Protests for 'Amanat': Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit forced to return

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit showed up this afternoon at the large protest in Delhi called in memory of the 23-year-old student who died in a Singapore hospital from the horrific injuries she incurred when she was gang-raped on a bus two weeks ago. However, as she lit a candle, the chief minister was surrounded by demonstrators and then taken away by her security.

Large crowds gather in silent, peaceful protests at Jantar Mantar

At sunset of 29 December 2012, more than a thousand candles offered a sombre glow at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, the designated location for protests against the death of a young medical student, who was gang-raped on a moving bus in Delhi two weeks ago.

Body of 'India's Daughter' brought back to Delhi from Singapore

The body of the 23-year-old medical student, whose savage gang-rape on a moving bus provoked outrage and protests through India, has been brought back to India. A special Air India aircraft carrying the body landed at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport at around 4:15 am of 29 December 2012. The body was taken out of the airport in an ambulance of a private hospital through the Palam technical area.

Delhi gang-rape protesters being removed forcibly at India gate

A day after the extraordinary protests in the national capital that saw protesters clashing with the police right outside Rashtrapati Bhavan, section 144 was imposed in the New Delhi district early on the morning of 23 December 2013. This prohibits a gathering of more than four people at one place.

Student gangraped in moving bus in Delhi

Delhi reinforced its reputation as one of the country's most unsafe cities when a young woman was allegedly raped by five men in a moving bus on 16 December 2012. The woman, 23, and her friend were then thrown off the bus, semi-naked, at a flyover. The victim is at the Safdarjung Hospital in critical condition.

Huge crowd at India Gate as gang-rape victim fights for life

After brutal gang-rape of a 23-year-old student in a moving bus Delhi on 16 December 2012, protests demanding safety for women are becoming louder each day. Huge crowds have gathered at India Gate and Raisina Hill in New Delhi on 22 December 2012 demanding tougher punishment for rapists and more attention to women's safety by the government and the police.

Delhi gang rape: Police fire water cannon, fire tear gas at protesters - NewsX

Delhi Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters who were marching towards the Rashtrapati Bhavan demanding justice for the 23-year-old gang rape victim. The protesters, however, braved the water cannons in the winter chill and refused to leave the high-security area. They continued to chant slogans demanding justice for the 23-year-old victim.

Four years on, India remembers 26/11 martyrs

On the fourth anniversary of the 26/11 attacks today, the city of Mumbai along with the whole country paid tribute to those killed by 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in the country's financial capital on November 26, 2008.

Facebook arrests fiasco: Double standards?

After two policemen were suspended for the arrest of two girls over a Facebook post on the shutdown in Mumbai during the day of Bal Thackeray's funeral, the Shiv Sena has accused the Congress of double standards, The party, which has called for bandh in Palghar outside Mumbai in protest against the action initiated against the cops, pointed how a man was arrested in Chennai for his allegedly defamatory posts on Finance Minister P Chidambaram's son.

Arvind Kejriwal formally launches Aam Aadmi Party

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), India's newest political party, was on 26 November 2012, formally launched by activist Arvind Kejriwal in the presence of thousands of supporters.

Bal Thackeray cremated; Uddhav, Raj perform final rites

Bal Thackeray has been cremated at Shivaji Park, where he launched the Shiv Sena 46 years ago at a massive rally on Dussehra. Nearly two lakh people, including several big names, gathered at the sprawling ground as Mr Thackeray was consigned to the flames.

Two girls arrested for Facebook post on Mumbai bandh get bail

Two Mumbai girls have been arrested and were ordered by a court to 14 days in jail for questioning on Facebook the shutdown of Mumbai on Sunday, the day of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's funeral. They were bailed within hours of being arrested after paying a Rs. 15,000 bond.

Ajmal Kasab hanged at Pune's Yerawada Jail this morning

Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist caught alive during the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, was hanged to death at Pune's Yerawada Jail at on 20 November 2012 at 7:30 morning.

Arvind Kejriwal detained, released; water canons, tear gas used on prote...

The Delhi Police used tear gas, water canon and lathi-charged Arvind Kejriwal and his supporters as the anti-graft activists attempted to 'gherao' the residences of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and BJP President Nitin Gadkari. Despite being denied permission by the Delhi Police, a defiant Mr Kejriwal continued with his protest plans. He alleges that the Congress and the BJP have collaborated to ensure Parliament does not function.

Man who desecrated Amar Jawan memorial in Mumbai detained

Death sentence for Ajmal Kasab, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab. The top court rejected a plea by Kasab, the only terrorist caught alive during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, to commute the death sentence handed to him by the Bombay High Court, to life imprisonment.

Asaram Bapu's helicopter crash lands in Gujarat

Spiritual guru Asaram Bapu and four others had a miraculous escape when their helicopter crashed just ahead of landing at a local college today, police officials said. They sustained minor injuries in the incident, police said.

