US-China 90-Day Tariff Truce: Geneva Trade Talks and the Search for Stability

Following two days of high-level negotiations in Geneva, the United States and China announced a 90-day mutual tariff reduction as a tempora...

India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership: Semiconductors, Clean Energy, and 17 Bilateral Pacts

An Indian Prime Minister visited the Netherlands in May 2026, where bilateral ties were formally elevated to a Strategic Partnership, backed...

Rail-Led Industrial Corridors: How Dedicated Freight Corridors Are Reshaping India's Freight Economics

India's Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation (DFCC) has fundamentally shifted the economics of freight movement by providing high-speed, h...

India-Sweden Strategic Partnership: Diplomatic Elevation and Bilateral Framework

At a delegation-level summit in Gothenburg on May 17, 2026, India and Sweden agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to a Strategic P...

Supreme Court Judge Strength Raised to 38 via Presidential Ordinance

The President promulgated the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026, notified in the Gazette of India on May 16, 2026. ...

India's Balance of Payments Under Strain: Capital Outflows, Widening CAD, and Rupee Pressure

India's external accounts faced simultaneous stress in FY2025-26: a widening current account deficit (CAD), net foreign portfolio investor (...

India-Sweden Strategic Partnership: Tech, Trade, and Defence Dimensions

India and Sweden elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership on May 17, 2026, during a summit in Gothenburg, adopting a...

El Niño Years Linked to 10%-Plus Kharif Output Losses Across Indian Districts

A recent study found that El Niño years cause kharif crop output to fall by more than 10% across numerous districts in multiple Indian state...

RBI Scrutinises India Inc's $27 Billion Overseas Investment Surge in FY26

Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) outflows from India — including equity infusions, loans, and invoked guarantees — climbed from approximatel...

India-Netherlands Elevate Ties to Strategic Partnership: Semiconductors, Defence, and a 2026–2030 Roadmap

India and the Netherlands formally elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership on May 16, 2026, during high-level talks...

Great Nicobar Project: Experts Warn of Ecological Disaster, Call for Defence Rethink

Experts — including ecologists, geoscientists, and defence analysts — have described the proposed Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Isla...

India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership: Semiconductors, Clean Energy, and 17 Bilateral Pacts

An Indian Prime Minister visited the Netherlands in May 2026, where bilateral ties were formally elevated to a Strategic Partnership, backed...

Forest Rights Act, Tribal Consent, and the Great Nicobar Project Before the Calcutta High Court

Three connected Public Interest Litigations (PILs) challenging Forest Rights Act violations in the Great Nicobar Island development project ...

The Thucydides Trap: US-China Rivalry and the Risk of Great Power Conflict

At the US-China summit in Beijing on May 14–16, 2026 — the first visit by an American president to China since 2017 — the Chinese side forma...

WHO Declares Ebola PHEIC: Bundibugyo Strain Outbreak in DRC and Uganda

On 17 May 2026, the WHO Director-General declared the Ebola disease epidemic caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of th...

Why Taiwan Is the Central Issue in US-China Relations

The May 2026 Beijing summit between the US and Chinese heads of government has brought the Taiwan question back to the centre of global stra...

Make in India in Defence: Challenges, Bottlenecks, and the Way Forward

Despite a 34-fold surge in defence exports over the past decade, structural bottlenecks continue to constrain India's ability to transition ...

Semiconductors and Cultural Heritage: Key Outcomes of India-Netherlands Summit 2026

During the India-Netherlands state visit on 16–17 May 2026, two headline outcomes stood out: the signing of an MoU between Tata Electronics ...

India Turns to Oman to Protect $11.8 Billion Food Export Corridor to West Asia

With the 2026 Iran war creating sustained risk of disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, India is actively exploring the use of Omani ports and...

India-Netherlands State Visit 2026: Complete List of Outcomes Across All Sectors

The state visit to the Netherlands on 16–17 May 2026 produced 17 specific outcomes organized across political, economic, security, technolog...

US-Iran Military Brinkmanship: Nuclear Stakes, Strait of Hormuz, and India's Exposure

Escalating US-Iran tensions in May 2026 reached a flashpoint when warnings of imminent military action were issued, prompted by Iran's conti...

Third India-Nordic Summit, Oslo: Green Partnership, Energy Security, and Strategic Reorientation

The Third India-Nordic Summit was held in Oslo, Norway on 19 May 2026, bringing together the Prime Minister of India with counterparts from ...

WHO Declares International Emergency Over Ebola Outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda

On 16 May 2026, the WHO Director-General declared the Ebola disease outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of th...

Great Nicobar Island Infrastructure Project: Ecological and Strategic Dimensions

The Central government has been asserting strategic national interest as the primary justification for proceeding with the Holistic Developm...

ICAR's 113 Research Institutes Face Overhaul Push for Climate Resilience and Export Competitiveness

The Union Minister for Agriculture has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its 113...

Return of Leiden Copper Plates Renews Call for Systematic Repatriation of India's Heritage Abroad

The Netherlands formally returned the Anaimangalam copper plates — also known as the Leiden copper plates — to India on 16 May 2026 during a...

Catshuis Talks: India and the Netherlands Chart a New Bilateral Agenda

Formal bilateral talks between the Indian and Dutch heads of government took place at Catshuis, the official residence of the Dutch Prime Mi...

NCB Dismantles India-Myanmar Drug Network, Arrests Key Kingpin in Delhi

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested a Myanmar-based drug kingpin, identified as Thancintuang alias Chintuang alias Tluanga, in Delhi...

US-Iran Nuclear Talks Stall as Enrichment and Stockpile Demands Remain Unresolved

Following a two-month armed conflict between the United States-led coalition and Iran, nuclear negotiations resumed but have reached an impa...

India-Netherlands Joint Statement: A Comprehensive Survey of the New Strategic Partnership

India and the Netherlands issued a Joint Statement on 16 May 2026 at The Hague, formalizing the elevation of their bilateral relationship to...

Taiwan Asserts Arms Sales Are a Legal Commitment, Not a Bargaining Chip

Taiwan's president issued the island's first formal response to the Beijing summit, asserting that arms sales from the United States are a s...

US-China Beijing Summit Puts Taiwan Arms Deal in Doubt

A high-stakes bilateral summit in Beijing between the US and Chinese heads of government produced significant uncertainty around a pre-appro...

Amaravati Gets India's First Quantum-Secure Communications Test Bed

SRM University-AP (Andhra Pradesh), in collaboration with C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics) and Amaravati Quantum Valley, announc...

WHO Declares Ebola a Public Health Emergency of International Concern: DRC and Uganda Outbreak (Bundibugyo Strain)

On 16 May 2026, the WHO Director-General declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Healt...

PARIVESH Portal Mandated for Digital Certified Compliance Reports in Environmental Clearance

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has made the Certified Compliance Report (CCR) process fully digital through...

India-Netherlands Strategic Partnership Roadmap 2026–2030: Pillars and Priorities

During a state visit to The Hague on 16–17 May 2026, India and the Netherlands adopted the Roadmap of India-Netherlands Strategic Partnershi...

Census 2027: Phase I Houselisting and Housing Census Begins in Five States and UTs

House-to-house field operations for the Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) — Phase I of Census 2027 — commenced on May 16, 2026, in Rajas...

Supreme Court Strength Increased from 34 to 38 Judges via Ordinance

An ordinance was promulgated on May 17, 2026, amending the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength o...

Afsluitdijk to Gulf of Khambhat: How Dutch Water Engineering Connects to India's Kalpasar Project

During the India-Netherlands bilateral visit in May 2026, the Indian Prime Minister toured the Afsluitdijk — the Netherlands' iconic 32-kilo...

India-Chile CEPA Talks Gain Momentum: Critical Minerals and Strategic Supply Chains in Focus

Chile's Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna visited India in May 2026, imparting fresh momentum to bilateral ties and accelerating neg...

India's Merchandise Exports in FY2025-26: Regional Diversification and Sectoral Composition

India's merchandise exports reached USD 441.78 billion in FY2025-26, registering modest growth of approximately 0.93% year-on-year. North Am...

India Elevates Ties with Netherlands to Strategic Partnership, Signs 17 Agreements

India and the Netherlands elevated their bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership during a state visit to The Hague on 16–17 May 20...

India and Netherlands Elevate Bilateral Ties to Strategic Partnership

India and the Netherlands formally elevated their bilateral relationship to a 'Strategic Partnership' during an official visit, signing a co...

Silver Import Restrictions: Mandatory Licensing Under DGFT's Foreign Trade Policy

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, imposed mandatory import licensing for select ...

MoSPI Proposes Framework to Measure India's Knowledge Economy Contribution to GDP

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released a base paper proposing a framework to measure the contribution ...

BRICS CGETI in Gandhinagar: Intra-Bloc Trade Hits USD 1.17 Trillion, GIFT City on Display

The 2nd Meeting of the BRICS Contact Group on Trade and Economic Issues (CGETI) for 2026 was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on May 15, 2026, ...

Operation RAGEPILL: India's First-Ever Seizure of Captagon by the NCB

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), acting on intelligence from a foreign drug law enforcement agency, dismantled an international drug traf...

Government Hikes Silver Import Duty and Curbs Imports to Arrest Rupee Slide

The central government raised import duties on gold and silver from 6% to 15% effective May 13, 2026, comprising a 10% Basic Customs Duty (B...

NEET-UG in Crisis: Institutional Failure, the Case for Reform, and the Decentralisation Debate

The National Testing Agency cancelled NEET-UG 2026 on May 12 — nine days after it was conducted on May 3 for 22.79 lakh candidates — followi...

