An Army jawan, Naik BD Rao, died early Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. He was posted with 16 Rashtriya Rifles at Draba. The soldier was on night duty and was found dead at his post. His service rifle allegedly went off accidentally. An inquiry is underway.
The questioning comes ahead of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's scheduled visit to the Ram Temple on Friday. As per the minute-to-minute itinerary issued by Ayodhya District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi, temple trust general secretary Champat Rai has been directed to nominate an individual to oversee arrangements for the chief minister's darshan and pujan.
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In the wake of Prime Minister Modi's encounter with Donald Trump at the G7, opposition factions have come out strongly against him, highlighting the heartbreaking deaths of three Indians due to a US military strike. The Congress party circulated a video purportedly showing Trump dismissing Modi, and the AAP denounced the cordiality of their interaction as 'embarrassing.
The UPSC has announced the Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 results, with 13,343 candidates advancing to the Main Examination. These qualifiers must complete online formalities, including fee payment and cadre preference submission, by June 28 to remain eligible for recruitment into services like IAS, IFS, and IPS.
In an editorial, Murasoli accused Congress of repeatedly undermining its alliance partners in states while seeking their support during parliamentary elections.
In a dramatic development, 20 rebel Trinamool Congress MPs informed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that their group has merged with NCPI — which is registered in West Bengal’s Howrah and had contested a few seats in the 2023 Tripura assembly elections — and that they will be backing the BJP-led NDA. Incidentally, “to save your rights, reject political turncoats” was one of the slogans of NCPI. 
Adoption of an innovation roadmap to deepen cooperation in critical and emerging technology, launch of an economic security dialogue, another working group for AI governance and a declaration to double bilateral trade in the next five years were among the 13 outcomes announced after the meeting. Both sides also looked to ramp up defence cooperation, consistent with India’s Make in India initiative. 
Ahead of TMC rebel MPs’ meeting the speaker to seek recognition as “real TMC”, MPs from party chief Mamata Banerjee’s camp Kirti Azad and Sagarika Ghosh submitted Abhishek’s letter — dated June 10, sent through email earlier — at Birla’s residence here, arguing the Constitution does not permit formation of a separate group within an existing political party.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) transported the mortal remains of the personnel who lost their lives in the crash of an AN-32 transport aircraft at the Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam on June 13, to their native places for the last rites with full military honours, Defence officials said.
IAF extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and stands firmly with them in this hour of grief,” IAF said in a post on X on Saturday. Giving details, IAF said the “aircraft met with an accident during a routine sortie today at approximately 1000h at Jorhat, Assam. Crash site management and initial enquiries are on at this time.”
The summoning, again as opposed to the last time, took place in full public glare with the media allowed to film his arrival at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Deputy chief of mission Meeks is officiating as charge d’affaires in the absence of ambassador Sergio Gor, who is on a visit to Central Asia.
As per a UN Motorcycle Helmet Study, motorcyclists are 26 times more likely to die in road crashes than drivers of cars and wearing an appropriate helmet “improves their chances of survival by 42% and helps avoid 69% of injuries to riders.” Similarly, as per World Health Organisation, seat-belts are approximately 50% effective in preventing fatalities in crashes in which motorists would otherwise die.
Home Minister Amit Shah has ordered a robust, multi-layered security grid for the Amarnath Yatra, utilizing advanced technology like drones and CCTV. He stressed securing tourist spots for safe pilgrimage and tourism. The 57-day yatra, starting July 3, will see strict regulation of pilgrim movement and enhanced essential services, with QR code IDs for local support staff and animals.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said two of the three vessels that came under attack were subject to sanctions administered by the US treasury's office of foreign assets control, while the Settebello had been classified as non-compliant. OFAC acts against vessels involved in violating US sanctions on the sale of Iranian and Russian oil.
The Navy responded when the Marshall Islands-flagged MT Olympic Life reported an explosion on its port side aft at 09.45 UTC (3.15pm IST) on May 26 while sailing around 60 nautical miles east of Oman, as per UK Maritime Trade Operations data. It is still not known who fired the missile.
