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🚨 Top 5 States to Drive Half of India’s Capex in FY26 According to a recent report by Bank of Baroda, five Indian states are expected to contribute nearly 50% of the total capital outlay (capex) for FY26—underscoring their crucial role in India’s infrastructure growth and development. Leading States by Capex in FY26: Uttar Pradesh – 16.3% Gujarat – 9.4% Maharashtra – 8.3% Madhya Pradesh – 8.1% Karnataka – 6.7% These states alone are set to drive the ₹10.2 lakh crore in projected capital outlay, rising from ₹8.7 lakh crore in FY25. Notably, this capex is earmarked for long-term fixed asset creation —such as roads, health facilities, and schools—underlining a state-led growth model in public investment. On the flip side, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim are likely to see minimal capex contributions—just 0.4% collectively. 📈 Revenue Side: Who’s Earning the Most? FY26 will also see total state receipts rising 10.6% to ₹69.4 lakh crore. Top states i...

ECI Contemplates Door-to-Door Electoral Roll Verification in Bihar In a significant move aimed at enhancing the credibility and accuracy of the electoral process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is considering an intensive house-to-house verification during the revision of electoral rolls ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections . This is expected to be one of the most comprehensive voter verification initiatives since the last such effort undertaken in 2004 . Addressing Long-Standing Concerns Over Voter Data Accuracy Over the years, various civil society groups, political stakeholders, and electoral observers have raised concerns about the inclusion of ineligible names and the deletion of legitimate voters from electoral rolls. The proposed exercise aims to eliminate duplicate, erroneous, or outdated entries , while ensuring that genuine voters are not left out . The ECI has consistently reiterated its commitment to a clean and inclusive voter list , ensuring ...

⚠️ Iran Confirms Attacks on Nuclear Sites The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has officially confirmed that three of its key nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—were attacked in what it described as a violation of international law, especially the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Iran termed the aggression as “savage” and vowed to continue the development of its nuclear industry, which it refers to as a “national industry built on the blood of nuclear martyrs.”

❖ Introduction: A 'Clerical Error' Sparks National Debate Delhi University (DU), one of India’s premier higher education institutions, found itself at the center of a linguistic and communal controversy after its undergraduate admission form listed “Muslim” as a mother tongue while omitting Urdu —a constitutionally recognized language. Following public outrage and criticism from academics and civil society, the university issued a formal clarification describing the issue as a “clerical error.” ❖ The Controversial Admission Form Screenshots of DU’s undergraduate admission portal began circulating on social media platforms on Saturday, showing "Muslim" among the options listed for mother tongue . Notably, Urdu , which holds official status under the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution , was missing. The form quickly drew sharp criticism from across the academic spectrum and political commentators. Observers highlighted that such a mix-up is not a minor o...

Judicial Rebuke: Himachal Pradesh High Court Pulls Up the State Government On June 7, 2025, the Himachal Pradesh High Court delivered a sharp reprimand to the state government over two controversial issues: the prolonged delay in appointing officials to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and the controversial six-month extension granted to Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena , who is currently facing a pending charge sheet in the INX Media scam . During the resumed hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Atul Sharma , the division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Ranjan Sharma imposed a monetary penalty on the state and directed the amount to be deposited with the Himachal Pradesh High Court Bar Association by June 25 . Timeline of Delay and Court’s Frustration The delay in notifying appointments to the RERA body has now been termed by the Court as a case of “administrative apathy” . The bench condemned the state for ...

🔴 Starship Explosion: A Major Setback for Elon Musk’s Mars Dream On June 18, 2025 , SpaceX faced a significant setback when its Starship prototype exploded during a routine engine test at Starbase, Texas , resulting in the complete destruction of the spacecraft and damage to the surrounding infrastructure. Starship is SpaceX’s ambitious two-stage super heavy-lift launch vehicle, designed to ferry humans to Mars — a critical element in Elon Musk’s long-term interplanetary vision . In a statement released on June 19 , SpaceX confirmed that a “major anomaly” occurred while the upper stage of Starship was being tested on the stand. Fortunately, no injuries were reported , and all personnel were safely evacuated. The company maintained a safety clear zone, and environmental impact assessments showed no chemical or toxic hazards to nearby communities. The Starship program , successor to Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, had already experienced multiple test failures in recent years. A proto...

India’s New Foreign Policy Doctrine: Strategic, Structured, and Sovereign India’s foreign policy has undergone a significant transformation in the past decade—marked by pragmatism, purposeful diplomacy, and an unwavering commitment to strategic autonomy. Whether it is engaging major powers or building coalitions with the Global South, India's diplomacy has grown more structured, forward-looking, and impactful. From high-trust defence partnerships to landmark multilateral summits, India today is no longer just a participant on the world stage—it is a pivotal shaper of global narratives. US-India Relations: From Trust to Trade & Technology India’s relationship with the United States has evolved into a Global Strategic Partnership , anchored in democratic values and economic synergy. The COMPACT initiative (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) underscores this cooperation. Key milestones: Mission 500 aims to double ...

