New Delhi | 25 Aug 2026

Former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said politics and warfare were inseparable, arguing that military force must serve clearly defined political objectives. He made the remarks during a discussion on Operation Sindoor and its aftermath at the Vivekananda International Foundation in New Delhi on Tuesday.

• Political objectives shape military options
• Defence preparedness determines available choices
• Operation Sindoor remains strategically relevant
• Chauhan calls for changing military strategies

Political objectives shape military options

Invoking Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz, Chauhan said a country’s political interests remained paramount and the armed forces were one of several instruments available to protect them.

“Politics and war are inseparable. Clausewitz said that war is a continuation of politics by other means.”— General Anil Chauhan, former Chief of Defence Staff

Chauhan said that when a democratic government decided to use force, the military had two principal responsibilities: offering options capable of meeting the government’s objectives and giving the political leadership confidence that those options could be executed successfully.

He stressed that each military choice involved a different level of operational risk and had to be evaluated against the political purpose it was intended to achieve.

“Each option has a certain kind of risk involved in it. So, it’s an interplay between risk and attainment of political objectives.”— General Anil Chauhan, former Chief of Defence Staff

Defence preparedness determines available choices

According to Chauhan, the number and quality of options available during a crisis depend on investments made during peacetime. Defence capabilities, military training, war games and contingency planning must be developed well before the government considers deploying force, he said.

Military leadership also influences the choices available to the government through the quality of training and operational scenarios it prepares. No armed force could remain completely prepared for every contingency at all times, he added, making continuous assessment and adaptation essential.

Operation Sindoor remains strategically relevant

Discussing the Operation Sindoor aftermath, Chauhan said the main phase of active operations had concluded but the campaign remained relevant to strategic communities in India and abroad.

“In some ways, it is ongoing. The major part of active operations has concluded, but this remains a subject of interest for the strategic community.”— General Anil Chauhan, former Chief of Defence Staff

He said the operation should be assessed alongside the deficiencies identified during it, measures taken to address those gaps, the changing character of warfare and wider global uncertainty.

India launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May 2025 following the 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali national. The Indian government said its forces targeted nine terrorist facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

India and Pakistan subsequently exchanged military strikes before agreeing on 10 May 2025 to stop firing and military action on land, in the air and at sea.

Chauhan calls for changing military strategies

Chauhan said military planners could not repeatedly rely on the same response because predictability reduced the prospects of success. He cited India’s different approaches following the Uri, Pulwama and Pahalgam attacks.

The response after Uri involved land-based surgical strikes, while the Balakot operation following the Pulwama attack used air power. Operation Sindoor employed another approach, including the use of lower airspace, which Chauhan said was intended to preserve surprise and control the threshold of conflict.

Chauhan served as India’s second Chief of Defence Staff until 30 May 2026. General NS Raja Subramani assumed charge as the country’s third CDS on 31 May 2026.

Washington | 25 Aug 2026

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that his administration was considering renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America”, linking the proposal to the escalating trade dispute between the United States and Canada. No formal name-change measure was announced.

Table of Contents

• Trump’s Lake Ontario Proposal Remains Informal
• Canada Declines to Engage With Renaming Remark
• Tariffs Deepen US-Canada Trade Dispute
• Lake Ontario Is a Shared Boundary Water

Trump’s Lake Ontario Proposal Remains Informal

Trump raised the possible change in a post on Truth Social, saying the United States expected to conduct substantially less business with Ontario. He later shared an altered map showing the existing name crossed out and “Lake America” displayed in its place.

“The United States is giving serious consideration to changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America.”— Donald Trump, President of the United States

The post did not specify whether the administration would issue an executive order or pursue another formal process. Trump previously directed US federal agencies to use “Gulf of America” for the Gulf of Mexico through an executive order signed in January 2025.

Canada Declines to Engage With Renaming Remark

Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister responsible for US trade, said the federal government would not respond to daily social-media statements from Trump or members of his administration.

The Canadian government did not indicate that it would recognise any alternative name for the lake. Trump’s proposal would not by itself determine how Canadian authorities, international organisations or institutions outside the United States identify the waterway.

Tariffs Deepen US-Canada Trade Dispute

The remarks came after bilateral trade negotiations broke down and Washington imposed tariffs of 50 per cent on Canadian goods valued at C$27.6 billion, effective from 22 August.

Canada subsequently announced matching counter-tariffs on C$27.6 billion of US products from 8 September. The measures cover sectors including steel and aluminium, dairy products, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, plastics and electronics. Existing Canadian counter-tariffs on US vehicles will remain in force.

Trump has also threatened tariffs of 50 per cent on Canadian vehicles, automotive components and steel. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has accused Washington of seeking concessions that would damage Canada’s automotive, steel and aluminium industries.

Lake Ontario Is a Shared Boundary Water

Lake Ontario is one of North America’s five Great Lakes. It lies between the Canadian province of Ontario and the US state of New York and forms part of the international boundary between the two countries.

Canada and the United States cooperate on shared waters through arrangements including the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty and the International Joint Commission. Trump’s post did not explain how the proposed name would apply to the lake’s binational status or existing cross-border institutions.

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India | 25 Aug 2026

Actor Kriti Sanon has defended her Raksha Bandhan advertisement following criticism of her attire and the campaign’s inclusion of a pet dog, arguing that a woman’s respect for culture should not be judged by her clothes.

The Bollywood actor addressed the controversy through an Instagram Story on Tuesday after the jewellery campaign generated divided reactions online and drew criticism from actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut.

Kriti Sanon Responds to Raksha Bandhan Ad Criticism

Sanon said the meaning of a festival comes from the emotions and significance attached to its traditions, rather than the clothes worn during the celebration.

She explained that she and her sister, Nupur Sanon, tie rakhis to each other because they believe they can protect one another as much as a brother could. She added that their prayers for health, happiness and longevity also extend to their dogs, whom they consider family.

Sanon also questioned why women continued to be told what they should wear and said ethnic fashion had evolved over time.

“Culture & Traditions are in her heart, not in her neckline!”

— Kriti Sanon, actor

Although her statement came after Ranaut’s remarks, Sanon did not name the actor-politician directly.

Why the GIVA Campaign Sparked Debate

The Raksha Bandhan advertisement for jewellery brand GIVA features Sanon in an off-white bralette-style blouse, cape and draped skirt. It also includes a sequence in which she ties a rakhi to a dog.

Some social media users objected to the outfit and questioned the absence of familiar ceremonial elements such as a puja thali and tilak. Others defended the campaign and said the criticism amounted to policing a woman’s clothing.

Ranaut joined the debate through an Instagram Story on Monday. She questioned the choice of an outfit she compared with a bikini or undergarments and described the advertisement as appearing “intentionally creepy”.

Nupur Sanon Backs Her Sister

Nupur Sanon subsequently reposted her sister’s statement and criticised those objecting to the actor’s clothing.

“Imagine being this bothered by what another woman chooses to wear. Respectfully, EVOLVE!”

— Nupur Sanon, actor and singer

Nupur said she was the sister to whom Kriti tied the rakhi and questioned why others should object when she herself had no problem with it.

The dispute has developed into a wider social-media debate over women’s clothing, contemporary advertising and the representation of traditional festivals.

Nagpur | 25 Aug 2026

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari’s younger generation remark was related to the future leadership of a social organisation and had no political context, his office clarified on Tuesday after the comments triggered speculation about his political future. 

Gadkari had spoken about reducing his involvement and giving younger people greater responsibility while discussing the work of the Laxmanrao Mankar Trust, which runs Ekal Vidyalayas in tribal areas. His office said reports interpreting the remarks as a signal about retirement from politics had taken them out of context. 

Official Clarification

Gadkari’s office said the Union minister was speaking specifically about the Laxmanrao Mankar Trust and its future leadership when he referred to doing less work and creating opportunities for younger people.

Office Response

Gadkari’s Office Rejects Political Interpretation

“His remarks were clearly related to the functioning and future leadership of the Trust.”

— Office of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

The clarification said some television channels had presented the statement as a political remark despite the context being the functioning of the trust. 

Nitin Gadkari Younger Generation Remark

Gadkari made the comments while addressing a gathering connected with the Eklavya Ekal Vidyalaya programme at Katol in Nagpur district. He reflected on the trust’s work in tribal areas and argued that younger members should progressively assume greater responsibility.

He said his own participation in the organisation’s work had reduced and that senior members could guide the new generation as it carried the initiatives forward.

Gadkari on Younger Leadership

Minister Calls for Generational Transition

“I have told everyone that now the work should be put into the hands of the new generation.”

— Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways

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Gadkari also said senior members were guiding newer participants and expressed the hope that the trust’s activities would expand further across tribal areas of Maharashtra. 

Laxmanrao Mankar Trust and Its Work

The Laxmanrao Mankar Trust was established by Gadkari and is involved in running Ekal Vidyalayas in tribal areas. The minister’s remarks were made while discussing the organisation’s social initiatives rather than a transition in his government or political responsibilities, according to his office.

