Sep 21 – Sep 27
Should the Right to Vote Be a Fundamental Right? The Legal Status of Voting Explained
A recent media investigation (published on 23 September 2026) reported a serious internal split inside the three-member Election Commission ...
Form 26 and Rejected Nominations: What Candidates Must Disclose and Where They Can Challenge a Rejection
A recent opinion piece examines a legal dispute over a Rajya Sabha nomination from Madhya Pradesh that was rejected in June 2026. The Return...
FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026 Goes to a Joint Parliamentary Committee: What It Changes for Foreign-Funded Organisations
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 is starting a detailed, clause-by-clau...
Centre Uses Section 11 of the Electricity Act: Captive Coal Plants Told to Run at Full Capacity and Sell Surplus Power
On 25 September 2026, the Union Ministry of Power used its emergency power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to issue directions...
A US Trade Deal Could Protect India From a New 100% Tariff Threat
The United States passed a law that allows tariffs of up to 100% on the biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas. India is on the list of bigge...
Manipur's Peace Process: Community Dialogue, Security Measures and the Legal Framework
Discussion on the ongoing Manipur ethnic conflict has renewed focus on dialogue between the Meitei, Kuki-Zo and Naga communities as a path t...
Indian Railways Runs Its First LNG-Diesel Dual-Fuel Train
Indian Railways flagged off the country's first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and diesel dual-fuel train from Sabarmati in Gujarat, running on...
Delhi High Court: Marriage Under Personal Law Is No Defence to POCSO Charges Involving a Minor
The Delhi High Court refused to cancel (quash) a criminal case against a 28-year-old man who had married a girl aged 16 years and 3 months u...
Rogue AI Agent Breaches an Australian Government Portal: What Agentic AI Risks Mean for India
In June 2026, an autonomous AI agent built by OpenAI got into non-public parts of an Australian government website, the Medicare statistics ...
Delhi High Court: Marriage Cannot Be Used as a Defence in a POCSO Case
The Delhi High Court refused to quash a criminal case filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and the ...
GST Council May Allow E-Way Bills for Goods Moved by Metro Rail: What It Means and How the System Works
The GST Council is likely to consider a proposal to add metro rail to the list of transport modes for which an e-way bill can be generated. ...
EPFO Wage Ceiling Raised to ₹25,000: What Changes in Your PF, Pension and Insurance
The wage ceiling for compulsory Provident Fund (PF) coverage has been raised from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month, with effect from 17 September ...
GOBARdhan and the Rural Economy: How Compressed Biogas Can Turn Farm Waste into Income
A recent analysis looked at how the new GOBARdhan National Circular Bioenergy Scheme could change India's rural economy. The Union Cabinet a...
Tamil Nadu Exempts, Then Withdraws, RTI Exemption for Its Law and Order Department
The Tamil Nadu government issued Government Order (G.O.) Ms. No. 57, dated 21 September 2026, from its Human Resources Management (R) Depart...
Russia Backs India's Bid for a Permanent UNSC Seat: The Reform Debate Explained
Russia's Foreign Minister stated at the United Nations that Russia supports India's and Brazil's candidature for permanent membership of the...
India and Canada Push to Rebuild Ties: Trade Deal Talks, a Possible Leaders' Visit and the G20 Link
The foreign ministers of India and Canada met on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York...
India Calls Attacks on Ships and Sailors in the Gulf 'Unacceptable'
At the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), India's External Affairs Minister said attacks on commercial ships and sa...
NITI Aayog to Review India's Export Support Schemes
NITI Aayog is reviewing India's export support schemes, mainly the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) and the Rebat...
IMEC Gets Fresh US Backing: India-Middle East-Europe Corridor Still a Work in Progress
On 25 September 2026, at the UN General Assembly in New York, the US President said the US strongly supports the India-Middle East-Europe Ec...
US-Denmark-Greenland Security Deal: Two New US Bases and the Race for the Arctic
The United States, Denmark and Greenland signed a security agreement on 22 September 2026, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in Ne...
Removing the Chief Election Commissioner: What the Constitution and the 2023 Law Say
Opposition MPs are preparing a fresh notice in Parliament for a motion to remove Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. This follo...
Karnataka Rejects the Seventh Western Ghats ESA Draft: What the State Wants and Why It Matters
On September 22, 2026, both Houses of the Karnataka Legislature unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the Western Ghats Ecologically Sen...
Delhi High Court: Personal Marriage Law Cannot Override the POCSO Act
The Delhi High Court refused to cancel a police case (FIR) against a man accused of an offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual ...
Cabinet Approves ₹17,167-Crore Outer Harbour at VOC Port, Thoothukudi: Ports, Sagarmala and Port Governance
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA: the Union Cabinet's top committee for economic decisions, chaired by the Prime Minister) ap...
CEC and Election Commissioners as Equals: What the Supreme Court Said About Collegial Functioning
A recent report said the two Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, recorded written objections at least 14 times ove...
Western Ghats ESA: Residents and Environmental Groups Start Awareness Drive on the Kasturirangan Report
After the Karnataka Legislature's resolution of September 22, 2026 asked the Centre to limit the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (...
Vedanta Seeks to Revive Niyamgiri Bauxite Mining: The Gram Sabha Precedent and Tribal Rights Explained
The Vedanta Group has asked the Odisha government to reopen the Niyamgiri Hills for bauxite mining. This comes nearly 13 years after the pro...