Bollywood's first superstar Rajesh Khanna dies at 69

Actor Rajesh Khanna has died at home in Mumbai. He was 69. Mr Khanna was suffering from cancer. Mr Khanna has been cremated 19 July 2012’s morning. His bungalow, Aashirwad, on Carter Road in Bandra has been cordoned off by the police.

PM-lookalike walks through security to meet Pranab Mukherjee

Gurmeet Singh Sethi, who is a member of the Congress party and bores an uncanny resemblance to PM Manmohan Singh, marched through unchallenged by the security at President-in-waiting Pranab Mukherjee's residence. Mr Sethi said he had a long chat with Pranabda and has never seen the former Finance Minister this happy.

Who is Pranab Mukherjee?

He first became an MP 43 years ago, a minister 39 years ago. His first stint as Finance Minister of India began exactly 30 years ago. He has been a minister under every Congress Prime Minister in the last 40 years. He is acknowledged across political parties as one of the best Parliamentarians -- several generations of MPs have not seen Parliament without him in it.

Farewell, Rajesh Khanna

The final journey of of Bollywood's first superstar Rajesh Khanna began in Mumbai. Mr Khanna's body was taken to the cremation ground in a glass casket to allow his fans, thousands of whom lined Mumbai's roads, to pay their last respects. The veteran actor died at home in Mumbai on Wednesday (July 18, 2012). He was 69 and had been battling cancer.

Security forces discover tunnel connecting India to Pakistan at Jammu

A tunnel running between India and Pakistan at the international border in the Samba sector of Jammu has been found by a Border Security Force (BSF) patrol. The tunnel, dug at a depth of 25 feet, was detected after an area caved in due to rains near a BSF outpost. It is still not clear whether the tunnel was operation or not, but the tunnel seems freshly constructed and had an air supply pipe as well.

Bharat Bandh: Samajwadi Party workers stop trains in Allahabad

Heat and sweat: Story of powerless India

The whole country is reeling under scorching heat and the temperatures have shot well past 40 degree Celsius. And long hours of power cuts are adding to the misery.

SRK faces life ban at Wankhede

SRK has been banned for life from entering the Wankhede Stadium after an altercation with security guards at the stadium. The King says he was provoked and that he won't apologise.

Petrol pricier by Rs. 6.28 plus taxes, Mamata upset but won't quit UPA

Starting at 24 May 2012, petrol will cost Rs. 6.28 more per litre, exclusive of taxes, effective midnight. This is the steepest hike ever for petrol in India, and prompted calls for a rollback from leaders who are key to the government's survival - Mamata Banerjee, M Karunanidhi and Mulayam Singh Yadav.

I was angry but not drunk: Shah Rukh on Wankhede Stadium brawl

Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood actor and Kolkata Knight Riders team owner, speaks on his last night's scuffle with the security personnel at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Water wars in Maharashtra

Now divisions in Maharashtra over water sharing between two regions that are both reeling under scarcity of water. The issue has become political as the NCP is opposing the Congress' decision to release water to Western Maharashtra which is considered the stronghold of the Congress.

Mumbai's Monorail: Answer to commuters' problems?

It is Mumbai's brand new infrastructure project to improve and refurbish the city's mass rapid transport systems. The Mumbai Monorail will augment local railway services and is expected to offer faster connectivity and link up the existing Central, Western and Harbour lines. The project will connect Jacob's Circle in town to suburban Chembur, a distance of over 20 kilometres.

Karnataka college bans burqa from classrooms

Taliban at India's doorstep: Alarmist or wake-up call?

India to build its own stealth fighter jet

Woman beaten by cops after trying to disrupt Sonia's rally in Karnataka

A woman was beaten up by police today for showing black flag to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi in Tumkur, during the birthday celebration of Siddaganga Math head. A young woman tried to disrupt Mrs Gandhi's speech during the ceremony. As she began her speech, the woman, seated among the audience, suddenly rose and waved a black flag demanding Scheduled Caste (SC) status for her community Madiga Dandora. The police immediately swung into action and beat her up. She was then take away from the venue even as some of her supporters shouted slogans.

Growing awareness increases demand for organic foods

Growing awareness over pesticides and their ill effects is pushing consumers to slightly costly yet healthy organic foods.

Alarmed that names can be planted: Amitabh Bachchan to NDTV on clean-chi...

