The article highlights a growing geopolitical contest between India and China over Buddhism, particularly in the Himalayan region. China views Buddhism as a tool of statecraft, aiming to dominate Tibetan religious life by controlling reincarnations and promoting its version of Buddhist diplomacy. India, traditionally hosting the Dalai Lama, has recently begun to engage more strategically with Buddhism as a tool of influence, promoting its heritage and funding pilgrimage circuits. The looming succession of the 14th Dalai Lama, with China vowing to appoint its own, is a critical point that could reshape geopolitical allegiances in regions like Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, making soft power a hard power.
- A significant geopolitical contest is unfolding between India and China over the influence of Buddhism in the Himalayas.
- China uses Buddhism as a tool of statecraft, controlling religious institutions and the process of reincarnation, particularly for "Living Buddhas."
- India is increasingly engaging with Buddhism as a strategic tool, promoting its heritage and funding pilgrimage circuits.
The Karnataka government is drafting a new law, the Karnataka Devadasi (Prevention, Prohibition, Relief and Rehabilitation) Bill, to replace the existing four-decade-old legislation from 1982. The proposed law aims to strengthen efforts against the Devadasi system by eliminating the need for a father's name in official documents and recognizing the right of a Devadasi's child to identify their father through DNA tests, ensuring property and inheritance rights. It also proposes increasing the jail term for those abetting the practice from three to five years, addressing a long-standing demand for comprehensive rehabilitation.
- Karnataka is developing a new law to replace the 1982 Devadasi (Prohibition and Dedication) Act.
- The new legislation will remove the requirement for a father's name in application forms for children of Devadasis.
- It will include provisions for paternity tests and grant property and inheritance rights to children of Devadasis.
Tamil Nadu has achieved the second position in the country for per capita Net State Domestic Product (NSDP), according to figures released by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The State's per capita NSDP stood at ₹1,96,309, significantly higher than the national per capita net national income (NNI) of ₹1,14,710 at constant prices for 2024-25. The Tamil Nadu government attributes this achievement to its efficient administration and visionary welfare programmes implemented since 2021, despite not receiving new welfare programmes or sufficient funds from the Union government.
- Tamil Nadu secured the second rank nationally in terms of per capita Net State Domestic Product (NSDP).
- The achievement is based on figures published by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
- The State's government credits efficient administration and welfare programs for this economic milestone.
The Tamil Nadu government has announced the establishment of India's first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Coimbatore district. Hornbills, known as 'farmers of the forest' for their role as seed dispersers, are threatened by deforestation and climate change. The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests has sanctioned ₹1 crore for the Centre, which will focus on four hornbill species found in the Western Ghats. Activities will include habitat mapping, nest monitoring, scientific research, and restoration of degraded forest areas. The initiative emphasizes community participation and collaboration with national and international organizations.
- Tamil Nadu is setting up India's first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation.
- The Centre will be located at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Coimbatore.
- Hornbills are crucial keystone species for forest regeneration, facing threats from habitat loss and climate change.
The European Commission is developing an age verification app under the Digital Services Act to protect minors from harmful online content, while claiming to safeguard adult users' privacy. Critics, however, argue that this move risks compromising privacy and fails to effectively protect children. The app, built on technical specifications similar to European Digital Identity Wallets, aims to allow users to prove they are over 18 without revealing exact age or identity, using zero-knowledge proof for privacy. While some porn companies oppose website-level age verification, advocating for device-based checks, the Commission maintains its approach ensures data protection and aims to make the internet safer for everyone.
- The European Commission is developing an age verification app under the Digital Services Act to protect minors from harmful online content.
- Critics express concerns that the app may compromise adult users' privacy and may not effectively safeguard children.
- The app aims to allow users to prove age without revealing exact identity, using zero-knowledge proof for privacy protection.