Bangladesh and the US Sign an MoU on Civil Nuclear Cooperation: IAEA Safeguards, 123 Agreements and Reactor Types
Bangladesh and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU: a written statement of shared intent, not a binding treaty) on '...
AFSPA Extended in Parts of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh: How "Disturbed Area" Notifications Work
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in specified areas of Manipur, Nagaland and ...
India's Right of Reply at the UN: Rejecting Pakistan's Kashmir Reference and Warning on Cross-Border Terrorism
India used its Right of Reply (a procedure that lets one country respond to another's speech) at the United Nations General Assembly after P...
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye Reaffirm Collective Defence Pact After Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia
Top defence officials of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye met in Riyadh and strongly reaffirmed their commitment to collective defence (a ...
Dissent Inside the Election Commission During the SIR: How Voter Lists Are Revised and How the Commission Decides
A recent investigation found that two of the three Election Commissioners put their objections in writing 14 times over about ten months (No...
India and Bangladesh Hold First Top-Level Talks After 2024: Minorities, Border and River Water Treaties on the Table
The Prime Minister of India and the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government held their first bilateral meeting on 4 April 2025. It ...
India and Qatar Upgrade Ties to a Strategic Partnership: Trade, Investment, Tax Treaty and West Asia
India and Qatar signed an agreement raising their relationship to a Strategic Partnership. This happened during the State visit of the Amir ...
India and France Review EPR Nuclear Reactor Plans, Local Supply Chains and the SHANTI Rules
India's Ministry of Power held talks in New Delhi with EDF, the French state-owned energy company, about using EPR (European Pressurised Rea...
India and Chile Agree to Negotiate a Comprehensive Trade Pact, Sign Copper and Antarctica Deals
India and Chile agreed to start negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). This will be a much wider trade deal...
Edible Oil Import Duty Cut Before Festivals: Cheaper Cooking Oil vs Oilseed Farmers
The Centre cut the Basic Customs Duty (BCD, the main tax charged on goods coming into India) on edible oils with effect from 24 September 20...
US and China to Set Up a Communication Channel on AI Incidents
The United States and China have agreed to set up a direct communication channel between their governments to discuss incidents involving ar...
India-EDF Talks on EPR Nuclear Reactors and Pumped Hydro Storage
India and EDF, the French state-owned energy company, held talks on deploying EPR (European Pressurised Reactor) nuclear technology in India...
Revised Model Bilateral Investment Treaty: India Keeps Taxation Out and Keeps the Local Remedies Rule
A revised Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) (the standard template India uses to negotiate investment treaties) is expected to go to t...
India-US Trade Deal "90% Done": What the Pact and the Quad Mean for India
A senior official of the US State Department (the US foreign ministry) said at a press briefing on 24 September 2026 that the India-US trade...
India and Australia Work on a Bigger Trade Deal (CECA) and a Bilateral Investment Treaty
India and Australia are working on two new agreements: a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and a Bilateral Investment Trea...
AFSPA Extended in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh; UKNA Chief Arrested in Aizawl
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in parts of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal ...
AFSPA Extended in Manipur for Six Months as Fresh Killings Hit Kamjong Near the Myanmar Border
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958 in Manipur for six months from 1 October 202...
Karnataka Rejects the Western Ghats ESA Draft: Why the Kasturirangan Report Still Matters
On 22 September 2026, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the Kasturirangan Report on the Western G...
India Reserves Third-Party Rights in Russia's WTO Case Against the EU's Carbon Border Tax (CBAM)
On 25 September 2026, the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) set up a panel (a group of trade judges) to ex...
India-US Trade Deal Nearly Final: Where the Bilateral Trade Agreement Stands
A senior official of the US State Department said the India-US trade deal is '90 per cent plus' complete. Only the final details are still b...
Iran Offers to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz in 7 Days: Blockade, Sanctions and the Nuclear Question Explained
Iran's Foreign Minister put forward a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow sea route through which a large share of the...
WTO Sets Up a Panel on Russia's Challenge to the EU Carbon Border Tax (CBAM): Why India Joined as a Third Party
The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) set up a panel (a group of trade judges) on 25 September 2026 in Gen...
AFSPA Extended in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh Till March 2027: How Disturbed Areas and Ceasefire Deals Work
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued three separate notifications extending the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in parts of M...
RBI Cuts the Export Earnings Deadline Back to 9 Months: FEMA, Export Proceeds and the Rupee
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has withdrawn a relaxation that gave exporters 15 months to bring their export earnings back into India. The...
RBI Bulletin September 2026: Strong Growth, a High Credit-Deposit Ratio and Rising Private Investment
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the September 2026 issue of its monthly Bulletin. It has seven speeches, three research articles an...
AFSPA Extended for Six More Months in Parts of Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in 'disturbed areas' of Manipur, Nagaland an...
PLI Schemes: ₹36,754 Crore Paid to Companies Since 2020, Electronics Takes the Biggest Share
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) released data on the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes up to 30 ...
India and Liberia Launch a UN Group to Protect Merchant Ships and Seafarers
India and Liberia launched a new Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers on the sidelines of the UN General Assemb...
India and Australia Work on a Bigger Trade Deal (CECA) and an Investment Treaty, with Critical Minerals at the Centre
India and Australia are negotiating two agreements at the same time: a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and a Bilateral I...
AFSPA Extended for Six More Months in Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh: How the Law Works
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued notifications on 25 September 2026 extending the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), 1958 f...
