Re-check ordered over 'discrepancies' in Census 2027 data

With the ongoing Census 2027 exercise throwing up data that differ from government records, particularly on issues such as open defecation and household access to electricity or cooking gas connections, enumerators say they have been asked by senior officials to revisit households and correct the data "discrepancies". Several enumerators, mostly government school-teachers and anganwadi workers, had taken to social media to report the directions they have received and to flag the glaring in-equality on the ground. Some even complained that residents were unwilling to share information, fearing cancellation of government benefits.

U.S. moots 12.5% tariff for 'forced labour' on India, 53 other nations

The U.S. government has proposed to levy a tariff of 12.5% on imports from 54 countries, including India, that it says have "failed to impose and effectively enforce" prohibitions on the import of goods produced using forced labour.

Centre approves scheme to cut pollution levels in Delhi-NCR

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a two-year scheme aimed at reducing air pollution in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) by accelerating the transition to cleaner transport technologies. With a total financial outlay of ₹9,585 crore, including ₹5,041 crore from the Centre and an estimated ₹1,601 crore in tax con-cessions from the participating States, the scheme seeks to incentivise owners of trucks and buses registered in the Delhi-NCR that comply with BS-IV or earlier emission norms to re-place them with BS-VI or stricter emission-compliant vehicles.

Base and framework

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the latest Index of Industrial Production (IIP), a key barometer of India's industrial health. The April 2026 print assumes added significance as it is the first release under the new 2022-23 base series and the second full month following the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Industrial output grew 4.9% year-on-year in April. While direct comparisons with earlier data should be treated with caution given the extensive revisions to the index's basket, weights and methodology, the numbers suggest that India's industrial fundamentals have remained relatively resilient despite disruptions to global oil and gas supply chains. 

Preserving the record

On the one hand, constitutional law holds up a principle of open justice that, among other things, allows public scrutiny of courts, facilitates public understanding of the law, and creates a historical record of the ad-ministration of justice. On the other, in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (2017), the Supreme Court of India recognised the right to informational privacy, including the ability of individuals to exercise some control over personal information about themselves.

How India scaled its startup industry from 2016 to 2025

The Indian startup economy has truly come of age in the 10 years since Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the clarion call during his Independence Day address on August 15, 2015, to make India the "Number 1" country in startups, and thereby sowed the seeds of significant directional change. To distinguish startups from other businesses, the Department for Pro-motion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) started recognising companies that aligned with government guidelines as startups. Despite DPIIT recognition not being mandatory for startups to operate, there has been a significant growth in startups applying for its recognition. From 288 in 2016, which was just 3% of the total star-tups functioning then, the DPIIT's coverage has increased to 77% in 2025. The growing willingness to join the formal startup ecosystem has been an important measure of success for India's startup story.

Is climate research being held back by local instrumentation?

The story so far:

A Mega Science Vision-2035 report on Climate Research is a roadmap prepared by the Indian climate research community with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, as the nodal institution, and submitted to the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, was made public this week.

Nepal is a priority partner, says Modi after meeting RSP chief

Nepal's ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chairperson Rabi Lamichanne on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called the neighbouring country a "priority partner".

Cabinet gives its nod for new coastal highway in Odisha

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the construction of a new coastal highway from Rameshwar to Paradeep in Odisha at a total project cost of 18,300.79 crore. The new coastal high-way will be constructed on a hybrid annuity model, in two packages, with a combined total length of 160.18 km, an official statement said. It will pass through Khurda, Puri, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha. The project will enhance regional mobility and promote socio-eco-nomic development, the statement said.

Russia delivers fourth squadron of the S-400 air defence system

India has received the fourth squadron of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system, strengthening the country's long-range air defence network. The system arrived from Russia as scheduled in May, and is expected to be deployed in an operational area shortly, sources in the defence sector said.

The delivery is part of a $5.43-billion agreement signed between India and Russia in 2018 for the acquisition of five S-400 regimental systems. Three S-400 squadrons have al-ready been inducted into service; the fourth has now arrived, following delays linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Cabinet approves ₹10,000 cr. ATF price stabilisation fund

Seeking to cushion airlines in the back-drop of escalating jet fuel prices due to the West Asia conflict, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday ap-proved a one-time budgetary support of ₹10,000 crore to oil-marketing companies (OMCs) towards a price stabilisation fund.

Fairwood, SK Securities sign small reactor project pact

India's Fairwood Nuclear Pvt. Ltd. and South Korea's SK Securities Co. Ltd. have signed a strategic collabo-ration agreement to sup-port the development and financing of small modular reactors (SMRs) and micro modular reactors (MMRS) in India, the companies said on Wednesday.

Wheat procurement surges 17% to 35 million tonnes, exceeds 2026-27 season goal

The government's wheat procurement rose 17% to over 35 million tonnes (MT) in the 2026-27 rabi marketing season, surpassing both the target of 34.5 MT and the previous year's procurement of 30 MT, a senior Food Ministry official said on Wednesday.