🚦 Big Shift in Tolling Policy: Annual FASTag Scheme Announced Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari , on Wednesday announced a landmark development in India’s digital highway infrastructure — the launch of a FASTag-based annual toll pass . This scheme is aimed at easing financial burdens and travel inefficiencies for non-commercial private vehicle owners by offering unlimited access across 200 toll plazas for ₹3,000 per year , effective August 15, 2025 . Currently, frequent highway commuters pay an estimated ₹10,000 per year on tolls. The new system will reduce this to an average ₹15 per trip , offering a potential annual savings of ₹7,000 for regular users. 🛣️ Scope of the Scheme: Where and to Whom It Applies Applicable only on National Highways Not valid for state roads Available exclusively for private vehicles — including cars, jeeps, and vans Valid for 200 toll transactions annually , where one trip equals one toll crossing Activa...

🇮🇳 India’s Market Borrowing Shows Disciplined Stability: SBI Report India’s sovereign borrowing strategy is evolving with stability and prudence , even as its economic expansion requires rising capital. The State Bank of India (SBI) in its latest research (as of June 13, 2025) confirms that net borrowings remain under control , and the government is showing fiscal restraint in line with FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) Act objectives.

Supreme Court Asserts CBFC Authority Over Fringe Threats In a significant oral observation, the Supreme Court of India on Tuesday underscored the constitutional importance of free expression and warned against extra-judicial censorship. The Court emphasized that any film duly certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) must be permitted to be released, regardless of opposition from vigilante groups or political sentiments. This came during the hearing of a petition concerning the Kamal Haasan-starrer ‘Thug Life’ , which faces alleged threats and an extra-judicial ban in Karnataka following controversial remarks attributed to the actor. Bench Sends Clear Message: Mob Rule Cannot Undermine the Law A bench comprising Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan stated unambiguously that “mobs and vigilantes cannot dictate what gets released in theatres.” The Court further remarked that it is up to individuals to choose whether they want to watch a movie—but once a film h...

Resilience Amidst Uncertainty: India’s Trade Performance in May 2025 India’s export sector has demonstrated considerable resilience in May 2025 despite a challenging global environment marked by geopolitical uncertainty and volatile commodity prices. According to experts and data shared by industry bodies, total exports from India—combining merchandise and services— grew by 2.8% year-on-year to USD 71.12 billion , compared to USD 69.20 billion in May 2024. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) highlighted that this growth was largely driven by the services sector , including software, consultancy, and financial services. Although merchandise exports slightly declined to USD 38.73 billion , the strong performance in services helped balance the overall export portfolio. Sectoral Insights: Engineering Exports Hold Steady Engineering exports—a critical component of India’s merchandise trade—showed notable stability. Engineering goods exports declined marginally by 0.8...

India Maintains Strong Growth Amid Global Headwinds India’s economy has once again defied global slowdowns and inflationary pressures. According to the CareEdge Economic Pathways Report , India’s real GDP grew by 7.4% in Q4 FY25 , pushing the overall annual growth to 6.5% , beating analyst expectations. Though slightly moderated from the 8.4% average of the past two years, this growth solidifies India’s place among the fastest-growing major economies. Key growth drivers: Construction sector surged 10.8% in Q4. Manufacturing and private investments improved , though consumption slightly slowed. Rural demand stayed robust due to rising wages, despite mixed urban demand. Retail inflation cooled to 3.2% in April 2025, the lowest since August 2019, with food inflation easing due to strong Rabi harvests and water reserves. However, concerns remain over falling household savings , which declined for a third straight year to 18.1% of GDP , with financial liabilities risin...

Tragedy at Indrayani River: Iron Bridge Collapses in Pune In a major mishap on Sunday, an iron bridge over the Indrayani River near Kundamala village in Maharashtra’s Pune district collapsed, leading to mass casualties and a large-scale rescue operation. The incident occurred near Talegaon Dabhade , a site known for its popularity among local tourists. Initial reports suggest that over 40 people were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals, while at least two fatalities have been officially confirmed. Rescue Efforts Led by CRPF and NDRF According to CRPF Deputy Inspector General Vaibhav Nimbalkar , one of the CRPF companies was immediately deployed from Talegaon to assist in the rescue, without waiting for formal orders. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also dispatched two specialized teams to the site. DIG Nimbalkar emphasized the CRPF’s primary role in supporting the civil administration, controlling crowds, and engaging in active rescue operations alongside NDR...

