Russia assures steady oil and LNG supply to India

mid the oil shock and supply chain disruptions triggered by the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, Russia has assured that its energy companies have the capacity to "steadily increase" the supply of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India, and also "continue" to address India's fertilizer needs

Great Nicobar plan triggers fresh concerns among locals

A draft plan outlining the "relocation" of Nicobarese tribal communities affect-ed by the Union government's Great Nicobar Is-land (GNI) mega-infrastructure project "to their ancestral lands" has created confusion and is exacerbating existing apprehensions among locals. They have been, for four years, protesting the clearance for the *92,000-crore project after withdrawing their con-sent in 2022, alleging that their forest rights had not been settled. 

Karnataka tops in women SHG drone pilots under Central scheme: Minister

Karnataka, which is one of the leading aviation hubs in the country, also has the most number of women self-help groups (SHGs) to have undergone training as drone pilots under the 'Namo Drone Didi Yojana' (NDDY). Under the initiative, 145 members of SHGs from the State have been given drone pilot training which is the highest in the country followed by Uttar Pradesh (128) and Andhra Pradesh (108). 

Home Ministry revises classification of districts affected by left-wing extremism

The Union Home Ministry has re-categorised the total number of districts affect-ed by left-wing extremism (LWE) in the country re-placing the earlier classification of "most affected" with "LWE affected," "districts of concern" and "legacy and thrust districts". While the number of districts in the LWE category remains unchanged at 38 compared to 2024-25, the classification now reflects shifts in the severity of violence reported in these areas.

Election petitions must be decided on basis of material on record: SC

The Supreme Court has observed in an order that election petitions challenging poll results must be decided by courts on the material on record. A Bench headed by Jus-tice Vikram Nath recently said it was impermissible to stall proceedings until fresh evidence, if any, was unearthed.

Compliance eased for managing plastic waste

India's latest amendment to its Plastic Waste Management Rules leaves headline recycling targets unchanged, but introduces a series of provisions that allows companies to shift their compliance deadlines.

These provisions include allowing companies that fail to meet their tar-gets in 2025-26 to carry for-ward the shortfall for up to three years, provided they make up at least a third of the deficit annually. Prior to this, companies were bound to comply annually. 

INS Aridhaman, nuclear-powered submarine, enters India's naval fleet

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh presided over a brief ceremony to formally com-mission the country's third nuclear submarine, INS Aridhaman (S4), which is the third in the Arihant-class of SSBNs (Submersible Ship Ballistic Nuclear), Friday on Visakhapatnam. At The vessel, being part of the strategic weapons pro-gramme, falls under the domain of the Strategic Forces and is part of the country's nuclear triad.