Author: Arijit Bose

Collaborative Combat Aircraft: A Potential Game-Changer for India’s Two-Front Air Defence Challenge

Arijit Bose

New Delhi: The Indian Air Force (IAF) faces a growing challenge in maintaining combat strength as it prepares for the possibility of simultaneous threats from China and Pakistan. Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs), also known as loyal wingmen, could offer a cost-effective way to expand operational capability without relying exclusively on additional manned fighter jets. At his recent Air Force Day press conference, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh stressed the need for the IAF to induct at least two fighter squadrons annually to prevent its combat strength from declining further. The…

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Mayawati’s Akash Anand U-Turn: Political Compulsion, Leadership Control and the BSP’s Battle for Survival

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati’s decision to reappoint her nephew Akash Anand as the party’s national coordinator is more than an organisational reshuffle. Coming after repeated reversals over his political status, the move raises fundamental questions about succession, leadership control and the BSP’s ability to rebuild itself before the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The timing is significant. Once a dominant force in Uttar Pradesh politics, the BSP is now struggling to regain its electoral footing amid changing voter preferences and competition from emerging Dalit leaders. Anand’s return…

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Congress-Samajwadi Party Tensions Surface Ahead of 2027 Uttar Pradesh Elections

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: Questions are emerging over Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s role in shaping the party’s strategy in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, as differences over seat-sharing and political positioning threaten to complicate its relationship with the Samajwadi Party (SP). Although both parties are part of the INDIA opposition bloc, recent statements by Congress leaders have reportedly raised concerns within the alliance about the distribution of seats and the Congress’s electoral ambitions in the state. The Congress has made organisational changes in Uttar Pradesh, appointing Rajendra Pal Gautam…

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Delhi Police Bust Counterfeit Currency Racket, Four Arrested in Delhi and Rajasthan

Arijit Bose

New Delhi: Delhi Police has busted an alleged counterfeit currency racket and arrested four people from Delhi and Rajasthan, recovering fake Rs 500 notes with a face value of approximately Rs 10.50 lakh, officials said. The accused have been identified as Pushkar Raj Purbia, alias “Doctor”, Gosai Ram, Sahil Kharb and Narendra Kumar, a resident of Churu in Rajasthan. According to police, the group allegedly operated a network in Delhi’s Prashant Vihar area, with links extending to Rajasthan. During searches at premises associated with the accused, police seized 21 bundles…

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Pakistan Faces Mounting Crises as Afghan Tensions, Political Unrest and Economic Woes Deepen

Arijit Bose

Islamabad: Pakistan is confronting mounting political, economic and security challenges, with escalating tensions with Afghanistan, domestic protests demanding the release of former prime minister Imran Khan and persistent economic vulnerabilities adding to pressure on the government. The developments have renewed questions about Islamabad’s regional strategy and its ability to contain militancy while addressing the country’s internal problems. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated amid mutual accusations over cross-border militancy. Pakistan has accused militant groups operating from Afghan territory of carrying out attacks inside its borders, allegations rejected by the…

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Russia Offers TKB-1167 ‘Bizon’ Anti-Drone System to India to Counter Low-Altitude UAV Threats

Arijit Bose

New Delhi: Russian state-owned defence conglomerate Rostec has reportedly offered its TKB-1167 ‘Bizon’ anti-drone system to the Indian Army, pitching the platform as a potential solution to the growing threat posed by small, low-flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Designed to intercept agile aerial targets that can evade conventional air-defence systems, the Bizon combines high-volume machine-gun fire with automated target tracking and specialised ammunition intended to improve interception accuracy and reduce ammunition consumption. The system’s combat module features four 7.62mm PKT machine guns with a reported combined rate of fire of…

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Curious case of Delhi Police ACP Vivek Bhagat

Arijit Bose

New Delhi: Delhi Police Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat has come under scrutiny following allegations of sexual harassment by a woman journalist covering protests against the Chief Election Commissioner at Jantar Mantar on October 3. Two other women journalists have reportedly raised similar complaints, intensifying calls for an investigation into the incident. Independent journalist Rosy alleged that Bhagat groped and pushed her while she was recording the detention of an All India Students’ Association (AISA) activist. In a social media account of the incident, she claimed that the…

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‘No Matter How Much Noise They Make, I Will Stop Wrongdoing’: PM Modi

Arijit Bose

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that his government had prevented nearly Rs 5 lakh crore from being diverted into the wrong hands through digital technology and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), declaring that he would continue to act against irregularities despite opposition. Addressing the inauguration of the 10th edition of the India Mobile Congress 2026 at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, Modi said the government had transferred nearly Rs 50 lakh crore directly to beneficiaries through DBT, improving transparency and reducing leakages in the delivery of public welfare schemes. “Those…

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Uttar Pradesh to Develop 97 Lesser-Known Heritage Sites Across 35 Districts

Arijit Bose

Rs 1,425 crore worth of projects launched to boost heritage conservation, tourism and local employment beyond Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh is expanding its tourism development strategy beyond established destinations such as Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura, with projects worth approximately Rs 1,425 crore initiated at 97 lesser-known heritage sites across 35 districts between 2021-22 and 2025-26. Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, the state is focusing on religious, historical, literary and natural attractions that have remained outside the mainstream tourism circuit. The initiative aims to improve infrastructure, preserve…

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CSIR-IITR to Host AIMFIN 2026 to Connect Startups with Investors

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: The CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), Lucknow, is hosting AIMFIN 2026, an Angel Investors Meet aimed at connecting innovative startups with investors, industry leaders and key stakeholders in the investment ecosystem. The two-day event, scheduled for October 9–10, is being organised by the institute’s Technology Development and Innovation Centre (TDIC) in association with CSIR Innovation Centre Mumbai (CSIR-ICM). Supported by DBT-BIRAC, TDIC at CSIR-IITR has so far supported around 44 startups in developing their ideas and translating innovations into practical solutions. AIMFIN 2026 seeks to bridge the gap…

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