SIR: From Technical Exercise to Political Flashpoint The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, underway across nine states and three Union Territories, has become more than a routine administrative process. Originally intended to remove duplicates, correct constituency allocations, and register new voters, SIR has come under scrutiny due to reports of multiple booth-level officer (BLO)…
DA-Basic Pay Merger Confusion Amid growing speculation around the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC), uncertainty has persisted over whether the government would merge dearness allowance (DA) with basic pay. In a Lok Sabha reply, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary clarified that no such merger is under consideration. He emphasized that DA and Dearness Relief…
The latest Open Doors 2025 data paints a portrait of an international education system that is expanding—but not from its traditional source of strength. Growth is increasingly driven not by newly arriving students, but by those already in the United States progressing through multi-stage academic and work pathways. Country trends are evolving unevenly: India continues to…
A New Face of Terrorism Emerges in Kashmir The National Investigation Agency’s latest crackdown in Kashmir has exposed a sophisticated “white collar” terror ecosystem—a shadowy network where radical ideology, professional expertise and digital technologies converge to enable violence. The sweeping raids, conducted across Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam, form part of an expanding investigation linking Kashmir-based operatives…
A Firm Crackdown on SIM-less Communication India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched one of its most aggressive policy actions yet to combat cyber fraud, issuing stringent directives that require all app-based communication platforms to eliminate SIM-less usage. Issued under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024, the mandate applies to apps such…
A New Cybersecurity Push In a sweeping move to fortify digital security, the Indian government has directed all smartphone manufacturers to preload the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on every new device sold in the country. The order, issued on November 28, 2025, requires compliance within 90 days and ensures the app remains non-uninstallable. Existing devices, too, will…
A Charged Opening to a Crucial Session India’s Parliament Winter Session 2025 opened on December 1, setting in motion 19 days of legislative deliberations across 15 sittings. Coming immediately after the high-stakes Bihar elections, the session carries renewed political energy. The BJP-led NDA government, emboldened by electoral gains, seeks to accelerate long-pending economic reforms, while an embattled opposition prepares…
Odisha’s government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, tabled a ₹17,440-crore supplementary budget for FY 2025–26 on November 28, 2025, adding fiscal muscle to the earlier ₹2.90-lakh-crore main budget. Designed as a mid-year correction rather than a populist expansion, the allocation reinforces ongoing programmes in agriculture, health, education, welfare, and infrastructure. The budget maintains strict fiscal discipline under FRBM…
On November 28, 2025, India’s Ministry of Defence formalized a five-year sustainment package worth ₹7,995 crore ($894 million) with the United States under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) were signed in New Delhi, with Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh present. The agreement ensures comprehensive support for the Indian Navy’s 24…
The Leadership Rift Karnataka Congress has faced persistent rumors of a leadership rift between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar since the party’s 2023 Assembly victory. With a 135-seat mandate, the Congress high command had reportedly approved a 2.5-year power-sharing understanding, placing Siddaramaiah first and Shivakumar next. However, tensions surfaced repeatedly over bureaucratic transfers, cabinet allocations, board…
