Delimitation will address concerns of southern States: Centre

The delimitation exercise will take care of the concerns expressed by southern States, and discussions will be held with all stake-holders at the appropriate time, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Thursday.

Trump revives controversial travel ban against 12 nations

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a new travel ban targeting 12 countries that comes into effect on Monday, reviving one of the most controversial measures from his first term. The move bans all travel to the U.S. by nationals of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, according to the White House.

On a wing and a prayer

On April 4, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) announced that it had entered into a "historic agreement" with a private company, Pioneer Clean AMPS Pvt Ltd, to manufacture the upgraded version of the Hansa-3, called the Han-sa-3 NG (Next Generation). This two-seater trainer aircraft gives trainee pilots the opportunity to practise within India while undergoing their basic flying training.

Injustice in the delay

India's next decadal population census, initially delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, is now scheduled to conclude by March 2027, after a further delay apparently fuelled by political motivations. The Census in 2021 did not take place as planned, thus impacting different aspects of governance, especially social security schemes for vulnerable populations that rely heavily on updated demographic data for effective and efficient delivery. For the first time, the Census will be digitally administered, enabling faster data gathering and easier accessibility for analysis, thereby allowing population-level data to be more dynamic. However, this technological adoption also heightens concerns regarding data theft and privacy. While the nature of the Census will evolve, transparency at all levels will be crucial to building public trust in the exercise. Preparations for this massive operation, which will reach every household, are underway, with more logistical details anticipated in the weeks ahead.

The university versus constitutionally protected speech

Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties," said John Milton in his famous pamphlet, Areopagitica (1644), opposing the licensing system (called imprimatur). Originally introduced in response to the introduction of the printing press in England in 1538 and reinstituted by the British Parliament in 1643, authors had to obtain permission or licence from the government prior to their publications. In India, several High Courts and even the Supreme Court of India are hearing petitions on the limits of freedom of expression. Should we really go back to that dated system where prior permission of the government or university is required to express one's views? Are university teachers mere robots who should write only research papers and not express their opinions on contemporary issues? Do we no longer consider free speech to be an integral part of human dignity and an individual's self-fulfilment? Is truth no more autonomous and the highest public good? Are not excessive restrictions on free speech based on the assumption of infallibility of the state or its stated positions? These are some of the pertinent issues that India must resolve because its position on these fundamental issues is bound to strengthen or weaken its ethical claim of being a true Vishwaguru. India's low rank of 151 out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index does not enhance its stature in the comity of nations.

Trampled over

In less than 24 hours, ecstasy turned into des-pair. Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title, secured on Tuesday night in Ahmedabad, triggered unabated joy and raucous celebrations in Bengaluru and the rest of Karnataka. However, by Wednesday evening, a thick shroud of grief hung over the southern metropolis as a ghastly stampede in and around RCB's home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, left 11 dead and more than 50 injured. The hallowed venue was hosting a felicitation event in honour of the victorious team while fans outside, desperate to get in, ended up as a heaving chaotic mass with many gasping for breath. Asphyxia was the primary cause of death besides injuries suffered in the stifling rush. Sport is often a tight pact between the performing athlete and the adoring fan; it triggers emotions, and in the case of the IPL, forges a connection between the franchise and a vast audience. RCB has always had a loyal fan base, and the IPL triumph was bound to attract followers running into lakhs, towards the Central Business District of M.G. Road, Brigade Road, Cubbon Road, Queens Road and KSCA Clubhouse Link Road. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah admitted that the crowd was beyond expectations.

A Eurocentric reset, a gateway for India

In a diplomatic move, with farreaching consequences, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer's new agreement with the European Union (EU) signals a powerful "reset" of their relations, resuming cooperation on food standards, fishing rights, defence and border checks. While this development may appear Eurocentric, it opens a gateway to possibilities and challenges for India that demand urgent attention.

The U.K. and the EU are among India's most important trade and diplomatic partners, and their renewed alignment could redraw India's global strategy map. For Indian exporters, this could simplify compliance and revive supply chain fluidity. For policymakers, this presents an opportunity to strengthen strategic alliances. For the diaspora, this could reshape education and migration prospects. In short, the U.K.-EU reset is not just a regional recalibration. It is a moment that could redefine India's trade corridors, diplomatic engagements, and soft power leverage in the West.

Should India amend its nuclear energy laws?

Discussions are ongoing in India to amend the nuclear liability framework, regulated by the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act (CLNDA), 2010, and the Atomic Energy Act (AEA), 1962, to allow private companies to build and operate nuclear energy-generation facilities. This move is part of a broader strategy to expand India's nuclear energy capacity from the current 8 GW to 100 GW by 2047, aligning with the country's clean energy goals. Should India amend its nuclear energy laws? Ashley Tellis and D. Raghunandan discuss the question in a conversation moderated by Kunal Shankar. Edited excerpts:

Is IBC an effective resolution tool?

More than eight years have passed since the enactment of India's Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). According to data from the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), creditors have realised ₹3.89 lakh crore under the framework, with a recovery rate of over 32.8% against admitted claims.

What is new in Ladakh's govt. job reservation policy?

On June 3, President Droupadi Murmu notified four Regulations for the Union Territory (U.T.) of Ladakh, defining new policies on reservation, languages, domiciles, and composition of hill councils for Ladakh, which became a Union Territory in 2019. The notified regulations were The Ladakh Official Languages Regulation, 2025; The Ladakh Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment (Amendment) Regulation, 2025; The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils (Amendment) Regulation, 2025; and The Union Territory of Ladakh Reservation (Amendment) Regulation, 2025.

Al's unchecked ascent: How big tech is outpacing the regulatory rulebook

Artificial intelligence is experiencing a period of meteoric acceleration. Scarcely a week passes without fresh demonstrations of its expanding capabilities, as giants like OpenAI, Meta, Google, Anthropic and Microsoft unveil deeper integrations of their Al models, each flaunting ever more advanced capabilities.

These firms' fortunes were built on data, both scraped from the internet and personal user details. This digital information now serves as the lifeblood for all the AI tools they deploy to the general public as tiered products.

Some of these tech titans have faced scrutiny over their data practices, resulting in fines in certain instances and changes in their behaviour in others. They have been questioned by regulators, courts, and the general public in several major economies.

Railways to check for illegal immigrants by verifying Aadhaar IDs

The Indian Railways has issued an alert on illegal immigrants using fake or forged Aadhaar cards as proof of identity while travelling and directed Travelling Ticket Examiners (TTEs) to check at random the veracity of the document.

Jaishankar stresses need to boost India-Central Asia links

More efforts and resources need to be invested in improving India's connectivity with Central Asia, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Thursday highlighting the need to intensify trade through the Chabahar port in Iran.

At the India-Central Asia Business Council meeting ahead of the fourth India-Central Asia Dialogue scheduled for Friday, Mr. Jaishankar expressed support for "mutual settlement of trade" in national currencies.

Trump holds 'positive' talks with Xi, to resume U.S.-China talks over trade

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his first call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping since returning to office was "very positive," announcing that the two countries will hold trade talks in hopes of breaking an impasse over tariffs and global supplies of rare earth minerals.