Ask Karnataka to implement Cauvery order, T.N. urges SC

The Tamil Nadu govern-ment headed by Chief Mi-nister C. Joseph Vijay moved the Supreme Court on Monday for a direction to the State of Karnataka to implement a Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) decision of July 30 to ensure the release of 3,500 cusecs for 15 days from its reservoirs at Kabi-ni and Krishnaraja Sagara.

Odisha seeks UNESCO tag for Puri Rath Yatra

Odisha Chief Minister Mo-han Charan Majhi has sought the nomination of the Rath Yatra of Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri for inclusion in UNESCO's list of intangible cultural herit-age of humanity.

Karnataka develops manual to establish child-centric village communities in State

In a significant develop-ment, Karnataka has deve-loped a manual to train of-ficials and community stakeholders in creating child-friendly villages across the State. 

"In 2025, Halanayakana-halli in Bengaluru Urban district was recognised and rewarded by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in the Child-Friendly Village category. The village won a Na-tional Panchayat Award along with a cash prize of ₹75 lkh.”

Proof of life

Bureaucratic paperwork must not result in exclusion

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026 passed in the Lok Sabha amends Section 13(3) of the 1969 Act. In the updated framework, registrations delayed for up to two years still require a district, a subdivisional or an authorised executive magistrate's order, but when the delay exceeds two years, a judicial magistrate is required to verify the event and pass an order. The 2023 amendment rendered birth certificates the principal, in fact near-conclusive, proof of date and place of birth for school admission, voter rolls and applications for passport, Aadhaar, driving licence and government jobs. It also allowed the Centre and States to create digital databases, and re-quired them to share data with the Registrar General.

Al and cyber, the double helix of today's security threats

The rapid proliferation of digital technologies is reshaping the global security landscape. What was once an interconnected, but relatively limited, digital world, has altered into a complex interconnected ecosystem where dangers and threats lurk at every step. The combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cyber threats has emerged as one of the most critical concerns of the modern world.

Critical minerals, the foundation of strategic power

Critical minerals have moved from the margins of resource policy to the centre of industrial strategy and security. Lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, copper and rare earth elements are foundational to electric vehicles, storage, renewable power, semiconductors, defence and advanced manufacturing. As decarbonisation and digitalisation accelerate, mineral security is becoming as important as oil once was. The global supply picture is concentrated. For copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements, the average market share of the top three refining countries rose to 86% in 2024, from around 82% in 2020. Incremental supply is tied to a few nodes: Indonesia for nickel, and China for cobalt, graphite and rare earths. China is the leading refiner in 19 out of 20 strategic minerals with an average market share of about 70%, making minerals geopolitical, not merely commercial.

The problem with India's free trade agreement strategy

Over the past few years, India has shown great inter-est in trade diplomacy to promote its economic and strategic interests. India's new founded enthusiasm in external engage-ment has culminated in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the UAE, Australia, Oman, the U.K., the Eu-ropean Union, and most recently, New Zealand. Its imperative to enhance market access continues to extend the reach of its trade architecture through ongoing trade talks with the U.S., Gulf countries and Canada, highlighting a decisive shift towards bilateralism as a vehicle of market access, value chain integration and economic dynamism.

Why lab-grown diamonds are sustainable alternative to mined stones

For centuries, diamonds have been regarded as symbols of eternal love, characterised by their rarity, scintillation and lustre. But behind the glamour of these stones lies a cold, hard truth: an industry plagued by forced labour, civil violence, and pollution.

Some of the world's largest diamond mines, such as the Argyle mine in Australia and the Diavik mine in Canada, have reached a point of exhaustion in recent years. This depletion has worsened year by year, and production is now at a multi-decade low.

Lok Sabha passes SC judges Bill without any discussion

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a Bill to increase the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court without any discussion as persistent protests by Opposition members over the police action against protesting students at Jantar Mantar and the alleged chadhawa chori (theft of offerings) at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya continued to disrupt proceedings.

Rajya Sabha passes Bill on MSMEs amid Opposition protests

Amid the Opposition's uproar demanding an apology from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the police action against protesting youth and students, the Rajya Sabha on Monday passed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The Upper House functioned for only 19 minutes in the morning, and after recon-vening in the afternoon, was adjourned for the day soon after the Bill was passed.

Domestic cruelty rules cover live-in couples: SC

The Supreme Court on Monday said the criminal offence of domestic cruelty would extend to live-in relationships between con-senting adults that qualify as "relationships in the nature of marriage".

Heat stress during pregnancy linked to adverse birth outcomes, says study

A nationwide analysis of data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) quantifies the link between prolonged exposure to extreme heat during preg-nancy and adverse birth outcomes in India. It was associated with a measurable increase in the risk of low birthweight, preterm birth and stillbirths among the mothers, and was tied to the trimester during which exposure occurred.

Top court asks govt. to ensure safe footpaths

The Supreme Court directed the Union government on Monday to provide pedestrians broad, clearly-marked footpaths exclusively for their use.

Government hikes export levy on petrol, diesel and ATF

In its latest fortnightly review, the government increased the export levy on petrol to 3.5 per litre, on diesel to ₹24 per litre and the levy on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to ₹22 per litre. The excise levy on petrol and diesel for domestic consumption remains unchanged.

India may extend tax breaks for contract manufacturing

India has proposed extending tax exemptions until 2041 for foreign companies that provide machinery to contract manufacturers, handing a major win to Apple which had lobbied for such changes, and is fast expanding in the market.

ONGC to reserve half of Mangaluru facility for strategic reserves

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will reserve half of its 1.75 million metric tonne (MMT) oil storage facility in Mangaluru as a strategic storage, Suresh Gopi, Minister of State (MOS) for Petroleum and Natural Gas, told Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Manufacturing growth falls to 5-year low in July: PMI

India's manufacturing sec-tor's growth fell to a five-year low in July on slower rise in new business orders amid increasingly chal-lenging market conditions, a monthly survey showed on Monday.

India mulls tax relief for offshore funds using local managers

India has proposed tax law amendments to shield off-shore investment funds from Indian tax liabilities when they route invest-ments through India-based fund managers, a draft bill showed.