Just Like That: The Smokescreen of Tradition; The Diwali Cracker Dilemma

Agnipath 2.0 may ease personnel shortages and retain trained soldiers, but higher pay and benefits risk adding to pension costs and squeezing funds for defence modernisation.

A 17-year-old boy was injured after his father's firearm accidentally discharged while he was examining it at their house in Poochakkad, Kasaragod, police said.

Targeting political opponents, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said armed Maoists have been eliminated, but "dimagi Naxals" have infiltrated several political parties and organisations and are instigating people against the Constitution and democracy. "We must identify and defeat such elements and secure the country," Modi said, while celebrating Diwali with security personnel at a CRPF camp in Chhattisgarh's Bastar, continuing his tradition of spending the festival with India's brave men

Demonetisation failed to deliver a lasting reduction in cash circulation or clear evidence of black money being unearthed, while causing widespread disruption to businesses and individuals.