India is planning to develop its own 90-Seater Civilian Aircraft

India is working on developing its own 90-seater civilian aircraft with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) saying “the strategy for its production has already been evolved” with the design “planned to have unique features like enhanced fuel efficiency, use of bio fuel with low carbon footprint, short to long range haul, shorter air strip requirement and ultra modern avionics”. A design bureau has been set up to undertake indigenous design and development of the plane, called the National Civil Aircraft (NCA-90). A total of seven prototypes are proposed to be developed by CSIR along with the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) “to prove the design and demonstrate compliance with respect to airworthiness requirements and certification”. The Planning Commission says the aircraft will be tailored to suit market requirements and will have attractive operating economics. It estimates that “The design and development of the aircraft would cost Rs 4,355 Crore. The estimated series production cost would be another Rs 3,200 crore”. Confirming this, Dr Sudeep Kumar, head of CSIR’s planning and performance division, said, “We have set up two separate committees - one for joint venture development that is looking for a corporate group or groups who will join us in developing the aircraft from scratch and then will commercially produce it. The second committee is a technical one which is overlooking the entire project of developing the aircraft.” Dr Kumar added, “The council has already had talks with the Tata group and will soon meet with Mahindra Aerospace to look for partnership.” Bangalore-based NAL had earlier developed India’s first multi purpose 14-seater civilian aircraft Saras. But on March 6, 2009, two IAF test pilots along with a flight test engineer were killed when the second prototype crashed 30 km from Bangalore. “Saras was 14-seater while NCA is 90-seater. NCA will also be a state-of-the-art machine. We have been asked by the Planning Commission to move a Cabinet note,” Dr Kumar said. According to the CSIR, most developed countries have their own national aircraft. “It is a niche technology. No country wants to share it with others. India has its desired expertise through NAL to develop its very own national civilian aircraft,” Dr Kumar said. Developing the NCA-90, officials say, will not only put India as part of this elite group but will also develop the ancillary industry.

SRK detained at US airport, jokes about it in Yale speech

Shah Rukh Khan, who was in the US to speak at Yale University, was stopped and questioned at a New York airport for two hours. When he finally made it to Yale, he joked about the detention in his speech saying that whenever he starts feeling "too arrogant about (myself) I take a trip to America."

Cartoon row: I was held for hours, attackers freed quickly, says professor

Chennai set to get a second airport

Ra.One animator hit by drunk driver, battles for life

A night out on the weekend ended in disaster for two siblings, with one of them in critical condition, as a speeding car rammed the auto rickshaw they were travelling in at Oshiwara at around 1 am on Sunday. Charu Khandal, who works as an animator in a production house, was on her way home after having dinner at Juhu with her sister Ritu Khandal, and friend Vikrant Goel, when the mishap occurred at an intersection in Oshiwara.

Tibetan protester sets himself on fire ahead of China President's visit ...

Verdict 2012 Deciphered (5 Indian States Election 2012)

Verdict 2012 Deciphered (5 Indian States Election 2012)

How the Mandate can Change Equations (5 Indian States Election 2012)

How the Mandate can Change Equations (5 Indian States Election 2012)

Supreme Court directed Indian Government to implement Interlinking of Rivers Project

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to implement the ambitious interlinking of rivers project in a time-bound manner and appointed a high-powered committee for its planning and implementation. Observing that the project has already been delayed resulting in an increase in its cost, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia said the Centre and the state governments concerned should participate for its “effective” implementation “in a time bound manner”. The bench appointed a high-powered committee comprising of representatives of various government departments, ministries, experts and social activists to chart out and execute the project. The committee will comprise Union minister of water resources, the ministry secretary, secretary of ministry of environment and forest and four expert members appointed by the water resources ministry, finance ministry, planning commission and MoEF. Representatives from state governments, two social activists and senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, who has been assisting the court in the case, will also be its members. “We direct the Union of India to forthwith constitute a committee for interlinking of rivers,” the bench said, adding “we direct the committee to implement the project”. The river interlinking project was the brainchild of the NDA government and in October, 2002, the then PM AB Vajpayee had formed a task force to get the project going against the backdrop of the acute drought that year.

What is Anti-Terror Hub?

What is Anti-Terror Hub?

NCTC would not Operational before Consulting States : P Chidambaram

Union home minister P Chidambaram reached out to 10 chief ministers, saying the government would not operationalize the National Counter-Terrorism Centre before consulting the directors general of police and heads of anti-terror wings in the states. Chidambaram argued that the NCTC would have “bare minimum powers” essential for any counter-terror body to have “operational capability” in “certain circumstances”. The states, however, appeared unmoved. There are also indications that chief ministers are not impressed by the idea of being kept out of consultations on an issue which concerned the division of responsibilities between the Centre and states as laid down in the Constitution. Chidambaram also enclosed a three-page note with his letter to the non-Congress chief ministers, explaining finer points of the existing law-Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act - from which the NCTC draws its power to make arrest and conduct search and seizure. Requesting the chief ministers “to carefully consider the note”, he said, “Before we take the next steps, I have asked the home secretary to call a meeting of directors general of police and the heads of anti-terror organizations/forces of the state governments and discuss in detail the scope and functions of the NCTC.” The home minister, at the same time, reminded the chief ministers that the matter (countering terror) was of national importance and should be kept above “parties and politics”. “All of us are agreed that terrorism is a grave threat to our country and our way to life. Countering terrorism is, therefore, a shared responsibility,” he said in his letters to the chief ministers including West Bengal (Mamata Banerjee), Gujarat (Narendra Modi) and Tamil Nadu (J Jayalalitha). Though he has not specified any date for this meeting, indications are that the ministry will try to do the consultation before March 1-the day when NCTC is scheduled to get operational.

