PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin at Hyderabad House in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held bilateral talks on Friday, the second and final day of the Russian leader’s state visit — his first trip to India since December 2021 and his first since the Ukraine war erupted in February 2022.Click here for live updatesThe visit is part of the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, with several other engagements also on the agenda.Putin arrived in Delhi on Thursday evening, with PM Modi breaking protocol to receive him at Palam airport. The two leaders then proceeded to the prime minister’s residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg for a private dinner.Here are top developments from day 2 of Putin’s visit:

Russian President Vladimir Putin and PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin, in India for a two-day visit to attend the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, is set for a packed schedule on Friday, the final day of his trip.Also Read | Putin’s India visit: From private dinner with PM Modi to Rajghat visit — what’s on the itinerary Putin arrived in Delhi on Thursday evening for his first visit to India since December 2021. Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol to personally receive him at Palam airport, after which the two leaders drove together to the PM’s residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg for a private dinner.

Putin India visit schedule

Vladimir Putin in India: What’s on agenda for day 2?Putin, on his first visit to India since the Ukraine conflict began in February 2022, will begin the day at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu will receive him with a ceremonial welcome. He will then proceed to Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi.Also Read | Putin in India: ‘Defence ties to deepen despite US, EU oppn’ At 11 am, PM Modi and President Putin will convene at Hyderabad House for the annual bilateral summit, with talks to be held in a restricted format. Key issues likely to feature in the discussions include:

Overall, up to 10 intergovernmental documents and more than 15 agreements and memorandums between commercial and non-commercial entities are expected to be signed during Putin’s visit.Also Read | Russian President’s visit turns parts of city into a fortressThe Russian president is also slated to address the India–Russia Business Forum and take part in the launch event for RT TV’s India operations.After dinner at Rashtrapati Bhavan, he will depart for Moscow around 9:30 pm.(With ANI inputs)

PM Modi presents Russian edition of Gita to Putin (@narendramodi)

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a copy of the Russian edition of Bhagavad Gita to Russian President Vladimir Putin after receiving him at Delhi’s Palam Airport. Sharing a picture from their interaction, PM Modi highlighted the inspirational teachings of the Gita.“Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita offer inspiration to millions across the world,” he wrote.

Putin is on a two-day visit to India for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit at the invitation of PM Modi, where more than 10 inter-governmental agreements and over 15 commercial MoUs are expected to be signed.PM steps beyond protocolIn an unusual gesture, PM Modi went to the airport to receive Russian President Vladimir Putin. The scene was filled with hugs, handshakes and laughter as both leaders shared a car ride to the private dinner hosted by the Prime Minister.PM Modi also shared the moments captured at the airport and during the car ride to his residence at Lok Kalyan Marg.“Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin, to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow,” wrote the Prime Minister, “India-Russia friendship is a time-tested one that has greatly benefitted our people.”Putin will begin his Friday schedule by paying tribute at Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Rajghat. Following this, Putin and PM Modi are set to hold bilateral talks and attend the business forum.

AHMEDABAD: An IndiGo Madinah-Hyderabad flight with more than 180 passengers and six crew members made an emergency landing at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport Thursday after an alleged bomb threat mid-air. It later turned out to be a hoax.Crew allegedly got a message claiming that an explosive device had been planted in the aircraft. The pilot alerted ATC, following which security agencies were put on standby and the flight was diverted to Ahmedabad, said sources.All passengers were deboarded. Teams from Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad, CISF, police and airport security cordoned off the area. “The aircraft was inspected, and no-thing suspicious was found,” ACP (Zone-G) V N Yadav said. Till 7pm, the flight had not departed. “Necessary arrangements were made for passeng-ers,” an airline source said.

RAIPUR: Maoist casualties in Wednesday’s operation by security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region rose to 18 after six more bodies, including wanted PLGA commander Vella Modiyam, were retrieved Thursday from the gunfight site along the Dantewada-Bijapur border.Nine of the slain guerrillas, who had a combined bounty of Rs 1.3 crore on their heads, were women. Three security personnel were killed in the fighting. The operation dealt what police said was a decisive blow to the Maoist citadel in Gangaloor. “Vella, aka Mangu Modiyam, was the Maoists’ operational and intelligence commander in Gangaloor and involved in multiple crimes, including the killing of a minor, a student and a villager in Peddakorma,” Bastar IGP Sundarraj said.CM Vishnu Deo Sai lauded the personnel involved in the operation, saying the bravery of the trio killed in action “won’t go in vain”. His deputy Vijay Sharma said Naxalism in Chhattisgarh was now on its “last legs”, with forces engaged in a mop-up across Bastar.

BENGALURU: Karnataka is preparing to expand its Telescope Distribution Scheme beyond Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KRIES) schools to a larger group of govt institutions, science and technology minister NS Boseraju said Thursday. A proposal seeking more funds will be placed before the chief minister during the next budget meeting.Boseraju was speaking at the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, where he inaugurated a training programme for KRIES teachers on operating and maintaining the telescopes supplied to their schools. The effort is part of a broader push to strengthen astronomy-based learning across the State.Under the scheme, 833 residential schools and PU colleges under KRIES have each received a telescope at a total cost of Rs 3 crore. Boseraju said no other government department in the country had taken up a project of this scale. He added that the department hopes to extend telescope distribution to more schools in the coming year.

He stressed the need to foster scientific temper and rational thinking among students. Strengthening science education, he said, is essential in an era driven by knowledge and innovation.Training is a key part of the programme. The minister said the govt’s intention was not to distribute the instruments and step away, but to ensure teachers are equipped to use them in classrooms. The hands-on workshop aims to help teachers integrate regular sky observations into school activities, encouraging students to explore astronomy.The department’s 2026 astronomical calendar was also released at the event. The calendar lists monthly celestial events and is meant to support teachers in using the telescopes more effectively. Senior officials from the department and the planetarium joined around 90 KRIES teachers at the event.

Supreme Court (ANI photo)

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday took note of concerns over the workload of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) engaged in the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Amid reports alleging excessive pressure and even suicides, the top court directed state governments to deploy additional staff to reduce the working hours of those already assigned election duties.A bench headed by CJI Surya Kant said that any individual seeking exemption from statutory election duties for valid reasons must have their request considered on a case-by-case basis by the competent authority and the State government, with a replacement arranged if needed.“The State government is obligated to provide the workforce if there is a need to increase the same,” the CJI observed.The directions were issued in response to a plea filed by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which challenged the Election Commission of India’s move to invoke criminal action under Section 32 of the Representation of Peoples’ Act against individuals unable to perform their duties as BLOs due to heavy workloads, target pressures, and personal hardships.Reports of BLO deaths and suicide attempts have surfaced across states, turning it into a widespread concern and prompting strong protests and demands for action from Opposition parties.