In the debate on reform in the Indian military, there is a need for clear policy-driven directives that meet India’s national security needs and challenges. A recent historical overview would indicate just how confused things are, which doesn’t augur well for a ‘leading power’. The initial flavour of the debate …

Around August 15 every year, Indians tend to get more correct and prickly. The 15th is a precious day for us. We demand a salute to our state and status as a great independent nation. Any critique is summarily dismissed, often at the cost to our own understanding of the …

Aluminium makers hit by coal shortage, says FIMI Aluminium makers are facing shortage of coal to run their captive power plants which has hit their refinery and smelting operations adversely, according to the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI). Captive power plants of aluminium makers are not getting coal even …

State-run power giant NTPC will soon set up a subsidiary to handle its coal mining operations and also plans to enter commercial coal mining after meeting its requirement, an official said. The power sector behemoth also has a plan to list the coal subsidiary subsequently on stock exchanges. “The NTPC …

After 4G mobile services, Reliance Jio on Wednesday started registration for optical fibre based fixed-line broadband service through which it has claimed to offer a download speed of one gigabit per second. “JioGigaFiber. Make your neighbourhood #Gigaready with Gigabit wifi, TV, smart home, free calling and more,” read the registration …

Tata Steel Ltd. CEO and MD T.V. Narendran on Wednesday said the steel sector had been witnessing a positive growth and this trend would continue with improving economic activities across the world. Talking to reporters after hoisting the Tricolour on the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day at Tata Steel …

Union Minister Arun Jaitley said India has sufficient foreign exchange reserves to mitigate any undue volatility in the currency market. His comment comes a day after the rupee fell sharply to breach the 70-mark against the dollar for the first time. In a series of tweets, Mr. Jaitley said that …

State-run lender IDBI Bank, which is set to be taken over by the Life Insurance Corporation of India, may face a capital shortfall in the current financial year, its chief executive officer and managing director B. Sriram said in an address to the employees. “While we have met the capital …

There have been instances wherein individuals and companies have managed to avail tax benefits from the Income Tax Department on the money paid to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to settle matters under the consent mechanism. Entities have shown the settlement amount paid to SEBI as a …

While the governments at the Centre and States have taken proactive steps to encourage electric vehicles (EVs), on-ground hurdles such as high levels of corruption at the regional transport offices (RTOs) could hold back the sector, according to Goldie Srivastava, CEO of SmartE, an electric vehicle solution provider that has …

India shipped larger quantities of tea to two neighbouring countries — China and Pakistan — in the first half of 2018, when overall tea exports increased to 112.1 million kg, from 107.1 million kg in the year earlier period. According to data with the Tea Board, total earnings between January …

Manmade global warming and a natural surge in Earth’s surface temperature will join forces to make the next five years exceptionally hot, according to a study published on Tuesday. The double whammy of climate change and so-called natural variability more than doubles the likelihood of “extreme warm events” in ocean …

That undisputed fact led a Los Angeles judge to rule this spring that coffee companies must provide cancer warnings to coffee drinkers. The ruling cast a shadow on a daily and often essential rite for millions of people around the world. But now, the state of California has intervened, telling …

When Chinese state TV accidentally revealed much of the “salmon” sashimi eaten in the country was actually rainbow trout, domestic fish farmers faced a crisis of consumer confidence. After fishing for a solution, they came up with an idea: to officially deem the rainbow trout a type of salmon. Over …

China has blasted U.S. tariffs on solar panel imports, filing a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the latest salvo of the trade battle between the world’s two economic giants. U.S. President Donald Trump approved steep tariffs on solar panel imports in January to protect U.S. producers, triggering …

As the trade war between China and the U.S. escalates, Russia is coming to Beijing’s rescue by offering a million hectares of land suitable for cultivating soybeans and other agri-products. The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post has quoted Valery Dubrovskiy, director of investment for Russia’s Far East Investment and …

In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court has directed legal services authorities and committees to extend video-conferencing in every criminal case whenever the accused is in jail. The court said both accused were represented by advocate Shikhil Suri in the Supreme Court. Mr. Suri, who was entrusted with the appeals …

Amid continuing transgression by China at Demchok in eastern Ladakh, the Armies of India and China held a ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting to mark India’s Independence Day. The meeting was held at Chushul-Moldo and Daulat Beg Oldie. The Indian delegations were led by Brigadier V.K. Purohit and Colonel Anil Kumar …

Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat on Wednesday said the upcoming polls to four States were unlikely to be held together with that of the Lok Sabha in December due to various procedural issues and a shortage of election machinery. “All the four States [Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Rajasthan] have …

The Tamil Nadu government has taken the stand that there was no need to reduce the water level of the Mullaperiyar dam below the present 142 ft. In response to reports of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s letter to his Tamil Nadu counterpart Edappadi K. Palaniswami, requesting him to lower …