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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
This Week in Explainers: Why did monsoon arrive in May in India?
India has reported an early onset of monsoon this year. Kerala and Mumbai were lashed by heavy rainfall that brought life to a standstill. But what is behind these monsoon rains in May? All this and more in our weekly wrap read more Monsoon has arrived in India. Heavy rains lashed Kerala and Maharashtra, which have witnessed the early arrival of monsoon. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and his party are at loggerheads. His recent remarks abroad have further put a spotlight on the divide between him and the Grand Old Party, sparking speculations about whether he will finally call it quits. Language has become an emotive topic in India. Actor Kamal Haasan is facing flak for saying that Kannada 'was born out of Tamil'. His comments have also generated interest in the language's origin. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here's all this and more in our weekly roundup from India. 1. Many parts of India have reported an early arrival of the southwest monsoon. Heavy showers hit Maharashtra, Kerala and other parts of the country this week. Incessant rains brought Mumbai to a standstill, affecting flight operations and leading to waterlogging at railway tracks and multiple low-lying areas. This is the earliest onset of monsoon in Mumbai in 35 years, with the city recording its wettest May. The monsoon rains also covered Lakshadweep, the south Arabian Sea, parts of the west-central and east-central Arabian Sea, and Karnataka. The southwest monsoon has also advanced to Goa and areas in the west-central and northern Bay of Bengal. It also reached parts of Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. But what is behind the early onset of monsoon this time? We explain here . 2. A 'rift' between Shashi Tharoor and the Congress is out in the open. The Thiruvananthapuram MP has irked his party with his recent remarks abroad. Tharoor is heading one of the seven multi-party delegations that is keeping India's stand on terrorism on the global stage. Shashi Tharoor's rift with the Congress has come out in public. File Photo/PTI Tharoor's recent comments that India crossed the Line of Control (LoC) for the first time in September 2016 under the BJP-led Centre have angered the Grand Old Party, which has countered his statements. But the friction between the former diplomat and the Congress is not new. Will the party's public reprisal of Tharoor finally push him to leave? Read our report to find out. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 3. India is carrying out trials of the indigenous Kaveri jet engine in Russia. Developed by Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the engine could be used to power the long-range Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV). The Kaveri engine was initially developed to power the Tejas fighter aircraft. Image Courtesy: DRDO The Kaveri engine is a low-bypass, twin-spool turbofan engine with 80 kilonewtons (kN) thrust. It was originally developed for the fighter aircraft Tejas. Here's why the engine is a big boost for India's defence. 4. A huge drama has engulfed RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's family ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. His son Tej Pratap's alleged relationship has come to light, prompting the former Bihar chief minister to take action against his son. It all began when a post from Tej Pratap's social media account was uploaded claiming that he had been in a relationship with Anushka Yadav for 12 years. Soon after, Lalu Prasad expelled him from the RJD for six years for 'irresponsible behaviour'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD निजी जीवन में नैतिक मूल्यों की अवहेलना करना हमारे सामाजिक न्याय के लिए सामूहिक संघर्ष को कमज़ोर करता है। ज्येष्ठ पुत्र की गतिविधि, लोक आचरण तथा गैर जिम्मेदाराना व्यवहार हमारे पारिवारिक मूल्यों और संस्कारों के अनुरूप नहीं है। अतएव उपरोक्त परिस्थितियों के चलते उसे पार्टी और परिवार… — Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) May 25, 2025 Tej Pratap's estranged wife, Aishwarya Rai , also reacted to the development, calling it 'drama'. Tej Pratap has responded to the controversy. But who is Anushka Yadav, his alleged partner? Read our story to find out. 5. Actor and politician Kamal Haasan sparked a major row after claiming that Kannada 'was born out of Tamil' during a public event in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His comments drew criticism from pro-Kannada groups and politicians in Karnataka. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kamal Haasan's remarks on Kannada's origin have sparked a major row. File Photo/PTI Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra dubbed the actor's remarks as 'uncultured' and 'insulting' to Kannada and its 6.5 crore speakers. He also called for an apology from Haasan. Some pro-Kannada groups resorted to violence, tearing down posters of his upcoming movie Thug Life in Bengaluru and threatening a statewide ban on the film. But what exactly did Haasan say and is his claim true? We take a look here . 6. Did Akbar not marry Jodha Bai? Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade has claimed that the Mughal ruler was not married to the Rajput princess but a daughter of a maid of King Bharmal. 