Editor's picks — The Hindu

Wed · 29 Jul 2026

• Co-existing with tigers outside reserves

  India’s tiger conservation story is widely regarded as one of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife recoveries — a species brought back from near extinction t...

• Will the govt. relax rules on airport-airline ownership?

  Has the Adani Group’s MoU with Embraer prompted the Centre’s rethink on cross-ownership rules?

• Panel on SC status for Dalit converts yet to submit report

  More than a month after the Justice K.G. Balakrishnan (retd)-led commission finished its study to examine whether Scheduled Caste status can be accorded to Dali...

• ‘Unwise to link women’s quota with delimitation’

  Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K.T. Rama Rao has said that the student protests over the leak of NEET question paper was “unique” and an “inflexion” point in Ind...

Tue · 28 Jul 2026

• SC considers guidelines for police during mass protests

  Observing that the constitutional right to peaceful protest must be protected, the Supreme Court on Monday indicated that it may consider framing uniform guidel...

• Forced labour farce

  India should not let the U.S.’s new tariffs push it towards a trade deal

• The next chapter for Education Ministry

  As Pralhad Joshi takes charge of the Education Ministry, several key ‘reforms’ remain under way, including the National Curriculum Framework, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, the three-language formula, and new teacher-training initiatives in school education

• With Sarnath becoming India’s 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site, here’s a quiz on the other sites in the country

  Question 1 Apart from the Taj Mahal, which other properties from India were the first to be given UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1983? Question 2 What is ...

• SC seeks Centre’s reply on plea over anti-defection law

  The Supreme Court on Monday sought the Union government’s response on a petition filed by senior advocate Kapil Sibal challenging the interpretation of the “mer...

• What can be done to address the CBSE evaluation controversy?

  The Supreme Court's concern over ‘frustrated young minds’ has renewed focus on the unresolved CBSE On-Screen Marking (OSM) controversy. A simple SOP could still restore fairness, accountability, and public trust in digital evaluation.

• What is India’s policy on urea production?

  What are the key changes in the National Investment Policy for Urea 2026?

• To fix unemployment, fix the economy first

  The Cockroach Janta Party’s movement has highlighted the political urgency for reforming the economy to create more employment for India’s youth. Fixing the edu...

Mon · 27 Jul 2026

• Nilekani to lead high-powered task force on exam reforms: PM

  It will recommend steps to make exam system leak-proof and technology-driven; former ISRO Chairman Somanath, IIT-M Director Kamakoti among members; Pralhad Joshi takes charge as Union Education Minister, chairs review meeting

• Do not surrender to China, do not depend on the U.S.

  A volatile political climate in Washington has triggered a wave of strategic anxiety in New Delhi. Buffeted by the transactional, often erratic policy shifts of...

• 3 Great Indian Bustard chicks placed in rewilding tunnel

  In a first, three chicks of the endangered Great Indian Bustard have been moved into a custom-built rewilding tunnel at the Godawan Conservation Centre in Ramde...

• Indian Monsoon: a democratic tipping point

  India stands at an important moment in its democratic journey. Large student demonstrations which were demanding fairness in examinations and Sonam Wangchuk’s p...

• India’s first dengue vaccine arrives with a crucial safety caveat

  Qdenga could be responsible for enhancing dengue in children who have not had an infection yet in their lives; in such cases, the vaccine could simulate a primary dengue infection in the body, resulting in protection against DENV-1 and DENV-2 infections but not against a DENV-3 infection

Sun · 26 Jul 2026

• U.S.’s new 10% tariffs will not affect 45% of exports: Centre

  A day after the U.S. announced permanent tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners over forced labour goods, the Centre on Saturday said that about 45% of Ind...

• What is the Saudi-U.S. nuclear deal about?

  What does the agreement say? Why does Saudi Arabia want a nuclear programme? Why has President Trump linked the deal to the Abraham Accords? How does the agreement impact Iran’s nuclear programme?

• Why are there protests over the Ken-Betwa project?

  Why does the project aim to do? How many villages and families are likely to be affected by it? What are the concerns of the tribal people regarding rehabilitation and compensation? Why has the project raised concerns among conservationists?

• Union govt. circulates Bill to strengthen anti-cheating law

  Centre to introduce the Bill in Parliament on Monday; it proposes to introduce mandatory two-month investigation deadlines, designated Special Fast Track Courts, steep financial penalties

• Sarnath added to UNESCO Heritage List

  India’s ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh was on Saturday inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The decision was taken during the ongoing...

• India’s rice fields rank among world’s top methane sources

  India is the world’s top rice producer, with its area under paddy cultivation covering 55% of its rainfed harvested area; continuous irrigation, incorporating residues and increasing use of nitrogen fertilizers has increased emissions

• A lost Himalayan people emerges from a Ladakh cave

  A study published recently in Science Advances has reported genome-wide data from 10 individuals recovered from a cave in Kargil. Radiocarbon dating places them...

• First moon found beyond solar system is as big as a planet

  Using the radial velocity method, astronomers have found a large body orbiting a brown dwarf, CD-35 2722 B, which orbits a star. It is estimated to be 90% as ma...

Sat · 25 Jul 2026

• SC seeks Centre’s response on NEET reforms

  The Supreme Court on Friday indicated that it would closely monitor the Centre’s proposed overhaul of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and dire...

• Amid ruckus, Ministry tables Bill in RS to punish insult to National Song

  Amid disruptions over the police action on student protesters, the Home Ministry introduced the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026,...

• SC prohibits unauthorised recording, monetisation of court videos on social media

  Observing that the misuse of video clips from livestreamed court proceedings was “trivialising” the administration of justice, the Supreme Court on Friday barre...

• India’s foreign policy must look seaward

  At sea, nationality is usually clear. Responsibility seldom is. An Indian seafarer may be recruited in Mumbai, hired by a company based in Singapore, placed on ...

• On guard

  The dengue vaccine must be made affordable to those at greatest risk

• U.S. imposes permanent tariffs; India stays at 10%

  “I am encouraged by the trading partners who have moved quickly to adopt forced labour import prohibitions, and look forward to ensuring their effective enforce...

• Kerala Bank to launch ‘Gen Z Tech’ student loan scheme

  The Kerala State Cooperative Bank (Kerala Bank) is set to roll out a new low-interest loan scheme for enabling students to purchase laptops and tablets for thei...

• The ‘cockroaches’ who refuse to crawl away

  Over the last week, Cockroach Janta Party-led protests demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister and reforms to the education system have spread across the country. Students and others have continued their demonstrations despite allegations of state excesses. Nikhil M. Babu, Shrimansi Kaushik, Serena Josephine M., and Vinaya Deshpande report from across India on a movement that won’t fade

Thu · 23 Jul 2026

• SC suggests raising retirement age of judicial officers to 61

  The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed all States and Union Territories to consider raising the retirement age of judicial officers from 60 to 61 years, pendin...

• U.S. to announce nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia

  The United States plans to announce a landmark deal with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday that would help establish a civilian nuclear programme in the kingdom, accord...

• ‘Don’t waste our time’: CJI declines to take cognisance of ‘police violence’

  The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to initiate suo motu proceedings to take cognisance of alleged police excesses during the July 20 crackdown on student p...

Wed · 22 Jul 2026

• New trade pact a win-win for India and U.K.

  The India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which came into force on July 15, marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of bilateral ties. M...

• India’s rarest heron faces a silent end as new dam ignores its home

  Once the dam in the Lohit river basin is built, it could alter the water’s turbidity and flow, and lead to the local extinction of white-bellied herons; the bird was first described in 1878 based on specimens from the Teesta region, the species does not occur there today; in fact, it has been ‘critically endangered’ since 2007

• French Parliament backs social media ban for under-15s in EU first

  France’s Parliament approved a Bill banning social media access for children under 15, making France the first European country to bar children from apps such a...

