Sharp Hike Sparks Outcry In July, ICICI Bank, India’s second-largest private lender, revised the minimum average monthly balance (MAB) for select savings account categories in metro and urban branches from ₹10,000 to an unprecedented ₹50,000. The change, set to take effect on September 1, represented a fivefold jump and triggered strong reactions from customers and political voices alike. Critics argued…
A Pivotal Step for Connectivity Odisha is gearing up for a transformative phase in its infrastructure journey, with the state government approving the construction of 32 new bridges under the Setu Bandhan Yojana for the financial year 2025–26. These projects, spread across ten strategically chosen districts, are designed to dismantle long-standing connectivity barriers, particularly in regions with geographical and logistical challenges….
A Date That Holds More Than History For most of the world, 14 August is just a mark on the calendar. But for India, it is an indelible scar — the eve of Independence that also carried the unbearable weight of Partition. The jubilant dawn of freedom on 15 August 1947 was preceded by a…
Removing Barriers to Girls’ Education ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) is advancing its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, the ‘Beti Padhao Scholarships’, to ensure that financial constraints do not stand in the way of bright young women pursuing their studies. Designed specifically for girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the initiative aligns with national…
New Methods, Growing Joinings The Indian Railways, one of the country’s largest employers, has been rethinking its hiring strategies—embracing digitisation, multilingual testing, and an annual recruitment calendar. The results have been striking: a surge in joining, higher transparency, and unprecedented applicant interest. This shift is not just filling vacancies faster but also attracting a more diverse talent…
OHRC’s Stand Against the Term On January 31, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) reiterated a long-standing position: the term ‘Harijan’, historically used for members of the Scheduled Castes, should have no place in government dealings or public records. The Commission underlined that it is outdated, socially insensitive, and inconsistent with constitutional language. This reaffirmation…
A Sudden End to a Tycoon’s Life When industrialist Sunjay Kapur—chairman of Sona Comstar and scion of the Sona Group—collapsed and died in June this year after reportedly swallowing a bee during a polo match, the shockwaves extended far beyond his family circle. At just 57, Kapur’s unexpected death left behind not only a vast automotive-to-real-estate…
A Fierce Political Flashpoint Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has ignited a sharp diplomatic exchange after accusing Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza amid its prolonged conflict with Hamas. Her remarks, laced with pointed criticism of the Modi government’s silence, drew an equally forceful rebuttal from Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar. The verbal sparring comes as the Israel–Hamas war,…
A High-Stakes Relationship Under Global Scrutiny India–US relations are once again in the spotlight—this time under the weight of a major trade dispute. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has slapped a total tariff of 50% on Indian exports, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil as a primary grievance. While New Delhi has pushed…
From Frosty Relations to Tentative Dialogue For much of the last decade, India–China relations have been defined by friction—border clashes, diplomatic snubs, and economic pushback. The 2020 Galwan Valley incident plunged ties to one of their lowest points in decades, with both sides deploying troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and freezing many channels of…
