How Government’s Reduced Shares in Public Banks Will Affect Us
One of the key proposals in the latest banking reform bill, which was debated in the Lok Sabha on Dec. 3, is to cut the government’s stake in public banks from 51% down to 26%. Some opposition members are calling it a move toward privatisation. There are at least four major concerns for citizens regarding Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, that the government needs to address.
Autopsy Reports Indicate CRPF Misconduct in Manipur
Ten young men from the Kuki-Zo community in Manipur's Jiribam district recently lost their lives in what's been reported as a gunfight with personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The CRPF claims these individuals, labelled as “militants,” had attacked a local police station and a nearby CRPF camp. However, subsequent post-mortem reports, seen by Newsreel Asia, cast doubt on the legality and ethics of the actions taken by the paramilitary force.
Trump’s Warning to BRICS Members–Including India–Against Pursuing Alternatives to US Dollar
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has warned BRICS members, including India, against pursuing alternatives to the U.S. dollar, threatening economic retaliation and saying that any efforts to create or support a BRICS currency could lead to severe trade penalties.
Election Commission to Review Maharashtra Voter Turnout, Allegations of EVM Tampering
The Election Commission of India (ECI) will review voter turnout figures and investigate allegations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) tampering in Maharashtra, in response to concerns raised by the Congress party regarding the transparency of the recent state assembly polls.
A Judicial Commission to Investigate Communal Violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh
A judicial commission has been established to investigate the communal violence that erupted in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, after a second survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid resulted in four deaths and widespread unrest. The incident, which involved clashes between locals and authorities over claims that the mosque was constructed on the remains of a temple from the Mughal era, quickly escalated to a point where over 2,500 individuals were booked.
How Indian Gov’t Should Respond to Adani’s US Indictment
The Indian government is under mounting pressure to respond decisively to the indictment of Gautam Adani in the United States for alleged bribery and fraud. The charges against the Adani Group, which include accusations of substantial bribes to secure solar power contracts, demand government action to protect India’s global business reputation and domestic corporate culture.
Delhi’s Air Pollution: Government Inaction Amid a Dire Health Emergency
Nov. 27 marked the “cleanest” day of the month in Delhi, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reporting a 24-hour average AQI of 303 for the city. According to researchers, breathing air with an AQI over 300 is roughly equivalent to smoking about 25 cigarettes a day. This implies that each winter, the millions of residents in and around Delhi effectively “smoke” at least 1,600 cigarettes, as the capital is shrouded in a suffocating blanket of smog for around 65 days between October and January.
Why Does Violence Surge in Manipur Whenever Its Chief Minister Faces Crisis?
Manipur is burning yet again, marking its third major escalation since the violence began in May 2023. The initial outbreak and the three subsequent flare-ups have almost seemed predictable, each coinciding with challenges to the leadership of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
Should There Be No Male Tailors, Barbers, or Gym Trainers for Women?
The Uttar Pradesh (UP) State Women’s Commission has proposed a series of measures aimed at protecting women from harassment, including unwanted advances and inappropriate physical contact. These measures include prohibiting men from taking measurements of women in tailor shops, cutting their hair or training them in gyms. What impact would this proposal have on the residents if it were enacted? I went out to collect their reactions.
Ladakh’s Case for the Constitution’s Sixth Schedule
On Oct. 21, Ladakhi climate activist Sonam Wangchuk concluded his 16-day hunger strike after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs agreed to resume discussions on the four key demands made by local leaders. The most crucial demand of the people of Ladakh is for greater autonomy through statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Speaking to Newsreel Asia, a leading Ladakhi activist elaborates on the rationale behind these demands.
Rahul Gandhi Keeps the Issue of National Caste Census Alive
Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition, has reaffirmed his commitment to implementing a national caste census, this time focusing on making Telangana a model state for such an initiative.
Behind Alarmist Portrayals of Rising Islamism in Bangladesh
If you tune into mainstream media, especially in India, you might find yourself asking, “What the heck is going on in Bangladesh?” With that same question in mind, we left Delhi for Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. However, our six-day journey through Dhaka and Dinajpur left us feeling more hopeful than fearful about Bangladesh’s future.
Why Bar Association is Complaining About Supreme Court’s ‘Unilateral’ Decisions
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has raised objections to what it calls a “unilateral” decision by India's Chief Justice to alter the iconic “Lady Justice” statue without consulting the body of lawyers. According to the bar, the top court's decision to install a new version of the statue—in a saree, with scales in the right hand, a book symbolising the Constitution in the other, and without the blindfold—is just one of several decisions made without prior consultation.
So What If Lady Justice Statue Has No Blindfold
The unveiling of the new Lady Justice statue in India’s Supreme Court—a figure without a blindfold and holding the Constitution instead of a sword—is being celebrated by some as a step towards shedding colonial symbols and embracing a new era of justice. However, this superficial gesture fails to address the deep-rooted issues plaguing the country’s judicial system.
India-Canada’s Apparent Showdown Over Sikh Separatist’s Assassination
India and Canada have plunged into a deep diplomatic crisis, each expelling the other’s diplomats amid escalating tensions over the alleged assassination of a Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil last year.
India’s GDP Growing but Amid Serious Hunger: 2024 Global Hunger Index
India shows serious levels of hunger, reports the 2024 Global Hunger Index, despite its GDP continuing to grow. In the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI), India ranks 105th out of 127 countries, with a GHI score of 27.3, indicating a serious level of hunger, despite GDP growth averaging 6.33%.
Ladakh Spokesperson Opens Up About Fears of Remaining a UT Without Legislature
Having traveled 1,000 kilometers on foot, a group is now on a 21-day hunger strike in Delhi, advocating for statehood for their homeland, Ladakh, in the Himalayas in India. On the sixth day of their fast, Oct. 11, I spoke with Mehdi Shah, a key member of the group, to understand why they are so passionate about statehood and fearful of remaining a Union Territory after four years of direct governance by a distant central authority.
Ladakh’s Sonam Wangchuk Starts New Fast as Officials in Delhi Decline Meeting
Sonam Wangchuk, a climate activist from Ladakh, and his associates have initiated a new 21-day hunger strike after officials from the central government declined to meet with them. Wangchuk and about 150 others undertook a journey on foot from Leh to the national capital, aiming to draw attention to their demands, including statehood. Further, they have reportedly been denied permission to hold a peaceful protest in Delhi.
What’s the Farmer’s Share When Vegetables Reach Your Table?
When you buy vegetables from the market, have you ever wondered how much of the money you spend actually ends up in the pockets of the farmers who grow them? A study by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) suggests that only about one-third of the money you spend on tomatoes, onions and potatoes, commonly referred to as TOP, ends up with the farmers.
Does the U.S. Have the Right to Comment on India’s Religious Freedom?
A report on India by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) indicates a decline in religious freedom, particularly during and following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Indian government has rejected the report, labelling USCIRF as biased and politically motivated, though without addressing the specifics of its content.