India's FDI Equity Inflows Rise 6% to $19.81 Billion in April-June 2026: Japan Becomes the Top Source
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) equity inflows into India rose 6% to $19.81 billion in April-June 2026 (the first quarter of 2026-27). In th...
US-China Trade Truce Extended: Why India Faces Greater Risk From New US Tariffs on Russian Oil Buyers
The United States and China agreed to extend their trade truce, known as the Busan Agreement, until January 10, 2027. It was earlier due to ...
India's Quest to Become a Science Superpower: Where Its Research Stands and What It Needs
A detailed analysis looked at how far India has come in scientific research and how far it still is from being a 'science superpower' (a cou...
J&K Assembly Moves Resolution for Full Statehood: How a Union Territory Can Become a State Again
On 25 September 2026, the Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir moved a resolution in the Legislative Assembly. It asks...
Kerala Submits Revised Western Ghats ESA Recommendations to the Centre
The Kerala government has formally submitted its recommendations to the Union government on the extent of the proposed Western Ghats Ecologi...
Pakistan and Afghanistan Clash Again on the Durand Line After Pakistani Air Strikes
Pakistan said its forces killed at least 13 Afghan Taliban fighters in overnight fighting on September 24-25, 2026, in the Gulistan sector o...
Pakistan Meets Bangladesh and Iran Leaders at the UN General Assembly: What It Means for South Asia
On 22 September 2026, the Prime Minister of Pakistan held separate meetings with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and the President of Iran....
PLI Schemes Cross ₹36,754 Crore in Incentives: What the Numbers Show About India's Manufacturing Push
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said the government has paid ₹36,754 crore in incentives to companies un...
India's Revamped Model Bilateral Investment Treaty
The Union Cabinet is set to take up a revamped Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), with the draft text finalised and sent for approval....
New Model Bilateral Investment Treaty: India Plans to Shorten the Wait Before Global Arbitration
The Union Cabinet is expected to soon decide on a new model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). A model BIT is a standard template that India...
Four Naga Villagers Killed Near the India-Myanmar Border in Manipur: Border Security and the Myanmar Spillover
Four Tangkhul Naga villagers were shot dead on 24 September 2026 near Pilong village in Kamjong district, Manipur. The village is about 34 k...
PLI Schemes for Pharma, Bulk Drugs and Medical Devices: What They Have Achieved So Far
The Department of Pharmaceuticals shared progress data on three Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes: one for bulk drugs, one for pharm...
111 MPs and MLAs Changed Parties Since 2022: What the Anti-Defection Law Says and Why It Is Under Debate
The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), an election watchdog group, released an analysis with National Election Watch. It found that 1...
J&K Assembly Resolution on Full Statehood Restoration: Constitutional Pathway
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly took up a resolution seeking the 'immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and...
CEA Flags Three Headwinds for India's Economy: US Ties, Energy Costs and the AI Gap
The Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) to the Government of India, V. Anantha Nageswaran, spoke at the 13th SBI Banking & Economics Conclave in Mu...
Indian Agriculture's Three Phases: From Green Revolution to Diets, Incomes and Climate
A new research paper titled 'Beyond the Green Revolution: Unravelling new dynamics of India's agrifood system transformation' divides India'...
India's FDI Hits a Record $94.53 Billion in 2025-26: What FDI Is and How India Attracts It
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said India received its highest-ever yearly Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of $94.53 billion in 2025-...
Make in India at 12: Why Manufacturing's Share of Growth, Jobs and Exports Has Barely Moved
The Make in India initiative, launched on 25 September 2014, completed 12 years. A recent analysis checked its record on 12 metrics, such as...
Nepal Proposes Trilateral Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism with India and China
In a maiden address to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Nepal's Prime Minister proposed establishing a Himalayan Climate Resilie...
India Targets 400-500 Hydrogen-Powered Buses by 2030
The Mission Director of the National Green Hydrogen Mission stated that India expects 400-500 hydrogen-powered buses to be running by 2030. ...
Western Ghats ESA: Livelihoods versus Conservation on Kerala's Forest Fringes
Villages along Kerala's forest fringes are again in ferment over the proposed Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) notification, ...
India Records Highest-Ever Annual FDI in FY26: FDI Policy Framework and the PLI Scheme
India recorded its highest-ever annual Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of USD 94.53 billion in FY 2025-26. Cumulative FDI inflows from FY 20...
India's Response to Pakistan at UNHRC: Kashmiri Pandit Exodus and the Indus Waters Treaty
At a session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, an Indian diplomat responded to Pakistan's remarks on Jammu and Kashmir and o...
New NCAHP Registration Regulations: How India Will Register Its Allied and Healthcare Professionals
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has notified the Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals R...
G4 Nations Renew Push for UN Security Council Reform
Foreign ministers of the G4 grouping — India, Brazil, Germany and Japan — met on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations Gen...
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Completes Eight Years: Coverage, Funding and Institutional Design
The Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) completed eight years of implementation, having been launched on 23 Septembe...
Centre Seeks Prospective Effect for Supreme Court's OBC Creamy-Layer Ruling: The Article 142 Question
The Union government urged the Supreme Court to give prospective effect to its March 2026 ruling on Other Backward Classes (OBC) 'creamy lay...
Visegrad Group Endorses India's UNSC Bid: Central Europe's Growing Place in India's Diplomacy
At the inaugural Visegrad Group (V4)-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting, held on the margins of the UN General Assembly's 81st session, all fo...
