'The day we start making rules purely along caste lines, we only divide society further. That's the conversation the government needs to have, and soon.'
Delhi Police detained several anti-reservation protesters at Jantar Mantar who were demanding that economic criteria be prioritised over caste for government support and reservation. The protest, mobilised via social media by 'Reservation Hatao Andolan', proceeded despite police denying permission for Jantar Mantar and offering Ramlila Ground as an alternative venue. Demonstrators called for a review of the existing reservation system and the introduction of a creamy-layer criterion.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak met with students leading a "reservation reform" movement, assuring them that their demands would be presented to the BJP's central leadership and a Union minister. The movement, led by anti-reservation activists, seeks equal opportunities, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the "reform" as a plot against the PDA community, asserting the permanence of reservation rights.
The New Delhi police has heightened security at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to prevent an anti-reservation protest.
Ladakh has approved a four per cent reservation for outstanding sportspersons in Group 'C' government jobs, becoming the first Union Territory in India to implement such a fixed quota. This initiative aims to provide financial security and career opportunities for talented athletes, fostering an ecosystem where sporting excellence is recognised and rewarded.
India's foreign exchange reserves saw one of their largest weekly expansions, surging by USD 14.136 billion to reach USD 707.002 billion during the week ended August 7, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
The Supreme Court has reserved its decision on a plea by the Tamil Nadu government challenging a Madras High Court verdict. The High Court had ruled that individuals converting to Islam are not automatically entitled to reservation benefits under the Backward Class (Muslim) category solely based on their conversion.
The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that the 'creamy layer' principle, which excludes affluent individuals from reservation benefits, does not apply to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). This stance opposes Public Interest Litigations (PILs) seeking to implement such a principle for SC/ST reservations and to direct the government to formulate policies for more equitable distribution of reservation benefits.
The American military's air-defence missile inventories, including Patriot and THAAD interceptors, are significantly depleted due to the ongoing five-month confrontation with Iran. A CSIS assessment reveals a steep drop in reserve stocks, raising concerns about the US's capacity to maintain Middle East operations and address other global security challenges. This depletion could force the US and its allies to take higher operational risks.
India's foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 6.118 billion, reaching USD 682.354 billion for the week ending July 24, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
India's foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 1.08 billion to USD 676.237 billion for the week ended July 17, primarily due to a significant rise in foreign currency assets, despite a drop in gold reserves.
The Tamil Nadu government has appealed to the Supreme Court against a Madras High Court judgment. The High Court ruled that individuals converting to Islam cannot claim reservation under the Backward Class (Muslim) category solely based on conversion, striking down a state Government Order that allowed such benefits.
India's foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 7.26 billion to USD 674.193 billion for the week ending July 3, as reported by the Reserve Bank of India. This surge follows a previous week's drop and comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeals to conserve forex.
India's foreign exchange reserves have surged by $12.42 billion, reaching a new all-time high of $729.33 billion for the week ended August 21, driven by increases in foreign currency assets and gold reserves.
The Delhi Police have urged a court to sentence former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four others to death for the brutal murder of IB officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 Delhi riots, citing the 'heinous and brutal' nature of the crime and the 'savage and relentless assault' on the victim.
Activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday stood firm on his demand for Kunbi caste certificates for all Marathas as his indefinite hunger strike entered the second day, warning that he would march to Mumbai if the Maharashtra government failed to act.
Donald Trump announced a landmark agreement with Venezuela, claiming it to be the 'biggest oil deal in world history'. The deal reportedly grants the US majority control over more than 65 billion barrels of Venezuela's proven crude oil reserves, aiming to double American oil reserves and lower domestic gasoline prices.
India's foreign exchange reserves saw a substantial decline of USD 9.985 billion, reaching USD 671.625 billion for the week ended June 12, primarily driven by a sharp decrease in gold reserves, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Analysts predict that the Indian stock market's sentiment this week will be primarily influenced by the domestic GDP data announcement, crude oil prices, and the crucial US non-farm payrolls report.
Investors should cap gold allocation at 10-15 per cent and consider staggered purchases through gold ETFs.
