In Zemithang, Arunachal Pradesh, prayers marked the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday near the Gurusheng tree, grown from his staff left in 1959 during his escape from Tibet. Locals believe the staff took root, creating a holy tree that now bears fruit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his birth anniversary, recognizing him as a national hero who sacrificed himself for India's unity. BJP President J P Nadda also paid tribute at Parliament. Modi emphasized Mookerjee's ideals are crucial for a developed India. Amit Shah highlighted Mookerjee's dedication to national integrity.
Tensions escalate as China's ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, dismisses the Dalai Lama's declaration regarding his reincarnation and criticizes Union minister Kiren Rijiju's support. Xu asserts that China opposes external interference in the reincarnation process, deeming it an internal affair. He emphasizes that the Chinese government holds the authority over religious status and titles.
CJI B R Gavai, has updated Supreme Court rules to include reservations for SCs, STs, OBCs, the physically challenged, ex-servicemen, and dependents of freedom fighters in direct subordinate staff recruitment. The amendment, gazetted on July 3rd, notably omits reservation for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), despite its constitutional validity being upheld by the Supreme Court in a prior judgment.
Several parties, including the TMC and PUCL, have petitioned the Supreme Court against the Election Commission's special intensive revision of Bihar's electoral rolls. They argue the revision is illegal and designed to disenfranchise Bihar's migrant workers. The petitioners claim the order unlawfully shifts the burden of proving eligibility onto citizens and excludes commonly accepted identity documents.
At the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Prime Minister Modi urged decisive global action against terrorism, condemning the Pahalgam attack as an assault on humanity. He advocated for urgent reforms in international institutions, highlighting the marginalization of the Global South and the need for a new, inclusive global order.
A US State Department official, Bethany Poulos Morrison, met the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala during his 90th birthday celebration, reaffirming US support for Tibetan freedom. Thousands gathered at the Tsuglagkhang temple as global leaders conveyed their well wishes to the Nobel laureate.
X, the social media platform, restored Reuters' official account in India after it was temporarily withheld due to a «legal demand.» The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology clarified that the Indian government had not requested the action. X explained that content is withheld based on valid legal requests, and they are working to resolve the issue.
BRICS nations strongly condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which resulted in 26 fatalities. The joint declaration, issued after the summit in Rio de Janeiro, labelled the attack as criminal and unjustifiable, advocating for united global action to eradicate terrorism in all forms. The bloc reaffirmed its commitment to zero tolerance, denouncing cross-border terrorism, financing, and safe havens, while rejecting double standards in counterterrorism efforts.
Muharram processions in Bihar's Gopalganj and Katihar districts were marred by clashes on Sunday. In Gopalganj's Manjha, a dispute between akharas over stunt performances led to a minor injury. Meanwhile, in Katihar's Naya Tola, stone-pelting and vandalism occurred near a temple during a procession, but authorities quickly brought the situation under control, with no injuries reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, emphasizing India's dedication to enhanced collaboration and fair global progress. The summit, which included new member countries, addressed crucial global issues such as multilateralism, artificial intelligence, and economic resilience. PM Modi engaged with fellow leaders, reaffirming BRICS's potential to foster a more inclusive global future.
Congress has strongly condemned the circulation of a fabricated video that misuses Rahul Gandhi's photograph, falsely depicting it on sanitary pad packets distributed under the Priyadarshini Udaan Yojana in Bihar, leading to the filing of an FIR. This controversy arose shortly after Congress initiated a menstrual hygiene campaign in Bihar, distributing sanitary pads to women, with boxes featuring images of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to promote awareness.
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut faced criticism from the Congress party for her perceived insensitive remarks during a visit to flood-affected areas in her Mandi constituency. The Congress shared a video where Ranaut downplayed disaster relief efforts, stating she lacks an official cabinet.
Aaditya Thackeray downplayed the Hindi vs. Marathi controversy in Maharashtra, attributing it to biased media and concerns about the burden of three languages on young students. He asserted that while Maharashtra embraces diverse languages, insults to Marathi would not be tolerated. Thackeray also criticized the BJP for comparing Maharashtra to terrorists, highlighting the strained relationship between the parties.
The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, celebrated his 90th birthday in Dharamshala with monks, followers, and dignitaries, including representatives from the Indian government and international figures like Richard Gere. The Dalai Lama reflected on his life of service, while global leaders, including Prime Minister Modi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sent messages.