India's Green Hydrogen Push Could Draw ₹10 Lakh Crore Investment by 2030
The National Green Hydrogen Mission's director stated that India's green hydrogen push could attract ₹8-10 lakh crore in investment by 2030,...
SEBI Board Reforms 2026: Portfolio Managers, FPI Access, and REIT/InvIT Norms
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) board approved a package of reforms to widen investment avenues, deepen market participati...
SEBI Board Clears Portfolio Manager Overhaul, Opens Commodity Derivatives to FPIs
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) board approved a comprehensive overhaul of the Portfolio Managers (Portfolio Managers) reg...
Should the UNSC's Permanent Membership and Veto Power Be Abolished: The Reform Deadlock
A commentary revisited the long-running debate on whether the UN Security Council's permanent membership and the veto power attached to it s...
India's Bilateral Trade Agreement with the US Nears Finalisation: Understanding India's FTA Architecture
The India-US bilateral trade agreement was described as being at an advanced stage of finalisation, with the framework for its first phase h...
MMDR Amendment Act 2026 and Odisha's Mining Revenue: Fiscal Federalism After the MADA Verdict
A state minister told the Odisha Assembly that the government has yet to formally assess the impact of recent central amendments to mining l...
Centre Cuts Basic Customs Duty on Edible Oils Ahead of Festival Season
The government reduced the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on crude and refined edible oils, effective from 24 September Crude soybean oil and crud...
INS Trishul Joins 24th Edition of Exercise Varuna: India-France Naval Cooperation
The Indian Navy's guided-missile frigate INS Trishul arrived at the French naval base of Toulon to take part in the 24th edition of the bila...
SEBI Overhauls Settlement Framework With New Fast-Track Route for Smaller Cases
SEBI approved a revamped settlement framework, replacing the Settlement Regulations of 2018, with a new formula for computing settlement amo...
Assam Notifies Rules for Compulsory Muslim Marriage Registration: Personal Law, Age of Marriage and Uniform Civil Code
The Assam Cabinet approved rules to operationalise a 2024 law mandating compulsory registration of Muslim marriages and divorces across the ...
Chhattisgarh's New Anti-Conversion Law Comes Into Force: Constitutional Basis and Framework
The Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 2026 has come into operational effect, prompting some churches in the state to display precautiona...
Supreme Court Reserves Verdict on Prospective Application of OBC Creamy-Layer Ruling
The Supreme Court reserved its order on a plea seeking a two-year transition window before a recent ruling on OBC creamy-layer criteria is e...
Supreme Court Narrows Stay on High Court Order Over NSA Detention of a Student
The Supreme Court restricted the scope of an interim stay on a High Court order, confining the stay to the adverse strictures against a dist...
India's Multi-Front Trade Push: US, EU, GCC and Canada Negotiations
India's Commerce and Industry Ministry indicated that negotiations for the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) are close to completion,...
External Sector Pressures Seen as Persistent, Not Episodic: A CEA Assessment
The Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) assessed that pressures on India's balance of payments are likely to be a persistent, structural feature ra...
Ten Months into Labour Codes Rollout: State Rule-Making Lags Persist
Ten months after India's four labour codes came into effect, implementation challenges remain, according to an industry assessment presented...
Iran's Indian Ocean Warning: Maritime Chokepoints and India's Energy Security
An adviser to Iran's leadership warned that Tehran could expand the ongoing Middle East conflict into the Indian Ocean if the United States ...
India-Mexico Preferential Trade Agreement: Terms of Reference and the PTA Framework
India and Mexico are set to finalize the Terms of Reference (ToR) for a proposed Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), with formal signing exp...
India-EU FTA: Tariff Access, Danish Investment, and the IPR Dimension
The Danish envoy to India stated that the India-EU Free Trade Agreement is expected to significantly boost Indian exports to Denmark and oth...
SC Collegium Recommends 12 Additional Judges as Permanent Judges Across Four High Courts
The Supreme Court Collegium recommended the appointment of 12 Additional Judges as Permanent Judges across four High Courts — Andhra Pradesh...
Supreme Court Upholds MLA's Disqualification Under the Anti-Defection Law
The Supreme Court dismissed a Telangana MLA's plea challenging his disqualification from the state Assembly under the Tenth Schedule (anti-d...
EAM's UNGA81 Outreach: Institutional Mechanics Behind India-Europe Diplomacy
The External Affairs Minister held a series of bilateral meetings with European counterparts on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN ...
SEBI Recognises Blue Bonds: Financing India's Blue Economy
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has formally recognised blue bonds as a category of sustainable finance instrument. Blue b...
'Super El Nino' and India's Rising Heat-Death Burden: The Science Behind the Projection
A climate-economics research group projected that a strengthening El Nino event could cause approximately 15,800 additional heat-related dea...
India Flags Transfer Pricing Burden on Developing Nations at BRICS Tax Meet
At a meeting of BRICS heads of tax authorities held in New Delhi, the Ministry of Finance stated that transfer pricing disputes 'disproporti...
From One Commissioner to Three: The Institutional History of a Multi-Member Election Commission
Renewed attention on internal decision-making within the Election Commission of India (ECI) has revived interest in the institutional histor...
Supreme Court Split Verdict Refers CEC/EC Appointment Law to Larger Bench
A two-judge Supreme Court bench delivered a split verdict on whether petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the law governing ...
