India News in Minutes | Schools Told to Screen Film on PM Modi's Childhood
Your daily essential | 18 September 2025 | 114th Edition
Good morning. It's Thursday, and it seems India has once again forgotten to press the snooze button. So, while you were sleeping, here’s what was happening.
Absolutely Essential to Know 🚨:
Schools Told to Screen Film on PM Modi's Childhood
Mumbai Greenlights Ola, Uber, Rapido for Bike Taxi Services
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Ink a Nuclear-Tinged Defence Pact
And many more, read on…
Btw, here’s some music to accompany your read today. Hope you enjoy.
Our structure is simple:
The blocks are quick factual summaries.
Click "🔗" for a randomly selected source article from the many sources we referred.
Also, all our images are not original works of our journalists, but are sourced from elsewhere.
🎬 Schools Told to Screen Film on PM Modi's Childhood
Union Education Ministry directs CBSE and Central schools to screen 'Chalo Jeete Hain'.
Screening period from Sept 16 to Oct 2 coincides with PM's birthday events.
Ministry says it helps students reflect on character and service.
Blurs the line between education and political messaging.
Why It Matters: This blurs the line between education and political messaging. Using the school system to promote a film about the sitting Prime Minister, however inspirational, is a powerful tool for narrative-building and personality cultivation from a young age.
🇪🇺 Europe Unfurls a New 'Strategic Agenda' for India
EU proposes a new strategic partnership with India; aims to deepen ties.
Focus on defence, trade (FTA by year-end), tech, and green transition.
Aims to diversify supply chains and strengthen economic security.
Happens despite EU concerns over India's continued relationship with Russia.
The Deeper Take: Read between the lines: this is the EU's "It's not you, China, it's us" strategy. They're openly building an alternative to Chinese manufacturing and influence, and India is the star player they're trying to sign. The Russia issue is just an awkward footnote they're willing to overlook for the bigger prize.
⚖️ Patna High Court Tells Congress to Delete AI-Generated Modi Video
Patna High Court orders Congress to remove an AI-generated video.
Video reportedly depicted PM Modi and his late mother.
Order passed based on a petition filed by an individual.
Raises questions on AI use in political campaigning.
Why It Matters: Welcome to the new frontier of political mudslinging. This isn't just about one video; it's a legal precedent being set for the AI-fuelled chaos that's coming. The courts are now officially referees in the deepfake-dystopia league.
⛏️ Congress and Centre Spar Over Adani Coal Mine Project
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reiterates charges of "blatant irregularities".
Alleges issues in approval process for Adani Group's Dhirauli coal mining project.
Cites a 2023 Lok Sabha reply from the Coal Ministry as evidence.
Claims the project falls in a protected area under the Fifth Schedule.
The Bottom Line: This is a classic political dogfight where a specific project becomes a proxy for a larger battle over corporate influence, environmental regulations, and tribal rights. It’s less about one mine and more about the entire system of approvals.
🥇 Neeraj Chopra Needed Just One Throw to Make World Finals
Defending champion Neeraj Chopra qualifies for World Athletics Championships final.
Achieved with a single throw of 84.85m in the qualification round.
Easily surpassed the automatic qualification mark of 84.50m.
Sets up a highly anticipated final against rivals, including Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem.
The Deeper Take: This is the athletic equivalent of walking into an exam, answering the first question perfectly, and then just leaving. It’s a statement of supreme confidence and a psychological blow to his competitors before the final even begins.
🙏 Sikh Leaders in Pakistan Plead with India to Lift Pilgrim Ban
Sikh community leaders in Pakistan urge India to lift ban.
Affects travel to Guru Nanak's shrine.
They claim it violates international norms and moral values.
A sensitive issue at the intersection of faith and diplomacy.
The Deeper Take: Faith and diplomacy are once again tangled. This isn't just about a travel ban; it's a sensitive pressure point in the fragile India-Pakistan relationship, with religious sentiment caught in the crossfire.
💥 JeM Commander Admits Masood Azhar's Family 'Torn into Pieces'
Jaish-e-Mohammad commander confirms heavy losses.
Family of chief Masood Azhar hit in India's 'Operation Sindoor'.
Refers to Indian missile strikes in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
A rare admission validating India's cross-border strike claims.
Why It Matters: A chilling admission from a terror group that validates India's cross-border strike claims. It's a significant intelligence win and a stark message about India's changed counter-terrorism posture, where plausible deniability is no longer guaranteed for its adversaries.
🛵 Mumbai Greenlights Ola, Uber, Rapido for Bike Taxi Services
Maharashtra's State Transport Authority grants provisional licences.
Ola, Uber, Rapido approved for bike taxis in Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Minimum fare fixed at Rs 15 for 1.5 km.
Formalises a grey area in urban transport.
The Deeper Take: A win for commuters and the gig economy, but a headache for traditional auto-rickshaws. This formalises a grey area, setting the stage for a new battle for passengers on Mumbai's already chaotic streets.
🌾 Rahul Gandhi's Belated Punjab Flood Visit Gets Mixed Reviews
Rahul Gandhi visits flood-hit Punjab weeks after the crisis peaked.
Visit described as having limited political impact.
Questions raised over timing and effectiveness.
He avoided direct attacks on state or central governments.
The Bottom Line: Political timing is everything. Showing up late to a crisis, even with good intentions, often looks more like a photo-op than genuine concern, allowing opponents to frame the narrative before you even arrive on the ground.
