NEW DELHI: Opposition parties disrupted proceedings in Lok Sabha and walked out of Rajya Sabha on the first day of the winter session after govt refused to concede their demand to immediately allow a debate on the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by Election Commission.They rejected the stand of parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju that the demand for debate over SIR was under consideration but govt could not be tied to a timeline.

The forthcoming days are likely to see more disruptions as there is no indication that the govt might relent on its stand not to discuss the functioning of Election Commission, an independent body. The opposition is determined to force the issue and chose the path of confrontation despite misgivings among smaller INDIA bloc parties. You can’t dictate timeline for govt call on SIR debate, Rijiju tells oppnThere are signs suggesting that Trinamool is ploughing its own furrow in the matter (special intensive revision of electoral rolls being conducted by Election Commission) rather than following Congress. At a meeting of the grouping, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is learnt to have repeated his “vote manipulation” charge — a clear sign that Congress would remain hewed to its stand opposing special intensive revision.There were repeated adjournments in the first half of the session as opposition shouted slogans disregarding Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s appeal not to do so. “You can raise slogans outside but not in the House,” he said. A bill introduced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to implement amendments to GST law in Manipur was passed in Lok Sabha amid the din.Sitharaman also introduced in Lok Sabha two new bills that seek to repurpose levies on ‘sin goods’ such as tobacco, pan masala and related products. However, with opposition persisting with its slogan shouting, the House had to be adjourned for the day in the second half.In Rajya Sabha, opposition MPs were on their feet to press their demand soon after the felicitation of chairman C P Radhakrishnan, who chaired the proceedings for the first time since his election as Vice President in Sept this year.TMC member Derek O’Brien said that parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju had promised them on Sunday to get back to them on their demand that SIR should be taken up under the broader agenda of “electoral reforms”. Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, and CPM’s John Brittas joined in the demand.They cited suicides by booth-level officers (BLOs) due to alleged workload, with Kharge calling for taking up the debate on SIR first as they have been demanding it since last session.Rijiju reiterated that their demand is under govt’s consideration and that he would get back as soon as possible. “Nobody is undermining the matter taken up by opposition. It is under consideration of govt. But you cannot impose conditions like taking up the discussion today. There are opposition parties other than a dozen (demanding debate on SIR), who represent different states and want discussion on other issues,” he said. Opposition MPs told Rijiju that he had promised on Sunday to convey to them govt’s decision by 9pm the same day. Rijiju, however, said opposition cannot dictate a timeline.“Timeline is not the problem. But there is a trust deficit,” retorted Derek. Opposition members then staged a walkout in protest, following which the Chair took up special mentions and Zero Hour.Opposition functionaries said that they will continue to stick to their demand for SIR discussion on Tuesday and will take stock of the situation on Wednesday amid slender hope in its ranks that govt could agree.INDIA bloc will protest against the SIR at the Parliament entrance on Tuesday morning, in what will be reminiscent of the Monsoon session that was washed out over protests against ‘vote chori’.Many eyebrows were raised when Trinamool did not join the meeting of INDIA bloc held at Congress’s initiative. Also, smaller parties from Kerala like CPI, CPM, RSP and IUML felt that complete washout of proceedings should be avoided as there were important issues to be highlighted.Congress president Kharge sympathised with them, but said the issue of SIR is important and govt should accept the demand for discussion even if it is under some other subject like “electoral reforms”.But, sources said, a difference of views was the reason why opposition has decided to take a fresh look at the issue after two days.