India Invites Dutch Firms to Design and Manufacture at CEO Roundtable

During an official bilateral visit to the Netherlands, a CEO roundtable was co-hosted by both Prime Ministers along with the Dutch Minister ...

Pilot Programme to Link Out-of-School Adolescents with Open Schooling: Scale, Framework, and Constitutional Basis

The Union Ministry of Education convened a high-level meeting on May 16, 2026, chaired by the Secretary, Department of School Education and ...

Chola-Era Anaimangalam Copper Plates Repatriated from Leiden University After 164 Years

The Chola-era Anaimangalam Copper Plates, held by Leiden University in the Netherlands since 1862, were formally handed over to India at a c...

NEET-UG Paper Leak: CBI Arrests NTA-Appointed Expert, Exposing Insider Threat in Examination Security

The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Manisha Gurunath Mandhare, a botany teacher from Pune, in connection with the NEET-UG 2026 pape...

Leiden Plates Return: A 14-Year Diplomatic Effort for India's Cultural Heritage

The return of the 11th-century Anaimangalam Chola copper plates by the Netherlands marks the culmination of a diplomatic effort initiated in...

Three Thermal Power Sites Shortlisted for Nuclear Power Plants: India's 100 GWe Nuclear Target

Three decommissioned or ageing thermal (coal-based) power station sites have been shortlisted for setting up new nuclear power plants, as pa...

Netherlands Returns 11th-Century Chola-Era Copper Plates to India: Anaimangalam Plates Repatriated After 300 Years

The Netherlands formally returned the Anaimangalam copper plates — approximately 1,000-year-old artefacts from the Chola dynasty — to India ...

CBI Arrests Pune Professor in NEET-UG Paper Leak; Exam Cancelled and Rescheduled

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a senior botany professor from Pune — who had been appointed as a domain expert by the Na...

Netherlands Returns 11th-Century Chola Copper Plates to India After 14-Year Diplomatic Effort

During an official bilateral visit, the Dutch government formally returned a set of 11th-century Chola copper plates that had been held by L...

India's Rejection of IWT Arbitration: The Legal Architecture Explained

India rejected the 15 May 2026 award of the so-called Court of Arbitration on the Indus Waters Treaty, describing the tribunal as 'illegally...

Tata Electronics–ASML MoU: India's First Semiconductor Fab Advances at Dholera

Tata Electronics and ASML (Netherlands-based semiconductor equipment company) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on May 16, 2026 to advanc...

India Rejects Arbitration Tribunal's Pondage Award on the Indus Waters Treaty

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague issued an award on May 15, 2026, concerning maximum pondage limits on western rivers u...

Iran Announces Mechanism to Collect Transit Fees in the Strait of Hormuz

A senior Iranian lawmaker and Chairman of the Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee announced that Iran will unveil a ...

BRICS Evolving with New Members but Geopolitical Differences Will Take Time to Resolve

Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, attending the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi, acknowledged that BRICS is evolving wit...

Taiwan Reaffirms Sovereignty Amid US Pressure: The Cross-Strait Diplomatic Crisis

Taiwan's Presidential Office formally stated that 'The Republic of China is a sovereign, independent democratic country; this is self-eviden...

BRICS Foreign Ministers Reaffirm Two-State Solution for Palestine at New Delhi Meeting

The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting, hosted by India in New Delhi under its 2026 chairship, concluded on 15 May 2026 after two days of deli...

Insider Threat and Examination Integrity: CBI's NEET-UG 2026 Investigation

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a Pune-based botany teacher — appointed by the National Testing Agency as a subject-matte...

Indus Waters Treaty Arbitration Award Issued; India's Abeyance Posture Holds

On 15 May 2026, the Court of Arbitration constituted under the Indus Waters Treaty issued an award related to the Kishanganga and Ratle hydr...

US Strategic Ambiguity on Taiwan: Washington's Post-Beijing Warning

Following a US presidential state visit to Beijing — the first such visit since 2017 — Washington publicly warned against any formal declara...

Legal Framework Behind the Chola Plates Repatriation: How Colonial-Era Artefacts Return Home

The Netherlands' return of the Anaimangalam Chola copper plates — held at Leiden University for over 300 years — illustrates the complex leg...

NTA's Accountability Deficit: Why Doctors' Bodies Want Parliament to Create a Statutory Testing Authority

Following the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 after a confirmed paper leak, the United Doctors Front (UDF) filed a writ petition in the Supreme...

Andhra Pradesh Announces Financial Incentives for Third and Fourth Children to Reverse Demographic Decline

The Andhra Pradesh government announced financial incentives of ₹30,000 for the birth of a third child and ₹40,000 for the birth of a fourth...

Key Economic Signals: MSP Hike for Kharif 2026-27, Sugar Export Ban, and Government Austerity

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved an increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 kharif crops for the marketing ...

Russia-China Strategic Partnership: Putin's Beijing Visit and the Shifting Power Axis

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit China from May 19–20, 2026, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping — the v...

European Nations Negotiate with Iran for Hormuz Transit Amid Fragile Ceasefire

Several European nations are reported to be in diplomatic talks with Iran to secure transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz for commerc...

Pakistan's Mediating Role in US-Iran Diplomatic Efforts

Pakistan's Interior Minister arrived in Tehran on an official two-day visit, continuing the country's active role as a back-channel mediator...

Examination Security Architecture: Why NTA's Paper-Based Chain of Custody Failed NEET-UG 2026

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) filed a petition in the Supreme Court on May 13, 2026, arguing that the National Tes...

Chola Dynasty Copper Plates Returned by Netherlands After 300 Years

The Netherlands formally returned 21 copper plates dating to the 11th-century Chola dynasty to India during a state visit, marking one of th...

Supreme Court: Heinousness of Crime Cannot Be Sole Ground to Deny Premature Release

The Supreme Court of India, in Rohit Chaturvedi v. State of Uttarakhand & Ors. (2026 INSC 490), ruled that the heinousness or gravity of a c...

Manipur Ethnic Violence: Kuki-Zo Demands, President's Rule, and Constitutional Governance in Conflict Zones

Kuki-Zo tribal organisations, led by Kuki Inpi Manipur (the apex body of Kuki tribes), held mass rallies and protests across Kuki-Zo inhabit...

Parliamentary Standing Committee Attendance at 53%: PAC Data Reveals Accountability Gap

Data compiled by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed that Members of Parliament attended, on average, only 53% of meetings held by ...

Oil Price Shock from US-Iran War Widens India's CAD and Pushes Inflation Higher

Experts have warned that the continued oil price shock stemming from the US-Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is simultaneous...

Government Imposes Import Restrictions on Silver, Requires DGFT Licences

The government reclassified silver imports from the 'free' category to the 'restricted' category under India's import policy, effective imme...

India Rejects Indus Waters Treaty Arbitration Award, Calls Court Illegally Constituted

The Ministry of External Affairs rejected the latest award issued on 15 May 2026 by the Court of Arbitration convened under the Indus Waters...

One Nation, One Election: JPC Reviews Simultaneous Polls Framework

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) overseeing the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) ...

Rising Crude Oil and Gold Imports Threaten to Widen India's Trade Deficit and CAD

Analysts have warned that the twin pressures of elevated crude oil prices — driven by the ongoing US-Iran conflict and the closure of the St...

India's April exports jump 13.8%, trade gap widens to 3-month high

India's merchandise exports in April 2026 rose 13.78% year-on-year to $43.56 billion (from $38.28 billion in April 2025), marking a five-mon...

BRICS Foreign Ministers Fail to Issue Joint Statement on West Asia Conflict

BRICS foreign ministers convened in New Delhi on May 14–15, 2026, as part of India's BRICS chairmanship, to prepare for the September annual...

AMCA Flight Test Centre and Drone City: India's Defence Manufacturing Push in Andhra Pradesh

The foundation stone for the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) Aircraft Integration and Flight Testing Centre was laid at Puttaparthi, ...

CJI on panel to pick CEC not statutory need: Govt

The Central Government has taken the position before the Supreme Court that inclusion of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) in the selection p...

Petrol and Diesel Retail Price Hike: OMC Under-Recovery and the Limits of Deregulated Pricing

Public sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) — Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Hindustan Petr...

BRICS Condemns Pahalgam Terror Attack, Flags Concerns Over Distortionary Tariffs

BRICS foreign ministers at the New Delhi meeting (May 14–15, 2026) strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack — the April 2025 massacre i...

Why reserved candidates availing relaxations are barred from open category recruitment

The Supreme Court has reaffirmed a settled principle in reservation jurisprudence: a reserved category candidate who avails category-specifi...

Productivity as the Missing Link in India's Viksit Bharat Strategy

A policy analysis published in May 2026 argues that India's high GDP growth rate is insufficient by itself to achieve Viksit Bharat (Develop...

US-China Summit Renegotiation and the Challenge to India's Strategic Autonomy

US President Donald Trump visited Beijing (May 13–15, 2026) for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping — the first US presidential visit...

Finance Ministry Revises Petroleum Export Levies: Differential Rates Signal Margin-Based Policy

The Finance Ministry, through the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), revised the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) on e...

Strait of Hormuz Crisis: US-Iran Talks, China's Mediation Role, and Global Energy Security

Iran's Foreign Minister stated that messages had been received from the United States indicating willingness to continue diplomatic talks, a...

