Govt reaches out to Opp, ready to soften FCRA Bill, allay concerns

On the day it reached out to the Opposition in an attempt to break the deadlock in Parliament where proceedings remain disrupted, the government Wednesday signalled that the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 would not have any penalising retrospective provision. 

Money Bill route pending before SC, Govt chooses it to raise strength of judges

The Rajya Sabha Wednesday passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which seeks to increase the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38 including the Chief Justice of India.

The Bill, which cleared Lok Sabha Monday, was passed as a money Bill, a route it had also taken in 2019 when the Supreme Court strength was raised to 34. In 2018, a key dissenting opinion in a Supreme Court ruling had described this route as a "fraud on the Constitution." 

RBI keeps interest rates unchanged, opts for caution amid uncertain global outlook

The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) Wednesday kept its key policy repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent, opting for caution as volatile crude oil prices, geo-political tensions in West Asia and an uncertain global outlook cloud the inflation trajectory.

While the central bank maintained the neutral policy stance and marginally raised its growth forecast for FY27 to 6.7 per cent from 6.6 per cent, it lowered its inflation projection to 5 per cent from 5.1 per cent, signalling confidence that price pressures will moderate over the course of the year despite near-term risks.

RS passes judges Bill; Opp raises ordinance route, diversity deficit

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday approved the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which replaces an ordinance promulgated in May to increase the strength of the apex court judges from 34 to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.

The Money Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha Monday, and the Upper House cleared it with a voice vote and returned it to the Lower House after a nearly two-hour discussion Wednesday. 

LS clears Bankers' Books Evidence Bill with voice vote amid Opposition din

The Lok Sabha was adjourned as it convened at 2 pm for the second half on Wednesday, soon after the Bankers' Books Evidence Bill, 2026, was passed by voice vote without debate amid Opposition din. 

Misri meets Lanka President, bilateral projects in focus

India and Sri Lanka have agreed to take forward the negotiations on updating the Free Trade Agreement and will sign the Social Security pact soon, as Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo on Wednesday.

The discussions between Misri and Dissanayake focused on issues of "mutual interest and review of key bilateral projects, including assisted development projects in Sri Lanka". 

RBI must keep steady hand amid uncertainty

In line with expectations, the RBI's monetary policy committee voted unanimously in its August meeting to keep interest rates unchanged. The repo rate stands at 5.25 per cent. Alongside, the committee chose to stay with its neutral stance. The rationale is straightforward. The uptick in inflation in recent months - CPI had risen to 4.38 per cent in June, from 3.93 per cent in May - is driven largely by food and fuel prices. Core inflation, excluding precious metals, remains subdued at around 2.3-2.5 per cent. This suggests that price pressures are not broad-based in the economy. 

Are India-US trade talks an exercise in futility?

An Editorial ('Ahead of the big deal, strike a careful balance', IE, July 17) in this newspaper has argued that a deal with the US "will go a long way in reducing uncertainty... while expanding trade." But trade negotiations appear to be an exercise in futility. At one stage, Donald Trump insisted that India acknowledge a decisive US role in ending the Indo-Pak conflict, reportedly because such recognition would bolster his Nobel Peace Prize aspirations. A 50 per cent tariff was briefly imposed before being withdrawn, but not before employment-intensive sectors such as textiles and sports goods suffered heavy losses in the US market in 2025-26. 

How SC's gender guide differs from the 2023 version

Trial Court judges must actively prevent the secondary traumatisation of sexual assault survivors, control aggressive cross-examinations and develop an "Emotional Quotient" to handle cases involving crimes against women. These are among the key recommendations laid out in a new Supreme Court report published Monday, aimed at bringing gender sensitivity to the Indian judiciary.

The report, 'Judgments and Gender: Sensitivity and compassion in writing judgments', has been drafted by an expert panel headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Aniruddha Bose. This marks a shift from a 2023 handbook the top court had published, which focused on helping judges identify and avoid patriarchal language. 

Cut, copy: Why books are being destroyed to feed Al

• The legal position under Indian copyright law remains unsettled.

• Section 52 of the Copyright Act, 1957, outlines the fair dealing exception, which allows the limited use of protected material without the owner's permission for specific purposes. 

Outlook hazy, need clarity before taking any policy action: RBI GOV

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday signalled that the central bank is in no hurry to alter its policy course as it weighs a more challenging growth-inflation mix.

"The outlook, however, is hazy because of the uncertainties regarding south-west monsoon, El Niño, geopolitics and global trade policy. There is a need for greater clarity to emerge, especially regarding inflation, its path and composition before taking any policy action," he said while unveiling the monetary policy.

RBI set to launch 'plastic' notes at start of 2027-28

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) plans to launch polymer banknotes at the beginning of next financial year (FY28), and people will initially get hold of lower denomination "plastic" notes, that of Rs 10 and Rs 20.