NEW DELHI: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Monday successfully conducted the maiden flight test of the Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR 120). It was conducted at the Integrated Test Range in Odisha’s Chandipur.“The rocket was tested for its maximum range of 120 km, demonstrating all in-flight manoeuvres as planned. The LRGR impacted the target with textbook precision,” reported news agency PTI.

Earlier, the day the Centre also cleared a fresh set of defence procurements worth around Rs 79,000 crore, giving the armed forces a significant boost in combat capability. The approvals were taken at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh.According to the defence ministry, the council granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for a range of equipment to be inducted by the Army, Navy and Air Force. The cleared proposals include loitering munitions for artillery units, low-level lightweight radars, long-range guided rocket ammunition for the Pinaka multiple launch rocket system, and the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System Mark-II, among other systems.Importance of Pinaka The Pinaka Long Range Guided Rocket (LRGR 120) is an extended-range, precision-guided rocket developed for the Indian Army’s Pinaka Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). The “120” denotes its maximum strike range of around 120 kilometres. Unlike earlier unguided Pinaka rockets, the LRGR is equipped with a guidance system that significantly improves accuracy, enabling it to engage targets such as enemy artillery positions, command nodes and logistics installations at long distances. The rocket is fired from the existing Pinaka launcher, allowing the Army to enhance capability without inducting a new launch platform.The LRGR 120 is part of India’s effort to increase indigenous, long-range precision firepower. Guidance is achieved through a combination of inertial navigation, with mid-course updates and terminal correction, reducing circular error probable (CEP) compared to earlier variants. The system provides the Army with a stand-off strike option, allowing targets to be hit from well behind forward areas, improving survivability of launch units. The rocket is intended for deployment across artillery regiments operating the Pinaka system, strengthening deep-strike and counter-force capabilities.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday noted that some individuals are attempting to gain “political advantage” after lawyers for expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar claimed that allegations had been made against the Delhi high court judges who had suspended his life sentence in the Unnao rape case.“We understand it. We are not sitting in ivory towers. We understand that people are trying to take political advantage and there are people who are trying to take advantage,” said CJI Surya Kant, who was heading a three-judge vacation bench.

Senior advocate N Hariharan, representing Sengar, highlighted that certain individuals were making allegations against the high court judges who handled the case. He urged such persons to refrain from making statements or accusations against the judges, noting that a circulating video containing these allegations was a matter of concern.“They are doing that on national television,” Hariharan said, as cited by PTI.Another lawyer representing Sengar said that photographs of the high court judges were also being circulated. The bench noted that such actions overlook the fact that Sengar was convicted by the judiciary itself.“Very frankly, these judges are one of the finest we have,” said the bench, also comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and Augustine George Masih, during the hearing.Later, when asked about the allegations against the judges, solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, stated unequivocally that both the high court judges are “brilliant judges with unimpeachable integrity,” adding that any attempt to malign them must be strongly condemned, as cited by PTI. The Supreme Court stayed a Delhi high court order that had suspended Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s life sentence and granted him bail in the 2017 Unnao rape case. The apex court also issued a notice to Sengar, directing him to respond within four weeks to the CBI’s plea challenging the high court order.The high court had suspended Sengar’s sentence pending the outcome of his appeal against the 2019 trial court verdict in the rape case. However, he will remain in jail, as he is also serving a 10-year sentence in the custodial death case of the victim’s father and has not been granted bail in that matter.The survivor on Monday vowed to pursue the death penalty for Sengar and welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the Delhi High Court’s suspension of his life sentence.“I am very happy. I had faith in the Supreme Court. I will ensure that he is given a death sentence,” she said while speaking to reporters. The Unnao rape survivor, who was a minor in 2017, was allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted by Kuldeep Singh Sengar between June 11 and 20, and was later sold before being rescued from the Maakhi police station.

NEW DELHI: As part of its ongoing river rejuvenation efforts, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has approved multiple projects including a master plan to restore the cultural identity of the Gomti river’s origin site at Pilibhit, protect breeding habitats of sandbar-nesting birds and deploy nature based solutions for in-situ treatment of certain drains, falling in Yamuna, in Delhi.The plan to restore natural sanctity of the Gomti river’s origin site includes modern infrastructure development, catchment area treatment, rejuvenation of water sources, and nature-based treatment of sewage from Madhotanda town in Uttar Pradesh.“It also includes development of ghats and aarti platforms, rejuvenation of lakes, and conservation of turtle habitats. Facilities such as a crematorium, ‘panchvatika’ and yoga mandap will further enhance the site’s spiritual and cultural significance,” said the Union Jal Shakti ministry in a statement.The plan for Gomti and other initiatives were approved by the NMCG – a central agency to implement Ganga rejuvenation programmes – in its executive committee meeting, chaired by the agency’s director general Rajeev Kumar Mittal, held last week.The project to protect breeding habitats of sandbar-nesting birds, including the Indian skimmer, will focus on long-term monitoring, community participation, and evidence-based conservation.“The project is a first of its kind initiative focusing on avifauna and would complement NMCG’s work on dolphins, fishes, turtles, muggers etc and would complete the focus on river related faunal biodiversity,” said the ministry.Under the project, nest monitoring will continue in the Chambal and lower Ganga and will be initiated in Bijnor, Narora, and Prayagraj by deploying trained local communities to help protect sensitive sandbars, reduce human disturbance, and support awareness and capacity-building initiatives.In Delhi, the nature based solutions will be used for in-situ treatment of different drains including Shastri Park, Gaushala, Kailash Nagar and Ramesh Nagar. Idea of the initiative is to treat raw sewage on-site before it enters the Yamuna using rock filters, stone masonry, and aquatic plants for natural treatment.

