SC: homemakers build nation, work worth at least 30,000 a month

Observing that homemakers deserve to be recognised as "nation builders", the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the unpaid domestic work per-formed by them must be monetised at a minimum of ₹30,000 per month while calculating compensation for deaths in road accidents.

Shah vows to remove AFSPA from almost all N-E States next year

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, will be withdrawn from the entire Northeast (N-E) next year, barring one or two States. 

Bacillary dysentery cases rise in Kerala

More cases of shigellosis (bacillary dysentery), a highly contagious bacterial diarrhoeal disease caused by shigella, are being re-ported across Kerala, with a total of 34 cases reported in June alone. Thiruvananthapuram has reported six cases, Kollam and Idukki one each, Alapuzha three, Malappuram and Kannur two each, Kozhikode 11 and Wayanad eight. Shigellosis is a severe 

form of diarrhoeal outbreak involving intestinal tissue invasion by the bacteria, causing highly infectious, bloody, and mucoid stools (bacillary dysentery) accompanied by high fever and severe abdominal cramps.

The infection spreads through contaminated water, food and contact from infected surfaces and is extremely infectious. Ingesting as few as 10 to 100 bacteria can cause an infection. It spreads rapidly via the fecaloral route.

FCRA Bill - expanding state control over civil society

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment (FCRA) Bill, 2026, introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 25, 2026, is far more than a routine regulatory measure. While presented as a step towards greater transparency and national security, it significantly increases executive power, transforming the FCRA from a law regulating foreign funding into one that enables extensive state control over non-governmental organisations (NGOs), charitable trusts, and educational and religious institutions.

Implementation complete, but workers still vulnerable

With the notification of the rules for the four labour codes in May, the implementation framework for these codes is now complete. Trade unions and academics have raised serious objections to several provisions in the new labour codes, arguing that they are regressive and detrimental to the interests of workers. It has also taken nearly six years to operationalise the codes enacted during 2019-20. The codes are The Code on Wages, 2019, The Industrial Relations Code, 2020, The Code on Social Security, 2020 and The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.

Why is Nicobar debating elections?

The centrally administered Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is planning to introduce elections, as they are conducted in the rest of India, to the Nicobarese tribal community's system of self-governance in the archipelago. This includes measures such as the delimitation of constituencies, the preparation of electoral rolls, and the reservation of seats and leadership positions for women in the community's tribal councils. 

J&K CM raises Statehood demand with PM Modi

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah raised the issue of State-hood with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting in Delhi on Thursday.

France backs 'Make in India' in defence, signals new model for Rafale deal

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France for the G7 Summit, French diplomatic sources on Thursday said the nation's future defence cooperation with India, including the proposed Rafale fighter jet deal, will be aligned with the 'Make in India' initiative and based on an equal partnership.

After many extensions, panel's report on SC status for Dalit converts ready

The Justice K.G. Balakrish-nan (retd) Commission examining the issue of Scheduled Caste status for Dalit converts has finished its study and prepared the re-port it was tasked with almost four years ago. The three-member Commission of Inquiry was constituted by the government in October 2022, just as the Supreme Court was about to resume hearing a batch of pleas that sought Scheduled Caste status for Dalit Muslims and Christians. The issue has been pending in the top court for 20 years now.

Modi tells States to harness Al, prepare for El Nino impact

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked the States to balance the opportunities of artificial intelligence with safe-guards against emerging social challenges, such as cyberfraud and drug abuse, while warning of risks posed by El Nino conditions and calling for stronger water conservation measures.

Child assessments must be done in custody cases with ‘minimum intrusion': SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday held that psycho-logical assessments of children should be conducted only when necessary and with "minimum intrusion" into the child's life in custody disputes, particularly in cases where the child is an alleged victim of sexual abuse.

Centre lifts excise duty on higher ethanol-blend petrol

Aiming to popularise the uptake of bio-fuels in the country, the Union government late on Wednesday re-moved central excise duty on petrol blended with higher quantum of ethanol. Following the move, petrol blended with ethanol at 22%, 25%, 27% and 30% would be exempted from central excise duties. In a statement, the government clarified that the latest reduction did not indicate anything on rolling out higher blends.

Indian textile sector witnessing revival of investments

For the textile and clothing industry, the last quarter of FY26 and the first quarter of the current financial year have seen growth in demand, triggering investments, according to industry officials.

"After 2022, the industry saw demand picking up across the textile value chain from January to mid-May. There is a slowdown in demand now after withdrawal of the import duty on cotton. 

'India likely to be invited to join Hormuz security initiative'

Strike cuts power to Zaporizhzhia plant: IAEA

An overnight strike has cut off external electricity sup-ply to the Ukraine's Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's largest, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Thursday.

No release of radioactivity was detected and radiation levels remained nor-mal, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement. The plant "is currently relying on emergency diesel generators to power the cooling of its six shut-down reactors and maintain other essential nuclear safety functions,".

Contraceptive use and the weight women carry: insights from NFHS-6

India must invest in policies that move contraceptive use from compliance to choice: this will involve ensuring no girl is married before the age of 18. investing in rural secondary education, and increasing access to reversible scientific contraception methods