An analysis reveals that India's annual share of 'yes' votes on United Nations resolutions has fallen to 56% in 2025, the lowest since 1955, while abstentions have sharply risen to 44%, an all-time high. This shift, particularly noticeable since 2019, reflects an increasingly polarised world and the growing complexity of UN resolutions. Former diplomats suggest that abstentions serve as a "useful tool" for emerging and middle powers like India to express their positions more freely, especially when resolutions are convoluted with multiple provisions. This allows India to avoid voting 'yes' or 'no' when it agrees with some aspects but not others, thereby establishing its own nuanced stance.
- India's 'yes' votes at the UN have dropped to 56% in 2025, the lowest since 1955.
- The annual percentage of abstentions has increased to 44%, marking an all-time high for India.
- This change in voting patterns, prominent since 2019, reflects increased global polarisation and complexity of UN resolutions.
A political controversy in Tamil Nadu regarding the diversion of temple funds for colleges highlights a unique social justice model rooted in a 200-year-old legislative framework. This framework, originating from the Madras Presidency, allows the government to control secular aspects of religious endowments and appropriate surplus funds for purposes like education, as enshrined in the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959. Historically, temples served as socio-cultural hubs and educational centers, receiving lavish donations. The Self-Respect Movement viewed temple regulation as crucial for anti-caste reforms, and government control is seen as vital for ensuring social justice and religious reforms in South India.
- Tamil Nadu's use of temple funds for colleges is rooted in a historical social justice model from the Madras Presidency.
- The legislative framework, including the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959, permits the diversion of surplus temple funds for secular purposes like education.
- Historically, temples were not just places of worship but also socio-cultural and educational hubs, receiving significant endowments.
As India prepares to host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, it has the opportunity to steer the global AI debate towards inclusive growth, development, and planetary protection, bridging geopolitical divides. Drawing on its digital experience, India can propose five key suggestions: measuring progress with pledges and report cards, ensuring global South participation, creating a common safety check, offering a middle road on AI rules, and avoiding fragmentation of summits. By focusing on sharing AI capacity with the global majority and turning participation into progress, India can reframe its identity as a leader on cutting-edge issues.
- India is positioned to lead the global AI debate by hosting the AI Impact Summit in February 2026.
- The summit aims to focus AI on inclusive growth, development, and protecting the planet, bridging geopolitical divides.
- India's digital experience, including Aadhaar and UPI, provides a credible foundation for its AI proposals.
A preliminary report on the Air India Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad (June 2025) highlights critical uncertainties and a deep lack of trust in India's aviation system. The author argues for comprehensive reforms to establish a genuine "culture of safety" across all layers, including fair employment, mental health support for air crew, and accountability for airlines and regulators. Systemic breakdowns are evident in aircraft design, maintenance, flight crew duty limitations, airline operations prioritizing profit over safety, and air traffic management. Regulatory loopholes, such as those allowing construction near airports, and the silencing of whistle-blowers further compromise safety, making immediate systemic improvements crucial to prevent future accidents.
- The preliminary report on the Air India Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad reveals systemic issues in India's aviation safety.
- A genuine "culture of safety" is urgently needed, encompassing fair employment, mental health support for air crew, and accountability for all stakeholders.
- Regulatory loopholes, such as relaxed construction norms around airports, pose significant threats to aviation safety.
Tamil Nadu police will soon roll out "e-Sakshaya," a mobile app developed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, to collect mandatory audio-visual evidence. This app will enable police personnel to upload photos and videos of crime scenes, witnesses, and generate immutable SID packets (secure, geo-tagged, time-stamped evidence with hash verification), strengthening the chain of custody and admissibility of evidence. The application uses blockchain technology to ensure data integrity and trustworthiness. Evidence uploaded will be accessible to magistrates and courts via the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS).
- The e-Sakshaya mobile app is being launched for Tamil Nadu police to collect audio-visual evidence.
- Developed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, it aims to strengthen the chain of custody and admissibility of evidence.
- The app records videos, photographs, and witness details, generating secure, geo-tagged, and time-stamped evidence packets with hash verification.