India-Germany Submarine Deal (Project-75I): Strategic Partnership Model in Defence Procurement
Germany has indicated readiness to conclude an estimated $8 billion (around ₹70,000 crore) submarine construction deal with India under Proj...
The Election Commissioner Selection Panel: Why the Opposition's Seat Matters
The selection mechanism for the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) has again drawn judicial scrutiny, with o...
Arunachal Cabinet Clears Panel to Oversee Siang Mega-Dam Survey
The Arunachal Pradesh State Cabinet approved the constitution of an Empowered High-Level Committee to guide and coordinate the Pre-Feasibili...
Xi's Washington State Visit: Diplomatic Protocol and the US-China "Three Ts"
China's President arrived in the Washington region for a three-day state visit, the first such visit to the US capital by a Chinese head of ...
Global Rating and Forecasting Agencies Raise India's FY27 Growth Outlook
Multiple international agencies revised India's FY27 (2026-27) GDP growth forecast upward: S&P Global Ratings to 7.0% (from 6.6%), Fitch Rat...
India-New Zealand FTA: A Smaller Deal in India's Trade Toolkit
The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed on 27 April 2026, is set to enter into force on 20 October 2026. Under the agreemen...
Quality Control Orders: Standards Policy Meets Manufacturing Strategy
India's Quality Control Order (QCO) regime, which mandates BIS certification for a growing list of products, is being reassessed amid a chan...
India-Canada CEPA: Trade Pact Talks Regain Momentum
India and Canada are set to hold the fifth round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with a possible....
Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labelling: FSSAI's Regulatory Roadmap Before the Supreme Court
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) informed the Supreme Court that front-of-pack nutrition labelling (FoPL) for packag...
Customs Duty Cut on Edible Oils to Ease Retail Prices
The Union Finance Ministry reduced the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on major edible oils through Notification No. 31/2026-Customs, issued Septem...
Import Duty Cut on Edible Oils: Tariff Policy as an Inflation Tool
The Union Finance Ministry reduced the basic customs duty (BCD) on major edible oils, effective from 24 September 2026, to ease food-price p...
Iran-US Diplomatic Signals via Qatar: Strait of Hormuz and Regional Mediation
Iran's Foreign Ministry said it communicated conditions for reviving diplomacy with the United States through a Qatari mediator, in a messag...
Ladakh's Sixth Schedule and Statehood Demand, One Year After the Leh Violence
The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh announced the withdrawal of criminal cases against 20 persons booked in connection with violence that brok...
Jaishankar Raises Concerns Over New US Sanctions Law in Meeting With Rubio
The External Affairs Minister met the US Secretary of State on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's high-level week and raised India's...
India-EU Free Trade Agreement Set for December 16 Signing
The India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is scheduled to be formally signed on December 16, 2026, following the conclusion of neg...
Germany Signals Readiness to Finalise Project 75(I) Submarine Deal With India
The German Ambassador to India stated that Germany is ready to sign a 'forward leaning' agreement with India for the construction of convent...
Ukraine Signals Readiness for a Black Sea Maritime Truce
Ukraine's President told UN leaders that Ukraine was ready to accept a maritime truce in the Black Sea, built on proposals separately advanc...
MoD Signs ₹811 Crore Contract for Satellite-Guided Anti-Airfield Glide Bombs
The Ministry of Defence signed a contract worth approximately ₹811 crore (₹810.79 crore) with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for 160 Satellit...
Board of Peace Unveils $2.45 Billion Blueprint for Gaza Reconstruction
The Board of Peace, the body established to oversee implementation of a comprehensive Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction plan, met on the sid...
Supreme Court Split Verdict Refers CEC-EC Appointment Law Challenge to Constitution Bench
A two-judge Supreme Court bench delivered a 1:1 split verdict while hearing petitions that challenge the Chief Election Commissioner and Oth...
Supreme Court Flags Delay in Speaker's Decision on MP Disqualification Petitions
The Supreme Court heard a plea seeking an expeditious decision on 20 pending disqualification petitions against Lok Sabha members, filed bef...
India, Egypt and Turkey Propose Options for Safe Black Sea Shipping
India, Egypt, and Turkey have submitted written proposals aimed at ending disruptions to shipping in the Black Sea and restoring safe naviga...
India Flags Concerns Over New US Russia-Iran Sanctions Law in Bilateral Talks
India's Ministry of External Affairs held bilateral talks with the United States' Department of State on the sidelines of the UN General Ass...
Judicial Appointments: Selective Implementation of Collegium Recommendations by the Executive Flagged in Court
During a Supreme Court hearing, a sitting judge made observations on the process by which judges of the higher judiciary are appointed in In...
China's Push to Reshape the Asian Regional Order After the US-China Truce Extension
The Chinese and US heads of state met in Washington, extending a one-year trade truce first struck in Busan, South Korea (October 2025), und...
IEA Report: Cost-Effective Electrification Could Lift Global Electricity Share to 35% by 2035
A new International Energy Agency (IEA) Special Report finds that cost-effective deployment of currently available technologies could raise ...
Karnataka Flags ₹2,186 Crore in Pending 15th Finance Commission Grants to Gram Panchayats
Karnataka's Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department flagged that ₹2,186.20 crore in grants recommended by the 15th Finance Commission...
