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Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's controversial statement, referring to racial and anthropological groupings of humankind, has landed the party in hot water, following a similar remark by Sam Pitroda the day before. Chowdhury's comment, seen as an attempt to defend Pitroda, has drawn criticism from the BJP, with accusations of disrespecting Indians based on skin color. The Congress has not yet responded to Chowdhury's statement, while Pitroda has resigned as chief of the party's overseas unit after his own racist remarks sparked outrage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the disrespectful comments, emphasizing that the country will not tolerate such behavior. The Congress has distanced itself from Pitroda's remarks, but the fallout continues as the party faces backlash for the controversial statements made by its leaders. 
In a significant development in the Air India Express dispute, the airline's management has agreed to reinstate all crew members who called in sick, leading to the cancellation of over 170 flights. Additionally, 25 crew members who were terminated during the protests will also be reinstated. The breakthrough was announced after conciliation proceedings at the Labour Commissioner's office, attended by representatives of both the management and the Air India Express Employees Union. The union members have agreed to return to duty immediately with fitness certificates. The management has committed to reviewing the cases of the terminated crew members in accordance with service regulations. The Labour Commissioner's office confirmed that all issues raised by the cabin crew would be addressed and resolved by the management.
The Indian Council of Medical Research is advising against the use of protein supplements for building body mass, as part of its revised 'Dietary Guidelines for Indians'. The guidelines also recommend limiting salt intake, reducing sugar and ultra-processed foods, and reading food labels for informed choices. The National Institute of Nutrition, under the ICMR, highlighted the potential dangers of excessive protein powders, emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet with specific calorie allocations from different food groups. The guidelines aim to address nutrient deficiencies and prevent non-communicable diseases, with a focus on reducing the burden of unhealthy diets in India. The advisory stresses the importance of healthy eating habits and regular physical activity to prevent chronic conditions like heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes, which can be significantly reduced through lifestyle changes.
India has sharply responded to the recent arrests of three Indians in Canada in connection with the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, stating that there are "political interests at work" in the matter. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson emphasized that no specific evidence linking India to the killing has been shared by Canadian authorities, accusing Canada of providing a platform for separatists and extremists. The diplomatic tension between the two countries escalated after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed last year that there were "credible allegations" linking the Indian government to Nijjar's murder. Despite Trudeau's assertion that Canada is a "rule-of-law country," India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar criticized Canada for issuing visas to individuals with ties to organized crime. The three suspects arrested in Canada have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, as the diplomatic discussions between India and Canada continue.
Former BJP ally Dushyant Chautala, who is now seeking to challenge the Haryana government, is facing a potential split within his own party as sources suggest that some of his MLAs met with former BJP Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. This meeting, which took place at the residence of Minister of State Mahipal Dhanda in Panipat, comes amidst efforts to bring a no-confidence motion against the Nayab Singh Saini government after three Independent MLAs withdrew their support from the BJP. Despite Mr. Chautala's efforts to bring down the government and provide outside support to the Congress, a technicality regarding the timing of a no-confidence motion has hindered his plans. With the assembly elections approaching later this year, the political crisis in Haryana continues to unfold.
The Enforcement Directorate has filed an affidavit opposing interim bail for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to campaign in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, arguing that campaigning is not a fundamental, constitutional, or legal right. The agency highlighted that no political leader has been granted bail for campaigning and allowing Kejriwal to do so would set a wrong precedent. The Supreme Court, however, noted that Kejriwal is the elected chief minister of Delhi and not a habitual offender. The ED emphasized that campaigning is part of a politician's job and granting bail for this purpose would open the door for all politicians to seek the same, pointing out that Kejriwal is not even contesting the elections.
TCS CEO K Krithivasan received a pay package of over Rs 25 crore in the fiscal year 2023-24, following his appointment in June 2023. The company's COO, NG Subramaniam, earned Rs 26.18 crore during the same period. The earnings of the CEO include a salary of Rs 1.27 crore, benefits, perquisites, and a commission of Rs 21 crore. The COO's remuneration increased by 8.2 per cent, with his emoluments comprising a salary of Rs 1.72 crore, benefits, perquisites, and a commission of Rs 21 crore. The annual report also highlighted a slowdown in revenue growth to 6.8 per cent from 17.6 per cent in the previous year, while emphasizing the potential impact of GenAI technologies on various sectors. Despite near-term uncertainties, the company remains optimistic about its growth prospects in the medium to long term.
Tragedy struck a fireworks factory near Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu as eight people lost their lives in an explosion, with twelve others sustaining burns. The factory, which was a licensed unit, is currently under investigation by the police to determine the cause of the blast. Sivakasi, renowned as India's fireworks manufacturing hub, plays a significant role in the country's production of firecrackers, safety matches, and stationery items. Further details on the incident are pending as authorities work to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deadly explosion.
A video circulating online has sparked controversy as it appears to show a minor boy casting a vote during the Lok Sabha election in Berasia, Bhopal. The boy, reportedly the son of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vinay Mehar, was seen in the video pressing a button on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in the presence of his father. The video, shared on the BJP leader's Facebook page, has raised questions about the presence of a mobile phone in the polling booth and the child's access to the voting area. The Election Commission has yet to respond to the video, but district officials have acknowledged it and launched an investigation. The incident has occurred in the Berasia Assembly segment, which is reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates and is part of the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat.
A recent working paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) revealed that between 1950 and 2015, the Hindu population in India decreased by 7.82%, while the Muslim population saw an increase of 43.15%. The paper, titled 'Share of Religious Minorities: A Cross-Country Analysis (1950-2015)', highlighted the decline in the share of Jains and Parsis, and the increase in the share of Christians and Sikhs. This shift in demographics suggests a conducive environment for diversity in India, contrasting with trends in neighboring countries where minority populations have shrunk. The paper emphasized the importance of providing a nurturing environment and societal support to promote better life outcomes for disadvantaged sections of society.