The Tamil Nadu government will send a list of eligible Director-General of Police (DGP) rank officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for shortlisting a panel to appoint the next DGP/Head of Police Force. This process complies with Supreme Court guidelines from the Prakash Singh case. The incumbent DGP, Shankar Jiwal, completes his tenure on August 31. Revised guidelines from the Ministry of Home Affairs state that only DGP-rank officers in the Level-16 pay matrix are eligible, a change from earlier rules that included all IPS officers with 30 years of service. The UPSC empanelment committee will shortlist three officers for the state to choose from.
- Tamil Nadu government is initiating the process to appoint the next DGP/Head of Police Force by sending a list to UPSC.
- The selection process adheres to Supreme Court guidelines from the Prakash Singh case.
- Revised guidelines from the Ministry of Home Affairs specify eligibility criteria for DGP candidates, limiting it to Level-16 pay matrix officers.
A petition filed by Bhopal gas disaster victims' rights groups in the Supreme Court claims that survivors with severe and lasting injuries have been wrongly classified under 'temporary disablement' and 'minor injury', leading to years of under-compensation. The plea urges the Centre to correctly reclassify these victims under the Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster (Processing of Claims) Act, 1985, to ensure they receive adequate compensation for medical treatment. The petition highlights Union Carbide's internal document, which indicated that inhalation of Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) is likely to cause major residual injury, emphasizing the Centre's responsibility to address the "unjust and arbitrary" damages awarded.
- Bhopal gas leak victims are allegedly misclassified, leading to inadequate compensation for severe injuries.
- The petition seeks reclassification of victims under the Bhopal Gas Leak Disaster (Processing of Claims) Act, 1985.
- Union Carbide's own documents suggested Methyl Isocyanate inhalation could cause major residual injury.
Ahmedabad has been declared the cleanest 'million-plus city' in India in the Centre's annual "Swachh Survekshan 2024-25" survey, followed by Bhopal and Lucknow. The 'Swachh Shahar' category was introduced this year to promote new cities in cleanliness rankings. Mira-Bhayandar topped the "3 lakh to 10 lakh population" group. Indore, Surat, Navi Mumbai, and Vijayawada were inducted into the 'Super Swachh League' for sustained excellence. Prayagraj received the 'Best Ganga Town' award, and Secunderabad Cantonment was named the Cleanest Cantonment Board. These awards encourage urban local bodies to improve waste management and sanitation practices.
- Ahmedabad secured the top position as the cleanest 'million-plus city' in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25.
- New categories like 'Swachh Shahar' and 'Super Swachh League' were introduced to recognize cleanliness efforts across various city sizes.
- Specific awards were given for 'Best Ganga Town' and 'Cleanest Cantonment Board'.
The Ministry of Commerce, through its departments like DGFT and DGTR, is actively monitoring and clamping down on import surges and dumping practices by India's trading partners. This initiative aims to protect the domestic sector from unfair trade practices. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) recently initiated anti-dumping investigations on eight product lines from 12 countries/groupings, targeting industrial chemicals and glass wool, among others. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) also restricted imports of palladium, rhodium, and iridium alloys (containing >1% gold) to prevent evasion of higher import duties on gold, which was being disguised as these free-import alloys.
- The Ministry of Commerce is actively monitoring and restricting import surges and dumping to safeguard India's domestic industries.
- The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has initiated anti-dumping investigations on eight product lines from 12 countries or groupings.
- Dumping refers to exporting goods at prices below their normal rate, harming domestic producers.
India faces a growing "adoption paradox" where a significant number of prospective parents (36,381 in 2025) far outnumber children legally free for adoption (2,652 in 2025), resulting in a 1:13 ratio and an average wait time of 3.5 years. This imbalance, highlighted by a Parliamentary panel and the Supreme Court, is attributed to complexities in declaring children legally free, resource limitations in Child Care Institutions (CCIs), and a lack of accountability. Despite 3.1 crore orphans in India, only a fraction are in the adoption pool. The Juvenile Justice Act (2021) mandates time-bound procedures, but its implementation remains questionable, leading to older children and those with special needs being less preferred for adoption.
- India faces an "adoption paradox" with a severe imbalance between prospective parents and children legally free for adoption, leading to long wait times.
