Bail for Rapist, Violence for Survivor, Laughter from a Politician
NB, News Briefings, December 2025 Vishal Arora NB, News Briefings, December 2025 Vishal Arora

Bail for Rapist, Violence for Survivor, Laughter from a Politician

A former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator convicted of gang rape has received bail, while the survivor protesting the decision was dragged away by police and ridiculed by a state minister. Together, these events show how those in power protect each other by using police to crush protest and mock the pain of ordinary people, turning justice into a show of control and humiliation.

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India’s Move Toward ‘Data Nationalism’ and Post-Truth Governance
NB, News Briefings, December 2025 Vishal Arora NB, News Briefings, December 2025 Vishal Arora

India’s Move Toward ‘Data Nationalism’ and Post-Truth Governance

Across three major areas involving climate risk, press freedom and economic reporting, the government is steadily moving away from global benchmarks. It is discarding international assessments and building its own homegrown versions instead. These are managed or overseen by government bodies, which gives it more control over both the data and the story the data tells. The result is a system that does not just measure progress. It also quietly rewrites what progress is supposed to mean.

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Centre Hinders Local Decision-Making in Ladakh by Withdrawing Financial Powers
NB, News Briefings, December 2025 Vishal Arora NB, News Briefings, December 2025 Vishal Arora

Centre Hinders Local Decision-Making in Ladakh by Withdrawing Financial Powers

The Ministry of Home Affairs has withdrawn all financial sanctioning powers from Ladakh’s local administration and elected councils, centralising them in Delhi. The move is likely to disrupt local decision-making and delay essential development in a region where planning and execution must match a narrow seasonal window.

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Should the Government Be Allowed to Track Our Location Without Consent?
NB, News Briefings, December 2025 Vishal Arora NB, News Briefings, December 2025 Vishal Arora

Should the Government Be Allowed to Track Our Location Without Consent?

The central government is weighing a proposal to require smartphone manufacturers to keep satellite-based location tracking permanently active on all devices sold in the country. This would allow law enforcement and investigative agencies to access our precise, real-time location data, a step no other country has taken so far.

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