Under POCSO, consent on trial

Enacted as a dedicated law to combat child sexual abuse, POCSO defines a "child" as any person below the age of 18 and criminalises all sexual acts involving them. As a result, even consensual, non-exploitative sexual relationships between adolescents fall within its ambit, often attracting stringent mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, which can extend to life imprisonment.

In January 2026, acknowledging the growing concerns over the law being invoked by disgruntled families to "settle scores", the Supreme Court urged the Union government to consider introducing a "Romeo and Juliet" clause in the statute.

Analysing India's cycle of deprivation and affluence

Analysis of income mobility during 2014-25 shows sharp upward and downward shifts, with implications for social stability. 

The shift of critical minerals to India's strategic centre

Three years ago, and at the start of India's G-20 presidency, critical minerals barely featured as a strategic topic in policy thinking. As recently as August 2023, several critical minerals, including lithium, were still classified as atomic minerals, effectively barring private exploration and mining. But the latest Union Budget shows that something critical has shifted in India's thinking.

A brittle shell

A venerable institution, facing accusations of opacity, decided to stun its detractors with some transparency. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) made public the report of a technical committee, constituted to analyse why the NVS-02 satellite, which was launched aboard a GSLV rocket on January 29, 2025, could not be placed in its intended orbit. Until this week, there was no official explanation why this had happened. An accompanying press statement - not a report it must be noted mised that an 'apex' committee had concluded that a signal meant to activate a key valve in the engine's oxidiser line never reached it.

What changed in Hong Kong after National Security Law?

Hong Kong has undergone significant changes since Xi Jinping came to power in 2013. Under Mr. Xi, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has increasingly focused on exerting its control over the city and integrating it more closely with mainland China. This process of assimilation has been systematic, raising questions about Beijing's commitment to the "one country, two systems" framework and Hong Kong's Basic Law. The most decisive shift came with the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) in June 2020.

India's security interests linked to stability in West Asia: Modi

India's security interests are "directly linked" to peace and stability in the West Asian region and that is why India has consistently sought a resolution of West Asian regional tensions through peaceful means, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Israel on Thursday.

New GDP data set to capture economy more accurately

The new series of national accounts data to be released on Friday will incorporate several methodological and statistical upgrades that will make India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross Value Added (GVA) data more accurate and granular, an analysis of the various changes being implemented shows.

Textile exporters seek restoration of RODTEP

Textile exporters have expressed apprehension that exports will be hit with reduction of Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RODTEP) scheme rates.

Cotton textile exports in 2024-2025 stood at $11.03 billion (almost 96,220 crore) and it accounts for 30% of India's textile and clothing exports.

'Significant progress' in U.S., Iran talks: Oman's Minister

Iran and the United States wrapped up another round of indirect talks in Geneva on Thursday aimed at reaching a deal on Tehran's nuclear programme and potentially averting another war as the U.S. gathers a massive fleet of aircraft and warships in the West Asia.