In a tragic turn of events, a cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district has left a ten-month-old baby, Neetika, as the sole survivor of her family. Her father died trying to divert floodwater, while her mother and grandmother remain missing. Local authorities are providing assistance, and a bank account will be opened in Neetika's name to support her future.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has petitioned the Supreme Court against the Election Commission's special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, alleging it disenfranchises millions, particularly migrant and poor voters, at the behest of the BJP. Moitra claims the process violates constitutional provisions and the Representation of People's Act, citing new document requirements that exclude common IDs.
Kangana Ranaut, BJP MP, visited her flood-stricken constituency of Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, and criticized the Congress party's relief efforts. She highlighted the extensive damage, including fatalities and missing persons, and emphasized her role in seeking central assistance. Ranaut defended her delayed arrival, citing road closures and advice from the Leader of the Opposition.
Pune Police have dismissed a rape allegation made by a 22-year-old data scientist as a fabrication intended to mislead authorities. Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated the woman's report, claiming assault by a delivery agent, was false. Investigations revealed inconsistencies within 24 hours, including a manipulated selfie and a self-authored threatening message. The man in the selfie was known to her.
Former navy commando Praveen Kumar Teotia, a 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks veteran, has criticized MNS chief Raj Thackeray and his party amidst a dispute over the Marathi language. Teotia questioned the absence of MNS warriors during the attacks, highlighting the contributions of people from UP and Bihar in saving lives.
Former Jet Airways CEO Sanjiv Kapoor criticised Gurugram’s civic mess, sharing images of garbage-filled streets and cows amid trash in sector 44. Calling the Haryana Disneyland plan “ludicrous,” he tagged local authorities and PM Modi, urging Swachh Bharat action. His posts sparked strong reactions from residents, echoing frustration over poor waste management and lack of basic civic upkeep.
Amid opposition's 'votebandi' claims, the Election Commission has eased voter registration rules in Bihar. Voters can now submit forms without required documents initially, addressing concerns about potential disenfranchisement before upcoming elections. This follows opposition objections to the intensive electoral roll revision, fearing many voters could lose their right to vote.
Amid strained relations, Pakistan's former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari surprisingly offered to extradite wanted terrorists if India cooperates legally. This comes after India put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, a crucial resource for Pakistan. Experts view Bhutto's statement with skepticism, citing Pakistan's history of betrayals and Bhutto's lack of executive authority.
Sanjay Raut clarifies Shiv Sena (UBT)'s stance on Hindi, distinguishing it from Tamil Nadu's outright rejection. Maharashtra opposes mandatory Hindi in primary schools, not the language itself, unlike the southern state's broader resistance.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari has urged Delhi Police to strictly enforce the ban on two and three-wheelers on Delhi-NCR expressways due to rampant traffic violations and safety concerns. He also directed the removal of distracting hoardings and illegal advertisements from highways.
Reuters' main X account has been withheld in India following a legal demand, according to a notice on the platform. Government sources deny issuing any new demand recently, citing a previous request during «Operation Sindoor» that led to the blocking of numerous accounts. X, formerly Twitter, appears to have acted on this older request, while affiliated Reuters accounts remain accessible.
The Supreme Court administration has formally requested the Centre to reclaim the official residence of former CJI DY Chandrachud, as his permitted occupancy has exceeded the deadline.
A UK Royal Air Force Airbus A400M arrived in Kerala carrying aviation engineers to repair a stranded British F-35B Lightning fighter jet. The jet made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport due to an engineering issue. The repair work will be carried out at the airport's MRO facility with support from Indian authorities and the Indian Air Force.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju attended the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebrations in Dharamshala, emphasizing his role as a bridge between ancient wisdom and the modern world. The Dalai Lama reflected on benefiting others from exile in India. Amid succession debates, Rijiju affirmed India's support for the Dalai Lama's institution's decisions, rejecting external interference, particularly from China.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended birthday wishes to the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday, lauding him as a symbol of love, compassion, patience, and moral discipline. Special prayers were held by Tibetan Buddhist monks in exile at the Dorjidak Monastery near Shimla. Several leaders attended celebrations in Dharamshala to honor the spiritual leader.
India's rural education is undergoing a transformation, with increased school enrollment and pre-primary participation. However, challenges remain in converting enrollment into meaningful learning outcomes, particularly in reading comprehension. Targeted early-grade programs and community involvement are driving progress, but systemic inequalities persist, especially in remote regions.
Despite widespread health infrastructure in India, disparities persist, particularly among marginalized communities, hindering equitable access. CSR initiatives like Vedanta's SEHAT and Hyundai's Sparsh Sanjeevani are bridging gaps by providing essential healthcare services and promoting awareness. These efforts, aligned with global goals, emphasize community engagement and sustainability to improve health outcomes and build trust.