During his address, Gadkari encouraged those associated with the programme to develop their abilities and devote time to society and disadvantaged communities. He described the expansion of such social work as a responsibility that should continue through the next generation. 

What Happens Next

There has been no announcement from Gadkari that he intends to retire from politics or leave his ministerial responsibilities. The latest confirmed position from his office is that the remarks concerned the trust and should not be interpreted as a statement about his political future. 

The clarification therefore places the focus on a generational transition within the Laxmanrao Mankar Trust’s social initiatives, rather than any confirmed change in Gadkari’s role in the Union government or active politics.

JAIPUR — The SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge brought students from Grades VI to XII into a simulated marketplace where they had to do more than present an idea: they first built an advertising concept and then defended a business model before a live jury. According to event information provided by SRN International School, the programme was designed to combine creative communication, market understanding, financial thinking and public speaking in one competitive format.

The event moved in two stages. Participants began with “Ad Mad” campaigns focused on branding and audience engagement, before progressing to business pitches in which they explained their proposed product or service, value proposition, market logic and financial feasibility. The jury questioned participants during the live presentations, requiring students to respond in real time rather than rely only on rehearsed speeches.

That structure placed the SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge closer to an applied business exercise than a conventional school presentation. Students were expected to think about how an idea would be communicated, whom it would serve, why a customer might choose it and whether the underlying business proposition could make practical sense.

SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge Moves from Advertising to Business Pitch

The first phase of the SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge focused on advertising. Students developed creative campaigns intended to communicate their ideas quickly and persuasively. The exercise required them to think about brand identity, messaging and the expectations of a target audience — basic questions that sit at the centre of real marketing decisions.

The transition from advertisement to pitch was significant. A strong campaign can attract attention, but a business pitch must explain what is being offered, who needs it, how it differs from alternatives and how the idea could operate sustainably. By combining the two, the competition asked students to connect creativity with commercial reasoning.

Participants then presented their complete business models to an expert panel, according to the school’s event account. Their presentations were assessed not simply as performances but as demonstrations of strategic thinking, value creation and financial feasibility. Live jury questions added an element of unpredictability, testing whether participants understood their own proposals deeply enough to explain or defend them under pressure.

The SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge therefore required students to move repeatedly between two modes of thinking: imaginative communication and analytical decision-making. That combination is particularly relevant to entrepreneurship, where an appealing idea is only one part of the challenge and execution, pricing, customer understanding and resource choices can determine whether the concept works.

What Students Were Tested On

The competition tested a broad set of skills. Market analysis was one of the most important because students had to identify the audience for their ideas and consider how a product or service would fit a real or assumed need. Even at school level, that pushes participants beyond the question, “What do I want to create?” towards the more demanding question, “Why would someone want this?”

Public speaking formed another major component. Business pitching requires clarity, structure and brevity. Students had to explain an idea to people who had not developed it themselves, which meant making assumptions visible and communicating the core proposition in accessible language.

The live questioning component raised the difficulty further. A prepared presentation can be memorised; a jury question cannot. Students had to listen, process the question, decide what information mattered and formulate an answer within seconds. That makes the SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge an exercise in decision-making as well as presentation.

Financial feasibility was also part of the pitching process, according to the event information. For young participants, the value of this requirement lies less in producing sophisticated financial forecasts and more in recognising that business ideas have costs, prices, resources and trade-offs. A proposal that sounds attractive must still confront practical questions about how it would be delivered and sustained.

SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge Tests More Than Presentation Skills

The strongest feature of the format is that the different tasks are interconnected. Branding without customer understanding is weak. A confident pitch without a workable proposition can fail under questioning. A financially sensible idea can struggle if the presenter cannot communicate its value. By putting these elements into the same competition, the school created a setting in which students had to see entrepreneurship as a system rather than a single skill.

That approach also gives younger students exposure to vocabulary and decision frameworks they may encounter later in commerce, economics, management, design, technology or start-up environments. It does not assume that every participant will become an entrepreneur. Instead, it treats entrepreneurial thinking as a practical way to develop initiative, problem-solving and communication.

Awards Recognise Innovation and Communication

Exceptional performances were recognised in multiple categories. The school said the honours included the Best Innovator Award, the Best Business Pitch Award and the Best AdMad Presentation.

The categories reflected the different dimensions of the competition. The Best Innovator Award placed attention on originality and the strength of the underlying idea. The Best Business Pitch Award recognised the ability to turn a concept into a coherent and persuasive business case. The Best AdMad Presentation highlighted the communication and branding side of the challenge.

