantage of the minimum support price being provided by the government to promote natural farming.

Responding to the demand for mobile connectivity services, the Chief Minister assured residents that the government would engage with private telecom companies to commence mobile services in the area at the earliest. He also directed the officers to identify suitable forest land for promoting tourism activities, especially eco-tourism, and reiterated the government's commitment to developing Bara Bhangal as a tourist destination.

The Chief Minister also announced that a special incentive scheme would be introduced for students from Bara Bhangal. He said the government would consider constructing a hostel and ensure access to quality education for children.

He also announced that helicopter taxi services would be provided to students at the beginning and end of each academic session and assured arrangements for their admission to CBSE-affiliated schools.

To strengthen healthcare services in the remote region, the Chief Minister said local residents would be trained to provide primary healthcare support so that immediate medical assistance could be made available within the community. He also said the government would explore the construction of protective walls to safeguard the area against floods.

The Chief Minister further announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each for two local Mahila Mandals and Rs 1 lakh for a Yuvak Mandal. He also announced a monthly pension of Rs 1,500 under the Indira Gandhi Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana for all eligible women in the region.

"The future of Seychelles will be shaped by its youth. We are proud that students, professionals, officials, and security forces of Seychelles have trained and studied in India for decades. In fact, it is said that one in every fifty people in Seychelles has undergone some training in India. They have returned home with skills, friendships, and experiences that continue to strengthen our partnership today," PM Modi said in his special address at the National Assembly of Seychelles as part of his state visit to the archipelagic island.

PM Modi said he was delighted to learn about Seychelles' IGNITE initiative to provide internships for the youth, terming it "an excellent framework", and that both countries can explore new avenues for cooperation in this sector.

"A key focus area for such cooperation can be in digital innovation. India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has demonstrated how technology can expand opportunity, improve governance, boost financial inclusion, and deliver services for hundreds of millions of people," he noted.

"We would be happy to share our experiences and expertise as you pursue your own digital transformation. I am confident that the young people of Seychelles will embrace these opportunities with the same determination that guided the first fifty years of independence," he added.

According to PM Modi, Seychelles and India both seek a world where development is more inclusive.

"We both seek a world where international institutions reflect contemporary realities. We believe that our shared future must be shaped collectively, inclusively, and fairly," he noted.

"This belief guided India's efforts during our G20 Presidency. It was in this spirit that we worked to place the priorities of the Global South at the centre of international discussions. And it was in this spirit that we welcomed the African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the G20. This is the spirit that unites the Global South. And this is the vision that India and Seychelles will continue to advance together," he highlighted.

PM Modi assured that India will remain a trusted partner.

"As we look ahead, let us continue to build upon these foundations. India will remain your trusted partner. We will celebrate your achievements. We will support your aspirations. And we will stand beside you as friends."

Addressing a public gathering after launching the PM Family Care Tracker (PM-FCT) pilot project and Health Passports in Gandhinagar, HM Shah contrasted the present system with an earlier statement by a former Prime Minister regarding leakages in welfare spending.

"There was a time when the Prime Minister of the country admitted that if he sent one rupee from Delhi, only 15 paise reached the poor, while 85 paise disappeared in between," the Home Minister said.

He said the introduction of the DBT had fundamentally changed the delivery of government assistance.

"Today, as the Union Home Minister and as a Member of Parliament, I can look everyone in the eye and say that when PM Modi sends one rupee, the entire one rupee is transferred directly into the poor person's bank account," he said.

According to HM Shah, the DBT architecture had ushered in "a new era of welfare for the poor" by transferring benefits directly into bank accounts without intermediaries.

The Home Minister said he had personally witnessed the extent of poverty while travelling through eastern Uttar Pradesh before the change in government.

"It is not that there is no poverty in Gujarat. But when I travelled to the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, I experienced what extreme poverty truly means," he said.

Describing those conditions, HM Shah said many families lacked houses, electricity, toilets, piped water and access to healthcare.

"People had no homes. If there were no home, there could be no electricity. There were countless houses without toilets. Even where there was a hut, there was no water supply inside," he said.

He added that medical treatment was beyond the reach of many poor families, and mothers often had no option but to pray when children fell ill.

HM Shah said the present welfare architecture ensured that benefits reached recipients directly without leakages. "Today, if one rupee is sent from Delhi, the full 100 paise reaches the beneficiary's bank account," he said.

The PM Family Care Tracker, launched on Sunday, is a digital platform that integrates multiple welfare databases to improve monitoring and delivery of health, nutrition, education and social welfare schemes for mothers and children.