Hannah Ellis-Petersen

Extreme heat is killing vulnerable workers across India, particularly people in the informal sector who cannot afford to stop working or access adequate protection. The death of rural worker Palli Mahalaxmi in Andhra Pradesh illustrates how heatstroke can devastate poor households, while other suspected heat deaths are recorded under different causes or left unexplained. Official figures report only 460 heat-related deaths in 2024 and 84 in 2025, but researchers estimate that individual heat events may cause thousands of excess deaths. Experts accuse authorities of obstructing access to mortality data and warn that inadequate monitoring prevents effective early-warning systems and interventions. Although India has recognised heatwaves as a national disaster, its health planning does not explicitly address mortality, raising concerns that the country is unprepared for worsening climate-driven heat.

India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta party has threatened to resume nationwide protests after alleging that authorities detained or charged hundreds of student demonstrators despite assurances that protesters would face no punitive action. The movement emerged over exam paper leaks and examination-system irregularities and recently forced Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign. At least 100 arrests have reportedly been made across Delhi, Assam, West Bengal and Bihar, including under stringent laws, while police face accusations of excessive force. The government has promised examination reforms and proposed tougher penalties for paper leaks, but continued arrests and legal cases have intensified pressure on Narendra Modi’s BJP-led government.

A week of youth-led protests by the Cockroach Janta party forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accept the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan after an examination-paper leak affected about two million students and was linked to suicides. The movement overcame the BJP’s traditionally strong control of online and television narratives, while police violence and attempts to discredit protesters intensified public anger. The resignation has reinvigorated opposition parties, particularly Congress, and raised questions about Modi’s authority over his cabinet and his ability to contain dissent. The movement’s longer-term impact may depend on whether it evolves into an organised political force, especially ahead of elections in Uttar Pradesh and the 2029 general election.

Pirelli’s 2027 calendar is the first in the series to be photographed entirely in India and to feature an all-Indian cast, including models Bhavitha Mandava and Padma Lakshmi, musician Anoushka Shankar and poet Rupi Kaur. Photographed by Sølve Sundsbø and, after Raghu Rai’s death, his daughter Avani Rai, the project captures Jaipur, Delhi’s old city, flower markets and other Indian settings while highlighting the country’s cultural and craft traditions. Participants welcome the calendar’s broader portrayal of Indian beauty but caution against reducing women to national or racial representatives. The project also arrives amid growing scrutiny of luxury fashion houses’ treatment and recognition of Indian artisans, following Dior’s Mumbai show and controversy over Prada’s use of Kolhapuri-inspired sandals.

India’s education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, resigned after a week of nationwide youth protests over an exam leak scandal that reportedly harmed millions of students and was linked to student suicides. The demonstrations, led by the newly formed Cockroach Janata party, intensified after police used teargas and batons against protesters. Pradhan’s resignation, the first time a minister in Narendra Modi’s 12-year government was forced out by public pressure, prompted celebrations among tens of thousands of demonstrators. Protest leaders called off the immediate demonstrations but said the resignation was only the beginning of demands for systemic education reform, accountability and stronger democratic rights.

A youth-led movement that began as the satirical Cockroach Janata Party meme has grown into a nationwide challenge to Narendra Modi’s government. Sparked by leaked medical-college entrance examinations, repeated education failures and demands for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, the protests intensified after Delhi Police used force against demonstrators and removed hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk. The movement’s cross-religious, secular and patriotic character has made it difficult for the BJP to dismiss as an opposition or minority-led campaign, while young protesters’ use of social media has undermined the government’s influence over mainstream news coverage. Although Modi has promised action over the exam leaks and retains significant electoral support, analysts argue that the protests have broken a longstanding climate of fear and made it harder for his government to govern without challenge.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike in Delhi after saying the government had provided written assurances that examination-system accountability would be raised in parliament and that young protesters would not face new cases. The Cockroach Janata party said talks with the government produced no agreement on its main demand—the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan—and vowed to continue nationwide protests over exam leaks affecting millions of students. Demonstrations drew large crowds across India despite metro closures and mobile-internet restrictions. Narendra Modi promised special courts and stricter action against leaks, but protesters said these measures did not address the underlying failures.

Youth-led “Cockroach” protests against the Indian government have entered their fourth day, with thousands gathering in Delhi after travelling from across the country. The movement initially focused on accountability for recent exam paper leaks and calls for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign, but has broadened into a wider expression of political dissent. The protests are being portrayed as a significant moment in which India’s large youth population has found a collective political voice.