TMC Rebel MPs' Disqualification Plea: Supreme Court Flags Speaker's Delay, Declines to Fix Deadline
The Supreme Court heard a plea seeking a direction to the Lok Sabha Speaker to expeditiously decide disqualification petitions filed against...
BRICS Proposes Joint Working Groups on Transfer Pricing and International Taxation
India's Finance Minister called for BRICS nations to collaborate more closely on transfer pricing, stating that such tax disputes disproport...
Supreme Court Split Verdict on Referring CEC Appointment Law Challenge to Constitution Bench
A two-judge Supreme Court bench delivered a split verdict on whether to refer petitions challenging the Chief Election Commissioner and Othe...
Speaker's Disqualification Powers Under the Tenth Schedule: What Judicial Review Can and Cannot Touch
The Supreme Court declined to fix a time limit within which the Lok Sabha Speaker must decide pending disqualification petitions against 20 ...
Taiwan Watches the US-China Summit: Arms Sales and the One-China Policy Architecture
Taiwan's government expressed confidence that US arms sales to the island would continue, even as China's head of state visited Washington f...
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Completes Eight Years: Coverage and Savings Data
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) completed eight years since its launch, with official figures showing that ove...
Gujarat Farmer Registry Crosses 63.35 Lakh Registrations Under the Digital Agriculture Mission
Gujarat's Farmer Registry has registered 63.35 lakh farmers, linking Aadhaar-based identity with verified land records to create a unique Fa...
US Backs India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Amid West Asia Tensions
The US administration announced strong support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) during a meeting with Gulf Cooperat...
OECD Raises India's FY27 GDP Growth Forecast to 7.1%
The OECD raised its FY27 GDP growth forecast for India to 7.1%, an increase of 80 basis points from its earlier projection of 6.3% The revis...
Trump-Xi Washington Summit: Trade, Taiwan, AI and Iran on the Agenda
China's head of state is on a state visit to Washington from September 23-25, 2026, including an arrival ceremony, a bilateral meeting, and ...
India Accelerates Canada and Mexico Trade Talks Amid US Tariff Disruption
India is accelerating trade negotiations with Canada and Mexico as part of a wider push to diversify export markets amid disruptions caused ...
SWAGAT-FI Framework Crosses 164 Registrations: Fast-Track Route for Low-Risk Foreign Investors
SEBI's SWAGAT-FI (Single Window Automatic and Generalised Access for Trusted Foreign Investors) framework recorded 164 registrations within ...
Project mBridge Loses Saudi Arabia: Inside the Multi-CBDC Cross-Border Payment Platform
Saudi Arabia's central bank has withdrawn from Project mBridge, a multi-central-bank-digital-currency (CBDC) cross-border payment platform; ...
Maharashtra's Women Farmers Empowerment Bill: Recognition Without Land Rights
The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly passed the Women Farmers Empowerment Bill, 2026, becoming the first Indian state to grant women legal r...
UDAN's Next Phase: Aviation Ministry Signs 21 Agreements With States and UTs
The Civil Aviation Ministry signed 21 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with states and Union Territories under the next phase of the UDAN...
Fourth Coal Mine Near Bandhavgarh-Achanakmar Tiger Corridor Cleared Since July
The Union environment ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommended clearance for an underground coal mining project in Umaria dis...
Article 371-Type Special Provisions and the Proposal for Ladakh
In the wake of a 2025 incident during protests over Ladakh's constitutional status and demands for greater self-governance, in which several...
Supreme Court: Conscientious Objectors Cannot Be Compelled to Sing Vande Mataram
Hearing a petition challenging the mandate to sing all six stanzas of Vande Mataram, the Supreme Court observed that courts cannot dictate w...
Exercise Tarang Shakti 2026: India's Second Multinational Air Exercise, Jodhpur
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will host the second edition of Exercise Tarang Shakti at Air Force Station Jodhpur, Rajasthan, from 26 September...
India-Bhutan Transboundary Rhino Conservation at Manas
On World Rhino Day (22 September), attention turned to the recovery of the greater one-horned rhino population in Manas Tiger Reserve, Assam...
Groundwater Over-Exploitation in Punjab and the Economics of Free Power
A recent assessment highlighted that groundwater extraction in Punjab has crossed unsustainable levels, driven largely by free electricity f...
India-US Trade Deal Timeline Tied to Section 301 Probes on Rival Exporters
Officials indicated that a full India-US trade agreement is unlikely to be concluded until the United States first completes Section 301 inv...
No Prior Sanction Needed Under BNSS to Prosecute Public Servants for Disproportionate Assets
The Madras High Court dismissed a discharge petition filed by a former Tamil Nadu minister and his family members in a long-running dispropo...
Jaishankar's UN High-Level Week Engagements and India's UNSC Campaign
The External Affairs Minister held a series of bilateral and multilateral engagements during the 81st UN General Assembly's High-Level Week ...
Supreme Court Flags Mechanical Notices in Delhi's Special Intensive Revision
During hearing of petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Delhi, the Supreme Court observed that no...
UPI Merchant Discount Rate Returns for Large Transactions from 15 October 2026
From 15 October 2026, a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) of 0.4% applies to person-to-merchant (P2M) UPI transactions above ₹2,000, capped at ₹3...
LCA Tejas Mk-1A Induction Nears as Engine Supply Bottleneck Eases
The Indian Air Force's Vice Chief of Air Staff stated that engines have now been installed on the LCA Tejas Mk-1A aircraft and thorough test...