BRICS Affirms Palestinian Statehood with East Jerusalem as Capital

At the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi (May 14–15, 2026), member states collectively affirmed support for an independent State...

Economic Statecraft and India's Trade Strategy in a Fragmented Global Order

A structural reset in the global trading order — driven by supply chain fragmentation, the retreat from hyper-globalisation, and the rise of...

Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex declared as temple by Madhya Pradesh High Court

On 15 May 2026, the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court delivered a 242-page judgment declaring the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex ...

DMRC Launches Hydrogen Fuel Cell Shuttle Buses at Central Vista

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), launched a hydrogen fuel cell-powered shuttle...

Death toll in attack on Kyiv apartment building rises to 24

A cruise missile struck a nine-storey corner apartment block in Kyiv on 14 May 2026, causing the building to partially collapse and killing ...

State to tighten groundwater governance to prevent over exploitation of resource

Telangana's Irrigation Minister directed officials to treat groundwater conservation as a state-wide mass movement, with immediate steps to ...

West Asia in Conflict: Israel-Lebanon Strikes, Hezbollah, and Regional Instability

Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon brokered by the United States (initially agreed April 16, 2026; extended on April 23 for thre...

GST Appellate Tribunal Makes Division Bench Screening Mandatory for All Appeals

The GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) has mandated that all appeals must undergo a screening by a Division Bench before any matter can be assig...

Export Levies on Petroleum Products: The SAED Mechanism and Domestic Availability Objective

The government revised export levies on petroleum products effective May 16, 2026: a Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED) of ₹3 per litre w...

ECI Orders Probe into Voting by Foreign Nationals in Tamil Nadu Elections

The Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered an inquiry after foreign nationals — including Sri Lankan, British, Canadian, and Indonesian ...

Farmers from Punjab protest at Mohali-Chandigarh boundary against Centre Government

Thousands of farmers from Punjab marched from Mohali to Raj Bhawan in Chandigarh on 15 May 2026, under the banner of Sanyukt Kissan Morcha (...

India-UK Free Trade Agreement: Steel Safeguard Hurdle and the Road to Implementation

India and the UK concluded a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in July 2025 after 14 rounds of negotiations spanning three y...

Fuel Price Hike of ₹3/Litre May Add Up to 20 Basis Points to CPI Inflation

State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) — Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) — raised ...

Sri Lanka civil war: 17 years later, the imprints remain

18 May 2026 marks 17 years since the end of Sri Lanka's three-decade civil war, when the Sri Lankan Armed Forces defeated the Liberation Tig...

Could e-Vikas solve India’s fertiliser distribution challenge? Nishant Warwade explains | Teaser

The e-Vikas portal, implemented by the Madhya Pradesh government, is emerging as a model for resolving the longstanding challenge of fertili...

India-UAE Strategic Deepening: Energy Security, Defence Pacts, and the Hormuz Calculus

During a state visit to the UAE, India and the UAE signed multiple agreements covering energy supply, strategic petroleum reserves, defence,...

India Issues Chair Statement at BRICS Amid Divergent Views on West Asia

Following the May 14–15, 2026 BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, India as chair issued a 'Chair's Statement and outcome document...

Iran FM Calls Chabahar a "Golden Gateway," Urges India to Continue Development

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting in New Delhi (May 15, 2026), called C...

India-Nordic Strategic Partnership: Green Technology, Arctic, and Multi-Polar Diplomacy

The 3rd India-Nordic Summit was held in Oslo, Norway, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Norway in 43 years (since Indir...

India’s push for energy conservation is a refusal to be ‘extorted’ for Hormuz passage: govt sources

Amid a disruption to the Strait of Hormuz passage for tanker traffic, government sources described India's domestic energy conservation push...

BRICS Foreign Ministers Meet Ends Without Joint Statement Over West Asia Divisions

The two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in New Delhi (May 14–15, 2026) — the first major ministerial engagement under India's 2026...

SEBI Clarifies Permitted Uses of Fresh Borrowings for InvITs Above the 49% Limit

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a circular on May 15, 2026 (Ref: SEBI/HO/DDHS/DDHS-PoD-2/I/11700/2026) clarifying t...

BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting Ends Without Joint Statement Over West Asia Conflict

The two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in New Delhi on May 14–15, 2026 under India's 2026 chairship concluded without a joint com...

India-UAE Sign Defence Pact and Petroleum Reserve MoU as Modi Stops in Abu Dhabi

During a brief Abu Dhabi stopover on May 15, 2026, India and the UAE signed a defence cooperation framework agreement and an MoU on strategi...

India-UK Free Trade Agreement: Steel Safeguard Dispute Delays Implementation

The India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed on July 24, 2025, has encountered late-stage 'sticking points' just before its planned imple...

India's Role in West Asia Peace: Iran's Foreign Minister Visit and the Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in India for a three-day visit (May 13–15, 2026) to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meet...

India Redefines Drone Warfare Doctrine: From Surveillance to Strike Capability

At a defence seminar focused on Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Counter-UAS capabilities, the Chief of Air Staff articulated a fundamental...

India's EV Magnet Manufacturing Scheme: Breaking China's Rare Earth Stranglehold

The Centre extended the bid submission deadline to June 29, 2026, for the Rare Earth Permanent Magnet (REPM) Manufacturing Scheme — India's ...

India's First Satellite-Tagged Ganges Softshell Turtle Released in Kaziranga

India's first satellite-tagged Ganges softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica) was released into the Brahmaputra river system at Kaziranga Nat...

Drones as "Claws in the Sky": India's Shift Toward Autonomous Warfare

At a seminar organized by an Indian Air Force think-tank, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit stated that un...

Naga-Kuki Hostage Exchange in Manipur: Ethnic Violence and Fragile Peace

On May 15, 2026, 28 hostages — 14 Naga and 14 Kuki civilians — were released in Manipur following mediation by civil society organisations (...

Modi's UAE Visit Yields Defence, LPG, and Strategic Petroleum Reserve Agreements

A brief, last-minute stopover in Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2026 (approximately three hours) yielded three significant agreements between India an...

Iran's Dissent Blocks BRICS Consensus: Palestine, Red Sea, and the UAE Factor

Iran was the sole dissenter at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi (May 14–15, 2026) that prevented adoption of a joint statem...

Taiwan Question at the Centre: Xi-Trump Summit and US Strategic Ambiguity

During the May 2026 Beijing summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping directly asked US President Trump whether the United States would defend Ta...

ECI Orders Probe After Foreign Nationals Found to Have Voted in Tamil Nadu Assembly Election

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ordered an investigation after foreign nationals were found to have voted in the recently conclud...

Xi-Trump Beijing Summit: New Common Understandings on China-US Relations

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump held a two-day state summit in Beijing (May 14–15, 2026), described by China as '...

Trump's China Visit: Trade Commitments and Limits of Summit Diplomacy

A two-day US-China summit concluded in Beijing on May 15, 2026, with both sides claiming positive outcomes while analysts noted limited conc...

Strait of Hormuz Closure Disrupts 18.4 Million Barrels Daily, 110 bcm LNG

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since late February 2026 following a US-Israel military conflict with Iran, with the Irania...

US Team to Visit India for Trade Talks; Interim Pact and Broad BTA Under Negotiation

A US trade delegation is expected to visit India in June 2026 for trade negotiations, following an Indian delegation's visit to Washington i...

Russia Endorses India as Long-Term Diplomatic Mediator in US-Iran Conflict

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi (May 14–15, 2026), stated that India c...

India's April Exports Hit 5-Month High; Trade Deficit Widens to Three-Month High

India's merchandise exports rose 13.78% year-on-year to USD 43.56 billion in April 2026 — the highest monthly export value in over four year...

India's BRICS Trade Surges to $416 Billion, but Widening Deficit Demands Policy Response

India's total trade with BRICS nations reached $416 billion in CY2025, a substantial increase from prior years driven by a surge in imports....

Fuel and Milk Price Hikes Set to Push Retail Inflation Up by 0.42%

State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) — Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) — raised ...

India-UAE Strategic Partnership: Defence, Energy Security, and Infrastructure Investment Pacts

During a bilateral visit to Abu Dhabi, a series of landmark agreements were signed between India and the UAE spanning defence cooperation, e...

India and UAE Sign Strategic Defence Partnership Framework at Abu Dhabi Summit

During a brief May 15, 2026 visit to Abu Dhabi, India formalised an 'Agreement on Framework for the Strategic Defence Partnership' with the ...

Census 2027 Begins: Delhi's Digital Pilot and India's First Self-Enumeration Exercise

The self-enumeration phase of Census 2027 concluded in Delhi on May 15, 2026, with 1.34 lakh (134,000) individuals submitting census data on...

Capital Flight and Rupee Depreciation: India's External Account Under Stress

India's external account is under simultaneous stress from capital outflows, a depreciating rupee, rising oil prices, and a widening current...

Supreme Court Questions Independence of Chief Election Commissioner Appointment Under 2023 Law

The Supreme Court, while hearing challenges to the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of ...

Sabarimala Reference: Nine-Judge Constitution Bench Reserves Judgment After 16-Day Hearing

A nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court reserved its judgment in the Sabarimala reference case after 16 days of extensive heari...

Uttarakhand Registers First FIR Under Uniform Civil Code for Nikah Halala

Uttarakhand Police registered the first FIR under the Uniform Civil Code of Uttarakhand, 2024, on allegations involving the practice of nika...

Manipur: Hostage Crisis Negotiations Continue as Church Leaders' Killings Spark Ethnic Tensions

Three Baptist church leaders from the Kuki community were killed and four others injured after unidentified armed men opened fire at Zero Po...

