Vande Mataram, the national song that has stirred passions and political controversies for more than a century, received legal protection on Thursday with Parliament passing a bill making any insult to it a punishable offence, rekindling the long-running debate over its place in India's history and identity.
At what age should society stop regulating life choices and allow people to make their own?
The US is reportedly considering a USD 100,000 fee for Optional Practical Training (OPT) visas, which allow international students to work in the US after graduation. This move by the Trump administration follows a rejected H1-B visa fee proposal and could significantly impact foreign graduates and tech companies. The Department of Homeland Security is also exploring a USD 100,000 bond for green card applicants.
While intense protests were seen in Mandya and preventive detentions carried out at several places, life remained unaffected in major urban centres like Bengaluru and Mysuru.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee said the proposed comprehensive statutory framework for regulating OTT content should include robust technology-enabled age-verification mechanisms, effective parental controls and suitable penalties for non-compliance.
Two policemen, including one from the MP police special task force, have been arrested in Bhopal for allegedly luring and raping a 17-year-old Dalit girl. The main accused, Santosh Sen, is charged under POCSO and SC/ST Act, while his colleague, Jitendra Rajput, is accused of abetment.
The Supreme Court has clarified that 'criminal antecedents' for NEET paper leak protesters refer only to grave and heinous offences, allowing state governments to withdraw FIRs against students not involved in such serious crimes. This comes after the Centre's commitment to not pursue cases against most protesting students.
The Resident Doctors' Association of AIIMS, Delhi, has appealed to President Droupadi Murmu for an independent, time-bound inquiry into the alleged use of force against peaceful protesters at Jantar Mantar and raised concerns over activist Sonam Wangchuk's reported inability to leave Safdarjung Hospital.
The Indian Parliament is scheduled for a significant legislative day, with the Lok Sabha set to consider and pass the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. Concurrently, the Rajya Sabha will introduce the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and pass the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, highlighting a busy agenda for both houses.
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India has quashed the 2021 Office Memorandum allowing retrospective environmental clearances, reinforcing the importance of prior environmental approval for projects but held that the judgment will apply prospectively, thus saving projects that got retrospective ECs from demolition and other punitive measures.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the implementation date for its revised loan recovery and agent engagement directions to January 1, 2027, from the previously proposed October 1, 2026, following stakeholder feedback.
The Supreme Court of India has quashed criminal proceedings against Standard Chartered Bank and one of its officers in a 1991-92 Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) case, citing an extraordinary 23-year delay in prosecution and the Enforcement Directorate's failure to comply with mandatory procedural safeguards.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the determination of citizenship status in India must adhere to a fair, lawful, and reasoned process, setting aside Gauhati High Court verdicts that had affirmed orders declaring some individuals as foreigners. The court stressed that constitutional protections of equality, life, and personal liberty apply to every person within India's territory.
A sophisticated cross-bank syndicate is systematically defrauding non-resident Indians (NRIs) and elderly citizens by exploiting their fixed deposits through forged documents and fictitious loans, often involving colluding bank employees and real estate deals.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a review petition challenging its earlier decision that no cognisable offence was made out against BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma for their alleged hate speeches during the 2020 anti-CAA protests in Delhi.
Underlining that students are the "architects of India's future," President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the government is taking comprehensive steps to reform public examinations to completely curb paper leaks and unfair means, making the system transparent, secure, and trustworthy.
A UK police force said on Friday that its officers have been tackling serious violence, including being bitten and spat at by protesters, over days of anti-migrant clashes at a town in eastern England.
A significant parliamentary revolt within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has emerged, with purported signatures of 19 MPs on a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker seeking recognition as a separate bloc under Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar and extending support to the BJP-led NDA.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has appealed to the United Nations to intervene on behalf of religious minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh, citing human rights violations.
Before Shabana Azmi tries to outrival herself in the Batwara 1947 and Awarapan 2 clash, we look at other Bollywood stars whose films released on the same day.