India’s Global Capability Centres Are Now Powering Tax Strategy Worldwide India is fast becoming the epicentre for complex global tax operations , with multinational corporations (MNCs) increasingly relying on their India-based Global Capability Centres (GCCs) to run high-value and knowledge-driven tax functions. This trend is highlighted in a newly released whitepaper by Deloitte India , titled Transforming Global Tax Functions: The GCC Advantage . According to the report, India-based GCCs have matured beyond their traditional back-office roles . They now play a strategic role in managing global tax functions , covering a wide range of areas including corporate tax, indirect tax, transfer pricing, tax litigation , and digital tax transformation. GCCs: Becoming Strategic Tax Hubs The whitepaper, authored by Manisha Gupta, Partner at Deloitte India , underlines how India's GCC ecosystem offers a unique combination of talent, technology, and cost advantage , enabling MNCs to ...

Weekly FPI Inflows Boosted by RBI Rate Cut Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) infused ₹3,346.94 crore into Indian equities during the trading week from June 9 to June 13 , as per data released by the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) . The early part of the week saw strong inflows, largely driven by positive investor sentiment following a surprise rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) . On June 6, 2025 , the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the RBI announced a 50 basis point reduction in the repo rate , bringing it down to 5.5% . This move was seen as a major boost to investor confidence, stimulating demand for equities in the Indian market. Friday Outflow Reverses Weekly Gains Despite early optimism, foreign investors turned cautious toward the end of the week due to escalating geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran . On Friday, June 13 , FPIs pulled out a significant ₹3,275.76 crore, which substantially offset the gains made earlier in the week. June...

Formal Investigation by AAIB Initiated In the aftermath of the devastating crash of Air India Flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad on June 12, 2025, which claimed the lives of 241 people onboard, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched a full-scale investigation. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed that this inquiry will follow international protocols as laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The AAIB, functioning under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, is India's primary agency for probing civil aviation accidents. In addition to the investigation, a high-level committee of multidisciplinary experts is being constituted to examine the causes of the accident and recommend safety reforms to prevent such tragedies in the future. US-Based NTSB to Assist Probe In an extraordinary step of international cooperation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States is preparing to send a team of exper...

Crash Summary: What Happened? A tragic air disaster struck Gujarat’s capital city on Thursday as Air India Flight AI171 , en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick , crashed shortly after takeoff from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport . The flight, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner , was carrying 242 individuals , including 230 passengers and 12 crew members . According to Air Traffic Control (ATC) , the aircraft departed from Runway 23 at 13:39 IST (08:09 UTC) . It issued a Mayday call , but soon after, lost communication with ATC. The aircraft reportedly crashed into a doctors' hostel in the Meghaninagar area , outside the airport perimeter. Eyewitnesses reported heavy black smoke rising from the site of impact. Passenger Details and Casualties The flight included a mix of international nationals: 169 Indian nationals 53 British nationals 7 Portuguese nationals 1 Canadian national Exact figures on fatalities and injuries have not yet been confi...

BJP's Navya Haridas Challenges Priyanka Gandhi’s Election Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Navya Haridas , who contested the 2024 Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election , has filed an election petition in the Kerala High Court against Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra , challenging her victory. The petition was admitted by the court after hearing preliminary arguments, and Justice K Babu has issued summons to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Grounds of Petition: Alleged Corrupt Practices and Asset Non-Disclosure In her plea, Navya Haridas alleges that Priyanka Gandhi engaged in “corrupt practices” and failed to disclose multiple movable and immovable assets , including investments and properties owned by her and her husband, Robert Vadra , in the affidavit submitted during her nomination process. The petition contends that this lack of transparency violates key provisions under election law and seeks the annulment of the poll results . Legal Representation and Proceedings Haridas is ...

 

Introduction: A Honeymoon Ends in Horror In a chilling turn of events, a honeymoon trip to Meghalaya has ended in the murder of 30-year-old Raja Raghuvanshi, a resident of Indore, Madhya Pradesh. His wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi , along with four others, stands accused of orchestrating and executing his murder in what police have described as a “fully planned operation.” Medical Examination in Shillong In the early hours of Wednesday, Sonam Raghuvanshi was brought to Ganesh Das Hospital in Shillong for a medical examination. She is currently under a three-day transit remand with the Meghalaya Police , who are intensifying their investigation into the case. This move comes ahead of her appearance before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in Shillong. Details of the Murder Plot Sonam and her husband Raja were on their honeymoon in Meghalaya when Raja mysteriously went missing. On June 2 , his body was discovered in a deep gorge in Sohra , near Cherrapunji. The initial shock...