A study published in PLOS Global Public Health by researchers from the Indian Institute of Science, the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (part of TATA Institute of Fundamental Research), and the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society has provided important evidence-based insights into the role of wastewater epidemiology as a public health surveillance tool. The…
The first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, launched on the night of May 6-7, 2025, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians including 25 tourists, has prompted a comprehensive official stocktaking of India’s counter-terrorism doctrine, military capabilities, and diplomatic achievements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tribute to the armed forces was accompanied by…
The India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, whose negotiations were concluded in January 2026, has been described by the EU’s Ambassador to India, Hervé Delphin, as the “mother of all deals” — a characterisation that captures both the extraordinary scale of the agreement and the weight of expectation it carries. Speaking at an event organised by…
The political situation in Tamil Nadu following the 2026 Assembly elections has ignited one of the most consequential constitutional debates in recent Indian political history. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician C. Joseph Vijay, emerged as the single largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly with 108 seats, yet the Governor Rajendra…
The National Crime Records Bureau released its “Crime in India 2024” report on May 7, 2026, presenting a complex picture of India’s crime landscape that requires careful analytical reading. The headline figure — a 6 percent overall decline in cognisable crimes to 58.86 lakh cases — masks several deeply troubling trends, most prominently a 17…
The Calcutta High Court on May 7, 2026 received submissions from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration that revealed a troubling procedural failure at the heart of India’s largest planned infrastructure project. The A&NI administration conceded in an affidavit that the gram sabha meetings convened under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) to obtain consent for…
On May 1, 2026 — International Workers’ Day — the Karnataka government operationalised a specialised grievance redressal mechanism for platform-based gig workers through the Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System (IPGRS), making it the first government-backed grievance handling mechanism for gig workers in India. This development follows the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare)…
United States President Donald Trump on May 7, 2026 paused “Project Freedom,” an operation launched on May 5 aimed at guiding stranded merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing “great progress” in negotiations with Iran. The pause came at Pakistan’s request and amid diplomatic signals that Iran and the United States were close to…
The editorial pages of The Hindu on May 7, 2026 carried a detailed analytical piece examining India’s consumption expenditure inequality based on the Household Consumer Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24) conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation. The analysis arrives at a critical juncture when significant policy shifts — including the implementation of new Labour Codes…
The Supreme Court of India on May 7, 2026, continued hearing petitions challenging the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service, and Term of Office) Act of 2023. The court’s bench made a significant observation that the inclusion of the Chief Justice of India in the selection committee, as directed by…