First round of Manipur govt's talks with UNC 'fruitful, an icebreaker'

The first round of between the talks Manipur govern-ment and the United Naga Council (UNC) was "fruitful and cordial", with both sides agreeing to continue discussions to find solu-tions to the issues raised by the Naga apex body, a government spokesperson said on Monday.

Meghalaya's district council okays amendments to bar non-tribals from poll process

The Garo Hills Autono-mous District Council in western Meghalaya on Monday approved amend-ments to its election rules that will bar non-tribals from voting or contesting council elections, while paving the way for a sepa-rate electoral roll for the Sixth Schedule body, officials said.

SC to hear Tamil Nadu's plea on Cauvery dispute this week

The Tamil Nadu go-vernment on Monday sought an early hearing of its application over the Cauvery water allocation dispute with neighbouring Karnataka.

Karnataka has 6,805 charging stations for EVs, second-highest in country: govt. data

Karnataka has emerged as one of India's leading States in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, with 6,805 electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) installed as of July 29 this year, according to data by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

Case for consensus

The government needs to build a consensus on delimitation

The monsoon session of Parliament is in its last week without any substantive deliberations or legislative outcomes. There may be several reasons for the stalemate, but at its core are the controversial FCRA amendments and the opacity around the government's delimitation proposals. Overall, it is as if the govern-ment views Parliament as an obstacle to be circumvented rather than a forum for deliberation and consensus-building on national issues. 

Do not write the obituary of international law yet

International law was premised on the idea that relations between states should be governed not merely by power, but by rules and legal principles built on consensus. When wars still take place, the effectiveness of the system is naturally exposed to scrutiny. However, it would be too early to write an obituary for international law.

UPI and the cost of policy reversal

The proposed framework could allow payment charges to expand beyond the current MDR plan, creating a broader revenue lever once the legal architecture is in place.

UPI's network effects depend on keeping digital payments cheaper and more convenient than cash, making any new cost a potential distortion in how businesses and consumers choose payment modes.

Why does handloom remain a key part of India's economy?

The story so far:

From the Swadeshi Movement's boycott of British textiles to Mahatma Gandhi's adoption of the spinning wheel as a symbol of self-reliance, weaving became an instrument of economic resistance and national identity. National Handloom Day, marked on August 7, commemorates the launch of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905 and honours generations of Indian weavers

Panel in Jammu to study 'demographic changes' near border

Four members of the High-Level Committee on De-mographic Changes (HLCDC) arrived in Jammu on Monday as part of their first-ever field visit to study demography changes in border areas, as mandated by the Union Home Ministry. 

Tribunals Reforms Bill passed amid din in LS

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a Bill to establish a National Tribunals Commission to oversee the ap-pointment of chairpersons and members of various tribunals, without a debate amid persistent Opposition protests demanding the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Rajya Sabha clears two Bills; Minister says consumers will not pay UPI charges

Amid the Opposition wal-kout, the Rajya Sabha passed the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill and returned the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill on Monday. Countering the Opposition's charge that the Taxation Bill proposed further burden on small traders and consumers by impos-ing a tax on Unified Pay-ments Interface (UPI) transactions, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said they would remain free for consumers.

India donates five peacocks to Geneva's United Nations Office

India has donated five peacocks, including a rare white-feathered one, to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), reviving a decades-old tradition. At a special ceremony held on Friday, India's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi, formally handed over the five peacocks to UNOG Director-General Tatiana Valovaya. "The Indian Peacock, a symbol of grace, beauty and resilience, represents India's enduring commitment to the conservation of biodiversity and environmental stewardship," the Indian mission said. The five young peacocks comprise four blue peafowl and one white-feathered male. 

Unemployment rate increases in April-June quarter: survey

The unemployment rate for persons aged 15 years and above rose to 5.4% in the April-June 2026 quarter, up 0.4 percentage points from the previous quarter, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Monday. The rural unemployment rate was 4.8% (4.3% in January-March) while the urban rate edged up to 6.7% from 6.6%. Among rural males, the unemployment rate was 4.8%, and for rural females, it was 4.7%. Among urban females, the unemployment rate was 8.7%, compared to 6.1% among males.

Vande Mataram to be sung at Red Fort during Independence Day ceremony

The National Song, Vande Mataram, will be sung from the ramparts of the Red Fort for the first time as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for the 80th Independence Day celebrations on August 15, while young students and members of Gen Z will get greater representation at the ceremony, with stu-dent achievers to be seated on the ramparts.

11 new entry points added for e-visa holders: govt.

The Union Home Ministry has expanded the number of international ports through which foreign na-tionals holding e-visas can enter the country, adding II new entry points, includ-ing nine land ports and two airports.

Russia's share in India's oil imports jumps to 48% in June

At a time when the U.S. looks all set to enact legislation to impose a tariff of up to 100% on India for its Russian oil imports, an analysis of the latest data shows Russia's share in India's oil imports rose to an all-time-high of 48% in June 2026.

GEC third phase in final stages, up for Cabinet approval

The government is in the final planning stages of insti-tuting the third phase of the intra-state Green Energy Corridor (GEC), senior government officials privy to the development told The Hindu, adding that it had been sent to the Union Cabinet for the final approval. Separately, another official said that the scheme would carry an outlay of more than 250,000 crore.

Agasthyamalai eviction orders still silence Forest Rights Act

The Supreme Court directed a time-bound encroachment eviction plan, rehabilitation where applicable, legal action against wilful violators, and post-eviction ecological restoration at the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

Scientists turn to sharks for hurricane predictions

CTD tags are small electronic devices that measure ocean electrical conductivity, temperature and depth, as marine creatures to which they are attached swim and dive