India, Pak. avoid blaming each other at SCO meeting

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar held an "informal interaction" at the conclusion lunch for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad.

Officials stressed that the conversation was part of normal diplomatic discourse, given that Mr. Jaishankar was attending the lunch along with dignitaries from all 10 SCO nations including Russia, China, Iran, Belarus, and the central Asian states, and that "all leaders talked to each other during lunch and in the waiting lounge".

SC censures Haryana, Punjab over lack of action in stubble-burning cases, summons Chief Secretaries

The Supreme Court slammed Haryana and Punjab for their "defiant attitude" against taking penal action on persons burning crop residue ahead of the winter season and aggravating air pollution across north India, especially in and around the national capital. 

A three-judge Bench headed by Justice A.S. Oka expressed shock at Haryana's submission that it could detect no fires despite information received from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) about their exact locations.

Centre increases MSP for wheat, five other rabi crops

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs increased the minimum support price (MSP) for rabi crops for the next marketing season of 2025-26 with the MSP for wheat going up by ₹150 a quintal. The new MSP for a quintal of wheat is ₹2,425 in comparison to 2,275 per quintal, which was in place for the 2024- 25 season.

SC verdict on the constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act

A Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud is scheduled to pronounce judgment on the constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955. 

Section 6A was a special provision inserted into the 1955 Act in furtherance of a Memorandum of Settlement called the 'Assam Accord' signed on August 15, 1985, by the then Rajiv Gandhi government.

Under Section 6A, foreigners who had entered Assam before January 1, 1966, and been "ordinarily resident" in the State, would have all the rights and obligations of Indian citizens. 

Those who had entered the State between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971, would have the same rights and obligations except that they would not be able to vote for 10 years.

Abject failure

The 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) suggests that India's undernourished population this year would effectively rank as the seventh most populous country in the world, with roughly the population of Brazil, a staggering 200 million people. 

In stark terms, this is about 14% of India's existing population. The 2024 GHI, which is the report's 19th edition, considers comprehensive sets of data in its findings. 

In India's case, it considers the Sample Registration System statistical reports, that the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation publishes annually, which provide data such on births, deaths, and infant and maternal mortality, based on reports by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and NITI Aayog.

What does the Global Hunger Index 2024 state about India?

The Global Hunger Index for 2024 states that a 'serious' level of hunger is prevalent in India. 

The score is based on four broad parameters, that is child stunting (share of children under five with lower height proportional to their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition), undernourishment (share of the population with insufficient caloric intake), child wasting (share of children under five with lower weight proportional to their height) and child mortality (share of children who die before their fifth birthday). 

The Ministry of Women and Child Development have expressed concerns about the data not being accessed from their ICT application 'Poshan Tracker'.

Five Eyes support Canada in a spat with India on Nijjar

The United Kingdom has "full confidence" in the Canadian judicial process, the Foreign Office in London, expanding the ambit of the unprecedented diplomatic crisis that has broken out between India and Canada over the alleged involvement of Canada-based Indian diplomats in the 2023 killing of pro-Khalistan preacher Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The U.K. is the fourth member of the 'Five Eye' countries to extend support to Canada's position. Earlier New Zealand, the United States and Australia had backed Canada.

The U.K. has full confidence in Canada's judicial system. Respect for sovereignty and the rule of law is essential," said the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office in an official statement.

The Five Eye countries Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.S., and the U.K. often coordinate closely on issues of common security interest.

Army to commemorate 62 years of the Battle of Walong with China

To mark the 62nd anniversary of the iconic Battle of Walong during the 1962 war with China, the Army is planning a month-long series of commemorative events. 

They will continue till November 14. In addition to a series of activities, the newly renovated Walong War Memorial, Shaurya Sthal at Lama Spur, and some key infrastructure projects in the border areas are also set to be inaugurated. 

In 1962, the Indian Army halted the advancing People's Liberation Army soldiers for 27 days which forced them to commit their reserve Division from Tawang Sector to Walong as fierce battles unfolded in the unforgiving terrain of Kibithu, Namti Tri Junction (famously known as Tiger's Mouth), Walong, and adjoining features.

Climate change impact harsher on poorer farmers in India: FAO report

Poor households globally lose 5% of their total income in an average year from heat stress and 4.4% from floods compared with households that are relatively better off, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations said, warning about the negative impacts of climate change on the farming population in India.

The report said that on-farm income sources of the rural poor in India were affected in different ways depending on the type of climate stress. In case of droughts or such events, poor households dedicated more time and resources to agricultural production to sustain themselves, as farm employment opportunities were reduced. 

The total incomes of poor households were reduced compared with those of families that have not been exposed to a significant climate stressor, it said. "The vulnerability of poor households to climate stressors is likely to be rooted in structural inequalities," the report said and asked the government to take policy measures such as expanding the social security net.