Michelle Bachelet, former Chilean President and UN Human Rights High Commissioner, received the 2024 Indira Gandhi Prize for her lifelong commitment to human rights and gender equality. Established in 1986, the award strengthens India’s soft power and highlights its commitment to peace, justice, and South-South solidarity.
Click to View MoreBangladesh’s extradition request for Sheikh Hasina puts India in a tough diplomatic and legal spot. Under the 2013 treaty, Delhi must weigh bilateral ties, security concerns, and the political offence exception. India could refuse, delay, or offer conditional asylum, making its decision geopolitically significant.
Click to View MoreThe government removed 2.25 crore ineligible beneficiaries using Aadhaar-seeding and data analytics to curb leakage and improve targeting. The move supports fiscal prudence and Shanta Kumar Committee reforms but risks excluding deserving people, making strong grievance systems and an updated coverage cap essential to protect the right to food.
Click to View MoreAnti-conversion laws, meant to curb forced conversions, face constitutional challenges, particularly violating Article 21 (Right to Privacy and Choice). Critics argue vague terms and the reversed burden of proof lead to misuse against inter-faith couples and minorities. The Supreme Court must now balance individual liberty with the state's interest in public order.
Click to View MoreThe Sixteenth Finance Commission, chaired by Arvind Panagariya, submitted its 2026–31 report to the President after wide consultations. Formed under Article 280, it reviews Union and State finances, recommends devolution, grants, and disaster funding. It will be in public, once presented in the Parliament under Article 281.
Click to View MoreIndia-Canada ties sit at a tense crossroads. Strong trade and a vibrant diaspora contrast with mistrust rooted in security concerns and Khalistani extremism. The way forward lies in steady dialogue and deeper cooperation in critical minerals, clean energy, and aerospace while keeping economic engagement insulated from political friction.
Click to View MoreThe full potential of Community Forest Rights under the FRA is stalled by departmental resistance, legislative dilution, and lack of community awareness, necessitating a mission-mode push with technology and coordinated governance to empower Gram Sabhas and correct historical injustices.
Click to View MoreGen Z protests have erupted in Mexico after the assassination of Uruapan’s mayor, Carlos Alberto Manzo Rodríguez. Mobilised online, the non-partisan movement denounces systemic violence and rejects Sheinbaum’s “hugs, not bullets” policy. Government claims of right-wing backing have heightened the political standoff.
Click to View MoreZonal Councils, created under the 1956 Act, promote cooperative federalism by resolving inter-state disputes, coordinating security and supporting regional development. Their impact remains limited by irregular meetings and weak follow-up. Strengthening them through regular reviews and better implementation, as recommended by major commissions, can improve cooperation.
Click to View MoreThe deletion of 2.7 million MGNREGS workers, linked to mandatory Aadhaar-based payments, has raised concerns of wrongful exclusion and erosion of the Act’s demand-driven rights. Critics argue technical errors removed genuine workers and call for optional technology, stronger audits and an inclusive, worker-centric approach.
Click to View MoreRising religious conflict in secular public spaces challenges constitutional religious freedom, which allows restrictions for public order ('principled distance'). Conflicts stem from disruption and communal tension. The judiciary uses 'Essential Religious Practices' and 'Constitutional Morality' for balance. Resolution demands uniform, non-discriminatory regulation, dialogue, and responsible devotion.
Click to View MoreMuslim women’s rights in India face a clash between personal law and constitutional equality. The judiciary advanced reform from the Shah Bano case to the Shayara Bano verdict banning instant triple talaq. Despite the 2019 law, issues in inheritance and polygamy continue amid Uniform Civil Code debates.
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