India exhibits a stark dichotomy between the north and south, especially in ideological leanings, which further influences their developmental pathways and societal attitudes. The ideological divide is particularly evident in the contrasting receptions to the Hindu nationalist agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), writes a columnist from Bloomberg.

The Supreme Court has granted bail to Shoma Kanti Sen, a former Nagpur University professor who was arrested nearly six years ago under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Her case highlights significant concerns regarding the application of the UAPA, which is designed to combat terrorism and unlawful activities but has been criticised for its stringent provisions allowing for prolonged detention of individuals without trial.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) settled a legal dispute in favour of Kotak Mahindra Bank (KMB) after a Kotak family entity, Infina Capital Private Ltd., made significant donations to the ruling party, according to an investigation by The Wire, which also points out that Infina’s electoral bond purchases exceeded the amounts reported by the State Bank of India (SBI) to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

India, traditionally an agrarian nation, has seen a significant shift in its economic structure. While agriculture once employed the majority of the workforce and contributed substantially to the Gross Value Added (GVA, or the value of goods and services produced), its economic significance has diminished over time, according to a data report, which shows that, in contrast, the services sector has expanded significantly. This shift has both positive and negative implications for the country and its people.

The Indian government converted a substantial debt into equity for Vodafone Idea (Vi) shortly after the telecom operator’s parent company, the Aditya Birla group, donated significant funds to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to a report of a collaborative project involving three independent media outlets and journalists. The move came as Vi, India’s third-largest telecom operator, faced financial distress, with debts amounting to 2,140 billion rupees, primarily owed to the government.

Twenty-three out of 25 politicians facing corruption charges found relief after aligning with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2014, according an investigation by The Indian Express. These politicians, previously under scrutiny by central agencies, represent a diverse political spectrum, including the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Samajwadi Party (SP) and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

The Indian government has transferred control of 62% of new Sainik Schools to groups associated with Hindu nationalist organisations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to The Reporters’ Collective. The move comes after the 2021 initiative allowing private entities to operate Sainik Schools under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, aiming to expand the network of these military preparatory institutions.

The Supreme Court rebuked Patanjali Ayurved for continuing to air misleading advertisements that disparaged modern medicine, despite a court order to stop, and questioned the Central government’s lack of action against such claims. Patanjali claimed to have created products that could completely cure COVID-19.

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a petition demanding a comprehensive count of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips in elections, challenging the current practice of verifying only a subset of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in each assembly segment.

L.K. Advani, a veteran leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, by President Droupadi Murmu. Advani is known for playing a significant role in one of the most contentious episodes of modern Indian history—the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, which not only reshaped Indian politics but also left an indelible mark on the Indian society.