Home Minister Amit Shah announced that most of the Northeast may be free from the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act by next year, citing an 80% reduction in violent incidents and AFSPA-covered areas. This progress coincides with a historic oil and mineral exploration pact between Assam and Nagaland, boosting regional development and energy self-reliance.
US President Donald Trump congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister. Trump described Modi as a "strong, healthy, and wise man" and predicted many years of "greatness and success" for him.
India's ship safety certifier, IRClass, will no longer certify vessels owned by Iranian or Russian entities due to Western sanctions. The organization has de-classed 235 ships since 2023 and removed 13 million gross tons of sanctioned tonnage. However, IRClass acknowledges limited control over cargo movements after certification.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann declared zero paper leaks in the state since 2022, contrasting with 93 national incidents since 2017. He highlighted merit-based recruitment, creating 67,037 government jobs. Mann also emphasized Punjab's rise to number one in school education, citing investments in infrastructure and teacher training, and the success of 'Schools of Eminence'.
A tragic incident unfolded in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district as a lieutenant lost his life after a fall into a deep gorge during an ongoing anti-terror operation. The officer was part of the extensive search for suspected Pakistani terrorists in the Dorimaal and Gambhir Mughalan areas. His body has since been recovered following the unfortunate accident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Larsen & Toubro's Armed Systems Complex in Surat, reviewing advanced defence equipment and indigenous armoured vehicles. He was briefed on 'Zorawar', India's first indigenous light battle tank designed for mountainous terrains and rapid deployment along the LAC.
A tree-based farming model by Save Soil–Cauvery Calling is transforming agriculture, boosting incomes from Rs 30,000 to Rs 2.5–3 lakh per acre. This ecological solution, accredited by UN bodies, has empowered farmers like Valluvan, enhancing soil health and crop yields. The movement aims to plant 242 crore trees, supporting hundreds of thousands of farmers with extensive training and resources.
BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate list omits Union ministers Ravneet Singh Bittu and George Kurian, fueling cabinet reshuffle speculation. Notably, no outgoing MPs were renominated, with organizational functionaries securing berths. The party is yet to announce candidates from Jharkhand and Karnataka, leaving room for potential ministerial retention.
National Conference plans a New Delhi protest for statehood and "constitutional guarantees," believed to refer to Article 370. Rebel MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi expressed willingness to join, urging a broader movement and outreach to opposition parties for sustained public support in the Valley.
Following a fatal fire in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered comprehensive security inspections of hotels and commercial establishments across the state. Officials from multiple departments are tasked with ensuring fire safety systems are in place, with hotels required to submit audit reports. Strict legal action is threatened against violators.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah convened a strategy session with National Conference MLAs and MPs at Dachigam National Park. The meeting concluded with a call for a protest in New Delhi during Parliament's monsoon session, demanding the restoration of J&K's statehood. The party also resolved to push for a ban on liquor in the region.
IRCTC has taken decisive action against ticket booking fraud, deactivating over three crore suspicious user IDs and verifying six crore more. Simultaneously, an AI-powered kitchen monitoring system, utilizing 2,394 cameras, now oversees 800 kitchens, detecting nine types of hygiene issues to ensure food quality for millions of passengers.
Former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti urged political parties and civil society to unite for dialogue with the central government, drawing inspiration from Ladakh's successful engagement. She called for an all-party meeting to address the region's despair and uncertainty, emphasizing the need for a broad consensus post-2019.
Fresh disagreements have emerged regarding Ladakh's political future. The Leh Apex Body claims the Centre omitted crucial details from a draft record of recent talks. They are demanding corrections and warning of renewed protests, including hunger strikes. The Ladakh chief secretary stated the summary document was shared in good faith and invited objections.
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An Army jawan, Naik BD Rao, died early Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. He was posted with 16 Rashtriya Rifles at Draba....