Odisha’s Cultural Torchbearers Recognised at the National Stage Odisha entered the national spotlight this year as four of its distinguished sons received the Padma Shri in 2026, one of India’s highest civilian honours. The awards celebrate decades of quiet but transformative work in literature, education, handloom craft, and folk performance. Their recognition underscores the growing national appreciation…
A Tragedy That Shocked the State Maharashtra awoke to disbelief on January 28, 2026, when news broke that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had died in a devastating aircraft accident at Baramati airport. The chartered Learjet 45 carrying Pawar from Mumbai for a day of local campaign engagements failed to stabilize during its second landing attempt…
Understanding the Responsible Nations Index (RNI) The Responsible Nations Index (RNI) is a new global benchmarking framework that seeks to redefine how national success is measured. Moving beyond conventional indicators such as gross domestic product, military strength, or geopolitical influence, the RNI evaluates countries through the lens of responsibility—towards their citizens, the planet, and the…
President Donald Trump once again described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “fantastic leader” and a “close friend,” projecting warmth and personal chemistry on the global stage. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 21, 2026, Trump expressed confidence that the United States and India would ultimately reach a “good…
ISRO’s PSLV-C62 mission, launched on January 12, 2026, from Sriharikota at 10:18 a.m. IST, was expected to reaffirm the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle’s reputation as India’s most dependable launcher. Instead, a malfunction in the third stage abruptly ended the flight, resulting in the loss of 16 satellites, including key payloads such as EOS-N1 and DRDO’s…
A Strong Partnership in Numbers India’s commercial engagement with the European Union has entered a decisive phase. In FY 2024–25, bilateral goods trade touched an all-time high of USD 136.53 billion, with Indian exports alone climbing to USD 75.85 billion. This performance delivered a healthy trade surplus of USD 15.17 billion for New Delhi and reinforced the…
The mass surrender of Maoist cadres in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district in January 2026 has emerged as a powerful indicator of the shrinking space for Left-Wing Extremism in India. Sixty-three insurgents, including several high-value operatives carrying cumulative rewards exceeding ₹1.19 crore, voluntarily renounced violence before security forces. Their decision, driven by ideological fatigue, internal exploitation, and the attraction…
A Test that Redefines India’s Hypersonic Trajectory India’s hypersonic ambitions crossed a critical threshold when the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted a long-duration scramjet combustor test in early January 2026. The 12-minute ground run, achieved under sustained Mach 5+ conditions, marks more than a technical success—it signals India’s transition from experimental hypersonics to…
ED Raids I-PAC’s Kolkata Office On January 8, 2026, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out search operations at the Kolkata office of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), along with premises linked to its senior functionaries. The raids, conducted in Salt Lake’s Sector V and at a central Kolkata residence associated with I-PAC director Pratik Jain, immediately…
India Becomes the First to Produce Indigenous Bio-Bitumen India has entered a new chapter in sustainable infrastructure by becoming the world’s first country to commercially produce indigenous bio-bitumen for highway construction. Announced in early January 2026, this breakthrough replaces a portion of conventional petroleum-based bitumen with a bio-derived alternative made from agricultural residue. Beyond technological novelty, the development…
