U.S. President cites Russian oil purchases and high tariffs as reasons; Indian gem, jewellery, and apparel exporters brace for severe losses

India successfully launched the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite from Sriharikota on July 30, 2025, marking a landmark in Indo-U.S. space cooperation. NISAR, the world’s first dual-frequency radar satellite (L-band and S-band), will provide high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night earth observation data. With applications ranging from agriculture and forestry to disaster management and climate monitoring, the mission strengthens India’s disaster preparedness and contributes to global climate science.

India’s long-standing campaign to expose Pakistan-based terror outfits has received international validation with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 1267 Sanctions Committee naming The Resistance Front (TRF) in its July 2025 report. India has identified TRF as a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and blamed it for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The mention of TRF in the UN report, combined with its earlier designation by the U.S. as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), strengthens India’s diplomatic case against cross-border terrorism and puts additional pressure on Pakistan

The Lok Sabha has passed a resolution to extend President’s Rule in Manipur for six more months, citing the need to sustain peace after years of ethnic conflict. This move once again raises questions about the constitutional provisions for imposing and extending President’s Rule, the maximum duration it can continue, and the balance between restoring stability and respecting democratic mandates.

Press associations and transparency activists have raised alarm over amendments to the Right to Information (RTI) Act introduced through the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023. They argue that the changes weaken citizens’ access to public information and undermine investigative journalism. At the heart of the controversy is the dilution of Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, which activists warn could severely restrict disclosure of information on public officials and institutions.

Mangroves, long overlooked as marshy wastelands, are now being recognised as one of the most crucial natural shields for India’s vulnerable coastlines. They absorb tidal surges, blunt the impact of cyclones, and store large amounts of carbon, while also serving as biodiversity hotspots. Across India — from Tamil Nadu to Gujarat to Mumbai — new initiatives combining science, community participation, and policy support are reviving degraded mangrove ecosystems. These efforts not only strengthen ecological resilience but also protect livelihoods, fisheries, and national security.

India’s legal aid framework, designed to serve nearly 80% of its population, continues to fall short in practice, with only 15.5 lakh people accessing it in 2023-24. Chronic underfunding, shrinking para-legal volunteers, and inconsistent service quality undermine its reach. While State allocations have grown, NALSA’s funds and utilisation have declined. The Legal Aid Defence Counsel scheme shows promise but remains underfunded. Strengthening funding, manpower, accountability, and awareness is essential to fulfil the constitutional mandate of equal access to justice.

The Supreme Court has ruled that Telangana and Andhra Pradesh cannot increase their Assembly seats until after the 2026 Census, despite promises in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The judgment rests on Article 170(3) of the Constitution, which freezes State delimitation until 2026. While the Act envisaged expansion, its failure to override the constitutional embargo has left both States disappointed. The verdict reinforces that delimitation remains a national exercise tied to the Census cycle, not a State-specific demand.

India’s MoSPI will release a new GDP series with 2022-23 as the base year on February 27, 2026, followed by revised IIP and CPI indices later that year. The move aims to capture structural changes in the economy and improve data accuracy. Alongside, new surveys on household travel, tourism expenditure, and service sector enterprises are being launched, marking a significant expansion of India’s statistical capacity.