SRINAGAR: Around “120 terrorists” positioned on 69 launch pads across the LoC are under close watch and the next phase of Operation Sindoor will be activated without hesitation if Pakistan attempts any “misadventure”, BSF Kashmir frontier IG Ashok Yadav said Monday.Yadav said during the border force’s annual briefing that Pakistan shifted several launch pads deeper inside its territory after Indian air and artillery strikes between May 7 and May 10, when Op Sindoor hit terrorist sites in retaliation for the Pahalgam massacre that killed 26 civilians on April 22.“We caused heavy damage during Op Sindoor. Some launch pads were moved from forward areas so they remain out of firing range of Indian Army and BSF,” Yadav said, adding that despite relocation, these sites remain under surveillance. “Whenever there is any misadventure from Pakistan, we are ready to give a befitting reply.”During the May offensive, Yadav said BSF units and Army formations executed “heavy and accurate” fire assaults on Pakistani posts and launch pads. “Our units, including artillery regiments, inflicted huge casualties on Pakistani troops, damaged forward posts and destroyed several terrorist pads along the LoC.”Asked why the 69 pads were not struck earlier, he said terrain and distance limited firing solutions. “We had them under radar. Location and depth from the LoC matter. From some points it is difficult to target all launch pads,” he said.Yadav reported a sharp drop in infiltration attempts. Four attempts were recorded this year in the Kashmir frontier — two before and two after Op Sindoor — involving 13 infiltrators. “Eight were eliminated by the Army, five retreated,” he said. While the broader infiltration pattern remains unchanged, he acknowledged emergence of new tracks. “We receive inputs on new routes and cover them with the Army,” he said.Inside Kashmir valley, BSF has 13 companies working with the Army and police. Yadav flagged “silent recruitment” of terrorists and said the force is focusing on institutions functioning as “radicalisation centres”. Alerts are passed to agencies responsible for the hinterland, he said, adding that “complete synergy” exists among security forces.Following the Pahalgam attack, specialised BSF teams were deployed in the Gulmarg bowl to reinforce tourist security. “Our teams are operating professionally and effectively,” Yadav said.Despite harsh terrain, snowbound stretches, threats of sneaky strikes by Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT), sniping, ceasefire violations and fidayeen strikes, BSF personnel continue LoC duties with “full zeal and devotion”, he said.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s son Kasim Khan on Monday accused the jail authorities of doing “something irreversible” to his father amid the ongoing speculations about his whereabouts.Speaking to news agency Reuters , Kasim said that the family has had no direct or verifiable contact with Khan, despite a judicial order for weekly meetings.“Not knowing whether your father is safe, injured or even alive is a form of psychological torture,” he said in written remarks, adding that there had been no independently confirmed communication for a couple of months.“Today we have no verifiable information at all about his condition. Our greatest fear is that something irreversible is being hidden from us” Kasim added. Kasim and his older brother Suleiman Isa Khan, who live in London with their mother, Jemima Goldsmith, have kept a distance from Pakistan’s dynastic politics.The brothers, who call him “Abba”, have spoken publicly only sparingly mainly about Khan’s imprisonment.Kasim added that the last time they saw their father was in November 2022, when they visited Pakistan after he survived an assassination attempt.The family has repeatedly sought access for Khan’s personal physician, who has not been allowed to examine him for more than a year, he added.Meanwhile, a jail official told Reuters that Khan was in good health, adding that he was not aware of any plan for a move to a higher-security facility.Controversy swirls around the health of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan due to a lack of transparency about his confinement conditions. His son, Kasim Khan, claims the former Pakistani prime minister has been denied visitors for the past six weeks, fueling widespread speculation that the PTI leader may not even be alive.Khan remains incarcerated in Adiala Jail, where he was first convicted and sentenced to three years in August 2023 in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case. Since then, additional corruption charges have piled up, culminating in a 14-year sentence that marks the longest jail term handed down to the politician.Adiala Jail authorities have dismissed the mounting concerns, insisting that all necessary medical care is being provided to the PTI chief. Officials maintain that Khan is in stable condition, but have offered no further evidence to counter the rumours.

Sanchar Saathi mobile app

In what raises privacy concerns and fears around state surveillance, govt has asked smartphone makers to mandatorily pre-install its Sanchar Saathi app on their devices, ostensibly to strengthen cyber security on the devices and prevent tampering and spoofing of IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number.The order, originally issued on November 21, gives the device makers – ranging from Apple, Samsung, Google, Motorola, and the Chinese lot of Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo – 90 days to comply with the regulation or otherwise face penalties. The govt’s order is even valid for devices being imported to the country, or still in pre-sales transit.The direction — that raised red flags within the industry as well as privacy advocates — said, “Central govt hereby directs every manufacturer and importers of mobile handsets that are intended for use in India to… ensure that the Sanchar Saathi mobile application, as specified by Department of Telecom (DoT), is pre-installed on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India.”And to ensure that the exercise does not end up as mere eyewash, the order also asks the companies to ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi app is “readily visible and accessible to the end users” at the time of first use or device setup and that “its functionalities are not disabled or restricted”.The order said that a provision to follow the instructions should also be made for devices which are in transit for sales. “For all such devices that have already been manufactured and are in sales channels in India, the manufacturer and importers of mobile handsets shall make an endeavour to push the App through software updates.”Sanchar Saathi is pitched as a citizen-centric initiative of DoT that promises to “empower mobile subscribers, strengthen their security” while increasing awareness about govt initiatives.The direction has been given under the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, and its further amendments. “Rule 5 of the Rules empowers the govt to establish digital or other mechanisms necessary to identify and report acts that may endanger telecom cyber security, and accordingly, the DoT has instituted the Sanchar Saathi App, that, inter-alia, enables stakeholders to report IMEI related suspicious misuse and also to verify authenticity of IMEIs used in mobile devices,” the order said.The order said that mobile handsets bearing duplicate or spoofed IMEI pose serious danger to telecom cyber security. Govt instructed the manufacturer and importers of mobile handsets to submit compliance reports to the DoT within 120 days from issue of the directions. “Failure to comply with these directions shall attract action under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024 (as amended), and other applicable laws.”

