Jerusalem, Feb 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Israel on Wednesday to a red-carpet welcome with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara receiving the Indian leader at the Ben Gurion airport.

It is PM Modi’s second visit to Israel in nine years. The India-Israel relationship was elevated to the level of strategic partnership during his first visit to that country in July 2017.

Netanyahu greeted the Indian prime minister with a warm hug, following which Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the airport, located 20 kilometres southeast of Tel Aviv.

The Indian prime minister will address Israel’s parliament later in the day and will have a tete-a-tete with Netanyahu. The two leaders will hold wide-ranging talks on Thursday.

In his pre-departure statement, Modi said he was confident that the visit will further consolidate the enduring bonds between India and Israel and set new goals for the strategic partnership.

“India and Israel share a robust and multifaceted strategic partnership that has witnessed remarkable growth and dynamism in recent years,” Modi said.

“I look forward to my discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu aimed at further strengthening our cooperation across various domains, including science and technology, innovation, agriculture, water management, defence and security, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people ties,” he said.

Modi said he and Netanyahu will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

“I am confident that my State Visit will further consolidate the enduring bonds between the two countries, set new goals for the strategic partnership, and advance our shared vision for a resilient, innovative and prosperous future,” Modi said.

The prime minister’s visit assumed greater significance as it is taking place amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, including deteriorating ties between the US and Iran.

There has been an upswing in India-Israel ties in the last few years, including in the areas of defence, scientific research, cybersecurity and innovation.

The defence cooperation has emerged as an important pillar of the partnership between the two sides, with Israel supplying a plethora of military platforms and weapon systems to India.

In November last, during the visit of India’s defence secretary to Israel, an important agreement on defence cooperation was signed.

As India is looking at developing an indigenous air defence shield called “Sudarshan Chakra”, it is learnt that New Delhi would like to explore the possibility of incorporating certain elements from Israel’s Iron Dome all-weather air defence system that can intercept and destroy missiles and artillery shells.

The trade and investment ties between the two sides are also witnessing steady progress.

During the visit to Israel of Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in November, the term of reference (ToR) for the launch of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between India and Israel was signed.

In September, the two sides had inked a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) to expand economic cooperation.

The people-to-people ties between the two countries are also an important aspect of the overall relations, with over 41,000-strong Indian diaspora playing a key role in the two-way engagement.

New Delhi, Feb 25: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has ordered the transfer and posting of seven IAS officers of the AGMUT cadre, directing their reassignment to different Union Territories and states with immediate effect.

As per an official order dated February 24, 2026, issued with the approval of the competent authority, the officers have been shifted across various segments of the AGMUT cadre until further orders.

According to the notification, Dr. Sravan Bagaria has been transferred from Delhi to Goa, while K.C. Sundar has been moved from Delhi to Puducherry. Sushil Singh has been posted from Delhi to Mizoram, and Sivakumar A.S. has been shifted from Puducherry to Lakshadweep.

Similarly, Ranjeet Singh has been transferred from Delhi to Mizoram, Ajay Kumar from Delhi to Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (DNH&DD), and Pranjal Jhazrika from Delhi to Jammu & Kashmir.

The order specifies that the transfers of officers at serial numbers 1, 5 and 6 shall take effect from June 1, 2026.

The notification has been issued by Rakesh Kumar Singh, Under Secretary to the Government of India, and circulated to the concerned Chief Secretaries and administrative authorities for necessary compliance. (KNC)

New Delhi, Feb 25: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of the contents of the class 8 NCERT textbook referring to corruption in the judiciary and termed it a matter of “grave concern.”

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi was urged by senior advocate Kapil Sibal that “children of class 8 are taught about corruption in the judiciary. This is a matter of grave concern.”

The CJI said, “I will not allow anybody to defame the institution. Law will take its course.”

He added, “As head of the institution, I have done my duty and have taken cognisance … This seems to be a calculated move. I won’t say much.”

Justice Bagchi said the book seemed to be against the basic structure of the Constitution.

The CJI said, “Please wait for a few days. Bar and Bench all are perturbed. All high court judges are perturbed. I will take up the matter suo motu. I will not allow anybody to defame the institution. Law will take its course.”

Later, Justice Kant said that the top court has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter.

Corruption, massive backlog of cases, and lack of an adequate number of judges are among the “challenges” faced by the judicial system, according to the new social science NCERT textbook for class 8.

The section “corruption in the judiciary” in the new book states that judges are bound by a code of conduct that governs not only their behaviour in court, but also how they conduct themselves outside it.