Majority mark for NDA in Upper House

The Supreme Court granted a five-year extension for the registration period of three specialized armored diesel vehicles owned by the SPG, overturning the NGT's refusal due to their age. The relaxation was granted after the solicitor general emphasized the vehicles' importance for SPG's technical logistics, despite the NGT's ruling that such vehicles over a decade old cannot operate in the NCR. The court acknowledged the unique purpose of these vehicles for the prime minister's security...

Three damaged idols were discovered inside the well of the Bhasma Shankar temple in Sambhal, which was recently reopened after being closed for 46 years. The temple, housing idols of Lord Hanuman and a Shivling, had remained locked since 1978. Excavations also revealed a broken Parvati idol, along with Ganesh and Lakshmi idols, prompting further investigation into how they ended up inside the well. Full Article

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is expected to visit China soon for Special Representative talks, following an agreement reached in October regarding patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control. Tensions between India and China escalated in 2020 due to a border standoff in eastern Ladakh, leading to strained relations. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated India's commitment to engaging with China through bilateral discussions for a fair and mutually acceptable boundary settlement. Full Article

Rizwan Kadri of PMML Society wrote to Rahul Gandhi requesting the return of "important" historical documents allegedly withdrawn by Sonia Gandhi, including letters between Nehru and Mountbatten. After receiving no response from Sonia Gandhi, Kadri sought Rahul Gandhi's help in restoring the documents, citing their significance to Indian history. BJP's Sambit Patra found the situation intriguing, hinting at potential censorship in the Nehru-Mountbatten correspondence, raising questions about the need for their removal from the Nehru...

China conducted coercive military drills around Taiwan from December 9-11, the largest since the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, in protest against Taiwanese President Lai Cheng-te's transit through Hawaii and Guam. The drills involved 90 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels and dozens of aircraft, aiming to prevent foreign interference in China's coercion of Taiwan. The exercise was described as "total military intimidation" by a Taiwanese official, and China's Ministry of National Defense stated that it...

The GST Council's Fitment Committee has proposed raising the GST rate on old and used electric vehicles from 12% to 18%, aligning with the existing tax structure for larger vehicles and SUVs. This potential increase could make second-hand EVs less appealing to buyers and lead to higher overall taxation on second-hand vehicle sales, potentially impacting the resale market. The council is set to discuss this recommendation at their upcoming meeting in December in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan....