Former USAID mission director for India, Veena Reddy, is under scrutiny after US President Donald Trump questioned a $21 million aid package aimed at boosting voter turnout in India. The BJP claims this confirms foreign interference in Indian elections, while Congress dismisses the remarks.
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A parliamentary panel has flagged delays in implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission, which now has an extended deadline to 2028. It also highlighted the lack of consensus among states on inter-linking river projects and inadequate flood forecast systems requiring technological upgrades.
The Allahabad high court has stayed the arrest of Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq in connection with the violence in Sambhal district. The court refused to quash the FIR and instructed Barq to cooperate with the investigation, noting that specific arrest guidelines must be adhered to if he is taken into custody.
The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, proposes significant changes to the 118-year-old Indian Ports Act. It mandates all ports to report incidents threatening pollution and defines 23 violations as criminal offences, including non-payment of port fees, and safety violations. It also introduces significant penalties and requires data integration with central systems.
Top AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia face losses in the Delhi Assembly polls, while ministers Gopal Rai, Mukesh Ahlawat, and Imran Hussain secured victories in their constituencies. The BJP is set to form a government after 26 years, leading in 48 of 70 seats. Congress is expected to score zero once again.
PM Narendra Modi and senior BJP leaders, including Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath, hailed the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj as the 'Maha Kumbh of Unity.' The event saw significant social media engagement under the hashtag 'Ekta_Ka_Mahakumbh,' emphasizing the spiritual and cultural significance of the gathering.
Darshana Sreedhar Mini explores Kerala's adult film industry during the '90s and 2000s in her book. The soft porn cinema rise was fueled by financial crises in mainstream cinema, but oversaturation led to its decline. Starlets like Shakeela became synonymous with the genre, although their careers in mainstream cinema suffered as a result.
India is set to shift from GPS-based time determination to using its own NavIC system for precise time dissemination. The initiative aims to ensure 'one nation, one time' by relying on atomic clocks across regional centres, reducing dependence on foreign systems and enhancing national security.
Lex Fridman, renowned podcaster and MIT researcher, is set to host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his podcast. This marks Fridman's first visit to India and a significant addition to his lineup of high-profile guests. Modi will discuss his life, political journey, and governance philosophy.
Between 2022 and 2024, 20.8 lakh kg of narcotic drugs were destroyed in India, with annual figures showing a decline. The Narcotics Control Bureau intercepted 96 Darknet trafficking cases between 2020 and 2024. There were also increases in seizures of opium and cannabis-based drugs, while seizures of psychotropic substances and cocaine witnessed a decline.
Facing its first major setback, the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi under Arvind Kejriwal lost to BJP, securing only 23 out of 70 seats. Major former allies such as Swati Maliwal, Kailash Gehlot, Kapil Mishra, and Alka Lamba, whose departures highlighted internal conflicts, are pivotal in Kejriwal’s reflections.