• Is Yashwant Varma still a judge?

  The power to resign at will protects judicial independence; when misused, it helps evade accountability; the report by the committee tasked with investigating charges of misbehaviour against former judge Varma is set to come up in Parliament; what will become of Varma now that he has resigned?

• ‘India-U.K. FTA gives predictability for firms on both sides’

  The India-U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) creates “a predictable and attractive environment” for businesses in both the countries, accord...

• Indian bonds crumble as oil surges over $90 a barrel

  Indian government bonds declined on Tuesday after international crude oil prices surged to cross $90 per barrel, raising concerns about inflation, fiscal stabil...

Tue · 21 Jul 2026

• Why inflation is rising in India

  India’s recent inflation surge has been mainly driven by higher fuel costs and food price pressures rather than excess demand; food inflation stems largely from supply shocks such as poor monsoons, while rising oil prices have pushed up production costs and manufactured goods inflation

• Govt. introduces Bill in Lok Sabha to raise strength of judges in SC to 38

  The Union government on Monday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to replace an ordinance that raised the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court fro...

• India joins WTO’s agreement on fisheries subsidies

  India on Monday announced it had joined the WTO’s agreement on fisheries subsidies, which prohibits government support to illegal fishing activities and over-ex...

• RBI special swap sees over $20 bn inflow

  The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) foreign currency swap facility operationalised through Foreign Currency Non-Resident-Bank (FCNR(B)) deposits, external commerc...

• India’s green transition is missing long-duration energy storage

  Longer-term energy storage is needed to ensure that the grid remains reliable during prolonged periods of low solar and wind generation; the longer the time over which a technology discharges energy, the better its economics; at the same time, storing more energy is also expensive

• Karnataka takes steps to replace 3rd language with AI

  The Karnataka government has taken steps to implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Skill Education instead of a third language in 1,652 government high schoo...

Mon · 20 Jul 2026

• Govt. to move Bill in RS to make insult to the National Song a criminal offence

  The Centre will begin the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Monday with a move to grant statutory protection to the National Song Vande Mataram, listing the Prev...

• Swear words are uncivil, but not obscene by law, says SC

  The Supreme Court has reasoned in a judgment that the use of four-letter expletive and its variations may be “abusive, unpalatable or uncivil”, but does not qua...

• India’s F&O boom needs adequate protections

  Headlines continue to highlight the devastating financial ruin of investors who trade in the Futures and Options (F&O) segment, as many of them get caught in a ...

• Indian tea industry sets many records

  Calcutta, July 19: The Indian tea industry has a number of records to its credit — in production, grades, price and export. The 140-year-old industry’s producti...

Sun · 19 Jul 2026

• Central African monkey with striking patch is new species

  Researchers have found a new species of African monkey in Central Africa. Colobus congoensis, or ‘Likweli’, lives in Lomami National Park. It was first photogra...

• What goals does Semicon 2.0 aim to achieve?

  What are the key focus areas of Semicon 2.0? How is it different from the first phase? Why is India focusing on semiconductor manufacturing? What incentives does the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme offer?

• Panels examining Bill for removal of Ministers and VBSA Bill defer meeting

  The Joint Parliamentary Committee examining the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill on Saturday cancelled its July 20 meeting where the Bill’s draft re...

• What are the gains from the India-U.K. trade deal?

  How do the two countries benefit from the deal? What changes will the deal bring for Indian workers in the U.K.? What were the intractable issues left out of the deal? Why does this deal stand out in particular?

• Iran ‘suspends commitments’ to interim agreement with the U.S.

  U.S. Centcom says its strikes hit surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, maritime capabilities; Kuwait reports most damage from Iranian strikes, including hits on a water desalination plant and an oil facility

Sat · 18 Jul 2026

• India’s Parliament must not stage its Cadaver Synod

  In January 897 CE, Rome witnessed the strangest trial in the history of the Church. Pope Stephen VI ordered the corpse of his predecessor, Pope Formosus, dug up...

Fri · 17 Jul 2026

• Frame policy for release of terminally ill inmates: SC

  The Supreme Court on Thursday directed all States and Union Territories to put in place, within three months, a uniform policy governing the premature release o...

• Kudankulam ‘data breach’ unrelated to nuclear activity: govt.

  Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh on Thursday downplayed concerns regarding the data breach involving electronic files linked to the Kuda...

• SC verdicts say state has the duty to preserve life of a person on indefinite fast

  Multiple Supreme Court judgments and orders highlight the state’s paternalistic duty of care to preserve the life of a person on a hunger strike without disrupt...

• Bills on FCRA,Vande Mataram listed for Monsoon Session

  The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to amend the 1971 law to make the intentional insult of, or disruption during, ...

• How serious is Kudankulam data leak?

  What exactly was leaked in the data breach? How did it occur? Did the breach affect any nuclear or reactor-related systems? Who was responsible for protecting the data? Why is the leak significant?

Thu · 16 Jul 2026

• SC raps panel mandated to protect people from NE States

  The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned if any concrete work is being done by the court-mandated monitoring committee set up to address problems faced by peop...

• SC refuses to entertain plea to curb social media content

  The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a writ petition to curb podcasts and social media reels, saying the freedom allowed to citizens to approach ...

• Cabinet okays Semicon 2.0, mobile, urea manufacturing schemes, highways

  Projects cleared by the CCEA include two major highway projects worth ₹25,400 crore to ease congestion in Varanasi; 9 new gas-based urea plants with a production capacity of 10 MT; ₹1.27 lakh crore for the second edition of India Semiconductor Mission; and 62,500 crore for MPMS

• RBI issues data governance guidance framework for banks

  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the ‘Guidance on Regulatory Expectations for Data Governance’ for banks and other Regulated Entities (REs) prescribing a ...

• India-U.K. social security pact is not retrospective

  The India-U.K. Double Contributions Convention (DCC), allowing temporary Indian and British workers an exemption from paying social security contributions in th...

• Kudankulam nuclear plant data leak sparks ‘absolute commotion’

  The leak of highly sensitive files of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), reportedly accessed by a ransomware group from a contractor’s server, has triggere...

Wed · 15 Jul 2026

• 
  SC weighs SOP for cases affecting life and liberty

  In response to the law officer, the Chief Justice noted that High Courts did not come within the administrative ambit of the top court in a federal set-up, indi...

• 
  ‘Gold standard’ India-U.K. trade deal is coming into effect today

  Commerce Secretary describes pact as one of the ‘most ambitious and aspirational free trade agreements’ signed by the country; he adds that it will benefit farmers, fisherfolk; officials in U.K. welcome deal and highlight its multi-sectoral impact

• Acid ingestion included in amended Act: Centre to SC

  The Union government informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday of amending the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD) of 2016 to extend the definition of “a...

• 
  How the Gaganyaan crew module is built to survive

  What happens to the crew and service modules during descent?

Tue · 14 Jul 2026

• 
  Citizenship decisions must be ‘fair, reasoned’, says SC

  Top court sets aside 27 judgments of Gauhati HC on ‘foreigners’, asks tribunals to adjudicate afresh; Citizenship declarations can’t be sustainable if ‘procedure adopted is mechanical’, says the court

• Ram Temple donation case: SC seeks report

  The Supreme Court on Monday directed the State of Uttar Pradesh to file a status report on the ongoing probe into the Ram Temple donations’ embezzlement case, a...

• The right path for India’s nuclear power development

  International sanctions were imposed on India after its peaceful nuclear test of 1974. The India-United States civil nuclear deal, which was signed in 2008, end...