- As of July 2025, there are 36,381 prospective parents registered versus only 2,652 children legally free for adoption, a ratio of 13:1.
- The average delay for prospective parents to get an adoption referral has increased to 3.5 years.
The Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar has raised concerns about potential disenfranchisement of lakhs of citizens. The process is criticized for being opaque, hurried, and imposing onerous burdens on voters, especially those added after 2003, who must re-establish eligibility with fresh applications. The ECI's notification lists only 11 acceptable proofs, notably omitting widely held documents like Aadhaar, ration cards, and even ECI-issued EPICs. The Supreme Court has intervened, urging the ECI to consider these omitted documents, emphasizing that electoral roll preparation must meet constitutional standards of fairness, transparency, and non-discrimination, as the right to vote is fundamental to democracy.
- The Election Commission of India's (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar is causing concern over potential voter disenfranchisement.
- The revision process is criticized for being opaque, hurried, and imposing excessive burdens on voters, particularly those added after 2003.
- The ECI's list of acceptable documents for re-establishing eligibility omits widely held proofs like Aadhaar, ration cards, and ECI-issued EPICs.
The article highlights an alarming rise in sexual violence against women in spaces traditionally considered safe, such as schools, colleges, and workplaces, across India. It cites several recent cases, including a student's death in Balasore due to sexual harassment and other incidents of rape and assault on campuses. The author criticizes the ineffectiveness of existing laws and mechanisms like Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs), mandatory under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013. Despite stringent laws, the system often fails victims, leading to a lack of accountability and underreporting of crimes, as evidenced by NCRB data showing a 4% increase in crimes against women in 2022 over 2021.
- There is a concerning increase in sexual violence against women in educational institutions and workplaces across India.
- The article highlights specific incidents of sexual harassment, rape, and assault on college campuses, leading to tragic outcomes.
- The effectiveness of Internal Complaint Committees (ICCs), mandated by the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, is questioned due to systemic failures and lack of accountability.
The Union Cabinet has approved the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), merging 36 existing schemes from 11 Ministries. With an annual outlay of ₹24,000 crore for six years starting 2025-26, the scheme aims to enhance agricultural productivity, promote crop diversification, sustainable practices, and augment post-harvest storage. It is projected to benefit 1.7 crore farmers across 100 districts, which will be identified based on indicators like low productivity, low cropping intensity, and less credit disbursement. Modeled on the "Aspirational District Programme," the scheme's progress will be monitored monthly, focusing exclusively on agriculture and allied sectors.
- The Union Cabinet approved the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) to boost agricultural productivity and sustainable practices.
- The scheme merges 36 existing schemes from 11 Ministries with an annual outlay of ₹24,000 crore for six years, starting 2025-26.
- PMDDKY aims to enhance post-harvest storage, improve irrigation, and facilitate credit availability for farmers.
Nearly four years after its introduction, the Centre has discovered widespread manipulation of the National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) for MGNREGS digital attendance, undermining its credibility and leading to potential misuse of public funds. Issues identified include uploading irrelevant photos, "photo-to-photo capturing" instead of live images, mismatches in actual vs. recorded counts, and discrepancies in gender composition and morning/afternoon photos. To plug these gaps, the Ministry of Rural Development has added four layers of analog monitoring and directed states to ensure 100% verification at gram panchayat level, with reduced percentages at block, district, and state levels.
- The National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) for MGNREGS digital attendance is being widely manipulated, leading to misuse of public funds.
- Identified issues include uploading irrelevant photos, "photo-to-photo capturing," and mismatches in worker counts and photos.
- The NMMS requires geo-tagged photographs of workers twice a day, with an exception for sites with 20 or fewer workers.
The Election Commission of India (EC) has initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, sparking a debate on the term 'ordinarily resident'. According to the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (RP Act), a person must be 'ordinarily resident' in a constituency to be included in its electoral roll. The Gauhati High Court defined it as a "habitual resident" with the intention to dwell permanently, not temporarily. The article highlights the vulnerability of migrant labourers, who often move for work but maintain ties with their original residence. It suggests that strict interpretation could disenfranchise them and proposes amending the RP Act or RER to preserve their choice of retaining votes in their original constituency.