PM shown black flags by Anna supporters in Amritsar

The New Year does not have seem to begun on a very good note for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as he faced black flag demonstrations on 1 January 2012 at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The incident occurred early this morning when the PM, along with his wife Gursharan Kaur, was coming out of the temple after offering prayers. Around 30-40 pro-Anna Hazare demonstrators gathered outside the temple began shouting slogans and waved black flags.

I'm returning to India, deal with it: Salman Rushdie to NDTV

Battleground Punjab: Badal vs Badal - Advantage Congress?

Army jawans allegedly assault cops in Pune

A group of Army jawans in Pune clashed with police following an altercation over traffic violation, sparking tension on Tuesday evening. According to the police, the trouble started when a jawan attached to the College of Military Engineering (CME), riding a motorbike, was stopped by a traffic constable at Sambhaji Bridge for running into a no-entry area.

Man throws black ink at Baba Ramdev; beaten up, arrested

There was ruckus at a press conference organised by Baba Ramdev in New Delhi today after a man threw black ink at the yoga guru. The attack reportedly left his left eye blackened. The attacker has been identified as Kamran Siddiqui, a resident of Delhi who is said to be running an NGO named 'Real Cause'. Following his attempt, the attacker was beaten up by Baba Ramdev's supporters. His aides claim he had gained entry into the hall posing as a security personnel.

India successfully tested Agni IV Missile

India on Tuesday successfully tested a new-generation Agni missile with a strike range of 3,500 km and souped-up “kill efficiency”, prompting excited defence scientists to proclaim it would add “fantastic deterrence” to the country’s nuclear weapons programme. The test of the “most advanced” surface-to-surface missile called Agni-IV also launched the countdown for India to test its most ambitious strategic missile Agni-V, which will have near-ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) capabilities with an over 5,000-km range, in December-January. “This test has paved the way for the success of Agni-V mission, which will be launched shortly,” said DRDO’s chief controller (missiles and strategic systems) Avinash Chander. The Agni-IV incorporates many new technologies in navigation, propulsion, avionics and other areas to represent “a quantum leap” in missile technology for India. Having inducted the Pakistan-specific Agni-I (700-km) and Agni-II (over 2,000-km) missiles, the armed forces are now in the process of operationalizing the 3,500-km Agni-III after completion of its developmental and pre-induction trials last year. The two-stage Agni-IV and three-stage Agni-V, in turn, are meant to add some much-needed credible deterrence muscle against China, which has a massive nuclear arsenal with missiles like the 11,200-km Dong Feng-31A capable of hitting any Indian city. The canister-launch Agni-V, with its high road mobility and fast-reaction ability, in particular, is being talked about as a small but sharp riposte to China. The Agni-IV represents a significant step towards this objective. Though it was tested for a 3,000-km range, it can easily go up to 3,500 km. The missile, however, will have to be tested several times before it can be ready for serial production and then induction.

Indian Government did agreement with Japan for its proposed High Speed Train

Japan, a pioneer in bullet train operations, on Thursday committed to “work closely” with the Indian government in its proposed high speed projects in the country. An extensive deliberation was held in this regard between visiting Japanese minister for Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Takeshi Maeda and railway minister Dinesh Trivedi, according to railway sources.

Trivedi is understood to have said that there is an increasing demand for high-speed trains in the country in view of its growing economy as well as the demand from a larger section, which aspires such service.

The Japanese minister is believed to have assured his country's support and expressed desire to work closely with India, which has identified six high speed corridors in the country, sources said. Maede led a delegation, which included senior deputy DG of Japan's Railway Bureau Akhihiko Tamura, President, East Japan Railway Company Satoshi Seino, chairman of Kawasaki Heavy Industry Tadaharu Ohashi and Ambassador of Japan to India Akitaka Saiki among others.

Japan’s External Trade Organization and Oriental Consultancy along with Parsons Brinkhoff India has bagged the contract to conduct pre-feasibility study of the Hyderabad-Vijayawada-Chennai corridor, one of the six corridors identified by Indian Railways for high speed train operations.

Railways has already announced to set up a National High Speed Rail Authority (NHSRA), the approval of which is expected to be placed before the Union Cabinet this year.