National News
Union Budget: Over Rs 6.81 lakh crore allocated for MoD, defence pension increased by 14 pc

New Delhi, Feb 1: The Union government allocated over Rs 6.81 lakh crore to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Saturday and further increased the defence pension by 14 per cent.
An official of the MoD said that In pursuance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047’, with technologically advanced and ‘Aatmanirbhar’ Armed Forces, the Union Budget has made a provision of Rs 6,81,210.27 crore for Financial Year (FY) 2025-26 for the Ministry of Defence.
“This allocation is 9.53 per cent more than the Budgetary Estimate of FY 2024-25 and stands at 13.45 per cent of the Union Budget, which is the highest among the ministries,” the official added.
He said that out of this, Rs 1,80,000 crore i.e. 26.43 per cent of total allocation will be spent on Capital Outlay on Defence Services.
“On Revenue Head, the allocation for the Armed Forces stands at Rs 3,11,732.30 crore which is 45.76 per cent of total allocation. Defence Pension receives a share of Rs 1,60,795 crore i.e. 23.60 per cent and a balance of Rs 28,682.97 crore i.e. 4.21 per cent for civil organisations under MoD. The Ministry has taken a decision to observe 2025-26 as the ‘Year of Reforms’ which will further strengthen the resolve of the government for the modernisation of the Armed Forces and is aimed at simplification in the Defence Procurement Procedure to ensure optimum utilisation of the allocation,” he said.
Addressing the media in New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting a budget to fulfil the Prime Minister’s resolve of Viksit Bharat.
“This budget will promote the development of youth, poor, farmers, women and all other sections of society. Recognising the contribution of the middle class, the budget has brought an unprecedented gift,” said the Defence Minister.
Meanwhile, the official said that Rs 1,80,000 crore has been allocated to the Capital Outlay of the Defence Forces.
“This allocation is 4.65 per cent higher than the Budgetary Estimate (BE) of FY 2024-25,” the official said.
He added that Out of this, Rs 1,48,722.80 crore is planned to be spent on Capital Acquisition, termed as the modernisation budget of the Armed Forces and the remaining Rs 31,277.20 crore is for capital expenditure on Research & Development and the creation of infrastructural assets across the country.
The ministry said that for FY 2025-26, Rs 1,11,544.83 crore i.e. 75 per cent of the modernisation budget has been earmarked for procurement through domestic sources and 25 per cent of the domestic share i.e. Rs 27,886.21 crore has been provisioned for procurement through domestic private industries.
The ministry further added Rs 3,11,732.30 crore has been allocated for this purpose which is 10.24 per cent higher the than budgetary allocation of FY 2024-25.
“Out of this, Rs 1,14,415.50 crore has been allocated on account of non-salary expenditure which will facilitate procurement of ration, fuel, ordnance stores and maintenance/repair of equipment etc,” he said.
The ministry further added that under the Salary Head of revenue expenditure, Rs 1,97,317.30 crore has been allocated to take care of Pay & Allowances of the three services and any further requirement will be addressed during mid-year review.
It said that the budgetary allocation to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been increased to Rs 26,816.82 crore in FY 2025-26 from Rs 23,855.61 crore in FY 2024-25 which is 12.41 per cent higher than the BE of 2024-25.
“Out of this, a major share of Rs 14,923.82 crore has been allocated for capital expenditure and to fund the R&D projects,” it said.
To encourage start-up the ecosystem for innovation in defence, Rs 449.62 crore has been allocated to the iDEX scheme, including its sub-scheme Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) to be utilised for funding the projects to be taken up under this scheme.
The ministry said that allocation in this head shows a jump of almost three times in two years.
The ministry also informed about the government’s resolve for ex-servicemen welfare and in the ensuing FY, Rs 8,317 crore has been allocated towards ECHS which is 19.38 per cent higher than BE of FY 2024-25.
“During the mid-year review in the current FY, additional allocation was made to meet the emergent requirements of medical treatment-related expenditure,” the ministry said.
The ministry further informed that there are approximately 34 lakh defence pensioners whose monthly pension is met out of the Defence Pension Budget.
“In order to further enhance the Defence Pension for the Armed Forces, One Rank One Pension (OROP) was implemented w.e.f. July 2014. Since then, it is revised after every five years. Third revision under OROP came into effect from July 2024 and it was timely implemented,” the ministry said.
It added that considering elements of expenditure under Defence Pension, Rs. 1.61 lakh crore has been allocated for FY 2025-26, which is 13.87 per cent higher than the allocation made during FY 2024-25.
The ministry also informed that that the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has been allotted Rs 9,676.70 crore under Capital and Revenue Head which is 26.50 per cent more than the allocation for FY 2024-25 at the BE stage.
“A jump of 43 per cent in Capital Budget i.e. from Rs 3,500 crore for FY 2024-25 to Rs 5,000 crore for FY 2025-26 will provide adequate financial space for the acquisition of Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), Dornier Aircraft, Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), Training Ships, Interceptor Boats etc. On revenue head, the allocation has been increased from Rs 4,151.8 crore for FY 2024-25 to Rs 4,676.70 crore for FY 2025-26 which shows an increase of 12.64 per cent,” the ministry said.
For strengthening the border infrastructure and to facilitate the movement of Armed Forces personnel through tough terrains, Rs 7,146.50 crore has been allocated to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the capital head which is 9.74 per cent higher than the BE of 2024-25.
National News
241 dead, one survivor as Air India Dreamliner crashes after takeoff from Ahmedabad: Air India