💧 A Kolkata Startup is Literally Making Water Out of Thin Air
A Kolkata-based startup is successfully generating drinking water from air.
Has produced over 100 million litres to date.
Provides a sustainable solution to water scarcity.
Highlighted as a key story of Indian innovation.
Why It's Cool: While governments debate water treaties, these folks are just building machines that solve the problem. It's a classic example of 'jugaad' innovation meeting high-tech, tackling one of India's most pressing issues from the ground up. But the jury is still out on how sustainable the whole operation is.
🐝 Farmers Show How to Start a Beekeeping Business with ₹5000
Farmers share guide for aspiring beekeepers; low initial investment of Rs 5000.
Aims to boost profits and promote sustainable farming practices.
Provides a low-cost, high-value income stream.
Knowledge-sharing to empower rural economies.
The Bottom Line: A sweet deal for small-scale farmers. This kind of knowledge-sharing empowers rural economies by adding a low-cost, high-value income stream that also happens to be great for the environment.
❤️ Mumbai Startup Connects Youth with Seniors as 'Volunteer Grandkids'
A Mumbai-based startup has an initiative to combat loneliness among the elderly.
Young volunteers act as 'grandkids' for senior citizens.
Bridges generational gaps and provides companionship.
A simple solution to the modern problem of isolation.
The Deeper Take: A simple, beautiful solution to a modern problem. In a world of digital isolation, this brings back the power of human connection, proving that sometimes the best tech is just talking to someone who cares.
🤖 You Can Now Talk to an AI Sardar Patel at PM's Museum
Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya unveils life-size AI-powered Holobox of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Allows visitors to have interactive conversations with a 3D avatar.
Launched on September 17, coinciding with Hyderabad Liberation Day.
Blends heritage with high technology.
The Bigger Picture: History just became interactive. This is a fascinating use of AI to make historical figures accessible, turning a museum visit from a passive viewing into an active conversation with the past. But beware, because you don’t know how these models were trained or their biases. This could just be advanced political messaging, which makes for great influence btw.
🔬 IIT Guwahati's Insulin Breakthrough
Researchers at IIT Guwahati develop a new, efficient method to produce human insulin.
A potential breakthrough for diabetes treatment and affordability in India.
Could make a life-saving drug more accessible to millions.
A significant step for Indian biotechnology.
Why It Matters: A massive step for Indian biotech. If this scales up, it could dramatically lower the cost of insulin, making a life-saving drug more accessible to millions of diabetics in the country and beyond.
Global News
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Ink a Nuclear-Tinged Defence Pact
Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan sign a mutual defence pact, declaring an attack on one is an attack on both.
A Saudi official described it as a "comprehensive defensive agreement that encompasses all military means," a thinly veiled reference to Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.
Why It Matters: The "Islamic bomb" guarantee is now officially on paper. This is Riyadh's major move to counter Iran and reduce its absolute dependence on the US security umbrella, fundamentally altering the strategic balance in the Middle East.
📉 US Fed Hits the Brakes, Cuts Interest Rates by 0.25%
US Federal Reserve cuts benchmark interest rate by a quarter point.
New range is 4% to 4.25%; first cut since December 2024.
Cited weakening labour market and slowing economic growth as reasons.
Move comes amid concerns about persistent, albeit moderating, inflation.
The Bottom Line: The Fed is trying to land a jumbo jet on an aircraft carrier in a hurricane. Cut rates too much, and inflation roars back. Don't cut, and the economy stalls. This "risk management" move is an admission that nobody really knows what's coming next. But one thing is for sure, companies and share markets are happy with this expected cut. Happy, not satisfied.
🇬🇧 Trump Gets the Royal Treatment in the UK Amid Protests
US President Trump begins historic second state visit to the UK.
Hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle with full royal pageantry.
Visit includes carriage processions, military honours, and a state banquet.
Thousands protest in London and Windsor, with some arrests made.
The Deeper Take: This is a tale of two Britains. Inside the castle walls, it's a meticulously choreographed display of the "special relationship." Outside, it's a raw expression of public opposition. A perfect metaphor for modern diplomacy: all pomp on the surface, with a cauldron of dissent just beyond the barricades.
🌡️ World Bank Says Rising Heat Cost Bangladesh $1.8 Billion Last Year
World Bank report reveals economic toll of rising temperatures on Bangladesh.
Heat-related illness and productivity losses cost nearly $1.8 billion in 2024.
Represents about 0.4% of the nation's GDP.
Highlights the concrete financial cost of climate change.
Why It Matters: This puts a terrifyingly concrete number on the cost of climate change. It's no longer an abstract threat but a direct, quantifiable drain on a nation's economy, hitting the most vulnerable countries the hardest.
🍦 Ben & Jerry's Co-founder Quits Over Parent Company's Gaza Stance
Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, has resigned from the company amid a deepening rift with parent company Unilever over its stance on the Gaza conflict.
The ice cream brand has a long history of social activism, which has often clashed with Unilever's corporate imperatives.
The Deeper Take: A fascinating case study in corporate activism. It shows the inevitable culture clash when a brand built on progressive values is absorbed by a multinational giant that has to answer to a different set of global stakeholders.
Stay sharp,
The OneRead Team
P.S. Like what you're reading? Share it with a friend. They might finally start talking some sense