Iran-UAE Divisions at BRICS: A Companion Note

BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting 2026: Iran-UAE Rift Derails Joint Statement on West Asia

BRICS foreign ministers held a two-day meeting in New Delhi (May 13–14, 2026), under India's chairship of the grouping, ahead of the 18th BR...

Government Argues Right to Religion Does Not Encompass Gender Equality Before Supreme Court

In ongoing hearings before a 9-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on the Sabarimala reference case, the Union Government submitte...

India Bans Sugar Exports: Policy Mechanism and Domestic Price Stabilisation

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) amended the export policy for sugar — covering raw sugar, white sugar, and refined sugar — f...

Sugar Export Ban: Domestic Availability, Ethanol Trade-offs, and Food Security Implications

The sugar export ban, effective May 13, 2026, is projected to retain approximately 4–5 lakh tonnes (400,000–500,000 metric tonnes) of sugar ...

India's Position on Unilateral Sanctions and Multilateral Order at BRICS

At the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, India articulated a strong institutional position against unilat...

India Engages Iran Bilaterally on Hormuz Safety as BRICS Meeting Unfolds in New Delhi

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi for a three-day official visit — the first high-level diplomatic engagement from...

PCOS Renamed PMOS: A Decade-Long Global Consensus Reshapes Women's Health

As of 12 May 2026, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) has been officially renamed Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), announced i...

India Bans Sugar Exports: El Niño Threat, Buffer Stock Strategy, and Price Stability

The Indian government, through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), imposed a complete ban on the export of raw, white, and refi...

India-Bound LPG Tankers Cross Hormuz; Indian Dhow Sinks After Attack Off Oman Coast

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed that two LPG carrier vessels carrying cargo owned by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) sa...

India's $1 Trillion Exports Target for 2026: Ambition, Context, and Challenges

The Union Commerce and Industry Minister announced at the Bharatiya Vyapar Mahotsav that India is targeting $1 trillion in exports (goods pl...

NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: Calls for NTA Reform and Examination Overhaul

The NEET-UG 2026 examination was cancelled following a paper leak, where a handwritten 'guess paper' circulated in Jaipur was found to match...

India Bans Sugar Exports to Safeguard Domestic Supply and Cool Prices

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, through the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), issued a notification shifting sugar exports...

Supreme Court Questions "Show of Independence" in CEC/EC Appointment Process

The Supreme Court, while hearing challenges to the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of ...

India-Russia Bilateral Dialogue at BRICS: Trade, Currency Mechanisms, and Logistics

India's External Affairs Minister and Russia's Foreign Minister held bilateral talks in New Delhi on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Mini...

Trump-Xi Beijing Summit: White House Calls Talks 'Good' as Taiwan Tensions Persist

The White House described talks between the US and Chinese presidents during a May 13–15, 2026 state visit to Beijing as 'good,' with discus...

FSDC Sub-Committee Reviews Global and Domestic Macroeconomic Risks

The Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC-SC) convened a meeting at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Mumbai...

BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meet in India: Global South Diplomacy Under Stress

India hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on May 14–15, 2026, under its 2026 chairship of the expanded bloc. The meetin...

US-China Summit in Beijing: Trade, Taiwan, and the Architecture of Major Power Relations

A high-stakes bilateral summit between the leaders of the United States and China was held in Beijing over two days (May 14-15, 2026) — the ...

Supreme Court Summons Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Officials Over Illegal Sand Mining in Chambal Sanctuary

The Supreme Court summoned senior officials from Rajasthan — including the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and Principal Secretaries of th...

Iran Urges BRICS Action on International Law Violations; India Raises Energy and Fertiliser Security

At the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, Iran's Foreign Minister urged BRICS member states to 'unequivocally condemn violations...

Iran Foreign Minister at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meet in India Amid West Asia Crisis

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi to participate in the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on May 14–15, 2026,...

India Re-Included in EU Authorised List for Aquaculture Product Exports from September 2026

India was included in a revised draft list published by the European Union on May 12, 2026, authorising continued export of Indian aquacultu...

Geothermal Energy: India's 450 GW Untapped Electricity Potential

A joint report by Project InnerSpace and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), titled 'The Future of Geothermal in India,' id...

Trump Invites Xi Jinping for White House Visit on September 24 Amid Trade Reset Talks

During the Beijing state visit (May 13–15, 2026), a White House invitation was extended to China's president for a reciprocal visit to the W...

IAF Finalises Rafale RFP: 114 Fighter Jets, 55–60% Localisation Target, Tata Partnership

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has finalised the Request for Proposal (RFP) for 114 Rafale multirole fighter jets — a deal that will combine dir...

US Clears H200 AI Chip Sales to Chinese Firms Amid Technology Trade Standoff

The United States government cleared approximately 10 Chinese companies — including major technology firms such as Alibaba, Tencent, and Byt...

WPI Inflation Surges to 42-Month High of 8.3% in April 2026 Driven by Fuel and Power

India's Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation rose to 8.3% in April 2026 (year-on-year), the highest reading in approximately 42 month...

ECI Launches Special Intensive Revision Phase 3 Across 16 States and Three UTs, Covering 36 Crore Electors

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced Phase 3 of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, to be conducted across ...

Iran and UAE Exchange Accusations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi

The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held on May 14–15, 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, chaired by India's External Affairs Minister...

India Cleared for Continued Aquaculture Exports to the EU from September 2026

The European Commission published a revised draft list on May 12, 2026, including India among countries authorised to export aquaculture pro...

FAIMA Petitions Supreme Court for NTA Overhaul After NEET 2026 Leak

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) filed a petition in the Supreme Court arguing that the National Testing Agency (NTA)...

India's Fourth BRICS Presidency: Delhi Foreign Ministers' Meeting Opens

India formally hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting on May 14–15, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, inaugurating the substantive...

India Reaffirms Two-State Solution for Palestine at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

At the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting (May 14–15, 2026, New Delhi), India formally reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution as the ...

GMR Aero Technic Secures Boeing Deal for Indian Navy's P-8I Heavy Maintenance

GMR Aero Technic (GAT), the aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) arm of the GMR Group, signed an agreement with Boeing Defence In...

India's BRICS National Statement: Against Unilateral Sanctions, For Free Hormuz Transit and Palestinian Statehood

As the current BRICS Chair, India issued a national statement at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting (New Delhi, May 14–15, 2026), read out...

Great Nicobar Transhipment Terminal: Navy Frames Project as Geopolitical Lever in Indo-Pacific

A senior naval officer articulated, at a strategic forum, that the proposed International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) at Great Ni...

Jaishankar Calls Unilateral Sanctions 'Unjustifiable' at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meet

At the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly criticised unilateral sanctions and c...

India's EV Battery Demand Set to Grow Tenfold to 200 GWh by 2032

The Indian Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), in association with Customized Energy Solutions (CES), projects India's electric vehicle battery ...

COVID-19 Linked to 22.1 Million Excess Deaths Globally: WHO World Health Statistics 2026

The World Health Organization (WHO) published its World Health Statistics 2026 report on May 13, 2026, estimating that COVID-19 was linked t...

Why NTA's Zero Error Policy Failed: A History of NEET Paper Leaks

The National Testing Agency's (NTA) 'Zero Error Policy' — a framework of safeguards meant to ensure tamper-proof examinations — has failed a...

Iran Selectively Opens Strait of Hormuz: China Gets Priority Transit Amid Escalating West Asia Conflict

Iran confirmed that approximately 30 Chinese commercial vessels were permitted to transit the Strait of Hormuz beginning the night of May 13...

Xi Issues Taiwan Warning to Trump at US-China Summit Opening

At the opening of the US-China summit in Beijing on 14 May 2026, the Chinese President warned that the Taiwan issue could lead to 'clashes a...

India's Five-Nation Tour: UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Italy: Energy, Semiconductors, and Strategic Ties

A six-day, five-nation diplomatic tour covering the UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy commenced on May 15, 2026, aimed at deepenin...

Antiparallel Quantum States Offer Measurement Advantages: Implications for Quantum Technology

Researchers from S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (Kolkata), Balagarh Bijoy Krishna Mahavidyalaya, and the Indian Statistical I...

BRICS Foreign Ministers Convene in New Delhi Under India's 2026 Chairship

New Delhi hosted the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting on May 14–15, 2026, as a key event under India's 2026 BRICS Chairmanship (assumed Janu...

India Bans Sugar Exports Till September 2026 to Stabilise Domestic Prices

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry notified a shift in sugar's export classificatio...

Assam's First Legal Agarwood Export Marks a Milestone for Northeast's Agro-Forest Economy

Assam exported its first legally approved consignment of agarwood chips, valued at ₹2.35 crore, to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates...

Trump-Xi Summit in Beijing: Trade, Technology, and Regional Security on the Agenda

The United States President arrived in Beijing for a two-day state visit on 14-15 May 2026, the first visit by a sitting US president to Chi...

PLI Scheme for Seafood MSMEs: Boosting Value-Added Marine Exports

The Department of Fisheries is actively exploring the development of a dedicated Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme specifically for M...

India Reinstated on EU's Aquaculture Export List: Compliance and Seafood Trade Implications

The European Commission published a revised draft list on May 12, 2026 that includes India as an approved source for aquaculture product exp...

Wholesale Price Inflation Surges to 8.3% in April 2026, Driven by Fuel and Energy

The annual rate of inflation based on the All India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) stood at 8.3% (provisional) in April 2026, compared to 3.88%...