New Delhi, June 13: In what is being described as one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history, an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 people crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport.
The aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, plunged into a residential complex near BJ Medical College, killing 241 people on board.
The ill-fated flight had 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and two pilots. According to officials, only one person, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A, survived the crash and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.
The aircraft took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.38 p.m. (IST) on Thursday before losing control moments later and crashing into a densely populated area, igniting a massive blaze and triggering emergency response teams across the city.
Air India confirmed the accident in an official statement on X: “UPDATE: Air India confirms that flight AI171, operating from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick on 12 June 2025, was involved in an accident. The 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 aircraft departed from Ahmedabad at 1338 hrs, carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew. The aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. We regret to inform that, of the 242 aboard, there are 241 confirmed fatalities. The sole survivor is being treated in a hospital.”
The airline also shared the nationality breakdown of passengers: 169 Indian nationals, 53 British, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.
“Air India offers its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased. Our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of all those affected, their families and loved ones. A team of caregivers from Air India is now in Ahmedabad to provide additional support,” the statement added.
The national carrier has pledged full cooperation with authorities investigating the cause of the crash and has established dedicated helplines for families seeking information.
Domestic callers can reach the support team at 1800 5691 444, while international callers are advised to dial +91 8062779200.
Regular updates will be provided through Air India’s official website and its X handle.
National News
Plastic nurdle spill from sunken cargo ship reaches TN’s Dhanushkodi sanctuary, raising alarm

Chennai, June 10: A plastic nurdle spill from the sunken cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 has spread into the newly declared Dhanushkodi Greater Flamingo Sanctuary in Ramanathapuram district, threatening one of India’s most fragile coastal ecosystems.
The MSC ELSA 3, a Liberian-flagged vessel, sank off the Kochi coast a few weeks ago while carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials, 12 with calcium carbide, 367 tonnes of furnace oil, and 84 tonnes of diesel.
The ship’s cargo manifest remains undisclosed, fuelling speculation about the full extent of environmental risk.
Dhanushkodi Sanctuary, located within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, supports 128 species of birds — including Greater and Lesser Flamingos — and is home to sea turtles, crustaceans, molluscs, and fish. Its dunes, marshes, and seagrass beds form part of the Central Asian Flyway for migratory birds.
The nurdles — tiny plastic pellets used in industrial manufacturing — resemble fish eggs and can be deadly to marine life. When ingested, they cause internal blockages, starvation, and often death. They also absorb toxins, entering the food chain and posing long-term health hazards.
About 80 bags, each weighing 25 kilograms, have reportedly washed ashore along a 12-km coastal stretch. Affected sites include the Dhanushkodi old church, Irattaithalai, Mugandharayan Chathiram, Gothanda Ramar temple, and Patchappatti village.
Carried by ocean currents from the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanniyakumari coast, the spill now threatens the adjacent Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, home to vital coral reefs and seagrass beds.
Experts warn these habitats could be smothered by plastic debris, blocking sunlight and disrupting photosynthesis.
Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon said, “We’ve identified between 15 and 30 nurdle bags along the coast. A special team has been deployed for cleanup, and additional teams are monitoring for further debris.”
He urged the public not to panic, stating that swift action was underway.
The disaster evokes memories of the 2021 X-Press Pearl incident in Sri Lanka, where 1,680 tonnes of nurdles led to mass marine deaths and crippled fisheries.
Studies showed severe impacts on plankton and larval life forms, threatening entire food chains.
Cleanup efforts in Ramanathapuram face challenges due to the nurdles’ buoyancy and small size, worsened by monsoon waves that break them into microplastics.
With the 61-day annual fishing ban nearing its end, fishermen fear reduced fish catches and consumer hesitancy could harm their livelihoods if the spill worsens.
Environmentalists are calling for urgent intervention, cargo transparency, and long-term containment measures to prevent irreversible damage to one of India’s most critical marine ecosystems.
National News
Eight Punjab and Haryana HC judges take lead to boost Kashmir tourism post Pahalgam terror attack

Srinagar, June 9: To give a boost to Kashmir tourism post Pahalgam terror attack, eight judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court are visiting the valley along with their families.
The visit of the legal personalities along with their families carries a powerful message for the revival of tourism in Kashmir, which got shattered after the Pahalgam terror attack.
On April 22, Pakistan-backed terrorists of Lashkar-e-Kashmir (LeT) killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local pony owner.
The pony owner sacrificed his life while trying to protect the tourists from the bullets of the terrorists.
The terror attack caused outrage in the entire country, and to avenge the killings of innocent civilians, the Indian Armed Forces carried out airstrikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor.
In retaliation for India’s attack on terrorist infrastructure, Pakistan resorted to heavy mortar shelling on civilian facilities in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts.
Eighteen civilians were killed in Pakistan shelling, 13 of them in Poonch district, in addition to the destruction of scores of homes, shops, a temple, a mosque, a church and a Gurudwara.
The itinerary of the visiting high court judges includes visits to the Mughal Gardens of Nishat and Shalimar, Shikara rides on the Dal Lake, a visit to the historic Pari Mahal and buying a few handicrafts at the local market.
There could be no better omen for the revival of tourism in Kashmir than the decision of the honourable justices of the High Court to come here along with their families.
Coinciding with the visit of these dignitaries, local tour and travel operators and hotel owners are reporting a gradual rise in the tourist bookings that had virtually stopped after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Tour and travel operators and others connected with the tourist industry have expressed hope that the visit by the most respected legal dignitaries, like the high court judges, will restore confidence among visitors, both domestic and foreign, that Kashmir is a safe tourist destination.
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