India has achieved a significant milestone in indigenous aerospace technology with the successful development of its first Expendable Turbojet Engine in the 350 kg thrust class. The achievement marks an important step towards strengthening the country’s self-reliance in advanced propulsion systems and reducing dependence on imported technologies.   The indigenous engine is expected to support the development of unmanned aerial systems, loitering munitions and other strategic platforms, enhancing the technological capabilities of the Indian defence ecosystem. The successful development demonstrates the growing expertise of Indian research and development institutions and…

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the maiden flight-test of the indigenous ‘Kusha’ Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM), marking a significant milestone in India’s efforts to strengthen its air-defence capabilities.   The flight-test demonstrated the missile system’s ability to engage and intercept aerial threats, showcasing the country’s growing indigenous capabilities in advanced missile and air-defence technologies. The successful trial is expected to further boost India’s preparedness against evolving aerial threats and strengthen the technological foundation of its layered air-defence network.   The development and testing of the…

Serious irregularities have come to light at the Shahjahanpur Toll Plaza (NH-48), operated by Sahakar Global Limited, where overloaded vehicles were issued unauthorised paper tickets while overload charges were collected in violation of the National Highways Authority of India's (NHAI) prescribed guidelines. Official NHAI records show that all toll collection agencies were directed to discontinue the collection of overload charges through cash or any manual mechanism and to collect such charges exclusively through the prescribed Dynamic QR (digital) payment system. The directive was issued to ensure transparency, digital traceability, and…

Praja Shanti Party President Dr K A Paul has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally engage with students protesting over the NEET issue and find a peaceful resolution through dialogue rather than confrontation. Expressing concern over reports and visuals of police action during the protests, Dr Paul said the voices of students should be heard with empathy. He stressed that young people demonstrating peacefully deserve an opportunity to present their concerns without fear of force or intimidation. Dr Paul said the ongoing situation has attracted international attention and…

Last week, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its Financial Stability Report for June 2026. The report covers the health of India's banking system, risks in the global economy, and the steps being taken to keep the financial system safe. Among the topics covered this year is the growing presence of crypto assets, specifically stablecoins, in the global financial system. The report's observations on crypto are brief but clear and worth understanding. One of the key observations the RBI makes is that stablecoins are receiving increasing attention from financial…