Gold Import Duty Doubles: Industry Warns of Smuggling Revival and Demand Contraction

The Finance Ministry raised the total import duty on gold from approximately 9.18% to 18.45%, effective May 13, 2026, through a combination ...

India Bans Sugar Exports Until September 2026 to Stabilise Domestic Prices

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, issued a notification changing the export stat...

How Volcanoes Affect the Earth's Atmosphere: Mechanisms and Climate Impacts

Scientific understanding of volcanic impacts on Earth's atmosphere has been consolidated and is gaining renewed attention as researchers stu...

IMD's Southwest Monsoon 2026 Forecast: Below-Normal Rainfall Predicted

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued its Long Range Forecast (LRF) for the 2026 Southwest Monsoon season (June–September), p...

India's Sugar Export Ban: Domestic Supply Protection Amid Production Shortfall

The Union government banned sugar exports with immediate effect until September 30, 2026, or until further orders, through a notification is...

Mizoram Ginger Mission: ₹189.79 Crore Convergence Scheme for GI-Tagged Pharma-Grade Ginger

The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) launched the Mizoram Ginger Mission, a ₹189.79 crore convergence-led scheme aim...

IndiaAI Mission Signs MoU with Karya to Build Inclusive AI Ecosystem

The IndiaAI Mission, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with K...

Amended BharatNet Programme: ₹2,432 Crore Agreement for Rural Broadband in Andhra Pradesh

Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh BharatNet Infr...

Return of India's Lost Cultural Heritage: Antiquities Repatriated from the United States

India repatriated three significant Chola and Vijayanagara-period bronze sculptures from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art in W...

Central Government Releases ₹401.50 Crore First Instalment for District Court Infrastructure Scheme

The Ministry of Law and Justice released the first instalment of a 'mother sanction' of ₹401.50 crore for FY 2026-27 to States and Union Ter...

India-Bound Ships Resume Transit Through the Strait of Hormuz Amid Crisis

By May 13, 2026, twelve India-bound commercial vessels had successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the conflict, wit...

India's Nuclear Arsenal Reaches 180 Warheads: SIPRI 2025 Data and Pokhran II at 28

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Yearbook 2025 reports India's nuclear warhead count increased from 172 in 2024 ...

India Bans Sugar Exports Until September 2026 Amid West Asia Crisis and Supply Concerns

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification on May 13, 2026 changing the export policy for sugar — covering raw su...

India and UAE Sign Strategic Petroleum Reserves and LPG Supply Agreements

During a high-level bilateral visit to the UAE, India signed two significant energy security agreements with Abu Dhabi. The first agreement ...

Why the Tenth Schedule Does Not Protect AIADMK Rebels

Following the Tamil Nadu trust vote on May 13, 2026, in which 25 of the AIADMK's 47 MLAs voted in favour of the ruling government against pa...

US-China Summit in Beijing: Diplomacy over Iran and the Geopolitical Order

The US and China held a high-stakes summit in Beijing on May 13–14, 2026, with the Iran war, global trade, and Taiwan among the primary agen...

NTA and NEET-UG 2026: The Credibility Crisis in National Examination Governance

The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted on May 3, 2026, after investigations revealed that 'gues...

Centre-State Joint Funding Framework for Heatwave Mitigation

The Union government is weighing a formal joint Centre-State funding architecture for heatwave mitigation, moving heatwaves from an ad hoc, ...

India-Russia Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Trade, Energy, and Geopolitics at BRICS Conclave

The External Affairs Minister held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New Delhi on 13 May 2026, on the sidelines of the BR...

Nicobarese Tribal Council Opposes Wildlife Sanctuaries Proposed Without Consent

The Tribal Council of Great Nicobar and Little Nicobar Islands has formally opposed three proposed wildlife sanctuaries — a Leatherback Turt...

Iran's Hormuz 'Service Fee' Protocol and the BRICS FM Meet in Delhi

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, attending the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi (May 14–15, 2026), stated that...

India Eyes $1 Trillion Merchandise Exports in FY27 on the Back of New Trade Agreements

The Union Commerce Ministry has set a target of USD 1 trillion in total exports (goods and services) for FY 2026-27, up from approximately U...

NTA Reform: Transport, Storage, and Human Handling Are NEET's Weakest Links

A high-level committee headed by former ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan, constituted by the Ministry of Education in June 2024, identified lo...

Sri Lanka's Fertiliser Ban: Lessons for India's Agriculture Policy and Supply Chain Resilience

At a panel discussion on the 'Impact of West Asia Crisis on Economic Disruptions and Sustainability: Implications for India,' experts urged ...

AIADMK Splits in Tamil Nadu Assembly: 25 of 47 MLAs Back Government in Trust Vote

During a trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on May 13, 2026, 25 of the AIADMK's 47 MLAs voted in favour of the ruling TVK-led...

LEADS 2025: India's Logistics Performance Rankings Across States

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry released the LEADS 2025 (Logistics Ease Across Different States) report, benchmarking logistics perfor...

Digital Bharat Nidhi Signs Rs 2,432 Crore BharatNet Pact with Andhra Pradesh

Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), the Government of India, the Andhra Pradesh government, APBIL (Andhra Pradesh Broadband Infrastructure Limited),...

Minimum Support Prices Raised for 14 Kharif Crops for 2026-27 Season

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved an increase in Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for all 14 mandated kharif crops for ...

Constitution Was Adopted in English, Not Hindi: Kerala High Court Clarifies Authoritative Text

The Kerala High Court, while deciding a PIL challenging the Hindi titles given to three new criminal laws (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiy...

Minimum Support Price Hike for 14 Kharif Crops: Marketing Season 2026-27

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a hike in Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops for Marketing Season 20...

Cabinet Approves ₹37,500 Crore Scheme to Promote Coal and Lignite Gasification

The Union Cabinet approved the Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects on May 13, 2026, with a total financial ou...

Ahmedabad–Dholera 134-Km Rail Corridor: Connecting Greenfield City, International Airport, and Lothal Heritage Site

Cabinet approved a 134-km semi high-speed double-line railway corridor between Ahmedabad (Sarkhej) and Dholera at an estimated project cost ...

Great Nicobar Project: Alleged Violations of Tribal Rights and Consent Norms

Parliamentary opposition raised allegations of 'flagrant violations' of tribal rights in the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) development project,...

IMD's AI-Powered Hyperlocal Rainfall Forecasts: 1-Km Resolution for Precision Agriculture

The Ministry of Earth Sciences launched two AI-enabled weather forecast products under the India Meteorological Department (IMD): a block-le...

NIA Arrests Hizbul Mujahideen Terror Financing Accused After Extradition from Portugal

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Iqbal Singh alias 'Shera' at Delhi airport on May 13, 2026, immediately upon his arrival fr...

NEET-UG 2026 Leak: CBI Probe Widens Across Maharashtra and Rajasthan, NTA Insiders Arrested

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a multi-state investigation into the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, conducting raids and arrest...

NEET-UG Leak Demands Institutional Accountability Under 2024 Exam Protection Law

Following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, various civil society organisations and student bodies demanded dismissal of National Testing Agency ...

Trump-Xi Beijing Summit: Trade, Taiwan, Iran and AI on the Agenda

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a two-day summit in Beijing on May 14–15, 2026 — the first US presidential v...

India Raises Gold and Silver Import Duty to 15% to Contain Rupee Pressure and Widen of Current Account

Effective 13 May 2026, the government raised the import duty on gold and silver from 6% to 15%, comprising a 10% basic customs duty and a 5%...

West Asia Conflict's Impact on Oil Markets: What It Means for India's Energy Security

The ongoing West Asia conflict has pushed crude oil prices to levels significantly higher than earlier anticipated, with the Indian crude ba...

Criminal Law Procedures: FIR, Police Investigation, and the BNSS 2023

A case of assault on hotel staff was registered by police in Kerala following a complaint by the victims — a young man and woman who worked ...

Trump-Xi Beijing Summit: US-China Strategic Competition at a Crossroads

US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on May 13, 2026, for a state visit and bilateral summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping — Tru...

Cabinet Approves Ahmedabad–Dholera Semi High-Speed Rail Project: India's First Indigenous Corridor

The Union Cabinet approved the Ahmedabad (Sarkhej)–Dholera Semi High-Speed Double Line railway project on 13 May 2026 at an estimated cost o...

₹37,500-Crore Coal Gasification Package: Energy Security Through Domestic Chemical Production

The Union Cabinet approved a ₹37,500-crore incentive package for coal and lignite gasification projects, with the explicit objective of redu...

India Raises Gold and Silver Import Duty to 15% Amid Forex Pressure

The government raised the import duty on gold and silver to 15% from the earlier 6%, effective May 13, 2026 — a hike of 9 percentage points,...

Cabinet Approves Kharif MSP Hikes and ₹37,500-Crore Coal Gasification Scheme

In a single CCEA session, the Union Cabinet approved two major economic measures: MSP hikes for 14 kharif crops for 2026-27, and a ₹37,500-c...

Global Wildfires Hit Record High as Scientists Warn of Unprecedented Heat Extremes

Scientists have warned that global wildfire outbreaks reached a record high, with data showing that wildfires and extreme heat events are in...

CCEA Approves Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal and Lignite Gasification Projects

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) formally approved the 'Scheme for Promotion of Surface Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects' ...

Kharif MSP 2026-27: CCEA Approves Price Support for 14 Crops, Paddy at ₹2,441 per Quintal

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 14 mandated kharif crops for the marketing sea...

NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: Students Devastated as Exam Crisis Exposes NTA Failures

The NEET-UG 2026 examination, conducted on May 3, 2026 by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to undergraduate medical courses,...

Assam Moves to Enact Uniform Civil Code: Key Provisions and Tribal Exemptions

The Assam Cabinet approved the draft Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, clearing it for introduction in the state legislature on May 26, 2026. T...

IMD Unveils Block-Level Monsoon Onset Forecast Model Using NWP and Ensemble Techniques

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) unveiled a new block-level monsoon onset forecasting model that will generate probabilistic foreca...

Oil Marketing Companies, Refining Margins, and India's Petroleum Policy

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) reported a 78% year-on-year jump in consolidated net profit for Q4 FY2026 (January–March 2026...

India's ₹37,500-Crore Incentive to Accelerate Coal and Lignite Gasification

The Union government approved a financial incentive package of ₹37,500 crore to promote domestic surface coal and lignite gasification proje...

India's Wheat Procurement Crosses 30 Million Tonnes, Eyes 34 MT Target

Wheat procurement for the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2026-27 crossed the 30-million-tonne mark, with the overall procurement target set at ...

Road Safety Governance and the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019

A fatal road accident near a police checkpoint in Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu, killed six people including a police constable on duty, aft...

Why India's Leadership Is Urging Citizens to Cut Cooking Oil Consumption

Amid a West Asia crisis that strained global energy and commodity markets, India's leadership made a public appeal urging citizens to reduce...

Nicobarese Tribal Opposition to Proposed Wildlife Sanctuaries on Nicobar Islands

The Tribal Council of Campbell Bay and Nicobarese community representatives have formally opposed a proposal to establish three new wildlife...

Karnataka's ST Reservation Restored to 3%: Proportional Representation and Constitutional Framework

Karnataka has restored the Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation to 3% — after a period when it was altered — prompting a debate about proportion...

India's Edible Oil Import Bill Surges 19% in H1 of Oil Year 2025-26

India's edible oil import bill rose 19% in the first half of oil year 2025-26 (November 2025–April 2026), climbing to approximately ₹87,000 ...

US Golden Dome Missile Defense: Architecture, Cost, and Strategic Implications

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the proposed US 'Golden Dome' missile defense system could cost approximately $1.2 trillion ...

Apprenticeships as CSR: Centre Pushes India Inc. to Scale Up Skill Training

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs urged large companies to treat apprenticeship programmes as both an economic necessity and a Corporate Soc...

India Doubles Platinum Import Duty, Raising Costs for Diesel SUVs and Hybrids

The government raised the import duty on platinum to 15.4% from 6.4%, effective May 13, 2026 — effectively more than doubling the previous r...

Iran's Hormuz Toll Stance at Delhi BRICS Meet: International Maritime Law at Stake

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, present in New Delhi for the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting (May 14–15, 2026), stated that Tehran intends ...

Pakistan's Dual Role: Nur Khan Airbase Allegations and Iran War Mediation

A US media report alleged that Pakistan permitted Iran to park military aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi during the 2026 US-Iran c...

India Hikes Gold and Silver Import Duties to 15% to Defend the Rupee

The government raised import duties on gold and silver with effect from May 13, 2026, more than doubling the effective rate from 6% to 15%. ...

Strengthening Enforcement Against Illegal Wildlife Trade: Key Frameworks

A three-day enforcement meet focused on combating illegal wildlife trade concluded with a call to significantly strengthen enforcement mecha...

BRICS FM Meet and the West Asia Fracture: India's Palestine Dilemma

The BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting is scheduled for May 14–15, 2026, in New Delhi, under India's chairship of the bloc. Eight of BRICS's e...

India's $1 Trillion Export Target and the FTA Network Covering Two-Thirds of Global Trade

India now has preferential trade access covering two-thirds of global trade, following the conclusion of multiple free trade agreements sinc...

Paddy MSP Raised to ₹2,441/Quintal for Kharif 2026-27 Marketing Season

The CCEA approved an increase of ₹72/quintal in paddy MSP for the 2026-27 kharif marketing season (procurement begins September–October 2026...

US Appeals Court Halts Order Invalidating Trump's Global 10 Percent Tariff Under Section 122

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on May 12, 2026 issued an administrative stay on an order by the US Court of International T...

Supreme Court: All Religious Practices Presumed Protected Unless They Violate Public Order, Morality, or Health

The Supreme Court's nine-judge constitution bench, hearing the Sabarimala reference case, articulated a broad principle: all religious pract...

Gold Import Duty Hike to 18.4% Effective Rate: Industry Impact and Smuggling Risks

Following the revision of gold and silver import tariffs to 15% (Basic Customs Duty 10% + AIDC 5%), the total effective import levy on gold ...

Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) Test: What It Measures, What It Cannot Predict

A clinically informed article explained what the Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) test measures, why it has become widely used in fertility asse...

Anti-Defection Law and the Tamil Nadu Assembly Crisis: How the Tenth Schedule Operates

A floor test in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly triggered a split within the AIADMK legislative party, with a faction of approximately 2...

Kharif MSP Hike 2026-27: Government Formula vs. Farmer Demand for C2-Based Pricing

The CCEA approved MSP hikes for 14 kharif crops for the 2026-27 marketing season; all notified crops maintain at least 50% return above A2+F...

Supreme Court Corrects Madras HC's Intervention in Tamil Nadu Floor Test Proceedings

The Supreme Court stayed a Madras High Court order that had restrained a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly from participating in th...

India Raises Import Duty on Gold and Silver to 15% to Ease Forex Pressure

The Finance Ministry raised the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on gold and silver from 5% to 10%, effective May 13, 2026, with the Agriculture Inf...

State MSP Bonuses Distort Rice Procurement, Burden Central Pool: CACP Warning

The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has flagged that state governments offering bonuses above the Union Government's ann...

Gold and Silver Import Duty Raised to 15 Percent to Defend Rupee

The Union government raised the import duty on gold and silver from 6 percent to 15 percent, effective May 13, 2026. The revised structure c...

India-Japan Economic Security Dialogue: Critical Minerals, Semiconductors, and Resilient Supply Chains

The second round of the India-Japan Economic Security Dialogue was held in New Delhi on May 11, 2026, co-chaired by India's Foreign Secretar...

Kharif MSP 2026-27: Cabinet Approves Price Hikes for 14 Crops, Oilseeds Lead Gains

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) for 14 kharif crops for the 2026-27 marketing season...

Karnataka Withdraws 2022 Dress Code Order Restricting Religious Symbols in Schools

The Karnataka state government issued a fresh dress code order withdrawing its February 2022 order that had effectively barred students from...

Assam Cabinet Approves UCC: Tribal Exemption, Personal Law Reform, and Constitutional Architecture

The Assam Cabinet on May 13, 2026 formally approved the draft Uniform Civil Code bill for introduction in the Assam Legislative Assembly on ...

Assam to Table UCC Bill on May 26: Tribal Exemption and State-Level Civil Code Momentum

The Assam Cabinet, in the first cabinet sitting of the newly reconstituted government after the 2026 state assembly elections, approved a dr...

Tamil Nadu Floor Test: TVK Secures Majority Through Post-Poll Coalition

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government in Tamil Nadu successfully passed a floor test in the State Legislative Assembly on May 13, 20...

India-Russia Bilateral Talks: Trade, Energy, and Strategic Autonomy

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held wide-ranging bilateral talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New Delhi on May 13...

Freedom of Conscience and Religious Conversion: What Article 25 Protects

The Supreme Court, in proceedings concerning religious conversion, reaffirmed the constitutional position that Article 25 of the Constitutio...

RBI Issues Operating Framework for Outward Remittance Services by Non-Bank Payment Service Providers

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued an operating framework governing the facilitation of outward remittance services by non-bank Paym...

Gold and Silver Import Tariffs Raised to 15%: Policy Rationale and Customs Duty Structure

The central government raised the import tariff on gold and silver to 15% effective May 13, 2026, through customs notifications issued on Ma...

India's Economic Response to West Asia Conflict: PMO Coordinates Plan to Boost Foreign Fund Flow

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is coordinating a multi-ministry effort to mitigate the economic impact of the West Asia conflict, with of...

India Procures DAP Fertilizer at 40% Above Pre-War Prices as Supply Chains Fracture

Indian Potash Ltd. (IPL) contracted approximately 1.35 million tonnes of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer — a record volume in a single...

India's Diplomatic Response to China's Acknowledged Support for Pakistan During Operation Sindoor

China's state broadcaster CCTV aired an interview confirming that a Chinese engineer from AVIC's Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Instit...

NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled: 23 Lakh Students, Exam Integrity, and the Law Against Paper Leaks

The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination on May 12, 2026 — nine days after 2.27 million (approximately 23 la...

Karnataka's Sub-Classification of SC Quota: Navigating the 50% Ceiling

Karnataka has restructured its internal reservation quotas to remain within the 50% ceiling mandated by the Supreme Court, following the lan...

India-Oman CEPA Set for June 1 Implementation as Chile FTA Negotiations Hit Obstacles

The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in December 2025, is on track to come into force from June 1, 202...

Human-Wildlife Conflict in India: Towards Scientifically Informed and Socially Just Coexistence

A policy analysis piece published in a national daily argued that India's approach to human-wildlife conflict (HWC) must shift from reactive...

Right to Speedy Trial Declared a Human Right as Supreme Court Orders Inquiry into UP Backlogs

The Supreme Court, confronted with a criminal case pending for nearly 40 years, declared the right to speedy trial a 'human right' — not mer...

