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Maharashtra tables strict law against coercive conversions
Maharashtra’s government has introduced the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 in the state assembly, proposing stringent legal action against religious conversions carried out through coercion, fraud, inducement or marriage, signalling a major legislative move that could reshape the debate around faith, personal liberty and state regulation of religious...
Hormuz transit signals cautious relief for India
Safe passage for vessels linked to India through the Strait of Hormuz appears to be taking shape amid escalating tensions in West Asia, though officials in New Delhi remain guarded about confirming the development. Ship-tracking data and maritime intelligence reports indicate that several India-connected vessels have crossed the strategic...
TMC delegation denied presidential audience
A request by the Trinamool Congress for a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu has been declined by the President’s Secretariat, which cited a “paucity of time” in its response, according to party figures familiar with the communication. The Trinamool Congress delegation had sought an appointment to brief the President...
PUCL urges government to speak on Iran conflict
Civil liberties organisation People’s Union for Civil Liberties has written an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the government to end what it describes as an “unconstitutional silence” over military action against Iran and to clarify its position on the escalating conflict in West Asia. The appeal...
Tehran denies special passage for India tankers
Confusion surrounding maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has deepened after Tehran rejected reports that it had opened the strategic waterway exclusively for India-flagged oil tankers amid escalating tensions across West Asia. Iranian officials said no special arrangement had been granted to vessels flying the Indian flag, countering...
Lokpal challenges relief granted to Moitra
Legal battle surrounding the cash-for-query allegations against Trinamool Congress parliamentarian Mahua Moitra has reached the Supreme Court after the country’s anti-corruption ombudsman challenged a Delhi High Court ruling that had set aside its decision allowing the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a chargesheet against her. Lokpal of India...
LPG supply turmoil fuels anger nationwide
Mounting disruption in liquefied petroleum gas supplies has sparked sharp criticism of government authorities and oil marketing companies, with households, hotel owners and distributors warning that shortages are spreading while official assurances continue to project stability. Growing frustration has emerged across several regions as consumers report difficulty booking cylinders...
UN resolution against Iran gains broad backing
India joined more than 135 nations in supporting a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Iran’s attacks on Gulf states and Jordan, signalling a widening international push to halt escalating hostilities in West Asia and protect key regional infrastructure and shipping routes. The Bahrain-led resolution was adopted by the...
Washington opens fresh tariff front after court setback
United States administration under President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping trade investigation into excess industrial capacity among 16 major trading partners, signalling a renewed effort to rebuild tariff pressure after the Supreme Court struck down a central pillar of the administration’s tariff strategy last month. The inquiry, announced...
Menon warns silence weakens diplomatic voice
Measured criticism from a former top diplomat has sharpened debate over New Delhi’s response to the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Shivshankar Menon arguing that prolonged official silence risks eroding the country’s influence in global affairs. Menon, who served as Foreign Secretary and later National...
Odisha raises concern over Murmu protocol row
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to convey regret to President Droupadi Murmu after what he described as a breach of protocol during the President’s visit to the state, an episode that has triggered political friction and debate over respect for...
China advances ethnic unity law
Legislation designed to strengthen what Beijing describes as “ethnic unity” is moving toward approval by the National People’s Congress, marking a significant step in a policy framework that authorities say aims to reinforce national cohesion while critics warn it could intensify pressures on minority communities. Delegates to the legislature...
Tanker reaches Mumbai after tense Hormuz passage
A Liberian-flagged oil tanker carrying Saudi Arabian crude has docked at Mumbai after crossing the Strait of Hormuz under heightened security conditions, becoming the first vessel bound for the country to complete the journey since maritime traffic through the strategic waterway largely halted following the United States and Israel...
Heated Lok Sabha clash as Speaker motion stirs storm
Fierce exchanges erupted in the Lok Sabha as opposition and treasury benches traded sharp accusations during a debate over a motion targeting Speaker Om Birla, with Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju at the centre of a tense confrontation that underscored...
Priyanka Gandhi targets Rijiju over Nehru quote
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised Union minister Kiren Rijiju during a heated parliamentary debate on a motion seeking the removal of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accusing the government of political hypocrisy after Rijiju cited a remark by Jawaharlal Nehru while defending the Speaker. The exchange unfolded during...
US grants temporary clearance for India’s Russian oil purchases
United States authorities have granted a temporary waiver allowing India to purchase limited volumes of Russian crude oil, describing New Delhi as a “good actor” that had previously complied with Washington’s request to curb such imports amid sanctions targeting Moscow. Officials in Washington said the waiver, valid for about...
Tribunal relief opens path for disputed voters
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has welcomed a Supreme Court direction calling for the establishment of appellate tribunals to hear voter appeals, describing the decision as a fresh opportunity for individuals whose names were removed or placed under scrutiny during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Banerjee...
Supreme Court cautions against doubts over SIR verification
Supreme Court delivered a stern warning on Tuesday to the West Bengal government, the Election Commission of India and petitioners involved in litigation over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, directing all sides to refrain from casting doubts on judicial officers appointed to verify voters whose names were...