Individual winners’ names were not included in the material available for publication, and Credent TV is therefore not naming recipients without confirmation. The distinction is important because competition coverage should separate verified award categories from unverified claims about individual results.

Taken together, the award structure reinforced the central design of the SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge: creativity, strategy and presentation were treated as related but distinct abilities. That is closer to real business evaluation, where a compelling idea may still require stronger execution, and an effective presentation cannot substitute for a weak commercial proposition.

Background and Context

SRN International School is located at Ramnagariya in Jaipur’s Jagatpura area. Its [official website](https://www.srninternational.org/) describes it as a co-educational day-cum-residential institution affiliated with CBSE and offering a Cambridge pathway. The school’s 2026–27 documents list CBSE affiliation number 1730251, while its academic information shows Entrepreneurship among the subjects offered at the senior-secondary level.

The SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge is also consistent with a broader pattern of entrepreneurship-oriented activity at the campus. Earlier in 2026, Yi Jaipur said its Kidpreneur programme at SRN International School concluded with a Mini Marketplace on April 20. According to Yi Jaipur, more than 220 students were engaged across programme sessions, 160-plus young entrepreneurs participated through more than 50 stalls, and students worked on branding, pricing, sales, customer engagement, digital payments and revenue tracking.

That earlier programme and the SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge are separate activities, but both use participation and decision-making rather than lecture-only instruction. The recurring emphasis shows students being given opportunities to test business concepts through practical tasks, public interaction and competitive evaluation.

The SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge should not be described as a substitute for formal entrepreneurship education, but its design overlaps with several of those learning goals. Students had to consider markets, communicate value, address feasibility and respond to questions — activities that translate abstract business concepts into decisions and explanations.

Why It Matters

School entrepreneurship events are most useful when they move beyond slogans about innovation and give students a structured problem to solve. The SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge did that by requiring participants to develop both an outward-facing advertisement and an inward-facing business rationale.

For students in Grades VI to XII, the age range also creates an important progression. Younger participants can begin with creative communication and basic customer thinking, while older students can engage more deeply with market positioning, feasibility and business logic. The same format can therefore test different levels of complexity without losing its core purpose.

The public-speaking component has relevance beyond commerce. Students who can explain an idea clearly, answer difficult questions and adjust their reasoning in response to scrutiny are developing skills useful in academic presentations, interviews, leadership roles and collaborative work.

The financial element matters for another reason. Young people are frequently encouraged to innovate, but innovation without attention to cost, resources or implementation can remain abstract. Asking students to consider feasibility introduces discipline into creativity. It teaches that ideas must operate within constraints and that choices have consequences.

The advertising phase also introduces a form of media literacy. To build a campaign, students have to think about audience, message, attention and persuasion. Those are marketing skills, but they can also help students understand how commercial communication works around them. When taught responsibly, creating advertising can make learners more analytical consumers of advertising as well.

Most importantly, the live jury format creates accountability. Participants cannot control every question, and that uncertainty forces them to understand their proposals rather than simply perform them. The SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge therefore gives students a low-risk environment in which to experience a core feature of professional life: decisions and claims are often tested by other people.

The format also changes the role of failure. In a conventional test, a wrong answer may simply cost marks. In a business-pitch simulation, a weak assumption or difficult jury question can become immediate feedback. Students can see where an idea lacks clarity, where a cost has been overlooked or where an audience has not been adequately defined.

That feedback loop is central to entrepreneurial thinking. Ideas are rarely complete at the first attempt. They are tested, challenged and revised. By allowing students to encounter that process before entering university or the workplace, schools can make concepts such as market research, value proposition and financial planning more concrete.

What Happens Next

The school has described the competition as a successful experiential-learning initiative and has recognised outstanding participants across the announced award categories. No further round, external final, commercial incubation programme or follow-up funding process was confirmed in the information available for publication.

Any subsequent mentoring, inter-school expansion or continuation of the SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge would therefore require a separate announcement from the school. Until then, the confirmed outcome is the completion of the school-level competition and recognition of student performance in innovation, business pitching and advertising presentation.

For SRN International School, the event adds another practical entrepreneurship activity to a campus that has already hosted market-based learning programmes in 2026. For the students, its value lies in the sequence they experienced: create an idea, communicate it, justify it and answer for it.

That sequence is simple, but it mirrors the pressure points of real enterprise. The SRN Ad-to-Pitch Challenge turned those pressure points into a school competition, giving students an opportunity to practise not only how to make a pitch, but also how to think before making one.

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