Women's Professional Independence Cannot Constitute Matrimonial Cruelty: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court set aside lower court findings that had treated a married woman's independent professional decisions as acts of 'cruelty' ...

NEET-UG 2026 Paper Leak: CBI Investigation and NTA's Institutional Accountability

The Central Bureau of Investigation registered a formal case following allegations of a nationwide paper leak in the NEET-UG 2026 examinatio...

India and IFAD Launch Eight-Year Rural Development Strategy Targeting 3 Million Households

The Government of India and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) jointly launched the Country Strategic Opportunities ...

CBI Director Selection: Constitutional Mandate and Institutional Framework

The high-powered selection committee responsible for recommending the next Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) convened a ...

Income Tax Act 2025: Building a Transparent, Tech-Driven Compliance Ecosystem

The Income Tax Act, 2025, came into force on April 1, 2026, replacing the Income Tax Act, 1961, which had governed direct taxation in India ...

West Asia Crisis as a Balance of Payments Stress Test for India

The Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran described the West Asia conflict as a 'live balance of payments stress test' for Indi...

India Tells China: Supporting Terror Infrastructure Carries a Reputational Price

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a formal statement urging China to 'introspect' on the reputational damage caused by backi...

China Escalates WTO Dispute Over India's Solar and IT Sector Support Measures

China formally requested the World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) to establish a panel to adjudicate its complaint again...

Four Labour Codes Fully Operational: India's New Employment Architecture

The central government has fully operationalised the four new Labour Codes by publishing all necessary rules, completing the rollout that be...

CBI Director Selection: Opposition Records Formal Dissent Over Process Transparency

The high-powered committee constituted under the DSPE Act met on May 12, 2026 to recommend the appointment of the next CBI Director, with th...

Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool: Sovereign-Backed Cover for Indian Ships in High-Risk Waters

The Union Cabinet approved the creation of the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool (BMIP) with an estimated coverage capacity of approximately ₹1...

Judicial Restraint in Religious Matters: Legislature as the Primary Agent of Reform

A nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, hearing the Sabarimala reference case, cautioned that constitutional courts should be ...

Kharif 2026 Crop Shift: Farmers Moving to Soybean and Pulses from Paddy and Maize

As the kharif 2026 sowing season approaches, farmers across central India are shifting away from paddy and maize towards oilseeds (particula...

RBI Cancels Licence of Mumbai Co-operative Bank Over Inadequate Capital

The Reserve Bank of India cancelled the banking licence of Sarvodaya Co-operative Bank Ltd., Mumbai, with effect from the close of business ...

India's Five-Nation Diplomatic Tour: Energy Security and Strategic Partnerships in Focus

India's Prime Minister will undertake a five-nation tour from May 15 to 20, 2026, covering the UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy —...

States' Interest-Free Capital Expenditure Loans Linked to Renewable Energy Adoption

The central government announced that a significant portion of the Rs 2 lakh crore allocated for 50-year interest-free capital investment lo...

NSAP Old Age Pension of Rs 200 Unchanged Since 2012, Real Value Significantly Eroded: Rural Development Ministry

A study by the Ministry of Rural Development has found that the central government's contribution to the old age pension under the National ...

Government School Enrollment Falls to 49%: NITI Aayog Report on India's Shifting School Education Landscape

NITI Aayog released a major policy report on May 6, 2026, titled 'School Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for...

BrahMos Missile Export to Vietnam: India's Defence Diplomacy in South-East Asia

India's Defence Minister is scheduled to visit Vietnam on May 18 and South Korea on May 20, 2026, with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile...

India-UAE Bilateral Talks Focus on Energy Security Amid West Asia Supply Disruptions

The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2026, as the first stop on a five-nation tour (UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norwa...

NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled: Student Impact, Mass Protest, and the Case for Systemic Examination Reform

The National Testing Agency cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination — conducted on May 3 for approximately 22.79 lakh candidates — after auth...

Tourism-Induced Stress Disrupts Tiger Breeding in India's Reserves: CSIR-CCMB Study

A multi-year study by scientists from CSIR-CCMB (Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad) published in the journal Animal Conse...

India Calls on Nations to Weigh Ties with Terror Sponsors After China's Role in Operation Sindoor

On the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor (May 2026), China's state broadcaster CCTV aired an interview with an engineer at the Aviation...

IMD's 1 km Hyperlocal Weather Forecast Pilot: From Uttar Pradesh to the Nation

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in partnership with the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), launched a...

IMD's AI-Powered Block-Level Monsoon Forecast: A Precision Tool for Farmers

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) unveiled an AI-enabled block-level monsoon onset forecast model on May 12, 2026 — the first of its...

US-China Summit 2026: Trade Architecture, Iran, and the Taiwan Flashpoint

The US and Chinese heads of state held a three-day summit in Beijing (May 13–15, 2026), the first such meeting by a sitting US president in ...

Pakistan's Nur Khan Airbase and Iranian Aircraft: Mediator or Partisan?

Reports emerged (confirmed by satellite imagery dated April 25, 2026) that Iranian military aircraft — including an RC-130 reconnaissance va...

India Has Two Months of Fuel Cover, But OMC Losses Threaten Future Refining Capacity

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas confirmed that India holds approximately 60 days of crude oil supply, 60 days of LNG inventories, ...

US-China-Taiwan: A Timeline of Escalating Tensions and Strategic Flashpoints

The Trump administration approved an arms package worth USD 11 billion to Taiwan — the largest single arms sale to the island in history — c...

China's FM Skips BRICS Delhi Meeting: India-China Diplomacy Under Scrutiny

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi declined to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting hosted by India in New Delhi on May 14–15, 2026, ci...

Key Defence and Security Appointments: CDS, Army Chief, CBI Director, and Intelligence Bureau

Several senior leadership posts in India's defence and security establishment are due for change simultaneously, making this a period of sig...

Foreign Capital Flows Into India's Infrastructure via Co-Investment and InvIT Structures

Foreign institutional investors — including sovereign wealth funds, global pension funds, and private equity firms — are increasingly explor...

Gold Imports Surge in India: Understanding the Drivers, Costs, and Policy Dilemmas

India's gold imports reached an all-time high of USD 71.98 billion in FY 2025–26 — a 24% increase in value over the previous year — though t...

Quality Standards as a Manufacturing Policy Tool: How BIS Norms Transformed India's Toy Sector

Senior officials and industry experts have highlighted the toy sector's transformation into a net exporter as a model case study for how man...

Pakistan's Dual Role: Mediator and Shelter: Iran's Aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase

According to a CBS News report citing US officials, Pakistan secretly allowed Iranian military aircraft — including an Iranian Air Force RC-...

MSMEs and the Working Capital Trap: CEA Calls on Large Firms for Timely Payments

At the CII Annual Business Summit (May 12, 2026), the Chief Economic Adviser called on large companies to accept invoices from MSMEs promptl...

India's Oil Marketing Companies Face Rs 1 Lakh Crore Loss as Fuel Prices Remain Frozen

State-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) — Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Cor...

West Asia Crisis: A Live Stress Test for India's Balance of Payments

The Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) described the West Asia crisis as 'not a foreign policy concern that occasionally bleeds into economic plan...

India's Deteriorating Macro Indicators: From Fiscal Defence to Demand Curtailment

India's macroeconomic position deteriorated sharply in the wake of the West Asia conflict, with rising fiscal and current account deficits, ...

Block-Level Monsoon Forecasting: IMD's AI System Brings Precision Agriculture Advisories to 3,000+ Sub-Districts

IMD's AI-powered block-level monsoon forecasting system was launched on May 12, 2026, targeting over 3,000 sub-districts (blocks) across 16 ...

Beyond Tariffs: China's Strategic Priorities at the Xi–Trump Summit

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit China for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14–15, 2026 — the first formal b...

Gauhati High Court Rules Sixth Schedule Autonomous Councils Cannot Legislate on Defection

The Gauhati High Court struck down Rule 18A of the Constitution of the N.C. Hills Autonomous Council (42nd Amendment) Act, 2017, which had i...

China Challenges India's Solar Tariffs and Domestic-Content Policies at the WTO

China filed a formal WTO dispute consultation request against India in December 2025, challenging India's tariff structure and domestic-pref...

NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled After Paper Leak Allegations; CBI Probe Ordered

The National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination — held on May 3, 2026 — after inputs from central agencies and law ...

Coal Gasification as Strategic Energy Insurance: India's 100 MT Mission and Lessons from the West Asia Crisis

Experts and industry analysts have highlighted coal gasification as India's most viable near-term hedge against global energy supply shocks,...

Unified Bharat e-Charge: India Creates an Interoperable National EV Charging Network

The Unified Bharat e-Charge (UBC) platform was unveiled on May 12, 2026, at a high-level meeting chaired by the Ministry of Heavy Industries...

India-Norway Energy and Maritime Partnership: First PM Visit in Four Decades

An Indian Prime Ministerial visit to Norway is scheduled for May 18–19, 2026 — the first such visit in 43 years, since the last one in 1983....

India's Economic Response to the Gulf Crisis: Energy Discipline and Macro Stabilisation

Following an appeal by the head of government for citizens to conserve fuel, reduce unnecessary foreign travel, avoid gold purchases, and sh...

India's Record Gold Imports: Trade Deficit, CAD Pressure, and Policy Response

India's gold imports rose 24 percent to an all-time high of USD 71.98 billion in 2025-26, up from USD 58 billion in 2024-25, driven overwhel...