• What is the India-Australia uranium supplies agreement?

  What do the administrative arrangements mean for India’s nuclear energy sector?

• Is the undocumented migrant counted?

  Evidence using official Census data suggest that there is no surge of undocumented migrants from Bangladesh, at least between 1991 and 2011

• SC questions the misuse of POCSO in teen relationships

  The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the invocation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act against teenagers involved in voluntary sexual rela...

• SC asks Centre to place on record new aviation rules

  The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Union government to place on record the new aviation rules framed under the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, to regulate...

• Restraining minors’ access to porn is essential: SC

  The Supreme Court on Monday said a plea highlighting the easy accessibility of pornographic content on the Internet, especially for minors, has raised an issue ...

• 
  Can biogas aid India’s energy security?

  India, which imports nearly 85% of its crude oil needs, remains vulnerable to global energy shocks. Over the years, it has pushed several initiatives to promote compressed biogas. Despite these efforts, progress has been limited; government support and incentives could provide a boost to the sector

• For Iran, Hormuz is the key to deterrence and dominance in Persian Gulf

  The memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed by the U.S. and Iran on June 17, promising to extend the ceasefire and launch talks on Iran’s nuclear programme an...

Mon · 13 Jul 2026

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  ISRO successfully carries out tests of Gaganyaan systems

  One of the tests involved separation of the ‘umbilical mechanism’ that serves as a link between the crew module, where astronauts live, and the service module that provides propulsion, agency says

• Five crore Indians wait when the courts take a break

  The Supreme Court of India and the major High Courts are on a summer holiday break, i.e., shut down with some vacation Benches functioning to hear urgent matter...

• 
  Centre brings new scheme to regularise PF Trusts

  The EPFO has invited applications from exempted Provident Fund Trusts to regularise their status under provisions of the Finance Act, 2026, the Income Tax Act, ...

• Oil conundrum

  India’s energy imports from Russia seem driven by confusion, not strategy

• Taliban seek deeper farm ties with India

  The Taliban administration of Afghanistan has expressed desire to enhance agricultural cooperation with India, covering areas such as agricultural trade, infras...

• 
  A.P. and the next El Niño challenge

  Heatwaves and rainfall deficits could put the State’s preparedness to the test

• 
  Why has China banned helium exports?

  Why is helium emerging as a strategic resource? How vulnerable is the world to a helium supply shock? Why is it considered a critical input for future technologies? Why is storing and transporting helium so expensive? What makes it so hard to replace?

• 
  How DDCs changed local governance in J&K?

  What is at stake in the debate over local democracy in Jammu and Kashmir?

• Detained leader Suu Kyi will be looked after, Myanmar tells ASEAN

  The Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN was told on Sunday by Myanmar that detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi was in good health and would be looked after, ASEAN’s ...

Sun · 12 Jul 2026

• Minister asked us to flag unjust cancellations under FCRA, says church leader

  Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) that the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 is not...

• West Bengal government forms committee to review draft UCC

  The West Bengal government has constituted a high-level committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai to examine a draft Uniform ...

• One-fourth of India’s monsoon rain evaporates mid-air, says new study

  Researchers at IITM Pune say rate of evaporation may vary sharply across regions; this is the first observational estimate of raindrop evaporation over India; it will help scientists refine climate models and better understand the monsoon

• Dams make rivers warmer downstream: satellite data

  Satellite data from 2013 to 2024 revealed that 71% of 287 large dams across the U.S. significantly altered water temperature downstream. In most cases, the wate...

Sat · 11 Jul 2026

• Man hurls papers at SC Bench after incoherent address

  The Supreme Court on Friday decided not to take action against a man who hurled a bundle of paper towards a Bench during a hearing. A litigant addressed a Supre...

• India lays out tariffs and quotas for U.K. vehicles under trade deal

  The Indian government has released the list of quotas and tariffs for automobile imports from the United Kingdom under the trade deal between the two countries....

• CAMPA clears conservation projects for river dolphins, three other species

  The governing body of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) on Friday gave nod to four new conservation project...

• Govt. amends rules to regulate drugs containing alcohol

  Aimed at strengthening regulatory control and preventing misuse of medicinal products with a high alcohol content, the Union Health Ministry has removed the exe...

Fri · 10 Jul 2026

• SIR in Manipur is a pathway to exclusion

  Manipur is one of the States covered under Phase III of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being implemented by the Election Commission of ...

• Why is the Centre revising the NFSA?

  Why has the Centre proposed changing AAY foodgrain entitlements? How will the proposed amendment affect households? Why are Tamil Nadu and Kerala opposing? Could the amendment widen regional disparities in foodgrain allocation?

• Heavy rain brings down 150-year-old clock tower at Kozhikode railway station

  Heavy rain triggered the partial collapse of the 150-year-old heritage clock tower onto Platform No. 2 at the Kozhikode railway station in Kerala on Thursday mo...

• Why more Indian couples are being diagnosed with secondary infertility

  Analyses of India’s National Family Health Survey data show secondary infertility rose from roughly 19.5% in the early 1990s to about 28.6% by 2015–2016 — close to a doubling in a single generation; there are multiple factors that are contributing to this including age-related issues and changes in the body between the first and the second child

Thu · 9 Jul 2026

• SC seeks govt., CBSE response to plea by overseas students

  The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Union government and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on a petition challenging the Boar...

• What is the right to be forgotten?

  How does the ruling balance privacy with open justice and free speech? What challenges remain in enforcing the right to be forgotten? What role does the DPDP Act play? Who should decide requests for erasure or de-indexing?

• 72 p.c. of school children have dental diseases

  New Delhi, July 7: Based on the findings of a survey conducted by it, the Consumer Council of India, has claimed that most of the toothpastes manufactured and m...

• Is the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement falling apart?

  U.S. President Donald Trump, who is in Ankara to attend a NATO summit, said on Wednesday that the ceasefire with Iran was “over”. His remarks came after tit-for...

Wed · 8 Jul 2026

• CJP’s X account back online after HC order

  The original X handle of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has become accessible in India after the Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed its restoration. The Cent...

• 
  HC upholds uniform legal marriage age for all religions

  The Allahabad High Court has held that the minimum age of marriage prescribed under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, applies to all citizens ...

• Independence of the Bar is crucial for preservation of rule of law: Supreme Court

  The Supreme Court on Tuesday said independence of lawyers is just as important as independence of the judiciary. In fact, the court said the legal profession’s ...

• 
  Contact lost with Drishti, world’s first OptoSAR satellite

  The Bengaluru-based space start-up GalaxEye has lost contact with Mission Drishti, the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, as it encountered an anomaly following a...

• On the method for caste enumeration

  After decades of debate, caste will be counted as part of the 2027 Census. It is significant to look at the ongoing ‘pre-test’ and questionnaire design, as well as past anomalies during 2011 Socio-Economic Caste Census, as Independent India prepares to enumerate caste for the first time as part of the Census exercise

• 
  Upcoming Index of Services Production is expected to rely heavily on GST figures

  The upcoming Index of Services Production (ISP) will rely heavily on Goods and Services Tax (GST) data to arrive at its estimates of services sector production,...

• How India’s life insurance sector funds government expenditure

  A significant share of life insurance premiums is reinvested in securities that finance government expenditure. While the case for deeper insurance penetration is often made in terms of household financial protection, it is equally important for sovereign fiscal stability

• Rural demand to face pressure as El Niño impacts rains

  Scant monsoons have added to higher farm input prices after geopolitical events and are expected to trump rural demand and push prices further up, according to ...

Tue · 7 Jul 2026

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  Will El Niño weaken India’s economy?

