India Archive

In the early hours of Sunday, July 31st, a devastating fire erupted in Lone Mohalla in Mattan, Anantnag, resulting in the complete destruction of five houses owned by Kashmiri Pandits. The intensity of the blaze was such that it reduced these structures to ashes, prompting immediate action from local authorities.

In a twist that could only be described as a bureaucratic ballet, Preeti Sudan, a seasoned IAS officer from the 1983 batch, has pirouetted into the spotlight as the new chairperson of India's premier government recruitment body. The stage was set with the dramatic exit of Manoj Soni, who tendered his resignation to the President earlier this month, citing 'personal reasons'—a classic exit line in the theatre of administration. His departure left a vacancy that wasn't due until May 2029, making room for Sudan's unexpected debut.

In a decisive move signaling zero tolerance for inappropriate conduct within its ranks, the Odisha government took stern action against one of its high-ranking police officers. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi took the decisive step on Tuesday (30th July), issuing the suspension of an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, identified as Pandit Rajesh Uttamrao. This decision came in response to charges of 'grave misconduct.'

In a significant move, the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is taking decisive steps to amend the existing legislation related to 'love jihad.' The administration has tabled the Uttar Pradesh Unlawful Religious Conversion Prohibition Bill 2024 in the state assembly. This new bill is groundbreaking as it proposes lifetime imprisonment for anyone convicted under its terms. Additionally, it targets the financial aspects of unlawful conversions by making funding for such activities a criminal offense.

On 27th July, a tragic incident unfolded in Delhi's Old Rajendra Nagar area when three students, two girls and a boy, lost their lives after being trapped in a flooded basement at Rau’s IAS Study Circle, a coaching institute for UPSC aspirants. The area experienced severe flooding due to heavy rainfall, which led to water accumulating rapidly in the lower sections of the building.

This past Saturday, on the 27th of July, a grim arrest was made in the case of the shocking murder of a 22-year-old woman from Bihar. The young woman was fatally stabbed earlier in the week within the confines of her Paying Guest accommodation in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Authorities have disclosed that the suspect had romantic ties with the victim's roommate, which often led to contentious disputes between them.

On Thursday, July 25, the Supreme Court granted bail to Syed Asim Ali, a man accused of conspiring in the 2019 murder of Hindu Samaj Party leader Kamlesh Tiwari. The decision was made by the Bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, who highlighted that Ali has been in custody for over four and a half years.

On Wednesday, 24th July, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the significant progress of the state's anti-encroachment initiatives, revealing that a substantial 167 square kilometers of land had been reclaimed from illegal occupants. This area, he noted, surpasses the size of Chandigarh city, showcasing the scale of their achievements.

In what appears to be a regressive step, IT firms in Karnataka have put forth a controversial proposal to the Congress-led state government, urging a drastic extension of the working hours to 14 hours per day. This proposal was introduced during a meeting convened by the Labour Department with various stakeholders. Media reports suggest that the state government is considering implementing these changes, which would push tech employees to work up to 14 hours daily and 70 hours weekly. This proposed increase in working hours has sparked a wave of criticism and strong opposition from employees and IT unions, who have condemned the plan as “inhuman.”

On Friday (19th July), Dhananjay Balakrishnan, a graduating student at IIT Madras, chose the institute’s 61st convocation ceremony as the moment to make a pro-Palestine statement. Awarded for his all-around proficiency in both curricular and extracurricular activities within a dual degree in mechanical engineering, Dhananjay took the stage to accept the Governor’s prize and seized the opportunity to deliver a politically charged speech.