India Plans 500 Delegations and Outreach to 1,600 Chambers to Maximise FTA Benefits

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced a comprehensive FTA utilisation plan: sending 500 trade delegations to FTA partner count...

India-Oman CEPA Set to Take Effect June 1, Granting Sweeping Duty-Free Market Access

The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in Muscat on December 18, 2025, is expected to come into force on...

Moody's Cuts India's 2026 Growth Forecast to 6% on Energy Shock and Weak Demand

Moody's Ratings, in its Global Macro Outlook May 2026 update, cut India's GDP growth forecast for calendar year 2026 by 0.8 percentage point...

Four Cheetah Cubs Die at Kuno National Park, Raising Questions About Predator Coexistence in India's Reintroduction Programme

Four one-month-old cheetah cubs were found dead at Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh's Sheopur district on the morning of May 12, 2...

IMD Launches AI-Enabled Hyper-Local Weather Forecasting Systems for Farmers

The India Meteorological Department launched two advanced AI-powered weather forecasting systems on May 12, 2026, under the Ministry of Eart...

West Asia Crisis as a Live Balance of Payments Stress Test: India's Macro Imperatives

The Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) described the West Asia conflict as a 'live balance of payments stress test,' emphasising that its conseque...

GST Council to Clarify Ride-Hailing Taxation Amid Business Model Ambiguity

The GST Council is likely to meet before mid-July 2026 to consider proposals to simplify GST procedures and clarify the taxation of ride-hai...

MSP Legal Guarantee: Farmers Rally Renews Demand for Statutory Price Protection

Thousands of farmers under the banner of the All India United Kisan Sabha (AIUKS) held a massive rally in Yellandu town, reiterating the dem...

Two Female Cheetahs Released into the Wild at Kuno National Park

Two female cheetahs from Botswana — designated CCV-2 and CCV-3 — were released into the open forest zone of Kuno National Park in Sheopur di...

India Prepares for High-Stakes Five-Nation Diplomatic Tour Beginning with UAE

India's Prime Minister is scheduled to depart on May 15, 2026 for a five-nation tour covering UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy — ...

India-US Trade Talks: The Section 301 Probe Blocking a Bilateral Deal

A fresh round of India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) talks is expected, with a US trade delegation anticipated to visit for comprehensi...

West Bengal Clears Land Transfer to BSF for Bangladesh Border Fencing

The West Bengal government approved the transfer of approximately 600 acres of land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for the construction ...

VB–G RAM G Act to Replace MGNREGA from July 1, 2026: Rural Employment Framework Overhauled

The Central Government has officially notified the rollout date for the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act...

Why India's Import Basket: Gold, Crude Oil, Edible Oils — Is at the Centre of the Forex Crisis

With India's foreign exchange reserves under pressure from surging crude oil prices following the Iran conflict, attention has turned to the...

BOCW Welfare Cess Re-Notified at 1%: Persistent Underutilisation of Construction Workers' Funds

The Central Government has issued a fresh notification reaffirming the Building and Other Construction Workers' (BOCW) welfare cess rate at ...

India Adds Record 44 GW Solar Capacity in 2025, Crosses 150 GW Milestone

India added a record 44 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity in 2025, its highest-ever annual addition, bringing total installed solar cap...

India-Peru Free Trade Agreement: A Critical Minerals Play Anchored in Copper

India and Peru are set to hold the next round of Free Trade Agreement negotiations in June 2026, following the most recent round concluded i...

Trump's Beijing Visit: Trade Deals, Taiwan Tensions, and the US-China Power Equation

The United States and China announced a state visit by the US President to Beijing scheduled for May 13–15, 2026 — the first such visit sinc...

National Technology Day and Operation Shakti: India's 1998 Nuclear Tests

May 11 is observed annually as National Technology Day, marking the anniversary of India's five nuclear weapon tests conducted at Pokhran, R...

Green Oscars 2026: Indian Conservationists Win Whitley Awards for Himalayan Salamander and Indian Skimmer

Two Indian conservationists — Dr. Barkha Subba and Parveen Shaikh — are among six global winners of the 2026 Whitley Awards, popularly known...

Urban Unemployment Eases to 6.6% in January–March 2026: PLFS Data

The National Statistics Office (NSO) released the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Quarterly Bulletin for January–March 2026, showing the...

Maize Overtakes Sugarcane to Become India's Largest Ethanol Feedstock

India's cumulative ethanol supplies reached approximately 515 crore litres in the first half of Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26 — nearly 4...

India's Diplomatic Balancing Act: BRICS Chairship, Iran, and the US at the Same Table

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi visited New Delhi to lead Iran's delegation at the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on May...

China's Likely Absence from Global Big Cat Summit Tests IBCA's Conservation Mandate

The International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) is holding its first-ever summit in New Delhi from June 1–2, 2026, under the theme 'Big Cats, Save...

India-US Trade Talks: Interim Agreement Framework and the Road to a Bilateral Trade Deal

India expects a US trade delegation to visit India for the next round of trade negotiations, following the February 7, 2026 joint statement ...

Revised BOT Highway Guidelines: Opening National Infrastructure to Institutional Capital

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has revised the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) guidelines for national highway projects un...

SEHAT Initiative: Bridging Agriculture, Nutrition, and Public Health Through the One Health Lens

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) jointly launched the SEHAT initiative —...

Trump's State Visit to China: US-China Relations, the Taiwan Question, and Energy Crisis Diplomacy

US President Donald Trump undertook a three-day state visit to China (May 13–15, 2026) — the first visit by a US President to China since 20...

VB-G RAM G Act Replaces MGNREGA from July 1: What Changes for Rural Workers

The Ministry of Rural Development formally notified on May 11, 2026 that the Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gram...

Asia Braces for Second Wave of Energy Shocks as Iran War Disrupts Global Supply

Asian governments are grappling with a second, more severe wave of energy disruptions as the Iran conflict enters a prolonged phase, depleti...

VB-G RAM G Act 2025: India's New Rural Employment Law Replacing MGNREGA

The Union Government formally notified, on 11 May 2026, the nationwide implementation of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevi...

Reducing Agriculture's Diesel Dependence: Biofuels, Compressed Biogas, and Energy Policy

A high-level appeal has been made for scaling back diesel consumption in the agricultural sector, prompting expert discussion on viable alte...

India Weighs Emergency Steps to Shield Forex Reserves Amid Iran War Fallout

The government is actively evaluating a package of emergency measures to protect India's foreign exchange reserves from accelerating depleti...

VB-G RAM G Act: A New Rural Employment Architecture Replaces MGNREGA

The central government has notified that the Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 (VB-G RAM G) will ...

India's Green Energy Corridors: Addressing Curtailment and Grid Infrastructure Gaps

The Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) stated that India will make substantial investments in green energy corrido...

VB-G RAM G Act 2025: India's New Rural Employment Law Replacing MGNREGA

The Union Government formally notified, on 11 May 2026, the nationwide implementation of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevi...

VB-G RAM G Act 2025: India's New Rural Employment Law Replacing MGNREGA

The Union Government formally notified, on 11 May 2026, the nationwide implementation of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevi...

AI-Enabled Oversight for Electoral Rolls: Strengthening ECINet Against Structural Weaknesses

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2.0 exercise for electoral rolls has exposed structural weaknesses in India's electoral roll revision p...

India's Policy Toolkit for Foreign Exchange Management Under Pressure

With surging crude oil prices and a weakening rupee driven by the geopolitical fallout of the Iran conflict, the government has begun examin...

MSME Ministry's TEAM Initiative Integrates 5 Lakh Micro Enterprises onto ONDC

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is implementing the Trade Enablement and Access to Market (TEAM) Initiative, a sub-schem...

India-Peru FTA Talks: Copper Diplomacy and India's Critical Minerals Strategy

India and Peru are expected to resume free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in June 2026, with Peru's Ambassador to India, Javier Paulinic...

VB-G RAM G Act 2025: India's New Rural Employment Law Replacing MGNREGA

The Union Government formally notified, on 11 May 2026, the nationwide implementation of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevi...

VB-G RAM G Act: Policy Analysis of India's New Rural Employment Guarantee Framework

The Centre has notified the commencement of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, popularly know...

Viksit Bharat–G RAM G: What Changes and What Continues in India's Rural Employment Architecture

The Central Government has confirmed that the VB–G RAM G Act (Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission, Gramin), 2025, will r...

VB-G RAM G Act 2025: India's New Rural Employment Law Replacing MGNREGA

The Union Government formally notified, on 11 May 2026, the nationwide implementation of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevi...

India Weighs Import Curbs and Fuel Price Adjustments to Shield Foreign Exchange Reserves

Senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office, Finance Ministry, and the Reserve Bank of India held consultations on measures to protect...

PM Modi's Five-Nation Tour: Energy Security, Nordic Outreach, and India-EU Strategic Convergence

India's Prime Minister embarked on a five-nation tour from May 15–20, 2026, covering the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy. Th...

BOT Highway Projects Opened to Large Institutional Funds: Revised Eligibility Rules

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has revised the Request for Proposal (RFP) framework for Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) national h...

Venture Capital and Pension Funds Gain Entry into Highway PPP Projects

A new government policy permits venture capital funds, private equity funds, infrastructure funds, and pension funds to directly bid for hig...

India's Urban Unemployment Eases to 6.6%, Rural Joblessness Rises to 4.3% in Q4 FY26

The National Statistics Office released the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) quarterly bulletin covering the January–March 2026 qu...