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In an address at the Chanakya Defence Dialogue, Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army Gen Manoj Pande said on Friday that India is establishing defence wings in new locations around the world and that the Army is keen to enhance the scope and scale of joint military training and exercises with friendly foreign partner nations.

Delving into current geo-political upheavals, he emphasised the need to take note of the growing salience of national security in international affairs and the "renewed currency" of hard power.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not opposed to a caste census but contesting polls using this plank is not correct, Union home minister Amit Shah said on Friday, articulating his party’s stand on a major electoral issue in the five-state assembly polls this month.

While launching the BJP’s manifesto in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Shah decried attempts by Opposition parties to politicise the issue, a reference to the Congress that has promised to hold caste-based surveys in four mainland poll-bound states if it comes to power.

The Jammu & Kashmir authorities issued an order on Friday, prohibiting the Union territory’s employees from engaging in demonstrations and strikes, warning of severe consequences if any employee is found participating in such protests.

The ban encompasses employees who go on strike for various reasons, including delayed salary payments, transfers, and other administrative matters. The order highlights that the UT administration has observed some employees resorting to demonstrations to press for their demands.

Activist Manoj Jarange on Thursday agreed to end his indefinite fast for Marastha quota. The development came after a delegation of retired high court judges Sandeep Shinde, M G Gaikwad and others including officials met Jarange.

During the discussion, Jarange reiterated his demand of reservation for Marathas across Maharashtra. He demanded "full proof reservation" and asked the state government to give him their "word" on it.

A student of IIT-BHU in Varanasi was allegedly molested by bike-borne men on campus in the early hours of Thursday. The incident sparked an outrage, following which hundreds of students held a protest.

The alleged incident took place in the early hours of Thursday when the student went out of her hostel with a friend. She was stopped by three bike-borne men, who allegedly molested her, the student said in her complaint.