TL;DR: Driving the newsGlobal arms revenues surged to an all-time high of $679 billion in 2024, up 5.9% in real terms, according to the latest SIPRI Top 100 ranking. While Europe and the US drove most of the increase, Asia and Oceania stood out as the only region to post a decline—largely due to a dramatic drop in Chinese arms company revenues, the SIPRI report said. Zoom inIndia, though still far from being a global arms giant, posted a quiet but steady 8.2% increase in combined revenues across its three Top 100 companies. In sharp contrast, Chinese arms revenues fell 10%, a setback tied to a wave of high-profile corruption scandals and major contract delays that rattled Beijing’s defense establishment.India’s steady climbIndia’s three Top 100 firms-Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders-together pulled in $7.5 billion in arms revenue in 2024, up from $6.9 billion in 2023.BEL led the growth with a 24% revenue jump, hitting $2.47 billion. The boost came from domestic orders, particularly in radar systems and electronic warfare equipment, both prioritized in India’s military modernization drive.HAL, India’s top-ranked defense firm at rank 44 globally, earned $3.81 billion, a marginal 0.3% decrease from the previous year. The company faced delivery lags, but remained a cornerstone supplier to the Indian Air Force and Navy.Mazagon Dock, focused on naval shipbuilding, recorded $1.23 billion in arms revenue, with a 9.8% year-on-year increase, thanks to continued submarine and destroyer production.Why it mattersIndia is pressing ahead with its “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) campaign in defense production. While not grabbing global headlines, its incremental gains highlight an emerging industrial base that could challenge traditional suppliers over time.“The combined arms revenues of the three Indian companies in the Top 100 increased by 8.2 per cent to $7.5 billion on the back of domestic orders,” the SIPRI report said.China’s disrupted marchXi’s purge tableThe picture in China couldn’t be more different. For the first time in years, China’s eight arms producers in the SIPRI Top 100-previously hailed as key enablers of President Xi Jinping’s military modernization push-lost major ground.

Combined revenues fell by 10% to $88.3 billionThe steepest fall came from NORINCO, China’s primary land systems manufacturer, which saw its revenue plunge 31% due to corruption scandals and leadership upheaval.CASC, China’s aerospace and missile systems leader, dropped 16% following delays in military satellite programs and the removal of its president amid graft allegations.Even AVIC, the country’s biggest defense company, slipped 1.3%, hampered by delays in aircraft deliveries.“A host of corruption allegations in Chinese arms procurement led to major arms contracts being postponed or cancelled in 2024,” said Nan Tian, director of the SIPRI military expenditure and arms production programme.Between the linesChina’s top-down, state-controlled defense sector may be big-but its opacity leaves it vulnerable to internal shocks. Political purges tied to Xi’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign disrupted procurement and leadership pipelines across several top defense firms.Only two of China’s eight arms producers recorded revenue growth-CSSC, the shipbuilding powerhouse, was one, rising 8.7%, aligned with China’s naval buildup in the South China Sea. India’s slow, state-driven growth might lack flash, but it also avoids the internal disarray seen in Beijing. Its procurement is transparent, aligned to strategic plans, and largely free of major political scandal.China, meanwhile, is still far ahead in sheer scale but vulnerable to top-level instability.The big picture: Asia’s arms balance shiftsWhile China dragged down the region’s total, other Asian powers picked up slack:South Korean arms producers rose 31% to $14.1 billion, driven by booming exports.Japan posted the largest jump in Asia: a 40% increase in arms revenues across five firms, reaching $13.3 billion, reflecting Tokyo’s shift toward proactive defense spending amid regional tensions. Global context: Arms race acceleratingUS firms remain the backbone of the global arms industry. The 39 American companies in the Top 100 generated $334 billion in arms revenues in 2024, a 3.8 per cent increase that leaves them with just under half of global Top 100 sales. Lockheed Martin alone booked $64.7 billion, while RTX, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics each sat comfortably above $30 billion.Yet the American giant is struggling to turn money into timely capability. Programmes such as the F-35 fighter, the Columbia-class nuclear submarine and the Sentinel ICBM are all running late and over budget. Lockheed’s F-35 deliveries in 2024 were delayed by an average of 238 days per aircraft, and the programme’s projected sustainment costs have ballooned towards $1.6 trillion over its life. Northrop’s Sentinel programme has breached US cost-growth thresholds by around 80 per cent versus its original estimate. SIPRI’s Xiao Liang warns that “The delays and rising costs will inevitably impact US military planning and military spending… This could have knock-on effects on the US government’s efforts to cut excessive military spending and improve budget efficiency.” In plain terms, even as the US spends more, it risks getting less capability per dollar.European producers surged by 13%, reaching $151 billion, as countries rearm in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.Russia and the Middle East: War economies and new hubsRussia’s corporate footprint in the SIPRI Top 100 remains surprisingly small—just two entities, Rostec and United Shipbuilding Corporation—but their combined arms revenues jumped 23 per cent in 2024 to an estimated $31.2 billion. Domestic demand linked to the Ukraine war more than offset shrinking exports. Russian plants have ramped up output of artillery shells, missiles and armoured vehicles; SIPRI cites reports of 1.3 million 152-mm shells produced in 2024, a more than fivefold increase over 2022.Where Russia is constrained, the Middle East is expanding. For the first time, nine companies from the region appear in the Top 100, with combined arms revenues of $31.0 billion, up 14 per cent where comparable data exist. Israeli firms alone generated $16.2 billion, a 16 per cent increase, fuelled both by the Gaza war and strong demand for uncrewed systems and missile defence worldwide.What’s next For India:Expect a continued push for domestic procurement and local manufacturing under the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP).India may look to expand exports, especially to Africa and Southeast Asia, but lacks the global competitiveness of Korean or Israeli systems.For China:Beijing still accounts for around 13 per cent of total Top 100 arms revenues, and its shipyards and missile producers have been central to the rapid expansion of the PLA Navy and rocket forces over the past decade.But the 2024 rankings hint at a temporary pause or re-ordering in its modernisation drive just as tensions over Taiwan and in the South China Sea remain high.Recovery will depend on restoring procurement integrity, managing talent loss, and containing political fallout.For Asia:The regional arms race is far from over.The pivot from importing to building continues—but success will depend on supply chain resilience, governance, and geopolitical alignment.The bottom lineIndia is climbing slowly, but surely-fueled by trust in institutions, steady demand, and political will.China, long considered an unstoppable defense juggernaut, now faces turbulence not from outside threats, but from within.In the evolving landscape of Asian defense, discipline may matter more than dominance. And for now, India is playing the long game.

NEW DELHI: The first day of Parliament Winter Session 2025 witnessed a Mallikarjun Kharge vs JP Nadda showdown in the Rajya Sabha over the leader of opposition’s reference to “sudden exit” of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.The sharpest moment came when leader of the House JP Nadda advised Kharge to “visit a doctor” to deal with their political frustrations, insisting the House stay focused on the agenda at hand.

The leader of opposition in the Upper House, during his welcome address to the Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radhakrishnan, brought up his predecessor’s “completely unexpected and sudden exit from the office of the Chairman, Rajya Sabha.”“I hope you will not mind that I am constrained to refer to your predecessor’s completely unexpected and sudden exit from the office of the Chairman, Rajya Sabha,” he said amid opposition from the BJP members.“The chairman, being custodian of the entire house, belongs as much to the opposition as to the government. I was disheartened that the house did not get an opportunity to bid him a farewell. Regardless, wish him, on behalf of the entire opposition, a very healthy life,” Kharge said.The statement did not go down well with the leader of house JP Nadda who called the remarks “irrelevant”.“We must maintain the dignity of the felicitation program, and it would be good if we discuss it accordingly. If we start discussing the issue that our Leader of the Opposition brought up today, the farewell, and all the other topics, I think it’s irrelevant,” he said.“There will also be discussions from here that you moved a no-confidence motion against him, not once but twice…I think our Leader of the Opposition is very respectable. The defeat in Bihar, Haryana, and Maharashtra has caused you considerable pain. But you should express your pain and suffering to a doctor. You should speak to a doctor when the time comes,” he added.Earlier this year, Dhankhar’s abrupt resignation as Vice President, officially citing health reasons with two years still left in his term, had triggered a flurry of speculation and conspiracy theories across political circles. His decision, announced on the very first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, was highly unusual—making him only the third Vice President after VV Giri and R Venkataraman to step down before completing a full tenure.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath addresses public grievances, concerns during ‘Janta Darshan’ in Lucknow (Photo credit: ANI)

