RBI panel keeps repo rate steady at 5.25%

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) voted unanimously on Wednesday to keep the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged at 5.25%, after a detailed assessment of the evolving macroeconomic and financial developments. 

Fiscal federalism, efficiency versus equity concerns

The Finance Commission, an institutional innovation embedded in India's constitutional architecture, was never intended to be a routine allocator of funds. It was designed as a central pillar of India's fiscal federal compact and as a corrective institution that would mediate the inherent asymmetry between a fiscally dominant Union and structurally constrained States, while also addressing deep horizontal inequalities arising from history, geography, and institutional capacity. In a country marked by uneven development at Independence, the Commission's central mandate was to safeguard the interests of the States and thereby preserve a strong Union. 

Highs and lows

GST must be fuelled by domestic production, not inflation or imports

That GST grossed ₹2.11 lakh crore in July, expanding by 15.4% year-on-year, the second best growth in FY27, could indicate that the Indian economy is resilient. But it conceals the uneven internal and external trajecto-ries, and disparities within India. The 26.9% growth in import IGST vis-à-vis a 4.5% rise in domestic revenues ferrets out the criticality in the tradeled tax buoyancy.

Quantum shift

Private R&D spends should be used to bolster manufacturing

The Department of Science and Technology's latest figures on India's research pro-file record a milestone. In 2023-24, private industry accounted for 51.8% of national research spending - a first in India's history - overtaking all tiers of government combined for the first time. Moreover, industry now employs more core researchers than government institu-tions. Transport firms are the largest corporate investors, followed by pharmaceuticals, biotech-nology and information technology (IT). 

A climate resilience pathway between India and China

This year, El Niño delayed the monsoon in India. When the rains arrived, they were intense, with cities such as Mumbai and Surat receiving a month's rainfall in a matter of days. Regions in Assam and Odisha have experienced severe flooding, resulting in loss of life and damage to infrastructure. Similar conditions have recently affected large swathes of China's provinces, particularly Guangxi, Shaanxi and Gansu. Such extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common, threatening economic growth, food security, and public well-being in the two most populous countries.

India's cancer focus must shift to early detection

Every day, oncology clinics across India confront the same heartbreaking reality.

More than 70% of patients present with advanced-stage cancer, when treatment is more complex, more expensive, and far less likely to achieve a cure. Over the past two decades, India has invested substantially in building world-class tertiary cancer centres and has expanded access to sophisticated surgery, radiation therapy, and systemic treatments. Yet these advances cannot deliver their full potential because most patients arrive too late.

Did abrogating special status for J&K make a difference?

Seven years have passed since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) introduced legis-lations in Parliament to implement its long-standing objective - strip-ping the special status accorded to the State of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) by Article 370 of the Consti-tution. Through these legislations, the Union government not only abrogated the special status, but also took direct control of the State's administration by bifurcating it into two Union Territories J&K and Ladakh.

The road ahead for the Asiatic lion

Landscape-level conservation, backed by political will, capable administration, sustained funding and local community support, has been the foundation of the Asiatic lion's recovery.

Protecting habitats and movement corridors, addressing disease risks and securing a second home for the species are critical to sustaining India's lion conservation legacy.

Why is the Indian Statistical Institute Bill controversial?

The story so far:

The government has tabled a new Bill in Parliament, called the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026, which will replace its approximately 67-year-old predecessor enacted in 1959. While seemingly innocuous, several provisions of the Bill have become contentious, with many faculty members of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) and MPs protesting against it.

Having majority no reason for lawmakers to defy party, says SC

The Supreme Court made it clear on Wednesday that a group of MLAs or MPS cannot override the official directives of the parent political party merely for the reason that they hold a majority among the elect ed members.

'Police modernisation scheme awaits Finance Ministry's nod'

The Union government in-formed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that a pro-posal seeking in-principle approval for an umbrella scheme for the modernisation of police forces across the country had been sent to the Department of Ex-penditure under the Union Ministry of Finance.

RS clears Bill to increase number of SC judges

The Rajya Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Num-ber of Judges) Amendment Bill even as the Opposition members walked out be-fore voting on the Bill. The Bill, passed in the Lok Sab-ha on Monday, is a Money Bill and the Upper House returned it to the Lower House after a discussion.

Meghalaya launches mission to protect clouded leopards

Meghalaya has launched a dedicated programme for its State animal-the mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). On Tuesday, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma unveiled Mission Clouded Leopard. "The mission covers habitat protection and restoration, scientific research and long-term monitoring, stronger protection measures, landscape connectivity, capacity building of frontline staff, community participation, and public awareness. It will be guided by the Meghalaya Clouded Leopard Action Plan, now being prepared by the Forest and Environment Department," the Chief Minister said.

DGMA warns of rising cyberthreats as ports adopt digital technologies

With ports increasingly adopting digital technolo-gies and automation, cyberthreats have emerged as a potential risk to maritime security and the continuity of port operations, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has cautioned in a fresh advisory.

SC seeks action on illegal constructions, warns civic authorities of contempt

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up civic authorities in State capitals for failing to act against illegal constructions and the unauthorised use of residential premises for non-residential purposes des-pite its earlier directions. The court also restrained municipal authorities from issuing directions contrary to its orders, warning that any interference could invite contempt proceedings.

'Polymer currency notes will be in circulation from next FY'

Currency notes made out of polymers (plastic) will be in circulation in the country from next finan-cial year, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Wednesday. "We are still at a pilot [stage]. We will test, check as to how they [the polymer currency notes] perform in the Indian condi tion, climate and other infrastructure we have put in place. And thereafter we will see if we need to further scale it up as it is or with changes," Mr. Malhotra said while answering a question at the post Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press conference.

SIAM withdraws letter to Centre flagging chloride related concerns with E20

The Society of Indian Auto-mobile Manufacturers (SIAM) late on Tuesday withdrew its earlier letter to the government flagging concerns about vehicular parts experiencing either corrosion or wear and tear due to high chloride presence in E20 fuel, saying the data would require further authentication.

Services sector growth hits four-and-a-half-year low

India's services sector growth fell to a four-and-a-half-year low in July as new business orders eased in both domestic and export markets, constrained by fierce competition and fading demand, a monthly survey said on Wednesday. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Services PMI Business Activity Index fell from 57.4 in June to 53.3 in July, registering the weakest growth rate in close to four-and-a-half years.

RBI to resume licensing of urban cooperative banks

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is set to resume li-censing of urban coopera-tive banks (UCBs) after a pause of more than two decades as part of developing a vibrant co-operative sec-tor in the country.

'Ghost particles' can point way to spent nuclear fuel

In the high-stakes world of preventing governments from secretly developing atom bombs, the ability of inspectors to check what happens inside a reactor core - without stepping foot inside the highly radioactive structure - is a holy grail. For many decades, International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors have used cameras and close inspections to ensure operators are not diverting spent nuclear fuel for illicit uses.