Amrit Dhillon

Hundreds of thousands of young Indians involved in the Cockroach Janata Party movement have protested exam paper leaks and demanded government accountability, prompting the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Prasad. After police used batons and teargas against protesters, demonstrators criticised Bollywood and cricket celebrities for remaining silent or issuing non-committal statements. Salman Khan and Anupam Kher were condemned for responses seen as echoing government concerns, while Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma also faced criticism. Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi were notable exceptions, with Azmi joining the protest and calling for the students' hopes to be supported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised fast-track courts and punishment for officials accused of leaking examination papers, but the Cockroach Janta party youth movement rejected the proposal as inadequate. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and broader education reform after opposition figures cited 152 exam leaks over the past decade without a conviction. Demonstrations have spread from Delhi to several Indian cities, while the government has offered talks without addressing Pradhan’s position. The standoff is placing growing political pressure on Modi, whose government no longer has its former parliamentary majority.

Climate activist and engineer Sonam Wangchuk is in severe physical decline on the 19th day of an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. He is demanding reform of India’s education system and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after a leaked medical-college entrance exam devastated millions of students. Wangchuk has become the figurehead of the Cockroach Janta Party, a youth-led movement whose supporters accuse the Narendra Modi government of ignoring them. A court has ordered health monitoring, while doctors warn of starvation-related organ and neurological risks. Calls from politicians and prominent figures for Wangchuk to end the fast have been rejected, and the movement is planning a march on parliament.

Government takeover of Delhi’s historic polo grounds has fueled a dispute over the loss of scarce green space amid worsening heat stress and overcrowding. Critics fear the land will be used for high-rise housing for government personnel, while environmental advocates warn of reduced ventilation, rising temperatures and shrinking areas for public use. Court concerns highlight the city’s deteriorating livability as population density and pollution escalate, with activists arguing that preserving open areas is critical for mitigating extreme heat and supporting biodiversity.

British colonial authorities used photography in the Indian subcontinent to classify people by perceived racial and social types in an attempt to strengthen control after the 1857 rebellion. A new exhibition and book highlight how these images, taken between the mid‑19th and early 20th centuries, reflect efforts to codify populations through ethnographic portraits that stripped subjects of individuality. Curator Sudeshna Guha argues that India’s diversity undermined the colonial premise of fixed “types,” and that many sitters showed agency despite coercive conditions. The surviving photographs now serve as evidence of both imperial intentions and the resilience of those depicted.

India’s more than 100 annual literature festivals draw massive crowds by blending books with music, dance, handicrafts, food and celebrity appearances, appealing to visitors seeking cultural spectacle rather than primarily literary engagement. Despite rising literacy, book buying remains limited, especially for English titles, while regional-language literature thrives largely unnoticed outside state boundaries due to limited translation. Publishers, writers and festival organisers describe festivals as social events that may nonetheless plant early seeds of reading interest. Growing mobile phone use competes with reading time, yet festivals provide a rare cultural alternative to screen consumption. Regional authors such as Banu Mushtaq gain wider recognition only through translation, and observers view the festival boom as a democratising force bringing literature to new places and audiences.

Mumbai’s new coastal motorway has intensified debate over the city’s vast inequality as critics argue the taxpayer-funded project benefits wealthy drivers while most residents rely on overcrowded public transport. Environmental activists warn that reclaimed land and mangrove destruction increase flood risks, while fishing communities report disrupted livelihoods and reduced access to traditional coastal areas. Supporters cite reduced commute times and potential economic growth, but opponents highlight worsened shoreline access, environmental degradation and a development boom favouring luxury real estate.

India’s Ayushman Bharat scheme has expanded access to free hospital treatment for millions, but mounting unpaid claims exceeding 1 trillion rupees have created severe financial strain for hospitals. Delayed reimbursements, administrative errors, and fraud investigations are causing cashflow crises, prompting some private hospitals to halt treatment for beneficiaries. While the program has transformed access to care for poor families, critics warn that without timely payments and updated reimbursement rates, its sustainability and widespread support are at risk.

Indore transformed from a city with large garbage dumps to one consistently ranked India’s cleanest through systematic waste segregation, GPS‑tracked collection, public awareness campaigns and strict enforcement. Local pride, community participation, and coordinated government action drove behavior changes, supported by school programs, fines for littering, and religious engagement. Residents now actively maintain cleanliness, demonstrating a model other Indian cities could replicate with committed governance and public cooperation.

Transgender sex workers in India are partnering with Apollo Tyres Foundation to educate long‑haul truck drivers about HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. The initiative, launched in 2022, employs more than 100 transgender volunteers who use their familiarity with truck‑stop culture to build trust and correct misconceptions about HIV transmission, treatment and prevention. Drivers, a high‑risk group, receive guidance on proper condom use, the dangers of unlicensed medical practitioners and access to Apollo health centers offering testing and counselling. The program has reached over 100,000 drivers while providing transgender participants with increased visibility and social respect, leading some to transition into paid health educator roles.

Villagers in Barekuri, Assam, maintain a long‑standing coexistence with the endangered hoolock gibbons, despite severe threats from deforestation, mining, and habitat fragmentation. A small population of about 19 gibbons remains, with limited females and shrinking food resources. Local guardian Mohit Chutia and researchers highlight the impact of oil and gas extraction, including a destructive 2020 blowout. Conservationists call for halting mining, restoring habitat through replanting, and building canopy bridges to ensure safe movement and survival of the gibbons as industrial pressures intensify.

Rural hospitals in Karnataka have gained access to critical care through the 10 Bed ICU project, which installs fully equipped units and connects local doctors with intensivists in Bengaluru via tele‑ICU technology. Initiated by Srikanth Nadhamuni and supported by philanthropy and state government collaboration, the program addresses gaps in critical‑care infrastructure and workforce shortages. Remote specialists guide treatment in real time, reducing transfers to overcrowded city hospitals and improving outcomes for patients who previously faced long, dangerous journeys for care. More than 200 units have been established, treating about 65,000 patients and easing pressure on urban facilities while enhancing the skills of rural doctors.

A trainee doctor’s rape and murder at a Kolkata hospital sparked nationwide anger, strikes and protests as her father described her dedication to medicine and the hardships the family endured to support her education. Neighbours and colleagues remembered her as a committed doctor motivated by service. Outrage intensified because the attack occurred inside the hospital where she was believed to be safe. Medical associations and women’s rights advocates expressed grief, as communities rally to support the grieving parents and demand justice.

The rape and murder of a young doctor inside Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital triggered nationwide protests by medical workers and heightened fear among India’s female doctors, who say the killing shattered their sense of safety in hospitals. Several doctors described reconsidering night shifts, security practices, and personal routines, while noting that many government hospitals lack basic protective measures. Authorities announced increased security staffing and India’s supreme court ordered a national taskforce to review workplace safety for medical professionals. The investigation has been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation after the victim’s parents questioned the objectivity of local police.

Doctors across India will shut down all non-emergency medical services for 24 hours in an escalated strike over the rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. The Indian Medical Association is demanding stronger safety measures in hospitals and protection for female medical staff amid rising violence against healthcare workers. Public outrage has intensified following another rape and murder case in Uttarakhand and insensitive remarks from officials, fueling broader protests over women’s safety and political blame-shifting in West Bengal.

Large torch-lit marches across West Bengal on India’s Independence Day called for justice after the rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor in a Kolkata hospital. The killing triggered widespread anger over women’s safety and systemic failures, prompting a nationwide doctors’ strike demanding improved hospital security. Public distrust grew as allegations of a cover‑up emerged and concerns over evidence destruction led the Kolkata high court to transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The incident renewed scrutiny of India’s persistent crisis of sexual violence and official inaction, intensifying calls for accountability and reform.

Priyanka Gandhi prepares to enter parliament by contesting a by‑election in Wayanad, energizing Congress leaders who see her as a charismatic figure capable of strengthening the party. Her emergence follows years of supporting roles despite strong public appeal. Analysts debate how she and Rahul Gandhi will divide responsibilities, with expectations that she will focus on organizational revival while he handles ideological direction. Her candidacy reignites BJP accusations of dynastic politics and renews scrutiny of her husband, Robert Vadra. Priyanka’s political ascent comes as Congress seeks to capitalize on recent electoral gains and rebuild its national standing.

Doctors across multiple Indian states went on strike after a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College was raped and murdered, prompting demands for improved hospital security and a swift investigation. Police arrested a civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, in connection with the attack. Medical organisations called for systemic safety reforms, citing widespread violence against healthcare workers, while staff and family members highlighted longstanding failures to protect women in hospitals.

Muhammad Yunus called for calm as he prepared to lead Bangladesh’s interim government following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation amid widespread protests and violence, including attacks on Hindu communities. Student groups and citizens mobilised to protect threatened sites, while concerns grew in India over potential refugee flows and regional instability. Indian officials and political figures voiced alarm about attacks on minorities, and analysts warned that continued unrest could further endanger Awami League supporters and shift Bangladesh’s political balance.

Describes widespread mistreatment of domestic workers in India and contrasts it with the public outrage generated in the UK over the Hinduja family’s treatment of staff. Highlights examples of generosity by some employers but emphasizes that harsh conditions, lack of privacy, minimal time off, restricted access to food and shared spaces, and poor treatment during illness are common. Notes social norms that normalize such behavior and the resistance within affluent communities to improving basic conditions for workers.

India’s supreme court will rule on petitions challenging the government’s decision to exclude marital rape from the country’s new penal code, set to take effect on 1 July. Rights groups argue the exemption violates constitutional protections for women and contradicts the government’s stated commitment to women’s empowerment. The new laws introduce updated definitions of consent and enhanced provisions on crimes against women but maintain that sexual intercourse within marriage is not rape if the wife is over 18. Petitioners also contest reduced penalties for men who rape estranged wives. Critics say the stance reflects Victorian-era thinking and undermines progress on gender equality.

A newly established heatstroke unit at Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital has treated more than 50 severe cases amid persistent temperatures above 40C across north India. Led by Dr Amlendu Yadav, the unit rapidly cools patients using ice-filled tubs to prevent organ failure and reduce mortality. Hospitals have reported hundreds of heat‑related deaths, many among outdoor laborers whose symptoms often go unrecognized. Public health experts criticize the lack of preparedness and inadequate implementation of heat action plans despite repeated record‑breaking heatwaves linked to human‑driven climate change.

More than 200 Indian academics, activists and journalists signed an open letter urging the government to withdraw approval to prosecute Arundhati Roy under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for remarks made in 2010 about Kashmir. Legal experts question the timing and basis of the decision, noting the 14-year delay and the absence of any resulting violence. Supporters argue the move threatens free expression, while critics aligned with the government welcome the prosecution. Analysts suggest the action may signal a harsher stance on dissent despite the government’s reduced parliamentary majority.