Gold prices in India extended their losing streak, falling by Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,60,900 per 10 grams, influenced by hawkish remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh and rising oil prices, which have increased expectations of an interest rate hike.
India's foreign exchange reserves saw an increase of USD 963 million, reaching USD 672.587 billion for the week ending June 19, as reported by the RBI. This rise follows a previous week's drop. While foreign currency assets decreased, the value of gold reserves significantly increased, contributing to the overall growth.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that India's real GDP grew by 7.8 per cent in the April-June quarter, surpassing the RBI's forecast. She attributed this strong performance to government reforms and agile economic management, reaffirming the government's commitment to expanding economic opportunities.
Despite large inflows of foreign funds mobilised through the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) concessional swap schemes, the rupee has seen little impact because the dollars have largely been absorbed into the central bank's reserves instead of being released into the spot market, according to market participants.
State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has approved the development of a 1.75 million tonnes (mt) strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) in Mangaluru, a project deemed of national importance, with plans for broad commercial utilisation.
India's foreign exchange reserves increased by $9.9 billion to $716.9 billion for the week ended August 14, as reported by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This surge follows a previous jump of $14.14 billion in the week prior, indicating a robust recovery after a period of decline earlier this year.
IndiGo, India's largest airline, experienced intermittent issues with its core reservation platform on Friday, affecting online services for customers. This follows a similar disruption on Wednesday, though the airline stated the issues have since been resolved.
India's economy recorded a robust 7.8 per cent growth in the April-June quarter of fiscal year 2026-27, surpassing both market expectations and the Reserve Bank of India's forecast. This strong performance positions India as the world's fastest-growing major economy, demonstrating resilience despite global economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, including the conflict in Iran. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation highlighted the sustained growth momentum amidst global headwinds.
Prasidh Krishna was rewarded for his relentless effort in India's Sri Lanka Test series win, taking seven wickets and earning the Impact Player of the Series medal.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) net bought $561 million in June, marking its first net purchase since February, following three consecutive months of net sales. This move coincided with a series of government and RBI measures to attract foreign capital, leading to a 0.36 per cent appreciation of the rupee against the dollar.
Gold and silver prices are expected to continue their upward trend next week, driven by anticipation of key US inflation data and Federal Reserve signals, though profit-booking may occur at higher levels.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is set to meet to discuss the political situation in India, focusing on strategies to pressure the government regarding student issues, alleged embezzlement at the Ram temple, and upcoming Assembly elections. The meeting will also address the women's reservation bill.
The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) has dismissed Ketan Parekh's appeal challenging Sebi's denial of his request to cross-examine two traders from Capital Group, related to an alleged front-running scheme.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh has alleged that the BJP's "real and ultimate target" in seeking a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha is to amend the Constitution to end reservation, rather than genuinely implement women's reservation.
The Bombay High Court has expressed strong displeasure with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for approving the conversion of the Neville D'Souza football ground in Bandra into an exhibition centre, despite an earlier oral assurance to maintain status quo. The court has ordered the BMC to halt further action and questioned the impact on outdoor sports.
Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) have injected Rs 30,919 crore into Indian equities in August, marking their second consecutive month of net buying. This follows a Rs 20,200 crore investment in July, indicating a potential reversal after four months of significant outflows, driven by improving corporate earnings, resilient economic activity, and a stable rupee.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has prematurely closed its swap facility for foreign currency non-resident (bank) deposits, FCNR(B), one month ahead of schedule, after banks mobilised $52.3 billion under the scheme by August 13, indicating sufficient foreign currency reserves.
Making UPI payments fee-based for some transactions could enhance mental reservations against digital payments -- which have largely been overcome -- once more. Do we want to regress?, asks R Jagannthan.
India's foreign exchange reserves decreased by $711 million to $681.61 billion for the week ending June 5, primarily driven by a significant reduction in foreign currency assets, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Quota activist Manoj Jarange has launched an indefinite hunger strike, demanding that the Maharashtra government immediately issue caste certificates based on the 58 lakh Kunbi records identified earlier, asserting that the Maratha community will not grant any further time.