A 14-year-old girl gave birth to a son in Pithoragarh, leading to a case being registered against the newborn's father under the POCSO Act and other sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Parents of a nine-year-old girl, Amaira, who died by suicide at Jaipur's Neerja Modi School last year, have released new CCTV footage. They allege the footage shows their daughter being repeatedly bullied by classmates, and that the school failed to intervene despite her distress. The family is demanding action under the Juvenile Justice Act and a thorough investigation, claiming police did not properly investigate due to school influence.
The Supreme Court was strongly urged to establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a former judge to investigate alleged police excesses against students protesting the NEET paper leak across various states. The court, while issuing interim directions, restrained states from coercive action against protesters and ordered the release of minors without criminal antecedents.
An advocate has filed a complaint with the CBFC seeking a ban on the song Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke, alleging obscenity and harmful content for minors.
The stakeholders want protection from any litigation which might arise due to fresh claims against the company, especially after PE funds have bought stake in the company and the resolution plan has been cleared by the bankers.
The Delhi High Court has deferred the hearing on actor Salman Khan's plea to stay the release of the film 'Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legal' until July 6, as the movie has not yet been submitted to the censor board for certification.
The Supreme Court has issued a directive to the Bihar government, ordering the removal of all unauthorised structures and encroachments along the Ganga river banks between Nauzar Ghat and Nurpur Ghat in Patna within six weeks. The court expressed concern over illegal constructions and noted the lack of action despite previous orders, warning of strict views on any laxity. The directive came during the hearing of a plea against a National Green Tribunal order regarding encroachments on eco-fragile floodplains.
EPFO said the measure could substantially improve retirement outcomes with nearly half its members expected to see an increase of up to 35 times in their old-age savings.
Holding Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for alleged police brutalities on protesting students, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said that "Jan Shakti" (people's power) will "drag him out" one day to make him accountable.
Parliament on Thursday passed a bill to amend the anti-paper leak law to introduce stricter punishments, with the government expressing its commitment to go the extra mile to safeguard the interests of students, who are the country's future.
The Supreme Court has issued interim directions regarding nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak, ordering the release of minor student protesters without criminal records and directing states to preserve all digital evidence. The court also called for a fair and independent investigation into allegations of police excesses against students, while also acknowledging concerns for injured police personnel.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has released a 198-page guidance note to assist crypto-asset service providers in complying with reporting obligations under the Income-tax Act, 2025, aligning India with the OECD's Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (Carf) for automatic exchange of tax information.
Maya Thakur, a transgender icon, advocates for amendments to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, to include self-identification and protect transgender individuals who wish to remain independent from traditional eunuch communities.
'If there are different laws governing the same subject, it can increase the compliance burden on platforms. The process would be easier and more transparent if there were a singular national-level law.'
UEFA's member associations have unanimously voted to boycott the World Cup and other FIFA competitions in protest against FIFA's plan to sell stakes to external investors in a subsidiary managing its tournaments.
A court in Nashik has declined to grant interim protection from arrest to Nida Khan, a key accused in the sexual harassment and religious coercion probe at a Tata Consultancy Services unit. The court has directed the Nashik Police and the complainant to file their formal responses to her anticipatory bail application.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned from his post, stating he sent his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent 'anti-national forces' from exploiting the situation arising from widespread protests over examination irregularities.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has introduced a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to tackle land encroachment and unauthorised constructions in the capital. Following Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu's directive for "zero tolerance," the SOP mandates demolition within 72 hours of detection by dedicated Quick Response Teams and flying squads. The policy also incorporates technology like geo-tagging and drone inspections, alongside continuous monitoring to prevent re-encroachment.
A youth in Kota has been booked for allegedly throwing firecrackers at crocodiles in the Chandralohi river to create a social media reel. The incident has raised concerns about wildlife protection and the dangers of social media stunts.
The judgment is India's first to examine AI companies' use of copyrighted works for foundation models, setting an analytical framework for Section 52 of the Copyright Act.
