Opposition stands, women's Bill falls

In the first major legislative loss for the Modi government since it came to power in 2014, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeking to advance reservation of 33% seats for women in an expanded Lok Sabha and state Assemblies and facilitate delimitation of constituencies, was defeated in Lok Sabha Friday evening.

Of the 528 members present in the House, 298 voted in favour of the Bill and 230 opposed it, the result well short of the two-thirds majority needed for a Constitutional amendment Bill to clear the House.

Doval reiterates India's position on peace during meet with Ukraine's NSA

Ukraine's NSA Rustem Umerov met NSA Ajit Doval in New Delhi on Friday, where the latter conveyed India's "principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy". 

Welcome ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon: India

India on Friday welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and said it welcomes every step towards peace. A 10-day ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump and agreed on by Lebanon and Israel appeared to be holding in Lebanon on Friday, even as talks are underway to extend a lasting truce between US and Iran-brokered by Pakistan.

A political setback for government, a democratic opening for Opposition

Our constitutional discussion seems to be producing anomaly upon anomaly, and not facing up to the internal tensions that arise out of the way we think of representation. 

China is the real winner in the Iran conflict

The Cold War was ideological. Alliances were shaped as much by values as by interests. But that logic died with the USSR. What has replaced it is colder, harder, and far less sentimental. 

Macron, Starmer hail Hormuz reopening, seek navigation security

The Leaders of France and the UK on Friday welcomed the announcement by Iran and the US that the Strait of Hormuz is open, but said freedom of navigation must be permanently restored to the key oil route choked by the US-Israeli war on Iran. 

Starmer rejects calls to resign over Mandelson appointment as envoy

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday resisted demands he resign over revelations that his scandal-tainted pick for UK ambassador to Washington was appointed despite failing security checks.

Women's share in Houses rarely crosses half of 33%

On Friday, Lok Sabha defeated a constitutional amendment Bill to raise the share of women in India's elected legislatures-both Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas to 33% of -their respective total seats. An analysis of past numbers shows that in terms of representation, the share of women has rarely breached the 15% mark across legislatures.

How political goals, tussles led to 1969 bank nationalisation

The Nationalisation of banks in India is widely regarded as the single most consequential economic decision taken by any government since independence in 1947. Its impact-political, social and economic - was so far-reaching that even the sweeping economic reforms of 1991 are often considered less transformative in comparison. 

How India's economy slipped to sixth largest, behind Japan, UK

India is no longer the fourth largest economy in the world, according to the latest World Economic Outlook released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In 2026, India's gross domestic product (GDP) - the total value of all goods and services produced inside the country - will be around $4.15 trillion (up from $3.92 trillion in 2025), while the UK's GDP will be $4.27 trillion (up from $4 trillion in 2025) and Japan's GDP would actually fall from $4.48 trillion in 2025 to $4.38 trillion in 2026.

17 banks get govt nod to import bullion

The Government Friday authorised 17 banks to import bullion for three years starting April 1, putting an end to the uncertainty caused by the delay in the issuance of this list which is usually released in the first few days of the new financial year.