- The term 'ordinarily resident' is crucial for inclusion in India's electoral rolls, as defined by the Representation of the People Act, 1950.
- Judicial interpretations emphasize that 'ordinarily resident' implies habitual and permanent residency, not temporary stays.
- Migrant labourers face challenges, as their temporary work locations conflict with the strict definition, potentially leading to disenfranchisement.
Dr. Ratan Chandra Kar, a physician involved in healthcare for the Jarawa tribe, believes that conducting the 2027 Census among the six indigenous tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will not be difficult. He attributes this to the Central government's successful efforts in establishing meaningful contact and trust with the tribes, especially the Jarawas, since 1998. Proactive medical care has significantly increased the Jarawa population from an estimated 260 in 1998 to 647 today, successfully countering diseases without interfering with their traditional medicinal practices. The article also touches upon the impact of the Andaman Trunk Road (ATR) and emphasizes minimal intervention for the tribe's survival, highlighting the importance of respecting their way of life.
- The 2027 Census is expected to successfully include indigenous tribes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including the Jarawas, due to established government contact and trust.
- Proactive medical interventions since 1998 have significantly increased the Jarawa population by countering diseases while respecting traditional practices.
- The Jarawas, one of the world's oldest surviving tribes, are primarily hunter-gatherers living in nomadic bands.
The Indian government announced greenhouse gas emissions intensity targets for eight heavy industrial sectors under its Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). The article argues that the ambition of these targets should be assessed at an aggregate economy-wide level rather than individual entity or sector levels, drawing parallels with the successful Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme. While industry-specific CCTS targets cannot be directly compared with economy-wide Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets, modelling suggests that the manufacturing sector's emissions intensity is projected to decline at a slower pace (2.53% annually) than the energy sector (3.44%) between 2025-2030. The current combined average annual EIVA reduction for the eight sectors under CCTS is estimated at 1.68% for 2023-27, suggesting the industrial targets might not be ambitious enough.
- India has set greenhouse gas emissions intensity targets for eight heavy industrial sectors under its Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS).
- The article advocates for assessing the ambition of these targets at an aggregate economy-wide level, similar to the PAT scheme's success.
- Current projections indicate that India's manufacturing sector may decarbonise at a slower rate compared to the power sector.
The article argues that India's secularism was inherent in its foundational principles, influenced by leaders like Nehru and Ashoka the Great, long before the term was explicitly added to the Constitution in 1976. It highlights that the Motilal Nehru Committee's constitution (1928) and the Karachi Resolution (1931) already advocated for no state religion and state neutrality. The author emphasizes that secularism protects religions from state interference and ensures their autonomy, contrasting it with theocratic states. The piece also discusses various models of secularism from other democracies and asserts that India's secularism promotes civility and equal respect for all religions, making its explicit inclusion in 1976 a formal recognition of an existing ideal.
- India's secular ethos was present from its inception, rooted in historical figures like Ashoka and pre-independence constitutional drafts.
- Secularism, though explicitly added in 1976, was considered part of the basic structure of the Constitution even before.
- The author argues that secularism safeguards religious autonomy and prevents state domination over religious matters.
The 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro highlighted the bloc's role as a voice for the Global South, aiming to transform a Western-dominated world order through South-South cooperation. BRICS, now an intergovernmental organization, comprises 35% of the global economy and nearly half the world's population, surpassing the G7. It seeks to foster economic, political, and social cooperation, advocating for greater representation in global governance and reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar. Despite its potential, the bloc faces challenges from internal divisions, differing national priorities, and external pressures from Western powers, including threats of tariffs. India's role as a bridge-builder is complicated by border tensions with China.
- BRICS serves as a significant institutional expression of Global South aspirations, aiming to challenge Western hegemony and promote South-South cooperation.
- The bloc has grown to represent 35% of the global economy and nearly half the world's population, surpassing the G7's economic share.
- Key objectives include fostering economic, political, and social cooperation, advocating for global governance reforms, and reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar.