Op-Eds Opinion

India’s R-37M Move Shows A Pragmatic Strategy To Neutralize China’s PL-15 And PL-17 Advantage

By BPN News Desk April 18, 2026

The quiet clearance by Russia to export the R-37M missile to India may not dominate primetime debates, but it represents a significant shift in how India is choosing to respond to evolving threats in the skies. Over the last few years, China has steadily built and deployed a new generation of long-range air-to-air missiles, most […]

International

US Extends Russian Oil Waiver for Cargoes at Sea

By BPN News Desk April 18, 2026

The United States has extended a temporary sanctions waiver that allows buyers to receive Russian oil cargoes already loaded and at sea, offering short-term relief to countries dependent on these shipments. The move marks a reversal from earlier signals that the waiver would not be renewed and reflects concern over energy market disruption. US Russian […]

Op-Eds Opinion

RBI’s Oil Dollar Curbs Show India Needs a Permanent FX Discipline Framework

By BPN News Desk April 18, 2026

The recent move by the Reserve Bank of India to nudge state-run oil refiners away from aggressive spot dollar buying has been widely seen as a tactical response to a weakening rupee. At one level, it is exactly that. The rupee has been under visible pressure, weighed down by rising crude prices, geopolitical uncertainty in […]

International

Iran Warns Hormuz May Not Stay Open After US Blockade

By BPN News Desk April 18, 2026

Iran has warned that the Strait of Hormuz may not remain open if the United States continues its naval blockade linked to Iranian ports, adding a fresh layer of uncertainty to one of the world’s most important energy routes. The warning came after US President Donald Trump said the blockade would remain in force, even […]

National

Women’s Reservation Bill Fails After Delimitation Row

By BPN News Desk April 18, 2026

The government failed to pass its proposed constitutional amendment on women’s representation in Parliament after opposition parties united against linking the measure to delimitation. The setback marked a rare parliamentary defeat for the Narendra Modi government on a constitutional proposal and turned the debate into a wider fight over federal balance and electoral

Op-Eds Opinion

Opposition Blocks Delimitation Bill, Pushes India Toward a 543-Seat Outcome That Favors BJP Even More

By BPN News Desk April 18, 2026

The defeat of the delimitation-linked constitutional amendment in Parliament was immediately framed as a political victory by the opposition. Celebrations, statements, and sharp rhetoric followed, all projecting the outcome as a successful resistance against a move that was perceived to favour the ruling party. But beneath that immediate political theatre lies a deeper and

Op-Eds Opinion

Women’s Quota Vote: BJP Sets the Trap, Opposition Chooses the Lesser Damage

By BPN News Desk April 17, 2026

The Women’s Reservation Bill failed in the Lok Sabha, falling short of the required two-thirds majority. On paper, it looks like a straightforward legislative defeat. But anyone reading this purely as a numbers game is missing the larger political design behind it. This was never just a vote on women’s representation. It was a carefully […]

National

Tharoor Calls Delimitation Political Demonetisation

By BPN News Desk April 17, 2026

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the government’s move to link women’s reservation with delimitation, warning in the Lok Sabha that a rushed redrawing of constituencies could damage India’s federal balance. During the debate, he compared the proposed exercise to demonetisation and urged the Centre not to repeat what he described as another hasty structural decision.

Automobile Electric Vehicles

Simple Ultra Launched With 400 km Range

By BPN News Desk April 17, 2026

Simple Energy has launched the Simple Ultra electric scooter, claiming an IDC-certified range of 400 km on a single charge. The Bengaluru-based company says the new model is now available for purchase and test rides, with deliveries already underway across India. Simple Ultra Electric Scooter Range and Battery The Simple Ultra is positioned as the […]

International

Shehbaz Sharif Welcomes Lebanon Ceasefire

By BPN News Desk April 17, 2026

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon, expressing hope that the development will lead to lasting peace in the region. His statement comes at a time of wider diplomatic activity across West Asia, as several countries continue efforts to prevent further escalation. Pakistan PM on Lebanon Ceasefire In […]