  How could a weak monsoon affect farm output, inflation and economic growth? Why does El Niño remain a major risk for India’s economy? How have past El Niño years affected agriculture and inflation? Is India’s irrigation and water storage system prepared for another weak monsoon?

• Form used in Census second phase rehearsal has ‘open column’ for caste

  The questionnaire used in the rehearsal for the second phase of Census, which started in 16 States and Union Territories on Monday, has an “open column” for res...

• Jaishankar gearing up to lead India’s campaign for non-permanent UNSC seat

  India on July 13 will launch the official campaign for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council during 2028-29. According to a press note by the Ministry...

• AI governance and a voice for the Global South

  In February 2026, India hosted the India AI Impact Summit 2026, that sought to put the needs and challenges of the Global South at the centre of the Artificial ...

• Questions surrounding the Quad’s future

  With the U.S. reversing the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command back to the U.S. Pacific Command, criticisms have been levelled against the relevance of the Quad

• China test-fires ‘strategic’ missile in the Pacific, raises regional concerns

  Beijing says ‘missile carrying a training simulation warhead’ was launched successfully; the test involved a nuclear-capable ‘long-range ballistic missile’, says New Zealand; on the same day, China began its annual joint naval exercises with Russia

• SEBI said to ease short stocks by nearly doubling those eligible for borrowing

  India’s markets regulator aims to make it easier for investors to short stocks by nearly doubling the number of shares eligible for lending and borrowing and by...

• Ebola outbreak death count in DR Congo crosses 500, says WHO

  More than 500 people have died in the Ebola outbreak gripping the Democratic Republic of Congo, World Health Organization figures showed on Monday. A newly upda...

• Hemingway’s masterpiece on Spain’s bull runs turns 100 with its allure intact

  Bill Hillmann has been gored three times while running with the bulls in Spain, but he would not miss this year’s San Fermin festival for anything. It marks the...

Mon · 6 Jul 2026

• 
  ISRO conducts test of key component for Gaganyaan mission

  The solid motor-based platform SOLVE will be used for parachute tests of the crew module; it has been derived from the PSLV strap-on motor

• 
  Kaziranga bids adieu to iconic patrol elephant Joymala

  Officials and guards of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam on Sunday bid an emotional farewell to Joymala, one of the longest-serving elepha...

• A legislative tangle in Maharashtra

  The grey areas in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution needs urgent revisiting

• 
  Explained: can the ED attach a firm’s assets after it enters insolvency?

  The legal question before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) was whether the protection available under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) moratorium extends to assets that are simultaneously subject of proceedings under Prevention of Money Laundering Act

• 
  Milk production in Gangetic plains has nosedived due to climate change

  A new study has found that global warming acutely affects dairy production across the Global South, especially the high milk production tract of Haryana as lactating animals are more prone to heat stress; hence, they divert energy from milk production to regulate body temperature, resulting in a20–30% decline in milk yield

• The right to belong beyond official documentation

  On June 24, 2026, a member of India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a startling statement. The Indian passport, the person said, is a “travel docu...

• India needs a second home for Asiatic lions

  India’s conservation of the Asiatic lion is widely celebrated as a remarkable success story. From a population which was reduced to just a few dozen in the earl...

• What new NPS withdrawal rules mean for retirement

  With new norms, the National Pension Scheme finally treats retirement money the way most actually need it treated — accessible sans being reckless and flexible sans being chaotic

Sun · 5 Jul 2026

• 
  India’s essential medicine list lags behind global benchmark; unrevised in 4 years

  India’s roster of essential medicines has not been updated in nearly four years even as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revised its own list twice in th...

• 
  Parliament’s Monsoon Session from July 20: Rijiju

  The Monsoon Session of Parliament will be held from July 20 to August 13, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday. In a post on X, he said ...

• 
  India-U.K. FTA: FinMin notifies rules for origin of goods

  The Finance Ministry has notified the rules for the determination of origin of goods under the India-U.K. comprehensive economic and trade agreement, which will...

• 
  What did SCOTUS rule on birthright citizenship?

  Why and how did U.S. President Donald Trump seek to limit birthright citizenship and what did the Supreme Court rule? Has this always been a political issue in the U.S.? What is the link between birthright citizenship and slavery? How has the judgment affected MAGA supporters?

• 
  What are ICC’s ‘Return to Play Post-Pregnancy’ guidelines?

  Why was this policy necessary? What does it entail?

• Why are there concerns over WhatsApp usernames?

  What is the username feature that WhatsApp intends to roll out? How does it work and what privacy safeguards are built into it? Why is the Indian government asking WhatsApp to stop its roll-out? Can the government dictate an app’s features?

• A window into how China sees a world in disorder

  Politically, the Iran war has led more nations to view China as more trustworthy than the U.S.; Beijing’s strategic credibility has risen, while Washington’s has declined, Yan Xuetong, a leading Chinese foreign policy scholar, said at the World Peace Forum; technological disruptions, especially AI, are seen as emerging as the next key battleground, especially with regard to the setting of standards

Sat · 4 Jul 2026

• 
  Inside India’s language conundrum

  The CBSE’s move to implement the National Education Policy 2020’s three-language formula from Class 6 has caused confusion across the country. The transition has led to teacher losses, curriculum disruptions, and concerns from parents, students, and foreign embassies.Maitri Porechareports on the many challenges in implementing the three-language formula in a country as diverse as India

• 
  Ladakh to have customised self-governance framework

  UT-level elected body will be established, say minutes of meeting between Centre and leaders of civil society groups; model of constitutional safeguards under Article 371 discussed in proposal

• 
  Centre set to summon Meta over child sexual abuse advertisements

  A media report had pointed to proliferation of such ads on the Instagram platform; the company says it has a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy towards CSAM

• 
  Building water security in a rapidly drying India

  Indian cities — from Bengaluru to Mussoorie (Uttarakhand) — are reeling under severe water stress. June saw a monsoon rainfall deficit of over 40%. Delhi is fac...

Fri · 3 Jul 2026

• 
  SC sets aside NCLT order for relying on AI-crafted case law

  Observing that the use of non-existent or AI-generated hallucinated judicial precedents is “catastrophic” to the judicial process, the Supreme Court on Thursday...

• West Bengal Cabinet clears panel to study draft UCC Bill

  The West Bengal Cabinet on Thursday approved the constitution of a committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai to examine the draft Un...

• The DAILY QUIZ

  Question 1 This newspaper opposed the Age of Consent Act, passed in 1891 after the death of a child bride Phoolmani, resulting in the first sedition trial under...

• Govt. rolls out VB-G RAM G scheme from A.P. village

  Union Agriculture Minister takes part in launch event at Mukkavaripalli village in Tirupati district; Chief Minister says spending funds on the scheme is ‘not a burden but a responsibility’ of States

Thu · 2 Jul 2026

• Why has the govt. notified a new set of telecom rules?

  How do the rules change the telecom regulatory framework? What powers does the Act give the govt.?

• JPC likely to retain clause on removal of Ministers

  After 10 rounds of meetings since December 2025, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, is likely to r...

• 
  NSE is a public authority under RTI Act, says Delhi HC

  The Delhi High Court on Wednesday held that the National Stock Exchange of India (NSEI) is a ‘public authority’ under the Right to Information Act. The Bench di...

• On curbing young adults on social media

  Incumbent Prime Minister of the U.K. Keir Starmer recently announced a policy to ban social media for children under-16. This was part of an arc of initiatives ...

Wed · 1 Jul 2026

• The fiscal tightrope for State govts.

  Most State government expenditure is on social sectors, such as health and education, and economic sectors, such as agriculture and irrigation. In Kerala, such spending has driven social progress since the 1960s. The gap between expenditure and receipts is usually financed through market borrowings.

• Rainfall will be below normal in July: IMD

  The area under Kharif crop has declined 22% compared to the same time last year, according to the Agriculture Ministry, with farmers likely delaying the sowing ...

• Monsoon Session likely to begin on July 20

  The Monsoon session of Parliament is likely to commence on July 20 and is expected to go on for three weeks, officials said on Tuesday. The Cabinet Committee on...

• India’s ‘Israel habit’ meets West Asian realities

  When leaders make foreign policy decisions, each may appear reasonable in isolation. However, their cumulative impact can be strikingly different from what was ...

• Reimagining sovereign AI for India’s strategic future

  The United States government recently directed American Artificial Intelligence (AI) behemoth Anthropic to suspend access to its most advanced Fable 5 and Mytho...

• Need for inclusive, integrated climate action

  As Karnataka welcomes a new Minister for Urban Development, there is an opportunity to rethink what makes a city healthy, resilient, and equitable. Much of the ...

• Damocles’ sword over Kerala’s fortunes

  The State needs to take steps to increase revenue within its fiscal framework

• Thanjavur Palace to be preserved

  Madras, June 30: The Thanjavur Palace built by the Nayak Rulers in 16-17 century AD, standing on a 50-acre site, will be preserved as an archaeological monument...

• Rescuing a space telescope

  On June 30, NASA launched a daring robotic rescue mission — a long shot to prevent one of its ageing telescopes from vanishing into dust. The $30-million operat...

Tue · 30 Jun 2026

• On the delay in India-U.S. trade deal

  India and the U.S. announced in February 2025 that they would work towards a Bilateral Trade Agreement, but differences over agriculture and Russian oil, along with legal battles in Washington and investigations initiated by the Trump administration, have clouded its prospects

• Has RBI changed the rules for scam compensation?

  Who can claim compensation, how much can they receive, and what are the eligibility conditions?

• West Bengal govt. will table Uniform Civil Code Bill soon

  The West Bengal government will introduce a Bill in the Assembly in August to implement the Uniform Civil Code in the State, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari sai...

• Reforms 3.0 — towards the Bharat rate of growth

  For 45 years after Independence, India grew at an anaemic 3% — the infamous “Hindu rate of growth”. Triggered by a balance-of-payments crisis, India found the g...

• Preparing India for China’s missile challenge

  Missiles are reshaping warfare, making conflicts faster, cheaper, and more political. A limited volley of conventional missiles can paralyse a country, disrupt ...

• Rise in food poisoning cases highlights lapses in food safety

  Nearly three-fourths of all States and Union Territories tended to have low or moderate scores on the Food Safety Index

• What India’s 12 ‘operationally deployed’ nuclear warheads really mean

  SIPRI’s latest assessment shows the maturation of India’s second-strike capability rather than a shift away from its long-standing ‘no first use’ doctrine; the development comes amid a broader global trend of nuclear modernisation and weakening arms-control frameworks

Mon · 29 Jun 2026

• Justice Narasimha to be part of SC Collegium as Justice Maheshwari retires

  Justice P.S. Narasimha is set to become a member of the Supreme Court Collegium following Justice J.K. Maheshwari’s retirement on Sunday. Being the fifth senior...

• Centre seeks to ease licensing process for medical devices

  The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed amendments to the Medical Devices Rules, 2017, to shorten the timelines for the grant of manufactur...

• Smart AI caching can keep the data flowing when disaster strikes

  In cooperative caching, different parts of a disaster-response network, including satellites, drones, base stations, and emergency vehicles, work together to store and share useful data; when one node receives or generates important content, such as satellite images or video, nearby nodes may also cache copies based on demand

• The new digital slavery needs constitutional guardrails

  In his profound encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV grounds the contemporary crisis of technology in elemental theology, reminding humanity that the i...

• July opens the biggest chapter in India-U.K. trade ties

  Trade deals are important for accelerating prosperity but not every deal is a game changer. One that drives shared growth across key sectors, unlocks opportunit...

• Buyer beware

  Tracking down defective batches of drugs is essential

• Sharing waters

  The Tungabhadra dam is a good example of inter-State cooperation

• How schools can tackle adolescent malnutrition

  As schools across the country reopened after summer vacation, classrooms were filled once again with the energy, aspirations and anxieties of millions of adoles...

• Seychelles attains Independence today

  Victoria (Seychelles), June 28: “The String of Pearls”, a group of 92 islands of Seychelles in the western Indian Ocean will take its rightful place in the comi...

• Raw cotton in the Madras presidency

  The receipts of loose cotton at presses and spinning mills in the Madras Presidency from 30th January to 18th June 1926 amounted to 250,446 bales of 400 lb lint...

• Can neutral ships be lawfully attacked?

  What protections does international law afford neutral merchant vessels? When can neutral ships lawfully lose that protection? Can oil tankers and blockade runners be treated as military targets? What legal remedies are available to India after the deaths of its seafarers? How does international law regulate attacks?

• Do unprecedented security measures address NEET’s real vulnerabilities?

  While extraordinary security measures may safeguard printed question papers, deeper risks arising from institutional blind spots, insider networks, and powerful commercial interests remain largely unaddressed

Sun · 28 Jun 2026

• What do the amended FCRA Rules say?

  How does the Ministry of Home Affairs regulate foreign donations? What are the key changes in the FCRA Amendment Rules, 2026? How do the new Rules affect the purposes for which NGOs can receive foreign funds? What penalties apply for violations?

• Plea in SC seeks fire safety protocol for high-risk buildings

  A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking the creation of a National Minimum Fire and Life Safety Framework for high-risk public occupancy premises...

• Which document proves Indian citizenship?

  Why is the Indian passport not considered a conclusive proof of Indian citizenship? What purpose does Aadhaar serve? Does presence on the electoral rolls or possession of an Electoral Photo Identity Card determine citizenship? What happens in case of a dispute?

• Why is Delhi’s EV policy 2.0 facing opposition?

  Who is concerned and on what grounds? What do proponents say? Is the power grid ready for the impact?

• Turtles use internal compass, and some fixes, on journeys

  Using satellite tags to track compass headings, researchers found that green sea turtles do not constantly adjust their course but instead swim in one direction...

• How saving elephants helps forests breathe easier

  Protecting the endangered Asiatic elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) indirectly helps safeguard India’s forests as powerful carbon stores, a new scientific stud...

• Watered-down bonds

  Why does wet paper tear so easily? As the southwest monsoon sweeps over India, people brace for storms, floods, and the occasional sight of a damaged bookstore ...

Sat · 27 Jun 2026

• Govt. to simplify drug import rules for test, examination, analysis

  Ministry already amended New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019 in Jan. 2026 introducing similar notification system for local test licences

• India-New Zealand FTA, a modern trade partnership

  For years, trade between India and New Zealand has been a relationship with untapped potential. The two economies have remained friendly partners, yet commercia...

• The rules that failed 15 lives in Lucknow

  On June 22, a fire broke out in a building in Uttar Pradesh’s capital city, claiming 15 lives, most of them students and staff of an animation centre. According to eyewitnesses, bystanders, and survivors, the building lacked basic fire safety systems. Mayank Kumar reports on the tragedy and the regulatory gaps it exposes amid rapid urbanisation in India’s most populous State

• The cracks beneath the peddled story of India’s growth

  For over a decade, the Narendra Modi government has projected India as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, an emerging manufacturing hub, a Vishwaguru, a...

• Whites on green

  Wimbledon is keeping up with the changing times

• Tragic evening

  Venezuela’s quake holds lessons on the importance of preparedness

• ‘Students studying in CBSE Classes 7 to 9 can keep learning two foreign languages for now’

  Students studying in Classes 7, 8 and 9 in Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated schools can continue learning foreign languages under the thre...

• Amendments to anti-drug law will address emerging challenges, says Amit Shah

  Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that the Department of Revenue would amend the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and asked Stat...

• NFSA amendments: 7 kg of foodgrains for a person, and maximum 35 kg for a household

  The story so far: The Union Food and Public Distribution Department on Wednesday published a draft of the proposed amendments to the National Food Security Act ...

• Top court calls time on 30-year-old case of death over a watch

  A fatal scuffle over a ₹500 watch between neighbours led to a nearly 30-year-old criminal case, which finally drew to an end in the Supreme Court due to death, ...

Fri · 26 Jun 2026

• Revisiting India’s ultrasound laws

  Technological shifts and rising need for community-based cancer screening suggest that regulatory frameworks should adapt to distinguish between different use cases of ultrasound. An amendment to the PCPNDT Act could legalise community-based ultrasound using a high-frequency linear probe, as it will not impact sex determination

• More drugs to get QR codes amid fight against fake products

  The Union Health Ministry has notified amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, to expand the ambit of Schedule H2 and bring additional categories of drugs under th...

• Keeping humanity at the centre of the AI revolution

  At the peak of human history, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution stands out as a transformative moment, harnessing the infinite potential of science an...

Thu · 25 Jun 2026

• ‘Progress’ made in talks over U.S. trade agreement: Centre

  U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer ended his two-day visit to New Delhi after holding multiple meetings with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal during ...

• Clearing the road to timely trauma care in India

  On May 26, 2026, the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark judgment with implications for public health policy. Hearing a writ petition filed by SaveLIFE ...

• Why was the NewsClick case quashed?

  Did NewsClick violate FDI rules or FEMA regulations? How did the absence of an FDI cap at the time affect the case? What role did the RBI’s approval play in the ruling? What happened in the UAPA case against Prabir Purkayastha?

• 31% of Rajya Sabha MPs have declared criminal cases: report

  Around 31% of Rajya Sabha members have declared criminal cases against themselves, of whom 16% have declared serious criminal cases, according to an analysis by...

• SC had agreed that right to associate is no carte blanche for foreign funds

  The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2026, notified by the Union Home Ministry on June 22, has introduced tougher limits on NGOs to receive fo...

• Chinese EV makers are shut out of India - but their technology isn’t

  New Delhi in 2020 curbed investments from neighbouring nations; In 2025, Beijing restricted tech exports amid tariff war; tech deal between Indian, Chinese firms hurt by move; Amara Raja halts tech tie-up with Gotion, pivots to imports; Tata, JSW agree to supply-led deals with Chery

Wed · 24 Jun 2026

• India’s patchy industrial climate strategy

  The inevitable conclusion emerging from the ambitious targets set up by the government’s Make-in-India, Viksit Bharat (2047) and net-zero emissions (2070) commi...

• Iran-U.S. pact has helped in energy, fertilizer flow: govt.

  The signing of a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States on June 17 has had a positive impact on the flow of energy and fe...

• El Nino: 111 districts in 12 States of ‘primary concern’

  While 315 districts have been identified as potentially affected by weak monsoon, 111 among them, with irrigation coverage below 25%, have been categorised as high priority, says Chouhan

• RBI tweaks process to onboard MSMEs on TReDS platform

  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued its final directions on Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) for MSMEs to simplify the system. The banking regula...

• T.N. raises concerns over Centre’s norms on projects in Cauvery basin

  Tamil Nadu is deeply concerned about the latest guidelines of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Central Water Commission with regard to appraisal of wate...

Tue · 23 Jun 2026

• ASI transfers Rakhigarhi skeletons to AnSI for a scientific investigation

  Human skeletal remains excavated from the archaeological site of Rakhigarhi in Haryana have been formally handed over by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI...

• The world that China desires and is shaping

  The sheer destructiveness of American foreign policy under United States President Donald Trump is obscuring a quiet but consequential shift in global politics....

• Hidden climate cost of everyday life in India

  Climate change is often framed as a problem for 2070, the year by which many countries have pledged to reach net-zero emissions. Yet even as its impacts are fel...

Tue · 17 Mar 2026

• Belém as a test of a new model of forest finance

  The climate summit that was held in Belém, Brazil in November 2025, refocused renewed global attention to a difficult but unavoidable truth: protecting tropical...

• Are 40 out of 100 children malnourished in Gujarat?

  Data indicates that the statement is true and that there is a higher burden of malnutrition among the tribal communities of the State

• Broadcasting Parliament debates

  London, March 15: In the Commons, replying to Mr. Campbell with regard to the broadcasting of proceedings of certain State legislatures of United States, Viscou...

• Why India must electrify its kitchens

  Is electric cooking cheaper and more efficient than LPG for Indian households? Can induction cooktops handle the realities of everyday Indian cooking? Can smart technologies help flatten electricity peaks? What policy changes are needed for India to shift from LPG to electric kitchens?

Mon · 16 Mar 2026

• Ice patches on melting glaciers greater threat than thought: ISRO scientists

  Researchers have found that the presence of exposed ice patches on the Srikanta Glacier immediately before the flood in Uttarakhand on August 5, 2025, was a signal of ongoing deglaciation and a direct indicator in the landscape of the likelihood of such floods

• Building India’s climate resilience with water at the core

  Branded the “COP of Implementation,” COP 30, the 30th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025, marked a...

• What makes some locations on Google Maps look blurry or difficult to navigate?

  Several countries resist being clearly mapped on Google Maps because they fear that detailed satellite imagery could lead to the targeting of critical infrastructure or planning for potential attacks; better quality satellite and mapping data make navigation easier and safer for users

• Diversify agriculture and encourage farmers to grow pulses, SC tells govt.

  The Supreme Court has asked the Union government to revisit its existing policy framework and explore a better substitute under which farmers are incentivised t...

• Why is the U.S. investigating India?

  What allegations has the U.S. made on excess capacity and forced labour? How do the two Section 301 investigations relate to the current U.S. tariff regime? What issues are the U.S. investigations examining and why do industry experts see them as a pathway to new tariffs?

Sun · 15 Mar 2026

• U.S. bombs Kharg Island; Iran hits back

  U.S. forces ‘obliterated’ military targets on the island that hosts Iran’s primary oil export terminal, says Trump while warning they could target oil infrastructure if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted; Iran threatens to strike oil, economic and energy facilities linked to the U.S.

• Why did the SC allow passive euthanasia?

  What test did the Supreme Court apply in the Harish Rana case to decide if continuing treatment was in his best interest? What nuanced distinction did it provide between active and passive euthanasia? What have been India’s past positions on the right to die?

• Parliamentary panel warns of fertilizer shortage

  With the kharif season setting in, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Fertilizers, lead by Trinamool Congress MP Azad Kirti Jha, has warned of an acute sho...

• SC seeks status report on Ganga bank encroachments

  The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and the National Mission for Ganga Authority to file a report detailing the status of encroachments on the banks of th...

• How did the SC read the OBC creamy layer test?

  How does the income/wealth test determine who falls under the OBC creamy layer? Why did the Court find the 2004 Department of Personnel and Training letter problematic in applying the test? Who will benefit from the latest judgment and how will it be implemented?

• What is the Essential Commodities Act?

  Why has the government invoked it? How will it help solve India’s gas crisis? Which sectors will the order affect?

Sat · 14 Mar 2026

• Trump plans SIR-type voter proof review

  U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing hard to rewrite the rules of the electoral system before the November midterms. A Bill passed by the U.S. House of Repres...

• INDIA bloc MPs submit notice in Parliament for removal of Chief Election Commissioner

  The INDIA bloc MPs on Friday submitted a notice in both the Houses of Parliament seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. This is...

• Parliamentary panel seeks committee on urban infrastructure

  Citing the absence of an integrated long-term urban investment and strategy framework, a Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended that the government co...

• SC declines plea to make nucleic acid tests compulsory

  The Supreme Court on Friday refused to direct the government to compulsorily conduct “expensive” Nucleic Acid Tests (NAT) to identify diseases ahead of blood tr...

• Lokpal asks SC to clarify on procedure for grant of sanctions

  The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to clarify the procedure for the Lokpal to grant sanction in corruption complaints, after the top anti-graft ombudsman was cr...

• Paid menstrual leave may hurt women’s careers: SC

  CJI distinguishes between creating a legally enforceable statutory right and a spontaneous act or policy from employers towards their women employees; court encourages voluntary initiatives

• Price pressures

  India must find sources of sustainable energy to curb inflation

Fri · 13 Mar 2026

• SC to study what constitutes ‘personal data’ in DPDP laws

  The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine what constitutes “personal data” under India’s new digital personal data law, which allegedly uses data privacy ...

• Economic Survey promises, impact of new labour codes

  India’s new labour codes, with draft central rules released in December 2025, have been presented as a reform with transformative potential. The Economic Survey...

• Arbitrary and opaque

  EPFO has tweaked pension scheme rules without wide consultations

• VBSA Bill is a ‘solution’ to current challenges, says UGC

  In a submission before a joint parliamentary panel, the University Grants Commission and the All India Council for Technical Education say they largely agree with the provisions of draft legislation

• ISRO, AIIMS sign MoU for space medicine and research

  The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for cooper...

• Women’s political participation in India

  While the turnout of women voters has increased over the years, campaign participation still shows a clear gender gap. The disparity in Parliamentary representation also remains wide, reflecting limited candidature, party nominations, and constraints on political autonomy.

• U.S. begins probing India’s ‘discriminatory trade policies’

  The U.S. has announced investigations against 16 economies, including India, on whether actions or policies of these countries “are unreasonable or discriminato...

• Is India tailing the U.S. in its West Asia policy?

  A major war has erupted in West Asia, with Israel, the U.S., and Iran locked in direct conflict. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel just before ...

Thu · 12 Mar 2026

• Motion to oust LS Speaker rejected amid drama over Shah’s comments on Rahul

  The resolution seeking removal of Om Birla as Lok Sabha Speaker was defeated by a voice vote on Wednesday amid high drama. The Opposition erupted in protest and...

• SC upholds ‘right to die’ for man in vegetative state

  The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the right to die with dignity of 32-year-old Harish Rana, who has been in a persistent vegetative state for nearly 13 year...

• NCERT book row: Supreme Court unhappy with ‘rewritten’ chapter

  The chapter must not be published without the approval of a committee of domain experts, top court says; it directs the government to constitute the panel with a former senior judge, an eminent academic and a renowned legal practitioner

• Policy missteps

  India has allowed panic over fuel availability to spread

• British war graves commission

  London, March 10: The progress of caring for and the beautifying of war-cemeteries florally and architecturally in Europe, Asia and Africa is depicted in photog...

• A revision of GDP and its implications

  The revised GDP series with 2022-23 as the base year shows a reduction in the absolute size of GDP and some changes in the production structure of the economy; while the correction in GDP size appears welcome, it remains unclear whether the revision addresses the red flags raised about the 2011-12 series

Wed · 11 Mar 2026

• LS takes up resolution on removal of Speaker as MPs trade accusations in House

  The Lok Sabha on Tuesday took up a resolution moved by the Opposition seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla, with both the Treasury and Opposition benches tra...

• SC agrees to look into plea against law on Muslim inheritance

  The Supreme Court on Tuesday orally observed that it would be better to defer to Parliament’s wisdom to bring a Uniform Civil Code rather than judicially strike...

• Reevaluating the office of the Speaker

  The recent no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition against Om Birla has reignited the debate over the constitutional position and accountability of the off...

• ‘41%’ illusion: a quiet re-engineering of India’s fiscal federal landscape

  16th Finance Commission retained States’ share in the divisible pool at 41% even as the divisible pool as a proportion of gross tax revenues has shrunk; various grants have been discontinued; the gap between a State’s entitlement and its actual receipt depends on its capacity to meet Central monitoring requirements

• SC to look into plea against law on Muslim inheritance

  Top court says striking down provisions in Shariat Act could create vacuum in Muslim inheritance framework; says it would be better to defer to Parliament’s wisdom to bring a Uniform Civil Code

• ‘Frame no-fault compensation policy for adverse events post COVID vaccination’

  The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Union government, acting through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to frame a no-fault compensation policy fo...

• Jal Jeevan mission gets extension up to 2028

  The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the extension of the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Jal Jeevan programme to 2028 and provisioned more funds to meet its goal of ...

• On this day in 2020, WHO declared COVID a pandemic. Here’s a quiz on people who died during the outbreak

  Question 1 This person was to Satyajit Ray what Toshiro Mifune was to Akira Kurosawa and Robert De Niro was to Martin Scorsese. While his filmography is almost ...

• Govt. invokes Essential Commodities Act for natural gas allocation

  Invoking the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) has sought diverting natural gas to certain priority sectors wit...

• AI and the national security calculus

  Anthropic, an American Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab, is asking for three Chinese AI labs (DeepSeek, MoonshotAI, and MiniMax) to be treated as national secur...

• Union Cabinet tweaks 2020 rules to allow Chinese investments

  Press Note 3 issued in 2020 had said all investments from countries sharing a land border with India would need the Centre’s approval first

• To stabilise rupee, RBI may use 2013 plan to help banks mop up NRI dollar deposits

  The Reserve Bank of India may look to revive a strategy it last employed in 2013 to attract dollars into the country via the Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank...

Tue · 10 Mar 2026

• A gradual fiscal correction

  The 2026-27 Budget shows debt moderation while scaling up capital investment

• Bengal SIR test: reading the SC’s order

  Why did the Supreme Court order the deployment of judicial officers to decide electoral roll disputes in West Bengal? What triggered the debate of whether the Election Commission should be equipped with permanent staff? With 60 lakh cases pending adjudication, what does publication of final rolls mean?

• Conversations with Iran to continue: Jaishankar

  Commitment to protect Indians in West Asia is ‘overriding priority’, Minister tells Parliament

• If BNS distinguishes between throwing and administering acid, RPwD Act must too: SC

  The Supreme Court on Monday said if the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) distinguished between “throwing” acid and “administering” the corrosive substance with int...

• ‘Once released, Wangchuk won’t pursue path of protest’

  Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk will not pursue the path of agitation after he is released from detention under the National Security Act (NSA) but will continu...

• Indians in Fiji

  London, March 8: In the Commons, replying to the question whether women will be included in the forthcoming Fiji Educational Commission, Col. Amery mentioned th...

• As Fukushima memories fade, Japan looking at a nuclear-powered future

  Fifteen years after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, Japan is pivoting back to a power source it once shunned; costly fuel imports, energy security fears are driving the renewed push; PM Takaichi is seeking reactor restarts and new technology as young people increasingly support atomic energy

• Bitter milk

  Detecting violation of rules in time is better than stringent penalties

• Development means expansion of choices in Amartya Sen’s ‘capabilities approach’

  The approach broadly emphasises the moral importance of freedom in achieving human well-being. In an era shaped by post-truth politics and the growing influence of artificial intelligence, the erosion of thinking skills raises serious questions about the quality of democratic life

Mon · 9 Mar 2026

• Regulations to implement new rural job Act yet to be finalised

  The Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, has several steps to clear before it can be implemented. Accordin...

• Panel probing Nepal’s Gen Z protests gives report to Karki

  A commission to investigate the incidents during the Gen Z protests in September last year in Nepal submitted its report to Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Sund...

• Japanese economic team to visit Pak.

  Tokyo, March 8: The Foreign Ministry announced here to-day that a powerful Japanese economic commission, composed of some of the topmost industrial leaders, wou...

• Why are Finance Commission grants to cities still so limited?

  Can cities plan their future when most funds are tied to Central conditions?

• Motion to remove Speaker sets stage for a stormy session

  The second part of the Budget Session of Parliament is set to resume from Monday and is expected to be stormy, with the first item on the agenda being the debat...

• Why did U.S. SC reject Trump’s tariffs?

  What authority did the Trump administration rely on to impose tariffs? Can Trump still impose tariffs after the ruling? What role does Congress play in tariff powers? Will businesses receive refunds for the tariffs they paid? Does the ruling limit future Presidents’ trade powers?

• Cheetahs moving from Kuno to Rajasthan showing ‘natural territorial behaviour’: NTCA

  The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a body under the Union Environment Ministry, said on Sunday that cheetahs travelling from the Kuno National Pa...

• The need to recognise ‘volunteer’ care work

  The Union Budget 2026-27 proposes to build a ‘strong care ecosystem’ by training 1.5 lakh multiskilled caregivers in geriatric, core care and allied skills thro...

Sun · 8 Mar 2026

• How does Canada’s uranium deal help India?

  What uranium ‘stocks’ does India have? Does the latest deal involve the 2010 India-Canada Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement? How does India use its uranium? How is the country’s nuclear power programme faring?

• What is the state of the environment in India?

  What does the Centre for Science and Environment’s report for 2025 say about pressing challenges?

Sat · 7 Mar 2026

• Balancing innovation with women’s digital safety

  The conversation around artificial intelligence (AI) has taken centre stage, and after the India AI Impact Summit 2026, in February, India’s engagement with AI ...

• New formula

  F1 can meet climate targets without losing any of the thrill

Fri · 6 Mar 2026

• Transforming representation into real change by 2029

  In 2029, India will have the most gender-representative Parliament in its history. The Women’s Reservation Act will reserve one-third of the seats in the Lok Sa...

• Is the Supreme Court doing enough to tackle hate speech?

  On February 26, the Gauhati High Court issued notice to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after hearing a batch of petitions seeking criminal prosecution...

• Iran war to weigh more on Indian growth, keeping interest rates low

  A rise in oil prices above $100 per barrel or a faster-than-expected pass-through of costs could run the risk of turning global monetary policy more hawkish, according to analysts at Goldman Sachs; Inflation, meanwhile, is likely to rise more modestly in the near term in India on steady fuel prices

• Iran’s political system: clerical rule with the ballot

  The Constitution mandates the 88-member Assembly of Experts to elect the Supreme Leader; the Assembly, which also has the authority to oversee and dismiss the Leader, is directly elected, but the candidates are strictly vetted by the Guardian Council, whose members are directly or indirectly picked by the Supreme Leader; President and members of Parliament (Majles) are directly elected

• The legality of U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran

  U.S., Israel launch strikes on Iran as a ‘pre-emptive’ response to an imminent threat, raising questions about the legality of the use of force under the UN Charter; missile strike on a girls’ primary school raises concerns over violations of International Humanitarian Law, particularly the principles of distinction, proportionality, precaution

• RBI ramps up support to shield bonds from oil shock

  The Reserve Bank of India appears to be stepping up support for the government bond market amid surging oil prices, with data showing that an investor category ...

Thu · 5 Mar 2026

• What will Nepal’s landmark general election decide?

  Why were the polls called two years ahead of schedule? Is a hung parliament inevitable?

• Reckless wreckers

  Damaging nuclear facilities under an unstable regime poses great risks

Wed · 4 Mar 2026

• Vietnam economy is booming but foreign cash is fleeing from markets

  Outflows top $5 bn in 2025; investors, brokers cite tariffs risks; Vingroup and its units account for more than 20% of Vietnam’s benchmark; foreign investors are leaning toward other markets, worried Vietnam’s growth, in part on trade re-routed from China, is at risk from fickle U.S. trade policy

• Safety last

  Explosives units flout rules for profit, putting workers at risk

• The U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran threaten global fuel trade

  Iran’s retaliation to the ‘pre-emptive strike’ and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz have led to a surge in oil prices

• On India’s fighter jet acquisitions

  The procurement of the Rafale jets is not just fleet expansion. It is a structural shift in how India positions itself within global defence hierarchies. Securing access to mission software and autonomy to integrate weapons in fighter aircraft is central to advancing India’s efforts to indigenise defence development.

• What are the AI Impact Casebooks released in the AI Summit 2026?

  What do the AI Impact Casebooks reveal about India’s use of indigenous AI tools in different regions to address challenges faced by various sections of the population?

Tue · 3 Mar 2026

• SC to look into feasibility of NAT for blood transfusion

  Petitioner says safe blood transfusion is a fundamental part of right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution; Bench asks petitioner to file affidavit on whether State hospitals use NAT

• The waning sheen

  The price relief provided by GST rationalisation may not last long

• Rethinking tax searches for the digital age

  The Supreme Court in Vishwaprasad Alva vs Union of India (2026) confronts a constitutional question transcending taxation: the lawful reach of sovereign power i...

• UGC reform debate, faultlines in politics of social justice

  Recent debates over proposed changes in regulations issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) have triggered wider political discussions on caste privile...

• New reality

  Fiscal targets will now be realigned based on more accurate data

• Britain’s gold position

  London, March 2: Replying in the Commons to a question with regard to Britain’s present gold reserves and the export of gold since restrictions were removed, Mr...

• From lapis-laden trade routes to mass armies: the changing value of blue

  Blue travelled across empires as a marker of divinity, power, and painstaking labour; over time, its value shifted from rarity, ritual, and resonance to performance, supply, and industrial production, revealing the ongoing dialogue between meaning and utility

• Govt., exporters review West Asia crisis disruption

  The Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Monday held a meeting with all stakeholder Ministries, key logistics and trade facilitation partners to review the emer...

Mon · 2 Mar 2026

• Sixteenth Finance Commission — misses and concerns

  The Sixteenth Finance Commission had significant flexibility in determining its approach and methodology, as its terms of reference followed directly from const...

• How UGC rules prioritise quick justice

  The University Grants Commission’s (UGC) 2026 regulation on the promotion of equity in higher education has triggered protests by a section of general category ...

• Why key to coconut cultivation today is sustainability, not productivity

  The ‘Coconut Promotion Scheme’ must not be limited to distributing high-yield seedlings but must prioritise the development and mass multiplication of climate-resilient varieties for farms along the east coast and in peninsular regions, and wilt-tolerant varieties for coconut-growing regions along the west coast

• Missile interceptors in U.S.-Iran war

  How is this conflict different from the 12-day war? What is missile defence and how does it work? How effective are Iron Dome and Patriot systems? Can saturation attacks exhaust interceptors? What systems are Iran deploying?

Sun · 1 Mar 2026

• Where does the India-U.S. trade deal stand?

  After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on countries across the world, how did the American President react? Will reciprocal tariffs be removed? Why does a 50% tariff on aluminium and steel imports continue?

• Canada, India negotiating pact to double trade by 2030, says Carney

  Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday said his country is negotiating a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with India with the intention to ...

• Centre suspends rice fortification scheme; activists back move

  As the Union Food Ministry decided to temporarily discontinue the process of rice fortification “until a more effective mechanism for delivery of nutrients to b...

• How will rare earth MoU with Brazil help India?

  Why is India trying to build capacity at home across the rare earths and critical minerals value chain?