Walking on footpaths a fundamental right, rules Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Fri-day, in a judgment, declared the freedom to walk on demarcated and well-maintained footpaths a fundamental right which has priority over movement by motorised vehicles. The court highlighted the need to lay down a statutory framework, not only for declaring the right to walk a fundamental right, but also to recognise the duty-bearers.

Compulsory three-language policy not viable in Nagaland, say CBSE schools

Principals from Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated schools in Nagaland have written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan conveying their difficulty in implementing the compulsory three-language policy framework, including the introduction of Sanskrit, in Naga schools.

Defection as merger

There is something deeply troubling about the wave of defections sweeping India's elected representatives, Members of Parliament chief among them. In the latest episode, six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs are seeking to join the Eknath Shinde faction of the Sena, which emerged after an earlier split in the parent party.

India's cheapest power is here, the grid must catch up

India is leaving tens of gigawatts (GW) of cheap solar and wind power stranded not because the projects are not ready, but -because the grid is not. Upgrading the existing grid with advanced technologies and adding storage at key nodes can unlock 1,000 GW of new clean energy, without acquiring any additional land for transmission.

Moving from drone purchases to drone partnerships

The Indian government's planned $2 billion drone procurement from domestic manufacturers reinforces its commitment to indigenous manufacturing and will boost the country's growing drone industry. It also signals a shift from buying large, sophisticated platforms such as fighter aircraft to smaller, cheaper and more attritable systems. This shift also means procurement practices will have to address the challenges that come with the territory.

Right of way

As part of the Supreme Court's expansion of Article 21 since the 1970s, it has declared the right to walk on demarcated footpaths a fundamental right. The Bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Atul S. Chandurkar reaffirmed the right in a case seeking higher compensation for a five-year-old boy's death after being struck and killed by a tanker lorry in Karnataka. As motorised transport has become more widespread, the Bench noted with regret that walking has become an inconvenience, with motorists of-ten treating pedestrians as a 'nuisance' to be tolerated or cleared. In the absence of a national law governing pedestrian rights, responsibility for pedestrian safety is split across municipal laws, town-planning statutes, and street design guidelines. 

A nation capable of meeting its defence needs can move forward confidently: Rajnath

A nation capable of meeting its own requirements moves forward with the greatest confidence to-wards safeguarding its interests, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Fri-day, while laying the foundation stone for a state-of-the-art, 10,000-tonne aluminium extrusion press at Ordnance Factory Ambajhari (OFA), Nagpur, Maharashtra.

3 indigenous naval vessels to be launched by PM tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will commission three indigenously-built Indian Navy frontline platforms - Dunagiri, Sanshodhak and Agray - at a landmark ceremony at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata on Sunday, marking a significant boost to India's maritime capabilities and indigenous shipbuilding programme. According to the Ministry of Defence, the three vessels, designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, represent critical capabilities across maritime combat, hydrographic surveying and anti-submarine warfare. The three platforms have indigenous content exceeding 75%.

Four glacial lakes in Arunachal have expanded in a decade: study

A satellite-based assessment of five glacial lakes in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh has found that four have expanded over the last decade, with one lake showing rapid growth, adding fresh evidence to concerns over the threat posed by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the eastern Himalaya.

Sickle cell anaemia to be by eradicated 2047: Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said that the country would eradicate sickle cell anaemia well before the government-set target of 2047, while calling for collective efforts to raise awareness about the disorder, especially among tribal communities.

SC calls for fund for young lawyers; flags 'brain drain' in legal profession

Observing that the legal profession risks a "brain drain" if financially struggling young lawyers are compelled to abandon litigation for careers offering greater financial stability, the Supreme Court on Fri-day directed the creation of a "Young Lawyers' Professional Assistance Fund" in every State and Union Territory.

Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal is new FATF Vice-President

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Plenary has appointed Union Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal as the next Vice-President of the global anti-money laundering and counterterrorist financing watchdog for the 2026-2027 term.

"Members approved the priorities of the FATF un-der the incoming U.K. Presidency, and appointed Mr. Vivek Aggarwal of India as the incoming Vice-Presi-dent of the FATF (July 2026-June 2027)," said an FATF release. Mr. Aggarwal will succeed Giles Thom-son, who has served as FATF Vice-President since July 1, 2025.

World Bank approves $1.5 bn support for India reform plan

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors on Friday approved $1.5 billion financing to India to support structural reforms aimed at boosting private sectorled job creation and economic growth, it said in a statement. It added the financing, being provided under Development Policy Financing (DPF) Operation, can create job opportunities for 11 million youth who would be entering the labour market every year over the next two decades. 

West Asia impact dominated MPC meeting discourse

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) at the last meeting broadly agreed the prolonged conflict in West Asia had emerged as the most significant risk to India's economic outlook, the minutes of the meeting indicated. The disruption of energy supplies, higher crude oil prices, elevated shipping and insurance costs and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have increased concerns about inflation, growth, external balances, and financial market stability, the minutes showed. Consequently, all members agreed to maintain the policy repo rate at 5.25% and retaining a neutral stance, emphasising a cautious 'wait-and-watch' approach. A common theme across the statements of various members was that India had entered the current crisis from a position of relative strength.

Israel and Hezbollah 'agree to halt fighting'; U.S.-Iran talks uncertain

Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group agreed on Friday to halt the heavy fighting in southern Leba-non that had threatened to unravel an interim agreement between the United States and Iran to end their war, officials said. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah immediately confirmed the truce.