India Education Spending Meets GDP Benchmark but Misses Public Outlay Target

Stalled government jobs, cases stuck in court, exam delays: What’s behind the Ranchi fast, protest

India Tests Agni-4 Ballistic Missile, Boosting Strategic Deterrence Capability

India conducted a successful test of its Agni-4 medium-range ballistic missile last Thursday. The missile has a range of 4,000 km and is capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads. It is equipped with an advanced heat shield and a high-precision guidance system. The test is seen as addressing a significant gap in India's strategic deterrence arsenal. Officials say the launch underscores India's continued focus on developing indigenous defense technologies.

EPFO's new IT system rollout triggers claim backlog, officials under pressure

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has been facing a growing backlog of unresolved claims following the rollout of its new IT system. Field officials are struggling with a rising number of pending auto claims, many of which have remained unprocessed for more than 20 days. The delays are causing considerable inconvenience to EPFO members awaiting their settlements. EPFO has acknowledged the surge in pending claims but attributed it to a temporary transitional phase during the system upgrade. The organisation maintains that the switchover was carried out with minimal disruption to overall services.

Indian Navy Foils Pirate Attack on India-Bound Ship in Gulf of Aden

The Indian Navy successfully repelled a pirate attack on a vessel named Golden Arsenal in the Gulf of Aden. The ship's captain moved the crew into a secure citadel onboard, which the attackers were unable to breach. The intervention prevented the pirates from seizing control of the India-bound ship. As of now, four vessels in the region remain under Somali pirate control, with Indian nationals aboard three of them.