Responded to Iran warship SOS, searched: Navy

A day after a US submarine torpedo sank an Iranian warship near Sri Lanka as it headed home after participating in Exercise MILAN and the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam, the Indian Navy said Thursday it had sent its aircraft and ships to augment the search and res-cue (SAR) efforts for IRIS Dena after it put out a distress call.

India is for rule of law & dialogue, military conflict no solution: PM

Underlining that India believes in the "rule of law, dialogue, and diplomacy", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday that "no issue can be resolved solely through military conflict" and Delhi will continue to support every effort to end conflict and restore peace, be it in West Asia or Ukraine. 

Shah unveils 'Pragati', 'Vikas' -mascots for Census 2027

Developed by C-DAC, the digital tools aim to streamline enumeration, combining satellite imagery, mobile apps, and web portals. "The mascots, a female enumerator 'Pragati' and a male enumerator 'Vikas', symbolise equal participation of men and women in India's resolve to become a developed nation by 2047.

India and Finland elevate bilateral ties to strategic partnership

India and Finland elevated their ties to "Strategic Partnership in Digitalization and Sustainability", after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Finnish President Alexander Stubb held bilateral talks in New Delhi on Thursday.

Following the talks, the two sides signed three pacts on mobility, environment and statistics, and set the aim to double bilateral trade by 2030; establish a joint working group on digitalisation, a joint task force on 6G and greater connectivity of startup ecosystems; co-host World Circular Economy Forum in India; and put in place a consular dialogue.

Anti-conversion Bill gets Maharashtra cabinet nod

Maharashtra's cabinet on Thursday approved a draft anti-conversion law titled "Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam, 2026", proposing up to seven years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh for unlawful or forced religious conversions. 

What are 'gravity bombs' which US is planning to shift to in Iran?

A gravity bomb, historically known as a "free-fall" bomb, is an unpowered munition. Unlike a cruise missile like the Tomahawk, it lacks an internal engine. Once released, its trajectory is dictated entirely by gravity, aerodynamics, and the speed and altitude of the dropping aircraft. Despite their terminology likening them to World War-era relics, these variants are the modern workhorses of the US Air Force.

The legal framework that governs maritime conflict 

A US submarine on Wednesday torpedoed Iranian warship IRIS Dena off the coast of Sri Lanka, outside its nautical boundary. The ship was returning after participating in the International Fleet Review and MILAN-2026, a multilateral naval exercise organised by the Indian Navy off Visakhapatnam last month.

The sinking of the frigate, in which at least 80 sailors were killed, has widened the theatre of the war between US-Israel and Iran-beyond West Asia and the Gulf to India's immediate neighbourhood.

It also ignited a debate in India about maritime security in the Indian Ocean, a region where New Delhi maintains a significant naval presence.

Turning to Iranian Kurds, US seeks out old ally in West Asia

• Apart from Kurds, Iran also has a sizable population of other ethnic minorities.

• These include the Azeri Turks (comprising around 15 to 20% of the total population of 90 million) and the Baloch (around 2 to 3%).

• Not all of them are equally interested in politically mobilising against the government.

Why India’s rice production and export strategy requires a rethink 

India has been the world's largest rice exporter since 2011-12. In 2024-25, its export of 21.69 million tonnes (mt), according to the US Department of Agriculture, was way above Thailand's 7.86 mt and Vietnam's 8.06 mt, the other top exporters. In 2024-25, India also became the world's biggest rice producer, with its estimated 150 mt output sur-passing China's 145.28 mt. The challenge lies in sustaining this leadership position, from an environmental and financial standpoint. 

Our stakes are high in West Asia. Delhi must call for diplomacy, de-escalation

As the war ignited by the missiles striking Tehran on February 28 now enters its seventh day, it's clear that it has shattered a fragile regional order and plunged the global economy into a state of high-voltage uncertainty. For India, a country whose energy security and millions of citizens are inextricably linked to the stability of the Gulf, this is not "foreign news". It is a direct threat to our national interests and our aspirations for growth and development.