Day: August 31, 2026

IAF Chief Says Drones Alone Cannot Decide Wars, Stresses Importance of Human Pilots

Arijit Bose

New Delhi: Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh has said that unmanned aerial systems are transforming modern warfare but cannot completely replace manned fighter aircraft, underlining the continuing importance of human judgement in complex military operations. Speaking at the India Defence Conclave organised by BharatShakti in New Delhi, Singh rejected the view that future air combat will be dominated entirely by autonomous drones. He said human decision-making would remain critical, particularly when military operations involve rapidly changing situations and sensitive targets. Singh pointed to the growing global…

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Man Held for Allegedly Defrauding Students of Rs 46 Lakh in BITS Pilani Admission Scam

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: The Lucknow Cyber Crime Police have arrested a man for allegedly cheating students and their parents of around Rs 46 lakh by promising admission to BITS Pilani, officials said on Sunday. The accused, identified as Yashraj Bajpai, allegedly ran a fake education consultancy and approached students and parents with assurances of securing admission. Police said he collected money under various pretexts, including admission fees, registration charges and payments for arranging seats. To convince victims, Bajpai allegedly issued fabricated admission letters and fee receipts, police said. The fraud came to…

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Over 200 Pune Ganesh Mandals Opt for DJ-Free Celebrations

Arijit Bose

Pune: More than 200 Ganesh mandals in Pune have pledged to keep this year’s Ganeshotsav celebrations free from DJs, turning instead to traditional music, cultural performances and community programmes. The initiative comes ahead of the festival, which begins on September 14, amid continuing discussions over noise levels during major public celebrations. The campaign, being supported by mandals across the city, is entering its second year. Punit Balan, Festival Head of the Shreemant Bhausaheb Rangari Ganpati Mandal Trust, said participation had grown as organisers increasingly recognised the value of preserving the…

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Uttar Pradesh Building World-Class State Lab to Monitor Emerging Drinking Water Contaminants

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh is strengthening its rural drinking water quality monitoring system with the development of a new state-of-the-art laboratory equipped with advanced testing facilities, including planned capabilities to detect emerging contaminants such as microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam (Rural) is developing the new State Laboratory to create a modern referral facility capable of addressing present and future challenges in drinking water quality. Officials said efforts are underway to complete the laboratory building and equip it with world-class analytical infrastructure. The proposed facility…

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Yogi Targets JPNIC, Says No One Can Be Allowed to Loot Public Money

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath  launched a sharp attack on the Samajwadi Party over the Jayaprakash Narayan International Centre (JPNIC), alleging that the project had become a symbol of corruption under the previous government. Addressing a gathering after unveiling a grand equestrian statue of freedom fighter Veerangana Avanti Bai Lodhi in Lucknow, Adityanath said the JPNIC project was originally estimated to cost around Rs 200 crore but remained incomplete despite an expenditure of Rs 864 crore. “The Rs 864 crore spent on JPNIC belongs to the people of…

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