In nuclear energy push, Govt to allow private operators, limit their liability

In what could set the stage for an unprecedented opening up of the civil nuclear sector, the government is likely to move two crucial amendments in the laws governing the country's atomic energy sector in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, according to sources aware of the developments. 

The Court’s bind 

Can the union government, through a Presidential Reference under Article 143 of the Constitution, ask the Supreme Court to overturn the two-judge bench judgment curbing the powers of the Governor to refuse assent to legislation? The short answer is "no". Article 143 relates to the Supreme Court's "advisory" jurisdiction. An advisory cannot overturn a verdict that has attained finality. 

A TRADITION OF INCLUSION

Through The Ages, Bengal and Odisha have had much interaction, especially in matters related to food and religious rituals Of late, however, angry voices have been raised in Odisha over a new temple that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has built for Lord Jagannath in Digha, West Bengal. It was to be called Jagannath Dham like the ancient temple in Puri. But gentle, quiet Puri would not have it. Believed to be one of our oldest cities, Puri is untouched by much of what earns a present-day Indian city the label of being "smart". But, as the location of one of the four holy dhams in the east, it has a strange formal grandeur laced with a rustic exuberance.

Putting out the fire

One can be forgiven for being surprised by the Trump administration's reported role in helping broker the India-Pakistan ceasefire -something New Delhi categorically denied on May 13 with a spokesperson stating, "any issues pertaining to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally". Earlier, even top US officials had signalled that any American involvement in the crisis would be relatively hands-off. Recall President Donald Trump's comment that "they'll get it figured out one way or the other", and Vice President JD Vance's statement that "we're not going to get involved in the middle of [a] war that's fundamentally none of our business". With US foreign policy prioritising other flashpoints - from the Gaza and Ukraine wars to deepening competition with China - Washington appeared resigned to keeping its distance.

A mirror and measuring stick

In Contemporary times, one cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that data is the new oil. Just as no enterprise can thrive without accurate data, in the digital age, no nation can deliver social justice without proper information. We cannot fix what we refuse to see. Calls for a caste census compel us to confront the inequalities embedded in our society. Some of these facts might not be very obvious. However, we cannot evade inconvenient truths.

Reading the ceasefire

Recently, the term "ceasefire" has dominated headlines, with some critics labelling the India-Pakistan ceasefire "US-brokered" and framing it as a threat to our sovereignty. The US has since changed its stance. Their reaction reflects short-term political opportunism and a limited understanding of national security, often overlooking the economic aspects of peace. India's decisions are not influenced by external forces; they are rooted in national interest. Unlike the Cold War era of the 1970s, India today is atmanirbhar, leveraging domestic capabilities while engaging globally. Strategic patience stems from our institutional maturity and economic strength.

As trade ties with India fray, Bangladesh pivots & China gains ground.

With Bangladesh set to graduate from the United Nations' Least Developed Country (LDC) category in November 2026 - a move that will end its duty-free access to export markets such as the European Union, posing fresh challenges - the country has begun a sharp economic pivot away from New Delhi towards Beijing, thereby straining trade ties with India.

Suez Canal offers 15% discount to cargo ships: Will vessels return to the Red Sea route?

Egypt's Suez Canal Authority (SCA) is offering a 15 per cent dis-count from May 15 on transit fee to cargo ships of minimum 1,30,000 mt capacity, underscoring the impact that the Red Sea security crisis has had on the water-way critical to the shortest maritime route to the Mediterranean Sea and beyond from the Arab Peninsula, North-East Africa, and the Arabian Sea.

Govt in a fix as Vodafone warns of collapse without AGR relief

The Government finds itself in a serious dilemma over Vodafone Idea's financial crisis, as the beleaguered telecom operator has approached the Supreme Court seeking waiver of Rs 45,457 crore in adjusted gross revenue (AGR)-related dues. Officials observed the development once again, brought to the fore, the fact that even the insolvency framework is inadequate to resolve the challenges of the telecom sector. Previous attempts to use insolvency proceedings in the cases of Reliance Communications and Aircel, dating back to 2018, remain stuck due to legal and regulatory hurdles primarily over disputes regarding spectrum ownership and treatment of government dues.

'Govt received 70 applications, 80% from MSMEs for electronic component scheme'

The government has received 70 applications for Rs 23,000-crore electronics component manufacturing scheme, and majority of applicants are small and medium enterprises, Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

The Northeast-Kolkata route via Myanmar, not Bangladesh

Amid a downturn in India's relationship with Bangladesh, the long-delayed Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project (KMMTTP) linking Mizoram to Kolkata via Myanmar has grown in importance.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has now okayed a 166.8-km four-lane highway from Shillong to Silchar, which will eventually be extended to Zorinpui, Mizoram, and connect the KMMTTP with a high-speed road corridor that runs through the heart of the Northeast, The Indian Express reported.

The problem with live baiting

Kankati, A 23-month-old tigress, has killed two people in less than one month in Ranthambore, Rajasthan.

Since birth, Kankati and her two siblings have been habituated to live bait offered to their ailing mother, Arrowhead. They have often been seen hanging around the pen where buffalo calves are kept and stalking bait delivery staff and their vehicles.

This loss of inhibition for people, experts fear, has made Kankati - and potentially even her siblings - dangerous for the forest staff and the visitors to Ranthambore.

US agency launching fewer weather balloons: why this has raised concerns

In the wake of budget cuts by the Donald Trump administration, a startup will soon replace the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) weather balloons with supposedly cheaper Al-driven alternatives in the US.