'The British changed the history of our heroes. They did not write it properly and their version of history was initially accepted. Later, some Indians wrote history, but it was still influenced by the British,' he said. A modified version of Persian painting named 'Glory of Faith' having inscription 'Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar with Mariam-uz-Zamani begum' dated to be of Akbar's era. Wikimedia Commons Movies and TV shows have romanticised the marriage of Akbar and Jodha Bai. Historians say that the Rajput princess' name was not Jodha but Harkha Bai. She was the third wife of Akbar, who lived as a queen inside the Agra Fort. However, there are contrasting accounts about Akbar's Rajput wife and their love story. We delve into the history here . STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 7. Seven years after an English professor killed the relatives of his colleague in Odisha, he has been sentenced to a life term. Justice has finally been delivered in the 'wedding bomb' case. Punjilal Meher, 56, sent a parcel bomb, disguised as a wedding gift, to Soumya Sekhar Sahu, a 26-year-old software engineer, and his 22-year-old wife, Reema, on February 23, 2018. The parcel exploded as soon as Soumya opened it, killing him and his 85-year-old great-aunt Jemamani Sahu. But why did Meher murder them? And how did the police crack the case? Read our story to find out. 8. India and Pakistan tensions have led to some sweet shops in Rajasthan's Jaipur changing the names of their popular sweets — dropping the word 'Pak' to replace it with 'Shree'. If you ask for Mysore Pak and Moti Shree in Jaipur, you might find Mysore Shree and Moti Pak instead. This comes after several men vandalised Karachi Bakery in Hyderabad and raised 'anti-Pakistan' slogans. However, the name change of the sweets has not been received well in several quarters. So, does Mysore Pak have any connection to the neighbouring nation? We explain here . STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is all we have for you this week. If you like how we explain news, you can bookmark this page .
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
India's defence exports top ₹21,000 crore
India's defence manufacturing sector has surged to unprecedented heights, posting a record production figure of ₹1.27 lakh crore in the fiscal year 2023–24, the Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday. This remarkable milestone underscores a decade of concerted effort to wean the armed forces off foreign suppliers and build a homegrown arsenal of cutting-edge platforms. In parallel with production gains, defence exports have rocketed to ₹21,083 crore in 2023–24—a thirty-fold rise over ten years—reaching customers in more than a hundred countries. Driven by the government's 'Make in India' initiative, a suite of indigenously developed systems has taken shape, from the Dhanush artillery gun and the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) to the Arjun main battle tank and the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas. Naval capabilities have also been bolstered by a flotilla of domestically built vessels: destroyers, frigates, corvettes, fast patrol and attack craft, offshore patrol vessels—and even India's first fully indigenous aircraft carrier. Rotary-wing assets like the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), alongside missile and radar systems such as Akash surface-to-air missiles, weapon-locating radars, and 3D tactical control radars, reflect a breadth of innovation. The shift to self-reliance is stark: once import-dependent for upwards of 65–70 percent of its requirements, India now sources roughly 65 percent of its defence hardware locally. A defence industrial base encompassing 16 public sector undertakings, over 430 license-holding private firms and some 16,000 micro, small and medium enterprises has emerged as the backbone of this transformation. The private sector alone accounted for 21 percent of total production last year, bringing fresh efficiencies and entrepreneurial drive to an ecosystem long dominated by state entities. The government's sustained investment—evidenced by the defence budget climbing from ₹2.53 lakh crore in 2013–14 to a projected ₹6.81 lakh crore for 2025–26—has provided the financial muscle for research, development and large-scale manufacturing. Building on this momentum, officials have set an ambitious target: reaching ₹3 lakh crore in annual production by 2029, cementing India's status as a global defence manufacturing hub. As strategic partnerships deepen and technology transfers accelerate, New Delhi's vision of an autonomous, innovation-driven defence sector is rapidly taking shape—signaling a new era in which India supplies the world, rather than the other way around.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
'Not Snatching HAL, Why Should They Bother?' Chandrababu Naidu On Karnataka Row
Clarifying his stance on the controversy in Karnataka over his remarks on Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has said his state is not "snatching" the aerospace company from anybody and is merely looking to develop a technology hub focusing on aerospace, drones, automobiles and satellites. In an exclusive interview with NDTV which touched upon a variety of topics, the Telugu Desam Party chief also spoke about the role he has played in different alliances at the Centre, the differences between Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi, and whether he planned to elevate his son, Nara Lokesh, and give him a more prominent role. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister had recently proposed establishing a new greenfield Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility in the state. This led to the Congress government being up in arms and saying the HAL establishments in Bengaluru and Tumakuru, where fighter jets, helicopters and aircraft like the LCA (light combat aircraft) Tejas are manufactured, cannot be relocated anywhere. Asked about the controversy, Mr Naidu said, "I am not snatching it from anybody. I want to have a technology hub in Rayalaseema with a focus on aerospace, defence, electronics, automobile, drones and satellite. This is what I am working on within Andhra Pradesh. Why should they bother? I am asking (for) aerospace industries, both civil and defence. That is the future. We need more and more flights. We are importing... India will be the biggest country tomorrow by having aircraft (manufacturing) and everything. So, there is a lot of scope for development," he said. 'Right Man, Right Time' Praising Narendra Modi for bringing in reforms, Mr Naidu, whose party has the second-highest number of Lok Sabha MPs in the ruling NDA, said the Prime Minister has made India proud and is the "right man at the right time". "From 10th place, we are now the fourth-largest economy. We are fortunate, he wants to make India a developed nation by 2047 and we will achieve it, I am confident," he said. Asked about the differences between former BJP Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whom he had also supported, and PM Modi, the chief minister - known as a 'kingmaker' - said, "Mr Vajpayee was a great statesman. PM Modi is a modern politician with the latest thinking... He is very composed, balanced, down-to-earth and is making India proud... That is where he is able to succeed. Both leaders are different, they are strong leaders who have done their best for this great nation," he said. Mr Naidu also lauded the BJP for thinking ahead of the times. "Narendra Modi is selecting leaders that are young, efficient, highly educated, and will deliver the right kind of leadership. Transformation is possible only with good leadership... Even if we create a good public policy, somebody has to execute it in its true spirit," he said, adding that the opposition, on the other hand, had winning elections as the only criterion. Nara Lokesh Next In Line? To a question on the elevation of his son Nara Lokesh, who is the general secretary of the TDP and also the minister for Human Resources Development (HRD), IT, Electronics and Real-Time Governance, Mr Naidu said his focus is on producing good leaders. The TDP chief said he had asked his son, who is a Stanford and Carnegie Mellon graduate, whether he wanted to be a businessman or serve the people by joining politics. "He decided and he has to prove it. He is proving it, he is working hard. Let him do it... Transformation is a continuous process, nobody can stop it. But producing good leaders is very important," he said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Strategic shift beyond US: India seeks new allies for next-gen fighter jets
India is actively engaging with manufacturers from the UK, France, and Japan to co-develop fighter jet engines, broadening its defense ties beyond the US as it faces mounting security challenges and looks to shore up its indigenous aerospace capabilities, a Bloomberg report said. Senior officials told Bloomberg that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will evaluate these proposals, with the aim to start the project swiftly. The countries in talks-UK's Rolls-Royce, France's Safran, and an undisclosed Japanese partner-are all offering technology transfers and potential co-production arrangements, according to people familiar with the matter. Rolls-Royce offered to jointly produce and transfer technology to India during a visit by senior defense ministry officials to the UK in April, while Safran is reportedly open to sharing intellectual property rights, the Bloomberg report said. Why it matters India's push to diversify its fighter jet engine partnerships signals a strategic rebalancing in its defense policy. For decades, India's defense ties leaned heavily on Russian suppliers, with growing partnerships with the US in the past decade. However, India's decision to explore new partners highlights a shift: an urgent focus on reliability, supply chain security, and technological self-sufficiency amid global uncertainties. Air Chief Marshal A P Singh warned at an industry event on Thursday that delays in acquiring critical weapons 'pose a serious challenge to national defense readiness,' adding bluntly, 'Not for a single project that I can think of that has been completed on time.' His remarks underscore why India is moving beyond a single-source approach, especially after penalties were imposed on General Electric for delivery delays on engines that power India's locally-made Tejas light combat jets. The broader context India's military modernization push has been a long time coming, with delays plaguing every step of the way. Singh's remarks-'once a timeline is given… not a single project that I can think of has been completed on time'-reflect growing impatience within India's defense establishment. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has faced flak for delays in delivering Tejas Mark-1A jets, forcing the government to pivot to private sector involvement to speed things up. The new execution model for the AMCA is a radical shift, designed to harness private innovation and global expertise while ending HAL's monopoly on fighter production. The big picture India's ambition is to power its twin-engine fifth-generation fighter jets-currently under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) project-with engines co-developed or built domestically in collaboration with global partners. The AMCA program is part of India's larger vision to modernize its aging, largely Russian-made air force fleet and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. Defense minister Rajnath Singh has approved a new 'execution model' for the AMCA, which for the first time allows private sector firms to bid for the project alongside the HAL. Officials say the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which is leading the project, will soon issue an expression of interest to domestic and international players. The project's significance is clear: China's rapidly advancing J-20 and rumored sixth-generation jets have raised alarm bells in Delhi. Meanwhile, Pakistan is set to acquire at least 40 Chinese J-35A fifth-generation fighters. With only 30 active fighter squadrons against an authorized strength of 42, India needs to catch up-and quickly. What they are saying Michael Rubin, a South Asia analyst at the American Enterprise Institute, described India's drive as part of a 'broader effort to secure the supply chain for critical defense equipment.' He noted that the 'military lesson from Ukraine's war has been clear: self-sufficiency and reliable partnerships are paramount.' Meanwhile, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh emphasized in his CII Business Summit remarks, 'We need to quickly get our act together… while design in India continues to produce results in the near future or maybe later, what is required today is required today.' Zoom in India's defense collaborations are moving from traditional vendor relationships to true joint development. Rolls-Royce, for example, offered to share cutting-edge engine technology, while Safran has expressed willingness to co-create intellectual property within India-key for India's ambitions to be more than just an assembly hub. Japan, too, has signaled openness to deeper defense industrial ties, aligning with India's vision of a broader Indo-Pacific security network. Defence minister Rajnath Singh held talks in May with his Japanese counterpart, exploring potential collaborations in tank and aero engine development. Between the lines These moves do not indicate a cooling of India-US ties-joint manufacturing of GE's F414 engines is still a cornerstone of Indo-US defense cooperation. But delays in that deal have prompted India to cast a wider net, underscoring that while Washington remains a top partner, India wants alternatives to hedge against risks. Indeed, India's engagement with the UK, France, and Japan is about more than just hardware-it's about building strategic resilience in the defense sector. A senior official involved in the negotiations said the goal is not to sideline US defense ties but 'to ensure we have multiple options, as this is about national security.' What's next India aims to finalize the AMCA's prototype phase by developing five aircraft before moving to series production. For the first two AMCA squadrons, India will rely on the US-made GE F414 engines. But for the remaining five squadrons-over 100 jets-it wants more powerful 110-kilonewton engines built with technology partners outside the US, according to officials. India's broader defense transformation, its AMCA program, and its engagement with multiple global players highlight a fundamental truth: for New Delhi, defense self-reliance and resilient supply chains are no longer optional-they are non-negotiable in a rapidly changing world.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tejas Networks CEO Anand Athreya quits
NEW DELHI: Homegrown telecom gear maker Tejas Networks Friday said its managing director and chief executive officer (CEO), Anand Athreya , has resigned from the company due to personal reasons. Athreya will be relieved from the position of MD & CEO effective close of business hours on June 20, 2025, Tejas Networks said in a regulatory filing. 'It has been my privilege to work at Tejas and I want to take this opportunity to thank you and the Board of Directors for their guidance and support. I also want to thank the Executive Team at Tejas for their leadership and the entire team at Tejas, for their warmth and "can do" attitude,' Athreya said in his resignation letter to N Ganapathy Subramaniam, chairman, Tejas Networks. Consequently, the Bengaluru-headquartered vendor has entrusted Arnob Roy , currently the executive director and chief operating officer (COO) of the company, with the additional responsibility of CEO, as per the regulatory filing. The development comes at a time when Bangalore-based Tejas, a part of the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)-driven consortium, is deploying 4G and 5G radio access network or RAN for state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). Industry sources told ETTelecom that a few hiccups in BSNL's 4G network deployment, including IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) issues, led to his exit following a performance review by the telecom department (DoT). BSNL plans to deploy 1 lakh towers as part of its commercial 4G foray. Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia recently said that nearly 93,450 towers have been installed for the telecom carrier's 4G network. Athreya, who has over 27 years of experience, joined the homegrown vendor in 2023 from Juniper Networks. He was the executive vice president (EVP) & chief development officer of Juniper Networks since 2017 and had served as senior vice president of the Routing Business Unit for three years prior to that. He was with Juniper Networks from 2004 until November 2022.
