Sanchar Saathi, the government’s cyber-safety app originally designed to help citizens track, block and disable stolen phones, is now positioned to become part of every new smartphone sold in India. What began as a seemingly innocuous anti-fraud utility has rapidly escalated into a fierce policy dispute—touching on privacy, state power, and the limits of regulatory authority…
A New Face of Terrorism Emerges in Kashmir The National Investigation Agency’s latest crackdown in Kashmir has exposed a sophisticated “white collar” terror ecosystem—a shadowy network where radical ideology, professional expertise and digital technologies converge to enable violence. The sweeping raids, conducted across Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam, form part of an expanding investigation linking Kashmir-based operatives…
A Blockbuster Proposal That Could Redefine Cross-Industry Casting Hollywood star Sydney Sweeney, one of the industry’s fastest-rising names, is reportedly being courted for a record-shattering ₹530–540 crore (£45 million) Bollywood debut—an offer that, if real, would eclipse any remuneration ever extended to an international actor by an Indian production house. The unconfirmed proposal, first floated by…
A Firm Crackdown on SIM-less Communication India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched one of its most aggressive policy actions yet to combat cyber fraud, issuing stringent directives that require all app-based communication platforms to eliminate SIM-less usage. Issued under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024, the mandate applies to apps such…
A Major Operational Breakthrough Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has reached a defining milestone by completing its first full-scale integrated passenger trial under the Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) framework—confirming readiness for commercial launch on December 25, 2025. The rigorous simulation involved hundreds of trial passengers navigating real-world airport processes with IndiGo, Akasa Air, and…
A New Cybersecurity Push In a sweeping move to fortify digital security, the Indian government has directed all smartphone manufacturers to preload the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on every new device sold in the country. The order, issued on November 28, 2025, requires compliance within 90 days and ensures the app remains non-uninstallable. Existing devices, too, will…
A Charged Opening to a Crucial Session India’s Parliament Winter Session 2025 opened on December 1, setting in motion 19 days of legislative deliberations across 15 sittings. Coming immediately after the high-stakes Bihar elections, the session carries renewed political energy. The BJP-led NDA government, emboldened by electoral gains, seeks to accelerate long-pending economic reforms, while an embattled opposition prepares…
WTDC-25 in Baku The World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25), ITU’s flagship quadrennial summit, concluded on November 28, 2025, in Baku, Azerbaijan, after 12 days of intensive deliberations. Hosted by Azerbaijan—the first CIS nation to chair—the conference brought together 2,500+ delegates from 160+ countries, including 65 ministers, at the Baku Convention Center. Key outcomes included the Global Roadmap…
On November 28, 2025, India’s Ministry of Defence formalized a five-year sustainment package worth ₹7,995 crore ($894 million) with the United States under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) were signed in New Delhi, with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh present. The agreement ensures comprehensive support for the Indian Navy’s 24…
The Leadership Rift Karnataka Congress has faced persistent rumors of a leadership rift between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar since the party’s 2023 Assembly victory. With a 135-seat mandate, the Congress high command had reportedly approved a 2.5-year power-sharing understanding, placing Siddaramaiah first and Shivakumar next. However, tensions surfaced repeatedly over bureaucratic transfers, cabinet allocations, board…