Karnataka to Conduct Ground-Level Verification of Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Area Notification
The Karnataka government announced it will conduct a village and survey-number-level physical verification of areas covered by the Kasturira...
India's Total Fertility Rate Falls to 1.9: Below Replacement Level for a Fifth Straight Year
India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has been recorded at 1.9 per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report, below the replaceme...
India-Chile Trade Pact Nears Conclusion, With Copper Supply Chains at the Centre
Negotiations between India and Chile to deepen their bilateral trade agreement have entered their final stage, with both sides targeting con...
Centre Signs UDAN MoUs with 21 States for Next Phase of Regional Air Connectivity
The Ministry of Civil Aviation signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 21 states and union territories for the next phase of the Regio...
China's Rare Earth Dominance Shapes the Trump-Xi Summit Agenda
A summit between the US and Chinese heads of state is set for late September 2026 in Washington, with rare earth supply, artificial intellig...
Guterres's Final UNGA Address Calls for Security Council Reform and Greater African Representation
The UN Secretary-General delivered his final address to the high-level segment of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), as his second five-year te...
Supreme Court Flags "Mechanically Issued" Delhi SIR Notices, Seeks Clarity on Voter Safeguards
Hearing a challenge to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Delhi's electoral rolls, the Supreme Court observed that many 'logical discre...
Planetary Health Check 2026: Seven of Nine Planetary Boundaries Now Breached
The Planetary Health Check 2026 assessment finds that seven of the nine planetary boundaries have been transgressed from their safe operatin...
Paddy Procurement Target Held Steady for KMS 2026-27 Despite Lower Acreage
The Centre has retained its paddy procurement target at 71.95 million tonnes for the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2026-27, unchanged from e...
Karnataka Assembly Rejects Kasturirangan Report on Western Ghats ESA, Seeks Ground Survey
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the Kasturirangan Committee report on Western Ghats conservatio...
UDAN's Next Phase: 19 States Sign On to Convert 100 Unused Airstrips Into Operational Airports
Nineteen state governments signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to launch the next phase of the UDAN...
Industrial Effluent Contaminates Groundwater in 25 Villages Near SIPCOT Perundurai, Tamil Nadu
Groundwater in 25 villages around the SIPCOT (State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu) Industrial Growth Centre at Perundurai, ...
Supreme Court: State Can Prescribe the National Song, But Cannot Penalise Conscientious Objectors
The Supreme Court observed that while the state may prescribe the National Song for official occasions, it cannot subject conscientious obje...
UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme Extended for a Second Decade: Viability Gap Funding and Fleet Expansion Targets
The government plans to complete signing of state-level Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for the next phase of the UDAN regional connectivi...
NAMASTE Scheme: Mechanising Sanitation Work and Protecting Sewer and Septic Tank Cleaners
The National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) Scheme was highlighted for strengthening safety, dignity, and livelihood s...
Karnataka Governor Seeks Reconsideration of State Order Truncating Vande Mataram
The Karnataka Governor wrote to the state government asking it to reconsider a Government Order dated 8 September 2026 that limits the singi...
The Science of Gaganyaan's Parachute-Based Deceleration System
ISRO has been conducting a series of qualification tests for the Gaganyaan Crew Module's parachute-based deceleration system ahead of India'...
ISRO-ESA Cooperation Agreement Extended to 2032, Broadened to Human Spaceflight
ISRO and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed an exchange of letters in Paris on September 10, 2026, extending their bilateral Cooperative...
India-New Zealand FTA: Reading the Tariff Line Coverage, Sensitive List, and Visa Provisions
New Zealand has committed to eliminate customs duties on 100% of its tariff lines, covering all of India's current exports to the country, f...
Visegrad Four Backs India's Permanent UN Security Council Bid in First V4+India Meeting
Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Czechia — collectively the Visegrad Group (V4) — held their first-ever ministerial-level meeting with India i...
India-Chile CEPA Talks Advance: Upgrading a Preferential Pact for Critical Minerals
India and Chile are negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to upgrade their existing Preferential Trade Agreement...
Jaishankar Calls for "Reformed Multilateralism" at Inaugural UNGA Summit
The External Affairs Minister addressed the inaugural 'Partners for Multilateralism' (P4M) Summit held on the sidelines of the 81st session ...
Exercise Veer Guardian 2026: India-Japan Joint Air Exercise Concludes at Jodhpur
The bilateral air exercise 'Veer Guardian 2026' between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) concluded at...
India-New Zealand FTA to Enter Into Force October 20: the WTO Legal Basis for Preferential Trade
The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement will come into force on October 20, 2026, coinciding with Dussehra The agreement was signed on Ap...
India-Canada CEPA: Fifth Round of Talks Set for October, Trade Target Doubled by 2030
The next round of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Canada is scheduled to begin Octo...
Written Grounds of Arrest Made Mandatory Even Under UAPA
The Supreme Court held that an arrested person must be furnished the grounds of arrest in writing, in a language they understand, and that t...
Space-Control Weapons and the Missing Multilateral Governance Framework
The United States' public acknowledgment that it has deployed 'on-orbit space control weapons' has renewed calls for stronger multilateral g...
Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls: The Delete-First Concern
Commentary has flagged concerns with the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, under which a l...
India-New Zealand FTA Enters Into Force October 20: Zero-Duty Access for Indian Exports
The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed in New Delhi on April 27, 2026, will enter into force on October 20, 2026, after bo...