Here are the top five stories of the day:

Unnao rape survivor seeks death penalty for Sengar; hails SC decision

The Unnao rape survivor on Monday vowed to pursue the death penalty for convicted and expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar, welcoming the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the Delhi High Court’s suspension of his life sentence. Speaking to reporters, she said, “I am very happy. I had faith in the Supreme Court. I will ensure that he is given a death sentence.” Meanwhile, her mother requested security for the family and their legal team, following the SC’s stay on the HC order that had suspended Sengar’s life sentence and granted him bail in the 2017 case.Read full story

China on Monday launched large-scale live-fire military drills around Taiwan, involving warships, fighter jets, bombers and drones, in what Beijing described as a warning to supporters of Taiwanese independence and foreign powers. Taiwan’s defence ministry reported detecting 89 Chinese aircraft and drones, 67 of which entered its response area. The People’s Liberation Army said the exercises, dubbed “Justice Mission 2025,” included live-fire training on maritime targets, simulated strikes, and blockade drills, and would continue into Tuesday.Read full story

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to stay its order on the controversial “new definition” of the Aravalli range and the formation of a committee to review the issue. He said the government remains committed to supporting the Ministry of environment, forest and climate change in the protection and restoration of the range, adding that the ban on new mining leases and renewals remains in place.Read full story

Centre clears Rs 79,000 crore arms procurement plan

The Defence Acquisition Council on Monday approved an acceptance of necessity worth about Rs 79,000 crore to boost the Armed Forces’ operational capabilities, covering equipment for the Army, Navy and Air Force. The clearances include procurement of loiter munition systems, lightweight radars, long-range guided rocket ammunition for the Pinaka MRLS, and integrated drone detection and interdiction systems for the Indian Army.Read full story

Lalit Modi apologises after video with Vijay Mallya sparks backlash

Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi on Monday apologised for his social media remarks after a video featuring him with fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya triggered a backlash. In a post on X, he said his comments were “misconstrued” and were never intended to offend anyone, particularly the Indian government. The apology followed an Instagram clip in which he jokingly referred to himself and Mallya as “the two biggest fugitives of India.”Read full story

NEW DELHI: Father of Anjel Chakma, the Tripura student who died in a fatal racial attack in Dehradun, made serious allegations against the authorities saying that they refused to file an FIR after the assault dismissing it as “minor matter”.“They wanted to file an FIR, but they were refused, being told it was a minor matter… Only when we went there did they finally register the case,” Anjel’s father Tarun Prasad Chakma said.“Our children from the Northeast go to various places like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru to work or study, they should not be treated so adversely. We are all Indians as well. I request the government to ensure equal treatment to all,” he added.Anjel was assaulted on December 9 in Dehradun’s Selaqui area while he was purchasing groceries with his younger brother.Tarun recalled meeting his children after the attack in the hospital. “I saw my child in a critical condition; his left arm and leg were paralysed because he had been stabbed twice in the back. Blood was gushing from his head,” he said.He said that the case was registered only when he reached Dehradun. “I went to the police to report the incident, and they reviewed the CCTV footage from the scene. It showed that three people on a motorcycle approached my younger son, spoke to him briefly, and then started making comments,” he said.According to a police complaint, Anjel and his brother Michael Chakma (21) were stopped by a group of six men who allegedly abused them with racial slurs, including “Chinki,” “Chinese,” and “Momo.”The case was registered on December 12, based on Michael Chakma’s complaint, under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to voluntarily causing hurt, the use of dangerous weapons, and criminal intimidation. On December 14, after doctors assessed the gravity of the injuries, police invoked additional charges of attempted murder and criminal conspiracy.Five of the six accused, including two juveniles, were arrested on December 14, while the prime accused, Yagya Awasthi, remains at large. Police said Awasthi is believed to have fled to Nepal. Officials said a police team has been dispatched to Nepal to track down the prime accused.