India’s opposition parties suspended parliamentary proceedings and protested in Delhi in support of the youth-led Cockroach Janata Party movement, demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and action over examination scandals and alleged police violence. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were briefly detained during demonstrations targeting Narendra Modi’s government. More than 50,000 people reportedly joined Monday’s protest, where clashes left civilians and police injured; organisers alleged excessive force, Amnesty International criticised Delhi police, and the Supreme Court declined to hear a brutality petition. The government has defended its approach but says students deserve answers, reforms and accountability, while the movement continues to attract support in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Tens of thousands of young Indians continued mass protests in Delhi demanding the resignation of the education minister and accountability for exam paper leaks, despite police violence that left dozens injured. The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party sustained momentum after police kettled demonstrators, used batons and teargas, and imposed internet shutdowns. Protesters framed the movement as a broader challenge to Narendra Modi’s government, while opposition parties echoed calls for accountability. CJP leaders vowed to continue demonstrations as the government remained unresponsive, drawing support across age groups and reinforcing a growing sense of political awakening among India’s youth.

India’s Cockroach Janta party began as an online satire but rapidly developed into a major youth-led protest movement opposing exam leaks, educational pressures and high unemployment. Founded by Abhijeet Dipke, the movement has demanded accountability from the government and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Engineer and activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the cause through a prolonged hunger strike, prompting government criticism after police forcibly took him to hospital. More than 20,000 supporters gathered in New Delhi despite restrictions, internet shutdowns and police barriers, with clashes involving batons and teargas. The government eventually offered a brief meeting but made no commitments, leaving the protests unresolved.

Tens of thousands of mostly young protesters in Delhi defied a police ban and marched toward parliament, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over a leaked medical entrance exam and broader failures in education and employment. Police barricades, an internet shutdown, batons and teargas failed to stop the demonstration and prompted condemnation from opposition politicians. The youth-led Cockroach Janta party, founded as satire but now posing a serious challenge to Narendra Modi’s government, was invited to talks after the mass turnout, though officials made no commitments. The protests were also fueled by the forcible removal and hospitalization of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who continued his hunger strike in solidarity with students.

Extreme heat is pushing millions of India’s informal workers further into poverty by reducing productivity, causing illness and forcing workplace closures. Research by the International Institute for Environment and Development estimates that highly physical workers lost an average of 6.6% of their salaries in 2024, while outdoor workers lost nearly 9%, with Rajasthan among the hardest-hit regions. About 21.1 working days were lost nationwide, contributing to an estimated economic cost of at least £58bn. Construction and other daily-wage workers describe repeated heat exhaustion, dehydration, kidney problems, lost wages and medical debt, while lacking shade, water, rest areas and secure employment. The research warns that prolonged exposure could cause chronic kidney disease in more than 26 million informal workers, deepening existing social and economic inequalities.

Indian film-maker Honey Trehan describes years of obstruction by India’s censorship board that prevented his film Satluj, depicting 1990s abuses by Punjab police and the life of activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, from reaching cinemas. After a digital release, the government ordered the film removed within 48 hours, citing national security concerns, following demands for extensive cuts that would have erased key historical elements. Critics argue that censorship has increasingly aligned with the Hindu nationalist agenda of Narendra Modi’s administration, while films supportive of the government face few barriers. The ban has prompted widespread underground screenings in Punjab, where the film has become a symbol of resistance and a rare archive of past atrocities.

Mass protests erupted across West Bengal after the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl, followed by the lynching of an innocent man and the police killing of the main suspect. The incident triggered a political confrontation, with the BJP-led state government accused of failing to ensure women’s safety and mishandling the investigation. Opposition parties questioned the legitimacy of the police encounter killing, while tensions escalated into violence and prompted a statewide ban on public gatherings. The case heightened communal and political sensitivities, with more than 30 arrests made amid demands for accountability and rule of law.

Narendra Modi’s recent trip to Seychelles sparked controversy after he received a newly created award featuring multiple errors and signs of AI generation, prompting criticism from India’s opposition and a subsequent clarification from Seychelles’ government. The episode highlights a pattern of honours created or awarded during Modi’s foreign visits, including exclusive distinctions from Israel and India. Analysts say these awards bolster Modi’s personality-driven political image, while his party frames them as recognition of India’s growing global influence.

Delhi plans to phase out petrol scooters, motorbikes and autorickshaws by 2028, issuing new licence plates only for electric vehicles as part of efforts to cut pollution, which is heavily driven by transport emissions. The government aims for 30% of the city’s fleet to be electric by 2030 and will install more than 30,000 charging points. Supporters describe the move as a major step toward improving public health, while critics warn the transition window is too short and that broader improvements to public transport are needed.

Umar Khalid reflects on nearly six years in jail without trial, describing the psychological toll of prolonged incarceration and the dehumanising impact of political propaganda against him. He remains a prominent critic of Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government, which he accuses of fostering discrimination against Muslims and suppressing dissent. His activism, from university politics to leading protests against discriminatory citizenship laws, placed him at the centre of government scrutiny, culminating in terrorism charges he denies. Despite mounting criticism from human rights groups and allegations of fabricated evidence by police, his bail has been repeatedly denied. Khalid laments the silence of opposition parties and civil society as he continues to wait for a trial date, finding resilience in writing and the ideas of past revolutionaries.