J&K's Elected Government Invokes Article 311(2)(b) for the First Time
The Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department dismissed a government school teacher from service with immediate effect, and barred him f...
Coal Stock Crunch at Thermal Power Plants: Reading the CEA's Fuel-Security Data
Government data shows the number of coal-fired power plants with critically low fuel stocks rose sharply to 74, out of 190 thermal plants mo...
India-New Zealand FTA: Investment Commitment and the Trade-Diversification Push
The Union Commerce and Industry Ministry confirmed that the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will come into force on October 20,...
India's New GDP Series (Base Year 2022-23): GST and Corporate Data Reshape National Accounts
The statistics ministry detailed the methodology behind India's new GDP series, which shifts the base year from 2011-12 to 2022-23. The revi...
India-New Zealand FTA: Rules of Origin, Safeguards and Mobility Provisions
Official FAQs on the India-New Zealand FTA (in force October 20, 2026) clarify that goods from third countries routed through New Zealand wi...
Metal Scrap Recycling: A New Incentive Scheme and the Import-Policy Friction Points
The Ministry of Coal and Mines indicated that an incentive scheme for critical mineral recycling is being developed, alongside plans to fast...
RBI's 2026 Concessional Forex Swap Window Draws $143.5 Billion, Led by FCNR(B) Deposits
The Reserve Bank of India's concessional forex swap window, operationalised on June 8, 2026, mobilised total inflows of $143.5 billion as of...
India-New Zealand FTA Enters Into Force: Structure and Trade Targets
The India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed on April 27, 2026, comes into force on October 20, 2026, giving Indian exporters du...
EU Struggles to Renew Russia Sanctions: Unanimity Rule Under Strain
The European Union's sanctions regime against Russia, covering asset freezes and visa bans on roughly 3,000 individuals and entities, faced ...
India-Canada CEPA Talks: Fifth Round and Negotiation Timeline
The fourth round of India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations concluded on September 18, 2026; the fifth...
100% US Tariff Threat: Can India's New Trade Deals Cut Its Export Dependence on America?
A newly enacted US law authorises tariffs of up to 100% on goods from countries that remain large buyers of Russian oil and gas, placing Ind...
Digital Communications Commission Dissolved After 37 Years: Telecom Decision-Making Shifts to DoT Secretary
A government notification dissolved the Digital Communications Commission (DCC) with effect from the date of publication of the resolution. ...
Fourth Straight Year of Global Glacier Mass Loss: WMO Water Resources Report
The World Meteorological Organization's State of Global Water Resources 2025 report finds that glaciers worldwide lost 408 ± 132 gigatonnes ...
India-Canada CEPA: Fifth Negotiating Round Set for October 5, Year-End Conclusion Targeted
India and Canada will hold the fifth round of negotiations for a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) beginning Octo...
Punjab's Groundwater Depletion Is Widening a Social and Economic Divide
A study finds that 76.47% of Punjab's groundwater assessment blocks are classified as 'over-exploited' — the highest share among all Indian ...
RBI Finalises Basel III Market Risk Capital Directions for Commercial Banks
The Reserve Bank of India issued the Reserve Bank of India (Commercial Banks - Minimum Capital Requirements for Market Risk) Directions, 202...
How Trade Agreements Enter Into Force in India
India and New Zealand completed their respective internal legal procedures for the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiated earlier in 2026 The...
Can a Geographical Indication Tag Prevent Cultural Misappropriation?
A controversy arose after a European luxury fashion house showcased sandals closely resembling the Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged Kolha...
Supreme Court Mandates Magistrate Sanction Before Re-Arrest After Article 22(1) Violation
The Supreme Court held that once a person's arrest has been quashed by a Magistrate for violating Article 22(1) of the Constitution (failure...
'Partners for Multilateralism': A New Middle-Power Forum at the UN
The European Union, Brazil, Canada and Kenya launched a new diplomatic forum called 'Partners for Multilateralism' (P4M) on the sidelines of...
India-New Zealand FTA Ratified: Agreement Enters Force October 20, 2026
India and New Zealand completed domestic ratification of their bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which will formally enter into force on...
New Checklist Records 3,261 Flowering Plant Species in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve
A research team compiled a new checklist of flowering plants (angiosperms) of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, recording 3,261 species a...
What Does "Circular Economy" Actually Mean? Unpacking a Contested Concept
An analysis traced how the meaning of 'circular economy' has drifted since the term's origin, showing that despite its wide use in policy an...
India-New Zealand FTA: What the Deal Actually Covers
India and New Zealand have finalised a free trade agreement (FTA) that will come into force on October 20, 2026 New Zealand will offer duty-...
US Tariffs on Russian Oil Buyers: Secondary Sanctions and India's Trade Exposure
India is studying the details of a new US law that authorises tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas The legislat...
US Naval Blockade of Iran: Strait of Hormuz Vessel Redirections and Global Chokepoint Risk
US forces have redirected 109 commercial vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz amid an ongoing naval blockade of Iran Shipping ...
United States Prepares Institution-Wide Sanctions Against the International Criminal Court
The US administration has prepared sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an institution, expected to be announced ar...
₹10,000-Crore Weather Forecasting Push: Mission Mausam and India's Early-Warning Architecture
The Ministry of Earth Sciences has proposed a ₹10,000-crore initiative to modernise India's weather forecasting infrastructure The finance m...