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday addressed public grievances and concerns during ‘Janta Darshan’ in Lucknow, where he met people from different parts of the district and personally listened to their issues.During the public outreach event, the chief minister reviewed written applications submitted by citizens and assured them of timely assistance and resolution. He also interacted warmly with children present at the venue, addressing their concerns and encouraging them to actively participate in community development.

Earlier, on Sunday and even on November 18, CM Yogi Adityanath held a ‘Janta Darshan’ at the Gorakhnath Temple premises in Gorakhpur.On November 16, CM Yogi Adityanath addressed public grievances and concerns during ‘Janta Darshan’ in Lucknow.During the “Janta Darshan” meeting, CM Yogi met with women and children to listen to thier grievances, which were presented by the general public. He reviewed the written applications of several people and assured support and resolution.Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday participated in the Pran Pratishtha and Aathman Bhandara at Siddha Baba Palnath Ashram in Jhajjar, Haryana and emphasised the significance of Sanatan culture, highlighting its role in shaping human evolution.He highlighted the spiritual legacy of the Nath community and underscored that Sanatan culture, linking India’s spiritual heritage, from Kailash’s Shiva to Rameshwaram’s temple, showcases the country’s rich cultural tapestry.On Sunday, the chief minister also held a review meeting in Sambhal, assessing ongoing development works and the law-and-order situation. He directed government and district officials to develop Sambhal in a phased manner, emphasising that the district’s development is a key government priority, a release said.In the first phase, he instructed officials to restore ancient pilgrimage sites and traditional wells. The second phase should focus on projects such as a museum and light-and-sound facilities. He also called for swift action on the construction of the District Court, jail, and PAC unit in Sambhal.The chief minister reviewed the performance of several departments, including Revenue, Home, Justice, Charitable Works, PWD, Tourism-Culture, and Urban Development.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: On the opening day of the Parliament Winter Session on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on behalf of the House, welcomed Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan as he presided over the Rajya Sabha for the first time. Radhakrishnan assumed office in September, becoming the country’s new Vice President and succeeding Jagdeep Dhankhar.Addressing the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi said, “Respected Chairman, the Winter Session is beginning today and it is a proud moment for all members of the House. It is a proud moment to welcome you…On behalf of the House, I heartily congratulate you. And I wish you all the best.”The prime minister assured full cooperation from MPs, saying, “I assure you that all the members sitting in this House, while maintaining the dignity of the Upper House, will always take care of your dignity as well. I assure you that they will maintain decorum. Our Chairman comes from a simple family, a farmer’s family, and he has dedicated his entire life to social service. The political field has been one aspect of it, but the mainstream has been social service. He has been dedicated to society. He is an inspiration and a guide for all of us who are interested in social service.”PM Modi also recounted the Radhakrishnan’s work in Jharkhand, saying, “I saw the bond you forged with the tribal communities in Jharkhand. The way you visited even small villages, the chief minister of Jharkhand would proudly mention these things whenever he met me. Whether you had a helicopter or not, you would travel in whatever vehicle you had, stopping at small places at night. We all know your spirit of service and the way you took it to new heights as Governor... I have realised one thing that people sometimes feel the burden of their position, and sometimes they get overwhelmed by protocol. But I’ve noticed that you have no connection with protocol…”Earlier in the day, just before the Winter Session began, PM Modi addressed the media and targeted the Opposition, urging them to move past their defeat in the recent Bihar assembly elections. He also took a jibe at the Opposition’s approach in Parliament, saying, “Whoever wants to do drama can do it. There should be delivery here and not drama…the emphasis should be on policy, not slogans.”